"What a delicious surprise!"
Bobble the Clown was a short lived syndicated children's show aired in 1987 that was designed to be educational and informative. Every episode (other than the enigmatic 5th episode) showed Bobble whimsically teaching the viewers how to perform various useful skills such as culinary tips, fire safety, making friends and the importance of honesty. Many more episodes were planned, but unfortunately, Bobble got Screwed by the Network and was taken off air. What's worse, Bobble himself was captured and falsely imprisoned
by an organization that calls itself the SCP Foundation.
The show has a small cult of dedicated fans with fond childhood memories of Bobble who vow to Keep Circulating the Tapes until Bobble gets a DVD and Blu-Ray release. An audio interview with Bobble was released, followed shortly afterwards with a long awaited 6th episode where Bobble once more extols the values of honesty and trust while explaining the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions, all in a fun and creative way!
Tropes for this series include:
- And Knowing Is Half the Battle: Every episode ended with Bobble recapping what was learned that day.
- Annoying Laugh: Bobble had a rather loud and grating laugh.
- Beware the Silly Ones: Don't cross Bobble. Ever! Or his fans!
- Bizarro Episode:
- Episode 5 consists entirely of Bobble staring angrily at the viewer.
- Some unlicensed episodes with a more adult take on Bobble have been produced by loyal Bobbleheads, presumably to lampshade the inexplicable censorship the program has received. "Bobble Gets Baked" is divided into three segments: "How To Roll the Perfect Doobie", "How To Make a Bong Out of Found Materials", and "How To Take Over the Regional Black Market Drug Trade With Ruthless Efficiency". "Bobble Shoots for the Moon" features Bobble confronting - and winning against - some other censoring agency.
- Black Comedy Cannibalism: "Eat yer heart out!" quips Bobble as he does just that in the premier episode.
- Brainwashed and Crazy: SCP Foundation likes to accuse Bobble's fan base of being this. Nothing is further from the truth! We're all perfectly sane! Anyone who says otherwise can expect to eat a blade!
- CAPS LOCK: The 6th episode’s title; "FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU".
- Children Are Innocent: Why do adults and teenagers who never saw Bobble's show as children pass out on viewing? Bobble says it's because only children have enough innocence to truly appreciate his show. Only adults who embraced Bobble as youngsters still retain the innocence to watch his show again.
- Conspicuous Trench Coat: Bobble wears one over his bright colored costume in order to hide in a crowd in London.
- Dare to Be Badass: In the long awaited Episode 6, Bobble gives info on how to bypass SCP Foundation security and dares the viewer to let a few of their captives loose "If you're not too big a fucking pussy!" he adds.
- Eye Scream: Bobble makes this pun himself in the first episode when he gouges out someone's eye, crushes it and says "Oh, look! Eyes Cream!"
- Eiffel Tower Effect: In Episode 3, The Elizabeth Tower housing Big Ben can be seen in the background, so Bobble must be on an adventure in London!
- Fan Community Nicknames: Fans of Bobble are called Bobbleheads.
- Fire-Breathing Weapon: Episode 2 has Bobble show the kids how to make one with a can of hairspray.
- Flaying Alive: Episodes 1 and 4 has Bobble demonstrate how to do this useful skill. He hints that he might do this with his female victim in Episode 3, but he wants some privacy first. Episode 6 has Bobble discuss the possible live flaying of various SCP Foundation employees. It's no less than they deserve.
- A Friend in Need: Bobble lovingly speaks about friends he's made over the years and how he's always there when they need him.
- Great Escape: After some inspiration from Episode 6, Bobbleheads from all over have been plotting how to save Bobble from his imprisonment by SCP Foundation. Results have been mixed (the incident with SCP-682 was particularly disastrous) but never will they give up hope!
- Harmful to Minors: SCP Foundation claims Bobble is this. Nonsense! Bobble's fun and thought provoking lessons created a generation of well-adjusted people who just want to make the world a better place through caring and honesty.
- I Just Want to Be Free: How Episode 6 can be summed up. Fortunately, Bobble's now grown-up fans have started some rigorous petitioning as well as a slight amount of guerilla warfare to ensure Bobble gets his freedom!
- Juggling Dangerously: In Episode 1, Bobble does an incredible juggling act involving a serrated knife, a raw egg and a human kidney. You had to see it to believe it!
- "Kick Me" Prank: Bobble pulls this on an unsuspecting man in The London Underground. Well, his says "Stab Me".
- Monster Clown: Completely and utterly averted, of course! Bobble is accused of being one by the SCP, but come on! Look at him! Is that the face of a monster?
- Nose Shove: The guy in Episode 1 gets carrots shoved up his nose. The soldier in Episode 4 gets a red hot nail pounded into a nostril because he can't remember the capital of Bulgaria. (It's Sofija, you dummy!)
- Older Than He Looks: Bobble claims to have been around when fire was first created.
- Outrun the Fireball: Bobble advises against this. He says that when you start a fire, you should get out long before a fireball starts forming.
- Overly Long Scream: A lot of them come from the building Bobble sets on fire. "Well, at least we know they're not dying of smoke inhalation!" quips Bobble.
- Precision F-Strike: The long awaited 6th episode features Bobble using the F word no less than 27 times, not counting the 3 times used in the episode title. He also drops the H bomb twice, the D word 12 times (with and without the "God" appellation), the S word 19 times, the male B word 5 times, the female B word 3 times and he referred to the SCP and the FCC as "A bunch of fucking assholes" who Bobble requested fellatio from. This is quite odd, considering that Bobble never used swear words before and even admonished others for bad language.
- Pop-Culture Urban Legends: There was, at some a satrical news program aimed at adults starring Bobble, in a similar vein to The Daily Show or The Colbert Report in development, where he interviewed several world leaders. It's hotly debated weather or not it actually aired or even existed. Humorously, every politician he interviewed agreed with him. Apparently, if we ever want world peace, we should put Bobble in-charge.
- Psycho Knife Nut: Bobble has quite a few knives that he likes to carry around and is very proud of, describing in detail how best to use each one.
- Pun: Bobble is very fond of them. Even Pinkamina would roll her eyes at the organ puns Bobble made in the first episode. Most notably, the "Bone appetite" gag he ends the ep with.
- See You in Hell: Said by a soldier in Episode 4 after Bobble asks him "How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood?" Bobble punishes him by cutting out his tongue.
- Solar-Powered Magnifying Glass: Bobble recommends using one instead of matches or a lighter seeing as how grown-ups usually won't let kids have either. Grown-ups never let you have any fun. That's why Bobble has to put them to sleep for awhile.
- Somewhere, an Equestrian Is Crying: The dumb soldier in Episode 4 thinks zebras are black with white stripes. Silly! They're white with black stripes! No wonder Bobble gave you a mallet to the groin for that one!
- Suspiciously Similar Song: Averted. Episode 2 ends with Bobble breakdancing to "Burning For You". They probably won’t get that DVD release until Blue Öyster Cult gets their cut.
- Unintentional Period Piece: There’s the "Look, I'm Pac-Man!" joke in Episode 1. Episode 2 ends with Bobble breakdancing to "Burning For You" and the woman in Episode 3 would probably be embarrassed now by that feathery hairdo (if she wasn't dead.)
