'Mental Kel-Epathy' | |
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Season 1, Episode 4 | |
Production Code: | 104 |
Air Date: | October 5, 1996 |
Written by: | Kevin Kopelow & Heath Seifert |
Directed by: | Kim Fields Freeman |
Episode Chronology | |
Previous Doing Things the Hemingway |
Next Duh Bomb |
Mental Kel-Epathy is the fourth episode of Season 1 and the fourth overall episode of Kenan & Kel. It aired on October 5, 1996. It was written by Kevin Kopelow & Heath Seifert and directed by Kim Fields Freeman.
Synopsis
Kel shows signs of being psychic when he suddenly predicts events that take place before they actually do, but when Kenan finds out how he made those predictions, he uses him to his advantage by landing him a segment on a talk show in an effort to make money.
Plot
Introduction
Kenan and Kel emerge onstage from the curtains to greet the audience and introduce themselves. Kenan then begins to launch into his monologue, but Kel interrupts him, asking him to move over a bit. Albeit annoyed, Kenan olbiges and goes to continue his monologue. Just then, a boulder falls from the ceiling, landing directly in-between Kenan and Kel. This shocks everyone, except Kel, who remains unfazed. Kel then attempts to pick up the monologue where Kenan left off, but Kenan stops him and asks how he knew that the boulder was going to fall there. Kel states that he "just knew", prompting Kenan to predict that they will have a very interesting show tonight before walking offstage. A confused and anxious Kel attempts to call Kenan back, before uttering his catchphrase, and the show begins.
Storyline
The episode opens in the Rockmore living room, where Roger, Sheryl, and Kyra are seen playing a board game. Kyra rolls the dice, and moves five spaces. Due to the rules, this now means that Roger owes her $7,000 in the game's currency. As a frustrated Roger pays up, Sheryl calls out to Kenan in the kitchen, telling him that it is his turn. Kenan and Kel then emerge from the kitchen with various snacks and drinks. Kel tells Sheryl that he has brought her a diet soda, seeing as she is currently trying to lose five pounds. Before Sheryl can question Kel on how he would know this, however, Kyra urges Kenan to hurry up and take his turn. Kenan rolls the dice and gets to move four spaces, meaning he now loses a turn. Kel find humor in this, while Kenan wishes that Kel would lose the way to his house. Kel responds by saying that he bets Kenan wouldn't say that to Naomi, much to his family's shock. As they question Kenan on who Naomi is, a shocked and embarrassed Kenan asks Kel how he would know that, seeing as he has not told Kel about her yet. Kel then reveals that Naomi is a girl Kenan currently has a crush on, which leads to ridicule from his family. Roger then goes to take his turn, with Kel warning him not to roll an eight. Roger rolls the dice, and sure enough, he rolls an eight. As per the game's rules, this means Roger is now in the dungeon, leading to more ridicule from Kel. As Sheryl tries to comfort Roger by saying it is just a game, Kel tells her that Roger is only mad because his dentist told him he has three cavities. Roger then tells Sheryl that he was going to tell her later, before he also questions Kel as to how he could possibly know that. Kel brushes him off, however, and goes to take his turn. Kel repeatedly asks for a ten, as rolling that number would put him in the lead, annoying Kenan in the process with his stalling. Kel rolls the dice, and sure enough, it's a ten. Kel celebrates and begins moving his game piece across the board, gloating and grandstanding in the process. Kenan eventually becomes so annoyed by this, that he snatches the game piece out of Kel's hand and finishes moving it for him. Kenan then asks Kel how he got so lucky, while Roger is still wondering how he knew about his cavities. Just then, Kel states that the telephone is about to ring, which it immediately does. Kel then tells Sheryl to answer it, as it could be her old friend from high school, Claire Mantell. Sheryl answers the phone, and sure enough, Claire Mantell is on the other end. This shocks the Rockmores so much, that they come to the conclusion that Kel might have psychic powers.
