incredible, it's so amazing that
it's hard to believe it's true.
Return -- when something
returns, it goes back
to where it came from.
Prove -- if you prove
something, you show that
it's true, or that it isn't.
Notice -- when you
notice something,
it means you see
something specific.
Improved -- when you've
improved something,
you made it better.
We have incredible, return,
prove, notice, and improved.
Watch out for them
in today's show.
The Incredible Return-A-Ball!
Hey kids, do you
like to play catch?
Yeah!
Are you tired of always having
to find someone to play with?
Not really.
Yes!
Now you can play
catch by yourself!
I just throw the ball and
it returns to my hand.
Returns to my hands, returns to
my hands, returns to my hands.
Whoa!
Whoa, indeed.
My name is Chad and I'm a boy.
I think the Incredible
Return-A-Ball is awesome!
I don't even need the rest
of my team to play ball.
I'm a boy.
I love it, I love it,
I love it, I love it!
I love it even better
than candy, and ponies,
and candy ponies.
Yeehaw!
I like the Return-A-Ball
so much, I've wrangled up ,
and I even got one for my horse.
My children love the
Incredible Return-A-Ball,
and because I love my children,
I also love the Incredible
Return-A-Ball.
And the Incredible Return-A-Ball
is an incredible deal...only $ !
Pick yours up today.
Incredible.
The Incredible
Return-A-Ba-ah-all!
I love it!
Just $ , pick yours up today
at the Return-A-Ball stand
at the corner of the park.
Product of the
Carruthers Corporation.
Ah, Gilda.
Soon everyone in the
neighborhood will have
my face in their hands.
That's how it
should be, Francine.
Enjoy! And tell
your friends!
Well...if it isn't
little Marty Barnes.
Well...it isn't.
It's Marcus Barnes.
And I'm here to buy
a Return-A-Ball.
Wait, what am I doing, Marcus?
Don't buy something
from a Prankster!
Don't by silly, Marcus.
It's an incredible toy;
everybody is buying one.
Marcus, don't do it!
Uh...okay!
I have to try it.
Throw ball,
it will return to you.
Au revoir.
It didn't work.
Francine!
We're closed!
What was I thinking?
Hey, you guys!
Feel the power
feel the power
feel the power, yo
and plug it in!
The power we perfected
is electrically connected
so use it as directed
and expect to be respected
just turn it on
and you will see
that you belong
in the Company!
Electric Company
Electric Company
Electric Company...
Electric Company!
I love it!
I spent my entire allowance
on this hunk of junk.
I can't believe
I fell for it.
I'm sorry, guys, it wasn't
very Electric Company of me.
Come on, don't b*at
yourself up over it.
Everybody gets fooled
by commercials sometimes.
It even happened
to me once.
The invisible ring,
it's here!
Nooo!
What'd you do?
I kept it.
I think Marcus should
get his money back.
I'm calling Francine.
Good day.
Francine's cell phone,
this is Gilda.
Gilda, give me
Francine.
I'm sorry, Francine
is unavailable.
Gilda!
Please hold.
What?
You know what!
You sold me
a hunk of junk!
The Return-A-Ball works,
you saw the commercial.
You faked it!
Oh yeah? Prove it!
We'll prove it all right,
and after we're done,
there'll be no doubt
that you faked it!
Ha!
Now...how do you
think she did it?
Here, check it out.
When she throws the ball,
it leaves the screen
before it comes
back to her.
She could be throwing
it against the wall.
Or someone could be
catching it and then
throwing it back at her.
Oh, I just thought
it was a magic ball.
(giggling)
Let's take a closer
look at this, okay?
Do you guys notice anything
that we might have missed?
Hector, zoom in
on Francine's pin.
Do you notice that?
Yeah, I see it.
It's like someone's
reflection.
Who is it?
It's Gilda Flip! She's throwing
the ball right back to Francine.
And that proves it.
That's how she faked
the commercial.
Guys, let's go get Francine and
let her know that she's busted!
Hey, I'm coming
with y'all.
Hold it down,
I'm leaving.
Francine is busted!
I can't wait to see
the look on her face!
I think it's going
to look like this...
I think it's going to
look like this...eee!
How long can
you hold it?
I can't hold this
much longer.
Ah man, Nuggets,
you win...again.
This week on "Questions
We Won't Answer,"
Molly wonders where
does candy corn grow?
