Recap – “Changing Channels” – Part One

This recap is ridiculously long. I was not kidding when I said last week I’d be setting a record here. The recap is so long, just like with last year’s “On The Head of A Pin,”I’m breaking it into two parts. Except this one has WAY more screencaps. The faces in this episode were too good. So enjoy every single detail! There’s plenty.

The Recap

Want to know how to get 3 plus million people to say “WTF???” right off the bat? Open with a very bright and cheery shot of a sun drenched motel with palm trees in the background and the voice of Jensen going “Supernatural is filmed in front of a live studio audience. “I pause, open my TV guide and check the listed genre. Horror. Then it dawns on me cheesy 80’s sitcoms are horror shows. I continue.

IIt’s Dean! Wow, where the fuck is he? The Technicolor lens is back! The colors on the wall are bright, the cabinets perfect white, the refrigerator is full with condiments, beer, and something called “smeet”(what, they couldn’t get the rights to Spam?) and Dean is happy. There’s a Dagwood sandwich piled about a mile high in the center of the two person kitchen table. “I’m going to need a bigger mouth.”Laugh track goes. Yep, I’m positively freaked out right now. Way to scare the crap out of us Kripke!

Sam walks in and there’s loud cheering from the laugh track. You know, the Big Bang Theory uses a laugh track. They don’t need to! We laugh on mark all the time. Want to know why? Because the jokes are funny. Why does this shameful device still exist??? So, if you haven’t already noticed, I will be taking the chance from time to time in this recap during the episode spoofing the absurdity of US television to throw in my own mini rants about the absurdity of US television.

It’s Dean! Wow, where the fuck is he? The Technicolor lens is back! The colors on the wall are bright, the cabinets perfect white, the refrigerator is full with condiments, beer, and something called “smeet”(what, they couldn’t get the rights to Spam?) and Dean is happy. There’s a Dagwood sandwich piled about a mile high in the center of the two person kitchen table. “I’m going to need a bigger mouth.”Laugh track goes. Yep, I’m positively freaked out right now. Way to scare the crap out of us Kripke!!

Supernatural


Town to town, two lane roads


Family business two hunting bros


Living a lie just to get by


As long as we’re moving forward there’s nothing we can’t do

Together we’ll face the day

You and I won’t run away


When the demons come out to play

Together we’ll face the day

Kripke you magnificent bastard.

Wellington, Ohio, 2 Days earlier. I suppose we do need to know how they got into this mess. Some moody music plays, it’s a hospital, and a hot doctor and hot other doctor get in the elevator. Door closes. They jump on each other in throes of passion and we see that it’s a show on one of those old TVs that shouldn’t be operating anymore without a digital converter. Swipe over to Dean who’s watching this on the edge of the bed totally engrossed. Sam comes out of the bathroom. “What are you watching?” “A hospital show. Dr. Sexy MD. It’s based on a book.” Sam scoffs. “When did you have menopause.” Ooh, nice one Sammy. “It’s called channel surfing,” Dean defends. Yeah, right. Dean asks Sam if he’s ready. “Are you?” Sam responds.

They’re talking to a sheriff doing their FBI thing. They’re investigating someone getting their head ripped off. Always a winner. The sheriff said the man, Bill Randolph, died from a bear attack. Sam asks how sure he is it was a bear. Remember Sam, this is Ohio. We don’t like the unexplained. The simplest explanation is usually the correct one. Yeah, that’s it. Its raccoons getting into my garbage every week, I swear. 6 foot raccoons that can remove garbage lids.

Dean makes his point. “Whatever it was, it chased Mr. Randolph through the woods, smashed through his front door, followed him up the stairs and killed him in his bedroom. Is that common, a bear doing all that?” “Depends how pissed off it is I guess.” Oh man, it’s the ignorant sheriff thing again. If we actually weren’t that dense in Ohio, I might be offended. The sheriff defends that they live in high country. Near Wellington? Seriously? (yes that gets said a lot in this one) Don’t they know what flat boring and very tame part of Ohio that’s in? Okay, there is existence of some rolling hills in those parts, but no wild undiscovered country. No bears either. You tend to get shot by your cousin, or there’s Amish rake fighting, but that’s it. Sam asks about Mrs. Randolph who saw the whole thing. The sheriff says the woman was confused. That’s grounds for an interrogation.