The next day at Rigby's, Kenan is explaining to Chris the events that took place the previous night. Kenan tells Chris that he told no one that he had a crush, and asks Chris how he knew. Chris wonders who Kenan is referring to, and Kenan tells him he is referring to Kel. This leads Chris to mistakenly believe that Kenan has a crush on Kel, prompting Kenan to tell Chris to not be gross. Kenan explains to Chris that he has a crush on Naomi, and somehow Kel knew. Chris believes Kel may have simply guessed, to which Kenan asks how Kel could've guessed about his father's cavities, and how he could've guessed that his mother was going to recieve a phone call from someone she hasn't spoken to in 15 years. Kenan believes that Kel suddenly has some kind of mental powers, while Chris is too skeptical to even entertain the thought. Kenan asks Chris if he has noticed anything strange about Kel lately, and just then, Kel enters the store. Kel immediately goes for the soda display and launches into his signature "Who loves orange soda?" bit that became a staple of the entire series, this episode being the very first appearance of the bit. Upon seeing this, Chris declares that Kel is "no more stranger than usual". Chris then tells Kenan that there is one way to tell whether or not Kel is psychic, and goes to ask Kel a question himself. Chris walks over to Kel and asks him to tell him something personal about himself that only Chris would know. Kel declares that Chris has nightmares about being chased by a giant bunny rabbit, which seemingly sends Chris into shock. Chris walks over to Kenan and immediately panics, asking Kenan how Kel would've known that. Once Chris confirms that he does indeed have nightmares about giant bunnies, this leads to ridicule from Kenan. Chris demands to know how Kel knew, and Kenan calms him down by stating that he will come right out and ask Kel how he knew everything. Kenan then takes Kel to the back room, but before he leaves, he pulls a slight prank on Chris by telling him that there is a giant bunny rabbit behind him, scaring him. In the back, Kenan interrogates Kel, asking him how he knew about Chris's nightmare about the giant bunny. Kel reveals that he stepped into the back room one day while Chris was asleep, and caught Chris freaking out in the middle of his nightmare, giving Kenan a reenactment in the process. Kenan then asks Kel how he knew about Roger's cavities, and Kel explains that he goes to the same dentist as Roger, and that he looked through Roger's files during his last exam. Next, Kenan asks Kel how he knew that Sheryl was going to recieve a phone call from her old friend, Claire. Kel explains that he had answered the phone earlier in the day when Kenan's parents were not home, and had told Claire to call back around 7:00 that evening. This prompts Kenan to ask Kel how he knew the phone was going to ring a few seconds before it actually did, to which Kel explains that Kenan's house phone has a little light on the reciever that blinks a few seconds before the phone rings and he happened to notice it. Seemingly defeated, Kenan asks Kel one last question - how he knew about Kenan's crush on Naomi. Kel reveals that he read Kenan's diary, and Kenan responds by slapping Kel in the back of the head and scolding him for doing so. Kenan then states that he knew all along that Kel couldn't be psychic, seeing as someone cannot have extra mental abilities without having regular mental abilities, and Kel mistakenly takes this as a compliment. Kenan and Kel then go back out into the store to tell Chris the truth, before Chris asks Kel to predict his future. Kel tries to tell Chris the truth, but Kenan stops him, urging Kel to predict his future. Backed into a corner, Kel states that he sees a sign with the number three, prompting Chris to wonder what it could mean. Kenan keeps the charade going by saying that it could mean danger, and urges Kel to play along, which he does. Chris wants to know more, but Kenan won't allow it, stating that they shouldn't burn Kel's "powers" out so quickly. Chris agrees and goes to the back, and Kel immediately asks Kenan why he made him do that to Chris. Kenan explains that he has a plan - they will make everyone believe that Kel is indeed psychic and can predict the future, so that they can both become rich and famous. Kel wonders how they will do that, until Kenan reminds him that Kel already has his whole family and Chris believing him. In the back, Chris is shown calling a phone number, 333-3333. He asks the person on the other end to tell him about his future and what the danger could be, before they hang up on him. Just then, Kenan calls Chris back out into the store, where he tells Chris that Kel has informed him that if Kenan doesn't go home right now, Chris could catch a cold from him. Kel quickly reveals that he didn't say that, before Kenan stops him. Chris says Kenan should go on home, while Kenan declares that he wants to work in order to keep up appearances. Chris says that they should listen to Kel and insists that Kenan leave for the day. Kenan obliges, and he and Kel leave. A customer then walks up with his items, and Chris rings him up. His total comes to $3.33, which scares Chris, and he sprays the customer with a fire extinguisher to get rid of him.
