MOVIE SPECIAL: 'Camp Rock'

Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Hey. I'm Maria. I work at a labor union by day and write and watch too much TV by night. I like to say I've been firmly in the CW's clutches since it was The WB. As the great Seth Cohen on The OC once said about the fictional teen drama, The Valley, TV teen dramas are mind numbing escapism.

(00:01):
They exist in a fantasy world where 20 hot actors are usually cosplaying high schoolers in melodramatic depictions of adolescents. But that's honestly why I love teen dramas so much. I love the tropes and the ships and the not at all subtle product placement. I love the early aughts theme songs and the cameo performances by pop punk bands. I love the newer generation of shows that are more diverse and representative of the vastness of teenage girldom.
And I especially love the moments when TV teen dramas get political. You guys, we can organize. Stand together. Speak with one voice. Karl Marx has come alive for me today.
Now it just seems so obviously wrong that those who control capital should make their fortunes off the labor of the working class. Well, since you've fired us, you've given us plenty of time to pick in. Fortress of the world, you're not profiting. Long live the revolution. Welcome back to another episode of Left is Teen Drama and specifically our fourth ever movie special.
Super excited to welcome Kelly Gilbert back to the podcast, this time joined for the first time by her twin, MG. Welcome, y'all. Thank you. Hello. Thank you for having us.
Yeah. So do y'all wanna introduce yourselves? I know that maybe y'all also have a podcast that you maybe wanna mention during the during these videos. A plug. A plug.
Yeah. A plug of our, like, very irregular podcast. My name's Kelly. I met Maria through union semester and doing labor union stuff, and I I don't know. And I've been on this podcast a couple times because I love television and teen dramas and also politics.
So that's me and my Quinn and I have a podcast called Gavin with the Gilberts. It it's DIY as fuck. And, yeah, it's punk rock because it comes out very irregularly. But if you wanna hear us yap more, listen to Gavin with the Gilberts on Spotify. And there's a picture of us drooling as the cover art, if that's something you're into.
Yeah. Hi. I'm hi. I'm MG. I am Kelly's twin, and I am a friend of Maria's.
Well, we've met a couple times, and we've probably met at, like, Sarah Hughes' parties a couple times. Yes. Definitely. Shouts out one of the, like, you know, hot mamas, I'm gonna say it, of the labor movement. Sarah Hughes.
Agreed. For real. Yeah. And, like, pre and post birth, a hot mama of the labor movement. Oh my god.
Also, when I say problem, it's because I used to in my twenties, I would blackout a lot at those parties, so I don't remember a lot of stuff. And I've been recently thinking about that where people have been coming to me and being like, we've met. And I've been like, oh, yeah. Woah. I'm sober now.
But anyway, I wanted to say I'm a comedian, and I also love television and politics and the labor movement. And Camp Rock is very special to my heart, so I'm excited. Whoo. Yes. So this was an idea that Kelly, I think, originally came to me with once we started deciding that we were gonna do our series of special episodes that we do in between seasons where we talk about political moments on teen movies.
And yeah. So I I guess, like, I can talk about my relationship after y'all do, but, like, why was why did you bring this movie to me? Like, what what is your history with the with the movie? Meghan sorry. MG.
That's fine. It's fine. I don't mind Meghan at MG. We're on a journey here. I won't be able to.
I'm sorry. I wanna say. Alright. So my history with Camp Rock is, I think it was, like, the 2020 when it was, like, a fever dream and we could all, like, be with each other a little bit more. But there was still, like, not a lot to do in groups, and I was like, I really wanna watch Camp Rock.
I had been, like, binging kind of, like, what I consider to be, like, bad movies. I watched, like, all the 50 Shades of Grey. And then I was like, you know what? Camp Rock is next. It's crazy that I haven't seen it.
And since High School Musical ripped so hard, like, I'm sure Camp Rock is incredible. And Meghan and I watched it. Wendy and I watched it, and it was like so you know what? This is me. You know what?
This is real human shit though because, like You're being so brave. Sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. You're okay.
It's okay. MG and I watched it together. And it was, like, the best out of my life. I laughed. I cried.
I felt so many emotions. And I was like, wow. This movie's a little bit political. Like, there is class tension in this movie. And also, like, teen angst surrounding class tension, which is something that really resonates with me.
Also, I'm obsessed with summer camp. MG and I, like, are camp freaks. We went to this Unitarian camp for, like, over a decade. We're obsessed with camp. We've rose through the ranks.

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Yeah. That's just, like, dimming the surface of my love of Camp Rock. And I suggested it. Yeah. You were like, summer movies.
Like, what should we do? And I was like, well, Camp Rock needs to be on this list. Good. And there's a sequel where the class tension gets even more hype. Oh my god.
Yes. I forgot. Yeah. I forgot that we watched that one because Oh, yeah. We did, like, a double feature.
It was Oh my god. Yeah. So Kelly and I watched it. I remember screaming multiple times watching Camp Rock. I never watched it as a child.
I feel like 02/1981, I saw that it came out in 02/2008, and I still consider 2008 one of the best summers of my life. Me too. Me too. Honestly, we yeah. Same.
Right? I'm like Right. Like, okay. Like, listen. Obama didn't fix everything or much.
Right? Like, let's just say it. Like but I grew up in a town where we did believe that racism was over when Obama got elected. So we were really excited. And, like, there was a lot of time.
In the air. There was so much hope and change. And I just And then it's talk harder to pull out. Summer at our summer camp. Like, I'm just like, wow.
Like, we were on cloud nine. Like, we were like, we we did it. Yeah. So, you know, when I realized that it was made in that golden year for me, I was like, no wonder it was an auspicious year for for old Meg. Also, just a note about, like, my gender.
I am non binary. I'm non binary. I'm non binary. I use theythem pronouns, but I was just figuring I my name when I was born is Megan. I still go by Megan.
I also go by MG. I feel like it's affirming that some people know my old name and use it kind of like a guy that everyone calls AJ, but, like, some people call him Anthony, you know? And they're like, no. Who are you? You know?
Like, so don't worry about it. If you call me Megan, it's fine. I also still really love that name. I love Camp Rock. I'm like the drama.
They're so little, like and whenever Demi Lovato sings, you can tell she really loves to sing. And also, like, there's that the person who plays the producer girl, Caitlin, Alyssa Stoner, she revealed on a TikTok in her podcast that there was nothing playing when she did those, like, sequences. No way. When she's like yeah. When she's like Oh my god.
So all of that acting of everyone being like, wow. She's really good. It's that's I'm like, call the Oscars. Okay? Like Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah. Oh my god. So that's how I feel about Camp Rock. Amazing. Yeah.
I also had not seen it growing up. I feel like so 2008 was like my just graduated from eighth grade going into high school summer. So, like, we felt, like, on top of the world. We hadn't been beaten down by being freshmen yet. Yeah.
And so I was absolutely not watching fucking Camp Rock. Because my little sister, who's two years younger than me, was obsessed with the Jonas Brothers and watching Camp Rock and stuff. So, like, I was just, like, I was, like, in my, like, I'm too good for this shit era, I feel like. Absolutely. In a way that I, for some reason, wasn't with High School Musical.
I guess, because the first one came out when we were, like, age appropriate still. But, like Yeah. Because, like, at that time I didn't watch it. I didn't watch it. Nice.
Then, yeah, y'all probably that's probably where y'all being a year older than me makes a difference. I know it was about that one year because, yeah, I was like, I was in my, like, I'm too I'm too sophisticated for High School Musical bag when I was, like, 14. I was like, I'm trying to get fingered. It's not happening, but that's what I'm trying. Is there a fingering in High School Musical, is there?
No. I'm just trying to imagine what High School Musical would be like if there was, but, like, it would be a lot more realistic. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
That's so cool. Agreed. Because people were all I mean, in my opinion, like, only the really cool people got fingered then so I wasn't getting fingered. But Oh, yeah. I was the same same vibe.

(00:43):
Totally. No. But, you know, every day I hoped, I guess. I dreamed of it. There was a boy in the local military school that I was like, maybe someday.
Oh, yeah. He liked you. Yeah. I didn't I didn't get it. No.
I never picked up on it. I brought Kelly he invited us to the movies, Maria, and I brought Kelly and our other friend, Morgan, with me. I give us, like, Morgan to the movies. All the time. Because I just love her.
Oh. That's so funny. Yeah. I got the One boy is just having your phone. One boy did break through, and we, like, went on a couple dates.
And he's he was like, you know, you kept bringing your sister. Me and my friend called it the royal we. The royal we. Because I'm like, yeah. We'll be there.
And he's like, oh, we? Oh my god. This is a look inside the life of twins. Yeah. You can always have a bro to bring your date.
A friend or something. A lovely girl. Exactly. A shop bro, if you will. Yeah.
A shop Oh, yeah. They'd be like, what's up, guys? We're having fun. Right? Yeah.
But yeah. So I just watched it for the first time all the way through for this. I definitely was familiar with the music because my sister had, like, played it around our house growing up, for sure. Oh, yeah. It's it's And what was so funny yeah.
So I was with my sister yesterday, and I was like, oh, you know, I'm doing a camp rock recording tomorrow. She was like, the music is just so good. Right? And I was just like, that was not my takeaway. But I feel like if I had been really into the Jonas Brothers when it came out, it would be my takeaway.
Yeah. That would be I have thought it was a movie, but, like, it's not I it it's one of those movies where I'm, like, I know that if I had if I had been, like, in the right time and place when I first saw this, I would have been obsessed with it in a way that I just cannot seem to be now. Yeah. Did you like the song? The that Taylor Tate does, where she's like, I'm too cool to know you.
I was like, that's I was like, that's so Charlie could run. I was like, that is crazy. Yes. At the same time, I feel like it doesn't have the same pizzazz that, like, the Sharpay numbers have in, like, High School Musical. So, like Yes.
Yeah. Yeah. They didn't give her that. I don't really yeah. Sharpay was pure of heart.
You know what I mean? Like, she was conniving a little bit, but I do feel like it all came from a place of, like, love of the craft. Whereas Taylor Tate Yeah. Pain. There's pain there.
Her relationship with her mother is not good, and you know it's all coming from that. And so I think that's why her music isn't as amazing as Sharpay Evans. Yeah. So true. Yeah.
Sharpay Evans is like a prime theater kid. Yeah. Like, Sharpay is pretty incredible. In her evil. And the what I think what?
God. What's her name? Like, you wanna be friends with Taylor? Like, don't be. Like, Taylor's just a bitch.
She is. She's a mean girl. There's no camp. There's no feather boa. There's no skate.
There's no family support emotionally for her. It's only volunteering. Some things money can't buy. What is it? Taylor Tate?
Is it Taylor Tate or Taylor well, I it's Taylor Tate. I think it's name. Right? Name, Richie? I think her last name is okay.
It's tag. According to my yeah. No. It's Tess Tyler. Oh, I've been calling her Taylor Tate this whole time in my life.