Mrs. Randolph sticks to her bear story. “What else could it have been?” Sam asks what does she think it was. She’s still very hesitant, insisting on the bear. Dean goes for the “every angle” bit asking what she thought she saw. “It’s impossible, but I could have sworn I saw “the Incredible Hulk.” Cue the light hearted score. Both Sam and Dean have that “she’s crazy”look on their faces. “Bana or Norton,” Dean asks. “Oh no, those movies were terrible. The TV Hulk.” Oh Jeremy Carver, you’re reading my mind! Dean clarifies, Lou Ferrigno? She confirms. “Would there any reason that Lou Ferringo, the Incredible Hulk, would have a grudge against your husband?” The woman has an understandable no, but I can’t hear it over the sounds of my own howling.

Dean reads about the supposed bear attack on the laptop at the motel, while Sam comes in. He saw the house. There’s giant 8 ft wide hole where the front door used to be. A Hulk sized hole. Dean found out that Bill Randolph had a temper. He had counts of spousal battery, bar brawls, and court ordered anger management. “You might say, you wouldn’t like him when he’s angry.” Hee! How many times have I used that line in my past recaps? At least a few. Damn, I did watch that show growing up, didn’t I?

Sam sees the irony. “So, a hothead getting killed by TV’s greatest hothead. Kind of sounds like just desserts, doesn’t it?” Sam concludes it’s all starting to make sense. Dean needs to know more. Sam found candy wrappers at the crime scene. Watch out Sam, I think those were planted there. Dean rattles off the clues and it clicks. “We’re dealing with The Trickster, aren’t we?” “Sure looks like,” Sam says. Who hoo! I love him.

“Good, I’ve been wanting to gank that mother since Mystery Spot.” So, you know about that Dean? Sam asks if he’s sure. “Son of a bitch didn’t think twice about icing me a thousand times.” So, you know then about intense psychological torture your brother went through with that? Please tell me your anger is guided at what he did to Sam. You don’t even remember getting killed by him, so it must be. I hope that’s a brief indication he knows everything that happened.

Sam doesn’t like the idea of killing him. He wants to talk to The Trickster. “Think about it Dean. He’s one of the most powerful creatures we’ve ever met. Maybe we can use him.” Dean wants to know for what. For the freaking apocalypse, that’s what. Sam rationalizes he’d a Hugh Hefner type that doesn’t want the party to end and hates this Angels and Demons stuff as much as they do. Maybe he’ll help them. That’s not half bad logic. Dean pulls out the other half though. “Ally with the Trickster. A bloody, violent monster and you want to be Facebook friends with him? Nice Sammy.” You know Dean, when saving the world I’m hardly recruiting my Facebook friends. We aren’t exactly an organized bunch.

“The world is going to end Dean. We don’t have the luxury of a moral stand.” Sam thinks it’s worth a shot. If it doesn’t work, they’ll kill him. Uh, no you won’t! Sorry, getting ahead of myself there. Dean wants to know how they find him. Sam knows that he never takes one victim and he’ll show. Next scene has Sam listening to a police scanner while Dean carves wooden stakes. A report comes through about a murder (at least I’m assuming that’s what a 187 means). The guy calling it in is at the old paper mill on route 6. You know, a route that doesn’t go through Ohio at all. He can’t even describe what he’s seeing. Just send everyone. Sound suspicious!

