Buster Gets Real

Summary
Buster is interested in a new reality series that Arthur turns down. When Buster refuses to show interest in Bionic Bunny, Arthur is concerned that his best friend is not the same anymore.

Plot
This episode starts as an introduction to a reality show called Top Supermarket Clerk. Arthur's family has really gotten into this show, but Arthur hates it. He wants to watch Bionic Bunny, but is forced by his family to wait until Top Supermarket Clerk is over. Arthur says to the viewers, “Why does it seem that your family never ever likes the things you do?” He points out to the viewers that best friends are better because they actually like the activities viewers do.

Buster Gets Real

Arthur's family is watching Top Supermarket Clerk again, a reality show that Arthur can't stand. He waits for it to finish so he can play a Bionic Bunny show that Buster recorded. But when he finally plays the tape, the Top Supermarket Clerk theme song comes on again, along with an entire episode. Thinking Buster gave him the wrong tape, Arthur returns it, yet Buster still says that it is the right one.

Buster has become a huge fan of the new reality show. His room is full of Top Supermarket Clerk merchandise and says he doesn't like Bionic Bunny anymore, saying that it is just a made up show. Arthur can't believe that his best friend doesn't like Bionic Bunny. He walks back home in a miserable state, and has a daydream.

In his dream, Arthur goes to Bionic Bunny to find a way to change Buster's mind about the show. Bionic Bunny flies Arthur to Reality TV headquarters, a giant skyscraper in a large city. Disguised as TV executives, the pair enters the building. They find a room filled with file cabinets of all staff members who watch the reality show. Buster's file says ‘brainwashed by food’, so Arthur understands why his friend likes the show so much. Bionic Bunny leaves, saying that he can't help Arthur anymore and the daydream ends.

The next day, Arthur calls Buster to see if he wants to go to a Bionic Bunny movie at the theater. Buster doesn't want to go, but Arthur bribes him with food, offering to pay for all the popcorn and soda. Buster doesn't enjoy the movie. He says that Bionic Bunny isn't real with all of those super powers. Arthur lets him leave the movie early, since he really just wants to check for news on the Top Supermarket Clerk website.

At school the next day, Arthur eats lunch with the Brain instead of with Buster. Brain tells him that reality shows aren't actually real, just written that way. Arthur tells Buster this, but Buster still says he likes the reality show more. Arthur gets offended because he wants his best friend to like the same activities as himself.

That night, Arthur dreams about Bionic Bunny again. The superhero gives Arthur new advice: watch the reality show to see why Buster likes it. The dream ends and Arthur gets an idea. He invites Buster to his house the next day to watch Top Supermarket Clerk together. Buster agrees, a bit confused at Arthur's change of mind.

Arthur wants to look like he enjoys the show, so he gets D.W. to teach him about it and its characters. D.W. knows everything about Top Supermarket Clerk. With her help, Arthur becomes as knowledgeable as any fan of the show. But when Buster comes to watch the show with Arthur that night, Arthur gets bored with the show again. He actually snoozes through the entire episode.

Arthur gets worried that Buster won't be his friend anymore. They each like different TV shows! But Arthur remembers that they still have other activities in common, like Henry Skreever and the Sugar Bowl. Arthur and Buster realize that best friends don't have to have everything in common to be friends.

Major

 * Buster Baxter
 * Arthur Read
 * Lucie
 * Benjamin
 * Andrea
 * Jeff
 * Dominic

Minor

 * Jane Read
 * D.W. Read
 * Bionic Bunny
 * Muffy Crosswire
 * The Brain

Cameo

 * David Read
 * Helen
 * Brian
 * Steve
 * Nancy
 * 3rd Grade Male Dog (Number 3)
 * 3rd Grade Male Rat
 * John
 * Maria Pappas
 * Luke
 * 3rd Grade Male Cat
 * 3rd Grade Male Rabbit
 * Francine Frensky
 * George Lundgren
 * Norman Hedgehog
 * Alex
 * Prunella Deegan
 * Kate Read

Trivia

 * After this episode, Buster returns to watching Bionic Bunny after realizing that he really didn't like watching reality shows.

Cultural references

 * Top Supermarket Clerk is a parody of .

Errors

 * Arthur has a dream about visiting Bionic Bunny's lair, and after his dream, the ripple ends it, and he's suddenly already up with his glasses on.

Home video
DVD:
 * Arthur's Dancing Fools
 * Arthur: Season 11