YMMV / Teen Idol

• Alternative Character Interpretation: Is Luke a Nice Guy who helps Jenny realize what she needs to do, or a sanctimonious Jerk with a Heart of Gold who doesn't get called up for telling other people what to do to make the school better, but not doing so himself. Even Jen wonders this, that he's making her do all the work and leaving her with everyone's shock and anger. Luke himself admits that maybe his intentions weren't that pure and perhaps he was being sanctimonious when explaining that he called Geri Lyn to ask her to check on Jen for him.
• Heartwarming Moments:
  • When Luke hears that the seniors kidnapped Ms. Mulvaney's doll Betty Ann, he brings her coffee every day to class to cheer her up.
  • The rescue of Betty Ann. Jen asks Scott to drive to Kurt's house and asks his little sister nicely to get the doll. She hints that if Brittany doesn't do it, then she'll tell the principal who won't let Kurt graduate. Brittany gets the message and brings back Betty Ann, who is unhurt but stained with barbecue sauce. Scott then tries to go for Taking the Heat, saying that he showed up to rescue the doll so Kurt doesn't beat in Jen's face. Jen is touched but tries to say his face isn't worth it. He disagrees vehemently. Scott sees her nearly crying Tears of Joy about this, and kindly offers her napkins. Jen and her mother then spend the whole night cleaning Betty Ann and making her look nice.
  • Jen tells Scott that she has been in love with him since fourth grade, and the reason why she hadn't dated anyone else was that he had moved temporarily. Scott is so thrilled on hearing this that he gives her The Big Damn Kiss.
• Why Would Anyone Take Him Back?: Both Steve and Jen suffer this with Trina for romance and friendship respectively:
  • Jen states that Trina is her best friend and always looks out for her, but we don't see that in the novel. In fact, Trina when convincing Jen to sign up for Show Choir fails to mention that it involves dancing, and Jen has no sense of rhythm. She does the same with Steve, who says later that he would have preferred to try out for sports than sing with his on-off girlfriend. There is also the fact that she has No Sympathy about Jen getting her first period on the day of a pool party, saying that she has to come due to being the "mayonnaise" of the group, and that if Jen had been there then one girl wouldn't have chipped another tooth for wearing the same outfit. She then pettily sabotages Jen when the latter reveals she's going to Spring Fling with Luke Striker and calls out Trina for breaking up with Steve whenever it's convenient for her. When Mr. Hall calls out Jen for accidentally tossing Trina's hat into the tuba player's instrument, Trina then doesn't stand up for her when Jen honestly says that she didn't mean to do it because Trina was supposed to catch the hat but missed on purpose. When Jen walks out, she doesn't chase after her to the girls' bathroom or even call her up when the rest of the choir tries to bully Jen into returning. It takes three whole days for Trina to apologize, but she really suffers no consequences for it apart from not doing a solo that she had practiced.
  • Speaking of which, Jen says that Trina frequently breaks up with Steve only to get back with him whenever she needs to bum a ride to the mall or the movies respectively. Jen tolerates it because she doesn't have a permit and believes in not making waves as the group's "mayonnaise". She also consoles Steve whenever the breakup happens. When Jen decides to take Luke's advice, she tells off Trina for not considering Steve's feelings. Trina laughs and says that since when did Jen ever case about Steve's feelings? Steve then gets the memo when Trina spends a week moping over Luke not being available and dumps her, in The Dog Bites Back fashion. He also gives her a What the Hell, Hero? for making him sign up for show choir, which he doesn't even like, and then didn't appear for the long trip to a regional competition. It's only Trina apologizing and saying she loves him that he takes her back. Jen is stunned, as is the rest of the choir.

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