"Bonky Fever" is the second segment of the 50th episode of Recess. It aired on February 20, 2000.
Synopsis[]
Nervous about his impending tenth birthday, Mikey rediscovers his love of "Bonky the Green Dragon" and begins regressing into a young child.
Plot[]
Mikey is preparing for his upcoming tenth birthday. As his mom sends him off to school, she checks to make sure that everything is okay, making him embarrassed. Upon arriving, he becomes entranced by all the things the kindergarteners do and starts to reminisce on his younger days when he used to be obsessed with Bonky the Green Dragon. He starts to become distracted with the Recess Gang noticing the changes in his behavior. Once they deduce that he has become obsessed with Bonky again, they try to do everything they can to break his habit, but then suggest that they simply let it wear off. When neither works, they take his Bonky things and give them to Miss Finster, supposedly ending his obsession.
On the day of Mikey's birthday party, the gang arrive at his house, only to find that Mikey has invited all the kindergarteners and themed his party around Bonky. As the Bonky mascot character comes out to perform, T.J. knocks him down and unmasks him, revealing that Mikey's mother is the one in the suit. This traumatizes Mikey, who runs away, and angers the kindergarteners, who chase T.J. Mikey's mother comes outside to check on him and he admits that he was feeling nostalgic for his younger carefree days and was afraid of being independent. Mrs. Blumberg tells him that no matter how old he gets, she will still be his mother and care about him. The next day, Mikey prepares to go to school and checks himself before getting on the bus with Gus, relieving Mrs. Blumberg.
Cast[]
- Andrew Lawrence as T.J. Detweiler
- Rickey D'Shon Collins as Vince LaSalle
- Pamela Adlon as Ashley Spinelli
- Ashley Johnson as Gretchen Grundler
- Jason Davis as Mikey Blumberg
- Courtland Mead as Gus Griswald
- April Winchell as Muriel Finster, Mrs. Blumberg
- Allyce Beasley as Miss Grotke
- Anndi McAfee as Ashley Armbruster, Bonky Theme Singer #1
- Francesca Marie Smith as Ashley Boulet, Bonky Theme Singer #2
- Tress MacNeille as Lunchlady Irma
- Sam McMurray as Mr. Blumberg
- Ryan O'Donohue as Kid #1
Trivia[]
- Moral: Growing up does mean becoming more and more independent from your parents with time, and it can be a scary thought. But it doesn't have to change the love you share with your parents. Alternatively, while growing up can be intimidating, there are healthier ways to cope with it than regression.
- On Disney+ and outside the U.S., this episode is second next to "The Dude".
- This was the final episode with animation by Toon City.
- The episode could be seen as a G-Rated metaphor for someone struggling with addiction, as well as a midlife crisis.
- Bonky the Green Dragon is clearly a parody of "Barney the Dinosaur".
Gallery[]
External links[]
- Bonky Fever at the Recess Wiki
