Season 1
1. Rumors
gs: Byron Fox (Danny Kessler) Davida Williams (Claire Miller)
Taylor Gunnin (Head Cheerleader) Mitchah Williams (Kid) Britney
Mitchell (Dancer) Melissa Matthews (Dancer) Tiffany Burton
(Dancer)
Lizzie tries out for cheerleader but doesn't do very well.
Later that night she and Miranda chat online. Lizzie jokes that
Kate made the squad because she stuffs her bra. Miranda
accidentally sends out the message to everyone on the class
roster. The next day at school Kate is furious about the
taunting she's receiving and confronts Lizzie and Miranda,
demanding to know who is responsible. Lizzie stutters and
stammers for a few moments, then Miranda says that she did it.
Kate promises to make her life miserable, and a war of dirty
tricks breaks out between the two. Miranda tells Lizzie that she
took the blame because Lizzie can't handle conflict. Lizzie
feels guilty as the war between Miranda and Kate escalates.
Finally Lizzie works up the nerve to take responsibilty for the
message and she stands up to Kate. Also, Matt brings home a
lizard for a school project and names it Lizzie, much to his
sister's annoyance. While Mr. and Mrs. McGuire are supposed to
be watching the lizard, it dies.
b: 12-Jan-2001 pc: 103 w: Melissa Gould d: Neal Israel
NOTE: Disney broadcast a special "sneak peek" of this episode
of Lizzie McGuire after the premiere of their movie Zenon: the
Zequel on January 12, 2001. Disney's Lizzie McGuire web site
listed "Rumors" as episode #5, and it was broadcast again on
Saturday, February 3, a day after the premiere of "Pool Party."
Each episode features a "blooper reel" of outtakes shown just
before the final credits, which starts off with a shot of a
clapboard. For the first twelve episode, the title of the show
listed on the clapboard is "What's Lizzie Thinking?"
When they are chatting online, Lizzie's screen name is LIZZEE.
Miranda's is MANDER.
Miranda appears with some orange coloring in her hair,
presumably done on purpose, unlike Kate's green hair!
Music used includes the song "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,"
originally recorded by the Australian hard rock band AC/DC in
1976, though the artist performing it here is unknown to us.
It's heard during the scene where Miranda and Kate are playing
dirty tricks on each other.
Mitchah Williams plays various unnamed boys in the series.
Interesting enough, he started his acting career by being one of
the winners of a Steve Urkel look alike contest. He appeared
with the other winners on an episode of Family Matters as one of
Steve's kids.
Filming dates: September 13-15, 2000.
Character mentioned but not seen: Larry Tudgeman.
Jo McGuire mentions that she has a sister.
Davida Williams's sister Kenya Williams appears on Even
Stevens as Monique. So both sisters were working for Disney at
the time this and other episodes aired. Davida was seen in fewer
of the second season's episodes due to being a member of the
girl group TG4 (the female version of B2K).
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2. Picture Day
gs: Sonya Eddy (Photographer) Aaron Fors (Ed) Chelsea J.
Wilson (Parker) Clayton Snyder (Ethan) Amy Fuzzell (Girl in
Hallway [uncredited])
Lizzie, Miranda and Gordo all have big problems on the day
their pictures are to be taken for the junior high yearbook.
Lizzie searches and searches for the right thing to wear, but
her mother insists she put on a "hideous" sweater that her
grandmother gave her. Miranda runs afoul of Kate when they both
show up wearing the same outfit. And Gordo feels the pressure to
assume a tough-guy pose when his picture is snapped. Meanwhile
Matt hasn't studied for a quiz at school, so he fakes being sick
to get out of it. But he finds out that his mom's cure can be
worse than the disease.
b: 19-Jan-2001 pc: 102 w: Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile d: Neal
Israel
NOTE: Disney's on-air promos that were broadcast on January
19, 2001 identified this episode as the premiere of a new
series, even though a sneak prevue of "Rumors" had been aired
the week before. Disney's Lizzie McGuire website also listed
"Picture Day" as episode #1. See also the note for "Rumors."
We learn that Sam's mother Gammy McGuire (Lizzie's
grandmother) is 61.
Filming dates: September 7-10, 2000. The clapboard on the
blooper reel at the end of the show is dated September 7.
Music in this episode includes the song "Absolutely (Story of
a Girl)" by the New York rock group Nine Days from their album
Madding Crowd, played when Lizzie gets on the bus wearing the
unicorn sweater. (Thanks to the_sinoran_knight for pointing this
one out.)
On the original broadcast, Matt tried to raise his temperature
by putting a penny in his mouth. On subsequent showings, the
scene was changed to one where Matt used a flashlight on the
thermometer to increase his temperature. This change was
probably made for safety reasons, as Disney no doubt didn't want
any children imtating Matt by putting small objects in their
mouths. (Thanks to sharp-eyed viewer Let'sGo2LinconRoc for
catching this.)
Lizzie mentions that she wore braces in the 6th grade.
This is the one of only two Lizzie episodes to date to use
foreshadowing, i.e. opening with a scene that reoccurs later in
the story, then flashing back to tell the story. The other one:
"Clue-less" in season two.
Characters without lines: Ed (Aaron Fors, listed in the
credits), who threw the paint on Lizzie; Rudy Velasco, the boy
who gets "nose milk;" Bethany Edelstein, Lisa Chung, Allison
Gendel, Tamara Scarpatti, girls who Lizzie considers asking to
borrow clothes from: Mrs. Furnilius, the woman whose backyard
Miranda got paid to clean up, seen in stills. Also, Jennifer
Nicole Freeman, who played Alix in "Pool Party," is seen in the
confrontation scene in the hall between Kate and Miranda, but
she has no lines. We think it is possible that Freeman was
originally intended to appear semi-regularly as a friend of
Kate's, but for some reason she did not continue on the show and
her character was renamed Claire (played by Davida Williams).
Unseen character: Danny Kessler, mentioned by one of the girls.
Adam Lamberg's (Gordo) voice sounds significantly lower than
in the previously filmed episode, "Pool Party," which leads us
to believe that either his voice changed in the few days between
filmings or that there was something wrong with the recording of
"Pool Party."
In this episode, Toon Lizzie says "Your shoes suck!" to a big
cartoon pair of shoes after Lizzie's scene with Parker McKenzie.
This is only one of two times this mild profanity has been used
on Lizzie. The other: in "I've Got Rhythmic."
Some real-life photos of Hilary Duff are shown when Lizzie is
describing her previous school pictures.
Parker McKenzie (played by Chelsea Wilson), a minor recurring
character, makes her first appearance here.
This episode can also be found in the paperback novelization
book Picture This.
Toon Lizzie appears dressed as Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) in the
film Mission: Impossible (1996) when he's breaking into the
vault. She also appears this way in "Aaron carter's Coming to
Town."
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3. When Moms Attack
gs: Craig Anton (Mr. Pettus) Byron Fox (Danny Kessler)
Clayton Snyder (Ethan)
Lizzie is looking forward to the science class field trip,
but she is mortified when she finds out that her mother is a
last-minute replacement as the girls' chaperone. Lizzie fears
that her mother will embarrass her to death, and Mom does a
pretty good job of doing just that while they are competing with
the boys on a nature walk. But Mrs. McGuire proves how cool she
can be when she helps the girls get back at the boys for a prank
they pulled then takes all the blame herself. Back at home, Matt
and Mr. McGuire are left on their own and try to cook for
themselves.
b: 26-Jan-2001 pc: 105 w: Nina G. Bargiel & Jeremy J. Bargiel
d: Mark Rosman
NOTE: Disney's Lizzie McGuire website listed "When Moms
Attack" as episode #2. See also the notes for "Rumors" and
"Picture Day."
This is the only episode that Ethan Craft (Clayton Snyder) and
Danny Kessler (Byron Fox) are both in.
In "Picture Day" and "When Moms Attack," Ethan's character
seems to be more thuglike than he acts in later episodes
beginning with "I Do, I Don't."
Sam and Matt try to cook using a cookbook entitled "Cooking
for Complete Idiots."
Mrs. Stebbel, who was originally supposed to be the girls'
chaperone, is not seen in this episode, but she does show up
later in "I Do, I Don't." Other unseen characters mentioned:
Coach Kelly, Mr. Booth the janitor, and Ms. Mangle.
Lizzie has a stuffed pig named Mr. Snuggles. Kate had a teddy
bear named Mr. Stuart Wuggelsby.
Filming dates: September 26-29, 2000.
A possible clue to where Lizzie lives: When Toon Lizzie is
talking about how her mom is banned from further field trips, in
the background is a copy of the book West's Annotated California
Codes, a reference book containing laws for the state of
California.
Jo McGuire (Hallie Todd) is seen here without her glasses on
for one of the few times in the series when she's caught T.P.ing
the boys tent.
Mr. Pettus was the name of the high school physics teacher of
screenwriters Nina And Jeremy Bargiel.
This episode can also be found in the paperback novelization
book When Moms Attack.
When Toon Lizzie hangs on a clock face, it resembles a famous
scene that exists, in three films. The most famous of the three
movies to use this scene, is Back to the Future (1985), when Doc
Brown (Christopher Lloyd) hangs off a clock when Marty McFly
(Michael J. Fox) is trying to get back home to 1985. Doc Brown's
"man hanging off a clock face" depicts the famous scene in
Harold Lloyd's The Sin of Harold DiddlebockSafety Last (1923).
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4. Pool Party (aka Pilot)
gs: Dot Jones (Coach Kellly) Byron Fox (Danny Kessler)
Jennifer Freeman (Alix)
Lizzie and Miranda are ecstatic about being invited to a pool
party given by their heartthrob, Danny Kessler. Mrs. McGuire is
excited for Lizzie too until she finds out it's on the same day
as grandma's 80th birthday party. She tells Lizzie she has to go
to her grandma's instead and Lizzie is furious. The next day at
school Miranda temporarily gets on the good side of Kate, the
girls' former best friend who has literally and figuratively
outgrown them. Kate invites Miranda to hang out with her crowd,
causing a conflict between Miranda and Lizzie. At home Lizzie
catches her mom on the phone making up a lie to get out of a
commitment and accuses her of being a hypocrite. Gordo helps
Lizzie to smooth over her differences with Miranda. Mom tells
Lizzie she can go to the party after all, but she decides not to
and spends the day with Gordo.
b: 02-Feb-2001 pc: 101 w: Terri Minsky d: Larry Shaw
NOTE: Disney's Lizzie McGuire website listed this "Pool
Party" as episode #3. See also the notes for "Rumors" and
"Picture Day." When "Pool Party" was originally broadcast, many
TV listings identified the episode name as "Pilot," and it does
appear that this was supposed to be the first show of the
series, as all the characters are identified by name and
description in the first few minutes. This is the only episode
of Lizzie... on which the show creator Terri Minsky is also
listed as executive producer. Also, according to one viewwer,
this episode may have been taped from Mar. 20-24, 2000.
A real house was used as the McGuire's home in the filming of
the pilot episode. It also served as the home of the Burnham
family in the movie, American Beauty (1999). A different set was
used for the filming of subsequent episodes.
The song heard at the show's end while Lizzie and company are
romping around is "Why Can't We Be Friends," done here in a
version by the California rock band Smash Mouth. (Thanks to a
Lizzie viewer for the ID.) It was originally a hit (#6 on
charts) in 1975 for the funk/soul/rock band War.
Lizzie says she's known Gordo "since I was one day old,"
indicating that his birthday comes before hers.
Gordo mentions that both his parents are psychiatrists.
This episode, the first Lizzie McGuire ever made, is only one
of two episodes that doesn't contain a "blooper reel" of
outtakes at the end of the show, the other being "Between a Rock
and a Bra Place."
This is the last episode featuring Danny Kessler (Byron Fox)
and one of only three he appeared in. Actually, it was filmed
before the other two, "Rumors" and "When Moms Attack," but it
wasn't shown until they had already aired. After this, Ethan
Craft moved into the role of the girls' heartthrob.
Nice continuity: Nana (Jo McGuire's mother) is going to Las
Vegas to enter the World Series of Poker at the episode's end.
Later, in "Mom's Best Friend," Jo mentions that Nana and Grandpa
Chuck are going to Las Vegas after making up after a fight.
The stock footage of the exterior of Lizzie's school has also
been used in 7th Heaven and Even Stevens.
