A Cheater Cheated
Matthew 22:39
“A Cheater Cheated” is episode #586 of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. It was written by Nathan Hoobler, and originally aired on February 18, 2006.
Summary
Bart Rathbone seeks out Whit’s business advice after deciding he wants to make the Electric Palace a “respectable establishment.”
Plot
Mad at Bart Rathbone for not advertising on his show, Odyssey 105's Cryin' Bryan Dern is preparing to air a show in which the questionable business practices and mistreatment of customers at the Electric Palace are brought to light. Bart is desperate to redeem his image before he loses his job. His desperation drives him to Whit's End. Whit suggests observing a reputable business in action. Eugene suggests that Bart intern at Whit's End, and Whit reluctantly agrees.
After observing Eugene in action for a few hours, it's time for Bart to get some experience of his own. Tom Riley is the first of several customers for Bart, but it soon becomes evident that Bart has much to learn about the Golden Rule.
At the end of the day of training, Bart believes he is ready and has agreed to be interviewed by Dern on the radio so he can show Odyssey how he is changing. The interview turns out to be an ambush when a surprise guest, Bart's own son Rodney comes on the show with a list of the unscrupulous things that happen behind the scenes at the Electric Palace!
Later, Bart decides to protest what he thought was going to be the show that aired his interview, but it turns out that the broadcast schedule has changed. Bart’s interview is replaced with a fundraiser for cancer patients, but Bart doesn't know this as he tells everyone not to listen to the "garbage" on the radio.
- This plot section is too short and should be expanded. »
Discussion Questions
- There are no discussion questions listed for this episode. »
Cast
Heard in episode
| Role | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Bart Rathbone | Walker Edmiston |
| Boy | Unknown |
| Bryan Dern | Corey Burton |
| Electric Palace Customer | Unknown |
| Eugene Meltsner | Will Ryan |
| John Whittaker | Paul Herlinger |
| Sister Mary Cathleen | Unknown |
| Rodney Rathbone | Steve Burns |
| Mr. Tanner | William Schallert |
| Tom Riley | Walker Edmiston |
| Woman | Unknown |
Mentioned in episode
| Character | Mentioned By |
|---|---|
| Edwin Blackgaard | Bart Rathbone |
| Mr. Stalling | Mr. Tanner |
Notes
- Trivia
- This episode includes the first mention of Edwin Blackgaard owning the Electric Palace since #528: “The Taming of the Two”.
- Bart's suggestion to Whit in this episode of what to say on Bryan Dern's program is an obvious spoof of the introductions to AIO episodes done by Whit ("Hi there. My name is John Avery Whittaker, but my friends call me Whit").
- Bart previously ran to Whit's End for help with his image in #243: “Family Values”, similar to this episode.
- When discussing some of Bart's shady business practices in this episode, Whit mentions the "three-speed" fan Bart sold him in #543: “Nothing But the Half Truth” — the "speeds" of which were "off," "reverse" and a speed that was too powerful — and the transformers Whit bought for the train sets when the Palace first opened in #160: “A Rathbone of Contention”.
- Whit may be referencing his experience in #494: “Box of Miracles” in this episode when he advises Bart against trying to tell his side on Dern's show. Ironically enough, Whit's interview with Dern in Box of Miracles went sour when Dern brought on surprise guest Martha Carmen, whereas Bart's was derailed when surprise guest Rodney Rathbone was brought in.
- Whit's statement in this episode that he doesn't care for the way Dern "goes after" people he may be a reference to the events of #193: “A Tongue of Fire”.
- Listen carefully to Dern's promo for his 7 pm show. The sample clips of Bart's conversation are different from the interaction at the beginning of the episode. It seems that Dern is using a trick he described in #193: “A Tongue of Fire”. There he tells Jimmy Barclay how he likes to record people without them knowing and then rearrange the clips so that he can make them say whatever he wants them to say.
- The transmitter-in-the-ear-gone-wrong gag from this episode was used previously in #515: “B-TV: Behind the Scenes”.
- Bryan Dern's program going from pre-recorded to live during the transmission of the show, as heard in this episode, occurred previously in #223: “Real Time”.
