Comedy Tonight

## Synopsis

With Father Hargis as the emcee, and Danny as the primary sponsor, St. Augustine Academy holds a fundraising variety show at *Danny's Pizzeria*. Virtually the entire Lubbock family is involved, as well as various members of the school staff.

The night opens with Father Hargis's and Father Budd's "dueling" instrumentals. Sister Ethel is eager to participate, but Father Hargis repeatedly denies her of any legitimate chance of doing so, for unknown reasons.

Following the two priests' musical escapades, the variety show goes on to include the "Lubbock Babes" doing their usual singing performance. After realizing that this gig is unpaid, Wendy is initially unhappy, but content with doing it anyways. In addition, J.R. and Sherry team up to put on a spontaneous magic show. Also, Graham does a stand-up comedy routine, after overcoming a major onset of stage-fright - with Elizabeth's help.

Prior to Graham's stand-up comedy act, he was determined to use some lackluster material that surely wouldn't have impressed the audience. After Elizabeth hands him a bag of "props", Graham channels his "inner-public school teacher", and goes on to successfully entertain everyone in attendance.

Then, Janitor Bob sings a song; that is, until he is abruptly chased off-stage by an over-zealous police officer. However, toward the end of the night, both Janitor Bud and the same police officer return to the stage for the show's finale.

Throughout the event - much like earlier - Sister Ethel is continually rebuffed on several occasions from performing by emcee Father Hargis for unspecified reasons. However, it's likely that the priest thought that the madcap nun would only ruin the show with her wildly unpredictable behavior.

Happily, the fundraiser proves successful in the end, as the school raises the funds that they had been seeking, and the "Lubbock Babes" conclude with another song.

*I'm Happy Just to Dance with You - THE BEATLES*
*This Girl - THE BEATLES*
*Soul Deep - THE BOX TOPS*

## Guest Appearances

*Sid Haig* as Janitor Bob

*Johnny Dark* as Danny

## Memorable Quotes

**Running Gag**: *(Sister Ethel takes the stage, ready to perform), only to be told, "Not yet!"*

--

**Wendy**: "*I just don't like the idea of giving it away for free.*"

**Connie**: "*Why should tonight be any different?*"

--

**Elizabeth**: "*You're a veteran of the New York State Public School System. These are your props.*" *(hands Graham a duffel bag of confiscated items)*

## Trivia

* Unique to this episode, the entirety takes place at 'Danny's Pizzeria', and the theme song intros all include scenes exclusive to this episode.
* Bill Kirchenbauer is credited as a writer for this episode, primarily due to the inclusion of his real-life stand-up comedy routine being used on-air.
* This episode provides a rare extended look at Sherry without her eyeglasses.
* Final appearances of Sid Haig as Janitor Bob, Frank Bonner as Father Hargis, and Lou Richards as Father Budd.

### Running Gag

* Sister Ethel attempts to perform on-stage, only for Father Hargis to repeatedly rebuff her. The concept is very similar to what Ricky famously did to Lucy in *I Love Lucy*.

## Mistakes

### Plot Holes

* It is not explicitly revealed whether Father Hargis intentionally keeps Sister Ethel out of the show because of her unpredictable behavior, or if she really is too early. If it is the latter, then she should have been allowed to participate at some point; she is not even included in the finale.