"Does this mean it's too cold to go out for recess?"
Must be Harry O's father.
Films watched: Alphabet Antics (short) and Daddy-O
Alphabet Antics is an overly-saccharine educational short meant to teach kids the alphabet, including overly-saccharine footage of children, animals, and a parade.
The episode is available in the Gizmoplex here
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The Segments:
Prologue- Joel and the 'Bots hang out at the water cooler, shooting the breeze and checking out the new girl (Gypsy).
Segment 1/Invention Exchange
- The Mads are still dealing with the giant baby from Time of the Apes, resulting in a baby-centric Invention Exchange. Joel has the air freshener mobile, which entertains babies while covering up typical baby smells, while Dr. Forrester has invented the Alien Teething Nook, an Alien-themed pacifier.
Segment 2
- Joel sings the song "Hike Your Pants Up!", inspired by Dick Contino's high, high pants.
Segment 3
- The 'Bots take a stab at drag-racing, with Joel playing a number of victims of their antics.
Segment 4
- While Joel is busy demonstrating spit takes, Bruce, the annoying gym guy from the film, crashes into the SOL. The crew really don't want to talk to him.
Segment 5
- Joel practices the apple-slapping scene. A first-grader and some integration test engineers have written fan letters. The Mads have their own fruit-slapping moment, but the giant baby starts playing with the button, delaying the end credits multiple times thanks to strained carrots getting stuck in the keyboard.
The Mystery Science Theater 3000 presentation of Alphabet Antics has examples of:
- Have a Gay Old Time: The short represents Q with "the queer, queer pelican." Joel and the 'Bots let it pass without comment, although Crow makes a quick side glance.
- They were too busy commenting that the short had just ripped off Ogden Nash.
- Though the poem they were referencing was actually written by Dixon Lanier Merritt.
- They were too busy commenting that the short had just ripped off Ogden Nash.
The MST3K presentation of Daddy-O has examples of:
- Audio Erotica: Joel and the 'Bots get rather smitten with Magic Voice when she announces the first commercial sign.
- Continuity Nod: The Miracle Growth Baby from the previous episode returns, resulting in a baby-centric Invention Exchange.
- Credits Gag: At first, the Mads can't get the credits to run for more than a few seconds.
- Cutting the Knot: Eventually, the problem with the button gets to the point where Dr. Forrester and TV's Frank try to fix it by taking apart the console, only for Dr. Forrester to give up out of frustration. When TV's Frank calls him out for quitting, he remembers a workaround:Dr. Forrester: (looks up in contemplation) ...oh, I remember. Alt-function 7. (presses it; credits play as normal)
- I Need to Go Iron My Dog: Frank has to go get a piece of water. Not accepted by Dr. Forrester.
- I mean a glass of cake.
- Low Count Gag:Servo: [as Daddy-O as he gets on stage to sing] This one goes out to both of you in the audience...
- Nepotism: Joked with Crow's "You see it doesn't matter how slow I go, I'll catch him; my son's the editor!" when Chillis kills Sonny by running him off the road despite the latter having a big head start.
- Overly Long Gag: Two of them:
- Joel and the bots' awkward silence during the invention exchange.
- The Mads continuously failing to keep the button that runs the end credits pressed.
- Running Gag: Let it be known throughout the lands that the Big Bad's defining character trait is love of BUTTER! Also, as was used in many other MSTK'd films, the sight of a character running for a phone booth prompts the cast to riff: "I gotta call my agent, and get me outta this film!"
- All the fruit-slapping in the final segment.
- Phil's pants and the fact they're practically pulled up to his armpits (which inspires one of the greatest songs of the Joel Era).
- The antagonist Sydney looking like Orson Welles.
- Shout-Out: "Jump back! Kiss myself!"
- Spit Take: Joel demonstrates different types of spit-takes in one of the skits.
- Unusual Euphemism: Joel's list of alternative names for the baby's poopie.Crow: ... "nimbus"?Tom: ... "chechure"?Joel (to Crow): Nimbus.Tom: ... the hell is chechure?!
