"In Support of" is the first segment of the eighth episode of Pepper Ann. It aired on January 24, 1998, serving as the season's unofficial finale.
Synopsis
When Coach Doogan announces that the next gym class will focus on the trampoline and that the girls need 'support', Pepper Ann takes it as a sign that she needs a bra and must endure a humiliating day of bra-shopping with her mother.
Plot
Coach Doogan tells the students that on Monday, they will be trying the trampoline and adds that because there will be a lot of bouncing that they will need "support". A suggestive joke from Trinket leads Pepper Ann to believe that by "support", Doogan was referring to needing a bra. She becomes nervous about it and Nicky deduces Pepper Ann's insecurity. While she claims she will help her, she has other matters to attend to leaving Pepper Ann to her own devices. She stops by the library where Milo finds her reading about bra support and he backs up her decision. Feeling even more embarrassed, Pepper Ann realizes that the only person she can turn to is her mother.
Pepper Ann returns home and talks to Lydia who joyously announces her intention to help her talk about getting the best bra. Pepper Ann imagines being a superhero called Supportra who defeats evil doers. They head to the mall and go to Veronica's Treasures where the employees happily proclaim their intent to help Pepper Ann get a bra, much to her embarrassment. She ultimately decides to have Moose try the bras for her so that she can decide which ends up annoying Lydia. Pepper Ann finally picks a bra and prepares for Monday.
Pepper Ann arrives at school to be the first to try the trampoline. However, when Coach Doogan asks where Pepper Ann's support is, she tries to explain to her that she has it. Doogan thinks PA is trying to mess with her, and in a moment of frustration, Pepper Ann flashes her bra to prove herself, which lands her in trouble. Principal Hickey nervously deduces that Pepper Ann mistook "support" for bra when Doogan actually meant a spotting partner, though Lydia defends Pepper Ann in her usual embarrassing way. Nicky and Milo comfort Pepper Ann with the mention of another incident in fifth grade when a friend of theirs, Davy Baden, had a similar moment. The three walk home together and decide to all be open with each other, resulting in Milo telling Pepper Ann and Nicky that Doogan also wants him to get "their own version of support"; scaring them away.
Cast
Main cast
- Kathleen Wilhoite as Pepper Ann Pearson/Supportra, Additional voices
- Jeff Bennett* (uncredited) as Surfer Boy, Fruit Stand Owner, Salesclerk, Dieter Liederhosen (no lines)
- Danny Cooksey as Milo Kamalani
- Clea Lewis as Nicky Little, Additional voices
- Pamela Segall as Moose Pearson
- April Winchell as Lydia Pearson
Additional voices
- Don Adams as Principal Hickey/Detention-ator
- Paddi Edwards as Vera Groober-Schwartz
- Kathy Najimy as Coach Doogan, Margot Lesandre, Debbie (no lines)*, Salesclerks*
- Kath Soucie as Mrs. Little, Cissy Rooney* (no lines), Additional voices
- Jenna von Oÿ as Trinket St. Blair
*Marks an uncredited voice role
Non-speaking appearances
- Cissy Rooney (no lines)
- Dieter Liederhosen (no lines)
- Tessa and Vanessa James (do not speak)
- Alf (miscolored; cameo)
- Janie Diggity (mentioned)
- Davy Baden (mentioned)
Goofs
- Jeff Bennett is uncredited for his incidental voices in this episode.
Trivia
- For its ABC premiere, this episode was paired with "Crush + Burn" instead of its sister segment.[2]
- It is unknown whether this pairing was retained for syndication on ABC in 1999.
- This episode was originally set to premiere alongside its sister segment on November 1, 1997[3][4], but was pulled and replaced with "Romeo + Juliet" due to Disney execs taking issue with a scene. The episode would be delayed until airing as the season's final segment.
- For Disney's One Too syndication, this episode segment and "Nicky Gone Bad" were swapped in order.[5]
- This episode is also the twenty-third segment in broadcast order, and the final segment of the first season to air.
- The indistinct screaming heard in the fantasy sequence was likely provided by Kathleen Wilhoite.
- As mentioned by Sue Rose and Overseas Animation Supervisor Brad Goodchild, Milo was originally going to try on the bras when the Pearsons went bra shopping. The scene was originally passed by Standards & Practices and was fully animated before Disney executives ordered it changed last-minute. Sue Rose still has a cel from the cut scene.[6]
- Milo's line, "I'm glad you listened to me and went with the daisies," from after Pepper Ann flashes the class is a remnant of this early idea.
- Moose's comments on the daisy-patterned bra, "The only miracle here is that someone would buy this," are ironically complimented as Milo implies that they did indeed choose that bra.
- Milo's line, "I'm glad you listened to me and went with the daisies," from after Pepper Ann flashes the class is a remnant of this early idea.
- This episode earned a lot of controversy due to its sensitive topic, its mildly lewd jokes and suggestive visuals. As a result, the episode was rated TV-Y7 rather than TV-Y, and aired rarely on ABC.
- This episode marks the first instance in which an actor (Jeff Bennett) is completely uncredited in an episode.
Continuity
- This episode marks:
- The first appearance of Coach Doogan, who will become a major recurring character in the series.
- The first appearance of Margot Lesandre. Strangely, she and Lydia seem to have no history together (as Margot introduces herself) and seem to get along just fine, contrary to what we learn about their relationship in "Moose in Love".
- Nicky reveals that she has had support for 2 1/2 years (since she was nine).
- Moose is also shown to be aware of support, fleeing once Pepper Ann brings it up. The joke is paid off at the end of the episode when Pepper Ann and Nicky run from Milo after revealing he needs "support" of his own.
- A running gag from Ziterella is reused, in which Nicky's mother calls her over for Taekwon Do lessons (in the latter episode, it was for violin lessons).
Allusions
- Nicky mentions painters Claude Monet (the founder of Impressionism) and Henri Matisse while trying to comfort Pepper Ann, revealing that she once mistook the two during a presentation.
