X Marks the Spot
Episode 13
Season 1, 1984
Introducing: --
For a Renee sympathizer like me, this episode is right at the top of the list. Who else gets 3 minutes of full screen time with baby pictures??? Ah, the good old days before someone decided the money was on the blonde…
The other kids are dreading Renee’s arrival because it’s her birthday, and she’s in full diva mode. They’re trying to surprise her, but as soon as she shows up, she starts dropping hints that there’s something special they need to do today. To her surprise, no one even jumps at the bait.
Undaunted, Renee continues to prompt her friends, and they continue to leave her hanging. After the next number, Riley shows up with a nondescript piece of paper that turns out to be a treasure map. The kids decide to use it and drag a sullen Renee along.
They find the first two clues and treasures quickly, but Renee isn’t seeing anything valuable and she moans and groans throughout the search. The rest of KI takes off to find another clue, and Renee remains behind to revisit birthdays long gone. What follows is the cutest sololoquy to ever be on the show.
No one else notices. They’re too busy even to talk to their own dancers. Another clue fails to impress the birthday girl.
The next note decides to poke a bit of fun at Mickey’s hidden treasures…in his locker. Underneath the rubber chicken is the final clue. It leads them all back to The P*lace.
By now, even I want to hit Renee. Fortunately, Riley turns up again, this time with an envelope. It’s addressed to Renee, and it instructs her to open all the treasures.
They are all her possessions; presents she got for other birthdays.
Finally she realizes her friends haven’t forgotten her birthday and set the whole thing up to surprise her. The real party commences.
Okay, I'm sure you know why I'm giving this one the first 5 microphone score...
I think it was a cute idea, and I wish they'd kept doing cute episodes like these. I liked how they had Renee's hair so sweetly styled for this episode, but I hated that it was just for this episode. I will say, though, that celebrating someone's birthday and acknowledging it are two different things. The least they could have done was say Happy Birthday to her, even if they had her thinking they weren't doing anything.
Guest star: --
Invention count: 0
Vocab:
“I heard that!” is a phrase used often by the boys, mostly Kid
Continuity, gags and themes:
Rhyming notes will be back
so will using real-life baby pictures, although not nearly as many
Hmm, looks like Superbike still had an owner at this point! (I’d swear it was the same bike)
New Locations:
There’s a ledge above the Coco Club. Why, I don’t know, but it’s there
Pop culture references:
The Invisible Man
Cabbage Patch Kids
the Statue of Liberty
Among the pictures Mickey has hanging up in his locker are those of Cyndi Lauper and Brooke Shields
Solos:
Mickey (1) = 10
Renee (1) = 2
Episode Total: 2
Total: 30
Performance outfits:
Denim/red
red/yellow
- This season has the most dialogue first episodes ever, but this is a first – they announce another song, and then skip that, too! Whatever Mickey wrote, it wasn’t enough to make it into the episode, apparently
- Renee’s birthday is January 4th. They give you the date, and if her birthstone is a garnet, then that’s January.
- The Magic Shoppe’s address is 284, and the garage’s is 286.
- Oops! When the kids are heading back to The P*lace, someone accidentally leaves present #1 on the bench, and you get a good shot of it.
It magically reappears when they are in The P*lace.
Clue #1: The flowerbox in the window of unknown building on the street corner– teddy bear
Clue #2: The lamp above the door to the garage – book
Clue #3: The drainpipe by the stage door – ballet shoes
Clue #4: Mickey's school locker by the gymnasium – doll
Clue #5: The P*lace – ta da! It’s Renee’s stuff!
Songs:
Love Somebody -
Time After Time -
Treasure Hunt -
Celebration - 
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