Character without lines: Nana, Jo's mother and Lizzie's
grandmother who is seen in still photos. Unseen characters:
Julia, a girl whose name is mentioned on the bus; Marian, the
woman Jo is on the phone with.
According to Jo McGuire's calendar, Danny's pool party was
supposed to be on May 20, 2000.
In the Lizzie McGuire Cine-manga novel which includes this
episode Kate's last name in listed as Christopher instead of
Sanders.
When Lizzie is thinking to herself "It's ok. It's ok. I don't
need my mother. I don't need my best friend.", the book open
next to her is The Golden Book Encyclopedia, Volume III - Boats
to Cereals. Pictured are Lewis Carroll, George Washington
Carver, and the Caspian Sea. When Lizzie says "I don't need
anybody" the same book is open to an earlier page. It shows the
illustrations from the article about candy.
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5. I've Got Rhythmic
gs: Kyle J. Downes (Larry Tudgeman) Dot Jones (Coach Kelly)
Brianna James (Super Smart Girl) Michael Barryte (Super Smart
Boy)
Lizzie is dissatisfied with being an ordinary "B" student and
is looking for something at which she can excel. Surprisingly,
she finds out in gym class that she has a real talent for
rhythmic gymnastics. But she thinks the sport is stupid and is
ambivalent about competing. She trains hard and goes to the
regional competition, where a jealous Kate tries to sabotage her
performance. Miranda and Gordo help foil Kate's plan and Lizzie
wins first place. Her parents are proud but Lizzie decides to
give up the sport and go back to being her "ordinary" self.
b: 09-Feb-2001 pc: 104 w: Nancy Neufeld Callaway d: Alan
Myerson
NOTE: Disney lists this episode as number 4 on their "Lizzie
McGuire" website but TV Tome, epguides.com and the Internet
Movie Database all list it as number 5, which we think is
correct.
Several TV Tome users have told us that Hilary Duff (Lizzie)
does rhythmic gymnastics in real life. In this episode, she
appears to do all her own gymnastic work without using a double.
A lot of quick editing helps her to look good, however. But a
careful viewing of the scene does show that a double was used
because she has shorter hair than Lizzie.
On the grade list that Lizzie is reading, her name is listed
just after Robin Lippin and Polly Mattson and just before Rick
Mercado. All three are part of the show's crew. Lippin is the
casting director, Mattson is an assistant director and Mercado
is a sound mixer.
When Lizzie is doing her rhythmic gymnastics routines, the
music in the background is an imitation of the theme from the
1981 movie Chariots of Fire, which is about athletes competing
in the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris. The movie won an Academy
Award for best picture and also for composer Vangelis' music. In
another scene, when Lizzie is dreaming of success, a fake
version of the famous Olympic Games fanfare is played.
The scene where Lizzie is cracking several eggs in the kitchen
is a takeoff of a scene in the movie Rocky (1976). In that
movie, Rocky (played by Sylvester Stallone) breaks several eggs,
puts them in a glass and drinks them down raw as part of his
training diet for the big boxing match. Lizzie puts her eggs in
a frying pan instead. She weakly says "yo," one of Rocky's
favorite words, before collapsing.
Lizzie's scores from the gymnastics judges are 9.4, 9.7 and
9.5.
Filming dates: September 19-23, 2000.
Usually the blooper reels shown before the end credits start
off with a shot of a clapboard that has the name of the show,
the director and cameraman's names, the production number and
the date on it. This episode's blooper reel originally didn't
have one. But! At the end of the blooper reel following the
episode "The Rise and Fall of Kate," a second clapboard flashes
on the screen at the very last split-second. That board is for
this episode, production number 104. It gives the date of
production as September 20, 2000. Curiously, the director was
listed as Alan Myerson on the board, but in the opening credits
of "Rhythmic," Savage Steve Holland was originally listed as the
director. By the November 7, 2002 rebroadcast of this episode,
the credits had ben changed and Myerson was listed as director
(or at least that's when a sharp-eyed viewer first noticed it!)
The "I've Got Rhythmic" blooper reel also now had an opening
shot of a clapboard, but it wasn't the same one that showed up
for a split-second in the blooper reel for "Rise & Fall...,"
"Those Freaky McGuires," "Movin' On Up," "I Do, I Don't,"
"Random Acts of Miranda," "Night of the Day of the Dead,"
"Gordo's Video," "Sibling Bonds," "Lizzie Strikes Out," "Gordo
and the Dwarves," "Scarlett Larry," and "El Oro de Montezuma."
The gym class in this episode is all girls, though in later
episodes the class contains boys too.
Sam McGuire calls his son Matthew at one point for the first
(and only?) time in the series.
Unusual for this series, there are a couple of mild
profanities in the dialog. Miranda says, "Girls' PE totally
sucks!" and Lizzie later tells Gordo and Miranda, "You guys
really saved my butt." The only other time that "suck" was used
in this way was in "Picture Day."
When Toon Lizzie is going through a series of pictures of her
classmates and predicting their futures, one of them is Cassie
Walker, the girl who would later play Beth Ludberg in the
episode "In Miranda Lizzie Does Not Trust."
The episode's title is taken from the old George Gershwin song
"I Got Rhythm," which has recorded and performerd by hundreds of
artists including Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong, and Benny
Goodman. Music & lyrics
Matt claims he has several special talents, which includes
"that curly-cue thing I can do with my tongue," the ability to
say names backwards and eating spoonfuls of wasabi. (The other
ones are inaudible.)
Mrs. McGuire mentions a pet parakeet that flew away, one of
the few times a pet is ever mentioned in this series.
Stunt double: Larry Nicholas (for Larry).
This is one of the few episodes (maybe the only one?) which
doesn't have a particular story line or sub-plot for the
character of Matt.
First appearance of Kyle J. Downes as Larry Tudgeman.
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6. Jack of All Trades
gs: Craig Anton (Mr. Pettus)
Gordo is sure that Mr. Pettus is giving him "B"s instead of
"A"s because Pettus doesn't like him. His state of mind isn't
helped any when the teacher gives the class an aptitude test
which shows that Gordo is best suited to be a blackjack dealer.
To prove that Mr. Pettus has it in for him, Gordo convinces
Lizzie to turn in his science project with her name on it and
vice versa, which ends up having disasterous results. Also, Matt
adopts a hip-hop attitude and insists that everyone call him
"M-Dogg."
b: 23-Feb-2001 pc: 106 w: Trish Baker d: Savage Steve Holland
NOTE: Disney's Lizzie McGuire website lists the title of this
episode as "Jacks of All Trades."
Continuity: It's revealed that Lizzie wanted to a veterinarian
when she was 7. In "Over the Hill" she again lists veterinarian
as a possible life work.
Gordo mentions the "dead frog" that he put in Mr. Pettus'
pocket in "When Moms Attack."
Filming dates: October 8-12, 2000. The clapboard on the
blooper reel shown at the end of the show is dated October 12,
2000.
Character without lines: Shelly Grossbart, the one of the
three little girl in the pool who had an "accident."
Unseen character: Ms. Stokes, a kindergaten teacher Gordo
mentions.
This is one of only three episodes with only one guest star.
The other two are "The Courtship of Miranda Sanchez" and "Grand
Ole Grandma."
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7. Aaron Carter's Coming to Town (aka Here Comes Aaron
Carter)
gs: Aaron Carter (Himself) Brad Grunberg (Security Guard)
David Alex Rosen (Video Director) Angela Oh (Aaron Carter's
Manager) Gregory Hinton (Caterer) Rory J. Shoaf (Set P.A.) Nonny
Price (Dancer) Nikole Smith (Dancer) Nicole Neil (Dancer)
Allison Kyler (Dancer)
Lizzie and Miranda are excited about the news that singer
Aaron Carter is coming to their town to do a video shoot. They
enlist Gordo to help them figure out where the shoot will take
place so they can crash the set and meet Aaron. Matt horns his
way into the group also. When they arrive at the site Matt is
mistaken for Aaron's stand-in and let on the set, but the other
three are not. They try several ways to sneak in but are always
chased off by a security guard. In all the confusion Mr. and
Mrs. McGuire somehow manage to get detained by security. Aaron's
manager catches the trio and Lizzie convinces her to at least
let one of them meet Aaron. She agrees, and Lizzie tells Miranda
that she can be the one. Lizzie goes back to get a tape recorder
she left behind and runs in to Aaron, who gives her a kiss. The
kids all get to be extras in the video.
b: 23-Mar-2001 pc: 118 w: Nina G. Bargiel & Jeremy J. Bargiel
d: Savage Steve Holland
NOTE: Aaron Carter performs "I Want Candy," which was
originally a hit for the Strangeloves in 1965 and redone by Bow
Wow Wow in 1982. When Aaron kisses Lizzie a portion of his song
"Girl You Shine" can be heard. Both songs are from his third
album Aaron's Party (Come Get It) (2000).
Going by the production numbers, this is the first episode of
Lizzie... shown substantially out of the order in which it was
filmed. No doubt Disney wanted it to air around the same time as
their "Aaron Carter & Samantha Mumba in Concert" special, and
perhaps they felt that if they waited too long to show it,
Carter might not be as popular anymore.
Brad Grunberg, who plays the security guard, is the brother of
Greg Grunberg, who plays Sean on on Felicity. In every scene
that he's in, he's eating something.
The "Ren-Mar warehouse" where Aaron's music video is being
shot shares its name with Ren-Mar studios in Los Angeles, where
Lizzie is actually filmed.
When Jo McGuire is put into a holding room, she's seen sitting
on the floor repeatedly bouncing a rubber ball against the wall.
This is a little tribute to the 1963 war film The Great Escape
in which Steve McQueen's character does the same thing. The
music playing in the background is an imitation of the movie's
music.
Although Aaron Carter is doing a Christmas video shoot, the
story takes place in the spring.
Sitting outside the studio in elf costumes, Lizzie, Gordo and
Miranda assume the "three monkeys" pose--see no evil, hear no
evil, speak no evil.
Filming dates: January 20-23, 2001.
Aaron's manager is portrayed by an actress here, but in real
life he's managed by his mother, Jane Carter.
Unseen characters: Matt mentions his friend Lanny for the
first time and Lizzie mentions Mr. Lang.
This episode won in the category "Lizzie McGuire's Best
Adventure" in the viewer voting on the Disney Channel's
broadcast of "A Raven New's Year's Eve," December 31, 2002.
After Miranda takes off her boots, she Lizzie, Matt and Gordo
walk into the Ren-Mar Warehouse. There is a sly reference to the
legendary Beatle's album Abbey Road with the four walking in
line and Miranda barefoot, just like Paul McCartney on the album
cover. Adding to the Abbey Road parody, Miranda is holding a
lollypop, (like Paul's cigarette, and you can faintly hear
something that sounds like "Come Together" from the Abbey Road
album.
The vehicle Sam was driving is a 2000 Volvo V40 Turbo Wagon,
it can also be seen in the episode "Inner Beauty." The vehicle
Jo was driving is a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo Wagon.
This episode can be found in the paperback novelization book A
Very Lizzie Christmas. Incidentally in the book, the person
Lizzie's trying to meet is Zander Knight, not Aaron Carter and
the song which is sung is "Special Girl." It is also on Vol. 3
of the Lizzie McGuire DVD Collection entitled Star Struck,
released on Mar. 16, 2004.
Toon Lizzie appears dressed as Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) in the
film Mission: Impossible (1996) when he's breaking into the
vault. She also appears this way in "Picture Day."
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8. Misadventures in Babysitting
gs: Diana Weng (Mrs. Shin [as Diana C. Weng]) Randy
McPherson (Policeman)
When a babysitter cancels on the McGuires, Lizzie suggests
that she's old enough to do the job for her brother Matt, but
mom and dad say no. After much persuasion from Lizzie they
relent, and Miranda and Gordo also come over to help. After Mr.
and Mrs. McGuire leave, Matt generally causes havoc, spilling
grape juice on the rug, acting bratty and taking advantage of
Lizzie, who badly wants to impress her parents with her
responsibility. Miranda and Gordo aren't much help as they won't
follow Lizzie's orders either. At the restaurant Sam McGuire
wants to sneak home and check on his daughter and son; Jo
doesn't like the idea, but says just don't let them see you.
Meanwhile at the house, Matt has knocked out the power. Mr.
