MSB S2E02: Flexes its Muscles

I am going to take chances, make mistakes, and make a review, just like a robot made Ralphie a sandwich in the episode I'm going to review. Blog, do your stuff!

15. Flexes its Muscles.
Topic: Body Mechanics.
Written by: John May, Jocelyn Stevenson & George Arthur Bloom.
Guest star: Tony Randall as Radius Ulna Humerus.
Aired: 15 October 1995.

The bus is acting up, so Ms. Frizzle decides to take it to the Body Shop for repairs, owned by R.U. Humerus (Tony Randall). Meanwhile, Ralphie has been dreaming what it would be like if he had a robot to do all his chores. So he and the rest of the class (minus Keesha) want to try building one using all the gadgets in the body shop. First, though, they will have to understand how bones and muscles work.

I can relate to Ralphie here. How he dislikes having to do chores while the rest of the class play volleyball. I take it The Magic School Bus likes being cleaned, just like any vehicle would.

Now this is interesting. Ralphie imagining a robot having to do chores for him so he doesn't have to. And this implies The Magic School Bus can eat.

Looks like Ralphie and Keesha have a bet. What'll happen if Ralphie fails to build a robot. No more sports for him.

Woo woo! All aboard the Magic School Bus Express! Or as I like to call it, The Magic Locomotive. Choo choo!

Funny that Arnold is forced on a field trip. Obviously it was Ralphie forcing him onto The Magic Locomotive.

Who'd have heard of a chicken roadster? Filled with chickens and has a chicken beak and crest.

Meet Radius Ulna Humerus, or as he likes to be called R.U. Humerus. Funny name since it's a pun on "Are you humorous?". Hilarious when he called Ms. Frizzle "Toggle bolt". And he knows Ms. Frizzle considering he called her "Valerie". Another interesting fact about Radius is that he was voiced by the late Tony Randall.

Oh, Carlos. Always using the word "humorous", especially considering you're the class clown.

Time to ride on The Magic R.C. Racer! It obviously blew a gasket.

This is an interesting way to show school kids how our bones move. And also, Liz was shown eating a fly, further showing how much of an insectivore she is.

"Step back, everyone! I command you, Ralphiebot! Make me a sandwich!"

Not too bright, are you, Ralphie? This is what we should do if we're told to make a sandwich for someone who tells us to.

This is also interesting. We see the X-Ray showing Arnold tie his shoe, showing the reason Ralphiebot didn't make Ralphie a sandwich.

Isn't this creative? Liz built a Lizbot. She must've been inspired by Ralphie who was trying to build his robot.

"I command you, Ralphiebot! Bow to your ruler and master, Ralphie the Magnificent!"

Ralphie sure doesn't know the missing link here. Strange that Ralphiebot didn't bow to him. 

Now this is the missing link. Ralphiebot didn't have any muscles. This is what the episode's topic is. Showing kids how important our muscles are.

Isn't that funny. Ralphie said "Clean the bus", and Ralphiebot came to life and swapped Ralphie's trademark red hat for his saucepan hat.

"I knew I should've--"

"Don't say it, Arnold!"

Funny that Ralphie stopped Arnold from using his catchphrase, especially considering this experience.

"Me and my big mouth."

Funny that Dorothy Ann said "Clean the bus" and made Ralphiebot clean the bus. Her and her big mouth.

This was a perfect moment for Arnold to have stayed home. He got into a mishap due to Dorothy Ann saying "Clean the bus". We all know she didn't mean to say it.

Now Keesha admitted she was wrong. Especially after she helped Ralphie unscrew the muscles of Ralphiebot.

Looks like Ralphie's theory became true. There are aliens!

One interesting thing about this Producer Segment is that it's Radius Ulna Humerus in the place of the regular Tim-like Producer. And Ralphiebot is in this segment too.

Isn't this cute? Lizbot made Liz a sundae, especially since Ralphiebot made Radius one.


Highlights of this episode include the main character of the series turning into a steam locomotive, then into a pirate ship, and into an RC bus. Ralphie building his first build of Ralphiebot, commanding him to make him a sandwich, only for him to do nothing. And even Arnold trying to say his infamous catchphrase, only for Ralphie to interrupt him, telling him not to, and Dorothy Ann accidentally saying "Clean the Bus", causing Ralphiebot to hear her, and take the mop with Arnold on it.

Sadly, Tony Randall, who voiced R.U. Humerus, was taken away from us in 2004. Rest in peace, Tony. You will be sorely missed.

One puzzling thing about Ralphie commanding Ralphiebot to make him a sandwich is that he didn't say what kind of sandwich he wanted Ralphiebot to make him.

Well, this was an interesting and funny way to teach kids about how our muscles move, although Radius didn't even mention that our heart is our hardest working muscle. But Carlos comparing "humerus" to "humorous" was humorous, as well as R.U. Humerus' name. Ralphie trying to get Ralphiebot to make him a sandwich, and earlier, Ralphie's imagination about what he could do had he built a robot to do all the chores he had to do. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll have to go and make Ralphie a sandwich. The same kind Ralphiebot made for him.

My rating: 10/10.

Season 2 scorecard:

1. Blows its Top: 10/10.

2. Flexes its Muscles: 10/10.

Season 2 so far: 10/10.