Miracle's Are Real

Last updated
"Miracle's Are Real"
Sit Down, Shut Up episode
MiracleHappyBaby.jpg
Larry attempts to make Miracle believe in rational scientific approaches.
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 2
Directed by Raymie Muzquiz
Written by Mitchell Hurwitz
Jim Vallely
Production codeSIT-102
Original air dateApril 26, 2009 (2009-04-26)
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Pilot"		Next →
"World's Greatest Teacher"
List of episodes

"Miracle's Are Real" is the second episode of the American animated television series Sit Down, Shut Up . It was originally broadcast on April 26, 2009, in the United States on the Fox network. In the episode, Miracle Grohe loses her faith in spirituality because of Larry's pragmatism. Meanwhile, Acting Principal Sue Sezno holds a school fair to raise money for the staff's insurance.

Contents

The episode was co-written by the series creator Mitchell Hurwitz and Jim Vallely and directed by Raymie Muzquiz. It received generally mixed reviews from critics. According to the Nielsen ratings, it was watched by 4.20 million households in its original broadcast.

Plot

Miracle celebrates the first day of spring by giving out flowers, but fails to realize that she is actually giving out hemlock, which ultimately puts Andrew in a coma. Because the staff's insurance does not cover "voluntary self-poisoning", Acting Principal Sue Sezno suggests they hold a school fair to raise money, advertising it as a "fair fair". Miracle tells Larry that tonight is the night her prophecy will come true. Larry challenges her spiritually-based life style by spending the night at the commune waiting for Miracle's birth star to align with Pluto. When the stars finally align, Larry is too busy trying to disprove Miracle's way of life that he does not notice that she is trying to kiss him. She runs away and throws away her fortune. Larry reads it and finds out that when Miracle's star is align with Pluto, she would receive a kiss from the greatest love of her life.

At the fair, Miracle feels depressed and gives Ennis her baby Merch to babysit. The booth Miracle got her fortune from is delivered by a mysterious man and Larry plans on using to make Miracle believe in spirituality again. Meanwhile, Sue does the raffle for the German coffee maker, which she wins herself. Ennis admits that he lost Merch, which upsets Miracle. Outraged, Ennis takes a crystal ball and throws it at the ball toss, at which Sue falls into the tub of water. Andrew and Helen then notice a magnet in Sue's skirt, which indicates that Sue cheated for the coffee maker. Ennis gets some prizes in a booth, including Merch clinging onto a Pluto doll, and Miracle sees that her prophecy has come true and thanks Ennis with a hug. She says that it is still a magical world no matter what Larry says.

Production

"Miracle's Are Real" was co-written by the creator Mitchell Hurwitz and Jim Vallely and directed by Raymie Muzquiz. It was the second episode to be produced. [1] The first episode had to be rewritten several times before the series was picked up by Fox. [2] The series was picked up in May 2008, but production was halted only a month later due to a contract dispute between the writers and the production company, Sony Pictures. [3] [4] In July 2008, a compromise was reached and the writers returned to work. [4] On April 17, 2009, TV Squad posted an early look on various elements in the series, including the content in "Miracle's Are Real". [5] The article's writer noted that Jason Bateman and Will Arnett's characters interacted a lot more than in the pilot episode. The writer recalled it as "Michael/Gob magic", referring to Bateman and Arnett's characters on Hurwitz's previous series, Arrested Development . [5]

Reception

In its original broadcast on April 26, 2009, "Miracle's Are Real" was watched by 4.20 million households, according to the Nielsen ratings, earning a 1.9 rating/5 share among viewers aged between 18 and 49, and a 2.1 rating/7 share among viewers between 18 and 34. [6] The episode dropped in almost one million viewers from the pilot episode. [7] "Miracle's Are Real" finished third in its timeslot in the 18-49 demographic, after Amazing Race and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition . [6]

The episode received mixed reviews from television sources and critics. Kona Gallaghar of TV Squad , who liked the pilot episode more the second time, was not as impressed with "Miracle's Are Real". She concluded, "The main problem I have right now with Sit Down, Shut Up, is that even that simple plot-point is too deep for it. Maybe I'm expecting too much from an animated series, but is it wrong to want the characters to feel at least as real as their backgrounds?". [8] Jonah Krakow of IGN gave the episode 7.3 out of 10 saying that "there's still plenty to like about this show even if this wasn't the strongest episode [..] I'm not worried about Sit Down, Shut Up's ability to create some classic television episodes because there's way too much talent involved. [9] Steve Heisler of The A.V. Club graded the episode a C saying that "the major problem with this show is that there isn't a central character [...] Even Larry, the straight man of the bunch, plays second fiddle to the ambiguous sexual talk of Andrew, and the pathetic ball of sweat that is Willard. I need something, anything, to ground these shenanigans, of which there are many, many, many." [10]

Related Research Articles

<i>Family Guy</i> American adult animated sitcom

Family Guy is an American animated sitcom conceived and created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers around the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children, Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog, Brian. Set in the fictional city of Quahog, Rhode Island, the show exhibits much of its humor in the form of metafictional cutaway gags that often lampoon American culture.