(01:04):
Tyler. Honestly You are gonna know I've only seen it three times. I just suck. I can't remember shit. This this is being in your thirties.
I literally was just watching it an hour ago when I was like, that Taylor Tate, she's crazy. Her name's Tess Tyler. Know. And you know what? Her name isn't as memorable, and that also brings her pain.
Yeah. Your your version is actually more memorable, hot take. Mhmm. Taylor Tate. Like, that should be a mean girl in some teen property because it's perfect.
Yeah. Agreed. The alliteration is better. Exactly. Yeah.
No. Alliteration with with mean girl characters is definitely Jeff's kiss. Another thing we were talking about in getting ready for this episode is the fact that this is kind of a recurring theme with Kelly being on this podcast because our Babysitter's Club episode was also about, like, class conflict at camp, essentially. So we've got themes running through this podcast, people. Yeah.
Well, and, like, teenagers, I think they feel class so acutely because they have, like, no control over their social standing. You know, you're born and you're like, oh, this is where I stand, and then you either, like, feel great pride or great shame about it. Word. It's so black and white. There's no, like, you know, you're little.
You're not like, well, actually, like, I'm proud that my mom is a cook and my dad is a a business owner and we're self sufficient. Like Yeah. I know. When they were like, she's poor, I was like, did you see her fucking house? Like The house was fab.
Yeah. I was like, that is not a poor person. Okay. Also, wild that Disney let a mother be alive. Okay?
So true. So true. I was like, wow. She her mom is here. Her dad comes in kinda late, and I was like, oh, the dad must be dead.
Like, I literally thought the dad must be dead or she's a single mom for some reason. And then when they the dad when they were together, actually, I was like, wait, what? I was honestly surprised. Wait. I was like, oh, she took a camp gig.
Of course, her husband can't be there. He has to, like, run the hardware store. Yeah. Oh, yeah. He was like nothing.
He has, like, one line. He's like, come on. Tell her. And I was like, no one gives a shit about this. No.
You know what? Put that shit on your IMDB, dude. No. For real, though. I mean, listen.
If I was at a party and a man came up to me and said I was the dad at Camp Rock, I'd be like, fuck. Yeah. I'd be really, really surprised. Yeah. I'd be like, what can I do for you?
Like, what do you Yeah. What do you wanna hang for me, my friend? So getting into the beginning of the movie, it is kind of immediately introduced, and I think we're gonna continue to talk about the class analysis as we go through the plot of the movie, is that, like, Camp Rock is, like, obviously, a very expensive camp that is, like, known to lead to success in the music industry and, like, the what is it? Connect three? Is that the name of the band?
That that is just the Jonas Brothers, but they had to rebrand them for the movie. Yeah. Connect three. Yeah. Connect three.
It's just such a funny name. That's so funny. They're, like, the exhibit a of, like, you could be them if you, like, work hard and win the final jam and such. And, like, it's interesting, and and I think we'll talk about it when we get to, like, one of our clips is, like, the different, like, class dynamics within the music industry, which, you know, I we used to work at the musicians union, so there were a couple of things that perked my ears up, where it's like there's a difference between, like, the working class musicians who are, like, playing on the tracks or, like, playing on Broadway or playing on a cruise, which comes up in this movie, and then the people who are actually, like, the brand name recording artists, like Tess Tyler's mother Mhmm. And Connect three.
But it's interesting because it does feel very, like, akin to, like, a private or a prep school, where it's, like, you're getting this, like, alumni network and, like Yeah. You're, like, in this, like, you know, super expensive elite place that's gonna lead to your success in the future, which I guess kind of lends to why she doesn't feel poor in the grand scheme of things, but she's poor in relation to, like, the regular people who can afford to pay full tuition to this camp. Yeah. Totally. Oh my god.
Did you guys, like, feel that way in college? Yes. Yeah. I thought I was fine, but I know. I'm like, around, like, weird oil money people.
Right. Yeah. Right? I remember sitting at a lunch table with a bunch of girls talking about how their moms wouldn't send their old Birkins to college for them to wear and having to Google what a Birkin was. Yeah.
And being like Yeah. But I found out about Birkin that was scandalized. I was like, it was scandalized. It's a rectangle. I think I only knew what it was because of Gilmore Girls.

(01:25):
Didn't Logan give Rory a Birkin bag or whatever? Oh, did he? That's so I don't know. I've only I think so. Yeah.
I think that that's, like, the only reason I ever knew what it was, though. It was because it was, like, the thing that a rich character on a show gave his girlfriend. Yeah. I mean, which is It cost more than a car. Yeah.
To give your high school girlfriend a $50,000 gift. But, like, these Camp Rock kids, they would, like Shane from Connect three would totally give her a Birkin. A Birkin. But she doesn't care about worldly things. She just she loves the music.
She loves the music and the Yes. Oh, my god. Yes. Okay. So we're gonna watch the first clip that really, like, introduces us to and we can discuss what we think it introduces us to as terms of what her class status actually in reality would be.
But, like, introducing us to, like, her and her mom's dynamic, which, again, is fully without the dad. So until he gets mentioned, I'm like, okay, this is a single mom situation. Yeah. But, anyway, the original introduction to the fact that they can't afford the camp. Oh, cool.
Hot tunes is on. Turn it up, please. Also, Hot tunes. Pop star phenom Shane Gray may have gone too far this time when he stormed off the set of the new Connect three video. Word is the other members of Connect three are fed up.
This final stunt cost his label thousands of dollars, but may cost them the rest of their record deal. What is wrong with that boy? He's got everything except a clue. Time. The message is clear.
He needs to clean up his act. And to give him time to do it, the Connect three summer tour has been canceled. Look what I found in the CRISPR, a Camp Rock brochure. Or should I say another Camp Rock brochure? Look at that.
Oh, and great cheese omelette, by the way. You should definitely add that to your catering menu. So you have no idea how this brochure got in there? Or the one taped to the vacuum cleaner? Sweetie, I know you wanna go to this camp, and I'm sorry, but we just can't swing it right now.
With dad expanding the store and my catering business just taking off. Oh, honey, I'm sorry. I know. Gotta go. Last day of school.
Don't wanna be late. The long pause on, like, the mom's face being, like, concerned. I know. It's also just so funny how, like, things are decided in teen drama universes. It's like, it's the last day of school, and you don't know if you're going to camp or not.
Like, okay. Right. And they also don't know who's their cook for the summer. This day. They're low key.
They're low key. Like that. That's so funny. Okay. But yeah.
So true. But I just feel like they're like the small business owner like vibe. Like, two small business owners. And I don't know. It just like it feels very, like, Republican talking points of what, like, a working class person is Yeah.
A little bit. Right? Like These are honest people. Right. Not like not like the people who are, like, you know, making union wages or anything because we demybe with people, especially at this time.
But yeah. I'm not really, like, a journalist. Yeah. No. They job.
They're their own bosses, actually and that's how you can beat the system is by being your own boss. There's nothing hard about doing it by yourself or anything you need like a bunch of money to do that by yourself. Yeah. And usually exploiting workers. Like, small businesses are notoriously, like, not organized.
They're all, like, nonunion, and they are all treated like total shit. And they often will, like, could be a lot of nepotism in them as well, of course. And, like, I feel like treating your own family like shit gets by a lot too. Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Like, family businesses, and then it's like, oh, you gotta, like, fire your nephew. That's fucked up. Yeah. I don't know. Every, like, small business I've worked for, it's, like, so hit or miss because you're, like, completely at the whim of, like, the the personality of the business owner.
And the business owner is, of course, like, under a ton of stress because, like, small businesses are, like, at a disadvantage. They, like, they can't compete the same way that, like, bigger ones can. And they're, like, I don't know, like, stuck together with tape. Yeah. I've I don't know.
I've heard so many horror stories. Or have you seen that TikTok that's like, if you don't buy from my small business, like, I'll kill myself. Yeah. Yeah. And it's like, so I can't shipping shit.

(01:46):
It's like they're like, if you don't buy my little plastic pair that I found on the Internet that I bought a thousand dollars, I need to rely. Like, being so encouraged to, like, become our own small business. Like, market yourself on social media and, like, drop ship stupid, like, shit because then you can be your own boss and you can finally get out of the grind. And it's like, well, now I'm just grinding to be, like, a middle man selling fishing lures from Tmail. Yeah.
Crazy. Literally. Literally. And, yeah, it's just a very individualized way of, like, seeing, like, class difference and, like, what, like, the lower classes are like. But I'm just, like, yeah.
Of course, this is, like, the movie that came out in 02/2008. It's, like, view of class. And that's very interesting how it, like, continues throughout. But yeah. Yeah.
Oh my god. Also, starting a catering business in 02/2008, mama. Mama. When your when your husband already is a business owner of, like I mean, I guess, the hardware store is, like, pretty reliable. But, like, I don't know.
Like, you start letting things stay broken when you are, like, fucked because it's 02/2008. And it's, like, landing. No, bro. Oof. I know.
I'm like, if only they had someone to tell them like, an insider trading person to tell them what's about to happen. I don't understand the stock market, so, like, forgive. But, apparently, like, there's an app where you can just see where Nancy Pelosi puts her money and just do what she does. Wow. I I'm not gonna lie.
When you said that the first name that did come to mind for me was Nancy Pelosi. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Me too.
I was like Yep. I wanna do exactly what she's doing. I'll be able to talk about when she does it. It's fine. But when Martha Stewart does that, she goes to prison.
Oh my god. And my aunt and my mother ever dreamed, this is a legend. A legend. A legend. A legend.
Yeah. They really did make Martha Stewart out to be, like, an such a, like, criminal. Like, I remember that growing up that, like, when I eventually, like, as an adult person read up on what she had done, I was kinda, like they acted like she was, like, way worse than she was in the media at the time. I feel like a good example of her. Also, I was like, aren't they all doing that?
Right. Right. Yeah. And it's like, yay. So now I'm hoping that we're doing that.
I wanna know why she got in trouble and no one else gets in trouble. Also, everyone was so mad when they saw her rollerblading in white collar prison, and it's like, let her live. Yeah. It's like she's rollerblading. She got a shawl from a new friend.
I'll never forget her leaving prison in that shawl. That picture is buried in my memory. I love her. I love her. Yeah.
Enough. She has her, like, second act with Snoop Dogg as her, like, friend in the public eye. Yeah. They're like, we're both ex cons. I'm a white woman.
He's a black man. We have some things in common, more in common than you would think. We both like weed, and so that's cool. And I like that. It seems like Martha Stewart is leaning into the weed of it.
You know what? Get your money. I hope she is smoking weed. Me too. At least, like, edible queen.
Like, you know, like, my mom, like, loves edibles. Like, I feel like that's a whole, like, demographic of people who are eating edibles on a regular basis. Yeah. And then in their, like, sixties. Oh, yeah.
Now that it's legal and it's, like, so easy to get, like, an edible where they're, like, this is exactly what's gonna happen when you take this. It's not like 10 ago when we would, like somebody would bake something and you were, like, rolling the dice. Fuck it. Absolutely. Yeah.
You're, like, rushing what happens. Also, like, I got sober right before this advancement of technology. So I'm just like, that's all I remember. All I remember is getting a break and being like, who knows? Yeah.
Who knows? Who else in my pants? Maybe I won't. Probably will. Probably will.
But yeah. So getting back to Camp Rock, at school, Michie tells her one and only friend that we see for only this scene that Camp Rock is a no go, and it's, like, reinforced that Camp Rock is, like, the music camp. And anybody who wants to be somebody in music has to go there. And, like, it's kinda like, rub it in more, will you? Oh, yeah.

