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The Election
| "The Election" | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Season/Series: | 5 |
| Number in season: | 6A |
| Original Airdate: |  October 30, 2000[1][2] January 8, 2001[3] |
| Credits | |
| Written by: | Joseph Purdy |
| Storyboard by: | Robert Yap |
| Episodes | |
| Previous "You Are Arthur" |
Next "Francine Goes to War" |
| Read transcript | |
Summary[edit]
Mr. Ratburn's class holds a class election. Muffy takes the candidacy for class president seriously and a competitive campaign against Arthur ensues.
Plot[edit]
Mr. Ratburn announces a class election to the third grade.
At recess Muffy, Francine, Arthur and the Brain discuss the announcement. Francine thinks she would be a good fit for president but Muffy rightfully suggests she would be better as her campaign manager behind the scenes after detailing responsibilities of being able to campaign and listening to the people while Binky thinks it's lame. Buster suggests Arthur that he would be a great candidate only to get openly laughed at by Muffy.
Back in class, Muffy declares to the class that she is officially running. Buster again encourages Arthur to run as a candidate, which gets cheered on by some of his class members and finally agrees, much too Muffy's annoyance.
During lunch, Arthur, Buster, Binky, and the Brain try to think of a reason why anyone would vote for Arthur. Brain tells Arthur he needs organization with professional and well-financed people. Buster reassures Arthur to relax and tells him all he needs are a few good jokes, which he can help with. On the flip side, a very well-organized Muffy has set up a strategy meeting with Francine and Sue Ellen. She wants catchy slogans from Sue Ellen, and to make an appointment for her hair stylist, and Francine to find some hot button issues.
Mr. Ratburn uses Thomas Jefferson, Herbert Hoover, and Teddy Roosevelt as examples of not being about personalities, but about important issues. Muffy, Buster, and Binky daydream about themselves as these historic figures.
Arthur, at the end of the school day, asks Francine if she wants to go to The Sugar Bowl, only to be dragged away by Muffy, who doesn't want her talking to "the enemy." At home, Arthur talks to Buster about how seriously Muffy is taking the class election. D.W soon walks in with concerns about Arthur not being able to win because he isn't funny and he has hasn't campaigned hard. Arthur stresses to her that it's just a small class election.
Arthur and Buster the next day walk into school the next morning to see Muffy's campaign posters all over school, and she is personally handing out muffins and buttons. This makes Arthur urgently create his own posters, with crudely drawn and loose cut outs, which Muffy laughs at. Arthur says that her comment isn't being fair, and she exclaims that politics aren't fair.
A debate is held between the two candidates. Arthur talks about teamwork, organization, and problem solving together as a positive for his election. Muffy details that she will be able to get her Daddy to pay for everything. Mr. Ratburn then notices that Binky had fallen asleep, which the class finds funny. When awoken, Binky he says it would be more exciting if there was no more homework and the class could eat snacks while working. The class's excitement for his comments prompts Mr. Ratburn to ask Arthur and Muffy if they would allow Binky be added to the ballot. Muffy disapproves of this, but Arthur supports it.
After the votes have been counted, Mr. Ratburn announces Binky as the winner and dismisses the class. However, Binky doesn't understand the concept of a mock up election, and keeps pushing for more promises to be implemented. Muffy yells at Arthur for letting Binky run, telling him that she spent the most money and gave out muffins, and the result wasn't fair. She storms off to the hallway, saying that she won't ever forget this event. Arthur and Buster hope she never loses a real election.
Characters[edit]
Major[edit]
Minor[edit]
Cameo[edit]
- Sue Ellen Armstrong
- Jenna Morgan
- Alex
- Fern Walters
- George Lundgren
- Maria Pappas
- Kenny
- Beulah McInnerny
- 3rd Grade Male Rat
- Mary
- 3rd Grade Female Aardvark
- 3rd Grade Male Rabbit
- 3rd Grade Male Cat
- 3rd Grade Male Dog (Number 3)
- 3rd Grade Male Dog
- Jessica
- Helen
- Nancy
Mentioned[edit]
Trivia[edit]
- This episode (along with "Francine Goes to War") is traditionally re-aired on Election Day.
- During the mock debate, Muffy wants to add rides to the school playground. She actually does this in "The Play's the Thing" (although it is quickly shut down by Mr. Haney due to Muffy charging admission).
- This is the first episode to use the Slot Machine as a title card.
- Karma: Muffy lost because she took elections too seriously.
- 4th Wall Break: D.W. suggests to Arthur that he should use yellow and blue for his campaign colors, and then immediately changes her mind and suggests pink and white instead. These are the color schemes of the outfits most commonly worn by Arthur and her, respectively.
- Moral:
- Don't take things too seriously for your own benefits.
- Dont blame other people for your own problems for your own benefits.
- Dont overreact for your own benefits.
Errors[edit]
- When school ends, Sue Ellen's hair turns green.
References[edit]
- Muffy's inaugural address “Ask not what I can do for you, rather what you can do for me” parodies John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”
- Muffy's hairstyle was presented to look like that of Hillary Clinton, who was the outgoing First Lady of the United States at the time of the episode's original airdate.
- Binky's line: “Four score and six years ago, I decided to become president, so vote for me” refers to the Gettysburg Address.
- Mr. Ratburn mentions Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana purchase.
- Mr. Ratburn mentions Theodore Roosevelt and his Big Stick ideology.
- Mr. Ratburn mentions Herbert Hoover and his campaign promise “a chicken in every pot.”
- “It's the cafeteria, silly” refers to Bill Clinton's strategist's line “It’s the economy, stupid.”
Home video[edit]
Gallery[edit]
From left to right, Maria, Fern, Muffy, Sue Ellen, Brain, and George. An earlier shot in that scene also reveals Alex.
Muffy's "politician" hairdo
President Muffy's Head Turning
Sources[edit]
