"The Army / Navy Game" is the twelfth episode of the fourth season of Recess, which was first broadcast on September 23rd, 2000.
Plot[]
Summary[]
When Gus' father finds out that Cornchip Girl's father is his archenemy who works for the Navy, they are not allowed to see each other anymore, but they decide to share a secret friendship that their fathers will not know about.
Main Story[]
At lunch time, the Recess Gang are “using their imagination” on their lunch. T.J. made the word “Whomps” out of fish sticks. Gus had brought a bagged lunch from home. He had brought chip beef on crackers. Just then, Clyde Philmore came by, stole Cornchip Girl’s corn chips and pushed her down to the ground. This angered Gus, so he pushed Philmore down to the ground, which made him cry. Miss Finster then sent all three of them to Principal Prickly’s office.
While there, Gus apologized to Cornchip Girl for getting her in trouble. Cornchip Girl said that he had had chip beef on crackers, which was Russ’s favorite as well. Just then, Lieutenant Griswold came in and was about to tell Gus off for knocking Philmore down, only for Cornchip Girl to point out that Philmore pushed HER down first. Just then, Cornchip Girl’s father, Lieutenant Luke LaMaise came in and it was revealed that Cornchip Girl’s real name is Thereasa LaMaise and that their dads were enemies. They both forbade their kids from being friends.
After school, at Kelso’s, Gus explained that both their dads both went to the same military high school and competed against each other in everything. When Griswold attended the Army Academy and LaMaise attended the Naval Academy, they had to play football and war games against each other. They even argued over invasion plans during Operation Steely Resolve. The Recess Gang left Gus alone, then Kelso gave Gus a fizzy peach drink and said it was from Cornchip Girl, who said that it’s OK to be friends THERE since they’re not at school. Gus saw that Cornchip Girl was looking at an activity book about navy, so he pulled out an activity book about army. They did the activities together and Cornchip Girl pointed out that because of their similarities, they were probably DESTINED to be friends and then suggested that they would pretend to be enemies at school, then they would meet at Kelso’s after school. This worked for a while, until Gus’s friends noticed one lunchtime. That night at Kelso’s, Gus’s friends noticed again. Gretchen concluded that if their dads caught them, that they would be in big trouble, hence the secrecy. TJ came up with an idea to unite the two dads.
He called the dads pretending to be a spy and got them to meet in a park near Third Street School. They met and began to argue. TJ began to talk them through, but then they heard their kids arguing. They told their kids off, but then the kids rebelled saying that being friends is better than being enemies, that just because the DADS hated each other, doesn’t mean that their kids should do the same and they with them being friends, the fathers would see a lot more of each other, which they accepted. But then, they start arguing again. At least it was a start.
Goofs[]
Episode[]
- Animation/consistency error: During the opening scene, the gang members are shown sitting beside a table at the cafeteria. However, Gus and Gretchen are sitting beyond the length of the table and the bench, giving the impression that they are floating behind the table.
- Animation/consistency error: During the opening scene, there is a sign behind Mikey at the cafeteria. Once the perspective focuses on Vince and Gretchen, a platform appears above the sign.
- Animation/consistency error: While Vince and Gretchen are talking at the cafeteria, there is a green sign behind them. After T.J. shows his dish with the word "Whomps" written, which causes Mikey, Vince, and Gretchen to laugh, the sign is missing.
- Animation/consistency error: When Spinelli beats the dish, it starts cracking before she hits it.
- Animation/continuity error: Right before Gus gets up from the cafeteria bench, there are three kids sitting behind him. Once he gets up, there is only one girl alone.
- Animation/continuity/consistency error: While Gus is shocked for seeing that Clyde fell down after being pushed, his watch is drawn upside down.
- Animation/continuity error: When Spinelli is sipping her drink at Kelso's, her lips are not drawn.
- Animation/continuity error: While Gretchen is sipping her drink at Kelso's, her overbite is missing.
- Animation/continuity error: While Gus is talking to the rest of the gang at Kelso's, he has no drink. Once the rest of the gang stands up, Gus is seen sipping his drink.
- Animation/continuity error: When the gang members are drinking at Kelso's, the levels of the drinks inside the glasses increase significantly after they stop drinking.
- Animation/continuity error: After Gus receives the ice cream and notices Cornchip Girl is also at Kelso's, his right arm is initially behind the ice cream. Once he starts talking, both of his arms appear in front of the ice cream.
Trivia[]
Regular[]
- Cornchip Girl's first name is revealed to be Theresa.
- Gus and Cornchip Girl have a similar family background. They have a father that works in an important job that has them wear uniforms and their children are kind and gentle.
- Although Principal Prickly is absent, he is mentioned both indirectly by Miss Finster, and directly by Gus’ dad, Lt. Griswold, because he got a phone call from him as he told him that his son skirmished with another boy.
- The episode takes its name from the annual American college football game between the Army Black Knights of the Military Academy at WestPoint, NY and the Navy Midshipmen of the United States Naval Military Academy and is the third leg of the triangular series between the Military Academy, Naval Academy and Air Force Academy.
Continuity[]
- This is the first time Gretchen's voice changing device is used; it will be used again in Recess: School's Out.
- This is the third time Gus has stood up to a bully; the first two times were Gelman in "Gus' Last Stand" and "Gus' Fortune".
Allusions/Similarities[]
- The episode is a little bit similar to William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet.
- The episode is also similar to a Pepper Ann episode "Moose in Love"; both shows have the parents of the kids (Lt. Griswold and Lt. LaMaise in Recess; Lydia Pearson and Margot Lesandre in Pepper Ann's) while the kids hang out in secret (while Cornchip Girl and Gus are shown to be just friends, Moose and Sean are "dating").
- Ironically, both Recess and Pepper Ann aired on ABC's former block Disney's One Saturday Morning and UPN's former block Disney's One Too.
- This specific episode of Pepper Ann would not be aired until the show entered syndication on Toon Disney in 2001; although it was produced in the same year as this episode.
Broadcast History[]
- This episode was paired with "Beyond a Reasonable Scout" for Disney syndication; Disney+ and international broadcasts (outside of North America) retain this pairing.
- Said pairing is not known to have aired on ABC Kids.
- This episode was paired with "Big Ol' Mikey" for its ABC premiere; syndication for Disney's One Too retained this pairing.
- Following the 9/11 attacks, and its UPN premiere a few days later, this pairing would be removed from UPN syndication between 2001 and 2002. This is likely in response of "Big Ol' Mikey" featuring scenes of buildings being destroyed. The episode was added back to the rerun rotation in 2003 up until the closure of Disney's One Too.
- This episode was paired with "Prince Randall" for ABC syndication following its premiere.
Cast[]
- T.J. Detweiler - Andrew Lawrence
- Vince LaSalle - Rickey D'Shon Collins
- Ashley Spinelli - Pamela Adlon
- Gretchen Grundler - Ashley Johnson
- Mikey Blumberg - Jason Davis
- Gus Griswold - Courtland Mead
- Miss Finster - April Winchell
- Cornchip Girl - Aria Noelle Curzon
- Clyde Fillmore - Ryan O'Donohue
- Lt. Griswold/Voice Changer - Sam McMurray
- Luke LaMaise - Clancy Brown
External Link[]
The Army-Navy Game on Internet Movie Database
Transcript[]
The Army/Navy Game/Transcript
Gallery[]
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