Marg Downey is an Australian comedian and actress best known for her roles in The D Generation, Fast Forward and Full Frontal

Mitchell Donald "Mitch" Hurwitz is an American television writer, producer, and actor. He is best known as the creator of the television sitcom Arrested Development as well as the co-creator of The Ellen Show. He is also a contributor to The John Larroquette Show and The Golden Girls.

Sit Down, Shut Up is a short-lived Australian sitcom broadcast by Network Ten. It ran from 16 February 2001 until 28 June 2001 for a total of 13 episodes.

The American TV network Fox Broadcasting Company has aired numerous animated television series. During the more than thirty-year existence of the network, there have been many successful prime time animated series. The first and most famous of these, The Simpsons, was the first such series since the end of The Flintstones in the 1960s.

<i>Kitchen Nightmares</i> American reality television series

Kitchen Nightmares is an American reality television series formerly broadcast on the Fox network, in which chef Gordon Ramsay is invited by the owners to spend a week with a failing restaurant in an attempt to revive the business. Produced by ITV Studios America, it is based on the British show Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares.

<i>Sit Down, Shut Up</i> (2009 TV series) American adaptation of Australian TV series

Sit Down, Shut Up is an American adult animated television series created by Mitchell Hurwitz for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series focuses on a group of high school teachers in a small town in Florida "who don't care about teaching". The series premiered on April 19, 2009 in the Animation Domination block on Fox, but after four episodes aired, Fox removed the show from the block due to low ratings. The remaining nine episodes aired on Saturdays at midnight from later in the year. The show was cancelled on November 21, 2009.

<i>Glee</i> (TV series) American musical comedy-drama television series

Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that aired on the Fox network in the United States from May 19, 2009, to March 20, 2015. It centers on the glee club called the New Directions at the fictional William McKinley High School which competes as a show choir while its disparate members deal with social issues, especially regarding sexuality, race, family, teen relationships and teamwork.

"Invocation" is the fifth episode of the eighth season of the American science fiction television series The X-Files. It premiered on the Fox network on December 3, 2000. The episode was written by David Amman and directed by Richard Compton. "Invocation" is a "monster-of-the-week" story, unconnected to the series' wider mythology. The episode received a Nielsen rating of 8.2 and was viewed by 13.9 million viewers. Overall, the episode received mixed reviews from critics.

Pilot (<i>Sit Down, Shut Up</i>) 1st episode of the 1st season of Sit Down, Shut Up

The pilot episode of the American animated television series Sit Down, Shut Up originally aired in the United States on April 19, 2009 on the Fox network. The episode introduced the faculty and staff at Knob Haven High School in the fictional town of Knob Haven, Florida. In the episode, the school is facing a financial crisis and acting principal Sue Sezno has to either fire a teacher or make sure the school wins a football game. Meanwhile, assistant principal Stuart Proszakian becomes addicted to drugs that were found in a student's locker.

"Throwdown" is the seventh episode of the American television series Glee. The episode premiered on the Fox network on October 14, 2009. It was directed by series creator Ryan Murphy and written by Brad Falchuk. The episode includes a clash between glee club director Will Schuester and cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester when she is named co-director of the glee club. As Sue tries to divide the club by turning the students against Will, his wife Terri blackmails her OB/GYN into colluding with her over her fake pregnancy.

"Mash-Up" is the eighth episode of the American television series Glee. The episode premiered on the Fox network on October 21, 2009. It was written by series co-creator Ian Brennan and directed by Elodie Keene. The episode sees glee club director Will Schuester attempt to create a wedding medley in the style of a mash-up for his colleagues Emma and Ken. Students Finn and Quinn find that they are no longer considered popular, while glee club members Rachel and Puck become romantically involved, as do cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester and local news anchor Rod Remington.

"Hell-O" is the fourteenth episode of the American television series Glee. The episode premiered on the Fox network on April 13, 2010. It was written by series creator Ian Brennan and directed by Brad Falchuk. In "Hell-O", cheer-leading coach Sue Sylvester attempts to sabotage the relationship between glee club members Finn Hudson and Rachel Berry. Glee club director Will Schuester attempts to begin a relationship with school guidance counsellor Emma Pillsbury, but several obstacles come between them, including the coach of rival glee club Vocal Adrenaline.

