The show premiered on September 13, 1997, on ABC as part of Disney's One Saturday Morning, with the first season spanning 26 episodes.
Gretchen longs to be good at some kind of athletic activity, and discovers that she has a hidden talent for the yo-yo.
Encouraged by rumors of a former yo-yoing master (guest star Brian Doyle-Murray) living nearby, she becomes his pupil and works to become a true "master of Yo," eventually leading her to the statewide championships, but her desire for greatness causes Gretchen to alienate herself from her friends and she wonders if her new passion is worth it.
However, when T.J. discovers ex-principal Phillium Benedict's (James Woods) plans to get rid of summer vacation, he assembles his friends in an effort to defeat Benedict, find Principal Prickly, and save their summer vacations.
The cast of Recess visits Kauaʻi so Gretchen can use a telescope to examine what she believes is a new planet.
Meanwhile, an experiment designed to make people stop working zaps Stitch, Jumba, and Pleakley with its lazy beam.