Episode Description:
Olivia Parker and Zoe Grant start a new talk show and reluctantly choose Jay as their first guest. However, when Jay starts choking live on their show, the girls become famous for reasons they didn’t expect. Meanwhile, Connie and Jules have conflicting opinions on their next potential roommate: Jillian Marshall.
Episode Review:
What’s great about “The Shame about Fame” is that it is a bountiful harvest of strong comedic moments: the exciting – yet, for some parents, somewhat concerning – scene of Jay Smouse choking, the perfectly-deadpan and perfectly-cast interviewer who insults Olivia, the moment where Jay jumps out of the bushes and saves them at the end from a cart of dummies. These humorous scenes make “The Shame about Fame” yet another entertaining entry in the Odyssey cannon.
But I walked away wondering whether this was the episode that younger odyssey listeners needed right now. Adventures in Odyssey has shown perhaps more valuable – and much more rebuking – insights into the subject matter of fame throughout its history. In “Is this Chad Pearson?” Connie learns that fame is unfulfilling. In “And the Glory”, Jimmy’s jealousy of Lawrence Hodges’ popularity teaches them – and us – the importance of giving God the glory. In “Fifteen Minutes”, Alex Jefferson learns how fleeting fame is and how we shouldn’t put all of our time and effort into its pursuit. Ultimately, each episode highlights the importance of living a humble life.
“The Shame about Fame”, on the other hand, hardly addresses the issue of fame – rather, it discusses “friendship”, “loyalty”, and “jumping to conclusions” significantly more. In the episode’s defense, it can be difficult to properly explore a theme within a twenty-five minute episode where two different storylines compete for time, but in this self-centered and instagram-obsessed culture, it’s a topic I wished was more thoroughly explored. At the end of the episode, Chris says that “fame is not a bad thing” – but I’m not sure if that’s entirely true, not given today’s culture’s rampant thirst for it.
Christians, especially, have embraced the value of fame. Christian media – yes, even Focus on Family – would not survive without highlighting “famous Christians”, for their good works, evangelism, non-profit organizations, and, sometimes, football skills. Most recently, Adventures in Odyssey is giving listeners the opportunity to meet a television celebrity by participating in Take Your Bible to School Day. And why shouldn’t we increase the awareness of others’ good actions or talents? As long as you’re an upstanding, Christ-following Christian, fame has become an approved way of carrying out Mark 16: 15, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel”. And, in other areas of the Bible, God appears to, if not outright bestow, but allow fame to be one of the blessings that follow worthy figures, such as Joshua (Joshua 6:27) and David (1 Chronicles 14:17)
It’s worth noting, however, that in some translations of these verses the word “fame” has been also translated as “reputation”. What could this tell us? Perhaps God cares more about how well we are known then how widely we are known. Perhaps we should be known as Christians first to our communities, neighbors, and families than to the world. Fame has its drawbacks, after all. For many world-renown preachers, for instance, fame means watered down messages to appeal to the masses, as well as a swift and, in some instances, unwarranted crucifixion when errors are made. Jesus himself, after performing miracles in John 6.15, may have purposefully refrained from the excess powers associated with fame: “Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.” So, no, as Chris says, perhaps fame isn’t bad. But is it wise? Is it necessary in spreading the gospel? Should it be readily embraced if it knocks on our door? In most cases, I don’t think so.
But – who are we kidding – whether or not this episode delivers on its theme will not be what listeners remember about “The Shame about Fame”. Rather, it will be for introducing the newest Adventures in Odyssey character, Jillian Marshall. It’s difficult to say, based solely on the scenes provided in this episode, what role Jillian Marshall will fill. Time will tell – but, at the moment, I can’t tell whether she’s a smart person who’s a little dumb or a dumb person who’s a little smart. Or if she’s super helpful or just super flaky. Or whether she’s an overachiever or whether she simply overcommits. Future episodes will – hopefully – shed some light on these discrepancies.
Overall, “The Shame about Fame” is oftentimes amusing, and sets up an interesting new character that hopefully contributes to the show in meaningful ways. But I guess it’s appropriate that an episode that features a lengthy choking scene, “The Shame about Fame” perhaps doesn’t give us quite enough to chew on.
