Runaway Hit is the second installment in the Phineas and Ferb chapter book series. This book is the print adaptation of "Flop Starz" and "Lights, Candace, Action!" It was released on January 6, 2009.
Publisher's Summaries[]
Title Description[]
Auditions for Flop Starz! are in town and Candace is determined to make the cut. But she didn't count on Phineas and Ferb throwing their creative hat into the ring. And as if that weren't enough, the next day Candace's dreams to become a famous movie star change to nightmares when it turns out Phineas and Ferb are directing the vehicle for her debut! This time Candace will stop at nothing to show her mom just how Phineas and Ferb are spending their days—and ruining her life! Meanwhile, Dr. Doofenshmirtz has created a machine that will shrink everything he dislikes. Will this mean the end for Perry the Platypus?
Back Cover Summary[]
Lights! Candace! Action!
Phineas and Ferb's sister, Candace, is determined to be the next Super American Pop Teen Idol Star. But her plans for fame are foiled when Phineas and Ferb hit the stage with their band. Then Candace's dream of becoming a famous movie star turns into a nightmare when Phineas and Ferb are chosen to direct her in her breakout role. Will she ever best her brothers at their own game?
Doofenshmirtz quote: "Ah, Perry the Platypus. You're no match for my Age-Accelerator-inator!"
[]
Based on the series created by Dan Povenmire & Jeff "Swampy" Marsh
It was the start of another potentially boring summer day in the lives of Phineas Flynn and Ferb Fletcher. As they ate their breakfasts, a painfully bad Super American Pop Teen Idol Star contestant was croaking out a song on the kitchen TV. Phineas and Ferb listened as they dug into their second bowls of Sugar POWs and their mom, Linda, helped herself to her fourth cup of coffee. Phineas's sister (and Ferb's stepsister), Candace, was searching in the refrigerator.
"I... met my love in a—" the boy on the show belted out at the top of his lungs, sounding a lot like a human bagpipe, only worse.
As the boys watched, a big boxing glove shout out of nowhere and—BOOM!—whacked the contestant off the stage.
"Oh, boy!" cried the announcer. "Did that kid stink or what? Ha!" He laughed and shook his head, then grinned and pointed at the camera. "But maybe you've got what it takes to be..." as he spoke, the words flashed onto the screen: "...the next...Super...American...Pop...Teen...Idol...Star! Auditions open today at the Googolplex Mall in beautiful downtown Danville!"
Candace immediately gave up her search for a raspberry yogurt and ran to the television. "Auditions! Today!" Her heart was pounding in her chest. Was it possible? Was her favorite show really having auditions at the local mall?
"Yes!" said the announcer cheerfully. "Today! At two o'clock sharp!"
"Yes!" Candace lifted the TV off the counter and planted a big wet kiss in the middle of the screen. "Mwaahh! I've got to tell Stacy!" She dashed off to her room to call her best friend right away. After all, opportunities like this didn't just up and land in a girl's very own hometown every day!
Unfortunately, Candace forgot that she was still holding the television set. And it was still plugged into the wall...
"Oh!" she cried, as her arms flew back and—THONK!—her rear end hit the floor.
Phineas and Ferb glanced at Candace from their seats at the kitchen table to see what all the noise was about. Then they went back to eating their cereal.
"That pop-star stuff might be fun at first," said Phineas between spoonfuls. "But then you'd be stuck in a dead-end job. Too bad you can't just do it once and move on."
"Well, what you're talking about," said Linda, taking another sip of coffee, "is a one-hit wonder." She walked over to the counter and stood next to the TV.
"A one-hit wonder?" said Phineas, looking up. "Fеrb," he said excitedly. "I know what we're going to do today!"
Excerpts of copyrighted sources are included for review purposes only, without any intention of infringement.
Book Details[]
Runaway Hit is a near word-for-word adaptation of the episodes "Flop Starz" and "Lights, Candace, Action!", presented as Part One and Part Two. The book makes the transition from Part One to Part Two with the simple phrase, "It was another sunny summer morning". Differences between the book and the episodes as broadcast are noted below. In general, most of the differences are that of timing, where an event is described as happening at a slightly different time (usually before) than when it happened in the episode, though some lines are missing from the episode.
Each page typically has a picture from the episode that helps the reader visualize what is being described. The picture is a halftone screenshot from the episode (taken from the wide format originals), cropped into custom shapes such as rectangles with cut-out corners or elipses. Each chapter includes a picture of Phineas and Ferb at the beginning of the chapter, and Perry's image appears next to each page number.
Published by Disney Press. $4.99 U.S., $5.99 Canadian.
Background Information[]
- The pictures are from the wide format originals. The series as broadcast on Disney Channel and Disney XD, as well as the DVDs, are in standard 4:3 format.
- The publisher's description of the book references the title of the episode (Flop Starz) rather than the name of the show that appears in that episode (Super American Pop Teen Idol Star).
- Publisher's series description: "Phineas and Ferb know that with only one hundred and four days of summer vacation, you've got to make every one count! Whether they're building a rocket or discovering an ancient mummy, they're dedicated to making each mind-numbing rotation of the earth into something really special. While their sister Candace tries fruitlessly to reveal their crazy endeavors to their mom and Perry the Platypus is saving the world from the dangerous Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Phineas and Ferb are filling their days with one adventure after another."
Differences between the book and the episodes[]
Most timing differences, where an event occurs in the book a few moments before when it does in the episode, will not be noted here.
Part One (Flop Starz)[]
- Does not describe the flashback to when mom was Lindana. (Mentioned when the security guard catches up to her later.)
- Does not include Candace trying on a goth outfit.
- Does not include Phineas' line when he is writing out the lyrics ("Chicka Chicka Choo Wah").
- Added description of more people in front of Candace and the turnstyle, instead of just Stacy.
- Does not describe the song "Gitchee Gitchee Goo" (in both places), just that they are singing.
- Missing scene: When Ben Baxter first meets with the boys.
- Missing: Candace's protests about getting the eye exam.
- Error in geography: When Doofenshmirtz holds up the magnifying glass, it is over the east coast instead of the Colorado area.
- Moved sequences: The sequences starting with Candace exiting the optical store, Perry being captured, and PFT meeting with Ben Baxter are moved around so that each one is dealt with continuously without cutting back and forth like the episode does. However, it does not cover Isabella asking Phineas about the painting on the building while they're on the tour bus, thus her only non-singing line isn't in the book.
- Missing line: "I've been thinking about my brothers all wrong. They're not a nuisance. They're my ticket to..."
- Error: Does describe that the building with the PFT picture have been destroyed by Doofenshmirtz robot but it had been demolished.
Part Two (Lights! Candace! Action!)[]
- New insert: Mentions Dr. D's file photo during the briefing (not used this time in the episode).
- Missing line: The producer's indecision ("I don't know").
- Missing line: Olga's "Charmed, I'm sure."
- Does not include a description of how Dr. D makes the cheese.
- Missing line: Candace's first flub while they are in the editing room.
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