Beach Blanket Bogus

'''The teams participate in a beach-themed challenge. One castmate attempts to befriend the rest of their team, while their team captain starts to have some problems with his relationship with the other captain. Meanwhile, a certain contestant begins to show his true nature.'''

Plot
The episode opens with the remaining castmates getting their breakfast. Trent discovers that Duncan has pranked him by unscrewing the tops off both the salt and pepper shakers, causing all of their contents to pour onto his eggs. Trent tosses the spices over his shoulder, accidentally landing on Heather, who gets salt in her eyes and pepper up her nose, causing her to sneeze uncontrollably and be temporarily blinded. She then runs away screaming. Duncan walks over to Trent and takes an egg off of his plate, which upsets him because there are now only eight pieces of his egg left. Gwen takes another piece, which makes it an odd number again, in an attempt to calm Trent down. Duncan is confused by Trent's weirdness, but Gwen tells Duncan to leave him alone and says that she likes weird. Meanwhile, Lindsay and Beth are sitting down to breakfast with offerings for Justin. Lindsay brings bacon, while Beth brings "facon," claiming it's better for his complexion. Each girl argues about whose offering is better, until Justin tells them that he accepts them both. They choose to just sit there and watch Justin eat instead of eating something themselves. Beth is then shown in the confessional making friendship bracelets and obsessing over Justin, until the bracelet she is working on breaks apart and a piece of it falls into her mouth, causing her to choke. Chris then comes in and announces that this week's genre is a teen surfing movie, which no one except for Harold is familiar with. The two teams will compete in two challenges, followed by a possible tie-breaker if needed.

The first challenge is a surfing contest, in which the person who stays on a surfboard over a swimming pool the longest wins for their team. However, to make things difficult, the temperature on set was set to freezing and the challenge featured the return of some fan favorites: the sharks. Most of the castmates failed, but some managed to stay on longer, causing Chef Hatchet and Chris to bring in heavy special effects to try and knock them off. Lindsay is knocked off by a heavy stage fan. Trent starts to scare the Killer Grips with his obsession with the number nine. Beth starts to see Trent as a little "weird." Owen manages to break the surfboard and knock the sharks and all of the water out of the pool when it is his turn, prompting Chris to call a break. Gwen thinks she doesn't need to worry about the sharks after they go on their break, but she soon finds out that Chris will be firing seagulls at her and the last few contestants. Justin is hit with a seagull and falls in the water, making him blackout. Lindsay and Beth rush to his aid, but they are pushed out of the way by one of the sharks, who rescues Justin, revives him, and hugs him. Finally, Duncan gets on the board and is able to simply knock the birds aside, causing Chris to throw some equipment and even Lindsay at him. However, Duncan manages to dodge all of those things and wins the challenge for his team. Gwen gives him a congratulatory hug for winning, which Trent observes, as his team cheers, while Owen and Trent talk about how unstoppable Gwen's team is.

The cast is then taken on a bus to Camp Wawanakwa where they must build sand castles for the second challenge. The Gaffers have a great lead due to the half hour early start they won from the surfboard challenge, while the Grips try hard to get a castle going. Meanwhile, Duncan and Gwen slip away and sabotage the bus they rode to get there so they can spend more time on the island (strangely missing the old cabins). Back on the beach, the Grips finally manage to start a castle, but Trent knocks it down while trying to put on a ninth flag. However, Beth reminds everyone it's a "prop sandcastle building contest," and that they use some of Lindsay's magazines to make a paper-mâché castle and win the challenge. Gwen soon starts to notice that Trent is naming things after her and even constantly using the number nine (which Duncan says is because it's actually the total number of letters in Gwen and Trent's names). After it is announced that the Grips won, a tie-breaking challenge is set. Chris sends everyone off to gather some wood. Trent and Gwen then meet up in the woods, and Gwen notices Trent carrying nine sticks. She runs away, worried that Duncan is right and that Trent really is obsessed with her. When Trent asks what's wrong, Owen says that the girl likes to win.

