As this episode opens Lawndale High is having financial problems; there is no money for books, the art department can't afford more red paint and the map in the history classroom is years out of date... Ms Li isn't too concerned though; not until the football team can't afford new equipment that is. She then gets in an expert who suggests installing more soda machines and getting an exclusive contract with one of the soda companies... in exchange for selling no other brands and putting up a few posters the company will give the school everything it needs. Daria seems to be the only person who sees this as a bad move; they think a few adverts are a small price to pay for all the benefits the contract brings in. Soon the company is complaining about the low sales and says Ms Li must do more to promote the product; soon everything in the school bears the Ultra Cola brand; even the cheerleaders are dressed like cans of cola! Inevitable drinking vast amounts of cola takes its effect... not least on Ms Li!.
This episode gets season five off to a flying start; the way the soda sponsorship deal was taken to such an extreme may not have been realistic but it was very funny and provided a comment on the idea of allowing companies to put branded sponsorship into schools. Most of the laughs were provided by the teachers; most notably Ms. Li and Mr DeMartino, both of whom had laugh out loud moments. If you are a fan of the series this is definitely not an episode to miss.
This episode gets season five off to a flying start; the way the soda sponsorship deal was taken to such an extreme may not have been realistic but it was very funny and provided a comment on the idea of allowing companies to put branded sponsorship into schools. Most of the laughs were provided by the teachers; most notably Ms. Li and Mr DeMartino, both of whom had laugh out loud moments. If you are a fan of the series this is definitely not an episode to miss.
