Collections
1994.jpg (24228 bytes) 254: Truth, Trivia, & 'Trina
255: The Boy who Cried 'Destructo!'
256: Aloha, Oy!, Part 1
257: Aloha, Oy!, Part 2
258: Aloha, Oy!, Part 3
259: The Potential in Elliot
260: Naturally, I Assumed...
261: Afraid, Not!
262: A Prayer for George Barclay
263: When Bad Isn't So Good
264: Making the Grade
265: War of the Words
266: It Began with a Rabbit's Foot...
267: ...It Ended with a Handshake
268: Pet Peeves
269: Fences
270: The War Hero
271: The Secret Keys of Discipline
272: Two Brothers...and Bernard, Part 1
273: Two Brothers...and Bernard, Part 2
274: First-Hand Experience
275: Second Thoughts
276: Third Degree
277: It Happened at Four Corners
278: The Fifth House on the Left, Part 1
279: The Fifth House on the Left, Part 2
280: Gone...
281: ...But Not Forgotten
282: The Fundamentals
283: A Book By Its Cover
284: The Election Deception
285: George Under Pressure
286: Tom For Mayor, Part 1
287: Tom For Mayor, Part 2
288: The Twilife Zone
289: A Call for Reverend Jimmy
290: A Name, Not a Number, Part 1
291: A Name, Not a Number, Part 2
292: Siege at Jericho
293: A Code of Honor
294: Unto Us a Child Is Born
295: Soaplessly Devoted
254: Truth, Trivia, & 'Trina
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 1/08/94
Scripture reference: Proverbs 13:3
Theme: Competition; pride; relationships
Plot:
A new girl, Katrina is met by Eugene. Bart Rathbone makes up the game show "Truth and Trivia". The first episode stars Connie, Eugene, and Katrina. (Contributed by Luke)
Album: Passport to Adventure (19)
Review
Characters:
Whit, Eugene Meltsner, Katrina Shanks, Connie Kendall, Bart Rathbone

Notes:

 
255: The Boy who Cried 'Destructo!'
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Bob Luttrell
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 1/15/94
Scripture reference: Proverbs 14:7
Theme: Controlling your imagination
Plot:
Lawrence Hodges and Harlow Doyle uncover a bootlegger operation, but no one will believe Lawrence.
Album: Passport to Adventure (19)
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Characters:
Harlow Doyle, Lawrence Hodges, Eugene Meltsner, Whit, Mr. Smith, Mr. Jones

Notes:
Recreated from Officer Harley episodes, AIO70 and AIO71.
See Star Trek references.

 
256: Aloha, Oy!, Part 1
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineers: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 1/22/94
Scripture reference: Psalm 68:6
Theme: Family togetherness
Plot:
The Barclays and Lawrence win a trip to Hawaii, but with one little snag; the Rathbones come along, too. Rodney tries to impress Donna for her love, while Lawrence tries to find his dad, who he hasn’t seen for months.
Album: Passport to Adventure (19), Drive Time (Classics 7)
Review
Characters:
George Barclay, Jimmy Barclay, Mary Barclay, Donna Barclay, Lawrence Hodges, Bart Rathbone, Doris Rathbone, Rodney Rathbone, Don Iowa

Notes:
These episodes were made into an AIO Activity Pack, Aloha Oy!, Volume #12.

When Jimmy and Lawrence are on the plane, Jimmy starts to pretend he's a 747 captain. Then Lawrence jumps in and yells "Mayday! Mayday! This Flight 714 - We're going down!" This is directly connected to the Tintin graphic novel "Flight 714," in which Tintin, Captain Haddock, and others are in a jet (Flight 714), which (due to many cirumstances)is eventually forced to crashed-land on a tropical island. (Contributed by Paul)

 
257: Aloha, Oy!, Part 2
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineers: Bob Luttrell
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 1/29/94
Scripture reference: Psalm 68:6
Theme: Family togetherness
Plot:
The Barclays and Lawrence win a trip to Hawaii, but with one little snag; the Rathbones come along, too. Rodney tries to impress Donna for her love, while Lawrence tries to find his dad, who he hasn’t seen for months.
Album: Passport to Adventure (19), Drive Time (Classics 7)
Review
Characters:
George Barclay, Jimmy Barclay, Mary Barclay, Donna Barclay, Lawrence Hodges, Bart Rathbone, Doris Rathbone, Rodney Rathbone, Don Iowa, Captain Quid, Dale Mason

Notes:
These episodes were made into an AIO Activity Pack, Aloha Oy!, Volume #12.