"Funk" is the twenty-first episode of the American television series Glee. The episode was written by series creator Ian Brennan and directed by Elodie Keene. It premiered on the Fox network on June 1, 2010 and was watched by 9 million viewers. In "Funk", New Directions is intimidated by rival glee club Vocal Adrenaline. Jesse St. James defects back to Vocal Adrenaline, and New Directions explores funk music, knowing it is their rival club's weakness. The episode features cover versions of six songs, all of which were released as singles, available for download, and two of which are included on the soundtrack album Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers.

"The Mutants Are Revolting" is the twelfth episode of the sixth season of the American animated sitcom Futurama and is the 100th episode of the series. It aired on Comedy Central on September 2, 2010, as a mid-season finale, with remaining episodes broadcast in November 2010 and in 2011. In the episode, the Planet Express crew celebrate their 100th delivery. Leela's status as a mutant is exposed to the public and she is deported from the surface and forced to live with other mutants in the sewers. She recognizes the inequality with which mutants are forced to live and rallies them together in an equal rights revolt against the surface dwellers.

"Journey to Regionals" is the twenty-second episode and first season finale of the American television series Glee. The episode was written and directed by series creator Brad Falchuk, and premiered on the Fox network on June 8, 2010. In "Journey to Regionals", New Directions performs at Regionals in front of celebrity judges Josh Groban, Olivia Newton-John, Rod Remington and Sue Sylvester. Club member Quinn gives birth to her daughter, Beth, whom rival glee club coach Shelby Corcoran adopts. Co-captains Finn and Rachel reunite, and director Will Schuester professes his love for guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury. Although New Directions comes in last in the competition, Sue persuades Principal Figgins not to disband the club for another year.

<i>Running Wilde</i> American TV sitcom

Running Wilde is an American comedy television series created by Mitchell Hurwitz for the Fox Network. It stars Will Arnett as Steve Wilde, a self-centered, idle bachelor and heir to an oil fortune. The series follows Wilde's awkward attempts to regain the affection of his childhood sweetheart, Emmy, an environmentalist who had been living in the South American jungle, but whose young daughter does not want to return there and who secretly enlists Steve's help to keep Emmy at his mansion, leading to farcical situations and misunderstandings.

"Overclockwise" is the twenty-fifth episode of the sixth season of the animated sitcom Futurama, and originally aired September 1, 2011 on Comedy Central. The episode was written by Ken Keeler and directed by Raymie Muzquiz. In the episode, Bender is overclocked by Cubert Farnsworth, gradually becoming more powerful in computing ability, until eventually becoming omniscient and able to foresee future events. Meanwhile, Cubert and Professor Farnsworth are tried in court by Mom for violating Bender's license agreement, and Fry's relationship with Leela takes a turn for the worse.

Donald Raymie Muzquiz is an American animation director. He has directed several episodes of Futurama, and served as supervising director on the Cartoon Network series Clarence during the first season. He has also directed episodes of Drawn Together, Duckman, Hey Arnold!, Sit Down, Shut Up, and Rugrats. He was also a storyboard artist on Futurama, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Despicable Me and The Simpsons. Also, he directed the television movie The Electric Piper.

References

  1. ↑ "Listings - Sit Down, Shut Up on Fox - Miracle's Are Real". The Futon Critic. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  2. ↑ Basile, Nancy. "Sit Down, Shut Up - Q&A with Will Forte & Mitchell Hurwitz". About.com. The New York Times Company. Archived from the original on May 4, 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  3. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia; Schneider, Michael (May 11, 2008). "Fox greenlights J.J. Abrams' 'Fringe'". Variety. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
  4. 1 2 Stetler, Brian (July 17, 2008). "A Compromise In The 'Shut Up' Standoff". Media Decoder. The New York Times. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
  5. 1 2 Gallagher, Kona (April 17, 2009). "Sit Down, Shut Up -- An early look". TV Squad. AOL, Inc. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  6. 1 2 Gorman, Bill (April 27, 2009). "ABC wins; Sit Down, Shut Up drags down Fox". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 30, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
  7. ↑ Calabria, Rosario T. (April 27, 2009). "Broadcast TV Ratings for Sunday, April 26, 2009". Your Entertainment Now. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  8. ↑ Gallaghar, Kona (April 27, 2009). "Sit Down, Shut Up: Miracle's Are Real". TV Squad. AOL, Inc. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  9. ↑ Krakow, Jonah (April 27, 2009). "Sit Down, Shut Up: "Miracle's Are Real" Review". IGN Entertainment. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  10. ↑ Heisler, Steve (April 26, 2009). ""Miracle's Are Real" Review". The A.V. Club. Onion, Inc. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.