♪ ♪
syd, that was definitely your best show ever.
That's so nice.
Not that the other ones weren't also amazing,
but this one was super amazing.
Aw, so sweet.
Not that the other ones weren't super amazing--
-olive. -Thanks. We would've been here all night.
Hi. I just wanted to say
you must be so proud of your daughter.
She is so talented.
Thank you. She gets it all from me.
-Really? -Not even a little.
(laughs)
well, it's nice to meet an honest man. I'm georgia.
Max.
Mama, can we stay a little bit longer?
I wanna get a picture of me and sydney.
(sing-song): I love her!
(chuckles) okay, but don't take too long.
That's my daughter, lily.
Well, don't we have a lot in common.
We both have daughters, we both...
-Love music nights. -(phone buzzing)
we both want me to buy us dinner this weekend.
Sorry, what'd you say? That was my husband.
Nothing that wasn't totally embarrassing.
Nice meeting you.
Too bad, max. You were this close.
Why'd she have to be married?
She was so nice and standing right here.
That's all I could want in a woman.
That's why you need to get on a dating app.
It's so easy. You create a profile,
and it matches you with single people.
Thanks, but I prefer to meet people in person.
Ah, yes! The way they did it in the days of yore.
And by that, I mean the days of you're... Still single.
-Hi. -Oh, hello there. What's your name?
I'm lily elizabeth chu, and I'm your biggest fan.
-Aw. -Can I get a selfie?
Of course. Let me have your phone.
One day, I wanna write a song as good as find my own way.
I just wish it was online so I could listen to it all the time.
You could, but someone won't let me post her music.
Yeah, well maybe that someone
isn't ready to share her music with the world.
Excuse me, can I get my selfie?
Someone has an early bedtime.
Oh, right. Of course.
(shutter snaps)
I agree with your friend.
You really gotta get your music out there.
Well, the people have spoken.
Maybe it is time for me to put my music out there.
If one lily likes it, there might be a bunch of lilys who do
or maybe even a skyler, or some emmas!
Or even an edgar!
Probably not an edgar. They're mostly into dubstep.
♪ do do do do ♪
(theme music playing)
♪ like father, like daughter, we don't always agree ♪
♪ but looking at you is like looking at me ♪
♪ the more things change, the more they stay the same ♪
♪ like father, like daughter, from different times ♪
♪ taking all the best from your decade and mine ♪
♪ the more things change ♪
♪ the more they stay the same ♪
♪ do do, do do do do, do do ♪
♪ the more they stay the same ♪
♪
ooh! I see you took my advice and signed up for a dating app.
No. It is a database for people who are looking for...
Okay, fine. It's a dating app.
Read me your profile. Let's see what you got.
Okay.
"single dad and big bike fan
enjoys quiet evenings watching cooking shows."
(snoring)
how did I not see that coming?
Why don't you let me give your profile a glow-up?
'cause I can't think of anything sadder
than my mother getting me dates.
Sadder than you in a bathrobe at 6:00 on a Saturday night?
It's a silk kimono, and it's usually around 7:00.
Okay, syd,
you ready to make your first music video?
Yep! Feeling good,
I'm feeling loose, let's do this.
-And three, two, go! -(beep)
hey, everyone! I'm cindy.
I mean snidney. I mean,
did my mouth forget my name?
-Cut! -(beep)
sorry. I'm just a little nervous.
No worries. Let's go again.
-Three, two, go. -(beep)
heeey!
Nope, that's too long. One more time.
(low pitched): Hey!
(normal voice): Nope. Too low.
(high pitched): Hey!
(normal voice): Too high.
(southern accent): Howdy, y'all!
(normal voice): Where did that come from?
Hey, everyone! I'm sydney reynolds.
Hey! I didn't say "snidney" that time!
Ah, man.
-Cut. -(beep)
syd, why are you so nervous?
I don't know.
It's kinda scary putting a song out there.
What if everyone hates it?
Everyone who hears find my own way loves it.
Just take a breath and do what you always do.
You got this.
Thanks, olive. I needed that.
-Three, two, go. -(beep)
hey, everyone. Uh, I'm sydney reynolds,
and, uh, this is my first time posting music.
I'm gonna play a song that I was lucky enough to play
for ricky angelo.
Hope you guys like it.
