Origins

"Bread is a good time for everybody!"

Strong Bad discusses the hangingoutitude of The Stick.

Cast (in order of appearance): Strong Bad, Lil' Strong Bad, Señor, Mr. Bland, Bubs, The Stick, Homestar Runner, The Cheat, Strong Mad, Marzipan, Homsar, Strong Sad, The King of Town

Places: Computer Room, Bubs' Concession Stand, The Stick

Computer: Lappy 486

Date: Monday, January 31, 2005

Running Time: 3:20

Page Title: Lappy 486

DVD:strongbad email.exe Disc Four

Transcript

STRONG BAD: {in monotone} This email is leaving the station. Please move to the center of the email, and away from the doors.

>subject: a sticky question... >Dear Strong bad,
>I have recently been wondering about the origin of the
>stick. Has it always been a good place for hanging out and
>making rendezvous?
>

>Luke, Eau Claire, WI

{he tries to pronounce the plural of 'rendezvous' as 'rendezvouuuu-ses?', and the bottom line as 'Luke— eww...Claire...why?'}

STRONG BAD: Ugh! Why do you Van Peebles always wanna know the origins and histories of every freakin' little thing? Like, do you wanna know how Strong Sad got his belly button, too?

{cut to a young Strong Bad's birthday; a sign reads 'Happy Birthday Lil Strong Bad'. Strong Bad has a black shirt with a yellow truck on it, and is looking at a white present with a blue ribbon and a tag reading 'To Strong Bad From Mom or Dad'. He grabs the lid and takes it off to reveal a power drill.}

LIL' STRONG BAD: {lifting the drill} Oh, awesome! {he revs the drill}

{cut back to the Lappy}

STRONG BAD: {clears the screen} Or, like, the origin of Bubs' Concession Stand?

{Cut to Original Book style. Señor and Mr. Bland stand in flat greenness, and Strong Bad's words are subtitled.}

STRONG BAD: Señor Havin' A Little Trouble and Mr. Bland were by far the most popular characters.

{a red Stand falls on them with a splurt!}

STRONG BAD: Then, they were crushed by a falling Bubs' Concession Stand.

{Bubs appears in it, waving}

BUBS: Hot time!

STRONG BAD: said Bubs.

{back to the Lappy}

STRONG BAD: Well, I'm not gonna show you those things. Or the origin of the stick. But I will indulge your curiousity about the stick's hangingoutitude. It currently rates a 10, but such was not always the case. Like when Homestar used to hold his weekly {sounding disturbed, and the words turn green and jiggle on the screen} bread sing-alongs, {back to normal} we avoided that place like the plegg! Er, {deletes up to the 'p'} plague!

{cut to The Stick, where Homestar Runner is surrounded by bread. He is holding a slice and waving it around while marching on the spot}

HOMESTAR RUNNER: {singing} And bread is a good time for me, woo-doo-doo-loot-doo, singing, bread is a good time for everybody!

STRONG BAD: {voiceover; Homestar keeps peeking out around the bread slice} We sure sniped that problem right between the eyes from three hundred yards by scheduling The Cheat's rhythmic chain dancing recitals to the same time and place.

{Strong Bad and Strong Mad stand in the background while The Cheat, dressed in a blue suit, is swinging a chain around, hitting Homestar's face and the bread. Homestar has acquired a sign reading 'Come On & Sing.'}

HOMESTAR RUNNER: {singing, despite being hit in the face} I cut the crusts off in the morning light...

{At this point, Homestar's face has a red chain mark from being hit}

{Strong Bad claps; The Cheat picks up a slice of bread and twirls it while making The Cheat noises}

STRONG BAD: He's quite good.

STRONG MAD: SUCH GRACE!

{back to the Lappy}

STRONG BAD: After a couple of minutes, the popularity of Homestar's sing-alongs faded and Strong Mad ate The Cheat's chainwhip. So that's when the stick became a great place to spraypaint Marzipan.

{Strong Bad, Strong Mad and The Cheat by The Stick spraying at Marzipan's dress, which has a picture of a steak and 'St8k DiNNeR' written on it graffiti-style}

MARZIPAN: To me, this is something that losers would do.

STRONG BAD: Oh, this is gonna be my freshest piece yet.

MARZIPAN: Strong Mad, that looks like cooking spray.

STRONG BAD: What?! Aw, that's some neva-forgive action right there.

STRONG BAD: {voiceover; the scene darkens slightly} But spraypainting people isn't very much fun when they stand there and make fun of you.