GOOF ALERT:  When Jimmy, Lawrence, and Iowa are at Pearl Harbour, Jimmy and Lawrence look around and comment on "all the battleships." This is incorrect, since the United States Navy no longer fields battleships, rather frigates, destroyers, cruisers, and aircraft carriers. Although there is a campaign to bring the USS Missouri back to active service, this has not happened yet. While it is possible for a civilian to mistake other military boats for battleships, it seems unlikely for Lawrence, whose father is in the navy, and for Mr. Iowa, who is a tour guide. (Contributed by Paul and Ben)
 
258: Aloha, Oy!, Part 3
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineers: Mark Drury
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 2/05/94
Scripture reference: Psalm 68:6
Theme: Family togetherness
Plot:
The Barclays and Lawrence win a trip to Hawaii, but with one little snag; the Rathbones come along, too. Rodney tries to impress Donna for her love, while Lawrence tries to find his dad, who he hasn’t seen for months.
Album: Passport to Adventure (19), Drive Time (Classics 7)
Review
Characters:
George Barclay, Jimmy Barclay, Mary Barclay, Donna Barclay, Lawrence Hodges, Bart Rathbone, Doris Rathbone, Rodney Rathbone, Don Iowa, Captain Quid, Dale Mason, Lieutenant-Commander Stark, Admiral Coraden, Sargent Joe Hodges, Commander Schulman

Notes:
These episodes were made into an AIO Activity Pack, Aloha Oy!, Volume #12.

GOOF ALERT: The boys and Iowa walk onto the USS Farragut, which Jimmy refers to as "a real live battleship!" In fact, the USS Farragut was the first Coontz Class Guided Missile Destroyer, commisioned on 10 Dec 1960, and finally decommisioned on 31 Oct 1989. Of further note, all battleships are named after U. S. states (with the exception of the Kearsarge). (Contributed by Paul and Ben)
 
259: The Potential in Elliot
Essential Facts:
Writer: Marshal Younger
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Bob Luttrell
Music: Library
Original Air Date: 2/12/94
Scripture reference: Romans 12:10,15
Theme: Encouragement
Plot:
Sam Johnston takes an Imagionation Station adventure back to 1856. There he meets young Thomas Edison. Thomas and Sam both learn an important lesson, ‘Never give up!’
Album: Passport to Adventure (19)
Review
Characters:
Sam Johnson, Rodney Rathbone, Rusty Gordon (Malone), Elliot Richie, Whit, *Thomas Edison, *Michael Edison, *Mrs. Edison

Notes:
Contains an Imagination Staition adventure.
Contains a history story.

 
260: Naturally, I Assumed...
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 2/19/94
Scripture reference: Philippians 4:8
Theme: Don't make assumptions
Plot:
Eugene assumes that Katrina is dating someone else, so he tries to win her love with material things. Whit assumes Eugene and Connie are a couple.
Album: Passport to Adventure (19), Comic Belief (Classics 5)
Review
Characters:
Whit, Eugene Meltsner, Connie Kendall, Katrina Shanks, Darren McGibbs

Notes:

 
261: Afraid, Not!
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Bob Luttrell
Music: Library
Original Air Date: 2/26/94
Scripture reference: Isaiah 41:10
Theme: Conquering fear
Plot:
Danny Schmidt is scared to go to school so Whit teaches him a Bible verse to remember.
Album: A Journey of Choices (20)
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Characters:
Whit, Rusty Gordon (Malone), Danny Schmidt, Stephen Schmidt, Laura Schmidt, Mr. Richards, Principal Hughes, Detective Aldridge

Notes:
Excessive use of music from "Waylaid in the Windy City"

 
262: A Prayer for George Barclay
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 4/02/94
Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 9:14,16
Theme: God's call to the ministry; dealing with change
Plot:
After losing his job, George Barclay and family are trying to cope with not having a regular paycheck. Jimmy and Donna pray for their dad to get a job, but get a very unexpected answer.
Album: Passport to Adventure (19)
Review
Characters:
Jimmy Barclay, Donna Barclay, George Barclay, Mary Barclay, Whit

Notes:

 
263: When Bad Isn't So Good
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Bob Luttrell
Music: Library
Original Air Date: 4/09/94
Scripture reference: Psalm 1:1-5
Theme: Goodness is its own reward
Plot:
Rusty Gordon (Malone) convinces Sam Johnson that to get noticed, he needs to bad things every once in a while.
Album: A Journey of Choices (20)
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Characters:
Edwin Blackgaard, Walter Shakespeare, Cryin' Bryan Dern, Eugene Meltsner, Sam Johnson, Rusty Gordon (Malone), Bernard Walton, Mr. Thompson, Charlie, Jim, Roy

Notes:

 
264: Making the Grade
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: Library
Original Air Date: 4/16/94
Scripture reference: Proverbs 12:1
Theme: Personal discipline; the importance of education
Plot:
Jimmy Barclay is depressed after realizing that he hasn't taken school seriously enough.
Album: A Journey of Choices (20)
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Characters:
Jimmy Barclay, George Barclay, Mary Barclay, Donna Barclay, Lawrence Hodges, Maureen Hodges, Mrs. Henderson, Steve Isaacs

Notes:

 
265: War of the Words
Essential Facts:
Writer: Marshal Younger
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Bob Luttrell
Music: Library
Original Air Date: 4/23/94
Scripture reference: Proverbs 21:23
Theme: Swearing; using bad language
Plot:
Henry and Charles hear Eugene use the word "maladroit" and believe it to be a bad word.  When they use the word at school, they find out the folly of using language you don't understand.
Album: A Journey of Choices (20)
Review
Characters:
Henry Thomas, Charles Edward Thompson, Whit, Rusty Gordon (Malone), Dudley, Mr. Thomas, Connie Kendall, Eugene Meltsner

Notes:
VERSION DIFFERNCE:  Since this episode was so short, they attached a "AIO fun fact" at the end of the program, on the broadcast version only.

GOOF ALERT: Eugene remarks that "just last week, I re-calibrated my barometer to study what the effect would be if the Earth's atmosphere were made up of three percent nitrogen instead of four." The earth's atmosphere is 78% nitrogen, not 4%. Surely Eugene should know that. (Contributed by Drew)
 
266: It Began with a Rabbit's Foot...
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 4/30/94
Scripture reference: Romans 3:10,23;5:8;10:8-10
Theme: Redemption; salvation
Plot:
Eugene is troubled with the idea of Katrina working at Whit's End since he is afraid she will become a Christian.  Before he can do anything, however, Connie tells Katrina the Christian message and Katrina accepts it.  Meanwhile, Lucy learns how the Bible room came to be.
Album: A Journey of Choices (20)
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Characters:
Whit, Connie Kendall, Eugene Meltsner, Katrina Shanks, Lucy Cunningham-Schultz, *Tom Riley, *Philo Sanderson

Notes:
GOOF ALERT (or is it?): In 260: Naturally, I Assumed, Whit explains, "See, I've always doubted the wisdom of two co-workers getting involved that way [referring to a romantic relationship, presumably between Connie and Eugene]." Yet in "...Rabbit's Foot," Whit quickly hires Katrina. Does he not realize Katrina and Eugene were in a 'special relationship'? 254: Truth, Trivia, and 'Trina seems to suggest somewhat otherwise. Whit does protect his innocence: "Maybe I should have talked to you about it before offering her a position. I guess I didn't realize that your relationship with her was so . . . advanced. In fact, I haven't had the slightest idea of what your relationship was." So perhaps there's no open-and-shut case against Whit; still, I've always viewed his quick hiring of Katrina suspiciously in light of his co-worker relationship comments. (Contributed by Drew)

 
267: ...It Ended with a Handshake
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 5/07/94
Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 13:5,7
Theme: Communication; love
Plot:
After accidently leaving a disk with his personal feelings in a place where Katrina might see it, Eugene urges her to "just stay friends", even though both of them love each other.
Album: A Journey of Choices (20)
Review
Characters:
Connie Kendall, Eugene Meltsner, Katrina Shanks, Bernard Walton, Fred Holstein

Notes:
See C. S. Lewis references.