McGuire tries to peer in the window and goes tumbling over. The
kids think he's a burglar and call the police. Mr. McGuire tries
to get in the locked house and the kids wage a battle against
him reminiscent of the movie Home Alone. The police come to
arrest Sam. After all is straightened out, Lizzie's parents
apologize for not trusting her.
b: 06-Apr-2001 pc: 107 w: David Blum & Stacy Kramer d: Mark
Rosman
NOTE: Filming dates: October 15-19, 2000. The clapboard seen
on the blooper reel at the end of the show is dated October 16,
2000.
Lizzie mentions that Miranda has a baby sister. However, the
supposed sister had never been mentioned before, and as of June
2003, has never been mentioned again.
Songs heard include "I Think We're Alone Now," from the album
of the same name, played when the kids are trying to scare off
whoever or whatever is outside. We don't know who does this
version of the song, but the original was by Tommy James and the
Shondells. It was a #4 hit in April 1967. The song was also the
first hit single for the singer Tiffany, reaching the number one
spot for two weeks in November 1987.
Matt (Jake Thomas) hits the pose made famous by Macaulay
Culkin in the movie Home Alone (1990), the one with both hands
on the sides of his face and his mouth open screaming.
Miranda sings an off-key version of "My Country 'Tis of Thee."
Kate wears her hair straight and down in this episode.
This episode's name was suggested by the movie Adventures in
Babysitting, a 1987 comedy starring Elizabeth Shue. It's also
one of three episodes of Lizzie with the same name as an episode
of the TV series Full House. The other two: "Come Fly with Me"
and "Working Girl."
Characters without lines: Babysitters Olivia Skiven (the
country linedancer), Mrs. Harvey, Tammy, Mrs. Jaffe. Unseen
character: Debbie Gottshalk, the babysitter who cancels on the
McGuires.
Stunt Double: Mike McGaughy (for Sam).
Kate mentions a software program Cyber Townmaker, this is
obviously a reference to the very popular program Sim City which
was first released in 1989.
This episode can be found in the paperback novelization book
On the Job. It is also on Vol. 2 of the Lizzie McGuire DVD
Collection entitled Growing Up Lizzie, released on Dec. 9, 2003.
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9. Election
gs: Kyle J. Downes (Larry Tudgeman) Davida Williams (Claire
Miller) Sara Paxton (Holly) Rachel Snow (Veruca) Bernard Kira
(Thug) Cory Hodges (Protester)
Lizzie and friends are frustrated--the only candidates for
school president are super-popular cheerleader Claire Miller and
oddball Larry Tudgeman, who promises to eat a worm for every
vote he gets. Gordo encourages Lizzie to run as a "normal"
candidate and Miranda seconds the motion. Lizzie agrees to do
it. Gordo is her gung-ho campaign manager as she runs on a
"voice of the people" platform. Lizzie starts to gain
confidence, even enough to tell off Claire and Kate. Gordo
thinks she should schmooze the "second-tier" popular kids in the
drama club, so Lizzie puts on her shades and black leather and
tries to get in good with them. Miranda is annoyed that Lizzie
is blowing off the less popular kids and groups to hang with the
drama club. Lizzie starts to develop a prima donna attitude and
now Gordo has to agree that he has helped create a monster in
candidate Lizzie. The big surprise on election day is that
underdog Larry wins. Lizzie must face Miranda and Gordo after
the election but they are forgiving.
Also, Matt begins talking about Jasper, his imaginary friend.
Mr. and Mrs. McGuire are concerned that Matt is too old to be
having such a playmate. They give him extra attention--and
presents--but Jasper won't go away. Then Mom hears him on the
phone telling his friend how his plan is working perfectly.
b: 20-Apr-2001 pc: 108 w: Melissa Gould d: Brian K. Roberts
NOTE: This episode was voted #3 in Disney's online poll of
Sep. 21, 2001.
This is the first episode where the characters are seen at
their hangout, the Digital Bean.
Filming dates: October 23-26, 2000. The clapboard seen on the
blooper reel at the end of the show is dated October 26, 2000.
When Robert Carradine (Mr. McGuire) tells Lizzie he was
president of his school's audio-visual club, a still photo of
Carradine is shown in his character of Lewis from the Revenge of
the Nerds movies.
When Lizzie first decides to run for school president, "Hail
to the Chief" is playing in the background.
Claire is identified as the yearbook editor as well as
cheerleader captain.
Lizzie paraphrases President John F. Kennedy's famous quote
from his 1960 inaugural address, "Ask not what your country can
do for you; ask what you can do for your country," replacing
"country" with "student government."
An outtake from this episode featuring Kate (Ashlie Brillault)
and Claire (Davida Williams) was used in a Disney promotional ad
for the series. It featured the two girls in unison saying (to
Lizzie, presumably) "Loser loser, double loser, as if, whatever,
get the picture, duh!", complete with appropriate gestures.
This is the second time we see Lizzie do her rendition of
Britney Spears' "Oops! I Did It Again" video. (The first time
was in "Picture Day.") She's shown in split-screen alongside a
picture of Larry Tudgeman as Marilyn Manson.
Unseen character: Doug, the boy who Matt is talking to on the
phone.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. I Do, I Don't
gs: Clayton Snyder (Ethan Craft) Kyle J. Downes (Larry
Tudgeman) Candy Brown Houston (Mrs. Stebel) Chelsea J. Wilson
(Cop Kid) Mitchah Williams (Farmer Kid)
Mrs. Stebel pairs up the students in her social studies class
for a mock marriage assignment. Each set of partners must draw a
job from a jar at random, work up a fictional lifestyle and
report back at a pretend 20-year reunion. Always-snobby Kate is
horrified to find herself matched up with Larry Tudgeman, but at
least she likes her job, a television anchorwoman. Lizzie wants
to be partnered with Ethan Craft, who's not so smart but is
cute. But she gets familiar old Gordo, whose job is sanitation
engineer (garbageman). Lizzie figures it's not so bad, though,
since Gordo will probably ensure she gets a good grade. Her mind
begins to change when Miranda gets picked to be Ethan's partner,
and he's a surgeon to boot. Lizzie can't help but be jealous.
Kate tries to completely ignore her "husband" Larry, and
Lizzie unconsciously does the same thing to Gordo, as she begins
obsessing about Ethan and Miranda, who couldn't be happier.
Gordo is disappointed that his friend Lizzie is taking him for
granted. At the Digital Bean, Lizzie sees Kate and Ethan and
overhears that Kate plans to leave Larry at the reunion and
wants "Dr. Craft" to do the same to Miranda. Lizzie wants to
tell Miranda but can't bring herself to do it until just before
the reunion starts. Miranda is crushed, but when it comes time
for her and Ethan to give their presentation, she turns the
tables on him and leaves him first. Larry also finds a way to
pay back Kate.
In the meantime, Jo McGuire is worried about what Matt is up
to and asks her husband to find out what it is. Sam follows his
son to where he's building a "Mattcave," a place all his own
where he can escape to and hang out. Dad thinks that's a great
idea and soon both the McGuire boys are spending time there. But
Mom finds them and tells them to get out of the "mud hole."
b: 27-Apr-2001 pc: 109 w: Nina G. Bargiel & Jeremy J. Bargiel
d: Steve DeJarnatt
NOTE: Ethan Craft (Clayton Snyder) seems to have replaced
Danny Kessler (Byron Fox) as the show's resident hunk. Also
around this time, the pronunciation of Kate's name went from
SAN-ders to SAUN-ders, even though the spelling remains
"Sanders."
Gordo's real name, David, is used in this episode, one of the
few times this has happened on the show.
Filming dates: November 1-4, 2000. The clapboard on the
blooper reel at the end of the show is dated November 3, 2000.
The clapboard for "I've Got Rhythmic" also appears for a split
second twice in the blooper reel.
When Miranda and Ethan are paired as a "married" couple in
class, the famous Wedding March by Felix Mendelsohn from A
Mid-Summer Night's Dream is played.
When Gordo is dressed as a garbageman, his jumpsuit has the
name "Tom" embroidered on it.
Lizzie wears the same light-blue leather jacket that Miranda
later wears in "Obsession," the one that upsets Lizzie so much.
She (Lizzie) also wears it in "Between a Rock and a Bra Place."
The name of this episode is very similar to that of the
episode "I Do, I Don't, I Do" from the short lived 1982-83 Happy
Days spin-off series Joanie Loves Chachi.
This episode can also be found in the paperback novelization
book New Kid In School.
This is one of the few episodes in which Sam and Jo are shown
kissing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Bad Girl McGuire
gs: Jackie Angelescu (Angel Lieberman) Page Leong (Mrs.
Wortman) Daniel R. Escobar (Mr. Escobar)
In math class, punked-out troublemaker Angel puts gums in
Lizzie's hair, then tries to cheat off her test paper. The
teacher is annoyed with the distractions and sends them both to
detention. Lizzie is nervous about entering the detention hall
for the first time and facing Angel again, but she actually
finds that the experience is a different one for her--almost
fun. When she gets home, Mom is mad at her for not calling about
being late. Lizzie lies about where she's been. Mom is also mad
at Matt for being late. When he complains about the freedoms his
friends have, including no bedtimes, Mom makes a deal: if he
comes home on time, he won't have a bedtime. Matt is overjoyed
about this, but Jo seems to know what she's doing.
At school Lizzie is now dressing like Angel and hanging with
her. She's also forging notes and cutting classes. Angel invites
her to a high-school party on Friday. When Lizzie later finds
out there will be no parents at the party, she's secretly
worried. Gordo and Miranda decide that Lizzie needs an
intervention, so they sit her down and make her watch a video
they've made, "Before They Were Bad Girls." Lizzie admits that
being bad is a lot of hard work. She tells Gordo and Miranda
that she'll spend next Friday with them and she puts Angel back
in her place. Meanwhile, Matt has been staying up late at night
and walking around like a zombie in the daytime. Soon he asks
for his old bedtime back.
b: 04-May-2001 pc: 110 w: Melissa Gould d: Anson Williams
NOTE: Anson Williams, who directed this episode, played
"Potsie" Weber for years on the sitcom Happy Days. Since his
days on that show, he has been most active as a television
director.
Angel refers to dweebs and geeks as "double E's."
Matt (Jake Thomas) does an imitation of Tom Cruise's famous
dance scene in the movie Risky Business. The recording used here
of "Old Time Rock and Roll" is by someone other than Bob Seger,
though.
Some real-life pictures of Hilary Duff as a younger girl are
seen in the "intervention" video Gordo and Miranda made.
Filming dates: November 9-12, 2000.
Unseen characters: Mr. Pettus the science teacher is
mentioned; Eli Saxon, mentioned by Gordo and Miranda as the boy
who ate his shoes!
Some still photos of Lizzie helping a little old lady across
the street are shown, and the woman in them looks suspiciously
like the woman who has appeared in stills in other episodes as
Nana, Lizzie's grandmother.
Angel gives Lizzie the nickname "Frizzy," or "Frizz," in this
episode.
This episode can also be found in the paperback novelization
book Lizzie Goes Wild.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. Between a Rock and a Bra Place
gs: David Carradine (Himself) Davida Williams (Claire
Miller) Ty Upshaw (Mr. Coppersmith) Amelia Marshall (Mrs.
Miller) Dana Pauley (Saleswoman)
Lizzie and Miranda note that when a girl gets her first bra,
her personality somehow seems to change. They decide they are
ready for their first, and hatch a plan to get Lizzie's mom to
take them to the mall where they will shop for "school
supplies." Lizzie is a terrible liar, though, and blurts out the
real reason for the trip. Mom is overjoyed to help the girls
out, but she embarrasses them as they are shopping. Lizzie is
very harsh with her mother, telling her that she and Miranda are
old enough to do their own shopping and to leave them alone. The
girls face further embarrassment when they run into Kate,
Claire, and their English teacher Mr. Coppersmith. They also
find that they don't know what to look for. They find Mrs.
McGuire and apologize for being abrupt with her and ask for her
help. Also, Matt is entering the Jet Li sidekick contest. He
gets his dad and Gordo with his camcorder to help him make a
martial arts movie as his contest entry, but it doesn't go well.
