Joe Pera Shows You Iron

Joe Pera Shows You Iron is the first episode of Joe Pera Talks With You. It premiered May 20th, 2018 on Adult Swim.

Premise
Joe Pera, a middle school choir teacher, presents to viewers the importance of Northern Michigan geology, especially iron; he also touches on copper, azurite and tourmaline.

Summary
A voiceover tells us about iron and the discovery of the Marquette mountain range. Meet Joe Pera, who's not a miner, but a middle school choir teacher with a fascination for Michigan's geology and rocks. He’s here to teach us about iron, but his lesson is interrupted by a family knocking at the door. The family is made up of Sue Melsky, her husband Mike Melsky, her two daughters Nicole and Kelsey, and her son Josh. They’re interested in buying his house. Joe doesn’t get the chance to tell the family that the for sale sign on his yard isn’t his own before they start touching everything, moving objects around, and just plain screaming. They finally leave without even letting Joe speak up.

Later, Joe is standing on the shore with his friend, Gene. Gene agreed to share what he knows about the lake superior agate, but first, Joe asks his advice on the situation. He tells a story about getting a blue sticker on his shirt, and someone offered to buy it for three dollars. Gene considered it, but his sons designed it for him, so he declined. Joe doesn’t want to leave his home in Marquette or let the family down.

Joe walks across the shore. Thinking about moving away while standing on the rocks, Joe's reminded that change is a good thing. Without iron sediments changing over time, there wouldn’t be a Marquette to live in. All of this thinking is hurting his head, ice cream might help.

At the ice cream place, Joe encounters the Melsky’s sharing a celebratory ice cream. He tells the family that he’s not a rock and that he doesn’t want them to buy his home. Luckily, the family already bought the house across the street. He gives them some native rocks and iron.

At his Nana’s house, Joe celebrates not needing to move away. We learn that the lawsuit Joe’s been referencing is him and Gene suing each other for fun.

Cast

 * Joe Pera as Joe Pera
 * Conner O'Malley as Mike Melsky
 * Gene Kelly as Gene Gibson
 * Jo Scott as Sue Melsky
 * Sophia Battinus as Kelsey Melsky
 * Rose Callahan as Nicole Melsky
 * Eddie Reyes as Josh Melsky
 * Nancy Cornell as Nana
 * Fitzgerald William as Gus