Everybody Hates Basketball is the third episode of the first season of Everybody Hates Chris.
Synopsis[]
Because he's black, Chris gets recruited to join the basketball team despite the fact he can't play. He learns that being part of the team has great perks both on and off the court, however, this hurts his friendship with the nerdy Greg. Meanwhile, the family decides to rent their upstairs room, but Rochelle becomes increasingly suspicious of their new tenant.
Plot[]
In the opening narration, Chris talks about how he never fits in at school, except with the nerds. Chris and Greg love watching basketball and talk about the previous night's game. While heading to class, Chris crumbles up a paper and shoots it in the trash, getting the attention of the basketball coach. On the spot, he immediately recruits Chris because he thinks he is good because he is black. Despite Chris trying to tell him he cannot, the coach still believes he is and dubs him the nickname "Swish."
At home, Rochelle and Julius are trying to rent out the upstairs apartment of their building for extra income. A montage of interviews with these tenants did not go well, all of them requesting to pay rent in food stamps. However, when Julius is outside with a sandwich, he meets Mr. Tate, who is prospecting for an apartment. He quickly wins over Julius by offering to pay 6 months in advance, handing him $300 cash on the spot and moves him in. Rochelle, however, already finds him suspicious as she questioned where he is from to quickly say he is from Philadelphia, as she believes no one from Philly would ever stop talking about Philly.
The next day at school, Chris becomes instantly popular, getting the admiration of students and staff, even from bully, Caruso. Greg tries to invite Chris to hang with him and to study for the quiz next class but he refused to enjoy the popularity in hanging with his new teammates and a cute girl, Jennifer Thompson. In class, Chris feels unprepared since he did not study, Greg sarcastically telling him "Good luck, Swish." Chris fails his quiz, at least being relieved that he does not have to play.
At home, the family is having dinner and Rochelle gets a phone call from Chris's teacher for failing his quiz, making her and the family also learn he is on the basketball team. Drew and Tonya criticize it because they know he cannot play. Julius becomes proud that Chris is on the team, always feeling ashamed that Chris could not play sports. Chris apologized that he cannot play since he failed the quiz, however, Rochelle informs him that his coach arranged for him to retake the quiz in order to play. Rochelle forces him to study after dinner.
The next morning at school, Chris apologizes to Greg for blowing him off, to which Greg accepts since he has no other friends. He tells Greg how he has to take a makeup quiz, and he is conflicted to pass or fail, to either upset his mom and team for failing and unable to play or getting humiliated for playing and letting the school down. Chris ultimately chooses to tank the quiz by getting every single question wrong, however, the teacher still gives him a C+ to pass him since he is on the basketball team to play. He gets his locker decorated by Jennifer Thompson who cheers him on and wishes him good luck at the game, leaving him with a kiss.
At home, Rochelle continually gets suspicious and uncomfortable with Mr. Tate as he made a few unusual requests and making noise one night while everyone is sleeping. Julius, however, continually tries to insist Rochelle to leave him alone and apologize while checking with Mr. Tate on the activity.
At school, the big game begins, Chris is anxious about playing as the coach's play is just to make sure only Chris has the ball and his teammates stay out of the way while he continually goes for the shot. Chris decided to go out there and believe in himself since the school believes in him. However, he continues to get humiliated as he continually could not even catch the ball and throw the game, letting the school down and lose.
At home, during dinner, his siblings mock him for losing, Rochelle and Julius empathize saying he tried, and he at least felt positive that he passed his quiz. Mr. Tate continues to make noise upstairs prompting Rochelle with Julis to investigate. Rochelle had enough of it and orders Mr. Tate to pack up and leave, Julius reluctantly gives him his money back, only charging him for the three days he stayed and apologized. As they left, they were stopped by the FBI who were quietly closing in to the apartment to arrest Mr. Tate, who is revealed to be a serial killer. When they got back down to the dinner table, they dismissed the kids question about the noise (caused by the FBI arresting Mr. Tate), simply responding that Mr. Tate is just leaving.
At the end of the episode, Chris's "C+" on his quiz is changed to an "F." Confused, he mentions to the teacher that he thought he got a C+, the teacher then replies saying that she thought he was on the basketball team, then smiles at him. The “Everybody Hates Chris” hook then plays with Chris looking shocked that he got played by his own teacher.
Trivia[]
- The alternate high tone version of the “Everybody Hates Chris” hook sung by Tichina Arnold and her 2 friends is heard for the first time at the end of the episode, including a little blooper from recording. This version is used for the rest of the end of all Season 1 episodes minus Everybody Hates Corleone.
- Chris's classmate, Jennifer Thompson, was the first girl to kiss him.