(02:07):
She, like, yells at her. It's crazy. Yeah. And she says she doesn't know what she's gonna do this summer now. And I'm like, well, it's kinda wild that you already didn't know that information till this moment.
Anyway, it's Disney movie magic. I know we have to forgive it. And then we find out that she works at this place called Barney's where she serves burgers with a smile, which is very funny because her dad is, like, actively making burgers when she comes home. But the actual news is that, drum roll, please, she's going to Camp Rock. And so then it's revealed, well, actually, we're going.
Connie's catering is going to camp. Apparently, business is slow in the summer, and this is a steady job, and she gets to go to camp at a discounted rate. Also, business is not slow in the summer for catering. What? I know.
Yeah. Weird weird take. Weird take. Because it's 02/2008. Mhmm.
Oh, when is the subprime mortgage crisis situated in this movie? No. No. I guess it's not. Damn.
There's no supply mortgage crisis in Disney. We very quickly arrived at Camp Rock, where, like, I just think it's funny that, like, the logo of the movie is just, like, everywhere. And, like, I get it. The movie's called Camp Rock. The place is called Camp Rock.
But it's just, like, aggressive Disney logo, like, all over everything. Yeah. Camp Rock. Welcome. And we, like, kind of get, like, the visual cues of the classified immediately because Tess Tyler, like, pulls up in a limo, and then you, like, immediately see Mitchie and her mom, like, in the Connie's catering truck.
And it's like, oh, she's coming in with the help, but this person's coming in a limo. Yeah. Like Mhmm. And Mitchie have a like, her first interaction with Tess is, like, knocking into her while she's, like, being very not aware of her surroundings and acting like, I don't know. I where is this camp?
Where are we? Do we know this? I don't think we do. Right? I don't think I don't think I need California.
I always assume it's California if they don't tell us otherwise because they are probably filming it there. But I actually didn't look up where they filmed it. No. Me neither. I don't know.
They're in the woods. They're in the dark on the mountain. There's a lake. Yeah. Yeah.
There's a lake with a Not an American camp. Yeah. I feel like they really wanted you to feel like it could be, like, your camp. Like, it could be it. Yeah.
Because, like, it's very not specific. I did get that feeling. I was, like, oh, the lake looks like my lake. Good job. Good job.
Camp rock. What I was gonna say though is that she's, like, when she knocks into Tess, it's, like, definitely giving, like, you know, Ohio tourist in New York City who I bumped into because they were just standing there. Yeah. She bumps she bumps into Tess while she's, like, looking around in awe at the camp. Yeah.
And she's out of place. Yeah. Like, she's out of place. She doesn't know how to, like, move around there yet. Yeah.
Jumping into Tess because they know. Exactly. And so she meets Allison Stoner's character, Caitlin. She is, like, kinda giving Mitchie the lowdown on Camp Rock, and it's like, that's Tess Tyler, the diva of Camp Rock. And her mom is TJ Tyler, who obviously is a fictional Grammy winner.
And she's like, the TJ Tyler or Taylor Tyler? I have Taylor and Tyler in here. See, it's not just you. No. I would be totally Tyler.
And so one thing that I think is very interesting is the fact that it starts out with Mitchie, like, living in a separate cabin from the other campers with her mom. Yet, she's, like, about she's about to, like, do a whole ruse where she, like, doesn't know her mom. It's also, like, maybe you should've, like, had your mom be in on this because it's just it's just it's a wild she's really walking on eggshells this summer with the way that she has it set up. She does not know enough about China. I'll tell you that much.
She knows Oh, but her best friend helped her out in that expositional moment. Oh, yeah. And I do believe that that was weird. They must have written the whole script, realized there was no way to know, like, that that she would know any Chinese. And they were like, let's couch this in one conversation in the high school with her best friend.
There you go. That's gotta be how we're gonna get it. Fucking solved. Yeah. I don't know.
But, yeah, I I wrote that down. I said, Mitchie works. How do the kids not notice? She's not in a cabin. Word.

(02:28):
She's not in a cabin. Why should she be treated differently? Like, okay. She gets to go to camp at a discounted rate, but she, like, has to work and doesn't get to be in a cabin. Yeah.
It's really very weird. She's fucked up. She's a a little child. Like the camp director. The camp director is the camp director.
I would be like, your kids just coming to camp for free. They're getting paid. Yeah. Like, Shane Gray is his nephew. I'm sure he's doing fine, like Yeah.
He played with Mick Jagger. He brought yeah. And Aerosmith. Yeah. Right.
No. You're right. They name dropped both of those. Yeah. Yeah.
And, yeah, what's his name again? I forget what the camp director's name even is. But, yeah, he is very, like we're supposed to be, be, like, charmed by him because of his accent. Like, that's the vibe I feel, like, I'm getting from it. But I don't know that I'm charmed.
I feel like I'm biased towards the rich kid. True. True. Because every time it's a rich kid's word against Mitchie, he takes the side of the rich kid without, like, any investigation. I do not know.
In the spoiler alert, it's like it turns out that Camp Rock has fallen on hard times, and they're competing with, like, an even richer rich kid camp. Due to the subprime mortgage crisis. Exactly. We should definitely do Camp Rock two next summer. That would be fun.
I it's so good. But yeah. So, like, a lot of the beginning of the movie has a lot of little, like, allusions to this, like, you know, Mitchie feeling lots of class anxiety and trying to fit in. And so when she, like, gets to the cabin where she's staying with her mom, which in and of itself is ridiculous, She says, like, she has to change for dinner. And her mom says, it's camp, not a fashion show.
And Mitchie is like, have you seen these kids? My usual is not going to cut it. Which is, like, yeah, already feeling like she doesn't fit in just based on, like you know, that's a very, like, typical way. I'm sure she's, like, seeing everyone's, like, you know, brand clothing, having, like, the right brand with such a thing in that time. Oh, lord.
Yeah. But fashion is also, like it's pretty it's very 02/2008. Yeah. It's it's crazy. I don't know.
Also, I love how Mitchie is like, she's feeling the hate. She's like, I need to step up my outfit. So she borrows her mom's giant green shirt and puts, like, the biggest belt I've ever seen on top of it. But Disney always was over the top with the clothing and the layering. Like, these kids are wearing, like, five shirts and a skirt over their pants.
It's crazy. I don't know. I was like, Mitchie, just be yourself. Your outfit was cute. Whatever.
One thing I'll say is that, like, Caitlyn's friends are, like, just, like, just a monsterly cooler than, like, Tess and her friends. So it's, like, wild to me that you wouldn't just be friends with Caitlyn and co. But, like, Mitchie is introduced to Lola, who then does, like, one of the best performances, I feel, in the movie. That'd be so good. Yeah.
Also, messaging. If you wanna be my boyfriend, you gotta be sweet. We have a little movie. Yeah. We're so nice.
Disused. And then there's also, like, a little line that might slip you by where Lola is like, you're you're gonna love it here, and this year I hear the food is supposed to be better. And, like, that is the moment when Mitchie could have said, like, it's gonna be because it's my mom's catering company. But instead, she's just like, let's hoe. And so, like, we don't know if she's fully gonna lie yet.
That's, like, about to happen. But, like, you know, she's definitely not trying to, like, have people know that her mom is the cook, it would seem. No. And it's, like, so tragic because, I mean, there would be no movie if Mitchie made this decision. But if she was just honest from the jump, like, she probably would have had a wonderful time and, like, really shined and, like, would have been discovered by Connect three's Shane Wants His Face because he loves her song.
Mhmm. But, you know, these opportunities pass you by when you're pretending to be somebody you're not. Also, she wasn't being Machiavellian enough. Like, she had power. She is in control of the food a little bit because of who her mom is, and that's not the same as money, but, like, she could have used that.
You know? Like, if the kids are like, oh, I want a certain kind of snack, she can either hook that up or not. You know? Oh, true. She'd be like, mom, like, if you make meatloaf for three days straight, back as Tess loves that, and I want Tess to love me.
Tess Tyler loves carbs and meatloaf. Yeah. So the next clip we're gonna watch is Mitchie making the decision Yeah. So the next clip we're gonna watch is Mitchie making the decision that she is really, really not going to tell the truth and is instead going to create an elaborate lie about her class status. Wow.
She's amazing. Yeah. Yeah. She should be. Her mom's on Broadway.

(02:49):
Broadway? Wow. Yeah. But the kids around here don't care about that. It's all about the bling.
That's why Tess over there runs this camp. Hey, Caitlin. Your folks still wowing them on the cruise ship? Actually, they work in Hi. I'm Mitchie.
Oh, hi. I'm Tess Tyler. I know. Wow. I love your mom.
Of course you do. I'm Mitchie Torres. Hey. Is your dad Nikki Torres the composer? My dad staged one of his shows.
No. So what does he do? Anne's a hardware star. And they just walked off. But my mom There we go.
Yeah. What? The president of Hotoon City. In China. Yeah.
It's it's it's a huge market over there. Wow. Cool. So cool. Major cool.
Okay. So have you met anybody? Yeah. Like, everybody. Last summer, I was in, like, three music videos.
Yeah. But, I mean, you could hardly see me. I was in the back. Wow. Are you guys thinking what I'm thinking?
Of course. Absolutely. What are we thinking? There's an extra bed in our cabin. It's yours if you want it.
Really? Totally. We're gonna be great friends. Come on. Sit with us in the VIP section.
The VIP? Okay. I'm good. Thanks for asking. So, yeah, a lot happens in that scene.
Okay. I really wanna point out that I think Tess and Caitlin have something gay going on between them. Did you see the way that Caitlin looked at Tess for a long time? They used to be friends. They used to be friends, so I really buy it.
Like, I see I can see the story line now. Yeah. I'm like, I'm like gay. That's gay. One of those extreme friendship breakups Mhmm.
That happened. That's actually gay. Yeah. No one kisses, but it was a relationship. No one kisses, but they were married.
Like Yeah. Sorry. I just there were so many moments between Caitlin and Tess where I was like, okay, guys. You're in love. Yeah.
It yeah. I see that. I see that reading. Yeah. It makes me so sad to see children networking like that.
Oh my god. Right? Like, who's your dad? Who's your dad? Who's your dad?
Oh, I think my dad worked with your dad. Like, it is so weird. But my mom. Yeah. It is weird.
Also, I was like, damn, she's never hung around rich kids before because you're not supposed to geek out over how their parents are famous. You're supposed to act like it's not ideal. Nonchalant. Nonchalant. But you know what?
I will always geek out if I see a famous person or Me too. Related to I will say I never get it right. One of my dear dear friends has a a famous parent. I didn't know who he was, and I called him the wrong name for, like, months. And it was Oh, no.

(03:10):
It was very he thought it was funny. I was deeply embarrassed and freaked out, but it was fine. I don't know. Like, who? Who?
I can't say. So mysterious. But, yeah, I really do feel like that scene also, like, really is a very interesting read on, like, the way people view the music industry, like we were saying before. Or, like, being a, like, working class musician who's just, like, playing what you gotta play to, like, make a living on a cruise ship or, like, even even being a sporadically and, like, equity actor, like, eight nights a week on Broadway is apparently looked down upon in comparison to being a recording artist in this, like, camp. Insane.
Yeah. Lola's not popular even though her mom is on Broadway, apparently. So Lola can only be a henchman. It's not about school. It's about clout.
Yeah. So true. It's about clout. Caitlin says it's all about the bling. And then the bling impression is like a really ugly necklace of a circle.
Yeah. Oh my god. Yeah. That was a funny transition. It's all about the bling.
Yeah. I was like, what bling? Where is the bling? It was, like, Forever twenty one's finest, like, you know, costume jewelry. Yeah.
Oh, my god. Yes. Oh, man. Yeah. I can't believe Forever twenty one is is on its way out, actually.
Like, that used to be, like I know. Now that's gonna be, like, dating ourselves for real because it's not in existence anymore. I know. Because it was such a time to be alive. Huge.
We had Delia's. We had Westfield. We had all we had it all. We had it all. Oh, I love Delia's.
God, those jeans. The jeans from Emilia's were really great. Boys always pay more attention to me when I wear those jeans. They're in a parade. Yeah.
I know that's right. Yep. Oh, man. They're telling me I dropped something. That was an incredible moment that I saw happen with my eyes.
It wasn't. And the teacher, Kelly didn't know innocent 14 year old Kelly didn't know what was going on. And her teacher, missus Froakdale, was like, Andrew. I'm so so real. Wow.
Yeah. Oh, man. Yeah. It's so good. But, yeah, I think in all that I'm saying, like, speaking actually of, like, the timing of it all is that, like, this is probably around the last time period in history where you can get away with saying you're in a bunch of music videos and no one's gonna, like, go look it up.
Like, honestly on the phone. You can just be like, what music video? I wanna try and find you. Yeah. Exactly.
It's like maybe on the edge of being unbelievable even in this time because YouTube is pretty taking off at this point, but I'm gonna I'm gonna allow it saying it's not ubiquitous enough that may and people don't have the phone in their hand, which I do think makes a huge difference. Yeah. True. And I think that impulse to, like, immediately fact check was maybe not some like, really like that in 02/2008. I don't know.
I feel like now you can, like, you can I'll Google that. It's so easy to stalk people now in a way that it, like, wasn't back then. I know. Yeah. It's great.
I mean, it's not great. You don't lie about your entire life. Yeah. Yeah. I'm like, lie about your, like, parents being, like, famous and influential, and everyone's just like, yeah.
It checks out. Yeah. That makes sense. They're like, of course, you wanna know. It's the Chinese market.
Yeah. This girl doesn't speak a lick of Chinese. There's also the fact that there's an extra bed lying around. Like, what is this camp? Like I know.
Because it and that clearly means that it was a deliberate choice to have Mitchie staying with the mom and not with the other campers. It was just like, this is so weird. So I guess They're like violating child labor laws, I feel. Agreed. I'm like, no other children are working.
That's so true. Indent disturbing Mitch. Yeah. Yeah. Also, she's like, only the mom is working alone to feed the whole camp with Mitchie.