{cut to Marzipan standing by The Stick with an upside-down Homsar stuck to her head, at night; a wolf howls}

STRONG BAD: {voiceover} So I super-glued her to Chhh-Homsar... aaand left them for dead.

MARZIPAN: Ooh, I think I hear wolves coming.

HOMSAR: AAAaaaAAh'm the human wedgie! {His hat falls and lands on Marzipan's dress}

{Homestar marches in, holding a loaf of bread}

HOMESTAR RUNNER: {singing} ... don't ask me why, pumpernickel and rye. {Note: Homestar's speech impediment makes "why" and "rye" sound exactly the same.}

STRONG BAD: {voiceover} In order to properly leave them for dead, and not keep hanging around them for dead, we relocated to behind Bubs's—

{cut to Strong Bad, Strong Mad and The Cheat behind Bubs' Concession Stand with the muffler and pipe, and a crown with 'On Point' spraypainted on the wall}

STRONG BAD: —and started calling ourselves the On Point Kings. We di'n't take no guff from nobody!

STRONG BAD: {to The Cheat} Hey man, I know what it means. I was just seeing if you knew.

THE CHEAT: {makes frustrated The Cheat noises}

STRONG SAD: {walking in} Have you guys seen my moleskin journal?

STRONG BAD: {producing the power drill} You want another belly button there, Harry Elephanté?

STRONG SAD: {starts at powering of drill} Waah! No sir! Heck no at all! {runs away}

STRONG BAD: {throws drill away} Man, did you guys see me refuse to take that guff? I flat out rejected it! That guff never even had a chance! {pulls out a nail file and starts filing his gloves} Ah, that's what being an On Point King is all about.

{The King of Town walks in with a blue dunce cap on}

THE KING OF TOWN: I hear somebody mention a pointy king? {nods his hat} Doink, doink?

STRONG BAD: Heck no at all!

{back to the Lappy}

STRONG BAD: So ya see Claire, if it weren't for the stick, and Marzipan's considerable resistance to death, the On Point Kings may never have stolen the King of Town's dunce cap and renamed it Lotionman. {a little embarrassed, and stutters his 'd' (though only one 'd' is typed)} D-don't ask, it was Strong Mad's idea. Well, I hope that makes you not email me anymore.

{The Paper comes down}

Easter Eggs

"Pumpernickel and rye."

• After Strong Bad says "eww... Claire... why???" click on "Eau Claire, WI" to view Beverly Sportsinterviews's book Ewww, Claire!! Why???
• Click on "dunce" at the end to see and hear an album of Homestar's Bread Sing-alongs.
  • Keep clicking the CD cover to hear different songs. The three songs he sings are the same as the ones from the email.

Fun Facts

Trivia

• This is the first time Homsar's hat has not returned to him, regardless of his position (barring Modestly Hot Homsar). Because he is upside down while glued to Marzipan's forehead, his hat settles on her dress. However, in his character video, he ends up upside down at the end (or, depending on one's point of view, the entire video), but his hat still comes back to him.
• This is the first time Señor's full name (Señor Havin' A Little Trouble) is revealed on the website (though it had been mentioned in the DVD commentary for flashback).
• Even though in the origin of Bubs' Concession Stand, the sign above the window reads "STAND", during the first appearance of said concession stand (Where My Hat Is At?), the sign reads "CANDY".
• The YouTube description for this email is "Homestar singing some songs about bread is all you really need to know about this one. Strong Bad is in it too, I assume."

Remarks

• Strong Bad has trouble with the pronunciation of the plural form of the word rendezvous, which is spelled the same as the singular, not rendezvouses. The plural can be pronounced either /ron-day-voo/ (which is also the same as the singular) or /ron-day-vooz/.
• In the Bread Sing-Alongs CD, the picture of Homestar blinks. This is due to his Flash "movie clip" symbol, which makes him blink automatically in a looped animation.
• The "Come on and Sing" sign was not in the animation the first few days. It was added sometime after a week.
• Strong Bad misspells "curiosity" as "curiousity".
• Strong Mad seems noticeably shorter than usual.
• The electric drill makes a sound effect very much like that of a pneumatic impact wrench or drill, rather than an electric drill.
• In the first flashback, the trigger to the drill depresses even though Strong Bad's "finger" isn't long enough to reach it.
• The spelling of "steak" given in this email would more normally be pronounced "state-k".
• Strong Bad uses a nail file even though he lacks visible fingers.
• When Strong Bad is spray painting Marzipan, and when he's hanging out behind Bubs's, his pants are a slightly different shade than normal.
• When The Cheat chainwhips Homestar, the whip appears behind the piece of bread he eventually picks up.

