The Blank Page

Season 2, Episode 5, "The Blank Page," first aired on February 21st, 2000.

In "The Blank Page," Flatpoint High discovers Jerri's illiteracy, and she must deal with it in order to make the cheerleading squad.

[edit] Quotes

Fandango? Hobo camp? Hobo camp! — Jerri

Nonsense, Jerri. Every student macaroniously believes that their teacher hates them. — Principal Blackman

Actually, on this one she's right on the money. — Chuck Noblet

The scene in which Jerri learns to read parodies The Miracle Worker, the story of the life of Hellen Keller.
When Noblet asks what could be going on in Jerri's head, the scene which plays of a monkey washing a duck was a lucky find by the crew, as part of a stock reel of random footage for general use. It also appeared in Behind Blank Eyes.
The dance sequence at the end is a reference to Bob Fosse.
When Susie falls off the trampoline in the dance sequence, the figure rushing in to save her is actually Paul Dinello.

When Jerri learns to read and is spelling objects in the classroom, she spells pencil P-E-N-S-U-L ("Close enough!" Noblet responds triumphantly). Mr. Noblet starts to mouth the spelling with her, but instead of spelling the word correctly, he mouths her lines with her, particularly the 'U.'

Stephen Colbert, Paul Dinello, and Amy Sedaris postulated on the commentary that "The Blank Page" might be one of the only episodes where Jerri succeeds at the end.