 
268: Pet Peeves
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker & Chris Fabry
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Bob Luttrell
Music: Library
Original Air Date: 5/14/94
Scripture reference: Hebrews 13:8
Theme: Responsibility
Plot:
After seeing a dog at Whit's End, Donna decides she wants to adopt it.  After getting an affirmative family vote, Donna finds out the many troubles of having a dog.
Album: A Journey of Choices (20), More than Sundays (Special)
Review
Characters:
Jimmy Barclay, George Barclay, Mary Barclay, Donna Barclay, Connie Kendall

Notes:

 
269: Fences
Essential Facts:
Writer: Marshal Younger
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: Library
Original Air Date: 5/21/94
Scripture reference: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Theme: Communication; dealing with disappointmen
Plot:
After she discovers her dad is not coming to visit, Connie takes her rage out on men in general.
Album: A Journey of Choices (20)
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Characters:
Connie Kendall, Eugene Meltsner, June Kendall, Whit, Charles Edward Thompson, Mr. Mitchell

Notes:

 
270: The War Hero
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 5/28/94
Scripture reference: Romans 12:1
Theme: Heroism
Plot:
After resisting for a while, Joe Finneman tells the story of how he rescued children in Vietnam.
Album: A Journey of Choices (20)
Review
Characters:
Dale Jacobs, Connie Kendall, Joe Finneman, Terence Bougainville

Notes:
Contains a history story.

 
271: The Secret Keys of Discipline
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 6/04/94
Scripture reference: Proverbs 13:8
Theme: Self-discipline
Plot:
Danny works on preforming a piano piece for a Whit's End talent show, but finds that discipline interferes with many of his favorite activities.
Album: A Journey of Choices (20)
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Characters:
Danny Schmidt, Stephen Schmidt, Laura Schmidt, Whit, Brooke Myers, *Ed McHam, Principal Hughes

Notes:

 
272: Two Brothers...and Bernard, Part 1
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineers: Dave Arnold
Music: Jack Ballard
Original Air Date: 6/11/94
Scripture reference: Genesis 25:20-34;27-33
Theme: Bible history: Easu and Jacob; brotherly love
Plot:
Bernard tells Erica the story of Jacob and Easu.
Album: A Journey of Choices (20)
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Characters:
Bernard Walton, Erica Clark, *Rebekah, *Isaac, *God, *Jacob, *Easu, *Midian, *Rachael, *Laban

Notes:
Jacob and Easu's lines over the sale of the latter's birthright sound very similar to Ursula's deal in The Little Mermaid.

Contains a Bible story.

 
273: Two Brothers...and Bernard, Part 2
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineers: Bob Luttrell
Music: Library
Original Air Date: 6/18/94
Scripture reference: Genesis 25:20-34;27-33
Theme: Bible history: Easu and Jacob; brothery love
Plot:
Bernard tells Erica the story of Jacob and Easu.
Album: A Journey of Choices (20)
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Characters:
Bernard Walton, Erica Clark, *Jacob, *Easu, *Midian, *Rachael, *Laban, *Reuben, *Zimron

Notes:
Contains a Bible story.

 
274: First-Hand Experience
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Bob Luttrell
Music: Library
Original Air Date: 7/23/94
Scripture reference: Colossians 3:17
Theme: Friendship; doing things for God's glory
Plot:
Eugene and Bernard take off on a trip to California.  Eugene is going as an "expedition", to get out and explore the world.  Bernard is going to get a new pickup truck.
Album: Wish You Were Here (21), Drive Time (Classics 7)
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Characters:
Eugene Meltsner, Bernard Walton, Dean

Notes:
Bernard's radio starts to play the AIO theme.  Bernard says "I wanted to hear the rest of that" when it fades out.

There are no AIO episodes where only two named people are heard.  This episode comes the closest with Eugene and Bernard being the only named ones heard for all but one line.  At the beginning of this episode, a character named Dean is heard saying "See you, Bernard."

 
275: Second Thoughts
Essential Facts:
Writer: Marshal Younger
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: Library
Original Air Date: 7/30/94
Scripture reference: John 15:17
Theme: Family relationships
Plot:
During an unplanned stop in the middle of the country, Eugene and Bernard meet 13-year-old Graham, a boy who would do anything to get away from his farm life.
Album: Wish You Were Here (21)
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Characters:
Eugene Meltsner, Bernard Walton, Graham, Kyle, Sandra, Carrie, Jerry Kellogg

Notes:

 
276: Third Degree
Essential Facts:
Writer: Marshal Younger
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Bob Luttrell & Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 8/06/94
Scripture reference: Proverbs 27:17
Theme: Friendship; making proper choices
Plot:
Eugene and Bernard find themselves in the company of people who are very much like themselves: Eugene with some eggheads and Bernard with a criminal.
Album: Wish You Were Here (21)
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Characters:
Eugene Meltsner, Bernard Walton, Bryant Jennings, Jeffrey, Elizabeth

Notes:

 
277: It Happened at Four Corners
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Bob Luttrell
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 8/13/94
Scripture reference: Proverbs 1:19
Theme: Greed
Plot:
Eugene and Bernard go on a mysterious search for treasure after being given a map.
Album: Wish You Were Here (21), Comic Belief (Classics 5)
Review
Characters:
Eugene Meltsner, Bernard Walton, Logan Smiler

Notes:

 
278: The Fifth House on the Left, Part 1
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineers: Dave Arnold
Music: Pat Woodland
Original Air Date:  8/20/94
Scripture reference: Matthew 6:19-21
Theme: Trusting God in all situations; salvation
Plot:
After finally reaching California, Eugene and Bernard are suddenly guests in a Hollywood producer's home.  Eugene is even offered a screen test.   Later...disaster threatens.
Album: Wish You Were Here (21)
Review
Characters:
Eugene Meltsner, Bernard Walton, Foster Smith-Hammer, Kelsey Smith-Hammer, Tammy Smith-Hammer, Angela, Dr. Kennon, Lance Lincoln

Notes:
See It's a Wonderful Life references.
See Andy Griffith Show references.

 
279: The Fifth House on the Left, Part 2
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineers: Bob Luttrell
Music: Pat Woodland
Original Air Date:  8/27/94
Scripture reference: Matthew 6:19-21
Theme: Trusting God in all situations; salvation
Plot:
After finally reaching California, Eugene and Bernard are suddenly guests in a Hollywood producer's home.  Eugene is even offered a screen test.   Later...disaster threatens.
Album: Wish You Were Here (21)
Review
Characters:
Eugene Meltsner, Bernard Walton, Foster Smith-Hammer, Kelsey Smith-Hammer, Tammy Smith-Hammer, Angela, Lance Lincoln

Notes:

 
280: Gone...
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 9/03/94
Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 15:51-52
Theme: Dealing with loss
Plot:
Upon returning from their trip, Bernard and Eugene find that an old friend has left Odyssey for possibly a long time.
Album: Wish You Were Here (21)
Review
Characters:
Eugene Meltsner, Bernard Walton, Connie Kendall, Whit, Harlow Doyle, Tom Riley, Jack Allen, Bart Rathbone, Adam Stenowsky

Notes:
See this article to find out from where some of Whit's lines come.

VERSION DIFFERENCE:  The album version adds a horrible scene with Harlow after Connie slams down the phone. Harlow becomes convinced that Whit has been kidnapped. Apparently this scene was only added to the cassette version since the CD version doesn't include it.

PARENTAL WARNING: This is a highly emotional episode. It may raise several questions about why Whit had to leave.  This episode could be an opportunity to talk about death with your child.  Recommended maturity level: 8 and up.

Interestingly, in this episode, Jack says that Whit wrote him a letter to ask him to come and see him, but in AIO365:Clara, Jack says that he himself decided to come see Whit to apologize.

 
281: ...But Not Forgotten
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 9/10/94
Scripture reference: Deuteronomy 31:8
Theme: Dealing with loss; change
Plot:
Connie deals with the lose of their close friend, while having a hard time accepting a new one.
Album: Wish You Were Here (21)
Review
Characters:
Eugene Meltsner, Connie Kendall, Harlow Doyle, Tom Riley, Jack Allen, Scrubb

Notes:
VERSION DIFFERENCE:  The album version adds more to the scene between Jack and Tom at the ice cream counter.  In the broadcast version, Jack says, "Who do you think taught Whit?" and then Tom says, "Say Jack..." and asks him he could work at Whit's End for a while.  In the album version, after the line "Who do you think taught Whit?", Jack actually makes a cone with a "curly q" and then shows Tom how to make one.  Tom says "Now the sad thing is that some kid will come along and eat it."  "Life's tough," says Jack.  It's a scene which really adds to Jack's character.  The major problem in the broadcast version is that it is very obvious material has been cut out here.  Tom's voice changes rapidly since he moved around in the cut scene.  It was probably the best that Dave Arnold could do, however, without re-recording the voices.