Inside References

• The smashed muffler first appeared in no loafing.
• Homestar peeking out behind the bread concealing his eyes at the end of his first bread sing-along song is a long-time running joke that whenever his eyes are concealed or closed, he has to move them so he can see the viewer. Other examples are Pumpkin Carve-nival, A Holiday Greeting, and Cool Things.
• Strong Bad was last "On Point" in the "Extra Real Dating Sim XR," which is the game from the email date.
• This is the second time in the past two cartoons that a character has been pictured wearing a truck shirt. Little Strong Bad does so here, and Tompkins wore one in Teen Girl Squad Issue 8. Also, Little Strong Bad's voice is very similar to that of Tompkins.
• The electric drill sound effect was last heard in privileges as The Cheat earned a new rewards point.
• The full name "Señor Havin' a Little Trouble" comes from the Original Book. In the picture where Señor is being squished under the weight of the grapes, the image's alternate text is "havin a little trouble".
• This is another appearance of bread.

Real-World References

• Strong Bad's introduction to the email is a reference to HAL, the automated voice used in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's people movers prior to an upgrade for the 1996 Olympics. The original voice said, in a computer-generated voice, "This vehicle is leaving the station. Please hold on. The next stop is Concourse (A/B/C/D). The color coded maps and signs in the vehicle match the station colors. Please move to the center of the vehicle and away from the doors." [1]
• When Señor and Mr. Bland are crushed in the scene depicting the origin of Bubs' Concession Stand, the manner in which their legs stick out is as that of the Wicked Witch of the East in The Wizard of Oz when she is crushed by Dorothy's house.
• Beverly Sportsinterviews, likely related to Lem Sportsinterviews, is a reference to Beverly Cleary, an author of novels for children and young adults.
• The name "On Point Kings" and the crown graffiti are references to the Latin Kings, a famous street gang that originated in Chicago. Since members of the Latin Kings are traditionally Hispanic, this is in keeping with Strong Bad's vaguely Mexican heritage.
• Moleskine is a brand of pocket notebooks and sketch pads popular among travelling artists and writers. Strong Sad mistakenly pronounces it "mole skin", whereas the correct pronunciation is /mol-ǝ-skeen-ǝ/.
• "Harry Elephante" is a reference to famous calypso musician Harry Belafonte.
• "Van Peebles" is a reference to the filmmakers Melvin Van Peebles (known for Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song) and his son Mario Van Peebles.
• Strong Bad's line "that's some never-forgive action right there" is a direct quote from Min One in the graffiti documentary Style Wars.
• In the second bread sing-along song, Homestar sings, "I cut the crusts off in the morning light." This is a reference to the '80s metal band Dokken, whose song "Alone Again" had the same tune and opens with "I'd like to see you in the morning light."
• The Cheat's rhythmic chain dancing is a reference to the sport rhythmic gymnastics.

Fast Forward

• In secret identity, there is another book similar to Ewww, Claire!! Why??? in an Easter Egg entitled Laramie, Why?
• Homestar revisits his bread fixation in disconnected.
• The On Point Kings reappeared in more armies.
• Strong Bad types "bread sing-alongs" in a green, animated font. He does this again in rough copy with "flavored water".
• Strong Bad spray painted a Marzipan poster in Strong Bad is a Bad Guy.

DVD Version

• The DVD version features hidden creators' commentary. To access it, switch your DVD player's audio language selection while watching.

Commentary Transcript

Cast (in order of appearance): Mike Chapman, Ryan Sterritt, Homestar Runner, Jonathan Howe

MIKE: Hey Ryan, who's sitting next to you?

RYAN: I think it's Homestar!

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Oh no! I'm sitting next to Ryan!

RYAN: Hi, Homestar.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Hi, Homestar.

RYAN: I'm Ryan.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Hi Ryan! I like your beard!

RYAN: I've got a little beard going.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: I'm gonna scrub it!

{Ryan, Mike and Jonathan laugh.}

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Somebody give me a sponge.

MIKE: Hey Homestar, this is Jonathan.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: I don't want to talk to that guy. Oh, wait, sorry! No, hi, Jonathan!

JONATHAN: Hi, Homestar.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: It's great to see you tonight.

