John-Boy visit’s Dean Beck at Boatwright University. He is broke and is looking for work so that he can continue working on his novel. He hopes to teach English but there are no opportunities open in that department. The Dean shows John-Boy a television that is broadcasting a closed circuit play that is being filmed by some students down the hall. He hopes to convince the school trustees that TV is the future and that they should be teaching a class in it the following semester but he doesn’t believe he will be able to convince them. John-Boy asks if he can try and teach the class as well. As they wrap up their conversation Jim-Bob can be seen on the screen making faces at the camera after the scene from the play finishes. He came with John-Boy for the drive.
Jim-Bob picks up some parts to build a TV from an engineering student.
John-Boy works on a script for a newscast but his siblings feel that TV should be more exciting. He is frustrated that everyone has a different opinion about what it should be. He ends up writing a drama and shows it to Dean Beck at the University. The Dean feels that the Trustees will be expecting something more classical and academic that can demonstrate the educational value of television. John-Boy tries again. He writes a script that features the nine muses of Greek mythology to represent the different aspects that television can be used for. He asks his sisters to read different parts but they can’t stop laughing at the idea. Jim-Bob listens from the kitchen table while working on the wiring of his TV project. He causes a short circuit and gets a shock and blows the fuses to the house. His siblings help him back on his feet but he is more determined than ever to get the TV working.
John-Boy continues to work on his script. John Curtis comes out to the porch and wants John-Boy to read him a story. Even though he has to be at the University in an hour to present his message to the school trustees via television he takes the time to read from his story book anyways. This gives him the inspiration on the message he presents in his TV address.
Jim-Bob completes his TV but only gets static on the picture tube. Jason helps him to run an antennae wire from the top of the mountain down to the house. A number of members of the community get caught up in the excitement. They all gather around Jim-Bob’s TV to watch John-Boy’s speech.
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