 
282: The Fundamentals
Essential Facts:
Writer: Marshal Younger
Director: Marshal Younger
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: Library
Original Air Date: 9/17/94
Scripture reference: Proverbs 1:5
Theme: The importance of learning and wisdom
Plot:
Jimmy Barclay attends a basketball camp with Phil, a kid who seems to know it all, but uses poor technique.
Album: Wish You Were Here (21)
Review
Characters:
Jimmy Barclay, Dale Jacobs, Rusty Gordon (Malone), Tom Riley, Phil McFarland, Alex Jefferson

Notes:
This show was Marshal Younger's directorial debut.

 
283: A Book By Its Cover
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Bob Luttrell
Music: Library
Original Air Date: 9/24/94
Scripture reference: Matthew 7:1-2
Theme: Judging others
Plot:
Katrina thinks her new student is very intelligent because she looks older than she really is.  Connie and Eugene wonder how to tell Jack that his painting is "awful".
Album: Wish You Were Here (21)
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Characters:
Connie Kendall, Eugene Meltsner, Jack Allen, Katrina Shanks, Melissa

Notes:

 
284: The Election Deception
Essential Facts:
Writer: Marshal Younger
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: Library
Original Air Date: 10/01/94
Scripture reference: 3 John 11
Theme: Honesty; integrity
Plot:
Courtney's election is sabotaged by the theft of her notebook of speeches, poems, and diary entries.
Album: Wish You Were Here (21)
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Characters:
Courtney Vincent, Shannon Everett, Erica Clark, Mr. Burton, Principal McSpadden, Rusty Gordon (Malone)

Notes:

 
285: George Under Pressure
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 10/08/94
Scripture reference: Colossians 1:9-13
Theme: Family togetherness; dealing with stress
Plot:
Jimmy, Donna, and Mary observe the constant pressure on soon-to-be preacher George. To remedy this, they take him out for a picnic.
Album: The Changing Times (22), More than Sundays (Special)
Review
Characters:
Jimmy Barclay, Donna Barclay, Mary Barclay, George Barclay, Jack Allen

Notes:

 
286: Tom For Mayor, Part 1
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineers: Dave Arnold
Music: Library
Original Air Date: 10/29/94
Scripture reference: John 17:11
Theme: God's guidance in times of trouble
Plot:
Tom and Bart run against each other after the mayor of Odyssey resigns.  Philip Glossman shows up to try to condemn Tom's Apple Farm with an environmental scam involving the Edgebiter Chemical Company.
Album: The Changing Times (22)
Review
Characters:
Bart Rathbone, Tom Riley, Eugene Meltsner, Connie Kendall, Philip Glossman, Bernard Walton, Burt Furter, Frank Earnest, Mayor Bill Jenkins, Jack Allen, Sam Johnson, Curt Morse, Dale Jacobs, Cryin' Bryan Dern

Notes:
As evidenced by the mayor's phone conversation, Blackgaard's ties to people in Odyssey must have been very deep.

VERSION DIFFERENCE: On the album version of this episode, the following scenes are extended: Tom's talk with the mayor (right before he makes the "mysterious phone call") Tom talking with the gang at Whit's End about the environmental scandal, Jack's questioning of Glossman at Tom's farm.  (Thanks to ShadowPaw for the information.)

 
287: Tom For Mayor, Part 2
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineers: Bob Luttrell
Music: Library
Original Air Date: 11/05/94
Scripture reference: John 17:11
Theme: God's guidance in times of trouble
Plot:
Tom and Bart run against each other after the mayor of Odyssey resigns.  Philip Glossman shows up to try to condemn Tom's Apple Farm with an environmental scam involving the Edgebiter Chemical Company.
Album: The Changing Times (22)
Review
Characters:
Bart Rathbone, Tom Riley, Eugene Meltsner, Connie Kendall, Philip Glossman, Bernard Walton, Burt Furter, Frank Earnest, Jack Allen, Sam Johnson, Curt Morse, Cryin' Bryan Dern

Notes:
As evidenced by Glossman's phone conversation, Tom becoming mayor must have been a major problem to Blackgaard's bigger plan.