Sam and Dean show up at said abandoned paper mill and there’s nobody there. They know it’s a trap. They grab their wooden stakes and flashlights and cautiously go inside. Not good enough! They’re doctors! Sappy indie music plays in the background and Sam and Dean are pretty freaked. Two nurses go by and call them “doctor.”Sam doesn’t get it. Oh wait, you will! Dean opens the door they came through and two medical people are making out. Honestly, I don’t watch much Grey’s, but does that happen a lot? Okay sure, Chase and Cameron had sex in a supply closet in House and then there was that time JD and Elliot did it in Scrubs and okay, it happens in medical shows.

Might I point out that I’m really bummed they’re wearing their white lab coats? I saw the rehearsal pictures of them in the navy blue scrubs without the coats and both Jensen and Jared looked positively yummy! They should wear navy a lot. A female doctor comes up to Sam and slaps him. “Seriously? Seriously? You’re brilliant, you know that. And a coward. You’re a brilliant coward.” Dean watches her with amazement while Sam has this “WTF?” look. She slaps him again and he gives a bitch face! “As if you don’t know.” No lady, he doesn’t. Dean does though, for he knows that’s Dr. Ellen Piccolo. Isn’t that a St. Elsewhere nurse name? (runs off to imdb). No? I’m sure I’ll figure out where that name came from. Oh yeah, name that medical show.

Dean goes on with a sparkle in his eye. “The sexy yet earnest doctor at” then he sees the sign. “Seattle Mercy Hospital.” Sam, who’s pretty bored, wants to know what Dean is talking about. “The doctor get ups, the sexy interns, the ‘seriouslies,’ it all makes sense. “Sam still doesn’t get it. “We’re in Dr. Sexy MD.” Sam still doesn’t get it. Come on, you’re hunting the Trickster, right? This makes perfect sense. Perfect hilarious sense.

Now Dean is asking the questions. “What the Hell. No seriously, what the Hell?” You see, he’s already adapting to his role! He begs for one theory from Sam, any theory. “The Trickster trapped us in TV Land.” Sam throws that off the cuff, but he’s actually right! Dean thinks the theory is stupid. TV Land has actors and lights and crewmen. This looks real. Sam wonders how this can possibly be real. Um, it isn’t? Okay, it kind of is. It’s real to you. Dean spots Dr. Wang, the sexy but arrogant heart surgeon. And there’s a patient there, Johnny Drake, who’s not even alive. He’s a ghost in the mind of her, “the sexy but neurotic doctor over there.” Oh man, Jeremy Carver has been watching a lot of Grey’s Anatomy, hasn’t he? Those descriptions are hitting a little too close to home. Wait a second, where’s the racist black doctor?

Sam gets the inside joke line this week, something just for Jeffrey Dean Morgan. “So, this show has ghosts, why?” So, medical dramas where people die shouldn’t have ghosts, but the paranormal horror show is allowed to, right? Do you watch House? Oh wait, that was a hallucination. Sam can relate to that. Oh man, everyone is borrowing each other’s plot twists! It’s madness! “I don’t know. It is compelling,” Dean says. Bwah! Dean likes crappy writing. (I say in mocking sing song).

“I thought you said you weren’t a fan,”Sam says. Busted! Dean gives the most unconvincing “I’m not.” Liar! Luckily we don’t have to wait long for the lie to be exposed because out comes none other than Dr. Sexy himself. What is this? Dean is getting excited? Could Dean Winchester be having a man crush? Sam is throwing another bitch face in the background so he clearly doesn’t have one.

Dr. Sexy walks up to them. “Doctor,” he says to Dean. Dean gives the “Doctor”l ine back. Then he goes “Doctor” to Sam. Sam nods but that’s not his line, so Dean slaps him. “Doctor,” Sam says with irritation. I love irritated Sam. He so hates stupid rules. Dr. Sexy is mad at Dean. He wants one good reason why Dean is refusing to do the experimental face transplant he was ordered to do. “One reason?”Deans asks. Uh, he’s not a doctor and doesn’t know how to do one? No, instead of saying that, Dean notices that Dr. Sexy has tennis shoes on. He gets all mad and slams Dr. Sexy against the wall.

