# |
Title |
Original airdate |
1(1a) |
"The Break In" |
September 13, 1997 (1997-09-13) |
T.J. is punished with no recess after an unsuccessful attempt of the gang to raid the kitchen's "good food". Seeing how deranged he has become, the rest of the gang try to break him out by enlisting the help of the other students in the playground. |
2 (1b) |
"The New Kid" |
September 13, 1997 (1997-09-13) |
Gustav "Gus" Griswald, a new student in Third Street, arrives in school to no fanfare during a plan done by the gang. After giving him a brief tour around the school, King Bob declares Gus as the "new kid", having never met him before and being the newest student in the playground. |
3 (2a) |
"Parents' Night" |
January 17, 1998 (1998-01-17) |
Spinelli is apprehensive about her parents attending Parent's Night because they embarrass her. |
4 (2b) |
"Swing on Through to the Other Side" |
January 17, 1998 (1998-01-17) |
Spinelli creates a pseudo-religious philosophy after she comes to the belief that fourth grader Swinger Girl (aka Laura Jameson), 'went over the top' on the swing, passing into another 'higher state of being', making Spinelli's friends concerned. The name of the episode is a play on the title of the song Break on Through to the Other Side by The Doors. |
5 (3a) |
"First Name Ashley" |
October 4, 1997 (1997-10-04) |
After Randall reveals that Spinelli's first name is Ashley, she is forced to join The Ashleys who humiliate her and make her work as their servant. |
6 (3b) |
"To Finster with Love" |
October 4, 1997 (1997-10-04) |
Miss Finster is attracted to Hank the janitor, and begins dating him as a result she starts being nice to everyone, concerning the children. |
7 (4a) |
"King Gus" |
October 11, 1997 (1997-10-11) |
When King Bob comes down with tonsilitis, he appoints Gus as the new King Of The Playground. The power goes to Gus's head, and he starts ordering people about. |
8 (4b) |
"Big Brother Chad" |
October 11, 1997 (1997-10-11) |
Vince is concerned about whether his "cool" big brother Chad really is a geek. |
9 (5a) |
"My Fair Gretchen" |
October 18, 1997 (1997-10-18) |
After being told Principal Prickly plans to move her to Oppenheimer after scoring exceptionally well on a test, Gretchen worries she might not see T.J. and the others again. |
10 (5b) |
"Speedy, We Hardly Knew Ye" |
October 18, 1997 (1997-10-18) |
Speedy, the class hamster, dies, so the kids decide to throw a funeral, but it doesn't go as expected. |
11 (6a) |
"I Will Kick No More Forever" |
October 25, 1997 (1997-10-25) |
After getting outplayed in a kickball game by Ashley Q, Vince decides he will never play kickball again. |
12 (6b) |
"The Kid Came Back" |
October 25, 1997 (1997-10-25) |
A stranger called the Peanut Butter Kid tries to follow the gang everywhere, and it drives them crazy after they believe he is a bringer of bad luck. |
13 (7a) |
"The Pest" |
November 1, 1997 (1997-11-01) |
Gretchen is being bugged by Geoffrey who has fallen in love with her. The title of the episode is the same as the film of the same name. |
14 (7b) |
"The Legend of Big Kid" |
November 1, 1997 (1997-11-01) |
After a bizarre kidnapping incident, T.J. lives among the younger children for a while. |
15 (8a |
"The Box" |
November 8, 1997 (1997-11-08) |
After getting tired of everyone disobeying playground rules, Miss Finster plans to put anyone who breaks playground rules into "The Box", starting with T.J. He goes crazy and is terrified of anything in a square, forcing the others to resort to drastic measures to help him get back to normal. |
16 (8b) |
"The Trial" |
November 8, 1997 (1997-11-08) |
In a parody of a court trial, Spinelli and Randall battle it out in court after Randall accuses her of throwing a rock during a dirt-clod war. The episode is in the style of the film Roshomon, different points of view of the same event. The trial loosely parodies A Few Good Men. |
