The Picnic Panic

"The Picnic Panic" is the first episode (part one) of The Thing season one. It aired on September 8, 1979 on NBC.

When Spike challenges Ronald to a motorcycle race, Benjy is forced to help Ronald to keep things fair and safe.

Memorable quotes
Spike: Hey, let go, boulder fingers. The Thing: Well, I'd rather have boulders in my fingers, than rocks in my head.

Characters
Joe Baker (Thing)
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Betty Harkness
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Marilyn Schreffler
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Kelly Harkness
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Noelle North
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Benjy Grimm/The Thing
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Wayne Morton (Benjy)
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Benjy Grimm/The Thing
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Wayne Morton (Benjy)
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Wayne Morton (Benjy)
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Ronald Radford
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| John Erwin
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Turkey
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Michael Sheehan
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Stretch
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Spike Hanrahan
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Art Metrano
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Miss Twilly
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Marilyn Schreffler
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Spike Hanrahan
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Art Metrano
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Miss Twilly
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Marilyn Schreffler
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Marilyn Schreffler

Organizations

 * Yancy Street Gang
 * Park department

Locations

 * Earth
 * United States
 * Centerville
 * Centerville Picnic Grounds

Objects

 * Benjy's rings

Vehicles

 * Betty's car
 * Ronald's car
 * Yancy Street Gang's motorcycles

Release
Dates are in order of release:


 * United States: September 8, 1979 on NBC

Errors

 * Why is there only four students at the high school picnic? And one of them isn't even a high school student.
 * Despite already being called the Centerville Picnic Grounds, a second sign says Centerville Picnic Area.
 * Yes, Benjy was asking Betty if she was at the time by herself, but they also came together, which itself makes very little sense to begin with.
 * When Betty comes closer to Ronald to ask if he's afraid, Benjy and Kelly, who were behind either side of him, have disappeared.

Home availability

 * Warner Bros. own the show, while Disney own the characters, making it difficult to release this episode onto DVD.