The final tie breaker starts and is announced to be "Watusi-Twist-Mashed Potato-Dorky-Old School" dance off. Trent is chosen to go up against Leshawna, who claims she's been known back home as "Leshaken it." Leshawna's performance was considered poor by the rest of her teammates, except Harold, while Trent got cheers. However, he soon remembers Owen's words and purposely trips on a branch and starts writhing on the ground to throw the challenge, allowing Leshawna and the Gaffers to win. While the Gaffers are celebrating, Chris asks the losers to return to the bus, until he finds it's broken due to Duncan and Gwen sabotaging it to stay at the camp for a little while longer. Therefore, he says the Grips have to now watch the Gaffers celebrate. Gwen and Trent meet again later and make up. They are about to kiss, until Owen interrupts them and they throw branches at him. Later, the Grips are on the beach shore, where Owen is disposing of the paper-mâché castle, by eating it. Then, Justin tells Beth that he never got a friendship bracelet. She then gives him the one she is wearing and says it's a little sweaty, but he says it's nice. The two happily smile at each other. However, Justin is then shown in the Confessional saying he will do anything to win. He looks at the bracelet on his wrist and asks whether or not Beth wants an alliance. Chris, watching from his control room, says he and Justin are both clever and manipulative and may be related, but then says Justin wishes. Justin then tells Chris from the confessional that he really doesn't, and Chris immediately cuts the transmission, since he did not know the two way microphone is on. Chris, about to sign off the show, says to tune in next time. Then, he gets up and asks who left the two way microphone on.

Exclusive Clip
Following the events of the episode, Harold is in the confessional, talking about the party that the Gaffers had as their reward. He talks about how he ate poi with pineapple. He then explains how poi is "the world's most effective substitute for breast milk."

