Strangers With Candy – Summer DVD Review – A Burden’s Burden

photo: comedy central

Strangers With Candy
A Burden’s Burden

Season 1, Episode 2

Theresa – Staff Writer
theresa@thetwocentscorp.com

This episode begins the story of one of history’s greatest star-crossed tragic couples: Chuck Noblet and Geoffrey Jellinek. From their first enchanted encounter in the men’s bathroom, amidst the romantic tinkling sounds of the longest shared urinal visit ever, they knew it was meant to be.

Of course, the other inhabitants of Flatpoint High went on with their mundane lives in the meantime. So that she may learn how to take care of a baby, Jerri’s Health class assignment is to take care of an actual baby, as a single mother. Her library research and family prove to be no help, so Jerri must learn about caring for the baby, who she names Dizzy, all on her own. She stays up all night and immediately falls behind in school, and also realizes she can’t do all the fun stuff after school that she used to. She decides the best solution is to leave Dizzy in a swing at the park, hoping someone will come along and find her.

Unfortunately for Jerri, Dizzy is discovered by Geoffrey and Mr. Noblet while on a rendezvous in the early morning hours. They turn the baby in to Principal Blackman, who insists Jerri take the baby back and finish her lesson. When Jerri pleads exhaustion, the Health teacher allows her to work with Tammy Littlenut. Jerri settles into family life with Tammy easily, shifting naturally into her role as a controlling husband who has no intention of compromising for a child. After an argument, Jerri decides that she and Tammi need a night alone to improve their relationship. She leaves the baby with Kim Luk, her stepmother’s randomly adopted Cambodian war refugee, and lures Tammy to a seedy motel. Tammy calls Principal Blackman to get Jerri in trouble, but Jerri intercepts him and tells him that Tammy wanted to sell Dizzy to the black market.

Everything works out for Jerri once again, as she avoids her punishment and learns the required lesson: that taking care of a baby is a lot easier when you’re not actually a single mother taking care of it.

Not much more to say here as the show is still setting up some of its best storylines, like Jerri’s constant domination of Tammi – or at least her attempts to do so. As you can tell, I love the Noblet/Jellinek stuff, and how they start off claiming they both have dead wives, when Chuck’s is in fact very much alive. Leave your Two Cents for this week’s episode – next week is “Dreams on the Rocks”.