“You’re not Dr. Sexy.” Dr. Sexy calls him crazy. Sam watches all this actually thinking Dean is onto something. Way to trust big brother there Sam. “Because I swore what makes part of Dr. Sexy sexy is the fact that he wears cowboy boots, not tennis shoes.” Now Sam isn’t impressed. “Yeah, you’re not a fan.” “It’s a guilty pleasure,” Dean says. Hee! Yeah, that’s right. This show is my guilty pleasure. Yeah, that’s it.

Suddenly everything freezes and Dr. Sexy morphs into the Trickster. With a bright smile he says, “You guys are getting better.”Dean orders him to get them the hell out of there. “Or what,”the Trickster says not intimidated. He strong arms Dean making the point he can’t do anything about it. “Don’t see your wooden stakes big guy.” Sam realizes it was him on the police scanner and this is a trick. The Trickster, who’s in top notch gloating form (welcome back Richard!) points to himself, does this phantom circle around his face and harps sarcastically, “Hello… Trickster!”

The Trickster heard they were in town and couldn’t resist. No, I’m pretty sure he baited them with his Hulk prank. Dean wants to know where they are, which opens up the opportunity for the Trickster to brag about his own little “idiot box.” He made the sets, has his own actors and yes, I’m impressed. Of course he won me over in “Tall Tales” when he created that little love nest for Dean in the auditorium so I knew he wouldn’t disappoint here.

Now it’s time for Dean to throw at him twenty questions. Oh sorry, the $64 question. Wasn’t that the $64,000 pyramid? Yeah, I don’t know my game shows very well either. They were all the same after a while. Sam says they need to talk for they need his help. “Hmm, let me guess. You two muttonheads broke the world, and you want me to sweep up your mess. “Yeah, that’s it exactly. Sam thinks “Please” still works and asks for five minutes. Oh Sam, you adorable sap. This is so not going to work.

Instead, the Trickster tells them to survive the game for 24 hours and they’ll talk. “Survive what?” Dean asks, still in question mode. The game of course. “What game?” You’re in it Dean. “How do we play?” Can’t you tell Dean you’re already playing? You’re wearing a freaking doctor uniform for Christ’s sake. “What are the rules?” The Trickster just does a deliciously evil double eyebrow raise, which is the best expression I’ve ever seen for “That’s for me to know and you to find out.” He disappears. Oh, what a brilliant way to start a mind fuck.

Dean chastises Sam for his great plan to talk to monsters while everyone else is trying to find Dr. Sexy. Sam asks what do they do now? Dean is leaving, but leave it up to the Trickster to throw some obstacles in their way. Doctor Slappy Face shows up and Sam’s sharp reflexes kick in just in time to avoid getting one across the jaw. “Lady, what the Hell?” She goes on with the “brilliant” and Sam beats her to “coward.” “I got news for you. I am not a doctor.” Uh oh Sam, you asked for it. She’s utterly appalled and the sappy music comes on again. “Don’t say that.” Her over-emoting even has Dean rolling his eyes, not to mention triggering a trademark Sam bitch face. “You are the finest cerebrovascular neurosurgeon I have ever met.” I go to Google to see what if there’s such a thing as cerebrovascular neurosurgeon or if Jeremy Carver made it up. Cerebrovascular is blood flow in the brain, making the neurosurgeon part redundant. So, he did.

The doctor isn’t done with the melodrama. “So that girl died on your table. It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t anybody’s fault. Sometimes people just die.”Sam has no idea what she’s saying. No, you wouldn’t. Ask Dean. “You’re afraid. You’re afraid to operate again. And you’re afraid to love.” You don’t want to love Sam lady. You’ll end up dead. Once she leaves Sam concurs with Dean. “Yeah, we’re getting out of here.”

