Once again it is time to run down the top episodes from one of my favorite television shows. Home Movies originally was a cartoon that aired on UPN. After some dismal ratings the show was cancelled but it was later picked up by Cartoon Network where Home Movies aired as part of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim cartoon block.
Home Movies is about three fourth graders named Brendon, Jason and Melissa. Brendon is an aspiring director and he makes his own movies with his video camera and Jason and Melinda usually star in them along with Brendon. The show is quite humorous and charming because Brendon’s movies are very outrageous but they are usually exactly the kind of thing a 4th grader would make up.
10. Dad
The first episode choice is one of the few kind of serious episodes. For the first season and a half Brendon lives with his single Mom and baby sister. In the episode entitled Dad, Brendon meets his Dad for the first time. When the two first meet it is very awkward but eventually they start to like each other. Unfortunately like all television shows where kids meet their Dads, Brendon’s Dad has a girlfriend that Brendon doesn’t get along with.
9. Hiatus
The episode called Hiatus is interesting just because we get to see Brendon, Jason, and Melissa with people other themselves. Up until this point almost every scene with one of the three friends includes all three of them together but in the episode Hiatus Brendon is having a hard time thinking up a good movie. The three friends decide that maybe they should split up and make new friends. Brendon and Jason both make new friends and Melissa pretty much stays home and is bored all the time.
8. Yoko
Yoko is an episode where Brendon has his first girlfriend. Some of the students are on a class trip when the foreign exchange student pees in Coach McGuirk’s canteen. Coach McGuirk threatens to punish them so Brendon admits to doing it even though he didn’t. One of the girls on the trip thinks it was nice of him. Brendon then starts to bring Lonnie to star in her movies which makes Melissa and Jason very jealous. The episode is called Yoko due to Lonnie being the reason the “band” breaks up ala the Beatles.
7. History
History is one of the best episodes of Home Movies because it’s the only episode where we see more scenes from one of Brendon’s movies than we do of his actual life. It especially helps that this is one of Brendon’s wackiest plots for a movie yet. In this movie Starboy and the Captain of Outer Space face their biggest challenge yet as they fight George Washington, Pablo Picasso and Annie Oakley. History also features the most songs, another great part of the Home Movies series. Here is an excerpt from the song “Compliments” which is about telling someone a compliment even if it isn’t true just to get them to do something for you.
By using Compliments, even if they ain’t true, cause…
You look like you’ve lost some weight, now lick my hands and paint that crate!
Now you try!
You look great, I like that shirt, now help me hem my brand new skirt
Okay!
You have very nice cheek bones, now help me cosign this bank loan!
Cause a compliment will get you far even if it’s just a lie!
Cause your skin’s as soft as buttermilk now help me paint my thigh!
6. The Art of the Sucker Punch
In the Art of the Sucker Punch a bully beats up Jason and throws mud on him. Brendon then decides he is going to train and fight the bully. It turns out that Brendon is really just interested in making the video because when he shows up for the fight he isn’t really ready and gets beat easily. Afterwards the bully, having no hard feelings, invites Brendon to his birthday party. Brendon then gets mad because the bully is being the better man so at the party Brendon sucker punches the bully. The bully starts to cry and Brendon runs off victorious only for the bully to reveal that he was faking being hurt. He was just making Brendon feel good and being the better man once again.
5. Pizza Club
For the first season and a half Brendon’s soccer coach, Coach McGuirk, is sort of like a mentor to Brendon. Then Brendon meets his father and they start to get along. They even have what they call the Pizza Club where they go and have pizza once a week. Coach McGuirk is obviously jealous that Brendon no longer spends time with him so he creates his own Pizza Club that just happens to be at the same time as Brendon’s and his dad. Later when Coach McGuirk sees that Brendon’s dad bought him a bike Coach McGuirk gets Brendon a bike too. Unfortunately the one Coach McGuirk got he stole.
4. Get Away From My Mom
Get Away From My Mom is a memorable episode because it was the first ever episode of Home Movies. In the first episode Coach McGuirk goes on a date with Brendon’s mom and the date goes horribly wrong. It’s mostly just good because we get to meet all the characters for the first time.
3. My Cheatin Heart
In this episode we get to see the last scene first due to Brendon’s new idea to film a movie in reverse. Away from the camera Brendon’s dad has signed Brendon up for golf lessons. Brendon asks Coach McGuirk to help him so Coach McGuirk teaches Brendon how to play. Did I say play? I meant cheat.
2. Mortgages and Marbles
Mortgages and Marbles is one of my favorite episodes just because of the ridiculousness of the song “Don’t Stick Marbles Up Your Nose.” In this episode Brendon’s baby sister has to go to the hospital because she stuck a marble up her nose. Meanwhile as a class project Brendon has to do some kind of presentation that teaches people something. So Brendon decides to make a music video that tells people not to stick marbles up your nose. Unfortunately the catchy tune has the reverse affect on everybody and people start sticking marbles up their nose.
1. Law and Boarders
Law and Boarders is a masterpiece. During this episode Brendon is riding his bike when he gets hit by a car. In court it is decided that the accident was Brendon’s own fault because he was on the wrong side of the road. His punishment is to write a report. Instead of doing a written report Brendon deos a video report in which he, Jason and Melissa reenact what actually happened. Of course Brendon makes himself look very pure and innocent by having a United States flag tied to his bicycle and he gets struck by the car while thanking God for his country. Brendon also makes the two drivers of the car look evil, like they’re Bonnie and Clyde or something. Jason and Melissa dressed as dastardly as they possibly can then run into Brendon a few more times for good measure. Then the two get out of the car and look down at the wounded Brendon. Melissa asks Jason if he’s dead and Jason replies, “No I don’t think so. Go get the bats in the trunk, we’ll finish him off!” The episode then closes with another classic Home Movies song.
Don’t Kill Children
Don’t Kill Children
Don’t run them over
Let them live their life
Let them get older
Don’t kill children
Don’t run them over