(playing guitar)
♪ first thing when I wake up ♪
♪ I look in the mirror and I see ♪
♪ somebody ♪
♪ I wanna be ♪
♪ I know that I'm young, but ♪
♪ can it possibly be as impossible ♪
♪ as it seems? ♪
'sup, bucky?
Hey, max. Is leo here? I just got a new computer,
and I wanted to give him my screen name for im.
Your what now?
Screen name. For instant messaging.
It's this new online service
where you can talk to anyone in an instant.
-Hey, bucky, can we talk? -Sure!
See? That was pretty instant.
Ye, but we're in the same room.
With im, you can message anyone.
Anywhere. Even on the other side of the world!
Who do you know on the other side of the world?
No one!
Then I rest my case.
It's lame. Besides, leo isn't here.
He's studying for our spanish test tomorrow.
Or as the spanish would say, uh...
Hm. Maybe I should study, too.
Next time you see leo,
can you give him my screen name?
Feel free to keep it for yourself, too.
Thanks, but I-m for sure never gonna im.
-Hey, alisha! -Hi, max! What's going on?
Not much. Bucky was just telling me
about that whole lame instant messaging thing.
Oh my gosh! I love instant messaging!
Me, too!
You do? I'll give you my screen name, so we can im.
Awesome.
"g-r-l power."
grall power? Gruel power?
(giggles) it's girl power.
I woulda gotten there eventually.
♪ ♪
I don't get it. Why would you wanna go to a movie
when you just dropped your first music video?
Don't you wanna see all the likes roll in?
Or dislikes. I just don't wanna sit around all day,
waiting to see what people think of me.
Now, come on! Let's go to the movie.
You love a good prom com.
Prom com?
Yeah. A comedy set at a high school prom.
I made it up. Fun, right?
Stick to songwriting, reynolds.
(beep)
wow! Looks like your video is--
bup, bup, bup! Don't wanna know.
-But there's-- but you-- fine. -Bup! Bup! Bup!
Sorry, just slipped out.
-Sydney, you got a bunch of likes. -Olive, I told you I don't...
Wanna...
Well, just how many likes are we talking about?
A lot!
-Really? -(beep)
(beeping)
whoa, that is a lot.
People really like my song!
Whoa, olive. Mandy213 called my song
the best thing she's ever heard.
Olive?
♪ ♪
how's the dating app going? Any matches yet?
It's going super well. I'm basically
dodging ladies at this point.
-So, none, huh? -Not even one.
Okay, here's the problem. Instead of "bike shop owner,"
you should say you're a private investor
in alternative transportation.
I'm not gonna lie!
It's not lying. It's embellishing.
It's adding sprinkles to the top of
a very bland vanilla ice cream cone.
Hey, vanilla is a very underrated flavor.
Don't put that in your profile.
(beep)
well, look at that. Plain old vanilla max
just got his first match.
Nope. It's a coupon for a funeral home.
You could use that to bury your love life.
Okay, I give up. What would you put in my profile?
I already wrote it.
And by the way,
you won portland's most handsome bachelor
in 2016 and 2018.
What happened in 2017?
Boy, for a guy with no dates, you sure are greedy.
Wow, syd. Did you see what rocknjoel33 said?
-"syd's new song made me feel seen. -"...Made me feel seen.
Both: She's the voice of our generation."
yeah, I might've seen it.
You should be very proud, syd. Your songs really say something.
Forget what my songs say.
You should hear what my fans say.
Yeah. Listen to this.
"the lyrics are straight from that girl's soul.
Hashtag musical genius."
oh, I would never say genius.
But if smileyriley5 says it, who am I to argue?
Boy, syd, you've really come a long way
from being afraid to put yourself out there.
I know, right? I mean,
I always knew I was a good songwriter,
but it turns out, I'm...
An incredible songwriter!
Olive: Yeah, you are!
And you were afraid people wouldn't like you.
I know. What was I thinking?
It's me!
Syd, we gotta find a way to thank your fans.
Oh, I know! I should post another song.
Yes! The fans need more content.
And what better way to thank them for loving my music than...
Giving them more to love.
You're so good to us.
(dial-up modem connecting to internet)
and just like that, I'm on the worldwide web.
Alright. Let's see what's up with g-r-l power.
Hi. How are you?
Max! Get off the internet!
You know I can't use the phone when you're online.
But, mom, this is important.
Oh. Are you doing homework?
No. I said it was important.
I'm instant messaging with alisha.