Nope, a man comes out to talk to Dean. He tells Dean his wife needs to face transplant. The novelty of being on this show has obviously worn off, for Dean starts ranting. “You know what pal, none of this is real, okay, and your wife doesn’t need jack squat. Okay?”I love irritated Dean. They walk away and the bothered man says “Hey doctor.” He pulls out a gun and shoots Dean in the back. The gunshot isn’t all the shocking at first and Sam watches the guy leave. He doesn’t see what’s happening until Dean falls to his knees with a horror-struck look gasping “real.” Now I’m stunned, for Jensen is making this part look really scary. Sam grabs hold of Dean and starts frantically shouting for a doctor. That’s you Sam, don’t you know that?

Dean is on the surgical table, staring face down onto the blue floor. Sam is the surgeon? Okay, this is interesting. Dean is not under anesthesia and Sam isn’t wearing a mask. I guess masks and pain killers ruin the sexy of Dr. Sexy MD. Sam stares at the wound and has no freaking idea what to do. The nurses of course ratchet up the tension by spouting off how low Dean’s blood pressure is. Sorry, but if it was that low, he’d be unconscious. Sam just nods, not really caring at the moment. He’s got bigger problems. Another nurse hands him a scalpel, but he just waves it off.

Dean is a little more worried than Sam. “Sam, come on, do something.” Sam admits he doesn’t know how to use any of this crap. Dean challenges him to figure it out. You know Sam, you are good at making it up as you go along. So Sammy goes and proves me right. “I need a pen knife, some dental floss, a sewing needle, and a fifth of whiskey.” Dr. Slappy Face is watching Sam in the observation room with admiration. No, total googly-eyed love. Everyone looks at Sam like he’s crazy, Dean can’t believe he just asked for that, and the music changes to a more upbeat soulful tune of triumph. Sam takes control of the situation. “Stat!” See, he has watched a medical show before! Everyone scrambles and Sam is somewhat impressed that it worked.

Next is a shot of a half bottle of whiskey on the table, Sam’s gloves are all bloody, and he’s sewing up the wound with some pretty hefty dental floss. Dean asks if they’re good, and I’m wondering with all the blood and pain how Dean isn’t griping and complaining up as storm by now. Sam tells him they’re good. Then Dr. Slappy Face with a tear in her eyes mouths, “I love you.” Sam is really freaked out now. She adds to his horror by putting her hand to the glass and letting herself get lost in doughy-eyed love. You know, I don’t blame her. He gives her a squirmy look, the kind that only Sam/Jared can do so well, turns away and we know he’s plotting his escape. Dean looks at the blue line on the floor, and that’s the perfect setup for the next transition.

There’s an audience chanting, the blue floor becomes blue doors, the doors fly open and a Japanese game show host with full-on game show host leisure suit enters. Suddenly we’re hit in the face with one colorful set and two perplexed Winchesters in the middle. Whoa, my eyes! What are Sam and Dean strapped to the platform with? Ski boots? What are those strategically placed sticks with a ball on the end of them? How warped is Jeremy Carver right now? What man would do that to another man? Sera Gamble maybe?

The Japanese man is all excited. It’s time to play, “Nutcwacah”. Sam and Dean are totally confused. Apparently neither of them watch Japanese game shows. The host with the most readies his blue card. First up, “Sam Winchestah.” He asks in Japanese what we presume in showing in the subtitles. “What was the name of the demon you chose over your own brother?” Ooh, the Trickster doesn’t have it in for Sam at all, does he? This is where Sam wishes he took Japanese in college as well as Spanish. He doesn’t understand so the guy asks again. Too late. The little man bows his head in remorse and then snickers like a little devil. Considering the hostesses are wearing horns, I sense a Hell theme here. Oh that crafty Trickster!

Stick goes up, Sam gets it painfully hard right in the nuts. No, this nutcracker is not a ballet. Sam doubles over in about the worst agony we’ve seen him in yet. Heck, even his own stabbing death wasn’t this gruesome. The TV replays the blow a couple of times just to add insult to injury, which is common ground for Sam these days.

