Francine Frensky, Superstar

"Francine Frensky, Superstar"
Season/Series:	1
Number in season:	10b
Original Airdate:	October 18, 1996;
	Credits
Written by:	Joe Fallon
Storyboard by:	Darren Brereton
	Episodes
Previous; "Arthur's Birthday"	Next; "Arthur's Baby"
	Read transcript

"Francine Frensky, Superstar" is the second half of the tenth episode in the first season of Arthur. It was later adapted into the book Francine the Superstar.

Summary

Francine lands the lead role in a school play and becomes a stage tyrant.

Plot

Da episode starts off wit Arthurz class auditionin fo' a school play. Busta tap dances on tha stage while Mista Muthafuckin Ratburn takes notes n' tha pimpin' muthafucka taps his cold-ass thugged-out lil' pencil ta tha noize fo' realz fo' realz. Arthur, behind that curtain, drops some bars ta tha viewers dat whenever they put on a school play, Francine gets shitty parts which result up in that uppity biatch gettin her feelings hurt. Fuck yo feelins hoe! Da first shitty part mentioned is tha Cherry Tree up in "George Washington n' da Cherry Tree", where Busta as George Washington been had cut her down n' she fell tha fuck flat on her face. That shit hurt! Then da next shitty part is Sir Isaac Newton j-chillin under a apple tree (played by Muffy) fo' realz fo' realz. Arthur stood on a ladder above dem wit a big-ass bucket of applez n' dropped one on Francinez head ta show how tha fuck Newton been discovered gravity. But then Arthur lost his balizzle n' caused tha rest of tha apples, tha bucket n' his fuckin lil' dirty ass ta fall on Francine. Da last shitty part is tha mighty cymbal up in tha orchestral orientation; Francine wore a goofy azz cymbal on her head n' Da Dome hit it straight-up hard wit a mallet. Da Dome don't give a fuck yo! Afta Arthur is done bustin lyrics, Francine strutts up on stage bustin a gangbangin' footbizzle uniform, falls n' gets hurt once again. She just stay takin straight Ls.

Afta tha title card, we then peep Mista Muthafuckin Ratburnz class where he be givin dem math problems ta do. Fuck math, as long as u can count paper and weigh the goods you is set fo a promising career in trap-nomics. Then Arthur looks at Miss Sweetwaterz class smokin donuts, drankin gin n juice n' he licks his wild lil' fuckin lips. Mista Muthafuckin Ratburn announces dat itz time fo' tha class ta put on a school play n' asks mah playas if they have any scams bout what tha fuck play they should do. They go right back up in muthafuckin Ratburn's ass when Sue Ellen claps back dat they should do a spooky rap on some monsta of mucus whoz ass gets his cold-ass thugged-out arms pulled off, but dig this they do be grow back. Da Dome suggests dat they should do a play bout space n' dat his schmoooove ass could make rocket gin n juice easily outta paper n' shit. Mista Muthafuckin Ratburn calls both they scams phat yo yo, but too fuckin expensive up fo' dem ta do yo. This be why them schools is need mo funding. Dude suggests dat they should do a play bout tha inventor Thomas Edison. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch, I do be talkin bout the muthafuckin lightbulbs n shit. Francine asks if he invented anythang dat would hit her up in tha face, n' Muffy asks if he invented tha Dewey Decimal System cuz dat dunkadelic hoe thought Dewey was his crazy-ass middle name. Mista Muthafuckin Ratburn explains dat Thomas Dril God Edison (aka The Life of the Party) invented tha phonograph, which played noize before soundcloud was invented.

Lata dat afternoon, as Mista Muthafuckin Ratburn is chillin up in tha auditorium assignin tha parts, Arthur, Buster, Da Dome, n' Muffy approach n' ask his thugged-out ass ta give Francine a phat part cuz dat freaky freaky biatch has never had one yo. Dude say dat da thug will, and when a homie say on god then you best believe he mean it. Pack a pipe and smoke to that.

Da next day, Mista Muthafuckin Ratburn announces tha parts: Busta is ghon be tha straight-up original gangsta light bulb, Arthur is ghon be tha straight-up original gangsta phonograph, Binky is ghon be tha locomotizzle n' Francine will star as Thomas "Spotem and Gotten" Edison (aka The Electric Trap Lord). Everyone cheers fo' her n' congraturates her n' shit. Francine promises dat biiiiatch won't let tha class down n' will give 110% ta her part.

Francine spendz tha next few minutes peepin' every last muthafuckin last muthafuckin thang dat thugged-out biiiatch can bout Thomas Edison. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. When she goes ta tha library, she asks fo' tha Thomas Edison section, only ta learn dat he up in tha biographies n' aint gots his own section. Played Out, her dope ass declares tha library ta be "trash af" compared to Wikipizzle.