 
288: The Twilife Zone
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 10/22/94
Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians
Theme: Addiction; self-control
Plot:
A Kids' Radio broadcast about the dangers of drug addiction.
Album: Wish You Were Here (21)
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Characters:
Connie Kendall, Lucy Cunningham-Schultz, *Simon, *Luella, *Russell, *Henny, *Eric, *Larry, *Mr. Deardorf, Sam Johnson, Rusty Gordon (Malone), Lawrence Hodges, Eugene Meltsner, Philonius Voce

Notes:
PARENTAL WARNING: This episode is about the dangers of addiction.  Although presented in a comical and non-threatening way, we suggest you listen with your children and use the episode as an opportunity to discuss the subject of drug abuse with them.   Recommended maturity level: 10 and up

Contains a KIDS Radio broadcast.

 
289: A Call for Reverend Jimmy
Essential Facts:
Writer: Marshal Younger
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: Library
Original Air Date: 11/19/94
Scripture reference: Isaiah 30:21
Theme: God's calling
Plot:
Jimmy thinks the congregation at church is calling him to become a preacher, so he decides to follow their calling, until his Dad helps him learn to discern God's calling from others calling. Also, Donna is embarrassed by her dad using childhood stories for church sermons.
Album: The Changing Times (22), More than Sundays (Special)
Review
Characters:
Jimmy Barclay, George Barclay, Lawrence Hodges, Donna Barclay, Mary Barclay, Miss Jeffreys, Jack Davis

Notes:

 
290: A Name, Not a Number, Part 1
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineers: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 11/26/94
Scripture reference: Psalm 27:5-6
Theme: God's protection
Plot:
Jason Whittaker, on his last mission for the National Security Agency, helps Tasha Forbes fight Mustafa and Red Scorpion to stop the threat of global biological terrorism.   Meanwhile, Dr. Regis Blackgaard shows up again seeming to be on the "good side".
Album: The Changing Times (22)
Review
Characters:
Molly, Jason Whittaker, Tasha Forbes, Mustafa, Dr. Regis Blackgaard, Filby, Donovan, Abdul

Notes:
I've really wondered about the violence level in these two episodes.  In The Complete Guide to Adventures in Odyssey, Phil Lollar reveals that back in AIO40: The Case of the Secret Room, Part 2, they removed a gun from a scene to "dispel potential audience fears about violence".  However, in these episodes we have people spraying others in the face with knockout gas. Mustafa clicks a gun into place at Jason, and then he intends to inject Jason with a deadly virus and then actually seems to do it to Dr. Blackgaard who falls seemingly dead on the floor.   In the confrontation in the park while Mustafa holds Tasha hostage, we hear Abdul pull out a knife, seemingly to threaten to kill her.  Then we have lines like, "I can still shoot her from across the room" and "Let's us see how humorous you are with the virus coursing through your veins."  Not that I think that any of this violence is too much for AIO.  I just wonder why they didn't put a quick little, "Parents listen with your children on this episode" on the beginning.

GOOF ALERT:  In the final scene of this episode, Mustafa injects Dr. Blackgaard with a syringe that (he thinks) contains the Ruku virus.  Dr. Blackgaard falls to the floor and "dies" in a few seconds.  Viruses simply do not work this way; it takes time for viruses to infiltrate the body and destroy it.  The most deadly viruses that are known to exist take days to kill a person.  It simply could not happen in a few seconds.  Major poisons could kill a person that quickly, but a virus could not.   Now the obvious explanation is that Blackgaard did not really die.  However, there was at least one person there who should have realized that Blackgaard could not have been killed that quickly by a virus — Tasha Forbes.  Tasha is a molecular biologist and had spent years working on the virus.  She should have knowns that something was very fishy when Dr. Blackgaard died that fast.

Another interesting side issue deals with Dr. Blackgaard's actual death scene in AIO334:The Final Conflict.  He says that "somewhere along the line, he picked up a strain of the Ruku virus".  Now that is an interesting statement.  In A Name, Not a Number, Part 2, Dr. Blackgaard tells Mustafa that Abdul had filled the syringe with a vitamin complex which was completely harmless.  However, in AIO329: The Return, he tells Jason Whittaker that he was injected with a strain of Ruku virus that had been exposed to air.   "It was enough to make me very ill, even to simulate death, but not to kill me," he says.  Wait! What about the vitamin complex that Abdul put in the syringe?  Of course it's possible that Blackgaard was lying to Jason.  After all, if he told him that Adbul was working for him, it might lead to awkward questions about Mustafa's death.  However, if the first explanation is correct, we are still left with the question where did Blackgaard get the Ruku virus?  We never get the hint in any of the Darkness Before Dawn episodes that Blackgaard has made any Ruku virus with TA-418, which would make it possible to catch easily.   So if none of the "enhanced" virus was made, Blackgaard had to get it from an injection since Tasha said in A Name, Not a Number, Part 2, "the only way to get the virus is to have it injected directly."  Who gave Blackgaard this injection and when did it occur?  We may never know.

