| “ | I know he's just a little boy, but I'm calling 9-1-1. | ” |
— Spratt's Sweets board member about Gene Belcher
| ||
"Like Gene for Chocolate" is the twelfth episode in Season 7, being the one-hundred-and-nineteenth episode overall. It features guest appearances from David Herman, Brooke Dillman, Judah Friedlander, and Melissa Bardin Galsky.
Plot[]
When Gene learns that the formula for his favorite chocolate has changed, he works with the head of the company in an attempt to remedy the situation. Meanwhile, Bob gets wrapped up in one of Teddy's less-than-perfect plans.
Full story[]
At Wagstaff, it is History Diorama Day in Gene's class. Gene is up to present, but he doesn't put too much effort into his diorama of the Acropolis made of popsicle sticks (which is literally several popsicle sticks stuck together to form a bare 2-D outline). Ms. Twitchell is not impressed. Walking home, Gene complains to his siblings about how Ms. Twitchell said that he gives up when things get hard, while Louse notes that he does always give up, being a starter, not a finisher. Tina comforts him by telling him he's a starter. Gene decides to eat his last Chunky Blast Off chocolate candy piece to cheer himself up and feels better afterward. He goes to the local Stop N' Spend to purchase more Chunky Blast Offs. At the store, however, Gene notices that the boxes are different, stating "new great taste" and to his horror, the astronaut mascot now has sunglasses and frosted tips. Scared, he eats one piece and several more, but the new taste disgusts him.
At the restaurant, Teddy comes in with two large buckets of golf balls and proceeds to use the restaurant dishwasher due to his being busted, despite Bob saying he would mind. Bob asks what Teddy is doing with the golf balls, who explains that he cleans them after picking them up at the bottom of the lake at the municipal golf course, and sells them back to the golfers for a quarter each. But he's also not on good terms with golf course management, due to the pro shop wanting a cut of the sales, which he refused due to being the one who dives into the murky lake at night with nothing but a garden hose for air. Teddy gets paranoid about if he can trust Bob and eventually tries bribing him with golf balls.
Gene and his sisters show up, with Gene mad and hyperventilating about the changes to Chunky Blast Offs. Linda states how she hates when candies are changed, and Gene says he will work to get the Spratt's Sweets company to change it back. Later, he goes on the laptop to the Spratt's website and gets in a live chat, and tells the person to change the Chunky Blast Offs recipe back, but finds out that there are no plans to change the formula back. Gene is ready to give up until he sees that there are free factory tours, and decides to go to get his "day in candy court." Despite Bob saying the plan is crazy, Linda decides to take Gene on the factory tour, proud of him taking a stand (while aware it won't work), and also for the candy despite her denials.
At the Spratt's factory, Linda and the kids are on the tour. Gene asks the tour guide if there will be a Q&A with the boss but only gets told that a board of directors that is too busy for non-stockholders governs the factory. Later in the tour, the group is in a hallway when Gene notices a sign saying "Ferdinand Spratt" and opens it. Inside is a young man in an office full of items such as pinball machines and toys. Gene asks if the man is "the Ferdinand Spratt," and he acknowledges, as the last living Spratt. Gene says he is a fan and that he did peel off from the factory tour, which Ferdinand admits is awful. He asks what he can do for Gene, who wants to speak to the most-in-charge person there. Ferdinand says that technically he is, and agrees to change the Chunky Blast offs recipe back, to Gene's surprise. But he also states that it needs to get through the board, but promises to help Gene. "Ferdie" then asks for Gene's help to tie licorice whips to the ceiling fan for a "licorice tornado" which Gene eagerly accepts.
That night at dinner at the Belchers, Louise is upset that while they were stuck on the boring tour, Gene was able to sneak off and become friends with the founder's grandson. Bob is hesitant, noting that the guy is a literal stranger with candy, but Gene is optimistic that he will get the old Chunky Blast Off formula back. But Ferdie needs to figure out how to talk to the board of directors about it, which is why Gene will be going back to discuss it with him the next day after school. Bob shows concern, while Linda agrees to help Gene succeed (and to get more candy at the gift shop).
The next day at Spratt's, Gene is talking to Ferdie about convincing the board, but Ferdie first convinces him to take the "cool" tour. In the lobby, they drive around electric scissor lifts, but gene feels they got sidetracked and wants to brainstorm. Ferdie starts to brainstorm, only to then show Gene a room in the factory where he can throw gel animals toys at the glass. Gene wants to get to business in an office, but Ferdie tells him business is not done in offices anymore but in walking down hallways and at urinals (like on Entourage). Gene encourages him to do that (while figuring they need to convince the female board members to sue the urinals), and in his office, he tries coming up with "urinal openers" for Ferdie to use. But Ferdie decides to call it a day and falls asleep for a nap. Outside the factory, Gene and Linda leave, with Gene concerned about how Ferdie isn't putting in any work at all (which sounds to himself) but becomes convinced they will nail the plan the next day.
At the restaurant, Teddy has sold all his golf balls but is not happy, thinking about all the balls he left in "the deeps," the nine-foot-deep area of the golf course lake. There are thousands of balls down there, but he needs a lookout and someone to hold onto the hose. Instead of taking bob's suggestion to stop, he suggests they team up for the last "score." Bob eventually agrees, but only if he is the one to hold the hose so he doesn't dive in the scummy water.
