"A Valentine's Day Tune" is the 13th episode of the fourth season of Pepper Ann. It aired on February 14, 2000.
Synopsis
In this Valentine's Day spin on A Christmas Carol, Pepper Ann is visited by the ghosts of her past, present, and future to see why she hates Valentine's Day, what others think about her hatred of the holiday, and what will happen if she doesn't change her ways.
Plot
With Valentine's Day approaching, Pepper Ann is grumpier than ever; having a strong dislike for the holiday despite everyone including her friends enjoying the festivities. All of her school activities are muddled by the Valentine's decorations as she angrily lambasts the holidays, much to Milo and Nicky's displeasure, and comes home to Lydia trying to bake a reasonable cake. At night, Pepper Ann is visited by a spirit resembling Effie Shrugg who tells her that she will be haunted by three spirits who will change her ways or else face doom.
Pepper Ann awakens to the sight of Stan "The Cookie" Cookerstein, the first boy she ever had a crush on who takes Pepper Ann away to the past. One year after Lydia and Chuck's divorce, Pepper Ann attempted to bring them back together via Valentine's Day. Though both of them saw right through it, they admired her creativity. Sometime later, Lydia buys a locket that she once wanted as a child and decides to give it to Pepper Ann, who carelessly put it away without a second thought. Pepper Ann is brought back home where she is visited by the second spirit, Brenda.
Brenda takes Pepper Ann downstairs to show her that Lydia is hard at work baking and then shows bully Shelf McClain longing for a Valentine. At the dance, Milo and Nicky are disappointed that Pepper Ann did not come as they brought gifts for her and become sad and miserable while Craig decides to leave as well. Pepper Ann is visited by the third spirit, later revealed to be Vera, who shows that in the future, she becomes a Nobel prize winning scientist like she dreamed, but becomes a literal cold hearted person who despises all forms of love among her employees.
Pepper Ann awakens in a brighter mood and helps Lydia bake a proper cake for the holiday before heading to school. She happily greets Milo and Nicky who are surprised by her sudden change in tune. At the dance, Lydia's cake is such a hit that Dieter does not want to eat it for its design. Pepper Ann discovers that Milo and Nicky did not prepare any gifts, somewhat confusing her, but Craig arrives to play a song that he had written for Pepper Ann. Shelf, who angrily denounced getting a Valentine's card, privately declares his love for the holiday.
Cast
- Kathleen Wilhoite as Pepper Ann Pearson
- Jeff Bennett as Dieter Liederhosen, Craig Bean, Shelf McClain
- Danny Cooksey as Milo Kamalani
- Clea Lewis as Nicky Little
- Pamela Adlon as Moose Pearson
- April Winchell as Lydia Pearson, Abriola Stark
- Hedy Burress as Effie Shrugg
- Tara Strong as Brenda, Female Scientist
- Paddi Edwards as Vera Groober-Schwartz
- Shaun Fleming as Stan "The Cookie" Cookerstein
- Jess Harnell as Male Scientist, Nigel, Mailman
- Don Lake as Sherman Finky, Butler
- Maurice LaMarche as Chuck Pearson, Jeweler
- Candi Milo as Constance Goldman
- Kathy Najimy as Coach Doogan
Desk Gag
"Cool, a mood ring!"
Trivia
- The episode is obviously a riff on A Christmas Carol.
- Craig finally performs the song he had prepared for Pepper Ann since "The First Date Club".
- This episode features the return of characters Effie Shrugg and Brenda, referencing the events of "Effie Shrugged" and "Old Best Friend".