(03:31):
I'm like, where are the other cooks? Where are the There are occasionally kitchen stuff, like, extras, but it's very inconsistent, and, like, none of them have lines. Like a chain smoking crust punk. Yeah. Where are the chain smoking crust punks?
Because salsa we had at our camp, and there was no way to make really good food. Yeah. And they informed what I thought was hot because, yes, I was a teen. Of course. And I was like, I wanna marry a crust punk that's smoking a lot of cigarettes.
Yeah. Yep. That makes food with love with love. I mean, that last part is actually, like, you know, a green flag. So it makes sense why the rest would have seemed like it could go with together with the food.
Yeah. Also, maybe it's like Pavlovian. Like, you, like, eat the good food and you associate it with the crust punk, and it makes you love the crust punk. Yeah. They were so nice to us too.
They were so nice. Yeah. They were the best. They were the best. We love you.
Every camp needs a group of chain smoking, rolling their own cigarettes, crust punks, cooking the food. Well, one of them Facebook messaged me a PDF of the communist manifesto. Yeah. That rocked. That was a game changer.
Really? A huge game changer. One of them burned just a CD with a bunch of, like, leftist punk music on it. Remember that? Yeah.
With, like, defiance Ohio and against Yes. This is all to say, this camp is really lacking in the crustpunk department. Well, we're saying that they didn't know who was cooking for the camp very shortly before camp began. Could they have fired the crustpunks for their political views? Because this place is super owning class.
You can't have cross punks sending the communist manifesto to the children of pop stars. No. You're so right. You're so right. That's why they needed Kony's Catering.
They need a small business owner to come in. Yeah. They need someone who's too oh, man. No. Because for real, if you're, like, somewhere and and there's a kitchen and nobody is a little bit punky looking, like, the food's gonna be off.
It's either needs to be, like, punky people or, like, grandmothers. These are the the best cooks. So true. Right now, I work in a restaurant, and there are two two kind of punky guys. They're, like, 20 years old.
They're more emo than punk, But, yeah, the food slaps, so it makes sense. Yeah. This is clearly science. Clearly science. So Mitchie comes and is basically, like, I'm going to abandon you and hang out with these cool kids.
You know, she doesn't say it in those terms, but she's kind of like, I'm sorry, but, like, I'll still help out. I know I she doesn't say I know I have to help out. So, like, like, backing up Kelly's this is child labor argument. Like, this is not this isn't a this isn't a, like, I'm helping out because I'm a nice daughter. This is, like, required, according to the dialogue.
And she's, like, but I'll just get up earlier. And her mom's, like, sweetie, of course, you can move into the girl's cabin. Like, lovely. Such a nice mom. Yeah.
She is a nice mom. We get Tess calling her mom before Mitchie comes into the cabin, Oh, my gosh. The other girls. And basically, just being, like, fully emotionally neglected by her famous mom. Rich girl with mommy issues.
A teen trope for sure. Yeah. I need anti happiness. Yeah. Except it can really help.
I would think. Yeah. You can, like, have some nice therapy. Like, the only people having therapy in this time were rich people, you know, like Yeah. Yeah.
There's also this weird thing where they're like, money can't buy happiness. But then it's like, well, why is that girl's mom all fucked up? Is it because she's being exploited? Is it because she's being treated all weird because she's a woman in the entertainment industry, so now she doesn't have any brainpower because they pumped her full of drugs or whatever? I don't know.
She spends, like, all of her time working to the detriment of her personal life. Or, like, Shane Shane is so miserable because of money. Yeah. Shane is spiraling. There's no real issue.
He just has a bad attitude. It's really wild to, like, see this commentary on, like, the music industry come from the Disney corporation. Yeah. Yeah. It's like they're trying to be, like, see?
It's not us because we're He's authentic. Yeah. I mean, that's an art. Like, I don't know. It was really weird to see him be like, I don't wanna make commercial music.

(03:52):
I wanna I wanna be, like, authentic and true to me and write this song. And then he, like, proceeds to, like, pretend to write the most commercial schlock I've ever heard. Oh, totally. I don't know. It was really weird to see that coming from Disney.
Yeah. The schlock machine. The working conditions on the set of that movie Brutal. Were horrible. And it was, like, perfectly bad.
So many of Demi Lovato's issues. She was if I'm not, I mean, then totally. Yeah. I'm pretty sure that Demi Lovato I don't know what pronouns Demi Lovato I but I'm good. Yeah.
I don't remember. I feel like they might have gone back on. Too. Yeah. I'm like, this is this is 2025, friends.
Yeah. Right? Google it. Fourth fourth thing that comes up. Okay.
The is she it's a shethey, folks. She's a shethey according to according to Google. A shethey situation. No. Yeah.
It said that she readopted sheher pronouns, but in addition to the theythem pronouns. So not like Oh, gotcha. Not theythem anymore. It's shethey. She said shethey.
Okay. Yeah. Was okay. I'm gonna Google really quick. I'm gonna was she sexual Oh, no.
I loved the stuff the other this stuff yesterday. Demi Lovato said that she was sexually assaulted when she was 15 years old by somebody who was, like, a a kind of background, like, Disney person. She never says exactly who it was. There's, like, a ton of speculation, but she was 15 when she shot Camp Rock. So it happened around that time, and she said, like, she started coping with, like, drugs, self harm, and, like, her eating disorder starting around then.
And I don't know. Yeah. It's really it's so bleak. It's so bleak because you watch her in this movie look like she's, like, cherubic. She's so cute.
She and she's so young, and it's, like, damn, going through some really heavy shit. But yeah. Yeah. Yep. The dark side of the I thought I dropped a child actor.
Yeah. Yeah. Dark side of, like, labor. Like, no one in management checked on her. Right?
Like, of course, people can do everything they can and horrible things still happen, but I just don't think Yeah. That they were being protected in the way that they could have been. Yeah. No. Not at all.
Not at all. The speculations. I mean, all were they were all, like, made to have this image of, like, pure they had to wear, like, the purity rings. Oh my god. Purity rings.
Yeah. Oh, but, like, they're a lot of times are controlled. Yeah. Yeah. Their image was they took care like, I feel like the corporation took care of their image very well, but not, like, the actual people, which is really sad.
Yeah. So often, it it just bleeds over what happened behind the scenes and what happens sometimes what happened behind the scenes is political in a bad way. Yeah. And also, it's just, like, wild to know that there was this, like, darkness, like, this horrible stuff happening in the background of, like, such a goofy production. Yeah.
Yeah. Really, it's kind of sinister. Yeah. Like a love interest can even kiss in this movie. Like, it's like Yeah.
So, like, wholesome Disney vibes. Yeah. Also, it's like, I clocked that I clocked sorry. I've been watching a lot of TikToks lately. You.
It's clocking to me. It's clocking to me that Shane Gray is a camp counselor and Demi Lovato is a camper. Thank you. Oh my god. Thank you.
How old is he supposed to be? How old is he supposed to be? He's like, you know, the team of the camp. Yeah. And Mitch is a high schooler.
So, like Oh, I thought I was so fucked up. I didn't even realize that. I was like, yeah. And are they trying to be like are they trying to be like, oh, they were discovered when they were really young, so they're the same age somehow? Like, I don't I'm not saying that they're it's definitely problematic.

(04:13):
But, like, I'm just, like, trying to understand what's going on in this universe. No. It's the same. Like, is it the type of thing where, like, she's 17 and he's 19? Or is it the type of thing where, like, he's 23 and she's 14?
Like, I'm like, what's happening? I don't know. I guess I was just assuming that they were very close in age. I mean, I'm also assuming that. The first time I watched it, I didn't realize it.
Neither did I realize it the second time I watched it. But today, when I watched it, I was like, oh, fuck. I've seen it at least three times, and I was never like, oh, this isn't kind of inappropriate, but, like, it is. And you would get at our camp, you would be fired. Yeah.
Yeah. The kids And, again, they don't really yeah. They don't really get involved until the second movie, if my understanding, like, in a real way. But, yes, I still think it's on the line going out into boats together and stuff. To move on to the next clip I have for us to watch, when Mitchie first moves into the cabin, she has another moment of class awkwardness that leads to more lies and weird weird saying fake Chinese words, real Chinese words.
Hey, guys. I don't know. Hey, Mitchie. Hello, Mom. Hey.
So which bed is mine? That one. But Peggy doesn't mind, do you? I guess not. Wow.
One bag. You can't possibly have all your clothes in there. Right. Well, I threw a lot of my clothes away. Yeah, I just got tired of them.
And you kept this? Yeah, well, it came from China. A little boutique called Jinjia Ji. Wow. Totally wow.
What does that mean? Happy summer. Yeah, that store is the bomb. Wow, really cool bracelet. It's from my mom.
Every time she wins a Grammy, she adds a charm. Wow. Love it. Totally blingalicious. Whew.
I'm trying to see this blingalicious. I'm not in summer. How do you say it? I'm gonna make my phone say it because I don't I'm I'm gonna botch it. Not even close.
No. No. Not close. Not even close. Not even fucking close.
Why did they have to have the live v China? It's very, like, it's very, like, Trump thing China, you know, the same vibe as that. Right. Yeah. Like, whenever Yeah.
It feels derogatory. Exactly. Like, it feel yeah. It feels racist. Really?
There's something racist about it. There's something racist about it. I can't put my finger on it, but I know it when I see it. It's a vibe. I didn't really pick up on that.
Oh. I don't know. Maybe maybe I'm fucked up. But I went I thought that maybe it was, like, Disney trying to, like, well, I I didn't really read that much into it, but I was, like, I wonder if Disney was, like, trying to do business in China or something. Oh.
But, you know, it is it is kind of like I don't know. America has a lot have a lot we have a lot of cultural baggage around China. No. Exactly. Like, that's what I I feel like it's some sort of, like, weird, like, American, like, relationship with China vibe.
I don't know, like, what if it's pro China or anti China. I don't know. I it's just weird. They're just like, China is special. They're just like, think China is so cool and exclusive, and, like, you wouldn't you would don't know about it.
But my mom is actually really big in China. No. It is. It's interesting. Like, it's like using China as a status symbol in an interesting way.
But, like, is it maybe a little fetish y? I don't know. Like, it's just very weird. Yeah. She's like, oh, this is actually my Chinese body powder when she has flour in her hair.
Yes. I noted that too. I was like, woah. Yeah. She's like, so cool.

(04:34):
Right? And this is like, oh my god. Yeah. I feel like she explains things away using, like, the exoticism of China a few times, or maybe that's what feels kind of like racist y. Totally it.
Yeah. Yeah. It's also like I think whenever any when I'm talking to anyone who's not Chinese and they are talking to me about China, I'm like, what are you trying to say about China? Or what are you trying to say something weird about China? And even if they're not saying something weird about China, I'm on edge.
You know? Yeah. Yeah. Like, I'm nervous. Because the orientalism.
Yeah. Totally. Exactly. My my fiance. What?
I am a a young girl. You never told me that. Congratulations. Thank you. It's a recent development.
It's a lot. Team drama exclusive. Yeah. Yeah. I mean I was gonna say, unless you're gonna hard launch this news before mid August, it could be if you want me to not edit it out.
No. No. No. No. No.
I don't think I'm ever gonna launch on it. I'm just gonna keep, like, sprinkling it, you know? Oh, sprinkling it. Okay. Fun.
Because I love because I love when people are like, yay. Because I'm sick. Because I'm sick and no amount of attention is over enough. But, my fiance has, like, a master's in Chinese history and, like, lived there for a little bit. And, like, he knows a lot about it, and he was explaining the history.
I don't know. It was just, like, really fascinating, like, all the stuff that he knows that I've never even heard about that I feel like should be, like, world news. But I just, like I don't know. And I wish I could remember it better. But you know what?
This is not a Chinese history podcast. But if you ever wanted to do a Chinese teen drama, I'm sure Evan would be gay. Well, I was gonna say, does Evan have a take on the the representation of China in Camp Rock? Did you have him watch it with you? Camp Rock?
No. Evan was like, wow. I am I want no part of this. Yeah. That sounds great.
Yeah. It's like, yeah, but I'm just gonna walk Camp Rock alone when when you're at work. But yeah. So this begins now she lives in the the cabin with the cool kids, and she has to start waking up early and sneaking out in the mornings to go to work. So this is just a wild wild way to be spending your camp experience, all because you have to go on a discounted rate.
It's very it's very second class citizen vibes. Yeah. And she literally has to convince yeah. No. Literally.
And she has to convince Ella that she's, like, dreaming because she, like, wakes her up on her way out. It's like, this is ridiculous. And then she pretends to come into the dining hall with everyone, and they're they start the, like almost every time you see them, they're like, what happened to you? For, like, the next, like, several scenes, they'll be like, what happened to you this morning? And she's like, early riser.
Looks like Caitlyn does do kitchen duty as a punishment. Yes. Yes. Yeah. So it's like you either are forced to as a second class citizen or you're punished and you have to work in the kitchen.
This is bullshit. They should have the kids should rotate helping out. Yeah. I mean, if if someone has to and otherwise, it's yeah. It should just be, like, none of the kids have to if that's the vibe.
Like, whatever you guys are gonna do, it should be uniform. Yeah. I'm also, like, you wanna work in the music industry? You should know how a chick a kitchen works. A man, brother.
True. Nice. That one would need something called a day job. A lot of those happen in the kitchen. Well, I'm like, I don't know.
Thank god we learned our way around the kitchen at camp. It's helped me so much. I work in a kitchen now, and I know how a bunch of shit works. Yeah. Yeah.
Wow. Hot take. They all should have been working. Yeah. They should have been like, oh, this is to work.

