Family Therapy is the thirteenth episode (33rd overall) of the second season which was broadcast on May 12, 2002.
Synopsis[]
Macie's parents forget about her thirteenth birthday.
When Ginger tells Bobby and Bobbie Lightfoot, they feel extremely guilty and ensure that they make it up to Macie. They begin to treat her like a four-year-old, showering her with toys and hosting her birthday party at a petting zoo. In the end, Macie decides that while she's had fun catching up on lost childhood, she is a teenager now and her parents should treat her as such.
Meanwhile, Carl hides in fear from an escaped naked mole rat that crawled up his pants leg, but later he decides to find it, losing his fear when he discovers that it's even more frightened of him.
Plot[]
In the auditorium, Chet makes an announcement about upcoming birthdays, which Dodie and Ginger and really exciting about, but Macie isn't too thrilled, thinking that her name being said out loud is really embarrassing. Chez then does his announcements: Leon Johanna on April 3rd, Gustavo Enriques on April 9th, then announces Macie on April 22nd, but she isn't willing to wave, then he announces Mipsy, also on April 22nd, making her wave and smack poor Macie in the face. Chez then leaves, thanking everyone for giving him a good time in the auditorium. Courtney and Miranda congratulate Mipsy on turning 13, the most important birthday in a girl's life. She declares that she will throw the best birthday party ever, planning it with a karaoke machine, dry ice, and hand-rolled sushi. Meanwhile, Macie wonders if it's legal to have a birthday legally changed, and Ginger defends her. They ask how she will plan her own party, such as renting a bowling alley. Macie says that her parents are planning the party, since they've been pretty secretive lately.
Courtney tells Ginger that she's been named chairman of Mipsy's birthday, so Ginger will receive an invite soon, but she has other plans since Macie's birthday is on the same day. Miranda quickly leaves, saying they've tried inviting her, and Courtney informs Ginger she will get an invite anyway. Macie tells her friends that her party won't have any sushi or gross parasites, followed by them laughing. Meanwhile, at a building, Carl and Hoodsey watch a video about the naked mole rat, which they are very interested in. Blake appears and believes that the appearance of the rat has them scared, which Carl denies. Blake jokingly says that a TV monitor is minor compared to reality. In the lab, the zoologist welcomes everyone inside and puts on gloves to get a hold of one of the naked mole rats, Gwendolyn. The kids are disgusted, but Carl doesn't care claiming he's seen worse. The zoologist asks if anybody wants to hold Gwendolyn, Carl happily volunteers. After putting on the gloves and taking her, he drops the rat and she runs around and soon crawls into Carl's pants, causing him to jump onto a chair and shake his leg, making Gwendolyn fall out and escape the lab. Everyone stares at Carl for his actions and Blake laughs, stating even Carl has some weaknesses. Carl chuckles and tells Blake that he wasn't really scared, making Blake admit his act was believable.
At the Foutley house, Ginger gets her invite for Mipsy's party, which she isn't excited about. Lois comes in and Ginger helps her, informing her about Macie's birthday that she didn't yet get an invite to. Ginger also says this birthday is on the same day as Mipsy's. Her parents have even hired a skywrighter to write "Happy Birthday Mipsy, love Mom and Dad" in the sky. Lois mentions that she saw Bobbie Lightfoot at the supermarket, but she was too busy to talk with her. Ginger suggests that she should make a cake, since everything will be storebought. Luckily for her, Lois got her some soy flour. Back with Carl, he and Hoodsey are playing tetherball, with him acting nervous. Blake shows up and informs Carl that he hasn't been acting like himself since the incident with Gwendolyn, upsetting Hoodsey. Blake then calmly asks if Carl was lying about his act of not being afraid, which forces Carl to tell him to leave. After tempting Hoodsey, Carl then tells his friend that he really was afraid of the rat. Hoodsey, horrified, runs away, shouting "Not Possible!"
Meanwhile, at Mipsy's house, her party is going very well. Courtney, however, is singing a song about herself, at Mipsy's party. Miranda reads the lyrics in an annoyed and deadpan voice, as if she's agreeing the song is bad. The cake comes, and it is pretty big. As for Macie's party, Ginger ran out of room to write "Happy Birthday Macie" on the cake, and the day is halfway over. They hear rumbling outside, and they see the "Happy Birthday Mipsy" message in the sky. Soon after, the phone rings; it's Macie. Ginger gladly asks if the party is going on, and she says no, since her parents forgot her birthday. A shocked Ginger asks what parents would forget their own kids birthday, and Macie replies, "As it turns out, mine", as she sadly hangs up.
When Ginger tells Bobby and Bobbie Lightfoot, they feel extremely guilty and ensure that they make it up to Macie. They begin to treat her like a four-year-old, showering her with toys and hosting her birthday party at a petting zoo. In the end, Macie decides that while she's had fun reliving her childhood, she’s a teenager now and her parents should treat her as such.
Appearances []
- Ginger Foutley
- Carl Foutley
- Pointy Receptionist
- Courtney Gripling
- Macie Lightfoot
- Hoodsey Bishop
- Dodie Bishop
- Miranda Killgallen
- Lois Foutley
- Bobbie Lightfoot
- Bobby Lightfoot
- Mipsy Mipson
- Chet Zipper
- Blake Gripling
- Sobbing Patient
- Naked Mole Rat Expert
- Serena
- Jean-Pierre (cameo)
- Mye Zuckerberg (cameo)
Video[]
Quotes[]
Macie: (talking about her parents) And whenever I come into the room, they stop talking.
Dodie: Don't they always do that?
Carl: There it is, Hoods. The naked mole rat. A mammal that lives like an insect.
Hoodsey: And to think we were gonna be the first to live underground.
Hoodsey: (referring to Blake) Chaps, gents. It really gets on my nerves when he's not consistent.
Courtney: (referring to Carl) Who was that masked man?
Carl: You know, you just shouldn't judge a naked mole rat by her cover.
Macie: Is it possible to have your birthday legally changed?
Trivia[]
- It is revealed that Macie and Mipsy share the same birthday: April 22nd.
- When Carl and Hoodsey go off to find the mole rat, Carl is wearing the same paintball outfit from "Ms. Foutley's Boys".
- Courtney and Miranda sing the song "Courtney's World" from the episode "Come Back Little Seal Girl" at Mipsy's birthday party. (featured in the video)
- Darren does not appear in this episode.
- This is the second episode to be featured on a character's birthday. The first time was in Ginger the Juvey.
- The character Crazy Floyd from the episode "Lunatic Lake" appears on the cover of a mental health magazine at Macie's parents' therapy office.
- The last time this episode aired on the main Nickelodeon channel is November 29, 2008.
Gallery []
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