While the rest of the gang is away, Marcus tries to stop Manny and Danny from launching a wordball balloon that would ruin the Electric Company's reputation. Also: Swizz Beatz raps about literacy, with help from his sons Nasir and Kassem.

Danny and Annie set out to ruin Paul the Gorilla's banana-festival party at the Electric Diner after they score zero points in a banana-sculpture contest.

The Electric Company tries to help Marcus, a neighborhood kid, improve his wordball throwing skills

Hector sprains his ankle and can't compete in the Wordball Games, the neighborhood Olympics.

Jessica and Danny compete in a Pies for Puppies charity bake sale.

The annual Spooky Summer Soiree inspires the gang to dress as animals dressed as monsters, but pranksters Annie and Gilda buy all of the costumes from the discount-costume store before Jessica and Marcus can buy theirs.

Marcus sees a commercial on his laptop for Francine's latest invention, the Return-a-ball, which is supposed to come right back to you when you throw it. He can't resist buying one but quickly discovers that it doesn't work and it's just a regular ball. The rest of the Electric Company pitches in to help Marcus prove that Francine faked her commercial so he can get his money back.

Shock competes against a former friend in a beatboxing competition judged by hip-hop artist Doug E. Fresh.

Marcus and Jessica are accidentally shrunk by an invention that Manny borrowed. To return them to normal size, the gang need to retrieve the gadget from Manny, but can't find him because he accidentally shrunk himself too.

Marcus and Manny are this week's contestants on a game show called Tip it or Dip It. Show host Rob Robson, played by comedian Sherrod Small, introduces this week's surprise guest host, and it's Francine! Will Manny's cheating prevent Marcus from winning?

Francine wants to be on the next season of The Junior Assistant, a reality show run by the Ronald, one of the richest and most famous people in the world. She must collaborate with Hector and the Electric Company to make six hundred cookies by five o'clock in order to prove that she's worthy of being on the show.