Quotes
Gwen: (slaps Duncan in the back of the head) Third Grade called: You're due back in class.''' Trent: '''Real mature. Don't you know it's bad luck to spill salt? (tosses salt over shoulders, and ends up hitting Heather in the face and she screams) Nothing a little pepper won't fix. (the pepper shaker top comes loose as well, and spills all over his eggs. Trent tosses pepper over his shoulder, once again ends up hitting Heather in the face. She goes into a sneezing fit and runs away screaming) Duncan: (laughing) Ah, you still gonna finish those eggs, bro? (eats a piece of Trent's eggs) Trent: (upset) Are you nuts? Now I only have eight pieces left! Duncan: Am I nuts? Dude, you are officially capital "W" weird. Gwen: (comforts Trent from behind) Which is good, because I happen to really like weird. (eats a piece of Trent's eggs) Now you have seven, which is an odd number again. Isn't that kinda better? Trent: Abso-Gwen-ly. Duncan: Uh, no, grandpa. We haven't. Chris: Well, get ready to recreate one, Junior. Chris: (wearing winter clothing) As some of you can see, we're actually in the shooting studio. Duncan: (freezing) And the AC's cranked because...? Chris: All the cameras and lights get so hot, they can melt Chef's heart. (Chef smiles and waves) And the network told my agent sweaty isn't a good look for me. Your first challenge: hang ten this deck into the big blue without swallowing tail in the soup. Leshawna: (aggravated) What did you just ask me to do? Trent: He means whoever stays on the surfboard the longest wins. Harold: (in the confessional) I'm very protective of my buttocks. They provide me the low center of gravity that is the key to my many mad skills. You could say they're my hugest asset. Check it! I can juggle my Magic Steve's Magical trading cards! (shows off juggling card from one back pants pocket to the other) Leshawna: Your booty has an opinion? Heather: That's a big job for a saggy, sad little thing. Harold: I'll have you know this is a selfless act! My lady fans couldn't handle the loss of this perfect behind! Heather: And by lady fans, he means his mother! Lindsay: (happily) Did you say Tyler is here?! (gasps with excitement) That's amazing! Beth: Okay, Linds, Tyler is not in the game anymore! Lindsay: Oh, right! I must have a dental block about the whole thing... (Beth slowly backs away) Chef: Your body's a beautiful thing! You don't NEED a suit! Beth: Yeah! Go! Lindsay: Copycat. Beth: Tan-orexic. (gasps in horror at what she said) Sorry! Friendship bracelet? Chris: (staring at Justin posing on the surfboard) So... perfect... Almost makes me believe in the inherent goodness of the human race... (loads seagull firing gun) Almost. Beth (as Chris loads the seagull gun): Justin! (in confessional) I wanted to tell him he looked like a surfing god. Instead, I said... (the camera cuts back to Beth at the challenge) Your face! Watch your beautiful face! Trent: Try unstable. A ticking time-bomb of betrayal. We have to stop them! Owen: With what? A freight train? Toot-toot! Trent: (tapping the friendship bracelet to his head) ... five-six-seven-eight-nine. Owen: Exsqueeze me? Trent: (repeats) ... four-five-six-seven-eight-nine. Owen: Uh, your secret weapon is being weird? Trent: If being weird brings us good luck, then yeah. I'm weird. Besides, Gwen likes weird. Chris: (to the camera) If you at home like weird, you'll love what's coming up next! Trent: I'm telling you, sometimes being weird is cool. Chris: (shaking his head) Delusional. So sad. Leshawna: Who died and made you Bossy McPushy? Harold: I'm a bit of a Gehry buff. (silence) Frank Gehry, the greatest architect of our time? Leshawna: And I care about this because...? Duncan: I've always been more of a dismantler than a builder any way. Gwen: No, you just love to stir up the s- (Duncan removes a piece that activates the horn) Stuff! I was gonna say stuff! Duncan: We should probably disconnect the horn, too. Gwen: Now he's naming buildings after me?! I think Trent might be obsessed! Trent: Nine moats... nine flags... (chuckles) nine wicked jam rooms... Gwen: At least his number nine obsession is even worse than the me one. Duncan: Four letters in your name, five letters in Trent. Put 'em together and you get... Gwen: (startled) Nine! He can't be doing everything nine times just for me! Harold: Dude always does everything nine times. And I reckon it started when he figured out you might like him. Trent: (counts the number of waves he gives Gwen) One-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight-nine! Gwen: (waves back nervously) Duncan: Could say, uh, you sent him to Cloud Nine. (chuckles until Gwen shoves him hard on the arm) Gwen: (seeing Owen) Uh... Trent: (remembers Owen is behind him) Ahem. Owen: (gets the point) Check. (quickly leaves) Owen: Do you mind speaking up? I don't wanna miss all the juicy bits (gets hit by a branch thrown by Gwen). Owen: (farts) Me like