- Tom mentions in this episode that Bart is wearing his apron backwards; this is one of the few times Whit's End aprons are mentioned, the other instances being #4: “Connie Comes to Town”, #281: “...But Not Forgotten”, #488: “Under the Influence, Part 1”, and #469: “Chains, Part 2”.
- This is the last episode in which Walker Edmiston plays both Tom and Bart, and the last to feature Edmiston as Bart and Steve Burns as Rodney together in the same scene.
- This is Walker Edmiston's 200th episode acting.
- Goofs
- At the beginning of the episode, Whit says that the cancer ward is called Cans for Cancer. On the "Bryan Dern" show at the end, Dern calls it Cans Against Cancer.
- In the scene where Bart is boycotting the Bryan Dern show, a clock can be heard striking 5:00. However, in his preview for the show heard earlier in the episode, Bryan Dern says his show would start at 7:00.
Reviews
Quotes
Bart Rathbone: Shoppers, don’t forget about the electric palace’s half off rebate program! Just bring back your receipt whenever the second Tuesday of the month falls on the fifteenth.
Mr. Tanner: So you're admitting you're deceptive in your business?
Mr. Tanner: So I have to buy a 50 dollar flashlight to buy 20 dollar batteries to get 50 percent off a CD?
Bart Rathbone: Yep! That's a sweet deal.
Bart Rathbone: He said that I cheated people and treated my customers bad!
Eugene Meltsner: And he considers that newsworthy?
John Whittaker: Bart, I don't feel that I could defend you in good conscience. I mean, I don't really care for the way Bryan Dern goes after people, but...well, I can't say he was altogether wrong.
Bart Rathbone: Wha? Whattaya talkin' about?
John Whittaker: Well, you do mistreat your customers, Bart, and you often have dishonest business practices.
Bart Rathbone: Aww, come on...now, you still can't be mad at me about that computer keyboard I sold ya!
John Whittaker: ...It had no "W".
Bart Rathbone: So you just use the "M" and turn the paper upside down! What's the big deal?
Bart Rathbone: Here's your sundae.
Tom Riley: It looks like someone sat on it.
Bart Rathbone: Well, ah...<nervous chuckle>
Eugene Meltsner: It's how you would wanted to be treated, isn't it?
Bart Rathbone: No, I would want someone to take my order!
Woman: This is just what I need after a tough day.
Bart Rathbone: Lady, you musta had a lot of tough days.
Woman: What? Are you saying I'm fat?!
Bart Rathbone: Well, if the girdle fits...!
Bart Rathbone: If you can't take the heat, don't let the door hit you on the way out!
- Episodes aired 8 times
- Episodes in Album 46: A Date with Dad (and Other Calamities)
- 2006 Season Episodes
- Episodes sorted alphabetically
- Episodes sorted chronologically
- Episodes hosted by Chris Anthony
- Episodes written by Nathan Hoobler
- Episodes directed by Marshal Younger
- Episodes produced by Jonathan Crowe
- Episodes with sound design by Jonathan Crowe
- Episodes with music by John Campbell
- Episodes recorded at Unknown
- Episodes engineered by Jonathan Crowe
- Episodes executive produced by Dave Arnold
- Episodes with 5-Word intro
- Episodes with Prologue intro
- Episodes with Character (Whit) intro
- Episodes with Narration wraps
- Episodes with Normal wraps
- Episodes with theme of The Golden Rule
- Episodes with references from Matthew
- Episodes produced by Marshal Younger
- Episodes produced by Bob Hoose
- Episodes with promos
- Episodes with samples
- Episodes on CBD
- Episodes on iTunes
- Episodes on Amazon
- Episodes on AIOHQ
- Episodes on the Odyssey Library
- Episodes on the Odyssey Scoop
- Episodes on the Soda Fountain
- Episodes on the Official Podcast
- Available Episodes
- Episodes available for download
- Episodes with Bart Rathbone
- Episodes with Eugene Meltsner
- Episodes with John Whittaker
- Episodes with Rodney Rathbone
- Episodes with Tom Riley
- Episodes that mention Edwin Blackgaard
- Episodes that mention Mr. Stalling