Airdate: Monday, January 21, 2008
Sender: J.Hazard, IN
"J Hazard In" ("In what? In Spokane? In severe debt? In repose?") wants to know what Strong Bad and the other citizens of Free Country USA do with the pool in the wintertime, asking if they perhaps use it for skateboarding tricks.
Homestar finally got paid for his long-ago gig with Fluffy Puff Marshmallows in the form of a lifetime supply of "Red Flavored Fluffy Puff Translucent Dessert Related Substance" (which has its own mascot in a creepy gelatin version of Marshie dubbed "Gel-Arshie"), and they used the stuff to fill the swimming pool.
Strong Sad: I don't even get that one. (looks at his clipboard) According to my calculations, we should achieve maximum jiggle any second now.
Homestar: Oh man, you three. I am so glad I chose this instead of that million dollars in cash. That wouldn't even have half filled up this pool!
Sadly, the pool full of gelatin fails to attract "oiled-up bikini wrestlers" (or "oiled-up Bill Cosby"). So while Bubs and Coach Z discuss what "the young'uns" are up to (and urban legends about gang violence and kids named after desserts), Strong Bad tries surfing on the stuff.
(Strong Mad slaps the surface of the gelatin, causing a small wave)
Strong Bad: Hang ten! Gnarly! Endless summer! Hey, do it again, but this time, smack it like a newborn's biscuit.
(Strong Mad slaps the gelatin again, causing a much bigger wave that causes Strong Bad to fall off his "board")
As Strong Bad sinks into the gelatin, Pom Pom tries to rescue him, only to bounce off the stuff and fly off into the distance. At the bottom, Strong Bad runs into Homestar (who's still holding out for Bill Cosby) and the Poopsmith, whose shovel happens to contain a hotline to the King of Town for just such an emergency. ("My talents are needed!")
Strong Bad: Uh, I don't think that's gonna be a problem, Homestar.
Homestar: You're such a good friend.
King of Town: Citizens! Help has arrived! Everybody in there, shut your eyes. This-a ain't-a gonna be-a pretty! And a one, and a two, and a three. (starts sucking the gelatin through a crazy straw)
Back at the Lappy, a gelatin-covered Strong Bad tries to recover from the horror of the King of Town's unorthodox rescue methods.
(Cut to Pom Pom drifting through space, past Nebulon and a space station. New Paper comes down.)
Tropes:
- A Twinkle in the Sky: This fate befalls Pom Pom after his attempt to jump into the Jell-O pool launches him into the stratosphere.
- Big Eater: The King of Town, as usual, but his ability actually comes to be of use for once.
- Brick Joke: Pom Pom gets bounced high into the sky after trying to dive into the pool of Jell-O. At the end of the e-mail, it's shown he somehow got launched into space.
- Continuity Nod:
- Bubs' elevator to "the basement", first seen in "geddup noise", makes a comeback.
- The King of Town is busy watching Caleb Rentpayer, like he was in "secret recipies".
- Eating Solves Everything: Of all people, The King Of Town ends up being a Big Damn Hero by slurping up all the Jell-O. Although the method proved to be a very unpleasant solution, if Strong Bad's reaction is any indication.
- Embarrassing Nickname: Strong Bad refers to Strong Sad as "Frog Eggs."Strong Sad: I don't even get that one!
- Gelatinous Encasement: Inevitably, their attempt to use gelatin for a trampoline ends with them fully submerged and barely able to move, requiring the Poopsmith to summon the King of Town to eat them free.
- Getting Eaten Is Harmless: Strong Bad appears to be mostly alright physically after his trip through the King's digestive system, although he describes the experience as "unspeakable."
- Last Request: By Homestar.Homestar: When I die, have my body preserved in red Jello!
Strong Bad: Uh, I don't think that's going to be a problem, Homestar.
Homestar: You're such a good friend. - Nightmare Fuel: Strong Bad finds "Gel-arshie" even creepier than regular Marshie.Gel-arshie: I'M AN ABOMINATION! And I'm coming to your house after school...
Strong Bad: Y'know, I really think those Marshie commercials ought to be rated NC-17.
(A label reading "Needlessly Creepy Times 17" appears in the corner of the screen) - Noodle Incident: King of Town saves the day by eating and digesting the entire pool of Jello...including its occupants. Thankfully, Strong Bad leaves a lot to the imagination.
- Pooled Funds: Discussed; Homestar says that he would have taken a million dollars in cash from the people who make Fluffy Puff Marshmallows, but it wouldn't have come anywhere close to filling a swimming pool.
- Urban Legends: Coach Z relates how he had students named "Redan-Jello" and "Grape Flavored Jell-O With Fruit Floatin' In It" (based off the infamous LemonJello and OranJello legend
), and the classic about how flashing your high-beams at a car with its headlights off will get you shot by gangsters.
Bubs: Well, Email 187 is in the can.
Coach Z: 1-8-7?! Ooh, get down! (covers his head)
Bubs: What do you think you're doing?
Coach Z: There's a 1-8-7! Break yerself, Bubs!
Bubs: (annoyed) I oughta break your face.
Coach Z: I knew I shouldn't have flashed my brights at that hooptie full of gangsters!
