H-huh? What do you MEAN someone died? We're supposed to be keeping this PG, we can't have that happen! Is it too late to sub in a robot or something? I'm telling you, that's what they did in that samurai cartoon to get past the censors, and it worked like a charm! I can't risk cancellation over this, I've got a LONG and fulfilling career ahead of m-
...What's that? It happened in the Red sector? Nowhere near the show? I never even saw the guy?
...
NEVER MIND!
Disregard the above, folks! Nothing to see here, no sir! All we've got is clean, wholesome entertainment - just like the good old days! Healthy competition! Slapstick violence! Mysterious laboratory plots! HORSES!
All this and more! Grab your popcorn! Grab a drink! Grab the whole family! Because...
When we premiered tonight's episode, I had to make sure our audio was synced up right. I'm sure YOU'VE seen a show with audio issues before - how embarrassing, am I right? Well, I've got some good news! That PIECE OF WORK
Spamton was just lying around in the dorm, not like I expected anything else outta him - talk about a bum!
He was the perfect target, test subject, or whatever else you wanna call it, for a good old fashioned
MIC TEST!
Well, I'll tell you - that sure got him up quick! Sad to say, he decided to tag along after what while I went to the Printing Press. Believe me folks, believe ME. Marketing is more important than you give it credit for! I had to make a couple of posters for my prime-time debut, without an audience, who's gonna supply the laugh track when someone crashes and burns?
Not me, no way! Poor etiquette!
Well, everything was taking its sweet time printing - another reason good ol' commercials are more efficient than these computer things - so I thought I'd join
The Stig peruse the nearby catalogue at the Convenience Store! Don't tell the producer, keep this just between the two of us - but this role? It SUCKS, I'll tell you! Just my luck too, the store was completely outta stock...
Go figure, shoulda' stuck to the shopping channel.
That was a disappointment - am I right? Well, that's network television, nothing we can do! I went out to go pick up and disperse my advertisements, when I ran into
Space Ghost! Now there's a man who loves TV! Even asked me if I wanted to work together on a show with him! Well, I'm not one to decline. No, I am NOT! But my schedule's booked solid, so I gave the man a poster and went on my way.
I needed some equipment, see. We can't be slacking on the production value here, I'm not about to get thrown into syndication - not like this! My quest for entertainment domination took me to the Movie Archive, where I spied with my technicolor eyes... a HORSE watching film reels! Just when I thought I'd seen it all! Another HORSE by the climbing wall outside too! What's this studio coming to?
Anyway, before we could get started with
FACILITY'S GOT TALENT!
I had to take care of something first! That guy, that Spamton. Oh, he's a crook alright! He'll pump you up, he'll help you reach the top of the world! Then he'll hang you out to dry! Some "big shot" he is! Well, I wasn't gonna let him sucker anyone else outta their hard earned DIGNITY, so I went right over to his "National Spamton" and beat him silly!
I'm sure he'd LOVE to take credit for what happened next - but I was acting for the good of the show! We couldn't have an obnoxious sound like this "AA EE OO" thing getting in the way of raw, unrestrained talent, so I burned the place down! That's right, little bit of lighter fluid from the Convenience Store, and the cheapest lighter I could find! We're keeping the production budget low, people - and the laughs high!
I thought I could use an extra audience member too, so I tried to let the creature outta Lab Zero, but the boss man
Bonka was playing around in there with something, and let me tell you, he did NOT like that! I opened up the cage, and he vaporized the poor thing on the spot! Talk about a plot twist, I did NOT expect this guy to pack a punch like that.
...Let's just say he gave me a talking to, folks - and the censors wouldn't like it if I repeated any of it here! Guess I wasn't wanted here, so it was out into the Break Room for me - believe me, I know when someone's itching to hit that MUTE button.
Anyway, everything was all hunky-dory, then-
WHOA MAMA!
Out in that Break Room... the
ROARING KNIGHT, just standing there! About one foot tall at most, but we don't discriminate on this channel! I took a step back, but the little guy just kept swinging at me with this lil' black stick! Swept my legs out from under me, and back into the fire I went. I thought I was a goner, folks - but this nondescript
GIRL yanked me outta the flames before it was too late! Talk about a climax, I was on the edge of my seat!
Well, like I'm gonna let that knight ruin a good thing! No, no - the show must go on! I make my way into the Garden, get everything ready for the big moment... and when the time is right...
Say it with me, folks!
First up on today's talent docket, straight from... wherever she's from, the lovely, the elvish, the carsick...
MARIE! With her talent of... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Talk about a woman after my own heart, people - she seems like the ideal viewer! Content to sit around, doing nothing but stare at the screen... We dream of an audience member like this, folks!
MANHATTAN CAFE is next, drawing patterns in the condensation on the walls! Talented? Yes! Attentive? Definitely not! The focus, the determination... all a distraction from what really matters! TELEVISION! Sorry, but I'm gonna have to put you on the lower end of the spectrum. Good news is, the spectrum currently consists of two at most!
Then we have
MARVELOUS SUNDAY, and WHAT a performer she is! Confidently up on stage, answering trivia questions like nobody's business! Knowledgeable, clever, fast on the buzzer - and she always knows when to use a lifeline! I'll tell you, this lady's a ratings dynamo! If we still had the broadcast rights to
Seal of Fortune, you'd better believe we'd have a star on our hands!
Fourth for the evening is
VILLAGER! He doesn't seem to understand a lick of what we're saying, but that's just fine by me - neither do the producers! He's got that intuition though, he knows how to move it, he knows how to shake it! He's foraging! He's searching! What's he finding? Who knows!? Nobody knows! But it reminds me of the good old days, rummaging around for the remote in the cushions. I'll tell you folks, he'd find it alright!
Next up,
AGNES TACHYON! She gets to work quickly, mixing up all kinds of colorful formulas! It's mesmerizing! It's hypnotizing! It's the perfect companion to a night in front of the the TV! Mixed drinks, a DVD party game or two, and a night of fun and excitement! What else could you ask for? This lady understood the assignment - and judging by Manhattan Cafe's reaction when she took a swig of the stuff, she's mixing something
strong!
Finally, we've got our mysterious lady from earlier - the one who pulled me outta the fire, and into the frying pan! Give it up for...
ERICA! She's a crack-shot marksman, folks! She's got an eye like a razor blade, and a gun like a... gun. Impressive stuff, but I can't tell you what it's got to do with TV - and guns raise our age rating a little too much. Can't give you center stage here, we'll be pushed to the midnight block.
At the end of it all, it took some clever deliberation. Had to put on my thinking cap for this one. So much TALENT, so much ENERGY... but I knew who our winners were.
MARVELOUS SUNDAY!!!
VILLAGER!!!
AGNES TACHYON!!!
You're our Top 3 performers for the evening! Whether you came in knowing it or not, the three of you have real talent - you understand the principles, you understand what matters, and most importantly... you
LOVE TV! Of course, I'm a host of my word - I gave out my prizes, fair and square. Everyone got a little something special, from me to you!
That's when Agnes started to get mauled by a
big cat! A cougar! A panther! A bobcat, maybe! We're on basic cable, it's not like I've got Animal Planet here! She asked for help, begged for it - but the show's over, kid - and I was due back in my dressing room! I'm not equipped for this! Get one of the other nine horses running around this joint!
Besides, a brutal mauling at the hands of a savage creature intent on bleeding you dry?
That's showbiz for you!