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| "The Star System Syndrome" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Season | 2 |
| Episode | 12 |
| Episode in Total | 25 |
| Air Date | Jan 23, 1999 |
| Production Code | 24 |
| Directed By | Chris Dozois |
| Written By | Greg Weisman |
| [Source] | |
"The Star System Syndrome" is the twelfth episode of Season Two, and the 25th overrall. it originally aired on January 16, 1999. It was written by Greg Weisman and directed by Chris Dozais .
Plot[]
The unexpected disappearance of people in Hollywood draws the attention of the MIB. In the meanwhile the worms also decide to head for Hollywood, in hopes of getting their break on the big screen.
Nekubi
Francis
Synopsis[]
At Hollywood, the new Predeterminator movie is being filmed. As the alien actor portraying the titular character is getting ready, he hears a knock on the door and went to open it. He sees who it is and sighs in annoyed tone. Suddenly, he cowers in fear before getting blasted by a weapon of sorts leaving only ashes where he once stood.
Zed calls in Jay and Kay and informs them about a situation in Hollywood. When they arrived, the two agents meet up with Agent E, an agent whose role is to help aliens to become star actors on Earth. She explains that one by one, her clients (Predeterminator, Prey and Etalffap) have gone missing and there hasn't been any clues where they have gone. After some pondering, both Jay and Kay concludes that this is perpetrated by one of E's clients. They then travel to a film producer’s mansion to consult with his dog, a poodle named Ms. Frances, who Jay thinks is Frank at first, about a has-been actor named Spacedemon.
They confronted one who might be a suspect, the aforementioned Spacedemon, who appears to have a human disguise after hiding. Long ago, he played in blockbuster horror films of the same name which garnered him fame but he was eventually forgotten. After that, he angrily watches as more popular titles such as Predeterminator and Prey took over followed by getting mocked by Etalffap on Jay Leno’s show. But worst of all for the former actor, he watches a show about the Astrotots, a group of adorable aliens who were recruited by E and they promote peace and love to everyone. One night, Annet, one of the Astrotots is being hunted but is eventually caught after begging for peace.
Jay and Kay meet with E who is with the Astrotots. As E comforts them, one of the Astrotots believes that Annet is in a happier place. Jay suspects that Spacedemon might be the culprit due to witnessing his violent nature and bitterness against his rivals but Kay thinks otherwise having not seen a pattern on these attacks. Regardless, Kay orders Jay to follow Spacedemon, believing he might be the next target while Kay goes to a theater to watch the victims' movies.
Jay follows his target from the cinema and later to the Hollywood Sign landmark. He points his gun at the actor and demands that he surrenders. But he discovers it was only the human-suit while the real Spacedemon attacks. Soon, Jay was overpowered by Spacedemon, who stops after E arrives and loves the show he put on. It is now revealed that Spacedemon is a sweet-natured alien and that his actions were just him acting to impress E in getting him a new gig. Jay sees that Spacedemon isn't the one responsible for the disappearances.
Kay calls Jay who sees through his communicator that his partner is confronting the real culprits. Jay, E, and Spacedemon head to his location to assist him. To their surprise, Kay discovers that the culprits are the other Astrotots. Kay correctly deduces that the Astrotots are insane, attacking anyone who didn't share the world view they preached on their show even if their targets are just acting. They attacked Predeterminator and Prey for being too violent in their movies, Etalffap for his whacky antics and lastly, Annet because she couldn't stand by and watch her brothers hurt anymore lives and was going to tell the MIB about this. Interestingly for the latter they really didn't want to, but Annet attempting to "tattle" was wrong. When Kay shows that he is going to turn them in, the Astrotots uses their weapon to make Kay, who allows them to shoot him, disappear.
Jay, E and Spacedemon arrives and a battle ensues, accompanied by the “Astrotots” song playing on a loop. Jay and Spacedemon work together and Jay took out one Astrotot while Spacedemon beat up and terrify the last two to submission. With the Astrotots at his mercy, Jay takes their weapon and ready to use it on them as revenge for Kay and the other victims. E watches this in disappointment that her youngest clients would act out of character. Suddenly, Jay realizes that they weren't and Kay knew that. The Astrotots aren't capable of murder but they do resort one action that would fit their philosophy; sending their targets into the happier place which Jay discovers it was their set. Jay destroys it and Kay and the actors were free, and Spacedemon kills the looping tape to prevent any further trouble. E introduces Annet to Spacedemon and proposes a new idea to them, which is a movie starring the two of them. They agree to this, and earn their happy ending.
While all of this happens, the Worms follows Jay and Kay to Hollywood in hopes in becoming famous. They went through gigs and pitch meetings for commercials but fail in the end. They were out of options until they decide to send an idea based on the MIB. Back at headquarters, Zed, Jay and Kay watch a trailer based on their adventures, only to discover the worms play a different role: sidekicks to K and J, and to their dismay, learn that their lines were dubbed over and mention chocolate sauce instead of coffee. Upon seeing this, Zed gets fed up with the worms and orders his agents to chase them down. While doing so, Kay plans on neuralyzing Hollywood’s denizens for the preceding events.
Trivia[]
- The "Men in Black" movie features Worms as a satire of Teenage Mutants Ninja Turtles.
- Ms. Frances, disguised as a French poodle, can theoretically be a Remoolian like Frank the Pug.
- This episode name-drops several celebrities including the Baldwin Bros (one of whom would later join the main cast, that being Adam), Kim Basinger, David Letterman, Jay Leno, Quentin Tarantino and Helen Hunt as well as MIB stars and alumni like Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Rip Torn, Steven Spielberg and even Lowell Cunningham, the author of the original comic book that started it all.
- Popular movie titles are also referenced, like E.T., Titanic, and Babe.
- This episode reveals that the Men in Black has various divisions as part of their mission to help the various aliens living on earth, one of which is in Nashville, according to K. The one shown is "The Agency", a specialty branch which helps alien actors find roles. We also learn that Division Six is the name of the division that Jay and Kay work in.