JONATHAN: It's, uh, it's afternoon.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Well, give me some lunch then. Look at that little truck shirt Little Strong Bad has on!

MIKE: Were you friends with Strong Bad back in those days?

HOMESTAR RUNNER: I didn't meet him until later on.

MIKE: No?

HOMESTAR RUNNER: No.

JONATHAN: That drill sounds like that super powered ratchet gun they have in the...

HOMESTAR RUNNER: I think it is. I think it is what loosens your tires. Your lugnuts.

JONATHAN: In the shop.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: You old lugnuts. Get outta here, you old lugnuts!

JONATHAN: {overlapping} Hot time!

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Um, didn't Strong Bad really just show us those things, Mike?

MIKE: Yeah, he did. That's sort of the joke of it that he says that he won't show us but he just has.

JONATHAN: Wait, explain that again to me?

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Is that a joke? Does that count? As a joke? Honestly?

MIKE: Well, I don't know.

JONATHAN: Hey, Homestar, this is your big moment!

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Ooh! Ooh! Shut up! Boodalah loot-doo singing bread...

MIKE: Yeah...

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Bread is a good time for...no, listen! Everybodyyyy.

MIKE: Why aren't you harmonizing?

JONATHAN: We already have that on—

HOMESTAR RUNNER: {simultaneously} Oh, wait. Okay. Uh, hang on, hang on. Bread is a good time for meeeeeeeeeeeeee! Meeeeeeeee.

MIKE: Okay, here comes mine.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: What? I gotta, oh. Uh, uh, in the morning liiiiiiiiight!

MIKE: You don't want it to sound raga.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Oh, it sounds barbershop now.

JONATHAN: Yeah.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: It sounds raga.

JONATHAN: That's agerpellar. {mispronouncing "a cappella"}

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Ummm, yeah, Those, I had a good, we had a good run with the bread sing-alongs.

MIKE: Yeah, a couple minutes there?

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Yeah! I mean, what more can you really expect from bread sing-alongs? Um, steak dinner.

MIKE: Steak. So Matt, at the time this was going on, Matt was, Matt who's not here right now...

HOMESTAR RUNNER: No, not at all.

MIKE: Was saying steak dinner a, a lot, for some reason.

JONATHAN: It was just the word steak.

MIKE: Well, steak, it started, at some point it was steak dinner, mostly.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Don't forget neva forgive action.

MIKE: Never forgive action.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: From the last scene.

MIKE: That's, of course, from a documentary called Style Wars about graffiti.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: No way am I...

RYAN: You got an orange there.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: An orange there, Ryan.

MIKE: It's a great movie.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Ohh! You guys spoked over my song. I'll do it again for you! Don't ask me whyyyyyy!

MIKE: That's it! We heard.

JONATHAN: We already have it on...

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Spin my buzzer toniiiiiight!

JONATHAN: I like your free styling but we already have it on—

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Thanks.

JONATHAN: —we already have it on record.

RYAN: Are you a part of the On Point Kings, Homestar?

RYAN: What is the origin of On Point Kings?

MIKE: I dunno. Matt and I, Matt or I or someone else...

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Did we see it somewhere?

MIKE: I don't know, we just came up with it or...

HOMESTAR RUNNER: We? Mike, Matt, and you, see it?

MIKE: Yeah, we by... Yeah, not me and Homestar.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Right, 'cause we don't hang out so much.

MIKE: No.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Look! There's another instance of those guys beating up a muffler with a lead pipe.

MIKE: Yeah. That's happened a couple times.

JONATHAN: He's filing his nails there. That's great.

{Mike laughs}

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Filing down his boxing gloves. They get rough. They get roughed up.

{pause until Strong Bad mentions Lotionman}

HOMESTAR RUNNER: You guys, that's weird.

MIKE: Yeah.

JONATHAN: Yeah.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Where, what, where is Lotionman, anyways?

MIKE: I don't know. He might make an appearance, some day.

JONATHAN: {under Mike} He's on the poster. Look at a poster.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: He needs to come around.

MIKE: {yelps}

Fun Facts

• The conversation involving the harmony sounding "raga" and "barbershop" is a direct reference to the movie This Is Spinal Tap, during a scene in which David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel attempt to harmonize on the Elvis song "Heartbreak Hotel".

External Links

• watch "origins"
• watch "origins" on YouTube
• watch "origins" on the old Flash site
• view the Flash file for "origins"
• forum thread re: "origins"