The Drew Carey Show departs from its usual format in the series' two-part Season Seven opener (originally telecast as a single hour-long special). Fluctuating between their sitcom characters and themselves,
Drew Carey and the cast serve up a crazy cornucopia of quickie sketches, unified by the common theme of "back to school". Part Two features Drew, Kate (
Christa Miller) and a little girl in a cautionary fable about "the dangers of cooties"; a lecture from Kate about how being a cheerleader can help you meet politicians in later life; a drug-expose spoof wherein undercover cop Oswald (
Diedrich Bader) forgets to take off his uniform while orchestrating a "bust"; and a talking zit, who looks and sounds like Mr. Wick (
Craig Ferguson), dispensing sage advice about dating. Musical guest stars include Uncle Kracker, who sings "Yeah Yeah Yeah" and helps Mimi (
Kathy Kinney) with a crossword puzzle; Peter Frampton, performing "You Had to Be There" and revealing a past fling with Mimi (the source of his tattoo); and Sugar Ray, whose lead singer Mark McGrath squeezes in a math lesson while joining a rendition of "Answer the Phone". This episode was originally slated to air on September 19, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide