Stranger in a Strange P*lace
Introducing: --
It takes the kids a while to notice the robed boy who comes into The P*lace and attempts
to conquer a pinball game. They’re too busy groaning at Riley’s latest invention
and poking fun at poor Stacy. But Stacy has one over on them…sort of. See that robed
guy there? Stacy kind of remembers who he is except for the part she forgot. He’s an
exchange student, from an African country that only Ryan can pronounce correctly, Togo.
Kid attempts to welcome the newcomer, but he doesn’t respond to his greeting. Ryan
tries to talk to him, and gets his words spoken right back. Hmm. Maybe he’s stuck up.
The boys are still griping about the rude foreigner after the next number when they happen
to see him on the street. Ryan remembers that people in Togo most likely speak French.
Unfortunately, Ryan himself doesn’t. But Gloria does, and she finds out the
boy’s name is Mbala, and he’s actually really friendly.
The boys attempt to Americanize Mbala by giving him new clothes and teaching him some
English – odd, random English – but English nonetheless. Gloria tries to point
out that Mbala isn’t American and that’s okay. To prove her point, she has Kid
wear Mbala’s clothes.
He feels ridiculous, and even more so when the kids leave him and Mbala locked in the
storeroom. Merde.
With no common language between them, the boys aren’t having much luck finding the
key. But Mbala is resourceful. He spies the key, gets Kid’s attention, and then
boosts him up so he can reach it. Another barrier conquered.
Kid relates their tale to the others as they finally teach Mbala some useful
conversational English while speaking the universal language: music. In exchange, he
teaches them a phrase in his language, more suited for safaris than singing, but still fun
for them to say. Too bad Riley has beaten them to it.
Everyone celebrates by screeching and jumping up and down the Togolese* way. I apologize
on behalf of the U.S. to any Togolese people out there.
Okay, so I always thought that an exchange student had to know a bit of the language of
their host country before going over. Mbala (?) couldn't speak English...but he could play
pinball? He sure learned it pretty fast, considering his teachers were all kids.
As well-read as Ryan is, all he could think to teach the guy was "I miss the bliss of
your kiss"??? At least "The lion is eating your foot" is more useful.
Anyway, 4 mics for this episode. It was cute, but a few points didn't connect.
Guest star: Chris Pierce as Mbala
Invention count: 1
Licorice neckties, for busy execs who can’t take time for lunch
4 in total
Vocab:
Random English phrase: “I miss the bliss of your kiss.”
Random African phrase: “The lion is eating your foot.”
Continuity, gags and themes:
Stacy is a dumb blonde
Ryan reads a lot
More video effects (7) – the best so far.
This is pretty cool!
New Locations:--
Pop culture references:
Togo, according to Wikipedia, is indeed a
French-speaking country, having been a French territory until 1960. They also do export
plenty of things beginning with C, as Ryan has said.
*A person from Togo is said to be Togolese
Solos:
Stacy (1) = 5
Renee (1) = 10
Kid (2) = 16
Gloria (1) = 25
Episode Total: 5
Total: 91
Performance outfits:
red/blue/dk.blue
- The kids are playing with a Merlin game in the storeroom!
Merlin was something that I grew up with, and Milton Bradley, I believe, recently
reintroduced it. Merlin is shaped like a phone receiver, right down to the numbered
buttons. You can play 5 different games with it, from Tic-Tac-Toe to Concentration to
matching the pattern (that was the one I was good at). Fairly low-tech, but remember, it
was the 80's, and Merlin was even older than that.
classic Merlin commercial
- This could be what later influences Kid's turn as an exchange student.
- Gloria has learned French. Ryan has not. I'm going to assume Gloria has made it to at
least 9th grade by now.
- Riley can speak some indeterminate West African dialect (?)
- Mbala is wearing Mickey’s jacket
Songs:
Middle of the Road -
Karma Chameleon – 
Would I Lie to You? -
Say it Again -
Stay With Me Tonight –
Here’s how you voted!
Stranger in a Strange P*lace -
Middle of the Road -
Karma Chameleon -
Would I Lie to You? -
Say it Again -
Stay With Me Tonight –
Fans really loved the music in this one!
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