"Complimentary Colors" is the fifty-fifth episode of Pepper Ann. It aired on November 4, 2000.
Synopsis[]
Pepper Ann runs for student office against Alice Kane.
Plot[]
The students are annoyed at the fact that their textbooks have not been updated in years. As they are all called to an assembly, Principal Hickey tries to inform the students how important it is that they take their elections seriously after the last one was a travesty. He invites Congresswoman Barbara Reed to come and speak and she actually seems to get through to the kids. At home, Lydia tries to convince Pepper Ann that voting is important, despite the fact that she failed to vote last time, and claims that her vote "probably didn't matter". Pepper Ann challenges this and decides that she will take elections seriously.
At school, the only names running are Mark Hamill and Clowny Appleseed. Pepper Ann suggests that Nicky run, but she explains that student presidents hold no power and thus has no reason to. Pepper Ann confronts Hickey on this and after offering some ideas for the school, Hickey agrees to listen to her, but only if she actually wins. With no other option, Pepper Ann decides to run. Nicky and Milo are proud of her decision and decide to be her campaign staff. They help her decide her issues and have her talk to the students. However, Pepper Ann learns that Alice Kane is also running against her with less poignant issues. Nicky suggests a debate that will decide the public's perception.
Pepper Ann decides to listen to Nicky's advice and stick to the topics at hand. However, during the debate, Alice proceeds to toss shade at Pepper Ann by pointing out minor issues with her that leave her tongue tied. Alice proceeds to print unflattering ads against Pepper Ann. She tries to have similar ones made about Alice, but Nicky stops her; telling her to stick to the issues as people will listen to those. Pepper Ann decides to make a television ad and have it aired on public access television. The filming goes great, but when they air the ad, it turns into a smear campaign against Alice. Nicky, upset at her friends for the betrayal, quits being part of the team.
On the final day of the tally, Hickey announces that the winner was Mark Hamill. Nicky laughs at the irony, revealing that she voted for Hamill as an act of protest against their mudslinging campaigns; Hickey agrees and scolds them for stooping so low. To make it even stranger, Hamill shows up to accept the win, only to learn that it was not an awards show (he was simply happy that he won something). Pepper Ann apologizes to Nicky for her behavior, and she tells her that she can still do her part to improve the school. With Hamill as the school president, Pepper Ann gives the bake sale a try and they manage to accrue new textbooks, however Nicky is flummoxed that they now mention Clowny Appleseed.
Cast[]
Main cast[]
- Kathleen Wilhoite as Pepper Ann Pearson
- Jeff Bennett as Dieter Liederhosen, Pink-Eye Pete
- Danny Cooksey as Milo Kamalani, Additional voices
- Clea Lewis as Nicky Little, Becky Little (no lines)
- Pamela Segall as Moose Pearson, Additional voices
- April Winchell as Lydia Pearson, Abriola Stark, Gerta Liederhosen, A.V Geek Girl*
Additional voices[]
- Don Adams as Principal Hickey
- Shari Belafonte as Congresswoman Barbara Reed
- Mark Hamill as Himself, Emmit Swink (Waiter)
- Don Lake as Sherman Finky
- Susan Tolsky as Janie Diggity
- Lauren Tom as Alice Kane, Additional voices
Other characters[]
- Becky Little (no lines)
- Lady Astor (does not speak)
- Baron Von Gus (I and II) (do not speak)
- Goth Girl (does not speak)
- Shelf McClain (does not speak)
- Trinket St. Blair (cameo)
- Tessa and Vanessa James (cameo)
- Craig Bean (cameo)
- Vera Groober-Schwartz (cameo)
- Gwen Mezzrow (cameo)
- Stuart Walldinger (cameo)
- Constance Goldman (cameo)
- Lamar Abu-Dabe (cameo)
- Sketch (cameo)
- Hush (cameo)
- Alf (cameo)
- Brenda (cameo)
- Cossie Van Tuttie (cameo)
- Dieter's Friends (cameo)
- JavaNutt Guy (cameo)
- Mama Tried Guy (cameo)
- Noah (cameo)
- Pimply Boy (cameo)
- Timid Boy (cameo)
- Unnamed Emo Kid (cameo)
- Yassir (cameo)
- Cissy Rooney (erroneous cameo)
- Ned Diggity (erroneous cameo)
- Ernie the Janitor (mentioned)
Desk Gag[]
"...A gold tooth!"
Goofs[]
- During the flashback of Becky getting elected president, Cissy Rooney can be seen in the crowd of students, the same age as she is in the show's present; this is a clear continuity error.
- As Pepper Ann sighs the elections sheet, Dieter speaks using an incidental's voice briefly before switching back to his own in the following scene.
- During Alice Kane and Pepper Ann's confrontation, Ned can be seen in the crowd despite him being a high-school student.
- For unknown reasons, the back of Alice Kane's head is bare throughout the episode; since "Bye, Bye Trinket" (or "My Mother, Myself," going by production order), Alice Kane had otherwise been redesigned to feature a bit of hair on the back of her head, under her bowlcut.
- After Alice Kane accuses Pepper Ann of lying, she can be faintly seen at the top row of the crowd in the following scene.
Trivia[]
- This episode was only aired twice on ABC before the series left Disney's One Saturday Morning block; it wouldn't air again until the series entered syndication on Toon Disney and Disney Channel.
- This is the final episode in which Pamela Adlon is credited as "Pamela Segall". Every episode following this one will credit her as "Pamela Adlon Segall".
Continuity[]
- This is Mark Hamill's second appearance in the series.
- It is revealed that Mark Hamill has also taken a disliking to Alice Kane, after she dismisses his arugula.
- During one of the establishing shots, a girl can be seen hitting on Trinket.
- This episode marks the final appearance of Becky Little, only appearing through a flashback.
- Pepper Ann recalls the events of "The Big Pencil" as reason for Alice Kane's counter-campaign against her.
- On one of the Hazel Nuts 'N' Bolts papers, a photo of Pepper Ann's picture day photo can be seen.
- On the paper Pink-Eye Pete reads, it cites "Groundhog Sees Own Shadow!", indicating that the events of the episode occur around January-February, with the day of the school election occurring sometime after Groundhog Day.
External links[]