The Five: Favorite episodes of Strangers with Candy

In honor of the upcoming Strangers with Candy movie, based on one of my favorite television shows of all time, I'm giving a shout out to my favorite episodes of the series. I don't know how many Strangers fans frequent this blog, but I'm trying to draw them out, like dangling cheese in front of a mousehole. At any rate, these are some of my favorite episodes:

"Who wants Cake?" (Episode 104): In this episode, Jerri is denied a seat on the bus to "Good Time Island" unless she exposes an allegedly retarded student whom her teacher, Mr. Noblet (Stephen Colbert), claims is just one step away from a raving, bloodthirsty animal due to her mental state. The episode includes a hilarious exchange between Jerri and her art teacher, Mr. Jellineck, in which he, a gay man himself, explains that most gay people are retarded, also. To quote The Simpsons: "Hmmm, that's good satire."

"Let Freedom Ring" (Episode 107): Racism, not just the blatant kind, but the subtler forms we sometimes take for granted, are jabbed repeatedly with a sharp satirical stick in this episode. When someone paints the N-word in the school hall, one male student is fingered for the crime, although he didn't actually do it. Tim Meadows guest stars as a grief counselor who, along with Principal Blackman, creates a short film to prove blacks can do anything white people can do, even dress up as a gigantic squirrel.

"Is my Daddy Crazy?" (Episode 305): In this episode it becomes increasingly obvious to everyone that Jerri's stepfather, a door-to-door meat salesman named Stu, might be off his rocker. It could be because he keeps smearing butter on his face, or maybe it was because of that time he stapled cheese onto the roof of the house to mask his scent.

"Trail of Tears" (Episode 303): Will Ferrell guest stars in this episode in which Jerri learns she's actually part Native American. She attends a special camp to learn about her heritage, and the truth about her mother, but it's run by a white man (Ferrell) who got all of his information on Native Americans from watching John Wayne movies. Jerri finally learns the truth in the end, when a smoke signal left behind by her mother explains she traded Jerri for a glass of beer. 

"The Goodbye Guy" (Episode 204): During the first season, Jerri's father was portrayed as a seemingly catatonic man with an expression of mixed horror and glee plastered to his face. He would appear to be immobile, but would inexplicably become mobile when off camera. According to the audio commentary on the DVD, the creators decided they had stretched that particular joke far enough, so the character was killed off. Rather than being comforted by her friends and classmates, Jerri is ostracized for being a loser with a dead father.

"The Last Temptation of Blank" (Episode 310): The creators knew the series was ending, which was bad news for those of us who had fallen in love with the show, but good news in the sense that it gave them a chance to go out with a bang. Wynona Ryder guest stars as the most popular kid in school, who, on a bet, tries to remake Jerri into a popular student. Meanwhile, rumors begin to circulate that the school is being turned into a strip mall. This becomes more evident when they actually start building stores inside the school. Not willing to give up Flatpoint High, Principal Blackman leads a riot and burns the school to the ground. Paul Rudd, who should really do more comedy, also guest stars.

Hang on, isn't that actually six episodes and not five? Yeah, it is. That's the kind of maverick, play-by-my-own-rules guy I am. It's why men fear me and women dig me. Now then, where are all my Strangers peeps at? Share some of your favorites in the comments, won't you?