Curtis is Gunk's personal Chew Toy
Gunk is constantly introducing dangerous Flyspeck Island flora and fauna around Curtis for the express purpose of causing Curtis physical and mental harm for his own amusement. And since he knows Curtis is, frankly, rock stupid, he knows he can do it as much as he likes and Curtis will never catch on.The only one Curtis seems to remember is the Flyspeck Island Chameleon - and that's because it tends to get him in trouble with his parents.
Curtis's parents resent Michelle because she's a reminder of their failed dreams of stardom.
No matter how much headway the family might make financially every so often, Greg is back justifying his belief that allowances make boys entitled and soft by pleading poverty. Trying to reconcile that with the fact that they were D-list celebrities riding a fad gives yours truly the sneaking suspicion that their agent stole their money and left them dealing with the IRS; said agent has a daughter named Michelle.