This is the episode responsible for the phrase: "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!" There are rumors that Maureen McCormick and Eve Plumb didn't get along too well. This is not hard to believe, watching the scene in which Jan admits to hiding Marcia's trophies. The tension between Marcia and Jan seemed a little too real. Marcia asks why Jan would hide her trophies. Jan's reply: "Because I felt like it! That's why!" Can we blame Jan? She was tired of being in Marcia's shadow, all the time! Jan tries to make a name for herself, first as a pom pom girl, then in an essay contest. Wouldn't you know that the teacher would make a scoring error on Jan's essay? Jan didn't win the contest. Nora Coombs won! For a character that's not shown, why name her "Nora Coombs"? I guess we'll never know. There was also an error that was allowed to pass. When Jan first mentioned this character, she said "Noris Coombs." I guess nobody thought that this mattered. I must mention the actress that played Jan's teacher. Gwen Van Dam. Gorgeous, drop dead beautiful woman!! If I'd had her for a teacher, I would have liked going to school! Wow! Gwen's presence added a spark to this classic episode.
3 Reviews
At Least Jan Is Good At Math
cutterccbaxter10 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I liked how the faculty judges at Jan Brady's school appeared to take their Pom-Pom judging duties very seriously in Her Sister's Shadow. It was obvious that not just anyone was allowed to make the Pom-pom squad, so Jan shouldn't have felt too disappointed when she didn't make the cut.
To assuage her fragile ego she could have claimed the tryout was rigged. She could have told everyone that if it hadn't been rigged, the judges would have picked her in a unanimous landslide. But we know Jan has way too much character and integrity to resort to such shenanigans.
At any rate, I wonder if Jan would have found true happiness as a Pom-Pom girl? Her second place showing for her essay reveals an individual capable of profound and deep thinking. Perhaps I am being unfair, but I don't associate scholarly ambitions with the Pom-Pom squad. I think Jan was lucky that she didn't get swept up into the shallow and intellectually un-stimulating Pom-Pom world.
To assuage her fragile ego she could have claimed the tryout was rigged. She could have told everyone that if it hadn't been rigged, the judges would have picked her in a unanimous landslide. But we know Jan has way too much character and integrity to resort to such shenanigans.
At any rate, I wonder if Jan would have found true happiness as a Pom-Pom girl? Her second place showing for her essay reveals an individual capable of profound and deep thinking. Perhaps I am being unfair, but I don't associate scholarly ambitions with the Pom-Pom squad. I think Jan was lucky that she didn't get swept up into the shallow and intellectually un-stimulating Pom-Pom world.
Slow, but notable episode
jdollak4 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
For an episode with some notable highlights, the pacing seemed slower than I expected.
In a thematic followup to "The Not-So-Ugly Duckling" from last season, Jan again feels like she's second fiddle to Marcia. This time, she's intimidated by Marcia's awards displayed on the dresser.
Eventually, Jan decides to make herself distinct by trying out to be a pom-pom girl. She practices a routine, tries out, and doesn't make the cut. But then, she's saved by winning an essay contest. Unfortunately, she realizes that her score was added wrong, and she came in second. After some inner turmoil, she decides to come clean. The praise she gets for telling the truth is enough for her to feel special.
First, this is the first time that I remember any character having an inner monologue. This was borrowed in the Brady Bunch movies. Second, this is the appearance of Jan saying "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!" It honestly isn't that funny. Third, Jan's pom-pom routine is a trainwreck. It's hard to stop watching it, because it's hard to tell if it's supposed to be bad, if it's supposed to be good, or how we're supposed to react. When we see the other girl's routine at the tryout, she seems to be doing pretty well.
While the writers seemed to get a grasp on what they wanted most of the characters to do, they still seem to struggle with Jan. She's defined by being Marcia's sister.
In a thematic followup to "The Not-So-Ugly Duckling" from last season, Jan again feels like she's second fiddle to Marcia. This time, she's intimidated by Marcia's awards displayed on the dresser.
Eventually, Jan decides to make herself distinct by trying out to be a pom-pom girl. She practices a routine, tries out, and doesn't make the cut. But then, she's saved by winning an essay contest. Unfortunately, she realizes that her score was added wrong, and she came in second. After some inner turmoil, she decides to come clean. The praise she gets for telling the truth is enough for her to feel special.
First, this is the first time that I remember any character having an inner monologue. This was borrowed in the Brady Bunch movies. Second, this is the appearance of Jan saying "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!" It honestly isn't that funny. Third, Jan's pom-pom routine is a trainwreck. It's hard to stop watching it, because it's hard to tell if it's supposed to be bad, if it's supposed to be good, or how we're supposed to react. When we see the other girl's routine at the tryout, she seems to be doing pretty well.
While the writers seemed to get a grasp on what they wanted most of the characters to do, they still seem to struggle with Jan. She's defined by being Marcia's sister.
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