CGNU

Strong Bad Email #26

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"The future is you... probably."

This article is about the Strong Bad Email. For the university, see Crazy Go Nuts University.

Margo asks how to become a graduate of Crazy Go Nuts University.

Cast (in order of appearance): Strong Bad

Places: Computer Room, CGNU Prinicpal's Office

Computer: Tandy 400

Date: Monday, May 6, 2002

Running Time: 1:12

Page Title: Tandy 400!!!

DVD: strongbad_email.exe Disc One, Sbemails' 50 Greatest Hits DVD

SBEmail Menu Description: Strong Bad lets you know how to become a graduate of Crazy Go Nuts University.

Transcript

STRONG BAD: {singing} Check that email, check it down, check that email, smack it around.

dear strong bad,

i want to be a graduate of Crazy Go Nuts
University, just like you. Please let me know
how i can accomplish this goal.
thank you.

Margo

STRONG BAD: {typing} I'm glad you asked me, Margo.

{Strong Bad gets up from his seat and enters an office, as if he's doing a commercial. Some flute music starts playing.}

STRONG BAD: Do you want to be more awesome? Sure! We all do. Here in Crazy Go Nuts University, you can get the experience you'll need to be almost half as awesome as I am. Get your certificate in:

{A list starts to scroll from the bottom of the screen, and Strong Bad reads off each entry as it goes by.}

STRONG BAD: Cheesing People Off, Indian-Giving, Cutting Ones, Doing Some Other Things, Home Invasion, Cracking Wise, World Domination, Sending Me a Dollar, Total Spaceship Guy, TV / VCR Repair, or GET YOUR DEGREE!

{The list disappears. Cut to a close-up on Strong Bad's face}

STRONG BAD: Applying is easy, just take this free art test.

{Strong Bad holds up the art test, which the camera then focuses on. At the top are blanks for Name and Age. There is also a drawing of the guy with a big knife, captioned with "Draw me!" on top and "Guy w/ big knife" on the bottom. At the bottom of the test is the box for drawing him.}

STRONG BAD: Fill out the test and send it back to us. And you will be well on your way to a better, awesomer you.

{Cut from the paper back to Strong Bad}

STRONG BAD: Remember, at Crazy Go Nuts University, the future is. . . you. Probably.

{The CGNU logo appears on-screen}

ANNOUNCER: {voiceover} Actual applicants not accepted. Art test is only so we can make fun of you.

{The Paper comes down.}

{About every 4 seconds, the medallion of the CGNU Logo shines.}

Fun Facts

Trivia

• This is one of only two emails on the website with capital letters in the title. The other is butt IQ. (Prior to the post-Flash site update, 3 Wishes and what I want were also capitalized as shown here.)
• The YouTube description for this email is "Strong Bad lets you know how to become a graduate of Crazy Go Nuts University."

Remarks

• When viewing the Flash file, right click "play" at the end to view a white screen with the front of Strong Bad's hand display for several seconds, then start the email over again. This is most likely where The Brothers Chaps designed the front of Strong Bad's hand, and it was never removed.

Inside References

• The Guy with a Big Knife on the art test is from i love you.
• The entrance test for CGNU is offered in Homestar Quiz.
• The sign on Strong Bad's desk reads, "Prinicpal Strong Bad." First seen in the Homestar Quiz, this misspelling, intentional or not, becomes the accepted spelling for Strong Bad's title.
• The first class you can major in at CGNU is "Cheesing People Off".

Real-World References

• This is a parody of commercials for various schools and colleges, most notably ICS (International Correspondence Schools), which memorably had TV commercials in the 1980s and 1990s starring Sally Struthers and featuring the lines "Do you want to make more money? Sure, we all do!", lists of degrees such as "TV/VCR repair" and "computer programming", or you can "get your [specialized associate] degree".
• This is also a parody of the Art Instruction Schools, known for advertisements such as: "Simply complete this free art test and send it back. Your test will be professionally graded to see if you have the interest required to become a serious artist."

DVD Version

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

Commentary Transcript

(Commentary by: Mike Chapman, Homestar Runner)

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Surprise, Mike!

MIKE: Uh-oh. Hey, Homestar.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: It's not Matt or a Strong Bad.

MIKE: It's Homestar.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: That's right! You remembered my name this time!

MIKE: That's right! Uh, have I ever forgotten your name?

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Yes, several times.

MIKE: Okay, um, what do you have to say about this email?

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Uh, it looks like Strong Bad is a school man.

MIKE: Look, it says, a misspelling there, it says "Prinicpal Strong Bad."

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Prinicpal... What's that?

MIKE: Well—

HOMESTAR RUNNER: When did he get promoted to Prinicpal?

MIKE: Did you take any, uh, classes at Crazy Go Nuts University?

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Yes. I... I took the Cutting Ones class, Mike, I'll tell you what!

MIKE: Uh, what'd you get?

HOMESTAR RUNNER: I got a D.

MIKE: You weren't very good at that class.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: No, I could never perform.

MIKE: Uh, Okay. You tried.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: I—I took Sending Me a Dollar. I got—I got my degree in Sending Me a Dollar.

MIKE: Sending Strong Bad a dollar?

HOMESTAR RUNNER: No, me.

MIKE: Oh. I thought it was—

HOMESTAR RUNNER: I took a class called "Sending Me a Dollar," and I sent me a dollar.

MIKE: Did you draw that guy with the big knife?

HOMESTAR RUNNER: I—I passed.

MIKE: Did the gu—have to draw the guy with the big knife?

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Yeah, I ended up drawing a girl with a salad.

{pause}

MIKE: Girl with a salad?

HOMESTAR RUNNER: Yeah, I'm not a very good artist.

Fun Facts

• Homestar says he drew a girl with a salad.

External Links

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