Later at the Rockmore house up in Kenan's room, Kel is working out on Kenan's punching bag, while Kenan is writing down a list of personal facts about his family members for Kel to remember, in order to make them fully believe that he is psychic. Kenan is giddy over this plan, as he believes once his family thinks that Kel is psychic, then Kenan will be able to get anything he wants from them. Kenan hands Kel the list, and Kel begins reading. The facts are as follows: Sheryl used to call Roger "snugglebutt" as a pet name while they were dating (much to Kel's ridicule); Kyra normally has a crush on older boys (which is obviously no surprise to Kel); and Sheryl once got suspended from her college for streaking. Since Kel doesn't know what streaking is, Kenan explains it to him. Once Kel hears this, he immediately begins fantasizing about it with a smile on his face, to which Kenan frantically tells him to stop, snapping him out of it. Kenan then tells Kel that he will teach him the "psychic stare". They go over to the mirror, and Kel has a bizarre look on his face. Kenan scolds Kel by telling him that he looks like as if he's about to throw up. Kenan then walks Kel through on how to successfully do the "psychic stare" without looking so monstrous.
A few moments later, Kenan and Kel head down into the kitchen, and Sheryl asks the boys if they would like to come with her and the rest of the family to the movies. Kenan asks what movie they are going to see, and Kyra says they are going to see "The Nasty Puppy". However, Kel spoils the ending for them, disappointing the Rockmores. Kyra asks Kel how he knew the ending, but before Kel can explain that he has already seen the movie, Kenan urges him to stick to the plan and Kel makes the Rockmores believe he saw the ending in his head due to his psychic powers. Kel attempts his new "psychic stare" in the process, and Roger pulls Kyra back away from him, as he thinks Kel is about to throw up due to the bizarre look on his face. Kenan explains to them that Kel's face looks that way whenever he goes into a psychic trance. Kenan then asks Kel to tell them what he sees. Kel declares that he sees Sheryl and Roger, and the name "snugglebutt". This absolutely shocks Sheryl and Roger, as Sheryl confirms that she used to call Roger that as a pet name while they were dating. Roger asks Kel what else he knows. Kel replies that he knows that Kyra likes older boys, but due to being in a "psychic trance" and not paying attention, Kel mistakenly points at Roger when saying this, causing Roger to go for him. However, Kenan quickly redirects Kel's finger towards Kyra, and things calm down. Kenan then asks Kel if there is anything else he sees. Kel responds by saying he sees Sheryl running across a college while streaking, sending Sheryl into panic. Sheryl runs over to Kel and covers his eyes while telling him to stop thinking about her streaking immediately. Kyra then asks her mother what streaking is, to which Sheryl replies that she will tell her in ten years, when Kyra is much older. Sheryl then insists that her, Roger, and Kyra leave. However, before they go, Kenan stops them and tells them that Kel is having one final psychic vision. Kel hams it up, while slowly revealing his vision. Kel says he sees Kenan at school, before spazzing out and making weird noises. Kel says his sees some sort of accident, to which Sheryl demands details. Kel barks back at her, telling her his vision is not yet clear, continuing to ham it up. Kel then says Kenan's accident will happen sometime at school within the next week. Obviously worried by this, Sheryl and Roger then order Kenan to stay home for the next eight days, as no accident can happen if Kenan isn't at school. In an effort to keep up appearances, Kenan feigns sadness and disappointment at this news, but Sheryl and Roger have none of it. Roger then demands that he, Sheryl, and Kyra leave, as Kel is beginning to seriously freak him out. As they leave, Kel makes an aside remark to Sheryl to not go streaking. As soon as the door closes, Kenan and Kel celebrate their victory, as now Kenan doesn't have to go to school for eight days. Kel replies that he actually had fun fooling Kenan's family, to which Kenan replies that this is only the beginning. Kenan then says that it's now time for he and Kel to fool the world.