Sam McGuire calls up a mysterious man named David, a kung fu
expert, to help instruct them. After David finishes with them,
he disappears quickly. Gordo asks, "Who was that guy?" Sam
answers, "I've known him all my life. He's like a brother to
me." Matt's entry wins the contest.
b: 11-May-2001 pc: 111 w: Nina G. Bargiel & Jeremy J. Bargiel
d: Mark Rosman
NOTE: Guest star David Carradine is the older brother
(actually half-brother) of Robert Carradine (Sam McGuire). He
was the star of Kung Fu (1972-75), one of the most unlikely hit
TV series of all time. He appears here dressed the same as he
did on that show, although his character is more like Master
Kan's and Matt assumes the role of Caine, David's old part. The
Carradines are one of the best-known acting families in
Hollywood history. Robert and David have another famous acting
brother, Keith; and their father John had a motion picture
career that lasted well over fifty years. Robert is the father
of actress Ever Carradine, Keith is the father of actress Martha
Plimpton, and David is the father of a son with actress Barbara
Hershey. The Carradine brothers have worked together in
different combinations in many films and TV shows during their
careers. One of the most notable was the 1980 western The Long
Riders, about the James-Younger gang of the 1800's. David, Keith
and Robert played outlaws Cole, Jim and Bob Younger,
respectively; and the movie also features three other sets of
real-life brothers playing siblings: James and Stacey Keach
(Jesse and Frank James), Dennis and Randy Quaid (Ed and Clell
Miller), and Christopher and Nicholas Guest (Charlie and Bob
Ford).
The soundtrack for this episode includes the song "Kung Fu
Fighting," the 1974 hit by Jamaican singer Carl Douglas. Yes,
it's the same song all those bad karaoke singers are doing in
the recent Levis commercial.
Many female viewers pointed out that in reality, Lizzie and
Miranda would certainly have already gotten their first bras.
Kate and Claire do their high-five/hair-flip combination for
the first time.
Filmimg dates: November 15-19, 2000.
Adam Lamberg named this as his favorite Lizzie episode in an
interview in the Long Island, New York newspaper Newsday.
There is no blooper reel at the end of this episode. It's
replaced by the "credits" for Matt and Gordo's kung-fu movie.
This is only the second time to date that an episode did not
include a blooper reel. (The first time: "Pool Party.")
Lizzie has had her favorite stuffed animal Mr. Snuggles since
she was two. There are several quick still-photo shots of Lizzie
and Mr. Snuggles from "When Moms Attack" that are used here.
Sam McGuire recalls that he won an essay contest in 1976.
According to what he says in "Gordo's Bar Mitzvah," he would
have been fifteen years old then.
Jennie Woods, the non-speaking character who's a terror at
dodge ball, is the name of a former classmate of Nina Bargiel,
who co-wrote the script. The real Jennie embarrassed Nina once
in the sixth grade by unhooking her bra in front of a large
group of students. "I always told her I'd get back at her, and I
did in front of millions of people," Bargiel said. Also, Nina
and her brother Jeremy (who is her writing partner) had an
English teacher named Mr. Coppersmith, whose name they also use
here.
The light blue leather jacket Lizzie wears is the same one she
wore in "I Do, I Don't" and that Miranda wore in "Obsession."
This episode can also be found in the paperback novelization
book When Moms Attack. It is also on Vol. 2 of the Lizzie
McGuire DVD collection entitled Growing Up Lizzie, released on
Dec. 9, 2003.
While Gordo is filming Matt's video he is wearing a baseball
hat. He is obviously copying the movie director Steven
Spielberg, who also wears a baseball hat while filming. Gordo
also makes a reference to Spielberg and his hat in the episode
"Gordo's Video."
This episode title comes from the expression "caught between a
rock and a hard place" which refers to two mythical beasts in
Greek mythology. Scylla was a monstrous multi-headed spider who
would eat hapless sailors passing near her cave. However, in
order to steer clear of this catastrophe one would have to sail
near Charybdis who was supposedly able to swallow a large
portion of the ocean (including ships) and spit it back out
(without the ships, of course). The same expression was also a
popular phrase used during the 1920's in America. The rock in
this Lizzie episode refers to the stone Matt tries to grab from
David Carradine in his movie, and the bra part obviously refers
to Lizzie's first shopping outting for one.
The clip of Kate and Claire being "worshipped" by the other
students is also seen in the episode "Gordo's Video."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. Come Fly with Me
gs: Clayton Snyder (Ethan Craft) Christian Copelin (Lanny)
Bernard Kira (Vince)
Gordo, always the nonconformist, has a new passion: 1950s &
'60s Las Vegas lounge culture, as epitomized by Frank Sinatra
and the "Rat Pack." Lizzie and Miranda don't care for it, but
they buy Gordo a Rat Pack CD. Ethan Craft listens to it on the
bus and, surprisingly, likes it, which makes the girls
reconsider their opinion. Soon they are dressing in fashions of
the time. Gordo thinks it's cool that they like it, but hopes
that his new interest won't become the latest passing fad at
school. But that looks like exactly what is happening as Ethan
soon has all the guys wearing hats like Sinatra and listening to
the music. Even Kate is admiring the girls for being in first on
the new trend and actually asks for their advice on what to do!
Gordo starts to sour on the Rat Pack and he comes up with a
new interest--radio-controlled 1/64 scale World War II
airplanes, only his enthusiasm doesn't seem genuine. Committee
chairman Kate plans the theme for the next dance, "Lounging
Around." She puts Miranda and Lizzie in charge of music and
clothing. The girls are in over their heads now and must go to
Gordo for help. He's mad at them for making his special interest
so popular among the other students and won't help them. They
can tell he doesn't care for his new hobby and urge him not to
give up his interest in lounge culture just because everyone
else likes it, but he won't listen to them.
Lizzie and Miranda can't enjoy themselves at the dance
without Gordo there even though they are largely responsible for
its success. Just as they are about to leave, Gordo shows up
dressed to the hilt and in full Sinatra mode. He thanks the
girls for setting him straight.
Meanwhile, Matt and his silent friend Lanny are trying to get
into the Guinness Book of World Records. They attempt to set
records for longest netball game, largest pancake, gaining
weight, jumping rope, balancing teacups, holding a vocal note
and running up and down stairs. When they come up several miles
short on the longest rubber band chain, Matt gives up in
discouragement. But his mom comes up with an idea: surely 38
failed attempts to break a world record is a world record
itself!
b: 01-Jun-2001 pc: 112 w: Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile d:
Timothy Busfield
NOTE: Timothy Busfield, who directed this episode, has a
connection with series star Robert Carradine (Sam McGuire). Both
of them starred as fraternity brothers in the movies Revenge of
the Nerds (1984) and Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise
(1987). Busfield is probably best known for his role as Elliot
on the TV series thirtysomething (1987-91). He also played
reporter Danny Concannon on The West Wing.
Sam hums a little of the Twilight Zone theme after trying to
talk to Lanny.
First appearance of Lanny (Christian Copelin).
The "Rat Pack" was the name given to a group of high-living
friends and entertainers who were led by Frank Sinatra and
included Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter
Lawford. The often performed together, separately, or in various
combinations at the big Las Vegas hotel/casinos in the 1950s and
'60s.
Even though Frank Sinatra is a critical element in this
episode, none of his music is heard here.
Filming dates: November 25-28, 2000. The clapboard on the
blooper reel at the end of the show is dated November 28, 2000.
This was the last episode to use the working title "What's
Lizzie Thinking?"
A quote by Christian Copelin on Lanny-"I'm not sure, but I
think Lanny can talk but he just doesn't want to! I think he has
some kind of emotional thing where he just doesn't want to talk
to anybody!"
Miranda says that Gordo's middle name is Zephyr (pronounced
ZEH-fur) and adds, "What's up with that?"
Music heard includes the song "Survivor" by Destiny's Child
(we think!), played during a scene where Matt and Lanny are
making repeated attempts to set a world record.
Matt only refers to "The Book of World Records," but he is
using a copy of Guinness World Records.
Lanny will only eat pumpkin ice cream!
The blooper reel seen at the episode's end is notorious among
Lizzie fans because it contains footage of Adam Lamberg (Gordo)
saying, "Son of a..." in frustration after a mishap. But
contrary to what some people claim, he didn't add an extra word
under his breath to that little outburst.
Kate Sanders' last name is pronounced with a short "a" sound
in this episode, rather than "Saunders."
Character with no lines: Adam, a boy Lizzie speaks to in the
lunch line. Unseen character: Savannah, who Kate assigns a duty
for the dance.
The school nickname of "Wildcats" is seen on a banner in the
hall.
Sam and Jo McGuire are seen for one of the few times without
their glasses during the scene in their bed.
This episode can also be found in the paperback novelization
book Lizzie Goes Wild.
The title of the episode "Come Fly with Me" is also the name
of a Frank Sinatra album recorded in 1957.
The CD Lizzie and Miranda picked up for Gordo appears to be
Sinatra's Swingin' Session which was released in early 1961.
This was one of the last albums Frank recorded for Capitol
before leaving for Reprise. It's also an example of when Sinatra
was at his best belting out swing songs in a fast, uptempo, and
driving manner. Six of the songs were taken from his first album
Sing and Dance With Frank Sinatra (1950) but performed twice as
fast so it's one of his jazziest swing sets. This album also
includes songs written by Cole Porter and Irving Berlin.
The CD Lizzie and Miranda picked up for Gordo appears to be
Sinatra's Swingin' Session!!! And More which was released in
early 1961. This was one of the last albums Frank recorded for
Capitol Records before leaving for Reprise. It's also an example
of when Sinatra was at his best belting out swing songs in a
fast, uptempo, and driving manner. Six of the songs were taken
from his first album Sing and Dance With Frank Sinatra (1950)
but performed twice as fast so it's one of his jazziest swing
sets. This album also includes songs written by Cole Porter and
Irving Berlin.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14. Random Acts of Miranda
gs: Orlando Brown (Travis Elliot) Daniel R. Escobar (Mr.
Escobar) Kyle J. Downes (Larry Tudgeman) Christian Copelin
(Lanny) Troy Rowland (Mr. Lang) Mitchah Williams (Father) Ryan
Shannon (Kid)
Lizzie, who is writing for the school newspaper, asks for the
assignment of covering the school's production of Mr. Escobar's
play "Greasier." Miranda is overjoyed when she unexpectedly gets
the lead in the play. When Lizzie and Gordo go to rehearsal,
however, they are dismayed to find that Miranda is a terrible
actress, and clumsy to boot. Miranda is confident before the
opening of the play, but her performance is no better and she
destroys most of the props and scenery. Lizzie can't bring
herself to write the bad review Miranda deserves, but Gordo
thinks she'll be able to take it. Lizzie writes a review that is
honest, but goes easy on Miranda. Her friend doesn't see it that
way, though, and thinks Lizzie has betrayed her. At lunch they
get into a big fight. Gordo gives Miranda a tape of her
performance and a copy of Lizzie's review and asks her to watch
and read them both. Lizzie writes a retraction of her review but
Miranda now realizes she was just being honest and tells her not
to print it. One month later, Lizzie is in the audience
preparing to cringe as Miranda makes her debut with the glee
club. But she's pleasantly surprised to hear that Miranda is a
fine singer.
Also, Matt wants $90 for walkie-talkies for him and Lanny
(who still isn't talking!) Mr. and Mrs. McGuire want him to work
for the money himself. The boys have a yard sale with Matt's
stuff. Matt gets the walkie-talkies, but when his parents enter
his room, they find that he's sold everything that was there
including his clothes and the furniture.
b: 08-Jun-2001 pc: 113 w: Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile d: Steve
DeJarnatt
NOTE: Lalaine (Miranda) performs the song "Reflection" from
the Disney movie Mulan.
Orlando Brown appeared on ABC's Family Matters series, where
he played 3J, the boy that the Winslows adopted. he also had
roles on the series Two of a Kind with the Olsen twins and on
Safe Harbor. His voice can also be heard on Disney's animated
series The Proud Family and he can be seen on their series
That's So Raven starring Raven-Symone and Anneliese van der Pol.
Filming dates: December 6-10, 2000. The clapboard on the
blooper reel at the end of the show is dated December 8, 2000.
For the first time, it gives the name of the show as Lizzie
McGuire. Before that, the working title "What's Lizzie
Thinking?" was used. The clapboard for the episode "I've Got
Rhythmic" appears for a split second twice in the blooper reel.
Aired on ABC on November 24, 2001.