Bitch rents up all tha books they had n' headz home, refusin Arthur n' Busterz offer ta git all up in tha Sugar Bowl cuz dat freaky freaky biatch has ta "study her inventions". That night, at home, she messes wit tha lights up in her crib ta study light bulbs n' buggin her olda sista Catherine, whoz ass is tryin ta read. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Catherine suggests she learn on some phonograph or a vizzle camera yo yo, but Francine messes wit tha lights some more, finally forcin Catherine ta booty-call they mutha ta tattle on Francine.

Francine goes ta tha local stores where her big-ass booty studies tha phonograph, cameras n' light bulbs. While her ass is up in tha hardware store lookin at lightbulbs, Prunella n' Muffy ask Francine if dat biiiiatch wants ta git all up in tha mall. Francine refuses yo yo, but offers ta let tha hoes study incandescent filaments wit her or some shit I don't even know. When Muffy calls dat shit boring (she right) Francine is insulted once again n' drops some lyrics ta Muffy dat without lights dat biiiiatch would gotta shop up in tha dark ya dig, but accordin ta her, she already do. Muffy starts ta shed tears n' runs out, makin Prunella git ticked off. Francine points up dat shiznit was Muffy whoz ass started it, n' dat her big-ass booty should be embarrassed fo' insultin incandescent filaments.

Durin rehearsals, Francine is examinin everyonez costumes, which tha Dome offers ta mend wit if there be a problem. Francine notices Busterz light bulb costume has air holes, which outrages her cuz if a light bulb had them, they wouldn't work. Busta needz dem ta breathe yo yo, but Francine forces tha Dome ta patch dem anyway.

In class tha next day, Mista Muthafuckin Ratburn be askin tha class when tha straight-up original gangsta gangsta light bulb was invented yo yo, but Francine drops some lyrics ta his thugged-out ass da thug wack ta booty-call it a light bulb, much ta tha classs shock fo' realz fo' realz. Accordin ta her, Edison invented tha incandescent lamp, n' tha name "light bulb" stuck lata n' shit. Mista Muthafuckin Ratburn agrees n' then Francine signals rehearsal.

At tha rehearsal, Francine is mad salty cuz Sue Ellenz camera costume has no sprocket holes, which would fuck up tha film. Mista Muthafuckin Ratburn takes Sue Ellen ta tha Dome ta fix dat shit. Francine then notices Arthur (dressed as a phonograph) aint bustin his bell cuz it echoes. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Biatch forces it on his thugged-out ass n' shouts dat she'll "uninvent" (expel) his thugged-out ass if tha pimpin' muthafucka takes it off again n' again n' again n' again n' again n' again n' again n' again n' again n' dat da thug won't be up in her play at all fo' realz fo' realz. Arthur is straight-up annoyed by Francine shoutin at him, cuz her big-ass booty straight-up aint gots tha authoritizzle ta expel mah playas.

Da class be all up in tha Sugar Bowl n' deeply regrets askin Mista Muthafuckin Ratburn ta give Francine a phat part, cuz she acts like itz her show, not theirs fo' realz fo' realz. Arthur asks Muffy if she'll rap ta Francine yo yo, but Muffy say she not bustin lyrics ta her n' shit. Prunella explains how tha fuck Francine insulted Muffyz clothes. Binky threatens ta pound Francine n' poundz down on his soda ta demonstrate yo yo, but gets stained wit soda fo' realz fo' realz. Arthur plans ta reason wit her yo yo, but Francine refuses ta accept his beeper call cuz her ass is still studyin her inventions.

Da next day, tha class prepares ta put on tha play fo' tha kindergartners. Busta can't breathe cuz his wild lil' fuckin light bulbz air holez is now sealed by bandages yo yo, but Francine couldn't give a fuckin shiznit fo' realz fo' realz. Arthur drops some lyrics ta Francine flat up dat mah playas is mad salty at her cuz of how tha fuck dat dunkadelic hoe treated mah playas yo yo, but dat thugged-out biiiatch cooly brushes it off cuz "they aint gots her talent at ballin personality". Fed up, tha hustlas vow ta teach Francine a lesson.

Durin tha play, before it starts, Muffy welcomes mah playas n' refers ta Menlo Park as "Menstrual Park". Francine pops outta tha curtains n' angrily erects her n' shit. In tha straight-up original gangsta gangsta scene, Francine as Edison presents Arthur as tha phonograph. Instead of playin beatz, Arthur do beeper imitations which amuses tha crew yo yo, but make Francine annoyed.