And when will sugar
become a food group?
Meanwhile, Will wanders
around asking,
where does the tooth fairy live?
Where does the principal go
when she's not at school?
And little Lacy Baker
keeps asking her mother,
when will we get some answers
to these questions?
Tune in tonight when
none of these questions
will be answered.
Danny Rebus presents Super Spy!
And That Other Guy.
What's up?
Strange question.
Bed! Where are you?
Falling into a canyon!
That's a weird way to
spend a Saturday morning.
Ohh! Saturday --
catch Danny in canyon!
Oh, how could I forget?
When would you like
me to get there?
When do you think? Now!
(screaming)
It's a good thing
I live in a houseboat.
Great rescue, Other Guy.
I woke up this morning
to a terrible fright
my favorite hat
was nowhere in sight
and I need some help
to solve this mystery
you see
my name is Joel
and this here is Benj
he's not only my brother
but he's my best friend
and together with these words
we'll solve this mystery
so help us figure out...
Questions that will help us
solve this mystery...you see
who was the person that
committed the crime?
What made them do it?
They must be out of their mind
where did it happen?
Right behind my back
when? I don't know
but I really miss my hat
why did they do it?
Because they're thieves!
How could anyone
do this to me?
So, those are the tools
to solve the crime
And that's what you need
to solve a mystery...you see
it's getting kind of close
to the end of the song
so come on, everybody
use those tools and sing along
Hey Joel,
is this your hat?
Benj!
Where's my prize?
Thank you.
What's happened so far?
Look at this ball!
I throw it and it returns to me!
Love it!
Very good!
Come buy one.
I will!
You tricked me!
Hey, you guys!
We have to prove that Francine
is faking those commercials.
To prove it, we have to
show that it is true,
or in this case, fake.
We have to find out how
Francine made the commercial.
If we could show she was
throwing the ball against
a wall, it would prove
that she was faking it.
Or if we could show that she was
throwing the ball to someone
just off-screen, that would
prove that she was faking it.
But how?
Let's see if we notice
anything in the commercial.
If we notice something, it means
we see something specific.
I notice that
the ball is round;
I notice it won't
touch the ground.
I notice that it
leaves the screen.
Wait, I can't believe
what I have seen!
Do you notice something
about Francine's pin?
I notice a reflection of
Gilda catching the ball.
Busted!
There they are!
Francine, I suggest
we run for it.
Good call, Gilda!
Nice try.
I'd like to return
my Return-A-Ball.
You can't return
a Return-A-Ball.
Exactly!
If this Return-A-Ball
actually returned,
then he wouldn't
have to return it.
Francine, we can prove how
you faked your commercial.
We noticed the reflection
in your pin, see?
Right there.
Oops.
What do you want
me to do about it?
I think you should give
Marcus his money back.
And stop selling
these things.
Or we're going
to tell everyone.
What do you mean by everyone?
Your mom.
Gilda.
Thank you.
Haven't you learned,
Francine?
You'll never win.
You tell them, Marcus.
I'm sorry, Francine.
Maybe we should
make a better toy.
Or a better commercial.
The Incredible
Return-A-Bah-ah-all!
Now, new and improved!
The Incredible Return-A-Ball
just got even more incredible.
It's new, it's improved,
it's new and improved!
Boys like me are going
out of our minds.
New and improved?
I love this one more than
candy ponies
sliding down magical rainbows.
Even my mustache loves this toy.
Yeehaw!
My horse is so happy
he ate all his hay.
Hey kids, were you disappointed
by the Incredible Return-A-Ball?
Yes!
Sorry about that.
It's okay, we understand.
Thanks.
We've improved the ball so now
it's better than before,
but don't take my word for it...
see for yourself.
Notice, there is no one
there to catch it,
yet it totally
returns to my hand.
Incredible...Incredible,
Return-A-Ba-ah-all!
Now, new and improved!
I love it!
Just $ , pick yours up today
at the Return-A-Ball stand
at the corner of the park.
Product of the Carruthers
Corporation,
all rights reserved.
This one really works.
You bought it again?
Yeah, I don't know
what I was thinking.
Well, yes, I do.
I was thinking...
I love it!
I gotta have that ball!
Don't do it, Marcus.
But it's improved!
Yes, but it's Francine,
it's a trick.
