Season 3, Episode 25
The Partridge Family attend a lecture by Mike Rezo, a famous mystery writer. After the lecture, they meet him, and the discussion leads to the fact that everyone but Rezo feels that his stories are more fantasy than true to life. Rezo believes that, using human nature and logic, anything is possible. In order to prove his point, Rezo offers the Partridges a deal they can't refuse. He will give them a two-hour head start and then begin looking for them; if he can't locate them within 24 hours, he will donate $25,000 to their favorite charity. The next morning the chase begins. No matter where they go, Rezo and his agent, Lazaar Hannibal, seem to turn up. The family pretends to leave their house and drive around for an hour before returning to the house -- thinking that's the last place he'd look. When they get out of the car Rezo is waiting. They try getting lost in a crowd, hiding in the apartment of a friend of Reuben's, even the local "lovers' lane," always to find Rezo waiting. Shirley leaves the younger children, Chris and Tracy, at Mrs. Monihan's because the chase will be too much for them. Trying to figure out how Rezo always finds them, Keith searches the car and finds a "bug." The Partridges use the bug to lead Rezo on a wild goose chase out to Cronos Caverns, 100 miles away. Thinking they are home free, the Partridges are surprised when Rezo walks in. He explains that the farther he got from town the weaker the signal from the bug became, and the closer he got to the Partridge home the stronger it became. Shirley says he has still lost the bet since he hasn't found all the Partridges -- where are Chris and Tracy? At the show where Rezo turns the check for $25,000 over to the charity, Shirley learns from the younger children that Mr. Rezo had visited them at Mrs. Monihan's right after they arrived there. He had known all along, but donated the money anyway.
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Length: 17:09:32
Aired: 3/23/1973
Season 3, Episode 24
Laurie is chosen to be campaign manager for Phyllis Goldberg, who is a candidate for the school presidency. Unfortunately, Phyllis, an intelligent but very timid girl, will have to compete for this chosen position with Keith, who is without a doubt the more popular of the two. Overly assured that he will win because of his personal charm and magnetism, Keith is rather surprised to learn from Danny, the official pollster, that although he is far ahead, his strongest support comes from the students to whom he spoke during music and woodshop. This is significant, for these students could not really hear his speech, and judged him solely on his popularity. Keith's lack of awareness of school problems becomes quite evident when Phyllis challenges him to a debate, after which Danny informs him that the school is equally divided between the two candidates. Keith seriously considers dropping out of the race because he is afraid of losing. Instead, he throws his support to the Goldberg camp by telling students that Phyllis' qualifications are far superior to his, which he sincerely believes. But Keith has far underestimated his own popularity, for he still manages to win the election. Phyllis is a good sport about losing, and is satisfied with having made so many new friends during the campaign.
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Length: 22:59:11
Aired: 3/16/1973
Season 3, Episode 21
America's "heartthrob," Keith Partridge, is failing his sex education course at school. When the family hears about this they find it hard to stifle their laughter, until they realize that if he does fail, he won't graduate. He can make it up in summer school, but that would mean canceling the Partridge Family summer tour, their biggest yet. When Shirley tries to find out why Keith is failing, Keith tells her it must be because Mr. Grisbee, his teacher, doesn't like him. He feels his work is better than that of others in his class, but he gets lower grades. Shirley goes to the school to talk to Mr. Grisbee and learn if he really is being unfair to Keith, but Mr. Grisbee is in a rush and curtly dismisses her. Keith decides that he will get an 'A' on the final exam and make it impossible for Grisbee to fail him. He studies night and day, getting very little sleep. The day of the test he goes to school early to get in every minute of studying possible. He falls asleep under a tree and misses the test. After convincing Mr. Grisbee to let him make up the test and taking it, Keith is sure he failed it when the teacher asks him and Shirley to come up to school. Grisbee announces that Keith got an 'A' on the exam, and the reason he had been so hard on Keith was because he did not feel Keith was doing as well as he could. He had done just enough work to get by with, but had proved by passing the final that if he really tried he could be an excellent student.
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Length: 22:59:11
Aired: 2/23/1973
Season 3, Episode 19
Reuben arranges for the Partridge family to make a TV commercial for Erwin Tully, owner of a large take-out chicken outfit. Up until now, "Uncle Erwin" has been making all his own commercials, very corny ones complete with chicken costumes. His sales have dropped, and he feels he needs a new image. The family films the commercial; the setting is a picnic: all the kids are playing and enjoying Uncle Erwin's chicken. Everyone is very pleased with the ad, everyone but Erwin! He feels something is missing -- chicken suits! The Partridges are 100% against it, but are forced by contract to make another commercial. They try to make it as bad as possible, hoping Erwin won't like it and use the first one. He ends up loving it. Erwin is going to preview his new commercial at a convention for all his franchise owners. Shirley realizes everyone there will hate the ad. So, when the conventioneers assume the commercial is a joke and ask for the "real one," Shirley saves the day by having the first ad ready to be shown.
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Length: 22:59:11
Aired: 2/9/1973