17 (9a) |
"Teachers Lounge" |
November 15, 1997 (1997-11-15) |
Intrigued by its secrecy, the kids try and find out what the teacher's lounge looks like, only to be astonished at what they find inside. |
18 (9b) |
"Randall's Reform" |
November 15, 1997 (1997-11-15) |
T.J. and the gang finally accept Randall. |
19 (10a) |
"Rainy Days" |
November 22, 1997 (1997-11-22) |
It's a rainy day and recess is canceled. When the rain won't seem to stop after day three, the kids start to get on each other's nerves. Will the kids survive five days of indoor recesses? |
20 (10b) |
"The Great Can Drive" |
November 22, 1997 (1997-11-22) |
Mikey is the only one of his group who decides to collect cans for the annual Can Drive after the other kids drop out, not wanting to lose against the Ashleys again. |
21 (11a) |
"Jinxed" |
September 27, 1997 (1997-09-27) |
After Gus is jinxed by the Ashleys, Principal Prickly attempts to transfer him. |
22 (11b) |
"Officer Mikey" |
September 27, 1997 (1997-09-27) |
Mikey wants to become a safety ranger which causes the gang to get help from others students needs. |
23 (12a) |
"The Experiment" |
September 20, 1997 (1997-09-20) |
The gang hear a chilling story of what older students like to do with their time, and the only solution is for two of the six to disprove it in the world's most 'unusual' experiment: kissing. |
24 (12b) |
"The Great Jungle Gym Standoff" |
September 20, 1997 (1997-09-20) |
Principal Prickly wants to tear down 'Ol Rusty, but not if T.J. and the whole school can help it.
NOTE: Strangely, Gus is only in this episode for a few seconds and he does not speak. He can be seen on 'Ol Rusty when all the kids climb on and refuse to get down. |
25 (13a) |
"The Voice" |
January 10, 1998 (1998-01-10) |
When Principal Prickly discovers that Mikey sings like Robert Goulet (who portrays Mikey's singing voice), he appoints a beautiful, young music teacher Ms. Calamone. Mikey becomes attracted to her. |
26 (13b) |
"Kids in the Mist" |
January 10, 1998 (1998-01-10) |
A researcher named Dr. Quilty wants to research by video about recess. When she first tries it, she fails, then T.J. and the gang decide to help her out. How will it turn out? |
# |
Title |
Original airdate |
27 (14a) |
"The Game" |
September 26, 1998 (1998-09-26) |
A new craze called 'Ajimbo' sweeps across the playground, brainwashing all the kids at recess. |
28 (14b) |
"The Lost Ball" |
September 26, 1998 (1998-09-26) |
A Kickball falls into a mysterious back garden of a mansion and its up to Gus to retrieve it. |
29 (15a) |
"Gus's Last Stand" |
October 3, 1998 (1998-10-03) |
Gus stands up to Gelman the bully. |
30 (15b) |
"Operation Field Trip" |
October 3, 1998 (1998-10-03) |
The School is going on a field trip, but T.J.'s class bus breaks down, leaving them stranded. |
31 (16a) |
"The Challenge" |
October 10, 1998 (1998-10-10) |
The two Mr. Prickly men (as it is revealed in this episode that Principal Prickly of 3rd Street has an older brother, also a principal of an elementary school) square off on a bet based on a game of 4th grade kickball. The main kids' "doubles" are Spinelli = Rigalli, Vince = Vance, Gretchen = Greta Grobler, Gus = Russ Rimphole, Mikey = Mickey, and T.J. = C.J. Rottweiller. |
32 (16b) |
"Wild Child" |
October 10, 1998 (1998-10-10) |
In the "Pee Wee Pals" program, the main kids each have to take care of a kindergartener during recess. |
33 (17a) |
"The Substitute" |
October 31, 1998 (1998-10-31) |
A mysterious substitute by the name of Mr. E takes over Miss Grotke's class while she is away. |
34 (17b) |
"Gretchen and the Secret of Yo" |
October 31, 1998 (1998-10-31) |
Gretchen discovers a new talent in yo-yos. |
35 (18a) |
"The Girl Was Trouble" |
November 7, 1998 (1998-11-07) |
Gretchen loses her good name after trying to win back her computer, Galileo.
