Mr. Sunshine Episode 1.02 Employee of the Year

Ben Donovan has been working at the Sunshine Center for 10 years. It's only natural that a guy gets showered with a little recognition after a decade of loyal service, right? Wrong.

Nobody realizes it is Ben's 10-year anniversary. The only news of note at the arena seems to involve Heather's graduation from her internship program. That means Roman will be taking over as Ben's assistant. Sure he's the owner's son. But in Roman's defense, Ben says that he's exhibited little or no skill at anything in the short time he's been there. Kid sounds like a natural!

Ben's a little bummed that no one remembered his anniversary. CUE CRYSTAL! Yes, the owner of the Sunshine Center bounds into the room with an exciting announcement. Ben is beaming until he realizes his boss's big news has nothing to do with him. Crystal is holding a contest to determine her most valuable employee. Winner gets a brand new golf cart. Woo hoo!

Alonzo and Alice get a little competitive as they both seek to prove the value of their respective jobs. In fact, everyone is doing their best to wow Crystal in the quest for that coveted golf cart. Crystal assures Ben that the competition is just a ruse. She already knows who the winner is. Wink, wink. Ben is pleasantly surprised by this news. He believes this is Crystal's way of showing her gratitude for his 10 years of loyal service.

The Sunshine Center staff comes up with many innovative ways to impress Crystal. Unfortunately, most of them have nothing to do with their actual jobs. This leaves Ben to pick up slack as they are preparing for a big concert featuring teen heartthrob Eli Cutler (guest star Nick Jonas).

Eli says, "I wasn't parented properly and I'm very rich. It's a brutal combination." Ben is inclined to agree, as Eli has quickly commissioned him to be his errand boy. Ben puts the pop star (though Eli says he's a "rock" star) at ease because he reminds him of a plump Larry King. And Ben's not even wearing suspenders!

Alice learns that Alonzo gave a group of blind kids the Eli Cutler-autographed Frisbees she was planning to use to woo a big client. She swipes all the Frisbees away from the blind kids and replaces them with paper plates. Yes, Alice really wants that golf cart. Too bad Alonzo catches her in the act. A mortified Alice tells Ben that she just stole Frisbees from blind children. It sounds a lot worse than it is. Actually, no it doesn't.

Eli Cutler is a total nightmare. He forces Ben to fulfill to his ridiculous requests or he won't go on stage. Things go from bad to worse for Ben when Crystal announces her choice for most valuable employee. And the winner is…Roman!

That fact that Roman has never set a man on fire is a real plus in his new role as Ben's assistant. Speaking of Heather, she's very happy at the Sunshine Center and doesn't want to leave. She says, "If only there was a way I could stay here without having to pull out the old gas can." Roman isn't familiar with that expression. But he does know that setting his new golf cart ablaze just might result in Heather staying on at the Sunshine Center.

Ben tells Crystal that he's been working for her for 10 years without any acknowledgement. In other words, he wanted that golf cart. Crystal does offer to give Ben the night off. That turns out be a bad move once word gets out that Eli Cutler is refusing to perform.

Ben is on his way out of the arena to the tune of 17,505 disappointed fans screaming fans. He does an about-face and ends up having a heart-to-heart chat with a surprisingly insecure Eli Cutler. All the kid really needed was someone to tell him he does a good job. Ben needs that, too. That's why Crystal eventually does thank him for the last eight years he's worked for her. Sure it's his 10-year anniversary, but those first two were a little rocky. Wink, wink.