Lanny speaks! Well, not really, but he does make an audible
noise. When he and Matt are in Matt's bedroom, they are drinking
an orange drink, and after taking a swallow, Lanny makes a faint
"aaah!" sound.
Lizzie refers to being in the school soccer playoffs. This is
one of the few times it's mentioned that Lizzie plays soccer.
The mentions are so few, in fact, that this could almost be
considered a goof, since the subject is so rarely brought up and
Lizzie shows such little interest in it otherwise.
The title of Mr. Escobar's play "Greasier" is probably taken
from Grease. (The popular 1978 movie starring John Travolta and
Olivia Newton-John started out as a play and is still produced
onstage.) But the story and characters don't seem to have much
to do with the real Grease. Miranda's character is named Rhonda
Doppapopoulos.
David Alex Rosen and Jeremy Bargiel, the two "big guys" seen
in several other episodes, are in this one, too. They appear in
some still photos sitting with Jo McGuire in some stadium
bleachers, but they're not listed in the credits.
Sam McGuire is shown in a photo standing in a batter's box,
and he's positioned as a left-hander.
For the first time (that we ever noticed, anyway), Lizzie
repeats something that Toon Lizzie says first. After a fight
with Miranda, Toon Lizzie says, "...you're a stinkbag actress!"
A moment later, Lizzie yells the same thing at Miranda.
Troy Rowland makes his first appearance in a Lizzie episode,
behind the camera he has also been Hilary's dialogue coach and
bodyguard.
This episode can be found in the paperback novelization book
Head Over Heels.
The still photo of Lanny in a scene between Lizzie and Gordo
is from earlier in the episode.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15. Lizzie's Nightmares
gs: Phill Lewis (Principal) Clayton Snyder (Ethan Craft)
Christian Copelin (Lanny) Tony Jones (Police Officer #1) Randy
McPherson (Police Officer) Hayk Kalantarian (Hayk)
Lizzie is in a frenzy because Ethan Craft has asked her to
sit with him at lunch the next day. But at home she still has to
put up with bratty brother Matt, who put honey on the phone
receiver and messed up her hair. Lizzie is furious with him and
this time his parents are also very upset, too. They ground him
and Mom says there will be more severe punishment to come. Matt
races to catch the bus, but he gets on the wrong one, the junior
high bus. Ethan Craft tells him to get out of his seat, but Matt
stands up to him, which Ethan likes. He tells him his name is
"Bond...Matt Bond." By the time they reach school, Matt has
created a legend for himself as a child prodigy, actor, etc. and
his reputation has already spread all over school.
At home, Jo McGuire is worried when she hears Matt isn't at
school. She fears he may have run away because she and husband
Sam were so harsh with him. They call the police and even try to
get Lanny to talk. Meanwhile, Lizzie heads toward Ethan's lunch
table to find that the new student is entertaining the crowd
there. She looks and sees that it's...Matt! Lizzie and Matt both
scream in horror. It's Lizzie's worst nightmare come true as
Matt decides he loves it at Lizzie's school and is admired by
Ethan, Kate--even the principal! Lizzie calls the police to come
get Matt, but getting arrested makes him seem even cooler to the
students. As the episode ends, Ethan calls Lizzie and asks her
to to bring a pizza for him and Matt on Saturday!
b: 22-Jun-2001 pc: 114 w: Melissa Gould d: Jace Alexander
NOTE: Matt says that he's worked with the director Steven
Speilberg. In fact, Jake Thomas, who plays Matt, really did work
with Speilberg in A.I. Artificial Intelligence.
When Matt is dancing to the music in the cafeteria, it is the
same song that was playng during Lizzies rhythmic gymnastics
routine.
Filming dates: December 11-14, 2000. The clapboard on the
blooper reel at the end of the show is dated December 11, 2000.
The principal at Lizzie's school is identified as Principal
Tweedy.
Jo McGuire's mother's voice is heard on the McGuire's
answering machine.
This is the first episode where none of the cast has a costume
change, except during a couple of still photo montages, in which
Lizzie, Matt and Jo are seen in different clothing.
Some viewers have told us Hilary Duff (Lizzie) sounds like she
has a slight cold in this episode.
Continuity: When Toon Lizzie calls Matt a "..lizard-killing,
make-believe-friend-having weirdo," she's referring back to
incidents in "Rumors" (the lizard) and "Election" (the
make-believe friend).
In the scene where Matt is being scolded for putting honey on
Lizzie's phone, he asks if one of his punishments might be no
more chicken noodle casserole and a short montage from the
episode "When Moms Attack" is seen. But in that episode the food
Jo had left for Sam and Matt to eat was identified as a tuna
noodle casserole.
Minor change to set: Beginning in this episode, doors are seen
covering the pantry.
This episode can be found in the paperback novelization book
New Kid in School.
In a shot where the door to Lizzie's locker is open the book
West's Annotated California Codes is seen. It's a reference book
containing laws for the state of California and is also seen in
the episode "When Moms Attack."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16. Obsession
gs: Kyle J. Downes (Larry Tudgeman) Sybyl Walker (Miss
Moran) Chelsea J. Wilson (Parker McKenzie) Lawrence Mandley
(Teacher) Troy Rowland (Mr. Lang)
The various obsessions of Lizzie, Matt and Gordo are driving
friends, family, teachers and themselves to distraction. Gordo
is intent on winning the Science Olympics at all costs against
defending champion Larry Tudgeman. Matt becomes hall monitor at
his school and gets carried away with his own power, giving out
citations to schoolmates by the dozen and even trying to do the
same to teachers and family members. Meanwhile, after she and
Miranda work on a successful volunteer project at school, Lizzie
becomes an environmental warrior, a fanatic for collecting
clothing and food for the homeless, and even a vegetarian! All
three learn that they must put limits on their fanaticism or
else their original causes will suffer as a result.
b: 29-Jun-2001 pc: 116 w: Nina G. Bargiel & Jeremy J. Bargiel
d: Savage Steve Holland
NOTE: The school that Lizzie, Miranda and Gordo attend is
identified in this episode as Hillridge Middle School.
During the "Showdown" scenes between Gordo and Tudgeman, Sam
Winan's background music is a pretty good imitation of the film
music of Ennio Morricone. Who is that? He's an Italian composer
who wrote the familiar music for several of director Sergio
Leone's "spaghetti westerns" which starred Clint Eastwood. Among
these are The Good, the Bad & the Ugly; A Fistful of Dollars,
and For a Few Dollars More.
Filming dates: January 8-12, 2001. The clapboard on the
blooper reel at the end of the show is dated January 10, 2001.
Other music includes the song "Portrait of Authority" by the
Los Angeles hardcore punk/alternative rock band Bad Religion.
It's heard when Matt is giving out tickets for hall violations
at school.
The light blue leather jacket Miranda wears that upsets Lizzie
so is the same jacket Lizzie wears in "Between a Rock and a Bra
Place" and "I Do, I Don't."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17. Sibling Bonds
gs: Clayton Snyder (Ethan Craft) Daniel R. Escobar (Mr.
Escobar) Paul Robert Langdon (Heywood Biggs)
Matt is irritating Lizzie with his magic tricks while she's
trying to do homework. Soon they are fighting like cats and
dogs--or brother and sister--much to the annoyance of their
parents. But as soon as Sam and Jo stop them, they go right back
to fighting.
At school Ethan Craft speaks to Lizzie and Miranda, but
Lizzie is so tongue-tied she can barely utter a word. Mr.
Escobar announces a charity drive and asks for volunteers.
Lizzie thinks she'll be too busy until she hears that Ethan will
be there. At home Lizzie is making some cookies for the event
when Matt tries out another trick. This time he handcuffs
himself to his sister, but he can't get the cuffs loose. Mom
spies the key and hides it, thinking that if the kids are forced
to spend a few hours chained together, they might learn to get
along better. Now Lizzie is facing the horror of going to the
charity drive with her little brother stuck on her arm!
At the drive, Lizzie tries to hide Matt as best she can while
Kate takes advantage of the situation and steals Ethan's
attention. Meanwhile, with the family gone, Dad settles back at
home alone to enjoy the football game, but he OD's on junk food
and falls asleep before the kickoff. Lizzie is furious with Matt
for the trouble he's causing her, but she notices that he's
particularly avoiding a bully named Heywood. When Heywood trips
Matt, Lizzie goes ballistic and scares him off. Now Matt and
Lizzie are beginning to understand some of each other's
problems. Kate comes by to laugh at Lizzie's situation and to
rub it in that she's with Ethan. Matt, returning the favor for
Lizzie, comes up with a good way to get back at Kate. Dad
finally shows up with the key and the siblings are released from
their bond. Ethan sees Lizzie and tells her he thinks it's cool
that she spent the day with her little brother. He invites her
out for pizza with some friends, but Lizzie declines when she
sees Heywood menacing Matt again, and she goes to his rescue.
b: 03-Aug-2001 pc: 119 w: Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile d: Mark
Rosman
NOTE: Music includes: *"Searchin'" by the Coasters, who had a
big hit with it wayyy back in 1957! They were one of the most
popular R&B or "doo wop" groups of their time. It's played
during the scene when Lizzie and Matt are searching for the keys
to the handcuffs. *"1+1=2" by Lou Bega, a virtual soundalike to
his 1999 hit "Mambo No. 5," played during a scene at the
miniature golf arcade.
The scene where Sam McGuire throws the key to the handcuffs
across the water to Lizzie is a take-off on a scene in the movie
2001: A Space Odyssey where early man first learns to use
weapons and tools (you'll have to see it; it's too hard to
explain briefly). The music playing is an arrangement of the
opening of "Also Sprach Zarathustra" ("Thus Spake Zarathustra"),
often called the "Theme from 2001," by German composer Richard
(pronounced Rick-ard) Strauss.
Lizzie (Hilary Duff) appears with red streaks in her hair in
this epiosde. Is this the first time?
Filming dates: January 27-31, 2001. The clapboard on the
blooper reel at the end of the show is dated January 30, 2001.
(For a split-second the clapboard from "I've Got Rhythmic"
appears in the middle of the bloopers.)
A stunt double was used for Kate's fall into the lake near the
episode's end. But as seen in the blooper reel, Ashlie Brillault
(Kate) waded out into the lake, then had water poured over her
head for the following shot.
The ever-changing pronunciation of Kate's last name is
"Saunders" in this episode.
When Lizzie mocks Matt, imitating the way he says "Lizzie!",
that word is dubbed in on the soundtrack.
Character with no lines: Sam's often-mentioned cousin ReeRee
is seen here, but only in a still-phot montage, where he stains
Sam's shirt while giving him a high-five.
Another possible clue as to where Lizzie lives: Sam tells the
kids that he has to go to the nearby city of Stanton to get a
spare handcuff key. Stanton is a real city in southern
California, not far from where the series is filmed.
An enterprising Lizzie viewer may have located the Los Angeles
location where the exterior for Lizzie's school is shot. In this
episode he noticed the street number 11800 on one of the
buildings. The only school in Los Angeles with that number is
University High School on Texas Avenue.
The miniature golf course seen in this episode is located at
Sherman Oaks Castle Park in Sherman Oaks, California. It is
about 15 minutes away from Ren Mar Studios where Lizzie was
filmed. More info
Stunt double: Cinda-Lin James (for Kate).
Continuity: Mr. Escobar is seen wearing the blue scarf which
Gordo says he "always" wears in another episode.
Continuity: Ethan makes the comment to Lizzie about Matt that,
"he loves that little guy." This is a reference to the episode
"Lizzie's Nightmares" when Matt went to Lizzie's school by
mistake and made a great impression on her friends.
When Lizzie realizes some kid is giving Matt a hard time she
says "Oh my Gosh", instead of "Oh my God." One of the Notes for
The Lizzie McGuire Movie shows that Disney has a different
standard for its TV shows compared to its films.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18. Rated Aargh
gs: Clayton Snyder (Ethan Craft) Dot Jones (Coach Kelly [as
Dot-Marie Jones]) Kyle J. Downes (Larry Tudgeman) Mitchah
Williams (Kleenex Kid) DeVaughn Nixon (Snackbar Attendant) David
Alex Rosen (Friend) Yolanda Laverde (Reporter) Jeremy J. Bargiel
(the Choking Man [uncredited])
Lizzie's fantasy almost comes true when she is paired up with
Ethan Craft in a CPR class at school, but he's so dense that the
teacher chooses Tudgeman instead to give Lizzie mouth-to-mouth!
