This episode, the first to focus on the girls, sees Robin and Haylie - upon learning of a cat burglar - attempting to prove that the two; the youngest band members, aren’t babies by guarding the P*lace.
Following opening number “Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)”; we go to the break room, where Robin and Haylie are really into a Crime Busters computer game (which Ana explains to a befuddled Kenny). Eric, passing his time reading the newspaper, sees that a cat burglar is on the loose and had robbed 4 places in 2 weeks - the most recent strike being just down the street from the P*lace (Kenny unsuccessfully trying to calm the others down in the process, especially as Ana notes that their equipment could make the P*lace a prime target - and Eric making special note of Kenny’s favorite guitar). At this point, Haylie blurts out that she and Robin could handle it, suggesting - like the game - that they could drop the net over the crooknote . Eric then tries to talk Haylie out of this plan (for safety reasons), only for the youngest band member to dig in (not helping matters is Eric saying “You children wouldn’t stand a chance”; resulting in Haylie and Robin deepening their resolve even as Kenny points out the wisdom of letting the police handle this thing). All this before the next song (“Release Me”).
While the older members head to the library, Robin and Haylie pick up where they left off with their game (and Eric picks up where he left off with the teasing {“Why don’t we leave these babies to play?”}). With Flip entering as this goes on, he sides with the girls but points out that they need to leave as he’s preparing to lock up. Apparently, the girls have mastered the Puppy-Dog Eyes expression, as they manage to convince Flip they’re responsible enough to stay, resulting in Flip letting them lock up. After shutting down, Haylie then suggests staying in case the burglar shows up, apparently thinking they’ll get the jump on the burglar even though a hesitant Robin points out the potential holes in the idea. Soon after, the girls get spooked by a shadowy figure (with Robin attempting to flee only for the door to be stuck) that turns out to be a mannequin, and also getting startled by noises that turn out to be from the pipes. Despite this, Haylie remains convinced they can catch the bad guy together (“I Can Do Anything”), with the two starting to make plans (including using a net on stage, a pot, bright lights among other items); setting up “The Power” (complete with 1960s Batman-style written sound effects and ending with the dancers {playing burglars} getting doused with white paint). The girls then get spooked yet again upon seeing a doorknob (that they tied a rope to) turn, with Robin once again taking off for the main entrance only for the net to fall on her. Meanwhile, the pot goes off and by the time the door opens for a pie to land right in Flip’s facenote .
While Eric does apologize for calling the girls “babies” (and Flip jokes he was glad it was whipped cream topping); Robin and Haylie’s attempt to prove themselves appears to have ended in disaster; with Kenny pointing out how dangerous it was for them to be alone like that (Haylie asks if that means they weren’t going to get in trouble. Flip’s response: “Not quite”) and Flip reminding the two (and no doubt, the audience by extension) to dial 911 in emergency situations. Fortunately, Eric announces that while the older kids were at the library he learned that the cat burglar was just arrested, leading to a celebration (and Flip jokingly dabbing the remaining whipped cream on Haylie and Robin’s faces) prior to closing number “Save Me”.
Songs performed in this episode:
- “Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)” (Technotronic cover; lead vocals by Eric)note
- “Release Me” (Wilson Phillips cover; lead vocals by Haylie, Robin and Ana)
- “I Can Do Anything” (Kids Incorporated original; lead vocals by Haylie and Robin)
- “The Power” (Snap! cover; lead vocals by Haylie and Robin)
- “Save Me” (Fleetwood Mac cover; lead vocals by Robin and Ana)
Tropes associated with this episode:
- Bearer of Bad News: Eric is the one mentioning the cat burglar being on the loose.
- Caught in a Snare: The trap Robin and Haylie set up to catch the cat burglar ends with Robin being caught in the net while Flip, upon entering, gets pied.
- Imagine Spot: Used for “The Power” as Robin and Haylie bust burglars played by the dancers.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Eric’s teasing of Robin and Haylie being babies due to being the youngest band members sets the stage for Haylie to begin thinking of ways to prove she and Robin could handle guarding the P*lace.
- Only Sane Man: Kenny, perhaps remembering his previous experience, suggests letting the police do their job when it came to tracking down the cat burglar.
- Open Mouth, Insert Foot: Eric seems to have a chronic case of this with his teasing in this episode.
- Recycled Premise: The main plot shares several similarities (band member guarding the P*lace; burglar on the loose; setting up elaborate trap that ends up catching Flip) with Season 6’s “Further Adventures of Cosmoboy”
- Rube Goldberg Device: What appears to be what gets set off when the door opens and ultimately pies Flip.
- Written Sound Effect: Used for “The Power” when Robin and Haylie knock out the dancers portraying burglars in that sequence.
