the point here is that all your variables may not be globalised by vB itself when you call your template, because the call itself is a function, though you need your variables to be known by the function... using the default vbulletin variable arrays is the best way... like $show and $post... because you're sure they will be detected...!

so instead of $yourvariable, use $show[yourvariable] when creating and calling your variables, and you're sure it will be done correctly in a strange situation...