Lizzie, Gordo and Miranda realize they are about the only three
in school who haven't seen the latest blockbuster movie
Vesuvius: The Eruption, which is rated R, and they're determined
to get in to see it. When their parents all say "no" to their
arguments, Gordo decides they should say they are going to play
miniature golf, then go see the film. Lizzie is very nervous
about lying to her parents, but she pulls it off with ease.
The trio can't get past the ticket-taker, though, and can't
slip in the back, so they mingle with the crowd as it is
departing a showing and sneak in that way. While at the
concession stand, they notice a man choking. Lizzie has had the
training, so she goes and performs the Heimlich maneuver on the
man, dislodging a sourball from his throat. A local news crew
comes by and films a segment about Lizzie for the news that
night. But then the trio realizes that their parents will watch
the news and will find out where they've been unless they stop
them.
Back at home, Lizzie's parents get a phone call from the
theatre telling them about their daughter's heroic actions. They
are happy at first, but they soon realize that they've been
deceived about the movie. When Lizzie and friends come home Mom
and Dad make them squirm for a while by threatening to watch the
news, then telling them the want to take them to see Vesuvius
themselves. Lizzie, Miranda and Gordo all get grounded for a
week or two.
Also, Matt volunteers his parents to build a booth for his
school's carnival, and they come up with the idea of a velcro
wall people can leap onto while wearing a special velcro suit.
b: 10-Aug-2001 pc: 121 w: Trish Baker d: Peter Montgomery
NOTE: Miranda's full name is given as Miranda Isabella
Sanchez.
Miranda (Lalaine) says she can't stand another talking pig
movie. In real life she was a voice in Babe, a movie about a
talking pig.
DeVaughn Nixon played Whitney Houston's son in The Bodyguard.
Some famous themes from classical music pieces are heard in
this episode. At the very beginning when Ethan (Clayton Snyder)
is about to go mouth-to-mouth with Lizzie (Hilary Duff), the
soaring music that's playing is from Peter Tchaikovsky's Romeo
and Juliet Fantasy Overture (1869). When Matt (Jake Thomas) and
Sam (Robert Carradine) are talking about a carnival booth where
someone will get an apple shot off of his head, you can hear the
most familiar portion of Giaocchio Rossini's Overture to the
opera William Tell (1829) playing in the background. And when
Lizzie and friends are at the snack bar and the man is choking,
that stirring music being played is the "Ride of the Valkyries"
from Richard Wagner's opera Die Walkure (The Valkyrie) (1870).
All of these pieces of music have been used many, many times in
movies and televison. Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet was given
words in the 1930's and was turned into a popular song, "Our
Love." Rossini's "William Tell Overture" is better known to
millions of people as the theme music for the TV series (and
radio show before that) The Lone Ranger. Richard Wagner's
(pronounced Rick-ard VAHG-ner) "Ride of the Valkyries" has been
in everything from the movie Apocalypse Now to a familiar
audiotape commercial (remember the guy sitting in the chair with
his hair blowing back?) to a Bugs Bunny cartoon.
Filming dates: February 12-16, 2001. The clapboard on the
blooper reel at the end of the show is dated February 13, 2001.
The poster for Vesuvius say that it's "A Stan Rogow Film."
Stan Rogow is an executive producer of Lizzie McGuire.
Further character identification: The reporter is identified
as Cricket Johansen. Character mentioned but not seen: Jeff
Thompson, a kid whose parents are making a booth for the
carnival at Matt's school.
Continuity: Mount Rushmore Mini-Golf, where some of "Sibling
Bonds" took place, is mentioned again here.
Stunt doubles: Nancy Thurston (for Lizzie) and Larry Nicholas
(for Matt).
As Tudgeman is about perform mouth-to-mouth with Lizzie he
gives another student a Vulcan hand sign made popular by Leonard
Nimoy who portrayed Commander Spock from the series Star Trek .
Mitchah Williams is listed as the Kleenex Kid, but that
designation actually fits his character in the episode "Rumors."
Also, Jeremy Bargiel, who portrays the Chocking Man, is
identified by the name Jeremy by his friend at the theater.
This episode is on Vol. 2 of the Lizzie McGuire DVD collection
entitled Growing Up Lizzie, released on Dec. 9, 2003.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19. Gordo and the Girl
gs: Kyla Pratt (Brooke Baker) Christian Copelin (Lanny)
Davida Williams (Claire Miller) Carlos Alazraqui (Host) Armando
Molina (Edward Sanchez)
Gordo begs off going to the horror movie marathon with Lizzie
and Miranda, saying that he'll be spending some time "bonding"
with his father. But at the Digital Bean before the show, the
girls see him with Brooke Baker. At first they don't think he's
on a date because he didn't tell them about it, but then they
see him kiss Brooke! The girls aren't sure what to think about
this. The next day at school, Gordo tells Lizzie he was with his
father the day before. When he skips lunch with Lizzie and
Miranda to help a "friend" with homework, the girls are even
more confused. They just can't picture their longtime friend as
anyone's boyfriend. Later, when Gordo is about to tell the girls
about Brooke, Lizzie tells him first that she thinks Brooke is
using him and that she's hurt he didn't tell her about his
girlfriend before now. Gordo, for his part, is upset with Lizzie
and Miranda for reacting the way they do.
Miranda becomes more accepting of the idea of Gordo having a
girlfriend, but Lizzie is still troubled by it. When she
overhears Claire Miller saying she has to help get Brooke ready
for a "hot date" that night, Lizzie is sure she can't be talking
about Gordo and thinks Brooke is two-timing him. She goes to spy
on Brooke at an Italian restaurant and takes along Miranda,
dressed as a boy! At one point, to make sure it's Gordo, Lizzie
makes Miranda follow him into the men's bathroom, much to her
displeasure. The girls are about to leave when the host,
thinking they're a couple on a date, seats them. When they try
to bolt out of the restaurant, they run right into a waiter and
end up on the floor in front of Gordo and Brooke, covered head
to toe in pasta and sauce. Gordo is very disappointed with the
two of them.
Lizzie and Miranda are lamenting the loss of friendship with
Gordo when he comes by to talk with them. He's still not happy
about the way they acted, but he realizes that they do care
about him. He tells the girls he broke up with Brooke. It seems
that he wasn't ready yet for a relationship like she wanted.
Brooke was asking for too much of his time, including time he
spent with his friends Lizzie and Miranda. The trio is back on
good terms once again, but that doesn't stop the girls from
pestering Gordo to describe his "lip-lock" with Brooke.
Meanwhile, Dad helps Matt learn a math lesson about odds and
percentages by using candy to illustrate the principles. Matt
learns the lesson too well. He and Lanny begin making bets with
classmates like a couple of bookies and start winning things
from them. When Mom finds Matt's betting book in the laundry,
she confronts him. He says people just gave him stuff because
they were grateful that he helped them learn about odds and
percentages, but Jo McGuire is no dummy and she tells him he
must give all his winnings back.
b: 17-Aug-2001 pc: 120 w: Melissa Gould d: Kim Friedman
NOTE: Kyla Pratt, who plays Brooke, is the voice of Penny
Proud in the Disney channel animated TV series The Proud Family.
She played a recurring role on Disney's Smart Guy and also
starred in the UPN series One on One. Her movie credits include
The Baby-Sitters Club.
Carlos Alazraqui, who plays the host at the restaurant,
supplied the voice for the chihuahua in the popular series of
Taco Bell commercials.
Miranda's father is seen with her in this episode in a series
of still photos. It's the first time we've seen any of the
parents of Miranda or Gordo.
Filming dates: February 7-10, 2001. The clapboard on the
blooper reel at the end of the show is dated February 9, 2001.
Brooke calls Gordo by his real name David at one point, one of
the few times this ever happens.
Music includes the song "Irresistible" by Jessica Simpson,
heard near the episode's beginning. It's the title track from
her second release.
Did Lizzie REALLY kiss Gordo in this episode? Near the end,
she and Miranda tease him, asking for details about his time
with Brooke, and they both pretend to kiss him repeatedly. At
one point it looks like Lizzie may in fact have given Gordo a
peck on the cheek, but our view is obstructed by his raised
hand.
This is the only episode to date (June 2003) that Claire
(Davida Williams) appears in without Kate (Ashlie Brillault).
Unseen characters: Joel and Binder, two guys Matt takes bets
from over the phone. Their voices are heard, however.
The restaurant scenes were filmed at Buca Di Bepo, located in
Redondo Beach, California.
This episode can be found in the paperback novelization book
Broken Hearts.
In one of the Toon Lizzie segments, Gordo is represented by a
frog. This is also done in the episode "Movin' On Up."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20. Educating Ethan
gs: Clayton Snyder (Ethan Craft) Arvie Lowe Jr. (Mr. Dig)
Norma Michaels (Elderly Woman) Sebastian Jude (Oscar) Amanda
Oshita (Girl) Katina Waters (Waitress)
Gordo wants to raise money for a new stereo, so Miranda and
Lizzie suggest he tutor students who need help in math. His
first student is Ethan Craft, much to the girls' delight. When
Gordo is working with Ethan at the Digital Bean, Lizzie and
Miranda keep trying to horn in on the action and end up spilling
drinks all over the guys' papers. Gordo gets mad at them and
suggests that they aren't smart enough to help him tutor anyway.
The girls get angry right back at him and leave. Meanwhile, Matt
and his friend Oscar are looking for something exciting to do.
They decide to become "super heroes" Matt Man and the Incredible
Oscar. They go around the neighborhood in costume trying to do
good deeds, but all they do is annoy the neighbors.
At lunch the next day, Gordo is having trouble explaining
fractions to Ethan. As a peace offering, Lizzie tries to help.
Gordo is not too happy about it, especially when Lizzie's
explanation is clearer than his own. Ethan asks Lizzie to tutor
him instead. Lizzie doesn't want to hurt her friendship with
Gordo and reluctantly turns Ethan down. Miranda thinks she's
crazy to have done that, but Lizzie is determined to be the
bigger person. But then Gordo tells the girls they owe him an
apology, which gets them mad at him all over again.
Back at home, Mr. and Mrs. McGuire put a stop to Matt and
Oscar's "do-gooding" outside of the house. At school, Lizzie
gets an "A" on the math quiz but Ethan fails, despite Gordo's
tutoring. Ethan again asks Lizzie to help tutor him and this
time she can't resist. But when she gets ready to leave home to
meet Ethan, she can't find any shoes! Matt and Oscar say the
"Evil Shoe Baron" got them all. Mom says the super-heroes better
find them right away. They do, then she puts an end to the
do-gooding business once and for all.
At the Digital Bean, Lizzie uses a visual aid to help explain
fractions to Ethan--cheerleaders! At school, Gordo apologizes to
the girls for the way he acted. Ethan "aces" the make-up test
with a 72 and gives Lizzie a big hug as a reward.
b: 24-Aug-2001 pc: 122 w: Nina G. Bargiel & Jeremy J. Bargiel
d: Mark Rosman
NOTE: Songs played include "ABC" by the Jackson Five (heard
during the cheerleader/fractions scene) and "(Wish I Could Fly
Like) Superman" by the Kinks (heard when Matt and Oscar are
"fighting evil"). "ABC" was the second hit and second #1 record
for the Jackson Five, featuring 12-year-old lead singer Michael
Jackson. (At the time his management tried to claim he was only
10!) It hit the top of the charts in 1970, replacing the
Beatles' "Let It Be." "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman" was a
minor hit (#41) in 1979 for the British rock group the Kinks,
who had a long career from 1963 to 1995. Their biggest hits
include "You Really Got Me" and "Lola."
Filming dates: March 9-13, 2001. The clapboard on the blooper
reel at the end of the show is dated March 12, 2001.
Ethan scores an 11 on his first math test!
Sam McGuire makes a reference to a neighbor, "old Mrs.
Lippen," using the last name of the show's casting director,
Robin Lippen.
The telephone number on the "flyer" given out by Gordo is
555-0199. That same number is used on a flyer given out by the
Stevens family in the episode "Where in the World Is Pookie
Stevens?" of the Even Stevens TV series.
It would be likely that, in reality, Gordo's handwriting would
be quite messy. There's a theory that the most intellegent
people have the messiest handwriting.
