"Home Movies" revolves around the everyday struggles that inspire cinematic efforts of 8-year old Brendon Small, an asthmatic budding filmmaker. Brendon lives with his recently divorced mother, Paula, who endures his filmmaking obsession as she muddles through single-parenthood.
Brendon writes, directs, and acts in his short films, usually enlisting neighborhood friends to participate. The young auteur uses his filmmaking as an escape from the frustrations of his everyday life. While he can be shy and unassuming in school and on the soccer field, when he gets behind the camera Brendon can make Orson Welles look like a wallflower. Following is an episode guide:
Sunday, January 11: "Camp" - Brendon, Jason, and Melissa attend a performing arts camp where they learn that they actually know very little about the performing arts. Meanwhile Coach McGuirk is forced to flee from a crazed group of crying men who want to hug him. John Flansburgh and John Linnel, of They Might Be Giants, guest star.
Sunday, January 18: "Bye, Bye, Greasy" - Brendon is chosen to direct the school musical, "Bye Bye Greasy." Everyone gets involved, including Fenton, lights, Paula, sets, Coach McGuirk, with a special incentive, and Shannon, the school bully who appreciates singing and dancing.
Sunday, January 25: "The Heart Smashers" - Brendon is trying desperately to finish his undersea epic horror film about the "Mighty Septopus," but Fenton Mewly’s prima donna fits keep getting in the way. Paula is trying desperately to break-up with her new boyfriend Simon (Paul Kozlowski) but her guilt keeps getting in the way. Meanwhile, Coach McGuirk joins a gym and works only on one machine, the Pec Flexor.
Sunday, February 1: "Everyone's Entitled to My Opinion" - Brendon begins writing reviews for a movie website, “Movie-winner-or-weiner.com.” Jason and Melissa are excited because Brendon gets passes for all of them to see the premiere of “All That Violence,” but there’s some concern that it might be too violent. Meanwhile, Mr. Lynch is promoted to “interim acting principal” and Coach McGuirk wreaks havoc because he’s finally got a friend “on the inside.”
