Fifteen Minutes
Matthew 6:1-6
2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.Isaiah 6:9
“Fifteen Minutes” is episode #471 of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. It was written and directed by Marshal Younger, and originally aired on May 19, 2001.
Summary
Alex breaks a miniature-golf record, which rockets him to local fame. Meanwhile, an Odyssey local who made it big in Hollywood returns for a visit.
Plot
The crowd waits anxiously as Alex takes aim. He makes his swing carefully and hits the ball. It rolls across the light green carpet....and goes in! If Alex gets a hole in one on number 18, he'll break the course record (that has stood for thirty years)! He takes aim once again, trying to ignore Nathaniel, who seems to only make him more nervous. He putts...it's in! He breaks the record! The crowd goes wild!
Meanwhile, Connie, Mitch and Jack talk about Greg O'Neil, an Odyssey resident who once starred on a short-lived sitcom. Connie is excited that he's coming back to town and Mitch says he's auditioning for a Novacom show. Soon after, Greg arrives at Whit's End to a crowd of his fans. The kids beg him to say lines from his show, including his trademark "Exterminator" line.
Later that day, a small crowd watches as the owner puts Alex's name up on the record board. The old record-holder, Bart Rathbone, is also there. Just as the ceremony commences, someone announces that Mandy Straussberg could break the record again. The crowd moves over to the course and...Mandy does it! She breaks Alex's record set just the day before!
Back at Whit's End, Mitch and Connie talk about Greg's upcoming audition. Mitch says he doesn't think Greg was very good. In fact, he was awful. Connie says that Mitch will eat those words.
Alex is depressed about losing his record. Maybe he can break the record again...maybe he needs a manager...maybe he needs...Bart Rathbone? Alex asks Bart to help him train to break the record again and Bart begins in earnest. After hard training Alex challenges Mandy to a re-match.
Greg shows up at Whit's End. He's disappointed. He didn't get the part. After he leaves, Connie asks if Mitch had anything to do with the casting process. Mitch dodges the question and Connie storms out to see Arthur Dent, the producer. Mr. Dent affirms what Mitch said - Greg wasn't really a good actor. In fact, he hasn't really worked for over two years. Connie is confused and confronts Greg about it when he comes back to Whit's End. Greg says he had a hard time when his show got canceled, but he's over it now.
Back on the golf course, Mandy and Alex are both doing terribly. Neither one of them can break the record. Even Alex's manager, Bart, abandons him.
Much later, Greg is walking to the bus station when he sees Alex. He sits and the two of them talk about the fickleness of fame. Just then, a woman comes by, saying that she knows the boys...they've been riding their bikes through her garden! When she wields a walking stick, the boys run for their lives, pleading their innocence.
Discussion Questions
- Do you think that Alex was really happy for Mandy when she broke the golf record?
- Why or why not?
- Why didn't Greg want to say anything about not working in Hollywood for two years?
- In Mark 9:35, Jesus says, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, the servant of all." How do you think that relates to fame?
Cast
Heard in episode
Mentioned in episode
| Character | Mentioned By |
|---|---|
| John Whittaker | Robert Mitchell |
Notes
- Trivia
- Bart Rathbone does the introduction for this episode
- The character of Greg in this episode is played by Shawn Svoboda, formerly the voice of Bones of Rath member (and sidekick to Rodney Rathbone) Rusty Gordon. Rusty has not been heard since #332: “Another Chance”, though he would later resurface in the form of a blog lampooning Odyssey.
- Originally Bernard was supposed to teach Alex how to play golf. However, Dave Madden was unavailable so Walker Edmiston filled in as Bart.
- Blake Ewing was 16 when this episode was recorded, though he sounds much younger than that.
- Allusions
- During the training montage, Alex Jefferson questions why he has to wax a car while training for golf. This is a reference to The Karate Kid.
- The music for this episode's training montage is also a spoof of the soundtrack of Rocky.
- This episode may be based on the quote by Andy Warhol "In the future everybody will be world-famous for fifteen minutes."
- Reviews
Quotes
Connie Kendall: Guys, he's done more than just The Nut House, you know!
Greg O Neil: If you don't stop changing my stations, I'm gonna call the exterminator!
Robert Mitchell: Really. Is he the reason you got all dressed up?
Connie Kendall: What?
Robert Mitchell: Look at you: you're wearing a dress, you've got on make-up... What is that? Is that perfume?
Connie Kendall: It's called soap.
Robert Mitchell: Oh, you know what I mean. Doesn't she smell better than usual, Jack?
Jack Allen: Hm, yes, yes... Oh no, no! Well, it's hard to tell with all this, uh, ice cream!
Alex Jefferson: Thirty-seven, thirty-eight, thirty-nine.
Bart Rathbone: You're slowing down. What's the problem?
Alex Jefferson: I just don't understand what sit-ups have to do with golf.
Bart Rathbone: Sit-ups have one thing to do with golf hole number six. You ain't getting the ball up that big hill with flabby stomach muscles like yours — now come on!
Bart Rathbone: It's all in the wrist. Keep your arm straight, circular motion. Whats'a matter?
Alex Jefferson: I guess I just don't understand what waxing your car has to do with... oh, never mind.
Old Woman: You're chose kids who've been riding your bikes through my garden!
Greg O Neil: What?
Alex Jefferson: No, we're not!
Greg O Neil: You got the wrong guys!
Old Woman: I oughta smack you two a good one with my walking stick!
Greg O Neil: Wait, we didn't do anything!
Alex Jefferson: <smack> Ouch!
Greg O Neil: <smack> Hey!
Resources
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