But it looks so real!
I'm kind of hungry...
Shh, that's not
important right now!
I gotta have that ball!
So, I bought it.
All right, yeah, okay.
Don't worry, we're on it.
Guys, I just got calls
from kids who bought the...
Incredible Return-A-Ball,
now new and improved!
Yes, exactly.
You know what?
Enough is enough!
This isn't about me anymore;
this is about kids everywhere
who've been lied to and
sold this hunk of junk!
Okay, so what are
we going to do?
We're going to prove
that Francine lied.
And how are we going to do it?
Wait, no, seriously guys,
how are we going to do it?
We're going to figure
it out right now.
I saw the commercial.
So let's just take a closer look
and see if we notice anything.
So did she throw it
against a wall?
No, no wall.
And she's definitely not
throwing it to anyone.
Right.
Wait a second.
Do you guys notice
Francine's earring?
Oh, yeah!
If she was standing up,
the earring would hang down.
You know what, guys?
I think I've got it.
So if the earring
was hanging down...
Oh! Nuggets,
he's got it!
Woo-hoo, he's got it!
That's good, because
I don't get it.
Yeah! Neither do I!
I haven't been
this confused since
the great hamster ball mystery!
The great hamster
ball mystery?
What hamster ballmystery?
This hamster ball
mystery.
This week on "Questions
We Won't Answer,"
Molly wonders, why do wool
sweaters itch so much?
Why are blueberries
not blue in the middle?
Why am I asking
so many questions?
Meanwhile, Will asks,
how do glowsticks glow?
How do trees know
when it's fall?
Why am I asking
so many questions?
Tune in tonight when none
of these questions
will be answered.
Be good, I'll be back soon.
Not so fast, my furry
and feathered friends,
I have some questions
for you.
Please sit!
Exhibit A -- my empty hamster
ball, the way I left it.
And here is exhibit B...
Which leaves me with
a question -- why?
Petunia? Why are there rocks
in my hamster ball?
Don't look at me, Nuggets,
I guess somebody put them there.
Somebody, indeed.
But why?
Tom, any ideas?
Well, maybe, uh, no.
Please have a look
at exhibit C...
Why did I find this feather
near my hamster ball?
I did it, okay!
I was using your hamster ball!
It happened this morning when
I was playing space pet...
Ooh, look, space rocks.
Hey, where's my ball?
And that's what happened.
Well, I have one more question.
How?
How what?
How do you play space pet?
Sounds like a lot of fun.
I'll show you,
fuzzball.
When you have a son like
my Manny, there is one word
that comes up all the time.
How?
People are always asking me,
Mrs. Spamboni, how did you
raise such a nice boy
with such good manners?
Bring it, chicken pot pie!
That's King Manny to you.
Pardon me while I yawn.
Manny, you know, I really...
I'm not done!
Or, how did Manny get such
a sweet, gentle laugh?
(cackling)
Or, how did Manny learn to
play so well with others?
Me help you?
That's hilarious!
It will be my pleasure to crush
you in a game of ping-pong.
Nice job, genius.
You call it cheating,
I call it winning.
Yeah, that was classic Spamboni!
Of course, even a perfect angel
like my Manny makes mistakes.
Like how Manny froze
that boy Keith.
I'm open! I'm open!
Whoops!
Or, how Manny switched
Hector's sneakers
so Manny could b*at him
at basketball.
But no matter how many boys
Manny freezes or how much
trouble he causes with those
sneakers, Manny always behaves
when I say to him,
ever so gently...
Manny! Behave yourself!
Ooh, you won't believe how
fast he gets back in line.
And I forgive my perfect
little angel, because really...
How can I stay mad at that face?
If your little brother
is like my little brother,
then his favorite word is why.
Anything that happens,
he always has to ask, why?
Why do I have to go to bed?
Because it's past your bedtime.
Why do I have a bedtime?
Because you need sleep.
Why do I need sleep?
Because all humans need sleep.
Why do I have to be human?
Because I said so!
And that's the only thing that
stops him from asking why.
So, if you have a little
brother who always asks why?
Take a little advice from me --
skip right to saying,
because I said so!
Works every time!
Hey, Tom.
Hey, guys!
Just on my way to buy
the new and improved
Incredible
Return-A-Ball.
No!
Don't do it!
Save yourself!
It's fake!