The next day at Rigby's, three sisters, who are triplets, enter the store. Chris, still paranoid over Kel's "sign" that the number three will bring him danger, quickly becomes terrified. Chris asks why they have come to the store. The three girls then state that they only came to the store to buy potato chips and dip. Chris then asks what the triplets know about him, to which the girls reply that he is a big weirdo before leaving the store and calling for their mother, while Chris follows them out. Kenan and Kel then both look at each other confusingly, as they both witnessed what just happened from the register. Just then, the phone rings and Kenan answers it. Kenan tells Kel that it is the casting director for "The Kevin Conway Show", a local Chicago talk show. Kenan identifies himself as Kel's best friend and manager, before telling the casting director Kel's name. Kenan then talks Kel up by telling them that Kel is the best psychic that they've ever seen, being able to read minds and predict the future. The casting director then books Kenan and Kel as guests for the next week's episode, and the guys are overjoyed. However, Kel's excitement is short-lived, as he quickly breaks down into a tantrum and shuffles away from Kenan to grab a box of tissues off of the shelf, not wanting to go on the show. Kenan then tries to convince Kel otherwise, but Kel begs Kenan not to make him go. Kenan then tells Kel to stop blubbering, to which Kel replies that he needs to blubber as they head into the back room. Kenan asks Kel what his problem is, and Kel reminds Kenan that he is not really psychic. Kel then says he can't predict the future, as he is still confused about the past, while trying to unlock the back door to leave. Kenan tries to comfort Kel by assuring him that Kevin Conway will only be chatting with him on the show and nothing more. Kel states that he doesn't chat well, and continues trying to open the back door. Kenan tells Kel that he is going to be great, to which Kel responds that he is going to be sick, before running out the back door towards the alley.
Later, the guys return to Kenan's house and are still arguing. Kel exclaims that he is not going on the show, while Kenan says that he is. Kel says that he is afraid, to which Kenan asks Kel if he has ever given Kel one reason not to trust him, Kel says no, and that Kenan has given him a thousand reasons. Kenan asks Kel to name one time he has gotten Kel into a troublesome situation. Kel lists them off by stating that in the past, Kenan has talked him into wearing pantyhose, tickling a policeman, throwing a bar mitzvah for himself, and drinking fish grease as they head upstairs into Kenan's room. There, Kel continues his rant by saying that Kenan once talked him into selling his kidney, and even once talked Kel into gluing himself to the front of a train, the latter of which brings ridicule from Kenan. Kenan then stops Kel, and says that he will be going on "The Kevin Conway Show". Kel begs Kenan one last time not to make him go through with it, which just leads to more arguing between the guys.
