A new teacher named Franklin Dudikoff arrives at the school, whom TJ recognizes as a legendary figure in the history of the playground known as "The Dude."
Tropes
- The B Grade: Gretchen is horrified that she got an A- on her electricity quiz.
- Brick Joke: One of the feats that Vince heard about the Dude was that he got the cafeteria to stop serving something called "the Tuesday Surprise." Later, the lunch ladies decide to bring it back, until they realize the Dude is back and cancel.
- Character Catchphrase: Naturally, the Dude had one: "supple."
- Cool People Rebel Against Authority: TJ says he takes inspiration from the Dude, including his disdain for authority.
- Cool Teacher: Reconstructed with Dudikoff. He struggles going by the book and getting kids to listen, so he tries to make the classroom fun by telling stories of his youth. The kids lap it all up, but then they wash out on a quiz (or get an A- in Gretchen's case) because not enough time was spent on the material. He worries he's a washout, but talking to T.J. gets him thinking about how he can combine information and fun to get the kids invested in the material.
- Crazy-Prepared: The Dude recalls an occasion where Miss Finster caught him with gum and made a big show of asking him if he brought enough for everyone else on the playground. He immediately took out 247 sticks of gun.
- Future Loser: Averted with Dudikoff. He worries that he's not cut out to be a teacher when he failed as a fun teacher and a smart teacher. TJ asks him why he wanted to become a teacher in the first place when he was already the coolest kid on the playground, and he replies that he finds the things you get to teach about (science, history, literature) to be cool in and of themselves.
- The Glasses Come Off: Dudikoff wears glasses when he attempts to teach by the book, but takes them off after TJ reminds him of Miss Finster and he embraces his role as the Dude.
- It Has Been an Honor: TJ tells "Mr. Dude" that it was an honor to be in his class, which gives Dudikoff an idea.
- It's Personal: Miss Finster consistently thinks the worst of the Dude, due to him being a constant thorn in her side when he was a student.
- Noodle Incident: The Dude led the Great Cafeteria Revolt over the Tuesday Surprise.
- Oh, No... Not Again!: The lunch lady upon seeing the Dude in her cafeteria. She immediately backs off bringing back the Tuesday Surprise.
- Properly Paranoid: After getting their lousy scores back, Vince observes the kids are in trouble, but it's the Dude who's really in hot water.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Upon seeing Dudikoff in action for himself, Prickly welcomes him to the profession and invites to go golfing sometime.
- Sadist Teacher: Miss Finster says Dudikoff's final lesson can't be teaching because the students are having fun while learning.
- Take a Third Option: After failing to teach the kids as a smart teacher and a fun teacher, Dudikoff decides to combine them both as "Mr. Dude" after TJ calls him that.
