PRODUCTION/CULTURAL REFERENCES

-This was the third episode of the St. Patrick's Day Quintet produced, after the RK-centric "Duck Infection" and the Sparky-centric "My Weekend With the CimFam."

-For all those unaware, this was a full-on parody of the very special episode, right down to the PSA at the end.

-Nothing necessarily inspired me to write this episode. It just came to me, and very special episodes are always the kind of thing I either want to play straight or make fun of. Initially, this episode had Sparky as the main character, and he was addicted to Pixy Stix, not Margherita pizza, but that was changed. I also didn't have a main reason to make Buster have the addiction. Probably because there were already plots for the other characters?

-Remember in the last Backstage Pass where I told you that the Margherita pizza had a backstory with me? Well, I wasn't joking about that. And it has a lot to do with Cimorelli (big shocker). Last summer, when I was heavily obsessed with the group (I'm starting to go into a relapse, but at least I have school, songwriting, and the show to hold my attention), I started writing a pilot episode for a show revolving around their lives, kind of like JONAS. It was also called "Too Many Margheritas," and it was based around the girls' growing addiction to the tomato-covered pizza. It ends up having a negative effect on their careers as well. I never posted it because I never got past the first scene, and the site deleted it. I kept the plot and decided to use it for Thank You, Heavenly. Although, I have to point out that the Cimorelli version was more lighthearted and less mocking than this one.

-Oh yeah, the second code is "Potatoes." Tune in tomorrow for codes #3, #4, and #5!

-If you remember, I did a straight very special episode in the first season ("Never Forget the Dream") about racism. While that episode was meant to be serious, this one wasn't. Although I have to admit this kinda got serious to me while I was writing certain parts.

-There were several references to very special episodes of other shows in this episode. I'll explain those along with the regular references I made.

-Much like this episode's development, nothing really inspired me to make the cold open. At least nothing huge. It was just something that I thought would add to the experience. If I'm doing a very special episode parody, I'm going full steam ahead! Full House did something similar during the original airing of one of its very special episodes in the seventh season ("The Last Dance") as well as Family Guy ("Brian & Stewie").

-I got the creamed bologna burritos from the season four Doug episode "Doug's Babysitter."

-Sparky referenced "My Weekend With the CimFam" twice: The actual nick in the paint he found, and when he actually acknowledges the dream. This is mostly because the show is serialized and reliant on continuity.

-Sparky and RK were performing the chorus to "Time to Get Ill" by the Beastie Boys.

-Buster was referencing the season five Full House episode "Spellbound" when Sparky asked if he was OK. Buster was singing the first Ranger Joe cartoon theme song that Jesse came up with for Joey.

-Oftentimes, the very special episode doesn't become serious until the last scene right before the commercial break, but why waste a second?

-When Sparky was high, he referenced two anti-drug PSAs: A meth commercial from the early 2000s (don't know the name) with his first line, and the 1987 "This is your brain on drugs" commercial with his second line. His first two lines in the anti-crack parody were from the actual PSA with Herman.

-After-school specials were aired constantly years ago, at times where kids are normally coming out of school. They were the equivalent of very special episodes, as they always dealt with serious themes.

-Blossom ran from 1990-1995 on NBC. It was a teen sitcom, and it had several very special episodes to the point where it became cliche.

-That toaster cutaway is true to life. I sometimes get paranoid about whether or not I unplugged it.

-Cheesesteak was actually a metaphor for marijuana.

-Buster eating Margherita pizza off the mirror is a reference to cocaine, which is often smoked off of mirrors.

-Up to Wade mentioning the rehabilitation clinic, the conversation between the kids references the season three Full House episode "Just Say No Way," where D.J. is believed to be drinking by Jesse. Danny, Joey, and Jesse have a similar conversation in the kitchen about how drinking is glorified in the media and how teenagers are suffering because of it. However, it's less detailed than this conversation.

-I remember watching the music video for "Keep On Lovin' Me" with my sister on VH1 about four years ago. And I remember because a new episode of VICTORiOUS came on that night. It was "The Birthweek Song."

-The rehabilitation clinic is named after Chris and Matt McKenna, who are known for their work on shows like American Dad ("Rapture's Delight") and Community.

-The doctor from In the Blood also wore a sandwich board. It's a really good play as it goes on.

-Buster's screaming speech to Sparky references The Wire (an HBO crime drama from 2002-2008) and Guts (a Nickelodeon game show from 1992-1995).

-The Game Break update was a reference to NFL on CBS. "Dan! Shannon! Boomer!" was a reference to Dan Marino, Shannon Sharpe, and Boomer Esiason, who all work as analysts on the show.

-You wouldn't believe how many people think Biggie and Pac are the greatest of all-time. It's really annoying.

-"That's butt" actually has a story behind it. In the season three Drake and Josh episode "Alien Invasion," Drake and Josh are thinking of ways to prank Megan. Drake says "Oh, that's butt." At least that's what I thought he said. He actually said, "Oh, Dad's butt?" I think what I originally thought was pretty funny.

-I think both Sparky and RK will repeat words for emphasis. EMPHASIS!

-Dr. Robinson was referencing the season four Growing Pains episode "Second Chance," where Carol's boyfriend Sandy dies from internal hemorrhaging after drunk driving.

-Buster accepting Jesus as his Lord and Savior is a reference to a cutaway from the most recent Family Guy episode "Mom's the Word." Brian, in an attempt to teach Stewie about death, said that Christians believe accepting Jesus before you die is a one-way ticket to Heaven. In the cutaway, Osama bin Laden accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior right before SEAL Team 6 killed him, and got into Heaven because of it. Plus, it makes sense since Buster's an atheist. :)

-When Buster responded to Sparky asking him what he learned, he instead referenced the Haunted Hathaways episode "Haunted Camping." In his real response, he mentioned he should've never taken those caffeine pills. That was a reference to the season two Saved by the Bell episode "Jessie's Song," where Jessie took caffeine pills to help stay organized.

-The PSA at the end was a parody of the PSA from the season four Mr. Belvedere episode "The Counselor," where Wesley is touched by his counselor at day camp. Sparky takes the place of Christopher Hewett (Mr. Belvedere) and Buster takes the place of Brice Beckham (Wesley). In the original PSA, the two talked about child molestation. I think. I know they told you that no one shouldn't touch you if you don't want them to.

-How could you not end a very special episode parody with a song like "The Message?"