Ep 26. Pop Goes the Easel

In "Pop Goes the Easel," the 26th episode of the first season of The Electric Company (2009), the gang is faced with a dilemma when they discover that Manny Spamboni, a famous painter, is coming to their neighborhood to paint a portrait of Lisa Heffenbacher, a girl that Hector has a crush on. However, Manny Spamboni has a reputation for being very temperamental and difficult to work with, and the gang worries that he won't be able to get along with Lisa.

To make matters worse, Manny Spamboni's rival, Carol Colossal, is also coming to town to paint a portrait of Lisa, and the two artists have a long-standing feud. The gang tries to convince Manny Spamboni to work with Carol Colossal instead of competing against her, but Manny is stubborn and insists on working alone.

Meanwhile, Jessica and Marcus find a mysterious painting in the school basement and try to figure out its origins. They discover that it was painted by a former student who went on to become a famous artist, and they decide to create their own works of art inspired by the painting.

Back at Lisa's house, Manny Spamboni arrives and starts painting her portrait. He is quickly frustrated by Lisa's fidgeting and demands that she sit still. Lisa becomes upset and starts to cry, and Manny realizes that he has been too harsh with her. He apologizes and they work out a compromise that allows Lisa to move around a bit while still allowing Manny to capture her likeness.

Carol Colossal arrives and the two artists start competing, but things quickly spiral out of control and they start throwing paint at each other. The gang intervenes, and they finally convince Manny and Carol to work together to create a masterpiece. They all collaborate on a beautiful painting that celebrates Lisa's unique qualities, and Manny and Carol bury the hatchet and become friends.

In the end, the gang discovers that the mysterious painting in the school basement was created by Manny Spamboni's mentor, who had taught him the value of teamwork and collaboration. They realize that working together can lead to great things, and they feel inspired to create their own works of art.