The Show Stoppers

The Show Stoppers is the eighteenth episode of the first season of Legends of the Multiverse: Friendship is Universe. In this episode, the Cutie Mark Crusaders believe that winning a talent show will help them earn their cutie marks. The title of this episode may be literally referencing the Cutie Mark Crusaders' antics, in which they perform a theatrical showstopper - a performance that garners enthusiastic or prolonged applause, which usually forces the performers to stop the performance until it has died down. An alternate meaning in business terms, however, is an action or event that puts a halt to all other activities until it can be resolved.

Development
According to Cindy Morrow, this episode was originally titled "No Talent Show."

The Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse
The episode begins with Sheriff Mulan leading the Cutie Mark Crusaders through Fa Family Acres, without telling them where they're going. They eventually reach an old clubhouse that she used as a filly. Unfortunately, the group is less than thrilled at this hand-me-down clubhouse because it's in disrepair from years of neglect. Sheriff Mulan tells them that they can fix it up to become their new base of operations, then immediately falls through a wall.

Later, Alicia Acorn stands in front of Destiny Library and adds it to a paw-drawn map of Multiville. After a high-speed run on her scooter she returns to the clubhouse, which Sheriff Lonnie has completely repaired. Meanwhile, Aurora Amano is dusting and making up a theme song for the group.

With everything set up, they continue their quest to find their special talents. The adventure takes them everywhere on their map: they feed pigs at Fa Family Acres, make taffy at Corona Sugarcube Corner, style hair at Nene Amano's boutique, use a modified form of Zener cards, climb rocks, and go scuba diving. Each attempt is a spectacular failure, after which they look eagerly at their flanks but do not receive their cutie marks. The last stop on their map is Kairi Sparkle's library. The musical score during the montage of their attempts is the same music that plays during Chloe Bourgeois's cute-ceañera in Call of the Cutie and both Pascal's and Rapunzel's birthday party in Party of One.

Preparing for the show
Kairi Sparkle and the girls' teacher, Caline Bustier, walk into the library and see the Crusaders among a huge pile of fallen books. Kairi asks what's going on, to which Lonnie replies, "Well, we sure aren't gettin' our cutie marks for bein' librarians." Kairi tells them that they're trying to get their cutie marks the wrong way, and suggests they do things in areas they already like. Caline shows them a flier for a talent show that will be taking place the next day. With so many possibilities to find their talents, the fillies start to plan their show, each making bizarre or dangerous suggestions. Kairi again urges them to do something they're already good at. The girls say they can do that, then go around town collecting and borrowing random items.

"Legend of multiverse! Think about the things you already enjoy doing. Think about what you're already good at."

- Kairi Sparkle

Inside the clubhouse, the Crusaders come up with a plan for the show: a spectacular musical number. Lonnie suggests Aurora as the singer, but Aurora is afraid to sing in front of a crowd and says she would rather be like her sister, Nene, and design the scenery. Despite Alicia's agility, she decides to sing instead of doing the choreography, thus leaving the job to Lonnie, though the closest thing she knows is Kung Fu. They all fail miserably while practicing but help each other out in the process.

While they're finishing their preparations, Mulan comes to check on them. She sees their act is terrible and hesitates when they ask her opinion. Thinking she's impressed, they feel ready to wow the crowd.

The show begins
The show begins with Ray Ray Lee and Max Lee trying to pull off a magic trick, and then Wonder Twins doing a poem on roller skates. Backstage, the Cutie Mark Crusaders talk with Kairi, who initially tells them they'll do great but looks worried when she learns that they aren't sticking to their own talents. The performance starts off smoothly, but soon Alicia begins singing off-key, Lonnie starts accidentally dancing into scenery, and Aurora struggles to maintain the backdrops and effects. In the end, the entire act literally falls on top of them, and the audience laughs. They slink backstage, wondering if they were really "that bad." Caline meets them and tells them to go back onstage for the awards, but they're too embarrassed. She tells them to be good sports, so they return with her while trying to hide behind the other performers.

To their surprise, they win the award for best comedy act, which immediately perks them up until they find out they still haven't gotten their cutie marks. After the show, Kairi congratulates them for a job well done and asks them if they learned anything, saying she could make a special friendship report. As she asks them questions, they seem to understand their mistakes, eventually reaching the conclusion that their true talent is comedy instead. Mulan, Nene and Sally Acorn come backstage, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders run off to talk with them. After the Crusaders run off, Kairi chuckles and expresses hope that the fillies will one day figure out their talents.

Quotes

 * Sheriff Mulan: It just needs a little... TLC.
 * Alicia Acorn: TLC as in "Tender Loving Care" or "Totally Lost Cause"?


 * Alicia Acorn: OK, so that's six wooden planks, 4x8 plywood, a box of nails, four cans of paint, and four brushes. Anything else?
 * Aurora Amano: Yeah... Instructions on how to use six wooden planks, 4x8 plywood, a box of nails, four cans of paint, and four brushes.


 * Kairi Sparkle: "Ghosts, Goblins, and Ghoulish Figures"? Good heavens, girls, what do you need a book like this for?
 * Alicia Acorn: You'll see, thanks Kairi! We'll give it back as soon as we're done with it.
 * Kairi Sparkle: What do you think they're up to?
 * Olaf: I have no idea, and I don't know if I should be excited or scared to find out.
 * Navi: Olaf! I have no idea too?


 * Alicia Acorn: We fight the fight! Walk the walk! Talk the talk! Eat the... uh... food. Like a celery stalk?


 * Aurora Amano: Dumb fabric. Hey, Scoot. How's the song going?
 * Alicia Acorn: [blows raspberry]
 * Aurora Amano: [blows raspberry]? Oh my. Sounds serious.
 * Alicia Acorn: I'm just no good at lyrics. Coming up with words is, like, really hard.
 * Aurora Amano: Oh, they can't be that bad... "With our cutie marks, we'll rock Multopia. We use our stomachs to... digest-ia"? Um... Well... these are good but...


 * Sheriff Lonnie: We should be embracing our true talent!
 * Kairi Sparkle: And that is...?
 * Cutie Mark Crusaders: Comedy!

Song

 * Cutie Mark Crusaders Song