Tim is really looking forward to this weekend: he's having a big block party. Engine block, that is. He and some friends are gonna be dropping a Chevy big block into his hot rod. When he discovers Al had been dumped by Greta, he invites him to the party too. Looks like it's going to be a grand affair. Guys and a car. What could go wrong? Well, I just jinxed it, because Jill decides to use this opportunity to play matchmaker and attempt to hook up Karen with Tim's friend Dave. Tim vehemently says no, knowing full well his meddling wife was going to interfere with his party. So, Tim's friends gradually show up. First is Bob with his very pregnant wife Leslie. Next is bickering couple Hank and Wanda (for those familiar with the later episodes, I believe these characters are prototypes for Harry and Deloris). Apparently this was supposed to be a guys-only affair, but the wives insisted on coming. I mean, what's a guy supposed to do? Say no to his wife? Like that would ever happen. So anyway, as Tim, Hank and Bob admire the big-block, Al shows up in a cowboy hat and bolo tie. This is because earlier when Tim invited him, Al asked if there was a theme to the party. Tim had facetiously said the theme was the Wild West, and Al took it seriously.
Pretty-boy Dave finally shows up and Jill makes her half-assed attempt at matchmaking, saying he and Karen have so much in common, when in fact, they have zilch in common. Worse yet, in lieu of going to the movies, the big gaggle of hens decide to stay home and watch Some Like it Hot on the tube. Jill even suggests Tim barbecue. I... there are no words for me to describe what Jill is doing to Tim. She DID know he wanted to throw a guys' party that night, right? She knew this was important to him, right? Is this her way of getting back at him for botching all of her dinner dates? It must be. So just as the guys manage to lower the engine into the chassis, Jill comes in to tell them dinner's ready. After that, the guys and the women play charades. Tim grumbles at the grill, while Jill gloats about bringing everybody together. They have an argument, and Jill justifies her actions by saying she wants to bring two people together. She feels it's her job to set people up...so hopefully in the new millennium, she got a job at match.com. Thankfully Wilson was home, so he and Jill can have a talk. To her, people are more important than cars, and she thinks Tim and the guys just messing around with it is counterproductive as opposed to socializing. Wilson has to remind her that the hot rod means so much more to Tim and by dismissing it, she dismisses him. Anyway, the party wasn't a total loss. Al seems to have taken a shine to Karen. He even wants to gather up the courage to ask her out. Unfortunately for him, Dave beat him to the punch. Personally, I think Al dodged a bullet. I mean, Karen? Really? But he didn't seem to think so. As a form of consolation, Tim invites Al back to wire up the hot rod the next day. He's a true friend. Don't worry, Al, you'll get a girl in Season 3. As for Jill, she tries to apologize to Tim in her own way, showing her very limited knowledge of street rods. He gets the message, and so they slide underneath the car to properly reconcile. In closing, we have a resolution to our B plot: the boys running afoul of local bully, Vinnie McGurn. Tim had encouraged them to make water balloons, and when Jill finds out, she really bursts Tim's bubble.
Lessons learned? Don't get married. But if you find you absolutely have to get married, 'cause, you know, all the guys and gals are doing it, try to set some boundaries. Otherwise, you'll end up like Tim and Jill and their friends in this episode. Who did Jill think she was interrupting Tim's party like that?! Sure, if the shoe were on the other foot and Tim was interrupting Jill's party, he'd be wrong. She was just a total meddling bitch who got into other peoples' business. Sure, her intentions were good, setting up her friend with a guy...and that backfires drastically in the episode "Let's Did Lunch." Shows what a great matchmaker Jill is. And as for Tim's friends, of course we don't see them after this episode, except for Dave, and as I pointed out, Hank and Wanda were early versions of Harry and Deloris. Had this episode been made in Season 5, it would've been Benny, Marty, Harry, Wilson, Al and Tim installing the engine, and there wouldn't be any worries about matchmaking because no woman would ever willingly go with Benny, and the others would be taken. But anyway, if you find Jill and Karen annoying, this episode won't do much for you. But it's still a good one and it is worth seeing. So, you make the call.
Pretty-boy Dave finally shows up and Jill makes her half-assed attempt at matchmaking, saying he and Karen have so much in common, when in fact, they have zilch in common. Worse yet, in lieu of going to the movies, the big gaggle of hens decide to stay home and watch Some Like it Hot on the tube. Jill even suggests Tim barbecue. I... there are no words for me to describe what Jill is doing to Tim. She DID know he wanted to throw a guys' party that night, right? She knew this was important to him, right? Is this her way of getting back at him for botching all of her dinner dates? It must be. So just as the guys manage to lower the engine into the chassis, Jill comes in to tell them dinner's ready. After that, the guys and the women play charades. Tim grumbles at the grill, while Jill gloats about bringing everybody together. They have an argument, and Jill justifies her actions by saying she wants to bring two people together. She feels it's her job to set people up...so hopefully in the new millennium, she got a job at match.com. Thankfully Wilson was home, so he and Jill can have a talk. To her, people are more important than cars, and she thinks Tim and the guys just messing around with it is counterproductive as opposed to socializing. Wilson has to remind her that the hot rod means so much more to Tim and by dismissing it, she dismisses him. Anyway, the party wasn't a total loss. Al seems to have taken a shine to Karen. He even wants to gather up the courage to ask her out. Unfortunately for him, Dave beat him to the punch. Personally, I think Al dodged a bullet. I mean, Karen? Really? But he didn't seem to think so. As a form of consolation, Tim invites Al back to wire up the hot rod the next day. He's a true friend. Don't worry, Al, you'll get a girl in Season 3. As for Jill, she tries to apologize to Tim in her own way, showing her very limited knowledge of street rods. He gets the message, and so they slide underneath the car to properly reconcile. In closing, we have a resolution to our B plot: the boys running afoul of local bully, Vinnie McGurn. Tim had encouraged them to make water balloons, and when Jill finds out, she really bursts Tim's bubble.
Lessons learned? Don't get married. But if you find you absolutely have to get married, 'cause, you know, all the guys and gals are doing it, try to set some boundaries. Otherwise, you'll end up like Tim and Jill and their friends in this episode. Who did Jill think she was interrupting Tim's party like that?! Sure, if the shoe were on the other foot and Tim was interrupting Jill's party, he'd be wrong. She was just a total meddling bitch who got into other peoples' business. Sure, her intentions were good, setting up her friend with a guy...and that backfires drastically in the episode "Let's Did Lunch." Shows what a great matchmaker Jill is. And as for Tim's friends, of course we don't see them after this episode, except for Dave, and as I pointed out, Hank and Wanda were early versions of Harry and Deloris. Had this episode been made in Season 5, it would've been Benny, Marty, Harry, Wilson, Al and Tim installing the engine, and there wouldn't be any worries about matchmaking because no woman would ever willingly go with Benny, and the others would be taken. But anyway, if you find Jill and Karen annoying, this episode won't do much for you. But it's still a good one and it is worth seeing. So, you make the call.