(04:55):
This is to work. They yearn for the mimes. Missy's own, like, music journey kind of coming to a a bit of a halt because Tess manipulates her into seeing background vocals along with the rest of her minions and is convincing her that even for the final jam, she should be part of their group and not, like, do a solo. So vampire. Exactly.
The one of the scenes that I feel like we have to watch, because it's one of the most visually wild scenes I've ever seen in my life, is the flower face scene where, like, she's basically wearing, like, white face. Like, you would never actually call it that, but, like, that is the vibe at the same time. Yeah. Yeah. In what world would that, like, keep somebody from knowing who you were?
Yeah. If I saw her later with no flower, I would just be like, oh, hey. You had flower on your face before. Yeah. It reminded me of, like, Hilary Duff with the mask on in a Cinderella story where it's like she's not concealed at all.
Another class four story. Another class four story. And ecological because there's a drought. Oh, yeah. Yep.
Waiting for rain in this drought. Useless and disappointing. To rain in this drought. What is it? Useless and disappointing or something?
Yeah. So we're gonna watch the flower face scene where because it is a visual scene, she is trying to conceal her identity from Shane Gray via a chef's hat and flour all over her face. And it is love it. I cannot tell you how visually weird this is. If you haven't seen this movie, you should stop and watch it just so that you know what we're talking about in this scene.
Yeah. Sorry. I'm late. That's okay, honey. The last batch of cookies is in the oven.
You can start cleaning up. I'm gonna take these down to the storage room. Come on. It's so nice. Hello?
He's here. Hello? Hello? I can hear you. His tongue is Hi.
Do you work here? Yes. I'm doing your right job at the edge. You really get into your work. I'm Shane, but I'm sure even the kitchen help knows that.
Of course. Uh-huh. It's nice to meet you. Actually, it's not so nice. See, my manager said he sent over my food allergy list, but since I couldn't even go near my breakfast this morning, can I just talk to whoever's in charge?
Excuse me? What? Well, you're kind of being a jerk. Or A person. And there's a way to talk to a person and that's not it.
Yeah. Amen. I'll have my manager send it over again. Fine. Thank you.
Much better. That's right. Okay. Like, she's right, but also, like, she looks insane. Like, I Yeah.
I was like, wow. I'm so unnecessary. What world? Who broke it? This is the funniest shit ever.
And, like, they put it everywhere on her. Like, it was on her eyelids. Like, it was, like, so thoroughly yeah. Like, I was just like, this is, like, truly wild. Like Yeah.
Like, she is drying her lips out. It looked really it looked uncomfortable. It and it's just, like, hard for me to take the scene seriously when she actually is making a really valid point to this, like, rich person who's treating Oh, no. I know. Working people like shit.
But she's has a fucking flower face, and I just can't take it serious. But she would never she would never, like, pop off at him like that if she wasn't hiding. She was Mitchie. She would never be like, guess what, Shane of connect three, you're a bitch. Like, you'd be like, yeah.
So true. What's that that superhero who's like, I put on the mask? Like, what it I can't remember what it is. Is it Batman? Maybe.
Yes. It's like she's Batman in that moment. She's vengeance. She right. She can't be vengeance without the mask.
For me, it felt like a horror film. Like, the way she looked, I was like, if I woke up and that was in my room in the dark, I would be like, I'm about to die. Yeah. Oh, absolutely. I would scream.

(05:16):
For sure. Yeah. It was so scary. Felt the grudge. Yeah.
It reminded me of the grudge a little bit, which I also will never watch. I'm I hate being scary. I don't like scary movies either. I'm like, I invent enough scary situations in my own brain. I don't need someone else to help me.
I did watch two scary movies to be on another podcast called Scary Compari because I've been told missus Kelly where no amount of attention is enough. And it was harrowing for me. Yeah. But I did learn a lot. They gave me some tamer ones.
Okay. They gave me the others and the turning of the screw. Oh. Because the others is based off the turning of the screw. Woah.
And I will say turning of the screw was scarier, but both were devastating. Doesn't seem like they won you over to the genre. No. No. It's still upsetting to think about.
Oh, man. This was years ago. Yeah. Like and it's truly, like, they're not supposed to affect you that much. I know that, but I am broken.
So they do. Oh. I know. I kind of like horror movies. I kind of I like fun ones.
Like, I like Jennifer's Body. Yeah. Fun ones. Yeah. Yeah.
I like fun, like, almost horror stuff, but yeah. Like, I feel like it's never actually, like, a straight horror movie that I enjoy. Yeah. Yeah. Oh my god.
Oh, there's this great one called It's a Wonderful Knife, and it is a lesbian slasher take on It's a Wonderful Life. Wow. Amazing. Oh, I need to see that. That's awesome.
It rocked my world. Yeah. That one was good. That one was fun. That was a romp.
Yeah. Oh, man. So the next scene that we're not gonna watch but that happens is that Joe Jonas, AKA Shane, is teaching the class how to dance, which is just just a lot. Did you know how to hip hop dance? Hit hip hop dance.
Oh, no. Yes. Hip hop dance. Have a hat and a microphone. Okay?
Yeah. All of them having a microphone was a wild detail. And he's, like, blowing it. It's crazy. I was, like, it's not hip hop if you don't have a hat on.
Ladies. Oh my god. Ladies, get your hats. And this is also the scene in which she still has flour in her hair and she says that it's, you know, Chinese product of some kind in her hair. Body.
There's a lot going on racially in this scene. And I it's a lot. Yeah. So the lies continue when it's surprising that this takes this long that, like, her mom interacts with her and her new friends. This only leads to more to more lies and miss she continuing to dig herself deeper into this hole.
Where were you? It was called a female of, female model. Oh, no. Hi, girls. Hi.
Hi. So, yummy breakfast. Oh? How would you know? There's hardly anything on your plate.
Morning carbs, definite no no. Yeah. Well, I just wanted to meet Mitchie's new friends. This is Ella, Peggy, and Tess. Hi.
Hi. Hello. It breaks my heart. Well, I see you girls are really busy, so I'll talk to you later. Okay.
Do you know her? Yeah. Don't you? She's cooked for everybody, from Jessica and Nick pre break up to Pharrell. Really?

(05:37):
Yeah. I'm shocked the camp even got her. You mean Jessica ate these eggs? So much early two thousands commentary on, like, the dumb girl liking that Jessica Simpson who was, like, seen as such a like, oh my god. She's a dumb blonde.
Like Is this chicken or is it fish? Right. Right. Yeah. Nick Lachey was so mean to Jessica Simpson in that moment.
America was so mean to her about that. But, yeah, there's just so much happening there with those girls. Like, the way that they, like, default when they're interacting with somebody who serves them food is, like, wildly disrespectful and, like, Oof. It's rude. It's so rude.
And, god, Mitchie is, like, I don't know. Oh, that's not my mom. Like, if I was her mom, I'd be so heartbroken. I know. And she's really, like, just taking it in stride.
Like, oh, my teenage kid thinks I'm not cool. I'm just, like, I feel like that's, like, the way that she takes it. But it's Yeah. More than that. But it's, like, it's not about being cool, dude.
It says she's ashamed of you and the work you do to provide for her. She's such a little brat. That moment where she acts like she doesn't know her mom, I was like, I'm sorry. That made me so sad. It made me so sad.
I was like, your mom's busting her ass for you. She literally picked up her whole life to work at the stupid ass camp. To make you happy. I feel. Yeah.
But then it's like, isn't that the story of all children at some point? Like Yes. Like, especially as teens, like, that's what teens do. They act like they don't know their parents. Even though their parents love them.
Some most parents. You're born to break your parents' heart. Oh god. In the in the title and the silver spoon. There was one time our mom did that.
Mom was like, I wish I should have played Barbies with you every time you asked. And we were like, we asked you multiple we asked you multiple times a day every day. And she goes, and the cats in the cradle are all in the sewers. And the That's so funny. Oh my god.
So good. It's like, it would have been impossible for you to play Barbies with us every time. Yeah. Yeah. That's not just me.
Sentiment though. Yeah. Aw. Emily, we can play Barbies now. Let's go get some Barbies.
Yeah. No. I know. Like, I didn't appreciate like, God, I mean, not I guess, you know, we're lucky to have this experience. Some people have, like, awful parents.
Yeah. But, like, oh, we're so lucky to have had, like, a saintly mom like Mitchie's. Oh, Mitchie's mom is a saint. She's a saint. Seriously.
She also, like, later when she's like, that test is interesting. You know, I was like, that's a fun mom. I feel like you know how, like, I don't know. Moms take your side in the argument with the mean girl. You know?
Sometimes your mom dislikes the mean girl more than you dislike the mean girl because she knows. Because she has some life experience. Yes. Yeah. Yeah.
And she also hears a lot of moms. She hears all the bad stuff. Like, I feel like once the mom hears the bad stuff, she's like, okay. This this girl's a little bit an enemy for me. Yeah.
And then you just still keep making up and breaking up with the person, then, like, every time I feel like a mom is like, no. No. I've already seen this happen already. Like Yeah. I don't like this person.
And then, like, the you as a child, you're like, well, my frontal lobe is mushed, so I'm gonna do this, like, three more times. Yeah. Because I don't get it. Yo. It's not clocking to me that you're standing on business.
Oh, man. Another teen idol craze. Yeah. Teen idolism. I feel a little bit bad when I say it because it is so funny that It's so funny.
It's, like, definitely one of the funny it's like a some Eric Adams shit. Like, it's like, you know? But he was valid. I think he wanted a paparazzi to get away from him or something. Yeah.