Ooh, alisha. Your crush.
-Mom... -(beep)
look! Look, she wrote me back!
"so cool running into you today."
-cooler running into you. -(gasps)
oh, my little boy is flirting.
-Is that what I'm doing? -Yeah.
Then get outta here! I don't want my mom to see me flirt!
Okay, olive, you ready to shoot this?
Yep. And three, two, go.
What up, syd-queens? It's ya girl, syd, here.
Olive, why aren't you recording?
Oh. I thought I'd let you get a few
"snidneys" outta your system,
and maybe a "howdy, y'all."
nope. All ready. Let's do this.
You got it.
-And three, two, go. -(beep)
what up, syd-queens? It's ya girl syd here.
So, this next song is super personal.
I know it'll speak to your souls
as much as it does to mine.
Like, comment, subscribe below.
♪ how can I say this? ♪
♪ my hands are shaking ♪
♪ I feel the weight all around ♪
♪ and I can't tell if ♪
♪ I'm being selfish ♪
♪ would I be letting you down? ♪
-(typing) -(beep)
are you still iming with alisha?
Yeah! It's going great.
It's so much easier to talk to girls
when you don't have to actually look at them.
In fact, I think I'm ready to tell her I like her.
Ooh! How you gonna do it? Flowers? Candy?
A shower wouldn't hurt.
Nah, I'm just gonna im her.
What?
I can't believe you wouldn't tell alisha
something this important in person.
Why not? This way, if she doesn't like me back,
I'll just tell her a cat ran across my keyboard.
Oh! And we'll have to get a cat.
Well, at least you've thought it through.
-(typing) -hey.
This may surprise you,
but I really like you.
-(click) -(beeping)
"I really like you, too. You're a really good friend."
-(typing) -actually,
I like you more than a friend.
-(click) -(beeping)
"I like you more than a friend, too!"
oh my gosh! She like-likes you!
-Mom! Play it cool. -(beep)
"would you like to have lunch with me
at the food court tomorrow?"
-(typing, beep) -it's a date!
-It's a date! It's a date! -We have a date with alisha!
(laughing)
why haven't any of the comments loaded yet?
Relax. My fans are waiting
for just the right words.
Fame. Am I right?
-(beep) -ooh! Wait, first comment.
What's it say?
"syd's new song is terr..."
you know, let's just read the next one.
Oh, would you look at that? My phone just died.
"leave you behind
is a boring song by a basic girl"?
Boring?
Basic? I'm boring and basic?
Don't listen to that guy.
His handle is bob123. Talk about basic.
Well, this girl says that my song is capital m-e-h.
What does that stand for?
I think she means "meh."
or maybe she means meh!
I appreciate you trying to cover, but...
I think everyone hates this song.
Not everyone.
There's a bunch of likes and some good comments.
Like from your old fan, smileyriley5?
What does smileyriley5 know?
Last song, she called me a musical genius,
and, obviously, she was wrong about that.
You're just getting stuck on the negative.
Try focusing on the positive.
Okay. I'm positive my song stinks.
This is exactly what I was afraid of
about posting my music.
Don't worry. I don't blame you.
I didn't think you were.
If anything, blame that adorable little girl.
I do.
♪ ♪
-(beep) -you hear that, mom?
My dating profile is blowing up.
Ladies love new and improved max.
See? You did need your mother's help to get dates.
Why am I bragging about that?
Have you responded to anyone yet?
Not yet. I'm still working on my opening line.
Can I pull off a,
"'sup, girl?"
aw, max. Of course you can't.
Hey, syd! You gotta see all the reactions my profile is getting.
-Your dad is on fire. -Oh, speaking of fire,
I can't wait to see the comments on your new song.
I've been meaning to look.
Well, why don't I give you the recap?
"horrible. Uninspired.
Thinks she's taylor swift, but can't pull it off."
-sydney, that's awful! -Yep, that's in there, too.
I'm so sorry. I don't get it, syd.
Everyone loved your other song.
Well, they don't love my last.
What do you mean your last?
Well, obviously, these comments prove I'm not a songwriter.
I'm just a girl who got lucky and wrote one okay song.
♪ ♪
hey, syd.
Please tell me you're not still looking
at those negative comments?
I don't need to. They're burned into my brain.
You can't let a bunch of faceless haters
stop you from writing your songs.
Who knows? Your next song could be a hit.