At Spratt's the next day, Linda checks out the candy gift shop once more, while Gene talks to receptionist when Ferdie walks by. Gene wants to brainstorm, but Ferdie says the urinal plan might not work due to a run-in with someone at a urinal who looked familiar but couldn't place. Gene wants to brainstorm more, but Ferdie says that they've already put in a lot of time but it is too hard to convince the board to change Chunky Blast Offs back. Gene is angry at him giving up, feeling betrayed by the company and Ferdie, but Ferdie gets mad at him and bans Gene from his office. Gene leaves, running to the car to wait for Linda.
That night, Gene is face-down in the couch depressed, while Linda is sorry that Ferdinand was mean, but is proud of Gene, with Bob noting he got closer than any of them ever thought he would. Gene is still upset and his parents leave, but he tells his sisters that the plan could have worked had Ferdie stuck to it. Louise however tells him to step up and as he started it, he should finish it. Gene becomes motivated, so Louise lays out a plan: Gene goes to the board room and tells them himself. Gene however notes that he is no longer allowed on the executive floors, but Louise notes that he can still take the factory tour; that will be their cover to sneak Gene in.
Later, Bob and Teddy are parked in Teddy's truck outside the golf course, surveying the area. Teddy says they are good to go, but he becomes shocked that Bob didn't bring a ski mask and gloves, which Bob says he didn't get told to bring. Teddy lifts the fence to get inside but tells Bob about dogs that might bite. Bob then realizes Teddy didn't warn him about the dogs nor to bring padding, which Teddy is wearing because he got bitten once already. Bob wonders out loud why he is doing this. At the lake, Teddy puts a flashlight on his head and goes underwater for a second before coming back up and taking time to gag and argue with Bob before going back down. After some time, they two manage to get four buckets full of golf balls, and as they walk back to the truck, a guard hears them. The two run, chased by the guard and dogs, and get to a golf cart. They drive down a set of stairs, causing many golf balls to fall out, but they manage to escape.
The next day at Spratt's, Linda wishes the kids good luck while she goes back to the gift shop, and the three take the factory tour. They break off on the factory floor to a supply closet full of the brand new Chunky Blast Off displays. Gene gets under a rocket ship display and his sisters help walk him to the elevators. However, his sisters are caught by a security guard, who takes them back to the tour, but not before Louise tells Gene to get to the board room where they will meet him. Gene at first bumps into a wall, but manages to get onto the elevator to the executive floors.
Eventually, he gets to the boardroom, where a meeting is going on with Ferdie in attendance. The guy leading the meeting notes the rocket ship display walking in, and Gene trips before getting up to reveal himself. Ferdie gets surprised and asks Gene what he is doing there, to which Gene replies that he is there to say what Ferdie didn't have the courage to say. The board member prepares to call 911, but Ferdie tells him to wait and listen, as Gene is his friend, and he's sorry he betrayed him.
Gene tells the board that he loves Chunky Blast Offs, but they changed them, and now they are gross, and the new astronaut mascot is creepy. He is sure they have their reasons, but the original candies tasted so good and meant so much to him; but now they are gone, and he feels a part of me went with him. Another board member asks if he's trying to say a part of his childhood went away, which disrupts Gene's flow. Gene tells them that they bring happiness to millions of kids, but then they gave up on them, like how just a few days earlier he was a "chronic giver-upper," and asks them if they remember what it's like to care about their favorite candy, or if they have forgotten in years of business, asking one board remember when was the last time he ate one of the candies made there. He is not sure, and gene asks another board member who says a few months but cannot recall her favorite candy but finally remembers when Gene pushes for more. He gives the board members nearby candies as his sisters finally arrive.
Gene asks who is with him to change Chunky Blast Offs back, with Ferdie seconding him, and other board members enthusiastically agreeing in a unanimous vote. However, when an employee gets asked for a timeline and costs for putting the old formula and packaging into production, it turns out to be between 15 and 20 million dollars. The board then decides not to. Outside the Spratt's factory, Tina tells Gina he did great and saw it through. Gene feels he failed but Ferdie tells him he nailed it, and reminded the board members what relay matters to the company: kids (with Louise adding money as well). Ferdie tells Gene that there are 20 to 30,000 old formula Chunky Blast Offs in the warehouse and asks if Gene wants them. Gene happily agrees when Linda comes out, mouth blue and heart racing from eating a lot of candies.
Back at the restaurant, Gene now has a large box of Chunky Blast Off candy boxes, which he proceeds to sit it like a bath while refusing to let Linda have any.
Videos[]
External links[]
- "Like Gene for Chocolate" on IMDb
- "Like Gene for Chocolate" press release via The Futon Critic
- "Like Gene for Chocolate" script via Springfield! Springfield!
| Season 7 Episode Navigation | v • t • e | |
|---|---|---|
| Flu-ouise • Sea Me Now • Teen-a Witch • They Serve Horses, Don't They? • Large Brother, Where Fart Thou? • The Quirk-ducers • The Last Gingerbread House on the Left • Ex MachTina • Bob Actually • There's No Business Like Mr. Business Business • A Few 'Gurt Men • Like Gene for Chocolate • The Grand Mama-pest Hotel • Aquaticism • Ain't Miss Debatin' • Eggs for Days • Zero Larp Thirty • The Laser-inth • Thelma & Louise Except Thelma is Linda • Mom, Lies, and Videotape • Paraders of the Lost Float • Into the Mild | ||
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