(05:58):
I just did. Yeah. No. It was a valid, like, being mad moment. It was just hilarious that that's how he's mad.
I know. It was a very bad moment for him for sure. God. I mean, I'm sure I've said something dumb like that when I was Oh, I absolutely I agree. One time I said, no one's crediting me.
I remember that. No one will cred me. You were And I bent it with my whole chest. I know. This movie brings up a lot of, like, teen angst for me.
I don't know. But you know what? Like, I feel like I was kind of like Michy when I was a kid. Like, I was so in there. But I wish I was more like Caitlin, the producer girl who she has such high self esteem.
You know? Mhmm. Like, she's so confident in herself that she's like, okay. Whatever. This girl is being an asshole to me.
Like, in that first scene when, like, Mitchie runs off with them without a word to Caitlyn, and Caitlyn's like, okay. Well, like, bye, bitches. When I was 15, I would I probably would have tried to, like, follow them. You know what I mean? Like, I would have, like, really tried to, like, make them like me or something.
And I wish that I have, like, the presence of mind to be like, no. I don't need to be in situations where people treat me like shit. Yeah. Also, it was amazing when then Mitchie comes back to her the next day to say hi, and she's like, get out of here. Like Yeah.
You ditched me for my enemy yesterday. Right. Yeah. Like, it didn't clock to me as a teen that sometimes it's better to be alone than to be surrounded by people who do not value you. Yeah.
You know? Yeah. Speaking of Caitlyn, that actually brings us to, like, the kind of turning point of this plot, which is the spaghetti fight. Oh my god. Which was not her fault.
I know. Not her fault. Tess. Caitlin is sitting with, like, her leg kind of out, and Tess tripped. Oh, okay.
Scar me. And then she looks up and sees that it's Tess, and she goes, actually, I'm not sorry. Fuck you. I was like, tell her. Yeah.
Tell her. Yeah. So and Mitchie puts herself in the middle of, like, the spaghetti throwing, and so that leads to the camp director pulling Caitlin, Mitchie, and Tess out of the dining hall. And, basically, like we were saying before, listens to Tess saying that Caitlin started it. Mitchie doesn't speak up.
So, he literally says, since you wanna play with food, I'm gonna hook you up with a job this summer. So more indentured servitude. And, you know, Caitlyn's like, thanks a lot to Mitchie for getting her stuck with kitchen duty. But internally and we can see it as the audience. So the other characters don't see it.
Mitchie is freaking the fuck out because she's like, this is going to blow up my cover. Like Yeah. Yeah. Well, there's no that's not what does it. So we're gonna cut to Caitlyn figuring out what's been going on this whole time.
There's a couple of really funny lines in there when she finds it out. I'm thinking specifically when she's like, this is Riff. You're not. Oh. You're the fuck.
Shutters. Hey, mom. How you doing? I'm How are you? I am great.
I'm wonderful. I'm fantastic. I'm Putting chips into bowls? Great. Oh, we have to be flying high from her, like, hang on.
Hey, miss Torres. Hi, Caitlin. Thanks for coming in early. Taco night takes the entire kitchen stuff and our six hands. Six?
Yeah. My daughter. Uh-huh. So can you please start in on the onions? Brown wants to talk to me about next week's campfire pig out.
Sure. Hey. You must be hands five and six. I didn't know Connie had a daughter. I'm Caitlin's Caitlin's Do you need some help?
Yeah. She is. This class act is about to get busted. Wait a minute. Why is she wet?

(06:19):
You're the cook's daughter. She fell in a bucket. She's your mom. Oh, this is rich, but apparently you're not. Run.
Go tell everybody. Maybe I should. Five. One chip in her hair is grabbing me out of my mind. Keep our mouth secret.
Longer than this. Why? It's like glued in the chips. Why do you care? Oh, I don't.
When I tell everybody, I want the whole backstory. I just wanted to fit in. Okay? I think your whole charade is stupid and immature. You're hiding behind some crazy lie.
What about you, You hide too. Oh, I don't care about anything attitude. Well, if you don't care, why are you here? What happened to you? She got drowned in her lies.
What, baby? She got drowned in her lie. Just take that shape out of her hair. I can't. No.
No. You can talk later. First, you gotta get out of these I know. Clothes. Come on.
Oh my god. The way she looks at Caitlyn though was crazy. She was like, evil. She was like, yeah, you don't care. But why are you here?
I know. And I'm like, it's just a fun second at some because she's being bullied. Yeah. Yeah. I'm like, Caitlin's actually holding it together pretty well.
Yeah. No. That's definitely true. Caitlin had an I don't care attitude at all. Yeah.
I felt like she had a I'm okay with myself. Yeah. Also, I wanna say Tess is the first one who moved, tested and throw the food. She spilled it on Caitlin on purpose. And then Caitlin technically threw the food.
I literally felt gaslit by Tess and had to rewind and double check. Okay. Yes. On the record. That's yeah.
I was like, it's technically true. Okay. But I know that she started it. Like, I was yeah. She's a rich kid.
Yeah. Gassle at me. She's Whatever. Much a little stinker. Yeah.
She is a stinker. She is a stinker. I love when when Caitlin says she's drowned in her lies. Yeah. Me too.
That's so funny. Pretty much. I would watch a movie that was just about Caitlin, like, from Caitlin's point of view. I wanna know what happened between her and Tess. But, like, oh, I never really get into it.
You should not be ashamed that your mother is feeding everyone delicious food, and you shouldn't have to be an indentured servant because your mom is serving everyone delicious food. Pay someone to work in the kitchen. Yeah. Yeah. And we did see at least one kitchen staff walking by in the background in that scene.
So I'm like, what why why are there, like, some workers but not enough to, like, do the whole thing? Like, you need the kids. Like, it doesn't make any sense. It doesn't make any sense. Nerd.
But, yeah, the lives continue for a little bit longer. In the dining hall, they're like, what are you doing? You're always AWOL. One of them is like, hey, Mitchie. I was thinking after camp, maybe we could go visit your mom in China and visit that store.
And Mitchie, like, is keeping her appearances up, and she's like, my mom would love that. And so Caitlin and Mitchie are, like one of thing I did put in my notes just because I think this was, like, so funny and so, like, of its time was that when they're helping Connie, like, blow up balloons for some special scene night, she has this cookie. Like, she asked if it looks like a CD. And, like, it actually does. Like, I'm like It looks so much like a CD.
Yeah. People are starting to collect CDs. I know. It's it's wild. It's sad.

(06:40):
People are like, look at my CD collect. Like, they're like, I have my CD collection. Like, a record collection, but it's a CD. I have record. That never happened with tape.
It did not. And what's that? And what's I don't think it should happen with CDs because with records, it's like they sound better. Right? Yeah.
Like, CDs don't sound better. No. Am I missing something? And you can, like, smash them and make a collage. Yeah.
Yeah. With ILL CDs. Very mixed media. Very cool. During this theme night preparation, we do get a little bit more of the Caitlin Tess lore.
A little bit. Yeah. Not enough. Not enough. Not enough.
But we find out they used to be friends, and that Tess doesn't like competition, and she felt like Caitlyn was competition. For Tess, there could only be one star herself. And Caitlyn says, I know it's fun being friends with her. She can make you feel so important, and she's popular, but so what? And then she, like, points out when, like, Mitchie's pushing back.
She points out that, like, you really like, like, seeing back up to Tess all the time and never getting to say what you really feel and, like, wearing the outfits she tells you to wear. Even when she doesn't wear the same outfit after she said everyone's gonna wear this outfit because she does wear the backup singers. Yeah. She's like, that only applies to the backup singers, which is not me because I'm Tess Tyler. Yeah.
And so even though they have this, like, heart to heart, Mitchie still is like, I'm gonna go rehearse with Tess test and the rest of the early for the final jam. I also put aside a section for us to just talk about the Joe Jonas of it all. So, like, during all of this we did talk about this a little bit already. A potentially inappropriate relationship is happening between Shane and Mitchie where they're, like basically, this teenager is, like, consulting apparently can only be achieved if he's by a lake at this generic summer camp. Yes.
He has to be at the lake. Also, I'm like, it makes sense that a teenage girl would be consulting it because teenage girls are taste bakers. So true. They need to pay her. Yes.
Maybe then she could have paid for camp. Yeah. He's like consulting on his new album, essentially. And then also, there's the whole thorough line of him overhearing her singing on, like, the first day of camp and not knowing who she is. It's just like there's the flower scene and there's the fact that he doesn't know who shoot her voice.
It's just like a lot going on with the, like, him not knowing who she is of it all. Yeah. He's dumb. It's a little convoluted. Yeah.
Disney pill though. Like, Disney is always like, there's a voice. The man's like, I heard a voice. A mystery woman of my dream. I know that I need that voice.
And it's like, what the fuck is this about? Like, why? Weird. It's weird. It happens in The Little Mermaid.
Actually, I think it only happens in The Little Mermaid. No. Snow White. Like, they're always doing their, like, the woman's like, or girl, in this case, little girl is like But the other thing that's very important before we get to them, Mitchie being outed as a poor, if you will, on the boat, which it it to be clear, when Shane and Mitchie go out on the boat, Tess sees this, and it starts a whole other, like, level of conniving. But they have this conversation about how Shane is never sure if people are hanging out with him because of free stuff or the parties.
Oh. Like, he essentially is like, you must feel the same way because your mom works at Hot Tunes. Yeah. He's like, oh, yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. Right. Totally. And he's like, it's just nice talking to someone who gets it.
And so that's, like, their deep connection moment, but, like, it's all based on life. It's also all based on their social standing. He's like, it's just so nice to meet somebody as highfalutin' as me. Right. Fuck off.
It's so hard being highfalutin'. Yeah. Highfalutin'. I never know if people want me for me or for my phone. For my the level that I'm polluting at.
Yeah. Which is Right. And so, yeah. I mean, basically, Tess is, like, motivated by her anger and jealousy of Jane and Mitchie. Because, yeah, she was but she was the teenage girl who should get to be with the pop star.
And so she's, like, kinda going over to, like, buy on Mitchie to, like, try to, like, get dirt, and she succeeds because she manages to spot Connie saying goodbye to Mitchie and Caitlin before the campfire. And Mitchie, like, kisses Connie on the cheek and literally says, I love you, mom. Then she says, I love you too. So that's just no getting out of that one. Yep.
Yep. So we're gonna quickly watch the clip of her really being outed by Tess for all her lies. It's horrible. Hey, Mitchie. Tell us about your mom again.

(07:01):
Her mom is a great person. What's your mom like? She's like a mom. I mean, I know she's the president of Hot Toons TV China, but tell me again about how important she is. Ugh.
Do you think I'm sorry. What? She's pretty cool. And? Maybe that would be like, why are you not talking to my mom?
The president of watching TV China. What's that? She's not president? You mean, you lied to everybody? No, I was So, she's what?
A vice president? Treasurer? Tess. Treasurer? Shut up.
Tess. Go on. Tell us. No, she's a cook. A cook?
At Hot Toons China. No. Here. So you lied. Your mom cooks our food and you help her.
That's the only way you could afford this camp, right? You're a real jerk. Maybe. Yeah. But at least I'm not a big fat liar.
Come on guys. Starfo. Mitchy. Mitchy has dishes to do. Shane.
You were lying on somebody. Yes, but I'm You know, I'm so used to people pretending to be me. I was not pretending. And I really thought you were different. But you're just like everyone else.
You wanna be friends with Shane Gray, not me. Tricks on me, I was just trying to Save it for your interview with Pop Informer magazine. I know I gave you an earful. Oh, dear. I hear you don't.
Come on. Oh, Caitlin's such a real one. Yeah. I know she really is. Hearing.
You don't. Not here. You don't. You don't shed a single tear in front of these bitches. Sorry.
It's all about feeling I'm chill. This is so loaded. This entire scene is so loaded. This is so loaded. Tess is such an asshole.
Yeah. Tess is an asshole. And Caitlin's like, you're a real jerk, you know? And she goes, well, at least I'm not a huge liar. And I'm like, okay.
So you're like Darvo ing. Yeah. Not actually but kind of, you know, divert attention, reverse victim, and offender. Absolutely. Absolutely.
She is Darvo ing. Mitchie. She was victimizing Mitchie, and then she was like, actually, we're all the victim of her lies. And it's, like, okay, which is fine because you are part of creating this, like, weird culture of, like, well, my mommy and daddy do this shit. So much betrayal in that moment.
Yes. So much betrayal. It's like Mitchie's betraying her mother. Yeah. Tess is betraying Mitchie.
And then that boy Shane feels betrayed. Shane feels betrayed. I do think their argument is the dumbest one. Like, he really makes it about himself. Yeah.
And, also, they're so dramatic. I remember the first time I watched that in my memory, it was of them, like, scream, crying at each other. They kind of are. They kind of are. And, like, he's like, I can't believe it.
You know? And she's like, and it's just like, it didn't have to be it didn't have to be that. I don't I think they could have maybe, like, taken a breather and then chatted, but, like, whatever. He really kicked her when she was down. Like, she's clearly upset, and he's like, you are the worst.
Yeah. Save it for the magazine. And it's like, yeah. Okay. Like Yeah.

