Let's Go to the Hop

"Let's Go to the Hop" is the fourteenth episode of the second season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on June 6, 2000. It guest-stars Fairuza Balk, Gregg Allman, Mary Kay Bergman, Patrick Bristow, Wayne Collins, Tom Dorfmeister, Joey Slotnick, and Fred Tatasciore.

Plot

During a large storm one night over Rhode Island, a Colombian cartel plane is struck by lightning in mid-flight and crashes. Zooming in the wreckage, the cargo is revealed: psychoactive toads, one of which gets into the hands of two teenage boys who begin drug fanaticism among James Woods Regional High School. Lois and Peter become concerned when the toad-licking problem arises in school. After finding a toad in Chris' pocket they suspect him, but then they discover that Meg was holding the toad for one of the popular kids in the hope that doing so would secure her a date to the Winter Snow Ball. Peter recalls his nervousness when he first asked his high school crush, Phoebe Diamond, to the prom. Later, Lois and Peter decide they need to do something to protect their kids from this drug problem. So, Peter talks with Meg's principal about it and arrives at school the next day as "Lando Griffin", an undercover student, no relation to Meg Griffin.

Before long, Peter (as Lando) actually succeeds in convincing the kids at James Woods High that it is not cool to lick toad. Meg, seeing an opportunity, tells the cool kids that Lando has asked her to the Winter Snow Ball, which immediately increases her popularity. Meanwhile, Peter seems to be enjoying his "high school" experience and persona a little too much. In fact, when Meg shows up at school on the day of the big dance, she is stunned to learn that "Lando" is, in fact, going to the Winter Snow Ball with Connie D'Amico, a member of the popular clique.

Lois cannot believe Peter's preposterous behavior until Brian explains that Peter has transferred his feelings for his old crush, Phoebe, onto Connie. Despite Lois forbidding it, he sneaks out to go to the dance. Lois encourages Meg to go to the dance by herself. When Peter (as Lando) and Connie are about to be crowned king and queen of the Winter Snow Ball, Peter uses the opportunity to tell the crowd that Meg was really his first choice as a date for the dance. This gets Meg lots of the attention she was seeking. "Lando" then drives recklessly off into the night, never to be heard from again. Upon Lando's departure, Scott and Doug, two football jocks and friends of Connie, begin arguing over who gets to dance with Meg, with Doug being chosen. The next day, the news reports that "Lando" died when he went off Dead Man's Curve. Although no body was found, the police "decided not to ask questions and just let everyone get on with their lives". Meg becomes cool at school and the yearbook is dedicated to Lando. The song "Don't You (Forget About Me)" plays, as the episode fades away, and ends.

Production

Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman wrote the episode.

The episode was written by series regulars Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman and directed by Glen Hill before the conclusion of the second production season.

In addition to the regular cast, actress Fairuza Balk, musician Gregg Allman, voice actress Mary Kay Bergman, actor Patrick Bristow, actor Wayne Collins, actor Tom Dorfmeister, voice actor Joey Slotnick, and voice actor Fred Tatasciore guest starred in the episode. Recurring voice actors Lori Alan, writer Mike Henry, and writer Danny Smith made minor appearances.

Reception

In his 2009 review, Ahsan Haque of IGN, rating the episode a 9/10, stated that while the episode isn't "a non-stop barrage of laughter", it features "a memorable musical sequence, great story, and some hilarious jokes".^[1]

References

• S. Callaghan, “Let’s Go to the Hop.” Family Guy: The Official Episode Guide Seasons 1–3. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. 86–89.

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Let's Go to the Hop

• Let's Go to the Hop at the Internet Movie Database
• "Let's Go to the Hop" at TV.com