Sure enough, the next week on "The Kevin Conway Show", Kevin Conway introduces the topic of the episode, psychics. We soon see that Kenan and his family are all sitting onstage. Kevin Conway then begins introducing each member of the Rockmores to the audience, while asking them questions about Kel in the process. He starts with Kenan, who says that as Kel's best friend and manager, it's about time that Kel share his psychic gift with the world. Sheryl then explains to the audience the personal things Kel knew about her, such as her diet and her phone call with Claire. Kyra chimes in by explaining that Kel also knew about her mother streaking in college, much to Sheryl's embarrassment. Sheryl tells Kyra to hush, before going on to explain to the audience how Kel somehow knew about Roger's three cavities. Kevin then asks Roger if there is any way Kel could've found this information out, to which Roger replies that he told no one. Kyra then explains how she has always known Kel was special, before introducing herself to the audience. Kyra explains that she has known Kel ever since she was a young girl (despite only being 9 years old), and stating that Kel is "so fine", reiterating her crush on him. Kevin then reveals that there is another guest joining them - a man named "Ezekiel", who wishes to conceal his real identity and also knows Kel personally. It's revealed that "Ezekiel" is actually Chris in disguise. Chris embarrasingly explains how Kel knew about his nightmares of being chased by giant bunnies, leading to heavy ridicule from the audience. Chris snaps back at them, by attempting to explain how scary the giant bunnies actually are, before Kevin calms him down. Kevin then brings Kel out to the stage, but Kel doesn't show. Kevin introduces him again, and this time, Kel is violently shoved out onstage by a stagehand. Kel quickly walks across the stage, greeting the audience, before attempting to escape by exiting the other side of the stage. However, Kel is once again violently shoved back onstage and into his seat by another stagehand. Kel threatens the stagehand as they brush him off and leave. Kevin asks Kel how he's doing, and Kel is a bundle of nerves. Kevin asks Kel when he first realized he had psychic powers, and Kel impulsively answers by saying his found out last Wednesday, leading to a dirty look from Kenan. Kevin then asks Kel if there was anything unusual about his childhood, to which Kel replies that once when he was 6 years old, he ate 56 caterpillars. Kenan then quickly tries to get his plan back on track by leading Kel in the right direction, informing Kel that Kevin's actual question was if Kel ever accidentally hit his head as a young child. Kel finally takes the hint, and states that he has hit his head many, many times. Kevin then asks Kel flat-out whether or not he is really a psychic. Kenan says "yes" in Kel's place, much to Kevin's annoyance. Kel says yes, and Kevin reveals that after the commerical break, they will put Kel to the test to determine whether he is telling the truth, or if he is lying, leaving both Kel and Kenan nervous.
Later on, it's now time to test Kel and determine whether or not he is really psychic. Kevin explains that in front of Kel is a switchboard with buttons, and one of them is connected to the green light behind him. If Kel uses his psychic powers to pick the right button, then the green light will come on. If Kel chooses wrong, however, then one of the Rockmores or Chris will get a very loud noise blasted in their ears, courtesy of the headsets each of them are revealed to be wearing. Kenan, knowing Kel is not actually psychic, is obviously worried. However, Kevin tells him to calm down, as a real psychic will know the answer. Kevin then gives Kel the okay to begin the test. Obviously not knowing which button is which, Kel picks one completely at random, which leads to Roger receiving a loud buzzing noise in his ear. This causes Kel to panic, and he presses the same button again, giving Roger another jolt. Kel is now completely freaking out, and begins randomly pressing every button, which leads to everyone onstage receiving loud noises in their headsets; causing chaos. Kel eventually gets up from the machine and apologizes to Kenan, who can't hear him due to the damage done by the loud noises. Kel then finally caves to his guilt, and admits to the audience that he is not a psychic, and that he is just a child. Kenan, figuring out what Kel is doing, then attempts to go for Kel out of rage due to him messing up his plan, but Kel stops him each time by pressing the button that produces a loud noise in Kenan's ear. Kevin Conway then throws the show to a commerical break, and the episode ends.
Conclusion
Kenan and Kel come out onstage and ask the audience if they had fun, which the crowd confirms. Kel responds that he "knew that", still insinuating that he is psychic, before Kenan stops him. Kenan then confirms that there are no such things as psychics, which Kel questions. Kel says that he suddenly has a weird feeling that Kenan is about to come up with some crazy, new idea. Kenan starts to brush him off, before stopping himself mid-sentence and saying that he does have an idea. A worried Kel tells Kenan to stop playing around, but Kenan is serious. Kenan promises Kel that this will be fun, and all they need is a raccoon and some fruit juice. Kenan then walks offstage, urging Kel to come along. Kel tells Kenan that raccoons don't even drink fruit juice, before uttering his catchphrase and the show ends.