episode 16
Laurie has been given a devastating blow . . . the orthodontist told Shirley that Laurie has to wear braces for six months. It's interesting to me that this just came out of nowhere, and that Shirley was the one responsible for breaking the news. I do love the cut aways from the scene where Shirley is talking to Laurie, and the kids are in the living room waiting. They begin to wonder how she'll react, and Keith quickly says she'll be fine. Chris agrees, but Danny thinks she'll take it very hard, being a girl and all, and just hopes she won't be hysterical. Danny and Chris get into this "Hysterical!" - "Brave!" argument. When she enters the room, all eyes are on her. She looks at each one of them, very quietly, and then runs upstairs... Chris: "She was both."
Reuben shows up with what he thinks is great news. The Wink Burgess Show is taping in San Francisco and he's persuaded Wink to come down to San Pueblo to do a "The Partridge Family at home" segment. When he finds out that Laurie is getting braces, he finally concludes, just like Danny, that there are all those kids out there with braces (like me) who never had someone to relate to before. This could be a highpoint for her career. Laurie doesn't quite see it that way.
Show day and Wink Burgess arrives. He is the stereotypical egotistical showbiz kinda guy. (Jack would have done this character proud.) Laurie has taken to talking into her hand, and at the worst possible moment, Jerry, The Cutest Guy on Tatooine, just happened to by passing by and asks her do go steady. This only makes her more upset.
The house is a hotbed of activity as the show time arrives. Laurie's still talking into her hand, doorbells ring, as the orthodontist arrives to watch the show, at Shirley's invitation and lastly, Laurie can't seem to get the keyboard thing together. What starts out as buzzing in her mouth becomes more clear and she finally recognized the sound as the Rolling Stones. Now we know why the orthodontist is in the scene - he diagnosis the situation telling her that her braces are picking up radio signals, probably close by. Wink (Wink ?) tells everyone to fan out and find where the signal is coming from. While they wait, The Cutest Guy on Tatooine just happened to be passing by, and Laurie discovers that the signal is coming from his transistor radio, and he discovers that she has braces. Of course, he says the right thing and tells her that it just doesn't make a difference.
To end on a happy note, the doctor also tells her that he could remove the braces and give her a retainer or night brace.
(Wed Jul 25, 2001 - 1:50:12 pm)