You have no idea what people like!
That's the problem, olive. I don't know what people like.
-Or do I? -Do you?
-I do! -Ooh!
Wait, what are we talking about?
Everyone already told me what they liked in these comments.
I have everything I need to write the perfect song!
You're gonna write another song?
Is it about me? Is it about how
I'm the greatest friend in the world?
Is it about how you'd like me to leave
so you can work on your song?
I'm thinking the third one.
Hey! I guessed what it was about!
♪ ♪
you just keep getting better with age.
Hi, max!
Oh! Alisha! 'sup, girl?
Ready to go to the food court?
Food court? Thanks, but I already ate.
(laughs) very funny.
O...Kay.
Hey, what happened last night?
I thought you were gonna message me.
I did message you. We talked all night.
No, we didn't.
Then, who was I talking to?
Hey, max! You ready to go to the food court?
Gah!
Well, I'm gonna go crush some zombies.
And don't forget to message me tonight.
G-r-l power, no I.
Hey! That's like my screen name.
G-r-l-l power, no I.
'cause me and my dad love grilling.
He grills, and I watch!
Sometimes, he even lets me clean!
I am so psyched we're having lunch together!
-Right. About that, bucky-- -max,
you may not have noticed,
but I don't have a lot of friends,
so this means a lot to me.
It does? Really?
Yeah. That's why it was so great to hear
that you liked me as more than a friend.
'cause I think of you as a best friend, too.
So, what were you gonna tell me?
Oh! Um, just that...
You better be hungry 'cause we're hitting
every place in the food court.
Oh, you're on!
Tonight, we should im all night long.
In fact, why im when we could have a sleepover?
♪ ♪
hey, syd. What's all this?
I'm writing a new song!
On this side are the lyrics to find my own way.
I've circled in green the phrases
people specifically said they liked.
-Okay. -And on this side is leave you behind,
with the phrases people hated circled in red.
Now, all I have to do is avoid all of these circles,
but include these circles, and then,
I will have written the perfect song
that everybody loves and no one hates!
Looks great... If you're trying to solve a murder.
But, is this really how you wanna write your songs?
Before you judge, dad,
take a listen.
♪ morning, morning, wake up, breakfast ♪
♪ mirror, shiny glass, I wanna be ♪
♪ I'm young, not old, I wanna twist ♪
♪ impossible, mm, probably! ♪
so, what do you think?
-Well-- I don't hate it. -You hate it.
Well, you should because I hate it.
Sydney, why are you writing a song that you don't like?
It doesn't matter what I like because according to the data,
this is what my fans like.
Okay. How'd it feel when you got all those positive comments?
Great. Like I could do anything.
And how'd it feel when you got all the negative ones?
Awful. Like I couldn't do anything.
Sydney, you can't give so much power
to a bunch of anonymous opinions,
either good or bad.
If you do, you won't know who you are anymore.
Oh, you mean like max,
the alternative transportation investor?
Wow, you're right.
As much as I like getting all those matches,
they're not matching with the real me.
Which is why I am gonna go back to being
plain old boring vanilla max.
That's good for you, dad, but this different.
I mean, isn't the whole point of writing music
making something that people actually wanna listen to?
Well, sure, but you still have to write songs that you love.
And if little girls like lily are inspired by it,
then that's an added bonus.
You're right. I mean,
the reason I started writing songs
was so my voice could be heard.
You know what? I'm gonna keep posting my music
and forget about the comments.
I am done with those.
-I'm proud of you, syd. -I'm proud of you, too.
In fact, you've inspired me to write a song
about how vanilla is the most underrated flavor.
-I love that idea. -I'm not accepting comments, dad.
(laughs)
♪ ♪
nice to see you writing a song
with a guitar and not a whiteboard.
Yeah. The whiteboard got kicked out of the band.
Creative differences.
(beep)
no way, I got a match! Someone likes vanilla max!
Syd, I don't know what to say!
Alright. Stay calm. Just be yourself.
Okay. If I were me, what would I say?
-"hello"? -Hello.
Hello. Yes! That is what I would say!
Oh, she responded. She wrote...
Dot dot dot. What does that mean?
It means she's still typing.
-Oh, right. I knew that. (laughs) -(beep)
she said, "cool matching with you."
cooler matching with you.
I don't wanna see my dad flirt. I'm out.
♪ ♪
man: Oh yeah.