Pep #346

In "A Toast to the Host," Archie’s dad frets over Christmas expenses, prompting Archie to rally the gang in a heartfelt (and hilariously chaotic) plan: pooling pocket money to throw a surprise birthday party for their parents. With Jo, Betty, and the others pitching in, the kids scramble to pull off the perfect celebration—though their enthusiasm might just outpace their budget.

In "Spirit Sprites," Betty and Veronica strut into the Chocklit Shop in their cheerleading gear, hoping their pep brought victory—only for Pop Tate to note the outfits might’ve boosted the other team’s morale more than their own. Betty sighs, and Veronica delivers the punchline: they lost 40 to nothing.

In a brief, wry gag from Pep #346, Archie, Jughead, and Betty tour an art museum with Miss Grundy, while elsewhere in Riverdale, Svenson’s odd behavior takes center stage. When Miss Phlips questions why he’s brought trash cans into the school, Svenson claims it’s for the predicted snow—only to spot Mr. Weatherbee nearby and whisper ominously about giving the principal something to wonder about, as he lifts a can lid under cover of dusk.

In "The Unwanted," Jo’s relentless science experiments have Dilton desperate for help, leading him to enlist Moose’s advice. When Moose turns to Reggie for help, a hilarious misunderstanding spirals as Reggie prepares to win over Midge—only to be ambushed by Moose’s revelation that he was supposed to ditch Dilton’s girl, not court Midge. The story unfolds with classic teen chaos, leaving Archie to face the next round of awkward questions.

In "Santa Is Coming," Mort tries to share his wild tale of seeing three flying saucers named "Santa Maria," "Nina," and "Pinta," only to be cut off by friends who immediately assume he means the holiday figure. When he finally gets a chance to speak at Li'l Jinx’s party, both she and Charley encourage him to tell the story again—this time, maybe, someone will believe him.