A story: The trio of friends set out to conquer each of their biggest fears.

B: CJ tries to talk to her crush, gorgeous 8th grade boy.

I’ll give Scott Fellows credit for one thing: he understands the fears and daily existance of the middle school students.  Yep, it’s Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide for a new decade.

Episode starts with a ringing school bell: check.

Main characters does voice over to explain episode: check.

Wacky highjinks ensure: check.

“Declassified Book” included (Fenwick’s Fears): check.

Oddly named characters: check.

Characters whose fears are believable and whose characterizations are believable: check.

It’s not easy writing for the middle school student.  In most sitcoms, the middle schooler is the middle student in a family.  But as with NDSSG, Fellows has his finger on the pulse of the middle school.  Either it was the best experience of his life – or the most traumatic.

This is only the second episode of the series (I’m curious if there will be an episode 101) and the storyline for each episode is clear – focusing on one thing to accomplish over the span of middle school.  This episode deals with fear.  Crispo overcomes his fear of snakes pretty quickly – as the “fear helper” (I might have gone with fear whisperer), he claims to Fenwick that by getting over his fears first, he’s able to help others work on their own fears.  Fenwick is fearful of the “running of the bears,” when the school’s basketball team runs through the halls (which they seem to do on a regular basis.  C.J.’s fear is speaking to Gorgeous 8th Grade Boy.  She tries every trick in the book to get to know him and speak to him.  In the end, its a team effort with her family, Crispo, Fenwick and the guidance counselor, Mr. Roberts, to get C.J. alone with GEGB.  And yes, she speaks.  What’s endearing is C.J. states, “I don’t remember what we talked about but it was the best conversation I ever had.”

C.J., Crispo and Fenwick are believable as middle school students.  Its also nice to see an adult on the show who is willing to support the students as opposed to the evil principal/teacher type character.

Props to Max Ehrich – he can do comedy, drama (Y&R) and scifi (Under The Dome).

The show’s got legs – or at least 98 more episodes.  I can’t help but wonder if Ned is off somewhere taking copious notes about the “100 things to do before high school.”