NOTE: The Galileo handheld computer in this episode may have been spoofing the Apple Newton handheld computer, as it shared the same form factor, and a similar name. Another thing about this episode is the fact on how the whole episode is in black and white. |
36 (18b) |
"Copycat Kid" |
November 7, 1998 (1998-11-07) |
Mikey starts to copy Vince after Vince saves Mikey's life. |
37 (19a) |
"Operation Stuart" |
November 14, 1998 (1998-11-14) |
Stuart, a stray cat, wreaks havoc at 3rd Street School. |
38 (19b) |
"Pharaoh Bob" |
November 14, 1998 (1998-11-14) |
King Bob orders the Kids of the Playground to make a monument in his name when he fears he will not be remembered after he leaves. |
39 (20a) |
"Mama's Girl" |
September 19, 1998 (1998-09-19) |
Spinelli calls Miss Grotke "Mama" in front of the whole playground. |
40 (20b) |
"The Hypnotist" |
September 12, 1998 (1998-09-12) |
Principal Prickly is hypnotized to think he is a little kid again. |
41 (21a) |
"Economics of Recess" |
December 12, 1998 (1998-12-12) |
T.J. discovers that while he was out sick, the School has undergone a currency implementation, Monster Stickers. |
42 (21b) |
"Omega Kids" |
December 12, 1998 (1998-12-12) |
All the kids at 3rd Street School have fallen ill after eating Tuna Fish Tacos, leaving T.J. and the gang as the only students in school. |
43 (22) |
"Yes, Mikey, Santa Does Shave" |
December 26, 1998 (1998-12-26) |
(Christmas Special: One twenty-minute episode) Mikey still believes in Santa Claus. |
44 (23a) |
"The Story of Whomps" |
January 9, 1999 (1999-01-09) |
After T.J. tells that the competing baseball team "whomps", Mikey tells the gang about the origin of the word "whomp": in which T.J. and Vince make up a new minced oath after they get caught cussing in school. However, when Miss Finster hears the word, she tries to make the word illegal. |
45 (23b) |
"Weekend at Muriel's" |
January 9, 1999 (1999-01-09) |
Spinelli is forced to spend a weekend with Miss Finster while her parents are away. |
46 (24a) |
"Bad Hair Day" |
January 16, 1999 (1999-01-16) |
Mikey is given a bad haircut, and a haircut craze soon follows. |
47 (24b) |
"Dance Lessons" |
January 16, 1999 (1999-01-16) |
Spinelli is forced to take dance lessons with Mikey after Miss Finster gets Spinelli in trouble for fighting at school. |
48 (25a) |
"Principal for a Day" |
February 27, 1999 (1999-02-27) |
T.J. is made Principal for a day but all is not well. |
49 (25b) |
"The Beauty Contest" |
February 27, 1999 (1999-02-27) |
Spinelli is entered into a beauty contest by the Ashleys as a joke. |
50 (26a) |
"The Break-up" |
September 12, 1998 (1998-09-12) |
The gang breaks up when a report to write about their best friend prompts division as all five of the others write about T.J., prompting T.J. to realize that he has five best friends, not just one. |
51 (26b) |
"Outcast Ashley" |
September 19, 1998 (1998-09-19) |
Ashley A is thrown out of The Ashleys for forgetting the tradition of purple day, so she becomes Gretchen's friend, with disasterous results from T.J. and the gang. |
# |
Title |
Original airdate |
52 (27a) |
"One Stayed Clean" |
September 11, 1999 (1999-09-11) |
It's Gus's first-ever Picture Day, but can his friends help him stay clean until the end of the day? |
53 (27b) |
"A Genius Among Us" |
September 11, 1999 (1999-09-11) |
Somebody solves Gretchen's complicated mathematical problem during recess who turns out to be Hank the janitor. This episode is loosely based on the film Good Will Hunting. |
54 (28a) |
"Dodgeball City" |
September 18, 1999 (1999-09-18) |
T.J. and the gang discover something shocking from Gus's past. |
55 (28b) |
"A Career to Remember" |
September 18, 1999 (1999-09-18) |
The Gang ponder on what they want to be when they grow up, and Spinelli fears she may not have a future. |
56 (29a) |
"Kindergarten Derby" |
September 25, 1999 (1999-09-25) |
The Kindergarteners compete in a race to win a wish from King Bob, which Mikey objects to because of how exploitative it is to the kindergarteners. |
57 (29b) |
"The Bet" |
September 25, 1999 (1999-09-25) |
T.J bets Vince his 60 best Señor Fusion comics for 10 of Vince's mystery books that he cannot go without winning every game he plays for one day. |
58 (30a) |
"Space Cadet" |
October 2, 1999 (1999-10-02) |
Gretchen gets a letter from NASA, telling her that she will be involved in the next space shuttle mission. |
59 (30b) |
"Stand Up Randall" |
October 2, 1999 (1999-10-02) |
Randall discovers a joke book and becomes popular when all of his jokes are centered around Mikey. |
60 (31a) |
"The Shiner" |
November 6, 1999 (1999-11-06) |
T.J. gets a black eye and claims he is a hero.
