We now reach the conclusion of the two-thirds mark of Kids Incorporated as well as the finale of Season 6; where Robin - bullied by two girls - seeks to learn self-defense from guest star Billy Blanks (who had recently launched the Tae-Bo series of workout videos that became quite popular during the 1990s).
The episode starts off with a performance of “This Time I Know It’s For Real” - during which Robin sneaks onto the stage wearing shades and a trench coat, causing the kids to wonder why Robin showed up late and what’s with the shades and trench coat. Reason: Two girls had been bullying Robin (and as seen when she removes her sunglasses, had given her a black eye). Meanwhile, Flip - himself running late and is oblivious to the situation - makes a joke about it before the other girls arrive, causing the situation to escalate (“Hold On”) The others start throwing suggestions, capped by Kenny suggesting a training program. That program doesn’t start off well, with Robin doing poorly in the running program. Next is a endurance and strength segment (Robin: “But my strength is in singing.”), followed by a toning portion involving a heavy ball - which knocks her backwards and left her seeing stars; causing a frustrated Robin to throw in the towel (“Don’t Give Up”).
This leads to Robin literally running into Billy Blanks, who makes an effort to encourage her, leading to Robin checking out Billy’s karate studio (“Livin’ Right”); though Billy is quick to point out that hurting people isn’t the point of karate. Robin’s tormentors soon return to the P*lace, only this time Robin confronts the two - kicking and flailing wildly enough to scare the living daylights out of the bullies (and netting a The Karate Kid joke by Kenny) before the episode ends (“Every Little Step”).
With Season 6 finished; we now go to our annual list of changes both in front of and behind the camera, and changes there are a-plenty, led by what could be consider the end of an era with the departure of Stacy Ferguson, the lone remaining original cast member, kicking off the largest cast turnover in the show’s history; as in addition to Ferguson, Richard Shoff and Devyn Puettnote along with all of the dancers (Joseph Conrad, Kimberly Duncan, Leilani Legamy, Tiffany Robbins and Cory Tyler note ). Behind the scenes, Reg Powell would depart as music director; with Craig Sharmat taking over that position. Co-producer Qintex Entertainment - which in addition to Kids Inc. was also producing the acclaimed CBS miniseries Lonesome Dove, the Cult Classic Rollergames, and TBS Sequel Series The New Leave It to Beaver - missed a payment to MCA Television (distributor for the latter series following Qintex’s Australian parent company failing to find funding for its bid to buy MGM-UAnote ) the previous year and soon declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy; with the company assets being acquired by RHI Entertainment; upon which starting in Season 7 Robert Halmi Jr. - who co-founded that company with his father - would be added as an executive producer. The third of the co-producers, Lynch-Biller Productions, would be renamed simply Lynch Entertainment after Gary P. Biller sold his interest to Thomas W. Lynch, though Biller would remain credited as an executive producer. Finally; the show itself would enter a temporary Series Hiatus, thus skipping the 1990-91 season entirely to refresh and regroup.
Songs performed in this episode:
- “This Time I Know It’s For Real” (Donna Summer cover; lead vocals by Stacy)
- ‘’Hold On” (Kids Incorporated original; lead vocals by Devyn)
- “Don’t Give Up” (Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush cover; lead vocals by Robin and Kenny)
- “Livin’ Right” (Glenn Frey cover; lead vocals by Robin)
- “Every Little Step” (Bobby Brown cover; lead vocals by Robin and Kenny)
Tropes associated with this episode:
- Circling Birdies: Robin sees stars after a heavy ball being thrown knocks her backwards.
- Conspicuous Trenchcoat: Much like Kid in Season 1’s “The Bully” (see Recycled Premise below); Robin shows up with shades and a trench coat during the opening song.
- Recycled Premise: This episode shares several similarities with Season 1’s “''The Bully''”
- Training Montage: Kenny suggests Robin try a training program…which doesn’t work out very well.
