30th Birthday Live Show
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Unaired
John 3:16
“30th Birthday Live Show” is a special episode of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. It was written by Phil Lollar and Paul McCusker (among others), was originally released on June 14, 2018, and has not aired on the radio.
Summary
Whit and the crew at Whit's End put on three Kids' Radio sketches: the “B.O.D.Y.”, “Young Guns Bonanza!”, and “Bible Action News.”
Plot
Chris is with Dr. Julius Schnitzelbonker, who has just made a new invention! He says he uses a writer (who he's bribed with food) to write a script, then he uses actors to record voices, and then makes sound effects, and releases it. Chris tells him that it's already been done – in fact, it's been going on for 30 years, now. It's called: Adventures in Odyssey!
At Whit's End, Whit calls for Connie, who comes rushing in. The two are preparing to "put on a show" on Kids' Radio. Dale Jacobs comes in, and Connie says there's a problem – Matthew Parker had to drop out of the production because his family... went on a cruise. "Why would anyone wanna do that?" Whit asks. Dale says he might know someone who might want to "Get in the Show": his nephew Grayson Smith. Eugene confirms that the sound effects are a go, thanks to his assistant, Mr. Diehl. Jules and the Westcott girls use a rising platform in the stage to arrive and sing "Apple of My Eye." Jason and Wooton arrive to help get things set up, and soon, the broadcast begins.
While the crew prepares the show, Dale and Whit talk about the program, and Dale decides to interview a man he sees nearby, who looks familiar. The man, wearing a giant mustache, says that of course he doesn't look familiar, it's not like he's someone who was on the Odyssey City Council and then was involved with all kinds of evil schemes and so he had to leave town and you can read about him in a new amazing book series, but that's definitely not him. He walks off, and the first sketch begins.
The first sketch is an adaptation of the Brotherhood of Dutiful Youth play in “The Boy Who Didn't Go to Church”, but with a couple small changes. First, it's called the Band of Dutiful Youth. Second, the main character is named Jaye LaFete. Third, I.C. Clearly doesn't talk to "Jaye" about her problems; someone named Rodney Dangerconscience and Harlow Doyle, Conscience Investigator, do. And finally, when Jaye returns to the B.O.D.Y. at the end, she finds everyone still there, delighted to have her back.
In between sketches, Jason runs up to Dale and says he's missing his fake mustache and wants it back. Dale says he's seen it and will try to return it.
The second sketch is "Young Guns Bonanza!" from “Over the Airwaves”, with, one little change. The ranch is not called the South Spoon Ranch, but the South Spoon Ranch-o! The Westcotts sing their second song, "Welcome to South Spoon Ranch-o". The story plays out in the same way, with two more songs: "Sand, Nothin' But Sand," sung as Matt Cartwood rides across the desert, and "Stinky John McBear."
At the end of the sketch, after Jeremy Cartwood's death, Dale remarks that it was kind of a downer. Whit says that maybe the final sketch will change the mood.
The last sketch has field reporter Grayson Smith getting answers, and he stumbles upon a couple arriving for a census: Joseph and Mary. They are escorted to the stable, and Grayson finds himself reporting elsewhere: in a field with three shepherds who are suddenly visited by an angel, and they are sore afraid! The angel brings good tidings, then ascends, joined by a heavenly host of angels – at which time the Westcotts sing a medley of "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen" and "We Three Kings." The next moment, Grayson sees that he is standing next to three men, the Magi. They have gifts of gold, frankincense, and a universal remote control (with myrrh as a backup). They are standing outside of the place where Joseph, Mary and Jesus are, and Joseph comes out and welcomes them all inside. Whit takes that moment to tell the greater meaning of Jesus' birth. The Westcotts lead the audience in the chorus of "O Come, All Ye Faithful."
At a quiet moment in the Kids' Radio studio, Whit reveals to the cast the underlying theme to the sketches: sacrifice. And what better way to illustrate it than to tell about the greatest sacrifice of all.
Discussion Questions
- There are no discussion questions listed for this episode. »
Cast
- This list may need to be confirmed. Characters are arranged in order of appearance.
Heard in episode
Mentioned in episode
| Character | Mentioned By |
|---|---|
| Matthew Parker | Connie Kendall |
| Regis Blackgaard | Philip Glossman |
Notes
- This episode was fully released in the Club on June 14, 2018.
- This episode features Grayson Smith, the Get in the Show! winner.
- This episode contains 44 separate characters, tying with #436: “A Look Back, Part 2” for the episode with the most characters.
- The first fifteen minutes of this episode was released in Official Podcast 299.
- The opening of this episode includes clips from the three main actors of Whit: Hal Smith, Paul Herlinger, and Andre Stojka.
- Bob Smithouser cameos as a "writer" at the beginning of this episode.
- Whit's closing lines are a strong allusion to the closing lines of #5: “Gifts for Madge and Guy”, including singing the chorus of O Come All Ye Faithful at the end.
- This marks the 100th time Wooton Bassett has appeared on Odyssey.
Gallery
- Promos
From WhitsEnd.org
From WhitsEnd.org and AIOClub.org
From AIOClub.org
From FocusCruise.com
Album cover
Quotes
- There are no quotes listed for this episode. ».
- Unaired episodes
- Episodes in 30th Birthday Live Show (album)
- 2017 Season Episodes
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