Teddy's sixteenth birthday is coming up and when Bob refuses to take her out to practice driving, she volunteers to drive Mrs. Dabney around to get more experience behind the wheel. Meanwhile, Gabe brings home a lost dog and although Amy is not happy about it at first, she soon takes a liking to him and is heartbroken when the dog's owner shows up to claim him.[1]
Episode Summary[]
PJ is recording some of Charlie's words onto a keyboard, which Amy is impressed with. Teddy comes downstairs begging her dad to take her driving because she still needs to practice before her exam in three days and he hasn't taken her out driving once. Bob refuses, stating that he promises lots of things and that she interrupted him while he was reading in the bathroom. PJ questions this and Teddy claims she was that desperate. Amy then makes Bob go with Teddy driving and he agrees.
With Teddy's 16th birthday coming up, Amy tells Gabe and PJ they have to get Teddy a birthday present for her surprise party that night (Teddy's real birthday isn't for a few more days). PJ almost suggests getting Teddy a sock puppet, but Amy immediately shoots that idea down. Gabe says she would like a dog, while Amy thinks he's only messing around, there turns out to be an actual dog in the house because it followed Gabe home. Amy is against it staying because she does not want a dog in the house from the get-go. Charlie mistakes the dog for a horse, but Amy claims it's a dog. PJ points out the dog just made a horse size accident. When Teddy comes home later on, she is upset because Bob says that she can't get her license at all, he claims that she is not ready. At first, she tries to insist she is a great driver as her instructor says so but Bob claims that man has nothing to lose since he works for the public schools. Teddy tries to get her mom to do something about this, but Amy says when it comes to driving lessons and barbecuing, Bob has a full say in the matter. Teddy tries to insist that Bob reconsider, he refuses. She gets mad and storms down to her room. Bob soon learns about the dog in the house, but Amy says they are not keeping it. Later on, Teddy talks to PJ and asked if Bob got nervous when he was learning how to drive but PJ says Bob was calm about it. Teddy questions why Bob takes his stress out on her, PJ points out Bob may not like Teddy's driving, and that she's probably not a great driver, but Teddy insists she is. PJ changes the subject, and he asks Teddy what she would like for her birthday but says it's for his 16-year-old friend instead, and Teddy says she would not want a sock puppet, she wants boots.
Mrs. Dabney comes to the house to complain about the new dog but eventually realizes there are pros to this situation and leaves. As she does Teddy asks her that she can take her driving since she still needs to practice. Mrs. Dabney says, "Let's go," since she has errands to run anyway, and they go driving. PJ and Gabe go to the mall to get Teddy boots. At first, they don't know her foot size, but PJ remembers how Teddy wore Gabe's shoes by mistake a week ago, which means they are the same foot size. Unfortunately, the boots they pick out end up getting stuck on Gabe's feet. Meanwhile, Teddy drives while Mrs. Dabney played Word Jumble on her cell phone. Mrs. Dabney tells Teddy to drive to Boulder to see her sister, which is far away in the mountains. The car runs out of gas, and they get stuck in the mountains. A mountain lady comes to the car window and offers her gas for 50 dollars. They get driving again and the car gets stuck in the mud, and Teddy pushes the car out of it but gets mud all over her skirt and the car rips it off. Meanwhile, at the Duncan house, Amy gets more and more fond of the dog and names it "Sweetie pie". Later on, Sweetie pie's real owner comes to the house to get her dog back, whose name is Winston. Amy Duncan is really sad about giving the dog back, but she has ice cream with Gabe to feel better. Teddy comes home and everybody yells "SURPRISE!", quickly noticing Teddy's skirt is gone. She is wearing a cardboard box instead. Teddy goes to get changed so they can try again in an hour.
Later on, during the party, Teddy and her dad have a long talk about her driving that day (Mrs. Dabney had returned Teddy's skirt). He is disappointed that she went behind his back and went driving anyway. Teddy apologizes but states that she is a great driver and questions why he was nervous about her driving, but he was calm with PJ. Bob states that it's different: he's PJ, but Teddy is his little girl. Bob soon admits that driving means leaving and is worried once she does start driving, she may never come back. Teddy assures her dad she'll always come back no matter what, they hug and then go back inside for the party. PJ and Gabe perform a song they made for Teddy from Charlie's samples. The episode ends with Teddy's video message to Charlie. Teddy is really happy because she got her driver's license, but the happiness goes away when her family asks her to go out and run errands.
End Credits[]
Teddy and the 3 Duncans go on a ride to the Grand Canyon. Amy and Bob continuously annoy PJ and Teddy. Gabe is dressed as a police officer and demands to see Teddy's license. Charlie steals Gabe's motorcycle and Gabe chases after her. Charlie has a helmet, jacket, upper ponytail, black pants, and boots.
Songs[]
Gallery[]
The image gallery for Driving Mrs. Dabney.
Running Gags[]
Good Luck, Charlie[]
Teddy: Can you say good luck, Charlie? ...It's the thought that counts. |
Charlie's Lines[]
PJ: Charlie what do you say when you get in trouble?
Charlie: Uh oh! |
Charlie: Horsy. Amy: No, honey. It's actually a doggie. PJ: Who just made a horsy sized uh oh! |
Charlie: Mommy... Amy: Charlie not now! |
Memorable Quotes[]
Bob: I am afraid PJ is never going to move out. |
Teddy: Why are you treating me any different than PJ? Bob: Because he's PJ, and you're my little girl! Driving means leaving. Once you get in the car, you go. |
Background Information[]
- This is the first episode to show the Father/Daughter relationship between Bob and Teddy.
- PJ doesn't know Teddy's middle name.
- Amy claims that Bob has little authority in the family, the only thing he has full control of is teaching the kids to drive and barbecuing.
Production Information[]
International Premieres[]
- May 29, 2011 (Disney Channel Poland)
Continuity[]
- Charlie gets animals mixed up ("Kwikki Chick").
Allusions[]
- This episode title refers to the movie: Driving Ms. Daisy and is similar to the Disney Channel series That's So Raven episode Driving Miss Lazy.
- This episode contains a reference to giving someone "The Middle Finger," or "flipping them off," which means "BLEEP! YOU." It was not directly said that Teddy was given the finger, for obvious reasons.
- This episode is similar to the Wizard's of Waverly Place episode You Can't Always Get What You Carpet because the dad (Bob) gets mad at Alex (Teddy) and calls her daddy's little girl. Alex (Teddy) also complains about how he treated Justin (PJ) differently.
Cast[]
- Bridgit Mendler as Teddy Duncan
- Leigh-Allyn Baker as Amy Duncan
- Bradley Steven Perry as Gabe Duncan
- Mia Talerico as Charlie Duncan
- Eric Allan Kramer as Bob Duncan
- Jason Dolley as PJ Duncan
Guest Stars[]
- Jennifer Hasty as Dolly
- Dana Powell as Nancy
- Patricia Belcher as Estelle Dabney
References[]
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