The Eternal Birthday

#428a: “The Eternal Birthday”

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Paired with

#428b: “Bethany's Imaginary Friend”

Airdate

October 30, 1999

Last aired

September 14, 2023 ↓

• September 14, 2023
  
• August 7, 2020
  
• August 23, 2017
  
• October 16, 2014
  
• February 22, 2012
  
• September 10, 2009
  
• March 27, 2007
  
• December 3, 2004
  
• January 22, 2003
  
• May 2, 2001
  
• October 30, 1999
  

Original Release Date

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Date Recorded

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Recorded at

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Album

33: Virtual Realities

Album

33: Virtual Realities ↓

• 33: Virtual Realities

Cassette No.

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Intro

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Intros

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• Previews
• Narration

Wraps

Narration

Wraps

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Theme

Too much of a good thing

Genre

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Scripture

Job 36:10-11

¹⁰He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil. ¹¹If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.

Songs Included

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Inventions Used

Room of Consequence

Featured Charity

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Short Used

History Moment: All Saints' Day
And You Think You've Got Problems - Daniel

Spanish Name

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Previous title

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Host

Chris Anthony

Written by

Kathy Buchanan

Directed by

Phil Lollar

Produced by

Rob Jorgensen
Phil Lollar

Executive Producer

Al Janssen

Post-Production by

Rob Jorgensen

Production Assistant

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Engineered by

Rob Jorgensen

Music by

John Campbell

Songs by

Unknown

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Other websites

Official Site
AIOHQ
Odyssey Library
Odyssey Scoop
Soda Fountain

Promo

Sample

Something Cliqued Between Us

The Eternal Birthday

Bethany's Imaginary Friend

“The Eternal Birthday” is episode #428a of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. It was written by Kathy Buchanan, and originally aired on October 30, 1999.

Summary

Liz Horton re-lives her birthday over and over again. She gets annoyed by the third time, and knows what's going to happen.

Plot

On her birthday, Liz wakes up to the alarm and a cheery invitation from her mom to the kitchen for Belgian waffles. The day progresses wonderfully. Her math class at school ends early to celebrate Liz's birthday with her favorite choca-mocha-chocolate-fudge cake with chocolate-chocolate-chunk ice cream. She receives gifts she has wanted. She hears a joke about lobsters and shrimp. Eugene promises her a gift if she will come to Whit's End the next day after school. After this day filled with fun, Liz wishes that everyday could be her birthday. Whit cautions her that she should be careful what she wishes for, because it might happen. Liz awakens the next day to find it is her birthday again! She is overjoyed at first, but after three days of the same birthday celebration, Liz tires of celebrating her birthday. She finds out that Eugene's gift to her is in the Room of Consequences when he engineers a repeat of her birthday several days in a row. At the end, she realizes that Whit knew what he was talking about.

Discussion Questions

1. Why didn't Liz like having her birthday over and over again?
2. Eugene said "be careful what you wish for." How did Liz discover that to be important?

Cast

Heard in episode

Role	Voice Actor
Alex Jefferson	Travis Tedford
Dale Horton	Unknown
Eugene Meltsner	Will Ryan
Homeless Man	Will Ryan
John Whittaker	Paul Herlinger
Liz Horton	Lauren Schaffel
Mrs. Horton	Carolyn Hennesy
Teacher	Will Ryan

Mentioned in episode

Character	Mentioned By
Ashley	Liz Horton

Notes

• This was Kathy Buchanan’s first Odyssey episode to write for.
• This was the first episode to have two short "mini-episodes" in one. It was also the first episode to have Chris introduce both episodes during the opening tune. Also, it was the first episode in a very long time where Chris said "Don't go away" and "And now, back to Adventures in Odyssey".
• VERSION DIFFERENCE: In the original airing of this episode, a shorty titled History Moment: All Saints' Day was heard between it and its pair, Bethany's Imaginary Friend. This shorty has since been pulled from the daily schedule, and another shorty titled And You Think You've Got Problems - Daniel airs in its place.
• Lauren Schaffel reported really enjoying doing this episode along with 'The Case of the Disappearing Hortons'.
• This plot of this episode has similarities to the plot of the film Groundhog Day, which was later directly referenced in Odyssey in the episode Groundhog Jay.
• This is Alex Jefferson's first episode.
• This is Will Ryan's 200th episode acting.

Reviews

• The Odyssey Scoop: Read

Goofs

• Despite this being Alex Jefferson's first episode, he knows Liz well enough to be invited to her birthday party. This is contradicted in What Do You Think? when according to Alex's thoughts, he doesn't even know who Liz is.

Quotes

Alex Jefferson: Hey Liz! What do a lobster and a shrimp have in common?
Liz Horton: You're going to say they're both crabby. But that's not very funny is it? So how 'bout, neither one of them can get flood insurance?
Alex Jefferson: You're right! That is funnier!