Character with no lines: Rhonda, the one cheerleader Ethan
mentions by name.
Arvie Lowe, Jr. makes his first appearance as recurring
character Mr. Dig, the substitute teacher that is always seen in
Lizzie's classes.
This episode can be found in the paperback novelization book
Lizzie Loves Ethan.
Minor change to the set of the McGuire's home: Peach colored
paint is added to the bookshelves near the family room.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21. Lizzie Strikes Out
gs: Clayton Snyder (Ethan Craft) Arvie Lowe Jr. (Mr. Dig)
Christian Copelin (Lanny) Paul Robert Langdon (Hollywood Biggs
[sic])
Ethan invites Lizzie, Gordo and Miranda to go bowling with
friends on the weekend. Of course the girls are thrilled but
Gordo isn't so happy--bowling is something he's not good at. In
fact, he got so nervous doing it before that his fingers swelled
up and the ball had to be cut off his hand! Miranda says she
will be Gordo's "life coach" for bowling and tries to teach him
him a kind of mystical philosophy ("Be the ball!") Meanwhile,
Matt and Lanny are trying to think of what they can do to stop
the bully Heywood Biggs from picking on them.
When Sam McGuire hears Lizzie talking about her sort-of date
on the phone, he worries that he's not involved enough in his
daughter's life. He asks her if she'd like for just the two of
them to go out to dinner on Friday so they can spend some time
together. Lizzie agrees, but later realizes that the bowling
date is the same night! She decides she'll have to ask her
father to reschedule.
Lizzie explains to her dad about the bowling and he agrees to
postpone their night out, but he seems disappointed. Matt and
Lanny practice their revenge technique ("Operation Mummy") for
Heywood on Lizzie. Later, Lizzie talks to her mom who says her
dad understands about her wanting to go bowling with friends,
but Lizzie feels a little guilty afterwards. At school, Gordo
sees Mr. Dig wipe out badly on a scooter, but is surprised to
see that he takes it as a positive, learning experience. Miranda
tries to tell Gordo he's doesn't need to excel at everything.
The advice seems to be working, because at the bowling alley,
Gordo throws a gutter ball, but his fingers don't swell up.
Lizzie bowls a strike, to the admiration of Ethan--and her dad,
too, who she invited along.
b: 31-Aug-2001 pc: 123 w: Melissa Gould d: Ellen Falcon
NOTE: Heywood Biggs (Paul Robert Langdon) is only seen in
still photos. For some reason, the credits list the character as
Hollywood Biggs.
When "Toon Lizzie" appears after Lizzie talks to Mr. Dig, the
background behind her resembles that of the old TV
science-fiction series The Twilight Zone, indicating that she
thinks Mr. Dig is a little bit "out there."
Filming dates: March 18-22, 2001. The clapboard which opens
the blooper reel at the end of the show is dated March 22, 2001.
(The clapboard for "I've Got Rhythmic" shows up in the middle of
the reel several times.)
Continuity: Gordo mentions the Wilco Theater to Ethan. This is
the same theater Lizzie, Miranda and Gordo went to in order to
see Vesuvius in the episode "Rated Aargh."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22. The Untitled Stan Jansen Project
gs: Sean Hogan (Stan Jansen) Carly Schroeder (Melina) Kyle
J. Downes (Larry Tudgeman) Clayton Snyder (Ethan Craft)
Director Stan Jansen is filming a documentary at the junior
high and everyone is trying to get on camera--except Gordo, who
wants to be a director himself. But Stan singles out Gordo as
his star and tells him his appearance in the film could lead to
a career in directing. Gordo is eager to go along, so when the
director tells him he wants conflict, Gordo trashes Kate on
camera. Lizzie and Miranda think that's great, but it's not so
great when Tudgeman gets upset after the same treatment. Then
when Gordo manipulates Lizzie and Miranda into revealing
long-held secrets about each other, the trio's friendship is on
the rocks. The girls can't stay mad at each other, though, and
they convince Gordo that their friendship should be the most
important thing to all of them. The kids find a way to get back
at Stan Jansen.
Meanwhile, Matt's classmate Melina is a real
troublemaker--something he can appreciate. She's so good at it
that she manages to get Matt blamed for every bad thing she
does. Despite all this, Matt can't help but admire her for it.
b: 21-Sep-2001 pc: 128 w: Nina G. Bargiel & Jeremy J. Bargiel
d: Anson Williams
NOTE: "Stan Jansen" is a combination of the names of Lizzie's
executive producers Stan Rogow and Susan Estelle Jansen.
Songs heard include "The Great Pretender" by the Platters and
"One Way or Another" by Blondie. "The Great Pretender" was a
number 1 hit for the vocal group the Platters in February 1956.
It's heard when Miranda and Lizzie arrive at school to find
everyone in the halls trying to get the film crew's attention.
"One Way or Another" was written by Blondie's bass player Nigel
Harrison and lead singer Deborah Harry. It originally appeared
on their album Parallel Lines. It reached number 24 on the U.S.
charts in August 1979. It's played during a montage of scenes of
Melina and Matt getting each other into trouble.
Filming dates: April 30-May 3, 2001. The clapboards on the
blooper reel at the end of the show are dated May 2 & 3, 2001.
The music being played in the chase scene at the Digital Bean
is an arrangement of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dance No. 5.
The scene where Gordo throws a catsup bottle to Matt at the
Digital Bean seems to be another take-off on a scene from the
movie 2001: A Space Odyssey ( see the notes for ep. 17, "Sibling
Bonds.")
Miranda reveals that Lizzie had a crush on Gordo in the fourth
grade!
Carly Schroeder, who makes her first appearance as Melina, is
one of the original cast members of the daytime drama Port
Charles, where she played Serena Baldwin, the daughter of
General Hospital/PC's Scott Baldwin.
This is the first episode to air in the 7:30PM/6:30CT Friday
time slot. (Thanks to Frapachino77 for this information.
Honestly, we don't remember, but we'll trust it's correct.)
Further character identification: Melina's last name is
Bianca.
Lizzie and Miranda call Gordo a "dirk" at one point!
Stunt Double: Seth Arnett (for Stan).
The name of Melina's character is a combination of the first
names of Lizzie screenwriters Melissa Gould and Nina Bargiel.
The cameras used by the Jansen crew while filming the
documentary were Canon XL1s.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23. Last Year's Model
gs: Arvie Lowe Jr. (Mr. Digby Sellers) Clayton Snyder (Ethan
Craft) Elizabeth Densmore (Jessica) Christian Copelin (Lanny)
John Allsopp (Salesman) Traci Melchor (Natasha) Stacey Haglund
(Model #1)
Lizzie auditions to be in a fashion show presented by "Teen
Attitude" magazine at a local mall and she gets accepted. At the
show Lizzie looks great on the stage. Afterward, popular girl
Jessica asks Lizzie to come to a party at her country club.
Lizzie gets Miranda and Gordo invited also. At the party, all
three are enjoying the fun, including the hot tub. But already
Lizzie's friends are acting different. When Jessica asks her
about coming to another party, Miranda starts answering for
Lizzie like a press agent and she and Gordo start negotiating
future appearances for her like a supermodel!
At school things are very different, also. Kids stare at her
in the hall like she's a celebrity. Kate is now fawning all over
Lizzie, wanting to be her friend. Ethan is so starstruck that he
can't even mumble a coherent sentence around her. Gordo and
Miranda are as bad as anybody. Lizzie muses, "Gordo and Miranda
aren't my friends anymore. They're my people!"
Overwhelmed by the attention, Lizzie hides out in Mr. Dig's
classroom. When she explains her dilemma to him, he suggests
that if she wants them to stop acting like her lackeys, she
ought to treat them like such. So Lizzie puts "Operation
Superstar Brat" into motion. She blows her nose on the book
report Gordo wrote for her. She make Miranda pick out all the
green jellybeans in her candy dish. She makes both of them bark
like dogs, then walks out on them. But she comes right back and
tells Miranda and Gordo that she just wanted to show them what
it was like to have a friend treat them so differently, and she
wants their relationship to go back to normal. Lizzie is ready
to give up being a model, but she still has a contract with the
magazine. Miranda suggests that she "stink" as a model, and
Lizzie does just that at the next show, looking like a nightmare
and even picking a fight with Miranda in the front row! Lizzie
is fired on the spot and things go back to normal for the three
friends.
Meanwhile, Matt gets a $50 gift certificate from Gammy
McGuire. He and Lanny put their money together and buy a
hammock, but it rips apart the first time they try to use it.
Sam McGuire takes them back to the store to return the hammock,
but a very rude store clerk won't let them do it. While Sam goes
off looking for the manager, Matt and Lanny show that they know
how to take care of business with this discourteous clerk.
b: 28-Sep-2001 pc: 124 w: Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile d: Savage
Steve Holland
NOTE: Music includes: "Shopping" by the Pet Shop Boys from
their 1987 album Actually, heard when Matt is out shopping,
naturally. "Everybody Wants Ya" by the English teen singing
group S Club 7 from their 2000 debut album. It's played during
the first fashion show.
A "little" reference: In the "Untitled Stan Jansen Project",
Toon Lizzie says, "How soon he forgets the little people." Then,
in the next new episode to air (this one), Gordo says, "Don't
forget us little people."
The clapboard on the blooper reel at the end of the show is
dated March 27, 2001.
Mr. McGuire says that Matt's birthday was seven months
earlier.
Further character identification: Natasha's last name is
O'Neil. One of the runway models is named Cheyenne Keegan.
Unseen character: Whitney Nussbaum, whose bat mitzvah Lizzie,
Gordo and Miranda supposedly went to. Character with no lines:
Jessica's father, who brings her some tea in the hot tub.
Mr. Dig says that his family is originally from Tobago, part
of the Carribean nation of Trinidad and Tobago.
In the blooper reel, Robert Carradine's line "I love being an
adult because everything you get [in the mail] stinks," is
interrupted by a sneeze. Apparently, the line was cut out of the
final version of the show.
Though his full name is never used, Mr. Dig's character is
identified in the credits as Mr. Digby Sellers. This name is
taken from a character in the movie The Big Lebowski (1988),
Arthur Digby Sellers. This is at least the second reference in
Lizzie to Lebowski, the other one coming in "Lizzie Strikes
Out."
This episode can be found in the paperback novelization book
Just Like Lizzie. It is also on Vol. 1 of the Lizzie McGuire DVD
Collection entitled Fashionably Lizzie, released on Dec. 9,
2003.
Gordo appears to be using the same type of "walkman" Mr. Dig
was using in "Lizzie Strikes Out."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24. Night of the Day of the Dead
gs: Kyle J. Downes (Larry Tudgeman) Dyana Ortelli (Mrs.
Sanchez) Armando Molina (Mr. Sanchez) Christian Copelin (Lanny)
Korben Akira (Big Kid)
The middle school is putting on a big Fright Night
celebration for Halloween. Lizzie wants to appear as Vampira,
the dungeon mistress, but Kate is in charge and she keeps the
job for herself, making Lizzie clean out the janitor's closet
and then giving her the role of a clown handing out balloons.
Miranda brings her parents, who are helping her celebrate a
Mexican holiday, the Day of the Dead. They bring by several
items including skulls and skeletons which are meant to
represent ancestors who are being honored. Kate is all smiles
when Miranda's parents are around ("Toon Lizzie" calls Kate
"phonier than cafeteria cheese"), but once they leave she yells
at Miranda to get rid of that junk they brought. Miranda warns
Kate that by disrespecting the dead, she is risking their wrath.
Strange things begin to happen at Fright Night. The skeletons
disappear, and so does Matt (dressed as himself turned inside
out!), leaving behind only a handful of dirt! Gordo is gone too,
but his voice is coming from a "burger buddy" doll! Lizzie
appears to have turned into a zombie and the skeleton couple
reappears in life size! Miranda and (especially) Kate are
terrified--what is really going on?
Meanwhile, with Lizzie and Matt at the school and the last of
the trick-or-treaters presumably having come and gone, Jo and
Sam McGuire settle in for some alone time. But the inevitable
happens--that last kid who is way too big comes to the door
looking for candy after it's all gone!
b: 05-Oct-2001 pc: 115 w: Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile d: Brian
K. Roberts
NOTE: The song heard playing at Fright Night is "Monster
Mash," a 1962 novelty hit for Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the
Crypt-Kickers. It's "dug up" by radio stations every Halloween.
