Struck by Lightning (Season 7, Episode 9). It has been raining for several days including some thunderstorms and Steve is about to head out but gets struck by lightning. Later on there's another storm and Steve tries to head out again but once again he is struck by lightning. Steve stays inside for a few days and is nervous to leave the house. Carl points out there's no problem outside, just one cloud. Steve goes ahead and starts to leave the house but that one cloud produces lightning and strikes Steve again. Steve is now petrified to leave the house, Harriette tries to convince Steve to go outside by telling him what he'll miss with fresh sunshine and picnics and Carl tells Steve that scientist Steve would find out why he keeps getting struck by lightning which Steve accepts the challenge. Steve does find out why he is a lightning rod and it turns out his blood is high in iron and he filtered his blood and took some of the iron out so he can return to going outside and is successful. Too bad that he gave Carl the jar of iron who walks outside and gets struck by lightning. Meanwhile, Laura is thrilled because Harriette mentions there is a part time job at Ferguson's for a sales lady, Laura goes down to interview but finds out that Myra is up for the same position. Mr. Waxman, the manager, tells them he'll test them both out to see who is right for the position. Myra does sell a lot more than Laura, but Myra doesn't get the position like she thought she would, Myra had more returns than Laura did because Myra was lying to her customers telling them they looked good when they didn't. Laura is hired based on her skills and not just because Harriette works at the same store.
FAVORITE QUOTE:
EDDIE: Steve, forget about that cereal. I'm taking everybody out for breakfast this morning.
HARRIETTE: How can you afford that?
EDDIE: I can't, I'm not paying, I'm just driving everybody.
STEVE: No, thanks, you guys just go without me.
EDDIE: Oh, come on, Steve, you can even sit at the same table with us this time.
STEVE: No, thanks, me and the ol' outdoors just don't get along like we used to.
CARL: Oh, Steve.
STEVE: Look, my days of being a human lightning rod are over. Why let someone else get jump started by ten million bolts of direct current.
LAURA: But Steve, it's not even raining today.
EDDIE: Yeah, it's just two little clouds up in the sky.
STEVE: Just two?
EDDIE: Yeah, take a look for yourself.
(STEVE OPENS THE DOOR AND GETS ELECTRICUTED AGAIN)
CARL: Steve, are you ok?
STEVE: Houston, we have a problem.
FAVORITE MOMENT:
When Steve is trying to eat cereal with Carl but all the lightning that has struck him is spazzing him out and he can't even eat the cereal without spilling it all over the place.
OPINION:
I am more than certain we have had a least a couple episodes where there was thunder and lightning outside but Steve never had a problem of getting struck by lightning until now. Maybe he had more iron than usual lately? I love these TV shows where they treat being struck by lightning is like a cartoon where your clothes just burn and you get a little shock. If only reality was that way instead of being set on fire by millions of bolts of current. Still, does it make for a funny joke with Steve getting electrocuted three times in the episode? Yeah, I have to say that it does make me laugh, particularly the third time where there's just 2 clouds in the sky and he thinks he's safe but still gets struck. Of course he would figure out what was wrong with more iron than normal being in his body and taking it out, he hands the iron to Carl and you'd think he'd stop Carl from leaving the house with the jar of iron but nope and poor Carl gets electrocuted. But at least it's Hollywood where being electrocuted just causes a singe and you'll be fine in a few days.
Laura and Myra competing for the position was a pretty funny storyline. I'm curious if a store ever really did that though, test out a sales position for 2 people and see who did better? Usually you just get hired and if it doesn't work out, they just let you go and move on. But this was a different time, so I can't say for sure if that is a realistic situation. Still, I'm proud of Laura for not only telling Harriette not to say anything to Mr. Waxman about hiring her but that she did get the job based on her skills. Myra had more sales but more returns causing the store to lose money. I'm curious how bad these people looked that Myra was lying to them about how they looked amazing? I worked in sales and instead of giving up after something didn't look good on a customer, I would give them different options so I didn't lose the sale. But at least Laura has a discount on clothes now and maybe Myra will learn that you can't lie your way into getting what you want.
Overall, it's not a bad episode, I just think it's ok. While it has it's funny moments, this is one of those episodes I tend to forget about.
GUEST STARS:
- F. William Parker as Mr. Sidney Waxman