Note: T.J.'s first name is revealed to be Theodore. |
61 (31b) |
"Lord of the Nerds" |
November 6, 1999 (1999-11-06) |
T.J. breaks his collarbone playing kickball, and has to spend recess with the pale kids. |
62 (32a) |
"That Stinking Feeling" |
November 13, 1999 (1999-11-13) |
Johnny "Baby Tooth" V. leaves an imprint on Spinelli's heart. |
63 (32b) |
"My Funny Valentines" |
November 13, 1999 (1999-11-13) |
T.J. creates prank valentines and complications ensue. |
64 (33a) |
"The Barnaby Boys" |
January 15, 2000 (2000-01-15) |
T.J. and Vince try to uncover the mystery of the temporary janitor. |
65 (33b) |
"Buried Treasure" |
January 15, 2000 (2000-01-15) |
The Gang find a treasure map, and go on a quest to find the treasure. |
66 (34a) |
"The Library Kid" |
January 22, 2000 (2000-01-22) |
The gang investigates an urban legend. Is there a kid who stays in the library and does not come out to recess? |
67 (34b) |
"The Ratings Game" |
January 22, 2000 (2000-01-22) |
The Ashleys instigate a ratings system. But soon it wreaks havoc on the social structure of the playground. |
# |
Title |
Original airdate |
68 (35a) |
"The First Picture Show" |
September 12, 1999 (1999-09-12) |
T.J. finds out about the first Señor Fusion movie and vows to see the first show, ending up against Principal Prickly. |
69 (35b) |
"The Big Prank" |
September 12, 1999 (1999-09-12) |
T.J. tries to prank King Bob so he can win the king's old title of Prankster Prince. |
70 (36a) |
"Hustler's Apprentice" |
September 13, 1999 (1999-09-13) |
Gus joins the Hustler Kid but causes trouble. |
71 (36b) |
"The Spy Who Came in from the Playground" |
September 13, 1999 (1999-09-13) |
There is a mole in the children's midst, who is ratting out all their secret routes and short-cut strategies. His name is James Stone, and he is befriended by T.J. and the gang. |
72 (37a) |
"Gus' Fortune" |
September 19, 1999 (1999-09-19) |
After playing with a "Stinky Peterson" fortune telling device, Gus is told he will die the next day. |
73 (37b) |
"Rumor Mill" |
September 19, 1999 (1999-09-19) |
Mikey is the subject of a vicious rumor that terrifies the whole school, but who started it? |
74 (38a) |
"Recess is Canceled" |
September 22, 1999 (1999-09-22) |
The Government officially cancels recess as part of an experiment, but it begins to go wrong when the kids become tired, bored and behave in a drone-like manner. |
75 (38b) |
"Tattletale Heart" |
September 22, 1999 (1999-09-22) |
Gus knows who started a savage food fight and refuses to tell Miss Finster. But will she force him to tattle? |
76 (39a) |
"The Madness of King Bob" |
September 26, 1999 (1999-09-26) |
Continuing from "The Big Prank". King Bob becomes obsessed with getting revenge on T.J. |
77 (39b) |
"Call Me Guy" |
September 26, 1999 (1999-09-26) |
Gus loses his glasses and becomes cool as a swingin' boy named "Guy". |
78 (40a) |
"Prickly is Leaving" |
October 3, 1999 (1999-10-03) |
Principal Prickly gets his wish of being a middle school principal, but his replacements, an evil man named Dr. Slicer and his assistant Gilda are even worse. |
79 (40b) |
"Randall's Friends" |
October 3, 1999 (1999-10-03) |
Randall gets T.J. and his friends to act as his friends after lying to his father about his friendships, and his father later visits in honor of Randall's birthday. |
80 (41a) |
"The Biggest Trouble Ever" |
November 7, 1999 (1999-11-07) |
T.J. and the gang are deemed criminals because of an accident involving a statue of the school's namesake. |
81 (41b) |
"The Rules" |
November 7, 1999 (1999-11-07) |
The old King Morty's rules are reinstated after Vince and Lawson have a disagreement regarding a kickball landing in a dumpster. |
82 (42a) |
"Gus and Misdemeanors" |
