the basics

Strong Bad runs us through the basics

T.J. asks Strong Bad what some of his tricks are, and he replies with a list of the basics.

Cast (in order of appearance): Strong Bad

Places: Computer Room

Computer: Tandy 400

Date: Monday, February 25, 2002

Running Time: 1:08

Page Title: Tandy 400!!!

DVD:strongbad email.exe Disc One

SBEmail Menu Description: Strong Bad gives basic tips on how to mess with people.

Transcript

STRONG BAD: {singing to the tune of the intro song} Everybody... check your email...

>Dear strong bad,
>
>how do you do it . teach me some of your trick's.
>
>With crap,
>T.J.

{After Strong Bad reads "how do you do it", he says "no question mark".}

STRONG BAD: {clears screen, typing} Well, I mean I can't tell you all of them TJ, But, you know, there's the basics. I mean, like if somebody's like, "Hey! Are you listening to me?" You say, " Yes," but {stops typing} you know {resumes typing} you're not really listening. Um, then there's the one where you say, "Hey! Look over there." And when they turn their head, {stops typing} you know {resumes typing} there's nothing there and you pour some Coke down their shirt. And this one is a little amateur, but it has worked for me in the past. {clears screen, stops typing} You know, {resumes typing} you bet somebody a hundred "bucks", and if they win, {stops typing} you know, you'll... {resumes typing} you give them like a hundred kicks in the butt and {stops typing} you say, {resumes typing} you call that a buck. I mean, I don't know, somebody invented that...and...it works pretty good. You get to kick somebody. {clears screen} But everyone has a different taste, you know? Develop your own style, TJ. Reach down inside yourself and pull out something... {stops typing} y'know, {resumes typing} not like...organs. You know what I mean. Anyways, {stops typing} email... Oh, there'll be another one next week...

{The Paper comes down.}

Fun Facts

Trivia

• This is the first email in which the text goes behind Strong Bad's head, rather than word-wrapping around his head.
• The YouTube description for this email is "Strong Bad gives basic tips on how to mess with people."

Remarks

• Strong Bad should have run out of room before typing in the word "past".
• Strong Bad made an error of his own when he said "...it works pretty good." Grammatically, it should have been "...it works pretty well."
• At the end of the email, when Strong Bad types the word "Anyways", he leaves it there with a comma instead of finishing the sentence.
• Strong Bad comments on TJ's incorrect punctuation usage, but neglects to comment on his using the possessive "trick's" instead of the plural "tricks".

Goofs

• Strong Bad unnecessarily capitalizes "But".
• Strong Bad inserts a space between the first quotation mark and "Yes".
• When Strong Bad types 'You say, " Yes," but', only half of the second quotation mark is visible. When he types 'but', the other half appears.
  • Because of this, it appears as You say, " Yes,' with an apostrophe rather than a quotation mark.
• The a> typing prompt does not appear again when Strong Bad clears the screen, as in most other Tandy 400 and Compy 386 Emails.
• Strong Bad leaves out a comma between "them" and "TJ".

Inside References

• Strong Bad receives another email with a "Crapfully Yours"-style signature.

Real-World References

• "Coke" is short for "Coca-Cola", a world-famous soft drink.

Fast Forward

• In labor day, Strong Bad claims that this is his favorite email.

YouTube Version

• The Paper comes down later.

External Links

• watch "the basics"
• watch "the basics" on YouTube
• watch "the basics" on the old Flash site
• view the Flash file for "the basics"