beans. Justin: We heard you got some fly moves. Trent: Okay, I'll do it. If you all say my name nine times. Killer Grips: (halfheartedly) Trent, Trent, Trent... DJ: (referring to Leshawna's dancing) Yeah, I bet I know Leshawna's real nickname back home: Le-BOMB-ba! Heather: Prima Balleri-NO! Harold: Two words, Fun-ky! What? I loved it. Lindsay: Shake your lady lumps! Trent: It's modern, it's uh... interpretive! Duncan: I interpret it as sucking. Gwen: Shut it, Duncan! I ignored Trent and now he's lost his will to go on! Duncan: You're giving yourself way too much credit. If Trent has that many screws loose, you didn't unscrew any more of them. Gwen: I guess... You know, you're a really good dancer. Trent: Yeah? You like that? (does his dance) Gwen: Your ankle seems better. Gwen: You sure are. (the two lean in for a kiss) Owen: (watching from behind a tree) You guys gonna make out now? (gets hit in face by branches thrown by Gwen and Trent) Harold: (coughs) What was that for? Duncan: 'Cause you actually have mad skills and dance. Leshawna: Good thing we didn't need them, thanks to my (Leshawna jukes to the right) smooth (and to the left) moves! (Leshawna strikes an awkward pose as distorted background music plays; the Gaffers laugh) Beth (taking one from her wrist to give him): 'Course! Here! It's kinda wet; my palm's a little sweaty. Justin (takes it): Red... nice. Chris (watching in control room): Wow! Dude is as crafty as he is good-looking. Maybe we're related. Hahaha! He wishes. Justin (on screen): Uh, no, Chris. No, I don't. Chris (quickly turning off the screen): Poor delusional guy could never even swim in my gene pool. More importantly, tune in next time to watch more... me! Haha! And a few minutes of Justin, on Total... Drama... Action! Which one of you geniuses left the two-way mic on?!
 * Duncan: (laughs at Trent for falling for his unscrewed salt shaker prank) Ah, sorry for the morning assalt!
 * Chris: Ever seen one of those 1950's surfer movies, where the kids get up to neat-o fun before the big bonfire twist-a-thon, and the bully kicks the sand castle in the nerdy guy's face? (DJ shrugs, Leshawna raises an eyebrow, Harold nods, Heather sneezes, Gwen and Trent give blank stares)
 * Lindsay: (freezing) When did you guys move the beach to Antarctica?
 * Chris: The team that wins will get a half-hour head start on the next challenge. And given tonight's reward, you should be fighting harder than Justin's abs over who gets first shot.
 * Harold: My booty and I are out!
 * Beth: Did you ever notice... Trent's a little weird?
 * (DJ's swimsuit gets bitten off by one of the sharks and he runs off)
 * Gwen: (after getting hit in head by a seagull) Aaah, sky rat! Get it out! Get it out! (falls off the surfboard)
 * Lindsay: Yay! Go Justin!
 * Owen: (as Gwen and Duncan hug in celebration of his winning surfing challenge) Man, Gwen's team is unstoppable!
 * Owen: (in the confessional) Chris actually told us the truth for once? What's next? Being treated with actual respect?
 * Chris: Yes campers, we're actually back at your old stomping grounds. Total...! Drama...! Island...! If you need to take a moment to reminisce about the great times you had here... (cast laughs at the suggestion to Chris's frustration) Fine! We'll skip the good memories montage.
 * Harold: DJ, wetter sand in that bucket! Leshawna, pack it firmer! (record scratches)
 * Gwen: (disabling the bus, giggles with success) There! (throws engine piece in Duncan's bucket) If we're stuck at the beach, at least we can stay at the cabins. I never thought I'd miss them.
 * Trent: (naming the Killer Grips sand castle) I dub thee... Casa Gwen!
 * Trent: (looking for branches in the forest with Owen, spots Gwen) Gwen! Hey. I-I feel like it's been ages since we any, uh... you know... quality time together. (Owen makes kissing noises)
 * Gwen: I kinda want to talk to you about... (pauses, sees Owen sticking out behind a nearby tree) Owen, I can see you!
 * Trent: You know, Owen, Sometimes, you're really smart.
 * Lindsay (when deciding who would dance for their team): I vote for Trent!
 * (in confessional)
 * Beth (cheering for Trent during the dance contest): Go Trent!
 * Chris: That's not dancing!
 * Trent: (discussing in private his throwing the challenge for Gwen) I know you really wanted the win.
 * Trent: I'm weird like that.
 * (The Screaming Gaffers are enjoying their victory; Harold is dancing until Duncan kicks sand in his face)
 * Justin: Thanks for winning us the sandcastle contest, especially since I blew the surfing challenge. You really saved my bacon, or should I say facon? (Beth sighs) Except, I kinda noticed you gave everyone on the team friendship bracelets; everyone but me. Aren't we friends, Beth?
 * Justin (in confessional): Let's just say I'll do anything to win. Anything. "Ooh Beth, I love it." "I was thinking, Beth; it could be really good for us if we were in an alliance."

