American High School
Genre: Teen/Comedy/Romance
Executive Producer: Richard Linklater
Writer: Chad Taylor
Season 1 Episode 7 - The Band
Cast:
Cooper Hoffman .... Buzz Gentrie (Regular)
Shea Whigham .... Vern Gentrie (Regular)
Judy Greer .... Helen Gentrie (Regular)
Sung Kang .... Sung-min (Regular)
Mitchell Hoog .... Dennis Christy (Regular)
Sydney Park .... Gwen Johnson (Regular)
Odessa Young .... Francine (Recurring)
Maddie Ziegler .... Jane Christy (Recurring)
Plot: Dennis (Mitchell Hoog) is in another tutoring session with Gwen (Sydney Park). In between the lessons, she asks him about living in California. When he asks where she’s from, she is initially vague but then admits she’s from Louisiana. Dennis, not as dumb as he looks, asks if this means that this is her first time being in an integrated school. She says no but that most of her schooling has been spent under segregation. They both then point out how odd it is that the two of them have struck up a friendship. He then asks if she’s made any progress on her band idea. She says her and Francine need more than a singer and a bassist to start a band. Why does he ask? He then reveals that he’s been saving up his money to buy a guitar and wants to learn how to play. Gwen smirks and says she has an idea.
Gwen, Dennis, and Francine (Odessa Young) approach their teacher Sung-min (Steven Yeun) about his guitar expertise. He says he teaches them Korean, not music. Gwen says they could make an exchange: they could help him with his English while he helps them with their band. After some deliberation, Sung-min instructs them to meet him in the music room after their last class.
Meanwhile, Buzz (Cooper Hoffman) is staying after school for a different reason. He is helping Helen (Judy Greer) take down the Christmas decorations in her classroom that have been lingering on since the holiday season. To his surprise, there is another helper: Jane (Maddie Ziegler), one of Helen’s favorite students. While Helen doesn’t know about Buzz’s crush, he is nonetheless afraid she is going to embarrass him in some way.
Instead, she begins asking about Jane’s ambitions in life. She says that she is wanting to apply to med school for next year. Helen nods, saying her grades certainly warrant acceptance so she shouldn’t worry too much. Jane says it’s not her grades that’s he is worried about. Her parents are pretty stark traditionalists and the idea of a woman going to college is still just an avenue to marriage to them. Buzz stays mostly silent during this conversation, getting to know some interiors about the girl he’s been daydreaming about for months now. Helen says Jane can come to her if she needs any help with applying.
In the music room, Gwen, Dennis, and Francine wait for Sung-min. He arrives and apologizes for being a little late, he had to pick up his guitar. As their practice begins, it becomes clear where everyone stands: Francine is already a talented musician, Gwen can sing, and Dennis…is not as good at music as he is at sports. But Sung-min sees potential. Francine proposes an idea that they play their first song at the school dance. Dennis is a little hesitant about this but Gwen is about it. Sung-min says he could probably pull a few strings to make it happen.
As they talk, Sung-min is surprised to hear that they haven’t explored South Korea in their time here. He offers to take them on a trip to his hometown of Seoul. With their parents’ permission of course. They all seem excited by the sound of that.
When Buzz and Helen arrive home, Vern (Shea Whigham) is lounging back in his chair watching television. He asks Buzz if he’s ever heard of Buddy Holly. Buzz says of course. Helen and Buzz then see the news broadcast about a plane crash in the United States killing Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper. They take a seat on the couch and look on in stunned silence at the tragedy.
End credits: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCGNYJOrebA
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