Dean watches with horrified shock and realizes he’s setup for one of these things too. He looks pretty sick, but not anywhere near as bad as Sam. While Japanese guy goes over with Japanese scantily dressed hostess to tout the benefits of shrimp chips, Dean asks a writhing in pain Sam if he’s okay. Sam can only muster a strained look considering he’s been rendered speechless. Fuck no!

There’s a knock on the blue doors and they come open. It’s Castiel! He found them! “What are you doing here?” Duh Cas, going through personal torture. “What are you doing here?” Dean asks. He’s been looking for them since they’ve been missing for days. Sam wants him to get them out of there. Castiel holds out his fingers to do the angel zapping thing and gets zapped himself. Hmm, the Trickster is more powerful than an angel? Okay. Japanese game show host comes backs over. “Mistah Trickstah does not like pretty boy angels.” Speak for yourself Mistah Trickstah. Me likely pretty boy angels just fine. However, we wouldn’t get all this upcoming fun if he took them out of there.

Japanese guy resumes the game now turning to “Dean Winchestah.” “Would your mother or father still be alive if your brother was never born?” Now, I can’t believe that some people actually thought Dean understood the question. The clock is counting down and Dean is starting to panic. This is where I wish he breaks the fourth wall a la Volunteers and reads the subtitles. Ah well, what they did works too. Lucky for Dean, Sam has recovered enough now where he can offer some advice. He had to play doctor and operate in Dr Sexy, so Dean needs to answer the question. He doesn’t know Japanese. Sam rightfully implores him to try. Yeah Dean, you’ve got it pretty easy considering Sam had to operate on you. Dean presses the button with no time to spare.

Suddenly, Dean is speaking Japanese! How cool is that. If only he knew what he was saying. Basically, the answer is yes. The Japanese guy considers the question while Dean sweats it out big time then declares Dean the champion. Ouch, nice slam on Sammy there. Is the Trickster bitter much? While the celebration goes on Sam wonders how Dean did that. “I have no idea,” he confesses. Sam concludes the obvious. “So that’s it, we play our roles we survive.” “Play our roles for how long?” “Good question,” Sam uneasily answers. Dean clenches his teeth and gives the most perfect uncomfortable smile and wave to the crowd.

If I hadn’t been watching this at first during a commercial free viewing, I would have skipped over this. I’m so glad I didn’t because I think it’s up there as a top five funniest moment. I usually gage that based on how long it takes to pick myself up off the floor after laughing so hard. Almost five minutes. Only giant teddy bear and alien slowdance went longer. So here we go.

A woman is doing yoga in a serene setting by the water. “I’ve got genital herpes.” Then an older guy in his living room. “I’ve got genital herpes.” Sam is playing basketball, shoots a pefect nothing-but-net-basket then turns to the camera uneasily. “Seriously?” Dean comes up and takes the opportunity to rub it in. “You’re the one that said play our roles.” Sam drops his head in defeat and then mans up. In a nice monotone voice he declares, “I’ve got…genital herpes.” Sorry, I’m laughing way too hard where I can’t even type this!

The yoga girl tried to be responsible. The old man tried. Sam just keeps clenching his jaw. “But now, I take twice daily Herpexia to reduce my chances of passing it on.”

Can’t recap…can’t breathe…

Yoga girl helps me out by telling us to ask our doctors about using Herpexia. Then Dean comes on with the disclaimers! “Patient should always consult with a physician before using Herpexia. Possible side effects include headache, diarrhea, permanent erectile dysfunction, thoughts of suicide and nausea.†Man, he could make a decent living just doing that! Sorry, stopping to grasp my aching side. Oh no, Sam’s going for the kill! I’m doing all I can to slightly lessen the spread of” (face clench – higher pitched voice) “genital herpes. And that’s a good thing.”

  Sorry, no more recapping today. I’m typing on the floor now. More coming in a day or two…