Olivia Parker and Zoe Grant start a new talk show and reluctantly choose Jay as their first guest. However, when Jay starts choking live on their show, the girls become famous for reasons they didn’t expect. Meanwhile, Connie and Jules have conflicting opinions on their next potential roommate: Jillian Marshall.
Episode Review:
What’s great about “The Shame about Fame” is that it is a bountiful harvest of strong comedic moments: the exciting – yet, for some parents, somewhat concerning – scene of Jay Smouse choking, the perfectly-deadpan and perfectly-cast interviewer who insults Olivia, the moment where Jay jumps out of the bushes and saves them at the end from a cart of dummies. These humorous scenes make “The Shame about Fame” yet another entertaining entry in the Odyssey cannon.
But I walked away wondering whether this was the episode that younger odyssey listeners needed right now. Adventures in Odyssey has shown perhaps more valuable – and much more rebuking – insights into the subject matter of fame throughout its history. In “Is this Chad Pearson?” Connie learns that fame is unfulfilling. In “And the Glory”, Jimmy’s jealousy of Lawrence Hodges’ popularity teaches them – and us – the importance of giving God the glory. In “Fifteen Minutes”, Alex Jefferson learns how fleeting fame is and how we shouldn’t put all of our time and effort into its pursuit. Ultimately, each episode highlights the importance of living a humble life.
“The Shame about Fame”, on the other hand, hardly addresses the issue of fame – rather, it discusses “friendship”, “loyalty”, and “jumping to conclusions” significantly more. In the episode’s defense, it can be difficult to properly explore a theme within a twenty-five minute episode where two different storylines compete for time, but in this self-centered and instagram-obsessed culture, it’s a topic I wished was more thoroughly explored. At the end of the episode, Chris says that “fame is not a bad thing” – but I’m not sure if that’s entirely true, not given today’s culture’s rampant thirst for it.
Christians, especially, have embraced the value of fame. Christian media – yes, even Focus on Family – would not survive without highlighting “famous Christians”, for their good works, evangelism, non-profit organizations, and, sometimes, football skills. Most recently, Adventures in Odyssey is giving listeners the opportunity to meet a television celebrity by participating in Take Your Bible to School Day. And why shouldn’t we increase the awareness of others’ good actions or talents? As long as you’re an upstanding, Christ-following Christian, fame has become an approved way of carrying out Mark 16: 15, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel”. And, in other areas of the Bible, God appears to, if not outright bestow, but allow fame to be one of the blessings that follow worthy figures, such as Joshua (Joshua 6:27) and David (1 Chronicles 14:17)
It’s worth noting, however, that in some translations of these verses the word “fame” has been also translated as “reputation”. What could this tell us? Perhaps God cares more about how well we are known then how widely we are known. Perhaps we should be known as Christians first to our communities, neighbors, and families than to the world. Fame has its drawbacks, after all. For many world-renown preachers, for instance, fame means watered down messages to appeal to the masses, as well as a swift and, in some instances, unwarranted crucifixion when errors are made. Jesus himself, after performing miracles in John 6.15, may have purposefully refrained from the excess powers associated with fame: “Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.” So, no, as Chris says, perhaps fame isn’t bad. But is it wise? Is it necessary in spreading the gospel? Should it be readily embraced if it knocks on our door? In most cases, I don’t think so.
But – who are we kidding – whether or not this episode delivers on its theme will not be what listeners remember about “The Shame about Fame”. Rather, it will be for introducing the newest Adventures in Odyssey character, Jillian Marshall. It’s difficult to say, based solely on the scenes provided in this episode, what role Jillian Marshall will fill. Time will tell – but, at the moment, I can’t tell whether she’s a smart person who’s a little dumb or a dumb person who’s a little smart. Or if she’s super helpful or just super flaky. Or whether she’s an overachiever or whether she simply overcommits. Future episodes will – hopefully – shed some light on these discrepancies.
Overall, “The Shame about Fame” is oftentimes amusing, and sets up an interesting new character that hopefully contributes to the show in meaningful ways. But I guess it’s appropriate that an episode that features a lengthy choking scene, “The Shame about Fame” perhaps doesn’t give us quite enough to chew on.
Writer: Kathy Buchanan
Director: Kathy Buchanan
Sound Designer: Nathan Jones
Music: John Campbell
Executive Producer: Dave Arnold
Theme: Fame
Original Air-date: 10/13/18
Review Date: 09/03/18