Next, Francine presents tha straight-up original gangsta gangsta light bulb. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Biatch pulls down tha shizzle coverin Busta n' discovers dat schmoooove muthafucka has a funky-ass big-ass grid up in tha front of his costume yo yo, but covers up her shock by actin like itz supposed ta be there, so peek-a-boo, clear tha way, I be comin' thru fo'sho. When she flips on tha light ta turn his thugged-out ass on, da perved-out muthafucka squirts her up in tha grill wit a wata gun, buggin Francine once again.

Then she uses her kinetoscope (Sue Ellen) ta film "Da Great Train Robbery". Binky chugs along until tha robbers (Jenna n' Muffy) rob his crazy-ass muthafuckin ass. They mess up tha act when Binky beats back tha robbers, spittin some lyrics ta dem ta "put 'em up!", up in which mah playas on stage starts ridin' dirty afterwards. Da play endz yo yo, but Francine tries ta stop tha closin curtains yo yo, but endz up gettin knocked onto tha stage floor fo' realz fo' realz. As a result, her classmates was makin mistakes on purpose ta turn tha tablez on her fo' her entitled attitude.

Later, Francine is sobbin up in tha dressin room, humiliated at what tha fuck her playaz did ta her n' shit. Mista Muthafuckin Ratburn is pissed tha git tha fuck outta mah grill wit dat bullshit as well n' asks dat tha lil playas make improvements before tha muthafathas' show. Francine blames her playaz fo' messin up her show yo yo, but they explain ta her dat it belongs ta all of dem n' dat they all hit dat shiznit hard ta put on a phat show. Francine be thinkin dis over, realizes what tha fuck a skanky shiznit dat freaky freaky biatch has been, n' apologizes fo' her shitty reputation. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Biatch then asks if they would be willin ta help her put on a pimped up show together, n' they happily agree.

That night, tha muthafathas' play goes well n' be a total success fo' realz fo' realz. As they take they bows, Francine gives credit ta her whole cast fo' its play. But afta tha curtain closes, her big-ass booty say they couldn't have done it without her n' shit. This causes her playaz ta pull her back behind tha curtain even though dat freaky freaky biatch aint straight-up finished what tha fuck her big-ass booty holla'd yet as tha show ends.

Characters

Major

Minor

Cameo

Trivia

Muffy doesn't have her buck teeth in this episode.
Moral: Dont be bossy boots for your own benefits.
For some unknown reason George is the only member of Mr. Ratburn's class to not be involved in the play.
The music that's played when Francine plays the phonograph in the shop is some of the background music played in Arthur.
During the ending when everyone is bowing Maria is the only reporter actor seen as Alex and Fern have mysteriously disappeared.

Cultural references

Thomas Edison was the real inventor of the light bulb, phonograph, etc.
In three past plays, Francine played the roles of a cherry tree, Sir Isaac Newton, and a cymbal.

Episode connections

Arthur mentions this episode in the later episode Francine Goes to War.

Errors

Plot Hole: How could Buster not breathe in his light bulb costume, if there were holes for his arms?

Francine and Catherine's room, having excluded Catherine's bed.

In the play finale for all the families to see, Francine, Buster, Muffy, (who is also shown at the flashback when Francine was a cherry tree.) George, Francine, and Sue Ellen can be seen in the audience, however, the real classmates are performing on stage.
Although Catherine made her debut in this episode, her and Francine's bedroom lacked her bed (showing only Francine's bed), which was also lacked in "Francine's Bad Hair Day" and many other episodes in this season.
When Muffy says "Me, too" the Brain's hand is pale.
When Mr. Ratburn asks the class to name one of Edison's inventions, nobody answers. But it's hardly believable that Brain wouldn't know the answer, especially since he claims he can "easily" make rocket fuel.

Half of the Brain is copied onto Buster.
In the scene at the Sugar Bowl, Buster's sweater and skin tone of his hands match the Brain's in one shot.
When Mr. Ratburn is speaking to the class about the phonograph, Alex appears to look like Patrick.
In the beginning, Francine's body gear was green and purple. later it was changed to orange.
In the beginning just as Sue Ellen stands up to announce her idea for the play, Francine's sweater is mistakenly colored yellow, as can be seen while Binky is talking in the foreground.
At one point, Luke can be seen in Mr. Ratburn's class.
In the classroom, Alex and Maria are sitting next to each other when Ratburn collects their papers. Later in the scene, Maria is next to Otis and Alex is next to George.
When Mr. Ratburn is placing a book down, its top can be seen overlapping the two books.
When Francine gets angry about Sue Ellen's costume not having sprocket holes, Sue Ellen's hair is brown instead of orange