Drew Carey's Back-to-School Rock 'n' Roll Comedy Hour

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Drew Carey's Back-to-School Rock 'n' Roll Comedy Hour is a special, hour-long double-episode of The Drew Carey Show. It serves as the seventh-season premiere and breaks from the show's ongoing story to become a back-to-school themed variety hour. The episode features sketches with the cast and guest stars, plus musical performances from several guest bands.

Key details:
- When it aired: September 26, 2001 on ABC.
- Format: A mix of comedy sketches and live music, all loosely tied to going back to school.
- Hosts and guests: Drew Carey hosts with Jenny McCarthy and Amanda Bynes performing sketches out of character.
- Musical guests: Sugar Ray, SHeDAISY, Smash Mouth, Uncle Kracker, and The Peter Frampton Band.

Production notes:
- The idea was announced in July 2001 as a fresh, non-regular kind of episode.
- Carey briefly fell ill in August 2001 and needed an angioplasty. Because of this, music segments were filmed without him, and a planned dance number was delayed.
- Carey recovered and returned to film the episode on August 20, 2001.
- The show was seen as a risky departure from the usual format.

Reception and impact:
- The episode drew about 10 million viewers, making it the lowest season opener for The Drew Carey Show up to that point.
- It finished 52nd for the week in ratings.
- Critics were mixed but generally positive about the concept and some sketches.
- The episode’s sound editing team was nominated for Best Sound Editing in Television – Music, Episodic Live Action at the Golden Reel Awards.

Story highlights:
- Opening: Drew and Jenny McCarthy plan a fishing trip, but Stiles convinces them to do a school-themed special instead.
- Skits: A teenage Drew visits the doctor about puberty; Oswald tries undercover work at a school and later with the mob; a slumber party skit with a flirtation between McCarthy and Kate O’Brien; a running gag about a zit with Mr. Wick’s voice giving bad dating advice.
- Music moments: Performances by Uncle Kracker, Sugar Ray, and The Peter Frampton Band, with a playful moment where Frampton shows Mimi a tattoo of her face on his chest.
- Closing: The sketches and musical acts wrap up the hour as a fun, out-of-continuity celebration of school life.

Overall, the special offered a bright, big-format change for the show, combining humor with popular music and guest stars, while dealing with Carey’s health hiccup and aiming to draw a large audience.