November 8, 1999 (1999-11-08) |
The bad kids from "The Girl Was Trouble" trick Gus into shoplifting candy from Kelso's. |
83 (42b) |
"A Science Fair to Remember" |
November 8, 1999 (1999-11-08) |
Little Becky Benson idolizes Gretchen...or does she? |
84 (43a) |
"Mikey's Pants" |
November 14, 1999 (1999-11-14) |
Mikey's pants split, but will the gang be able to help him avoid Finster and her needle? |
85 (43b) |
"Here Comes Mr. Perfect" |
November 14, 1999 (1999-11-14) |
Jared, a new kid, comes to Third Street and isn't as average as the gang hopes when is better than all the students at the things they are good at. |
86 (44a) |
"Good Luck Charm" |
November 19, 1999 (1999-11-19) |
Spinelli borrows Vince's lucky marble to pass a math test on the day Vince needs it most. |
87 (44b) |
"Diggers Split Up" |
November 19, 1999 (1999-11-19) |
The diggers have a fight and split up. Can the gang get them back together? |
88 (45a) |
"Schoolworld" |
November 21, 1999 (1999-11-21) |
The school gets a new technology system installed called the SAL 3000 which controls everything. This episode loosely parodies 2001: A Space Odyssey. |
89 (45b) |
"Bachelor Gus" |
November 21, 1999 (1999-11-21) |
Gus moves into 'Ol Rusty at school after overhearing his parents' unfortunate plans to move again. He then turns 'Ol Rusty into a swingin' bachelor pad. But then he finds out that he's only getting a room change at home. |
90 (46a) |
"The Dude" |
November 28, 1999 (1999-11-28) |
A school legend, T.J.'s idol comes back as a teacher. |
91 (46b) |
"Partners in Crime" |
November 28, 1999 (1999-11-28) |
Menlo and Randall plan to take over the school after everyone ignores them. |
92 (47a) |
"The Candidates" |
November 29, 1999 (1999-11-29) |
Vince and Gretchen run against each other for class president. |
93 (47b) |
"This Brain for Hire" |
November 29, 1999 (1999-11-29) |
Gretchen does other people's homework to get the money for a new bike. |
94 (48a) |
"Spinelli's Masterpiece" |
February 6, 2000 (2000-02-06) |
Spinelli lets off some steam by creating a chalk drawing and T.J. does everything he can to keep Miss Finster from erasing it. |
95 (48b) |
"Nobody Doesn't Like T.J." |
February 6, 2000 (2000-02-06) |
T.J. does everything he can to force one kid to like him. The title of this episode is similar to the Sara Lee slogan, "Nobody does it like Sara Lee". |
96 (49a) |
"A Great State Fair" |
February 13, 2000 (2000-02-13) |
Gus gets left behind, along with Gelman and Finster when Gus's dad forgets to give him his permission slip to his first great state fair. |
97 (49b) |
"The A.V. Kid" |
February 13, 2000 (2000-02-13) |
A.V. Kid must choose a successor because he's leaving Third Street for Portugal. T.J. and Vince would both like the position. |
98 (50a) |
"Yope from Norway" |
February 20, 2000 (2000-02-20) |
Gus becomes jealous of Yope, a Norwegian transfer student. |
99 (50b) |
"Bonkey Fever" |
February 20, 2000 (2000-02-20) |
Mikey has problems turning the big 1-0. |
100 (51a) |
"Don't Ask Me" |
February 21, 2000 (2000-02-21) |
Spinelli takes the place of the Guru Kid. |
101 (51b) |
"The Secret Life of Grotke" |
February 21, 2000 (2000-02-21) |
The gang believe that Miss Grotke is a spy. But is she spying for or against America? |
102 (52a) |
"The Fuss Over Finster" |
February 27, 2000 (2000-02-27) |
Miss Finster hurts her leg and can't keep up with the kids during recess. |
103 (52b) |
"Soccer Boy" |
February 27, 2000 (2000-02-27) |
Vince refuses to let Mikey join his five-a-side soccer team for the King Bob Classic, so Mikey become the goalkeeper for Lawson's team. |
104 (53a) |
"Fort Tender" |
February 29, 2000 (2000-02-29) |
T.J. and the gang make a fort, only to have Lawson ruin their plans. |