(07:22):
He's so mean. Maybe she just felt weird not being rich around all these rich people. Yeah. Like, nobody has any, like, empathy with her. Yeah.
She's like, oh, you know, like, this is an insane environment. Right. You are so mean about why I told a lie at diabetes camp. Let's go. I told a lie at diabetes camp.
It wasn't a lie. And also looking back, I'm like, was it even a lie? I'm pretty sure that girl did have a crush on me. I lied and said a bisexual girl had a crush on me at my diabetes camp. A bisexual girl at another camp.
True life. True life tag. Yeah. I was maybe. The truth was maybe.
And also the I was fully 12 and everyone was like, the worst thing you could possibly do is lie. And it's like, what if I, like, killed someone? Would that be less bad than lying? And I was like, okay. Anyway, years go by.
I haven't told a lie in years at this point except for, like, little white lies being like, sure. Whatever. And I used to lie. You're like, I'm on my way. Yeah.
Like, I'm on my way. But until then and then, like, I'm, like, 27, and I'm like, oh, it wasn't the lie that was the problem. It was that it was a gay lie. And for this, it was like it wasn't the lie that was the problem. It was a class lie.
Mhmm. Exactly. They're like them thinking she, quote, unquote, belonged, and they decided that it was a betrayal because if you're poor, I guess you don't belong. But they don't wanna say that. They wanna say we feel betrayed by a lie.
Same with my diabetes camp. They were like, you're gay ass. Get the fuck out of here. I remember you telling me that, like, at diabetes camp, they had, like, a pancake thing. They had a Sunday night.
I see. Sunday night, like, pancakes covered in maple syrup at diabetes camp. Every kid got high blood sugar. It wasn't pancakes. It was ice cream.
We all got to make our own sundaes. Oh, that's what it was. And they wanted us Oh, funny. Because they wanted us to, quote, unquote, feel like normal kids. I'm pretty sure, like Water.
And, yeah, they they did call an emergency and rounded all the kids up in the chapel where we would take our insulin. Truly crazy that instead of, like, reckoning with the fact that, like, wow, the environment we foster in this camp leads someone to feel so left out that they feel they need to lie about their class status. It's that it's like, no. You aren't actually rich, and pretending you're rich is the worst sin of all. Like, it's like, is it is it the worst sin?
Is it the worst sin? Or is the worst sin wearing that giant ass necklace all the time? They're gonna be all crap. Yeah. Or always a good one.
God forbid, a 12 year old explores their sexuality at a separate camp. Okay. Sorry that I put something out there. Yeah. I don't know.
I feel like you were testing to see how cool they were with gay things. Yeah. Turns out not at all. Yeah. Not at all.
Yeah. Not at all. Okay. They were like, you're a liar and also we hate you because you're gay. Yeah.
Also, there was the one girl who really sold me out who knew I was lying and said she was like, you're totally lying. Tessa, I I would bet money that she's queer now because we became friends because we both loved Marilyn Manson and emo music and shit. And I'm like, maybe she was covering her own ass. Also, I didn't I whatever. I'm like, I made it did I make it weird?
Yes. Or did their homophobia make it weird? Both. Both. Both.
We were in that together. Yeah. Because you were 12, probably both. Probably both. So being apart for a week, being apart for a week, being apart for a week killed me.
I know. Being apart for me killed me, and then I had no friends. I remember there was one boy at the table, one of the girl's boyfriends, and he gave me this look that was like, oh god. You're gonna really get it. Like, he looked like he felt really sorry for me.
I'll never forget it. I and I knew in that moment, I was, like, this week is gonna suck. Like, I'm Yeah. I'm so sorry. I'm gonna have a horrible time.

(07:43):
Oh my god. Oh my god. Yeah. Were you, like, sitting there like, I wish I had diabetes? Because that sounds like something that you would have done.
A little bit. Yeah. I was like, can I just come? That's like based on everything you've ever told me about your childhood, it tracks. Yeah.
Yeah. Oh, man. Oh my god. Like, when I broke my leg or my arm. And I was like, goddamn it.
Like, I wanna break my leg, then everyone will pay attention to me. I was just so jealous. I was just so jealous when you were injured. Yeah. So funny.
Yeah. Diabetes definitely twists his dive. Yeah. Diabetes is like, okay. Because I like I said you're always you took good care of me.
And then, but, yeah, diabetes was, like, a big one because that one's forever. Like, the broken leg's gonna end, but diabetes Yes. I'm the victim. It's an attention cash cow, baby. Never learned that.
Oh my god. And then, like, I don't know where the mom is supposed to be during this scene, but, like, the next time we see them together, she literally says, I didn't know you felt so ashamed of yourself. So she clearly, like, finds out about the why, whether she actually heard it or not. And, like, Mitchie says, like, I'm not ashamed. It's just for once I wanted to fit in and be popular.
And she says she has, like, exactly one friend at home, and, like, no one is busting their butts to hang out with them. Her mom is just trying to be like, your music will save you. Like, she's like, people wanna hang out with you if you, like, focus on your music. You be yourself and do what you love. Yeah.
I mean, I'm glad that, like, we have that moment of the mom and that it isn't, like, completely not dealt with, that she, like, fully was, like, I'm ashamed of my mom all summer. Yeah. We were under the bus like that. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. Summer camp, you can kind of, like, be a new person at summer. You can reinvent yourself. Yeah. You can reinvent yourself.
You could be like a dosing college, you know? Yeah. I think like a dosing college. It is like college. Oh my god.
I could be a little bit of people who, like, don't know that I, like, peed my pants in first grade. Exactly. But she took it a little too far. Yeah. She took it a little too far.
And that's okay. That's okay. I have a feeling everything is gonna work out in the end. Yeah. Before we get to the final jam, the last clip I wanted us to watch is kind of, like, the climax of the class conflict aspect of all this, which is when Michi finally claps back at Tess publicly.
Because in the last scene, she was kinda just sitting there, you know, taking it and being like, yeah, I lied. I'm a bad person. But in this scene, I feel like she's like, no. Actually, fuck you. Hell, yeah.
Maybe she's developing class consciousness. Hey, guys. Can I sit with you? I guess. But you have to give me your cake.
Yeah. Okay. Deal. I want this. You know, sitting with the kitchen help is really hurting my wrap.
What wrap? Believe me, it's probably not that funny. The chicken was kind of dry. Could you tell your mom to be just a little more careful? Tess, stop talking to me like that.
Stop talking to everyone like that. I may be the cook's daughter and my father may not be rich, but I'm a much better person than someone who feels good about herself because she makes everyone else feel bad. Yeah. And I'll take that any day. Get her.
If it wasn't obvious, you're so out of the group. Then we'll make our own group. Yeah. Yeah. Woo.
But, yeah, that, like, is, like, the last we really hear about that aspect before we get into, like, the actual final jam, and there's, like, that whole, like, montage of them being, like, five days left, four days left. Oh, they're all, like, getting ready. We're collaborating. Yeah. Because people power.
Yeah. I love that, like, her clapping back includes her not just being, like, don't talk to me like that, but don't talk to, like, everyone like that. Like, she really does make a little bit more of, like, a universal statement there about, about, like, don't talk to the working people like they're below you. Yeah. Yeah.

(08:04):
And then the other girl, you know, like, her little lackey friend, also, like, I don't know. I feel like they get ideas, and then they they end up, like, yelling at her too and being like, what is wrong with you? You're such an asshole. Yeah. Which is beautiful.
Yeah. The lackeys are unionizing. Yeah. Right? Like, if one person is brave, it gives everyone a little bit of permission to be brave.
Yes. Absolutely. A single spark starting a prairie fire, perhaps. Oh my god. Wow.
Bars. Yeah. That brings us to the final jam. Not the final jam as in Camp Rock two the final jam, but final jam is in the first game of the first one. Yeah.
The first final jam. The last little, like, test attempting to, like, maintain her power move is when she accuses Caitlyn and Mitchie of stealing her charm bracelet. She plants it in, like, the room that that she stays in with her mother, I guess. Because, like, she seems to have moved back. It's definitely not their shared cabin that she finds the bracelet in.
Oh, yeah. She got out of that cabin. No. I think they find it under a cookbook. Yeah.
But it's, like, in the cook Yeah. In the cookbook. Quarters or kitchen or, like, somewhere in their domain. A perfect crime. Oh my god.
I'm like, that whore. That's so fucked up. Yeah. And then you have the whole thing as a camp director using, like, coded language and being like, rules are rules. And I have to ban you from the rest of camp activities until the end of final jam.
Then he keeps saying the end of final jam over and over again. But then later She can be the headliner? Because I'm Literally he's literally being, like, if you come out at the end, it'll be okay. Because then, like, that's how Caitlyn and Mitchie, like, interpret it. And then when they get there, he's like, I was hoping you'd catch on.
And it's like He's such a coward. What? He is a coward. He's a I love rich kids too. Dude, this is classic Disney bullshit though because they're like, listen, management is on your side.
We're a family. Yeah. You just have to catch on. Yeah. You just have to, like, understand the secret code that they tell you.
And also, I would like to say if Disney ever wanted to hire me, I would love to be a part of that family. You know? And I take it back. Look, I so wouldn't organize my workplace if I worked for you. I would not.
Not not me. Not until I figured out how I was indispensable. And then and then I wouldn't do shit. I wouldn't do shit. Don't worry.
Fi, hire me. It's Fi. Oh, boy. But yeah. So basically, Caitlin and Mitchie show up.
And we see a lot of final jam performances. We can talk about whether there's any favorites after. But to really wrap up the plot here, Mitchie comes out and she sings her song, which the main thing I knew about this movie is this song, I think. Right? Like, I knew that this is real, this is me.
Like, I had definitely memed this is real, this is me before. Like, that was my main association of this movie. She and Joe Jonas have written songs that are, like, vaguely about self discovery. Yeah. I know.
Yeah. They're like, who am I? She's like, that's the song. And then, like, Kevin Jonas is like, that must be the girl. And they're like, you're dumb.
Obviously, it's the girl. I'm just like, I can't with this, like, Jonas Brever humor. Oh, yeah. But I'm sure that the people who are obsessed with Jonas Brevers at the time, like, my sister ate that shit up. So the audience, I'm sure that was intended for ate that up.
But then they just, like, start duetting. Like, he, like, literally just comes on stage and, like, decides he, like, honestly takes her moment from her in a in a little bit of a way, I would say, hot shit. I know. I mean, like, he their songs go together. So if she did lie, a metaphor perhaps.
But, yeah, I guess he forgives her because she's the voice. Right? I think he, like, owns her an apology. Yeah. Yeah.
I agree. Such a deal for her apology. But I think he goes up. He's like, I'm gonna sing with you because you lied to me. So this is stage time for us now.