This is the first time Miranda's parents (Dyana Orteli,
Armando Molina) have been seen, except for some still photos of
her father in the "Gordo and the Girl" episode.
Filming dates: December 19-23, 2000. The clapboard on the
blooper reel at the end of the show is dated December 22, 2000.
Obviously this episode was shown out of production order so it
could be premiered closer to Halloween.
The back-and-forth pronunciation of Kate's last name is back
to "Sanders" with the short "a" sound again, rather than
"Saunders."
Character mentioned but not seen: Heather, Lizzie's cousin who
she promises to get Gordo a date with when she visits.
Another hint the McGuires live in California: Matt plans to go
trick-or-treating in Rancho Vista Estates, a name more likely to
be used in the western United States than in other parts of the
country.
Lizzie is costumed as Floppy the Clown on Fright Night,
Miranda is dressed as the Dr. Seuss charcter The Cat in the Hat,
Matt comes as himself turned inside out, and Kate of course is
Vampira, the Dungeon Mistress. We're not sure who exactly Gordo
is supposed to be with his moussed hair and starched tie both
giving the impression that he's caught in a windstorm.
("Windblown Man?" Any ideas?)
When all sorts of freaky things are happening at Fright Night,
and Miranda and Kate are being menaced by a zombie-like Lizzie,
Miranda says that it's "the second-worst Halloween party I've
ever been to!" Whew! What was the worst one like?
The blooper reel contains a couple of shots of the clapboard
from the episode "I've Got Rhythmic."
According to one source, this Mexican tradition began over
3,000 years ago and is a mixture of Aztec practices and Catholic
beliefs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25. Facts of Life
gs: Daniel R. Escobar (Mr. Escobar) Kyle J. Downes (Larry
Tudgeman) Arvie Lowe Jr. (Mr. Digby Sellers) Davida Williams
(Claire Miller) Christian Copelin (Lanny) Rick Marotta (Rick
Marotta) Ivy Withrow (Violin Girl)
Hoping to win a trip to Miami, Lizzie, Miranda and Gordo team
up to enter the school's "Fact-athlon." Their rival team
consists of Kate Sanders, Larry Tudgeman and Claire Miller. But
things start to look a little bleak when the faculty advisor
Lizzie and company chose is replaced by substitute teacher Mr.
Dig. But to their surprise, Mr. Dig manages to turn studying
into something fun and interesting with his unusual approaches.
By the time the competition starts, Lizzie's team is confident
while Kate, Larry and Claire are feeling the pressure. But
Kate's team beats Lizzie's team badly when there are too many
questions about dates and names rather than "how and why"
problems. Kate and her teammates gloat over their win and Mr.
Dig is ready to leave his job at the school because he thinks he
let the team down, But Lizzie, Gordo and Miranda convince him
they they actually did learn a lot and that they had a good time
doing it. Kate, Claire and Larry return from Miami limping,
bugbit and sunburned.
Also, Matt and Lanny want to start a rock band. After they
audition a bunch of kids playing everything from trombone to
Jew's harp, they settle on drummer Rick Marotta and begin
rehearsals, which sound pretty bad. Mom and Dad try to talk Matt
out of holding a backyard concert, but Matt is determined to do
it. When the concert date arrives and the band plays, they
actually sound decent. Sam and Jo are proud of their son, but
Matt now has a "been there, done that" attitude and the band is
already history.
b: 12-Oct-2001 pc: 126 w: Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile d: Mark
Rosman
NOTE: Rick Marotta has been a professional studio musician
since the 1970s, playing drums with dozens of well-known rock
and jazz musicians including (as mentioned on the show) Linda
Ronstadt, James Taylor, Steely Dan and John Lennon plus Jim
Croce, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Aretha Franklin, Hall & Oates,
Bette Midler, Stevie Nicks, Diana Ross, Roxy Music and Carly
Simon.
Filming dates: April 9-13, 2001. This is one of the few Lizzie
episodes that doesn't have a clapboard with a date on it at the
beginning of the blooper reel.
Jake Thomas sings "Long Tall Sally," a 1956 hit (reached #13)
for Little Richard. This rock classic by a legendary performer
was often used by the Beatles to end their live shows.
Gordo, Miranda and other students sing "Camptown Races,"
written by Stephen Foster, regarded as the greatest American
songwriter of the 19th century.
During the scene with Lizzie, Miranda and Gordo dressed in old
English costumes and also during the blooper reel, the music
playing is an arrangement of an except from "Water Music" by
George Frideric Handel, one the great composers of the 18th
century. Also in the costume scene, Gordo portrays King Henry
VIII of England. He tells Miranda he will have her executed for
not providing him with a male heir to the throne and then will
marry Lizzie. In reality, this really happened. Henry VIII was
frustrated with his second wife Anne Boleyn because they had not
had a male child and he wanted to marry Jane Seymour. So he had
Queen Anne falsely charged and convicted of witchcraft and
adultery, for which she was beheaded in 1536. Jane Seymour
shortly therafter became the third of Henry's six wives. (BTW,
Jane, who was never crowned as Queen, finally did give Henry the
son he wanted for so many years. But she died only two weeks
after their son's birth and less than a year and a half after
their marriage. Many historians believe Jane Seymour was the
wife Henry had the most affection for. The son became King
Edward VI.)
Some of our users tell us they think Hilary Duff sounds ill
with a cold at the beginning of this episode.
A Madonna lookalike is pictured with Lizzie, Miranda and Gordo
in the still photo montage that appears after Miranda says
"Madonna loves Miami!"
Character mentioned but not seen: Ms. Trimmer, mentioned as a
possible faculty adviser for Lizzie's quiz team. Also, Sam
McGuire's cousin ReRe and their pal Stucco, bandmates with Sam
in his old group Midnight Sam & the Love Patrol. Cousin ReRe (or
maybe it's ReeRee?) is mentioned in several episodes, but here
he is shown for the first times in a still photo montage of
Sam's old band, though we don't know which one is him and which
is Stucco.
Lanny speaks! Well, once again, not really. But just like in
"Random Act of Miranda," he makes a small but audible noise if
you listen carefully. This time he makes a sound when he and
Matt are laughing at Sam McGuire's memories of the band he used
to be in. When Lanny starts to laugh, he makes an exhilation of
air that is quiet, but it's there.
During the auditions for Matt and Lanny's band, the little
girl with the violin is attempting to play the Allegro by
Shinichi Suzuki (1898-1998). Dr. Suzuki was famous for
developing a system that teaches children to play musical
instruments.
Characters with no lines: Mr. Stoyko, the faculty adviser for
Kate's team, is seen in the courtyard, hallway, and in the
audience at the competition.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26. Scarlett Larry
gs: Kyle J. Downes (Larry Tudgeman) Dot Jones (Coach Kelly
[as Dot-Marie Jones]) Clayton Snyder (Ethan Craft) Jaimie Ryan
(Maintenance #1) Kevin Jackson (Maintenance #2) Shawn Lane
(Maintenance #3) Josh Kemble (Maintenance #4) Julie Adair
(Cheerleader #1) Nancy Thurston (Cheerleader #2)
Lizzie finds out in square-dancing class that a guy has a
crush on her--but it's Larry Tudgeman! She asks her mom's advice
about how to get rid of him, but Mom suggests she find out what
he's all about first, intimating that her dad was kind of a geek
when she first met him. This isn't what Lizzie wants to hear,
but she doesn't want to be mean and consents to go out with
Larry. To her surprise, he shows up for the date looking very
nice, and--bigger surprise--she actually has fun on their trip
to the science museum.
Still, Lizzie doesn't want to be Larry's girlfriend, but at
school the next day, Larry assumes that she is. The situation
isn't helped when Kate broadcasts to the whole school that
Lizzie and Larry are an item. After talking to Miranda and
Gordo, Lizzie decides to let Larry down easy. After a day of
letting him act like her boyfriend, Lizzie tells Larry that she
doesn't think they are right for each other. Unexpectedly, he
agrees, but tells Lizzie she's "the nicest person I know." Then
he asks about Miranda!
Also, Jo insists that Sam and Matt clean up all the junk
accumulating around the house. The guys find Sam's old Soap-Box
Derby racer and, along with Gordo, they work to restore it. They
get it in shape to run, but Sam accidentally crashes it, putting
an end to they guys' racing days.
b: 09-Nov-2001 pc: 127 w: Amy Engelberg & Wendy Engelberg d:
Steve DeJarnatt
NOTE: Music heard includes the songs "Get Another Boyfriend"
by the Backstreet Boys and "Start the Commotion" by the
Wiseguys. "Get Another Boyfriend" is from the 2000 Backsteet
Boys release Black & Blue. It's played during the scene showing
Lizzie pretending to be Larry's girlfriend at school. "Start the
Commotion" by the Wiseguys, an English techno-dance band, is
from their 1998 album The Antidote. It's heard when Sam is
hurtling downhill in the soap-box racer. It was also heard in
the 2001 film Zoolander starring Ben Stiller and it's been used
in a Mitsubishi Eclipse commercial.
Lizzie and Tudgeman are shown playing with a theremin in the
Science Museum. The theremin was a primitive electronic
instrument introduced in the early 1920s. It is played by moving
your hands over its metal antennae which affects the sound's
pitch and volume. The Beach Boys ("Good Vibrations") and Led
Zeppelin used the theremin in their music.
The scene where Sam takes an unexpected ride on his racer
appears to have been filmed at Lizzie's school. In the
background of one shot is an entrance similar to those seen in
still photos of the school's exterior. Also, the group of
cheerleaders that he scatters are dressed as the ones from her
school.
Filming dates: April 19-23, 2001. The clapboards shown on the
blooper reel at the end of the show are dated April 20 and 23,
2001.
During the scene where the guys are working on the car, the
music played is "Ride of the Valkyries" by Richard Wagner (see
the note for "Rated Aargh").
Aired on ABC on Feb. 17, 2002 after being held back for two
weeks.
Some viewers think that Hilary Duff (Lizzie) sounded ill with
a cold in this episode. During the blooper reel we see a take or
two ruined because of her coughing.
Characters with no lines: Winston and Quinton? (Quinal?), two
of the "possible crushes" Lizzie speculates about in the opening
scene.
Stunt double: Clay Cullen (for Sam).
This episode can also be found in the paperback novelization
book Totally Crushed. It is on Vol. 4 of the Lizzie McGuire DVD
Collection entitled Totally Crushed, released on Mar. 16, 2004.
Two of the cheerleaders Sam scatters in his unexpected trip on
his old soapbox racer were Julie Adair and Nancy Thurston. Julie
was Hilary Duff's stunt double in the episodes "Those Freaky
McGuires" and Nancy was her stunt double in "Rated Aargh" and
"Lizzie's Eleven."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27. Gordo and the Dwarves (aka Gordo and the Magic Dwarves)
gs: Kyle J. Downes (Larry Tudgeman) Dyana Ortelli (Daniella
Sanchez) Armando Molina (Edward Sanchez) Rachel Snow (Veruca)
Cory Hodges (Intense Kid) Andrew James Allen (Kid)
Gammy McGuire sends Lizzie one of her frequent "birthday"
gifts--a role-playing game called Dwarflord: The Conquest. Mom
insists that Lizzie play it at least once, so she recruits
reluctant Miranda and Gordo for a game. The girls can't
understand the incredibly complex rules but Gordo likes it. In
fact, Gordo joins a "Dwarf Tribe" at school (led by Tudgeman, of
course) and begins to spend all his time playing and thinking
about the game. Gordo gets so obsessed that he even quits
studying and, unbelievably, gets an "F" on a test!
Lizzie and Miranda try to talk some sense back into Gordo but
he refuses to see he is addicted to the game. Matt agrees to
help the girls capture Gordo and help to deprogram him. They
stealthily invade a Dwarflord game, abduct Gordo and hold an
intervention in which they finally convince him to go back to
his old lifestyle.
Also, Matt has to observe wildlife for a school project. His
dad Sam helps him out by climbing up a tree with him to look at
a bird's nest. Matt gets bored right away, but Sam and later Mr.
Sanchez get fascinated with it and spend hours in the tree.
b: 16-Nov-2001 pc: 129 w: Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile d: Savage
Steve Holland
NOTE: Filming dates: May 8-12, 2001. The clapboard shown on
the blooper reel at t
