"Like Riding a Bike" is the 15th episode of the second season of Pepper Ann. It aired on November 28, 1998.
Synospsis
Pepper Ann is horrified when Lydia starts dating her science teacher, Mr. Carter, and tries everything she can think of to break them up.
Plot
Following the intro and finding maracas, which are revealed to belong to Dieter, Pepper Ann voices her belief that Mr. Carter is out to get her. Later that night, Lydia tells her and Moose that she is going to a PTA meeting. She arrives home later than planned, but brings Mr. Carter with her, much to Pepper Ann's confusion. Unlike his strict self at school, Mr. Carter is very jovial and kind to her and despite having brought pizza with him, on taco night, Pepper Ann decides to go up to her room; having lost her appetite.
Meanwhile, Stewart has asked Nicky out and she decides to do a "trial run" with him to see how she feels. She begins to weigh the pros and cons of dating him. Milo is attracted to Gwen Mezzrow, but she does not like him. However, their feelings begin to swap daily and are never in sync. Lydia and Mr. Carter, whom she calls Roland, begin to go out more, angering Pepper Ann as they have not been to a PTA meeting in a long time. After Lydia comes home late again, Pepper Ann demands an explanation and learns that she and Mr. Carter are, in fact, dating.
Ironically, Pepper Ann's classmates are happy with this development as Mr. Carter has become a much nicer teacher and has begun giving passing grades to everyone, but Pepper Ann insists that this is about keeping things the same and tries to dig up dirt on Mr. Carter. All this fails and Lydia sets up a day for Pepper Ann and Moose to hang out with Mr. Carter. While Moose is obviously having fun, Pepper Ann makes up stories about Lydia to break them up. Mr. Carter reveals that she knows she was lying and is not trying to replace her father. Pepper Ann solemnly tells Lydia that things are changing and that is what is bothering her.
Pepper Ann learns that while Nicky has chosen not to pursue a relationship with Stewart, she still thinks about him. She tells her that she should pursue a relationship with him regardless because that is what makes her happy. Realizing that this the lesson, Pepper Ann returns home to talk to Lydia, only to learn that they have broken up; not because of Pepper Ann, but because they were at different points in their life. Lydia resumes taco night for the family. Sometime afterwards, Mr. Carter, Stewart and Milo are drinking cocoa together and lamenting their love loss, except for Stewart who is simply tired as Nicky is making him learn Italian. Mr. Carter tells them that love is "like riding a bike" before deciding to pursue Abriola Stark.
Cast
- Kathleen Wilhoite as Pepper Ann Pearson
- Jeff Bennett as Dieter Liederhosen, Additional voices
- Danny Cooksey as Milo Kamalani
- Clea Lewis as Nicky Little
- Pamela Adlon as Moose Pearson
- April Winchell as Lydia Pearson, Abriola Stark
- Jim Cummings as Roland Carter
- Luke Perry as Stewart Walldinger
- Kimmy Robertson as Gwen Mezzrow
- Kath Soucie as Cissy Rooney, Additional voices
- Cree Summer as Tessa and Vanessa James
- Susan Tolsky as Janie Diggety
- Jenna von Oÿ as Trinket St. Blair
Desk Gag
"Ha ha, cool maracas!"
Trivia
- Craig Bean is credited, but does not appear in the episode.
- This episode actually continues directly after the intro.
Gallery
.jpg "Like Riding a Bike (2).jpg (74 KB)")
.jpg "Like Riding a Bike (1).jpg (48 KB)")
