Ep 12. The Girls in the Band

In "The Girls in the Band," the twelfth episode of the first season of the animated Canadian sitcom 6teen, the mall rats are gearing up for the annual mall employee talent show. While most of the gang is just excited to participate and show off their various talents, Caitlin is determined to win the competition with her own personal rendition of "The Clapping Song."

Adding to the usual excitement of the talent show, Jude's crush on the lead singer of the girl band that's entered, the Pink-E, has him glued to their rehearsals like a lovesick puppy. The Pink-E consists of three teenage girls, all of whom are employees at the mall, and they've been the talk of the mall as the only all-girl band in the show.

Jude's sudden obsession with the band quickly becomes the butt of everyone's jokes, but things take a turn when he ends up accidentally sabotaging their rehearsal. Their lead singer, Starr, becomes distracted and can't perform, forcing the girls to try and figure out how to fix their act in time for the competition.

Feeling guilty, Jude decides to help the Pink-E win the contest by offering to perform with them as a guest musician. Starr is hesitant at first, but the girls eventually decide to give it a try. Jude's enthusiasm and musical ability end up being exactly what the band needs to add a unique edge to their performance.

Meanwhile, Caitlin's confidence in her own performance begins to falter when she realizes she might not be the only person doing "The Clapping Song." Through a series of hijinks and mishaps, her sheet music ends up in the hands of another contestant, making her even more nervous about the outcome of the show.

In the end, the talent show proves to be a huge success, with each act bringing something different to the table. While Caitlin ultimately doesn't win with her take on "The Clapping Song," she realizes that having fun and doing something she loves is more important than winning. The Pink-E, with Jude by their side, ends up taking home the trophy with their energetic performance.

"The Girls in the Band" is a light-hearted feel-good episode that focuses on the importance of friendship, working together, and having fun. It's the perfect addition to an already entertaining and engaging first season of 6teen.