Phineas and Ferb help Baljeet build a portal to Mars so he can avoid getting a grade below A+.
Meanwhile Candace applies for a job so she can get closer to Jeremy, but has to compete with a girl named Wendy for the job.
While the above is happening, Dr. Doofenshmirtz tries to finally win a science fair by using a giant bicarbonate volcano.
This episode takes place at the same time as the next one.
Tropes
- All There in the Script: The girl that Candace is competing with for a job at Slushy Dawg is never referred to by name but is called "Wendy" in the credits.
- Always Someone Better: Doofenshmirtz lost three science fairs, a poetry contest, and (in the next episode) Mars's crown to a baking soda volcano.
- Another Story for Another Time: Isabella is surprised Phineas and Ferb built a portal to Mars but didn't use it. Phineas tells Isabella they did use it, but it's another story.
- Beyond the Impossible: Doofenshmirtz explains that in the past he tried entering a science fair with his first "Inator" and lost to baking soda volcano. He tried against next year with a bigger Inator, and lost again to baking soda volcano. Giving up science fairs he tried his hand at poetry, and still lost a poetry contest to someone who made a baking soda volcano!
- The B Grade: Baljeet gets help from Phineas and Ferb so he could get an A+. He actually sings about why he must not get anything less than A+.
- Brief Accent Imitation: Isabella does a good impression of Baljeet (accent included) as she recalls what she heard him scream to Phineas and Ferb.
- Comeback Tomorrow: When Wendy calls Candace "molasses", Candace retorts "Well, I think I'll call you... something slower than molasses, that's for sure!" Near the end of the episode, after her and Wendy's competitiveness costs them both the job, Candace blurts out "Snail! I'll call you 'snail'! Ha!"
- Dodgy Toupee: Agent P catches Monogram putting on his wig.
- Epic Fail: Doofenshmirtz lost to a baking soda volcano in a poetry contest.
- Exactly What It Says on the Tin: When Baljeet's teacher asks him what the Portal to Mars does:Baljeet: Well, without overcomplicating things, it's a portal to Mars. You step through it, and you're on Mars.
- Filmi Music: Baljeet explains his predicament in a flashy Bollywood number.
- Food Fight: Wendy and Candace are challenged with topping hot dogs to see who gets a job at Mr. Slushy Burger, but it degenerates into the two throwing condiments at each other.
- It Was Here, I Swear!: Mr. McGillicuddy takes on Candace's role in this episode since Candace is busy trying to get a job at Slushy Dawg.
- The Item Number: Baljeet's song is done in the style of a Bollywood credits song.
- Non-Standard Character Design: The girl who ends up winning the science fair for her baking soda volcano has big teeth and wearing a luau outfit. This is because she is a reused background character from the Shimmy Jimmy commercial in "Toy to the World".
- Pluto Is Expendable: Doof insults a model of Pluto made by one of the other entrants at the science fair.Doofenshmirtz: Oh brother, what is this, a model of Pluto? Bwa-ha-ha-ha! That planet doesn't even exist anymore, you moron!
- Preemptive "Shut Up": Doofenshmirtz tells Perry "Not one word" after getting a black eye from a masculine sounding woman. (Which is ironic because Perry doesn't talk anyway.)
- Rapid-Fire "But!": Mr. McGillicuddy absentmindedly goes "Buddidiga... Buddidiga..." after the portal fails to work again and the judges aren't impressed.
- Record Needle Scratch: When Perry arrives early and Major Monogram hasn't even finished putting on his wig.
- Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue...: Parodied with Doofenshmirtz's attempt at poetry from years ago:Doofenshmirtz: The movies are gray
The TV is black
The horses are running
Please bring me some food - Rule of Three: Doofenshmirtz lost three contests to someone who made a baking soda volcano. The first two were science fairs, the last was a poetry contest.
- Running Gag: With baking soda volcanoes always winning science fairs... and poetry slams.
- Science Fair: The story has Baljeet attending one with his plans for a portal to Mars, in order to impress his summer school teacher. Meanwhile, Doofenshmirtz is also attending the same fair with his self-proclaimed "world's largest baking soda volcano" to get back at all the times he's lost multiple science fairs to baking soda volcanoes. A science fair is also apparently happening on Mars at the same time, as seen through the portal.
- Sequel Hook: Isabella expresses surprise that they built a portal to Mars but never actually used it. Phineas says they did, to which Ferb says, "But that's another story."
- Shout-Out: A girl who developed a set of four mechanical arms uses them to win the science fair... for making a baking soda volcano.
- Showdown at High Noon: Candace and Wendy parody this in the kitchen.
- Stalker Shot: Candle spies on Jeremy working at Slushy Dawg through her binoculars. When Jeremy sees this she tries to pull the excuse that she is just looking to see if her binoculars work.
- Subverted Catchphrase: The judge asks Doof if he's a little old to be entering a science fair, to which Doof replies, "No, what makes you say that?"
- Synchronous Episodes: With Unfair Science Fair Redux.
- Violence Discretion Shot: Twice, both happening to Doof. Once when beaten up by a large woman and ending up with a black eye. Happens again when he insults someone's model of Pluto and ending up with two black eyes.
- Vocal Dissonance: The large woman telling Doof to move his van has a rather masculine sounding voice. When Doof suggests that people probably call her "sir" all the time on the phone, Perry looks concerned, which leads Doof to say, "She's standing right behind me now, isn't she?" Cut to the Violence Discretion Shot and Doof having a black eye.Doofenshmirtz: Not one word, Perry the Platypus.
