Rob is flummoxed by the complexity of kids' birthday parties currently and decides he's putting his foot down — Ritchie's going to have an old-fashioned birthday party at the house...only to discover that they have to keep the party indoors. Now if he, Laura, and their friends could only corral 63 children...
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- Birthday Party Goes Wrong: Rob cancels Ritchie's birthday celebration at an amusement park, wanting to fight the trend of kids becoming jaded. He sits down with Ritchie to work on the guest list, only for Ritchie to tell him he already invited 63 kids. Then the gardener picks the day of the party to spread manure on the lawn, confining the guests to the house. The kids run rampant, leading Rob to scold them and declare the party over. However, after a little bit, he manages to turn the party around by appearing as Robo the Clown.
- Description Cut: Rob reassures Laura that kids will amuse themselves if they're given freedom to do so. The scene cuts to a bunch of kids running wild through the Petries' house.
- Entertainment Above Their Age: After running out of kids' songs, Sally suggests singing "Lover Man" or "Body and Soul". Laura (coming in to announce Rob's clown performance) is scandalized.
- Joke and Receive: While Laura is in the kitchen, Alan Brady sends over a present for Ritchie: a rented pony. Just then, Laura asks if anyone wants a sandwich, saying she's hungry enough to eat a horse. Rob grins and quietly leads the pony towards the kitchen, innocently asking Laura to repeat what she said.
- Lame Pun Reaction: Sally and Rob aren't very impressed by Buddy's idea for a sketch — a game show full of contestants with names like Al Paca. Ultimately, Sally escalates to chasing him to smack him.
- Man Bites Man: Apparently, one of Ritchie's classmates bites him at recess. Rob and Laura get Ritchie to cross him off the list of invitees by mentioning that. Unfortunately, Ritchie already invited him.
- Non-Ironic Clown: At Laura's suggestion, Rob becomes "Robo the Clown" to entertain the kids after getting them to sit down. He wears a mop and funnel on his hair, a bit of makeup, and a rubber ball on his nose. He also does funny bits and sings a goofy song about becoming a clown when he grows up.
- Noodle Implements: Somehow a kid's clothing got placed in the fridge. Laura doesn't give any information; she simply says that she'll explain the incident to Rob later.
- "Not Making This Up" Disclaimer: Laura tells Rob about what's involved in a Dizzyland birthday party: the kids ride the rides and get to eat a gingerbread house and an ice-cream volcano (with hot fudge instead of lava). Rob, incredulous, tells her that if they put a sketch about this on the show, people would find it impossible.
- Pet the Dog: Alan Brady sends over a present for Ritchie.
- Punny Name: One of Buddy's sketch ideas focuses around a string of puns. On a game show called ''What Was the Person's Name Before He Changed It, and Why Did He Change It, Do You Think?", we get contestants with original names like "Al Paca" and "Phyllis Adelphia". Only the phone ringing saves him from Sally smacking him.
- So Was X: When Rob wearily agrees to Laura's initial birthday idea, she tries to reassure him that it'll be fun. Rob quips that someone said the same thing before the fall of Rome.