(08:25):
No. I'm kidding. He didn't do that. He doesn't need it. He doesn't need stage time at fucking Camp Rock.
Yeah. I think he Stage is a stage. Stages are engaged. And then their songs go together. And somehow without ever rehearsing ever, they are singing in perfect harmony because they're meant to be.
Yeah. And that's the metaphor for their romance. Everything else falls away. I'm sure he owes her an apology for yelling at her while she was crying. In front of everyone.
In front of everyone. No. Literally, though. And also, someone should look into the ethics of the whole, like, dynamic vibe there. But, like Yeah.
That's not our problem as the audience. Also, how do we know that there isn't, like, a future deuxmois somewhere in that crowd of kids who isn't feeding this information to the press? Like, you cute her of I love it. It's a pop in deuxmois. My favorite crew is the Asta La Vista crew.
H a s t a, La Vista. I loved them. Hell, yeah. It's so funny. The whole, like, concept of the camp is just so funny where it's like, now it's time for the campfire jam.
Now it's time for this other kind of jam. Now it's the final jam. And it's just like, okay. And then and then after the final jam, there's a final jam jam session, which is apparently the camp director's favorite part of the whole thing. And that's when we actually get the song where they're all singing about Camp Rock.
Like, I think the song might even be called Camp Rock possibly. I'm not a 100% sure. And they can just let loose and be themself because the competition's done. There was a part in the movie where he's teaching the hip hop dance class where the drummer is not he bumps into Tess, that drummer boy. He read that.
And he calls. And the way that Joe Jonas looks at him and goes, you're a drummer. You're a drummer. It's like so goofy. It's like he's like, we just have to figure out how to get that rhythm from those sticks into those feet.
Oh, yeah. I remember that line. And I'm just like, are we in dead poet society for tweens who wanna dance? Like, what's it? Yes.
But also, that says, wow. Talk about marching to the beat of your own drummer. Yeah. And, like, if he is only, like, 18 or 19 in, like, the this isn't a disgusting thing, the no version of events, it's like, okay. Like, okay, 19 year old.
Like Okay. Relax. Stay in that. Feel like, even if I was that drummer, I'd be like, okay. Chill out.
Like It's like, why why do I need to do hip hop dance class if I want to be Where's my hat? No. Truly, like, what situation would a drummer need to do hip hop dance in? Like I don't know. I feel like you don't really have that opportunity when you have to be, like, drumming.
The dancing is actually crazy. And it's I I don't know. Like, the the movie is really goofy. But these these kids in this movie are, like, expert performers and could, like, sell anything. Is this also a Kenny Ortega, like, joint or is that a tight school musical?
I don't know. I'm checking. I'm very curious. It looks like I know. Right?
Dude, he did the Newsies in 1992. Oh, yeah. You didn't know that he's a Newsies fame? Absolutely. Oh, no.
He did not do Camp Rock. Camp Rock was directed by Matthew Diamond. I don't know. I just have to say, I think that the lack of Kenny Dortega, like, boot camp shows Yeah. Like, I just think that High School Musical has more of, like, these kids work their asses off vibe that Camp Rock doesn't quite live up to.
I get I agree. Well, I mean, like, especially Kevin Kevin Jonas. Weak link in the connect three. He just has other talents. It's I know.
And I'm like, oh, why why did he have to, like wait. Is his name Kevin? Yeah. The the, like, one that people like, I don't know anyone who it's their favorite brother. Like, I feel like everyone's people, like, I love Nick or I love Joe.
I don't really I remember a lot of people being, like, I'm a Kevin Curley. Wait. Who's your favorite Joe brother, Marianne? Okay. I won't I guess I'd probably say Nick because I love that song, Jealous.
You know? You can laugh at that song. Me too. I think Nick is my favorite as well. And, like, no offense to Kevin Jonas, you know, like, I could not have done what he did in this movie.

(08:46):
I can't act, but I don't know. I was just like, what is going on? But I felt like the like, that hip hop dance number those kids do, is it, like, cringey and weird? Yes. But are they dancing their little asses off?
Yes. Like, they are popping off. They're going hard. The Jonas Brothers might be Republicans. Might be Yeah.
I was gonna say there's also that. I've heard there's a right word turn happening with these. I mean yeah. Yeah? But they did start out with purity rings.
So I guess it's not that crazy. Yeah. It's a big turn. I also, like I just Googled it, and it was, like, no one knows. No one knows.
There's just it's just some speculation. Oh, but Never thought of life is a conservative known conservative. And I also wanted to add about the Jonas'. Okay. I have this insane memory that when Kevin Jonas' wife was giving birth, they were live tweeting it, and it was sponsored by a toilet paper company.
And I can't tell them? I can't tell if I'm making this up or if it happened. Like I remember that happening to somebody, but I do not remember which celebrity it was. But I remember that being a celebrity, and I'm I was like, that was crazy. Googling Kevin Jonas live tweet birth.
Holy shit. Kevin Jonas live tweets daughter's birth through sponsored tweets. Okay. So it was him. Oh my god.
It happened. I was like, did I dream that? Like, that happened. That is wild. Wild choices.
Wait. What was it? What who sponsored it? Direct. Is it a toilet?
Draft, a laundry detergent company. So it wasn't really even heard of them. The tweets, I'm so excited. Hashtag baby Jonas is coming. Here we go.
We're pushing a hashtag baby Jonas. And then Direct teaches on tweets. Sorry. Teaches? No.
Direct is a laundry company that I've never heard of. Tweets, on this day, a little star was born. Meet Alina Rose Jonas hashtag baby Jonas with a picture of the baby. The exclusive. That's truly some crazy shit.
So, yeah, it's been a long time since the Jonas Prevers were the Jonas Prevers that we see here. It's so true. It's so true. This was 02/2008 2014. Yeah.
That was 2014 they did that? Yeah. The birth? Jesus. Yeah.
Yeah. That's when Alina Rose Jonas was born. Jesus. That kid is, like, 11. Alina Dreft Jonas.
I've never heard of this shit. What is your demand? Remember seeing it on Twitter and being like, you this can't be real. What it is, it feels. Oh my god.
So wild. So, yeah, as we said, we're gonna almost certainly cover the sequel next summer because it's clearly also super class conflicty. I just do not have time to do the other edition this summer. No. The other thing is that when I was doing my, like, little bit of googling for this episode, I saw that it is now rumored that Camp Rock three is happening.
Yeah. So I'll pull up this fan again, this is a FandomWire. It's the source I have. Let's take this as a grain of salt grain of salt, everyone. But what I'm reading is, after years of fan anticipation and periodic meme rollouts, Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers' famous camp rock film franchise is reportedly branching out for a third film.
And apparently, plot details and storyline remain tightly tucked under wraps, but early reports are suggestive of the film picking up fifteen years after the events of the 2010 hit Beckett Assortment. There's no confirmation that anyone is coming back. So, like, I feel like this isn't real yet, but it's amongst the many, many, many, many, many reboots of the era, this is one of the rumors out there. Thanks. I hope it's real.
But also, they need to wait five more years, so it's appropriate for Shane and Mitchie's daughter to be at Camp Rock. Oh. Yeah. True. That is the classic way to to reboot something.
Yeah. Like, Girl Next Gen It. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

(09:07):
Degrassi, famously. Yeah. I would watch the hell out of that. I would do, unfortunately. I obviously would too.
Unfortunately, we're in this now. Yeah. But before we wrap up you've never been on a movie special before. But on the movie special, we wrap up by writing the letterbox review for the leftist teen drama letterboxed account, which I love on the day that this goes live. So what should we write in our letter box review?
Oh my god. Oh my god. This movie is full of talented tweens and teens. Yes. This movie will I'll look at my notes.
Yeah. Yeah. Anything anything from the notes? You won't remember any character's name? No.
What were you calling her originally? Taylor Tate. Tate, not Taint. God. Why is that Tate?
Oh, shit. You made a mistake, Tessa Tyler for My heart was soaring when Demi Lovato stood up for the service industry and made Jo Jonas say thank you to her. Yes. There's some weird vibes around the the China of it all, I would say. Yeah.
Caitlin is the only nice person in this entire camp. Yeah. If you want your kids to emulate anyone, have them emulate Caitlin. It's a commentary on class, celebrity worship, authenticity, and art Yes. From the Disney corporation, which is a beacon of authentic art of our time.
There's a there's a point where Caitlin goes, sure. Sell your soul. And I'm like, oh my god. Like It's also a story about a really good mom. That mom fucking dealt with everything Yeah.
Really well. It's a story of a mom who just goes through hell and high water to get her daughter at this overpriced fucking music camp. And the camp director kinda flirts with the mom a little. That is so true. And and I would also say it's fun.
It's a fun summer romp. It's a romp. You're gonna be romping. Romping. Exactly.
You're gonna be romping your ass off. I cannot stop figuring it out. To know you. I know me too. It really is, like, part of me is, like, people just don't understand Tessa's vision.
She wants to be, like, what are brain worms do I have? Like, where I'm, like, yes. This song is really Pickling part of my brain. I'm too cool to know you. I'm too cool to know you.
Wow. Yeah. Beautiful. Beautiful. Better than the original, some might say.
Thank you. Someone's just doing that at karaoke. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. I wonder if okay.
I need to practice. Yeah. Yeah. I did karaoke really hard last night. I was out until, like, three in the morning.
Yeah. How many songs did you sing? I did two songs. Okay. I did You're So Vain by Carly Simon.
Nice. Classic. And then I did Bring Me to Life by Evan Esen. That's also those are some really great Great. Microphone and was doing the the part that's, like, wake me up.
It was incredible. It's that rock. It was incredible. That's amazing. And so, yeah, my personal letterbox review for Camp Rock, which I usually share also my personal one, is honestly kinda brings it all back around.
Recession indicator, recovering Camp Rock on left just teen drama. Yes. So Oh my god. This is a recession indicator, dude. You know what?
It was a recession, but I was 14 and, like, the I just was having a great time. No. I was not as aware as one might think. Like, I feel like if I have a kid one day and they're like, what was it like to live during the, like, great recession? I'd be like, honestly, I was fighting.
Yeah. I mean, I don't know. I mean, things were tough, but both of our parents, when they were, like, public sector workers, we were fine. Yeah. Every now and then, an adult would overshare with me about their finances and Right.

(09:28):
That's true. Yeah. You'd be like, how are you doing? And they feel like I'm really going through it. And it's like Yeah.
They'd be like, I lost everything. My retirement's gone. And I'd be like, what are you gonna do? And they'd be like, I don't know. And I'd be like I'm just trying not to throw myself off a bridge.
Am I right? Yeah. But it'd be like, bro, let's listen to Katy Perry. Yeah. Exactly.
I'd be like, well, I'm 14. You wanna bake some brownies and listen to the Katy Perry? Yeah. I'm learning seven layered dick. Yeah.
You're literally like, nap sucks, put in iPod headphones. Like Yes. It's like iPod alarm clock things. Yes. Oh my god.
Like, you're sick. Yeah. Amazing. Yeah. This has been an amazing episode.
I can tease that both Kelly and MG will be returning in season five of the love 15 drama, which comes out this fall. So it's our last special episode before we're actually back with a full season of content. Gotta get to work on that to bring it to you guys. Yeah. And, yeah, where can guests find both of you if they want to keep up with you individually and also with Gavin with the Gilberts and your infrequent yet very fun podcast?
Thank you. Thank you. I'm beyblade five on Instagram. It's like b a e blade five. I don't really do any other social media.
I'm just completely addicted to Instagram. Very real. I'm on Instagram as mommy sac eleven, m o m m y. Naturally. Sac eleven.
And I'm on TikTok as my full birth name, Megan Hilah Gilbert, but that's subject to change. I I probably should change that. And then I just keep forgetting. But, yeah, Instagram is the best place, and that's mommy sock eleven. And Kelly and I also have a defunct Instagram called Gil bitches or bitches.
Gil bitches with a z. With a z. And that has something to do with oldies but goodies. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. Amazing. Amazing. Yeah. I'll have y'all send me a bio at some point in the next month before this comes out.
And so if you do choose to change any of your handles, we can make sure it's reflected in the in the Oh, perfect. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you guys so much.
This was so fun. This rock. It was so much fun. This was so much fun. I'm like, we can just do this without recording it sometime.
Yeah. No. Absolutely. Yeah. Oh my god.
We should watch Camp Rock two together. Oh my god. Yes. Sounds good. Let's do it.
Like, you thought Camp Rock was crazy? Dude, Camp Rock two goes crazy. The one thing I can say that we can maybe keep in and, like, as a teaser is that I have, in my professional life, seen the part where they come in being, like, camp rock. Camp rock. Because Oh my god.
When I used for the my last union job when I worked with the REI workers, the Chicago crew went into the woods and, like, chanted union chants in, like, a single file line. And so they asked me if I could splice it together with that Steven Cameron. I called that. That was so funny. That fucking vocals.
I was like, I can do that in my formal role as union cum person, actually. Yes. Wow. That's a little loose. Wow.
Okay. That sounds like a fun group of people, though. Yeah. REI workers rock. You all should support their union efforts listeners.
Yeah. Hell yeah. Kip Rock is a rich text. A rich text. Thanks for listening to leftist teen drama.

(09:49):
Follow us on social media for updates. Links to our Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and TikTok are in the show notes along with links to suggested additional reading on the topics discussed. And don't forget to read us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Solidarity forever, free Palestine, and abolish the PIC. Signing off, Maria.

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