The commercial makes it
look real, but it's not!
It's not!
And The Electric Company
is about to prove it!
Yeah, what he said!
I mean, if you guys don't think
I should buy it, just say so.
The...not so...Incredible
Return-A-Ball!
Hey kids, were you fooled by
Francine's new and improved
Incredible Return-A-Ball?
Yeah!
They totally were.
Yeah, me too.
And I'm about to show you
exactly how she faked us out.
Oh no.
Now, Francine's commercial
does look pretty incredible.
Yet, it totally
returns to my hand.
Incredible!
It really looks like the ball
returns back to her hand, but if
you look closely, you notice
something very strange.
You see that earring?
If she was standing up, then the
earring would be hanging down.
But the earring's
not hanging down.
So she's got to be lying down.
How do I know?
We tried it.
I lie down and throw
the ball up and down.
I film it.
See, she's on her back.
But if I turn it, it looks
like she's standing up,
except for the earring.
Busted!
Busted!
Busted!
Buu-sted!
Francine lied and we proved it.
So, how do you feel?
Totally betrayed!
Go find Francine and tell her
you don't want any part of her
not so...Incredible
Return-A-Ball!
Should be free because
it doesn't even work.
Wow, they're good, and
by good, I mean very bad.
They look
incredibly unhappy.
There she is!
Yo, Francine!
Take back, take back
take back this Return-A-Ball
and this and this
and this one
we want to return-them-all!
Oh dear, oh dear,
the jig is up!
Gilda, give me a break!
You don't need to return them.
Hello! They are fake!
Can you prove it
can you prove it
can you pro-oo-oo-oo-ve it?
No you can't, you can't
you can't, you can't!
Get out of here,
go on, move it!
This piece of evidence
show there's no doubt
that ball is a fake!
There's no need to shout
but my trusty cellphone cam
proves Return-A-Ball is a scam
Yeah!
We've got the evidence!
The evidence...
And you've got no defense
there's no defense!
All right, already!
I don't need this drama!
So don't take
the curtain call
you shouldn't take
a curtain call
just take this
Return-A-Ball
take back this
Return-A-Ball!
All right! You can return
your Return-A-Ba-a-a-alls!
Thank you very much!
What now, Gilda?
Catch?
Okay.
I love it.
There they are!
Francine, I suggest
we run for it.
Good call, Gilda.
Ahh, Gilda...
I have so much to teach you.
You may notice that Gilda looks
a little bit like Francine.
Just a little bit.
That's because we have
a new addition to our show
and we want to
get to know her.
Go Gilda
go, go, Gilda
Just little ol' itty-bitty
Gilda, that's just me!
Go, Gilda!
Just me...
What's your favorite thing about
your character, about Gilda?
My favorite thing is that
she like takes after Francine
and everything
that she does.
Say it isn't so.
It isn't so.
My signature thing is my
flip phone because you know,
Gilda Flip.
That's probably
my favorite gadget.
What about costumes?
Everything I wear,
I love everything I wear.
What do you have most in
common with Gilda Flip?
She's smart.
That's what you have
most in common with her?
I don't mean to
brag but like...
Gilda Flip,
you are going to make
a great Prankster
one day.
Playing Gilda is very easy
actually, because the script
is so good and so funny.
I had an idea...
Gilda, I told you,
I come up with the ideas.
Right.
If you could switch powers
with anyone on the show,
who would it be and why?
I don't know, I like
Annie Scrambler's power.
She like stomps, and like
everything, changes...scrambles.
That is such
a sweet power!
I mean, not as good as
Francine's, of course.
Cut!
Want to learn how to
be a proper Prankster?
The first step is to go
online to pbskidsgo.org
and earn points for Francine
or for me
or for any of your
favorite Pranksters.
And well, I suppose you
could play for one of
The Electric Company
members, too.
Notice there is no one there
to throw it...to catch it.
Argh!
Notice there is no one
there to catch it.
Wait, you said...throw.
I'll make you eat
your lunch like this.
03x48 - The Incredible Return-a-Ball
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A comedy series that teaches basic phonetic and grammar concepts using live-action sketches, cartoons, songs, and Spider-Man episodes now known as Sesame Workshop.
A comedy series that teaches basic phonetic and grammar concepts using live-action sketches, cartoons, songs, and Spider-Man episodes now known as Sesame Workshop.