Congratulations to all of you recent and upcoming graduates of High School and University! I have a few nephews and nieces myself who are graduating. To all graduates, I dedicate my next review for High School Fred, written by Warren Foster and from Season 3. It features John Stephenson as Mr. Slate, the Bedrock High Principal and the football game announcer. Howard Morris (known as Ernest T. Bass on the Andy Griffith Show) plays Mr. Rockland and a few of the teenagers. Jean Vander Pyl plays the teache and one of the students. Since Fred plays a lot of sports in this episode, this is one dlor the sports themed episodes.
Plot summary: While Fred is busy at work, Me. Slate meets with Mr. Rockland who suggests ways to save the company money. For starters, he suggests to Slate all employees must have a high school diploma. Since Fred didn't graduate, hes called to Slate's office. Mr. Rockland threatens to fire Fred but Mr. Slate suggests if Fred go back to high school for 2 weeks and get his degree, he can keep his job at the gravel pit. In addition, they agree him to pay Fred for going to school. Fred agrees, since it's "the only gravel pit in town and the only work I know is gravel pitting!" Barney waits for Fred to pick him up but Fred passes him by. He lets Wilma know he's going to school and she thinks Fred is going to Executive school for a promotion. When Fred arrives at school, the students and staff are friendly and welcome him warmly. He's able to answer a geology question. In gym, he plays basketball and scores quite a few hoops. The kids pile up in Fred's car and he drinks 34 malts!He comes home exhausted and doesn't even want to eat. Barney remarks "I wish we had a tape recorder!" Wilma begs Fred not to go to school every morning but Fred insists on going. Finally, Barney agrees to check up on Fred and, to his surprise, finds him in the high school. Fred plays track and scores points but hurts his back. So they head to the malt shop. Fred breaks his record by downing 49 malts! "I would've made it 50 if I hadn't eaten those 10 Bronto burgers!," replies Fred. Barney enters the restaurant and inquires what Fred is doing. So Fred explains to Barney asking him not to tell Wilma or Betty. As Barney hears the teens encourage Fred "Go, Freddie, go! Go, go, go!," Barney concludes "Who'da thunk it? Fred, an overaged teenager!" So Fred comes home exhausted and skips dinner again. Wilma thinks he's been snacking. "Snacking, she says," mutters Barney knowingly. "49 malts and 10 Bronto burgers, snacking! Hyuck, Hyuck, Hyuck!" Wilma again begs Fred not to go to school, at no avail. Fred walks into the Principal's office and knocks over the Coach. Although the Coach is annoyed, he puts him on the football team. Barney invites Wilma and Betty to the high school football game, since he got free tickets from Sam Boulder. So they see a big fat kid on the football team. It doesn't take long for them to realize the big fat kid and Fred are one and the same, especially with the crowd chanting "Flintstone! Flintstone! Rah! Rah! Rah!" So Barney explains why Fred is at high school. So Wilma and Betty cheer Fred on. Once again, Fred comes home exhausted and they all congratulate him on winning the game for Bedrock High School. Fred is so touched, he invites them all to his graduation!
Unsolved mysteries: How did Fred and all those teenagers fit in his Flintmobile? Nowadays, they'd get in trouble for hanging onto the hood! Also, how was Fred able to enroll in classes the previous season at Princestone?
What I liked: I thought the wise cracking dinocrane was pretty funny. I also liked the turkey marinating itself in the oven! When Barney agrees to follow Fred, he tells Betty "I'll tail him! That's detective talk." Betty replies "Well, stop detective talking and start detective moving!" I'm surprised the audience didn't break out in laughter when Fred says at graduation "High school is for the young, because only the young can take it. And I'm not kidding! Ooh, my aching back!" But Fred still has reason to smile, as he can return to work soon after. As Fred makes a touchdown, he carries the entire opposing team. Finally, I like the fact that Mr. Slate is supportive and understanding to Fred and when Wilma, Barney and Betty find out why he's going back to school, they're also supportive. So I give this episode 9 malts out of 10! Sorry, but I can't stomach 49 like Fred did!
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