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"Pre-Teen Scream" is an episode of Hey Arnold!.
Synopsis[]
Phoebe wins a chance to meet her favorite singer-songwriter, Ronnie Matthews, only to find out that he‘s nothing like she thought he was and is a complete sham.
Plot[]
Several of the kids (and secretly Principal Wartz) are fans of famous pop star Ronnie Matthews. However, no one is a bigger fan than Phoebe Heyerdahl. A radio contest is held for fans to write an essay on what they like about Ronnie with the winner receiving 2 tickets and 2 backstage passes for Ronnie’s upcoming concert along with dinner with Ronnie himself. After many failed drafts, Phoebe sends in her essay and it’s announced that Phoebe won. She begs a reluctant Helga to join her, and Helga finally agrees after being promised free food.
At the concert, Phoebe and everyone but Helga is completely entranced by Ronnie’s performance. Backstage, Helga and Phoebe meet Ronnie’s entourage along with Ronnie who keeps mispronouncing their names due to his heavy accent. He charms Phoebe while leaving Helga uninterested.
They ride in Ronnie’s limo and Helga is still unimpressed by Ronnie trying to show off. They stop at a diner and after being applauded, Ronnie immediately orders the most expensive thing on the menu and tells the girls they can order anything they want which is an offer Helga takes him up on.
After dinner, Ronnie talks about how nothing makes him happier than having heaps of money and buying expensive things. Phoebe asks what about the satisfaction of making great music which Ronnie says he couldn’t tell Phoebe what that feels like. Phoebe is confused considering all of Ronnie’s music and songs so Ronnie lets Phoebe and Helga in on his secret. His entire musical career is a sham.
Ronnie didn’t write any of his songs, he doesn’t know how to play the guitar, and he just lip syncs to the song lyrics that someone else sings when he’s onstage. All that Ronnie has is a handsome face. Phoebe is greatly depressed by this news. Helga, however, is greatly impressed with this revelation believing that Ronnie created the perfect scam. She happily dances with Ronnie when he plays his song on the diner jukebox.
After the evening is over, Ronnie drops Helga and Phoebe off at Helga’s house. Phoebe voices her disappointment in Ronnie while Ronnie doesn’t care given he still has his handsome face. Helga waves goodbye to Ronnie telling him to call her, but notices something is off with Phoebe and asks what’s wrong? Phoebe is angry at Helga for making fun of her for liking Ronnie and only going to the concert for free food, and yet Helga was the one having a great time with Ronnie because he's rich. However, Helga says it's not her fault and reminds Phoebe that she was the one who begged her to go with her after saying how great Ronnie was and it’s not her fault that Ronnie wasn’t the voice of a generation that Phoebe thought he was.
That's when Phoebe realizes that Helga was right and says that it was stupid of her to be tricked by Ronnie despite the music and lyrics being so beautiful. Helga comforts a distraught Phoebe saying she wasn't stupid because anybody can be fooled by a handsome face, even smart people like Phoebe. This cheers Phoebe up and she decides that it’s probably best to not meet your heroes. Helga says that after thinking about it, Ronnie was kind of dorky and kept calling them the wrong names. They playfully imitate Ronnie mispronouncing their names and go back home.