Trivia

 * Title Reference: This title is a parody of the beach themed film "Beach Blanket Bingo."
 * Like the previous episode, Tyler is mentioned by Lindsay.
 * This episode marks the second time nudity is shown in Total Drama Action (the first being when Owen's pants fell down in the previous episode). In this episode, DJ is seen naked after the sharks manage to snag his swimming trunks on the surfboard.
 * DJ is the third person to display full-body nudity on screen; the other two people are Owen and Harold.
 * This is the first episode of Total Drama Action to have a reward challenge after the teams were formed and the first time in the series where an episode has a reward challenge with teams.
 * Harold mentions architect Frank Gehry as his inspiration during the sand castle challenge. This is the fourth time that a real person has been mentioned in the Total Drama series. The first time it was Céline Dion back in Phobia Factor, the second time it was Stephen Hawking in Who Can You Trust?, and the third time it was Friedrich Nietzsche in X-Treme Torture.
 * Harold's labeling the Gaffers' sand castle as the "Taj MaHarold" is a reference to the Taj Mahal in India.
 * The car that landed on top of the stunt dummy is a homage to General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard.
 * One of Trent's dances is similar to Michael Jackson's moonwalk.
 * When Chris is naming off all the dances, they are all the dances seen in a certain scene in The Blues Brothers.
 * When the original tie-breaker is announced, the car that is crashing had the tune of the Confederate national anthem.
 * During the recap of the last episode, Chris says, "He was a boy, she was a girl," the beginning lyrics to the Avril Lavigne song, Sk8r Boi. In this song, it states that the boy and girl fall in love, but things do not work out, foreshadowing Gwen and Trent's breakup in the next episode.
 * This episode marks the first time that words such as "crap" and "sucking" are said in Total Drama Action.
 * Beth, Heather, Leshawna, and Trent are not shown participating in surfing challenge.
 * Three running gags during the episode include Lindsay getting thrown against the wall repeatedly during the surfboard challenge, Beth continuously offering people friendship bracelets, and Owen constantly getting hit in the face with sticks.
 * When DJ mentions Leshawna's nickname "Lebomba," it may be a reference to the song La Bamba (and possibly a combination of bomb, as in terrible).
 * During the dance-off, Leshawna does a dance similar to what she later does in Come Fly With Us and in Baby as well.

Goofs

 * DJ is wearing his hat with his swimsuit during the surfing contest, yet when he is running out after losing his bathing suit, it's missing. It appears again in the next scene.
 * After the surfboard challenge, Chris is seen with all of the castmates standing outside the lot in their teams. The team logos floating above the teams' heads are switched over to incorrect positions.
 * It is unknown how the bus could arrive at the island, since there is no road that are connected to the island, and the only way to get there is by boat, as seen in the beginning of season one.
 * When Trent throws the salt over his shoulders and hits Heather in the eyes with it (who then starts screaming), the closed captioning says that Harold is the one who is screaming, not Heather.
 * When Duncan is up for the surfing challenge, Chris empties the seagull gun, but when he says Duncan wins, the gun is full again.
 * When Duncan wins the first challenge and his teammates are cheering, Heather is nowhere to be seen.
 * When Trent is putting the crab shells on the castle, there are seven. He said he was going to put the final one on, making a total of eight, not nine, as he earlier insisted.
 * When Gwen hits Duncan jokingly, his nose piercing is missing.
 * Beth is absent when the Grips are declared the winners of the sandcastle building contest.
 * When Gwen hugs Duncan, the top strap on her shoe is missing.
 * When the sharks are begging for "facon," Beth has her braces on, although she had them removed before the season started.
 * When Chris announced that the Gaffers won the first part of the challenge, the ammo clip for the seagull gun is full despite it supposing to be empty after using it on Duncan.