PARENTAL WARNING: These episodes are about international political intrigue and the threat of biological terrorism.  While presented in a way that most youngsters will find enjoyable, these episodes may be too intense for younger listeners.  Recommended maturity level: 10 and up

 
291: A Name, Not a Number, Part 2
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineers: Bob Luttrell
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 12/03/94
Scripture reference: Psalm 27:5-6
Theme: God's protection
Plot:
Jason Whittaker, on his last mission for the National Security Agency, helps Tasha Forbes fight Mustafa and Red Scorpion to stop the threat of global biological terrorism.   Meanwhile, Dr. Regis Blackgaard shows up again seeming to be on the "good side".
Album: The Changing Times (22)
Review
Characters:
Jason Whittaker, Tasha Forbes, Mustafa, Dr. Regis Blackgaard, Filby, Donovan, Abdul, Tom Riley, Eugene Meltsner

Notes:
PARENTAL WARNING: These episodes are about international political intrigue and the threat of biological terrorism.  While presented in a way that most youngsters will find enjoyable, these episodes may be too intense for younger listeners.  Recommended maturity level: 10 and up

 
292: Siege at Jericho
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineers: Mark Drury
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 12/10/94
Scripture reference: Joshua 1:10-6:27
Theme: Bible history: Rehab and the spies; Joshua and the walls of Jericho
Plot:
An O.T. Action News report on the taking of Jericho.
Album: The Changing Times (22)
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Characters:
*Brink Chetley, Lucy Cunningham-Schultz, *Joshua, Lawrence Hodges, *Rehab, *Ramandu, *Hittus, *Salmon, *Hassen Ben-Sober

Notes:
Contains a KIDS Radio broadcast (O. T. Action News).
Contains a Bible story.
See C.S. Lewis references

 
293: A Code of Honor
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: Library
Original Air Date: 12/17/94
Scripture reference: Ephesians 2:10
Theme: Doing good works
Plot:
Jason and Jack find a book from the old Isrealites meetings. They go off in search of clues about the Isrealites, and run into an old member named Billy McPherson.
Album: The Changing Times (22)
Review
Characters:
Jack Allen, Jason Whittaker, Connie Kendall, Emma Douglas, Billy McPherson

Notes:

GOOF ALERT:  In 262: A Prayer for George Barclay, Whit says that George Barclay painted Emma Douglas's garage. However, in this show, Emma Douglas said that Billy McPherson was the last person to paint her garage. Billy painted it long before George could have. (Contributed by Grant)

 
294: Unto Us a Child Is Born
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 12/24/94
Scripture reference: Luke 2
Theme: The Christmas story
Plot:
Jimmy decides to produce a Christmas radio drama and uses his family and friends to do it. At the end, Mary finally has the long awaited baby!
Album: The Changing Times (22)
Review
Characters:
Jimmy Barclay, Donna Barclay, George Barclay, Mary Barclay, Jack Allen, Jason Whittaker, Connie Kendall, Eugene Meltsner, Katrina Shanks, *Gabriel, *Mary, *Joseph, Stewart Reed Barclay

Notes:
Contains a KIDS Radio broadcast.
Contains a Bible story.

VERSION DIFFERENCE: The entire scene where Eugene and Katrina bump into each other at the bookstore (while buying Bibles) and then talk to each other about religion is cut from the radio version but included in the album version.  Additionally, the radio version does not include the AIO theme song.  (Thanks to ShadowPaw for the information.)

 
295: Soaplessly Devoted
Essential Facts:
Writer: Marshal Younger
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: Pat Woodland
Original Air Date: 12/31/94
Scripture reference: Proverbs 17:24
Theme: Discernment
Plot:
Jason Whittaker adjusts the Room of Consequence so its user can become part of a soap opera.
Album: The Changing Times (22)
Review
Characters:
Jason Whittaker, Erica Clark, *Holly Donahue, *Lieutenant Mitchell, *Derrick, *Trevor, *Victoria

Notes:
Contained a Room of Consequence adventure.

 
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