6teen/The (Almost) Graduate

The (Almost) Graduate
Season 1, Episode 17
Airdate	April 17, 2005
Written by	Sean Cullen
Directed by
← 1x16 The Khaki Girl	1x18 → Bring It On
6teen — Season One

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The (Almost) Graduate is the seventeenth episode of the first season of 6teen.

Guest Stars:

Plot Overview

Wyatt has gone on several dates with Serena, the manager of Spin This, but he has yet to establish a serious relationship with her. Wyatt, encouraged by Jonesy and Jude, tries working up the courage to ask her about going steady, but Serena initially declines, noting their age difference (Serena is 18 months older) and her need to date someone more "mature". After seeing his friend get turned down, Jonesy then makes his move and tries his luck with Serena, convincing her that younger guys and puppies have something in common—being "easily trainable". Serena agrees and changes her mind about Wyatt (after considering him the better choice between him and Jonesy), telling him that she would love to be his girlfriend, and they make plans for an evening out. Moments later, Wyatt heads to the Penalty Box, where Jen and Nikki are both in the store penalty box for pulling pranks on Coach Halder, and he breaks the good news to them.

Albatross & Finch holds interviews for new Greeter God jobs at the store, and Jonesy and Caitlin decide to try out for the exclusive positions. During their auditions, Caitlin attempts to impress the interviewers by showing them her range of snobby looks, but Jonesy's cavalier, nonchalant attitude toward his interview (without even trying) wins over the panel, and head Greeter God Scott announces Jonesy as the sole hiree for a Greeter God position, much to the chagrin and disappointment of Caitlin.

Nikki, Jen and Wyatt arrive at the food court when they see Jude apparently talking to the locked-up Big Squeeze stand and think that their friend has gone over the edge, until Jude explains himself—Caitlin has locked herself inside the lemon and is crying because Jonesy got the Albatross & Finch job and she did not. Jen attempts to console her, but Wyatt manages to coax Caitlin out of the lemon by asking for her help in learning to be more mature so he can be ready for his date with Serena, telling her that she's the best choice out of all present to help him (which earns him a tap on the head with a rolled-up magazine from an unimpressed Jen). Caitlin then tutors Wyatt in the art of maturity as they follow and secretly observe a "mature" couple around the mall until the couple catches them, to Caitlin and Wyatt's embarassment. Wyatt then announces that he's ready for his date and he thanks Caitlin, who feels satisfaction about her accomplishment—but as Nikki, Jen and Jude come along, Jude asks Caitlin if that helped her forget about Albatross & Finch, and suddenly remembering, Caitlin starts to cry again and runs off, and Nikki chastizes Jude for saying the wrong thing.

During his date with Serena, Wyatt attempts to put Caitlin's advice into practice and tries acting mature to impress Serena while eating at El Sporto's and then seeing a movie at the Gigantoplex, but he feels things are not working as planned, so he calls Jonesy at work to get help and Jonesy gives him a cheesy pickup line to use on Serena. After the movie, Wyatt confesses to Serena about his trying to be what he thought she wanted him to be, and Serena tells him that he should try being himself, as she notes that it always works best for him.

Caitlin sneaks into Albatross & Finch in disguise in order to do some shopping, but two of the Greeter Goddesses catch her attempting to buy some items and they expose and humiliate her, telling her snobbily that she isn't "fashionable or cool enough" to be buying the same outfit (red tube tops and denim skirts) that the Greeter Goddesses wear as their uniforms on the job. Jonesy sees Caitlin being harassed by his coworkers and refuses to put up with it, so he stands up for his friend by jumping up on a merchandise table, dropping his cargo pants and mooning the stuck-up A&F employees. Scott fires Jonesy for his stunt, but Jonesy makes his point and he and Caitlin, now seeing the Greeter Gods for the snobs they are and happy over Jonesy coming to her defence, leave the store while the customers inside cheer.

Wyatt and Serena return from their date to the food court, where Caitlin tells the gang about how Jonesy stood up for her at Albatross and Finch and Nikki expresses her admiration over Jonesy's stunt to him, then exasperation when Jonesy "goes and blows it again" after he brags about his butt. Wyatt and Serena tell the gang that, while maturity is fine and has its place, so does acting their own ages, and the new couple begin chasing each other giddily around the food court.

Arc Advancement

Characters

• El Sporto's waitress Leda appears in this episode, dressed up and acting as a stereotypical New Yorker (complete with cynical attitude)
• Mandy and Gwen, Tricia's friends/followers, make non-speaking appearances in this episode

Trivia

Memorable Moments

• Jonesy's mooning of the Greeter Gods at Albatross & Finch

Quotes

• Jen: Yeah, of the six of us—you're like, the third most mature.
  Wyatt: Wait, who's more mature than me?
  Jen: Well, Nikki—except for today.
  Nikki: Thank you.
  Jen: And me.
  Wyatt: You are NOT more mature!
  Jen (arguing with Wyatt): Am so!
  Wyatt: Are not!
  Jen: Am so! Nikki, tell him I'm more mature!
  Nikki: Gee, you both make such convincing arguments.

• Mature Couple (after catching Caitlin and Wyatt): You're freaking us out.

• Nikki (sarcastically, to Jude after Caitlin cries and runs off): Nice.