Efforts and Results

Efforts and Results is the second episode of the Lucky Star anime.

Main Plot
Throughout Golden Week, Kagami and Tsukasa have been playing together, however, Tsukasa does not know her sister has actually been waking up earlier and going to bed later, in order to study and finish homework. After the break, Konata pulls an all-nighter and manages to obtain an above-average score, despite doing no studying during the short vacation. To fund her otaku desires, Konata decides to get a part-time job, with the position greatly surprising her friends.

Also in this episode, Miyuki talks about her troubles with visiting dentists, and Konata talks about an anime adaptation of a drama CD which re-casted the characters, likely a reference to Lucky Star itself. Konata, Tsukasa and Kagami also visit an arcade to play various games, including a UFO catcher and a taiko drum machine.

Lucky Channel
Akira is upset since Minoru gets to appear in the actual show. She then goes on to help him practice his line right there on the show. Though Akira appears to be unable to read the Kanji for "bunches" (Minoru had to whisper it to her), she still berates Minoru for allegedly not putting enough heart in his performance.

Trivia

 * The UFO Catcher contains plushies of characters from the manga and anime series Sgt. Frog (Keroro Gunsou). All five members of the Keroro Platoon (Keroro, Tamama, Giroro, Kululu, and Dororo/Zeroro) are visible.
 * Konata and Tsukasa are seen playing the song Hare Hare Yukai in the arcade game Taiko No Tatsujin.
 * While in the arcade, there was man with a T-shirt with "YRP" this might be a reference to Square's Final Fantasy X-2.
 * During the dentist discussion with Tsukasa and Miyuki, Konata brings up the subject of drills, intermittently associating it with Getter-2 of the Super Robot series Getter Robo.
 * Konata's expressionless face is used as a gag for the "0 Yen Smile" that can be ordered at McDonald's in Japan.
 * In Lucky Channel, Akira said "Nyu"; which is a reference to the anime, Elfen Lied.