105 (53b) |
"Germ Warfare" |
February 29, 2000 (2000-02-29) |
Gus and Mikey are at war after Gretchen catches a cold. |
106 (54a) |
"More Like Gretchen" |
March 1, 2000 (2000-03-01) |
After a visit to a beauty museum with Gretchen, Spinelli's parents seem to be a little "unsatisfied" with their daughter. |
107 (54b) |
"Prince Randall" |
March 1, 2000 (2000-03-01) |
Randall blackmails King Bob into giving him the throne. |
108 (55a) |
"Me No Know" |
April 30, 2000 (2000-04-30) |
Vince's parents refuse to let him see a really good movie and feels the brunt of not understanding what is going on throughout the city, more importantly the school. Is the plan of sneaking out to the movie a good idea? |
109 (55b) |
"Good Ole T.J." |
April 30, 2000 (2000-04-30) |
T.J. and Gretchen are finally partners for a project. Will it work? |
110 (56a) |
"Chez Vince" |
May 7, 2000 (2000-05-07) |
Vince becomes one of the greatest chefs in the history of the playground and making 'Chez Vince' and possibly even the world. |
111 (56b) |
"Tucked in Mikey" |
May 7, 2000 (2000-05-07) |
Menlow teaches Mikey to be more "organized", only to surprise the whole school. |
112 (57a) |
"Old Folks Home" |
July 17, 2000 (2000-07-17) |
The gang take a visit to the Old Folks' Home, only to be surprised. |
113 (57b) |
"Some Friend" |
July 17, 2000 (2000-07-17) |
T.J. has a mysterious friend that appears to be Menlo. |
# |
Title |
Original airdate |
114 (58a) |
"The Coolest Heatwave Ever" |
September 9, 2000 (2000-09-09) |
The gang try to find the school's back-up water valve on the hottest day of the year. |
115 (58b) |
"No Strings Attached" |
September 9, 2000 (2000-09-09) |
The gang is suspicious when The Ashleys give Spinelli six wrestling tickets. |
116 (59a) |
"Beyond a Reasonable Scout" |
September 16, 2000 (2000-09-16) |
Mikey and Gus want to join the Woodchuck Scouts. |
117 (59b) |
"The C Note" |
September 16, 2000 (2000-09-16) |
When T.J. finds a $100 bill, the gang wants to spend it, but T.J. wants to give it back to the rightful owner. |
118 (60a) |
"The Army-Navy Game" |
September 23, 2000 (2000-09-23) |
When Gus's father finds out that Cornchip Girl's father is his archenemy who worked for the Navy, Gus and Cornchip Girl aren't allowed to see each other anymore, but they decide to share a secret friendship that their fathers won't know about. |
119 (60b) |
"Big Ol' Mikey" |
September 23, 2000 (2000-09-23) |
Gretchen and Galileo conduct a test to find out how tall everyone will be when they are older--Vince will be 6'2, T.J will be 5'9, Spinelli will be 5'6, and Gus will be 6'4 and Galileo says that Mikey will be 50 feet, which causes Mikey to worry that he will be taller than he is now. |
120 (61a) |
"The Principals of Golf" |
November 4, 2000 (2000-11-04) |
The kids think Vince is getting special treatment when he becomes Prickly's golf partner. |
121 (61b) |
"All the Principal's Men" |
November 4, 2000 (2000-11-04) |
The gang tries to find out who removed all the balls from the playground. |
122 (62) |
"Lawson and his Crew" |
January 6, 2001 (2001-01-06) |
Lawson become jealous after T.J.'s gang is rewarded by King Bob when they prevented the superintendent's plans for a dress code. To make T.J.'s gang become useless, Lawson organizes his own gang. 20 minute special Note: Before the commercial break, T.J. breaks the fourth wall, saying "Recess will never be the same." After the commercial break, a shortened version of the intro to Recess plays, but, breaking the fourth wall, it abruptly stops when Miss Finster put her hand on the ball. Lawson shouts to stop, and said "I got an idea". The intro plays again, but Lawson's gang takes the role of T.J.'s gang. |