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Anthonynotes
01-15-2006, 11:07 AM
We've all seen it happen: our favorite characters are written in some bad, out-of-character manner where they behave in a, well, "jerky" (or in the "Simpsons" parlace, "jerkass") manner.

So, what instances have you seen normally non-jerky (or low-jerky) characters act like, well, major-league jerks? (No characters that're usually or always jerks, like ATHF's Master Shake...)

To throw a few out:
THE SIMPSONS:
Homer in various latter-season episodes starting in the late 90's certainly acted jerky too often (or at least, to the point of being not funny).

Lisa in one episode ruins Homer's barbecue as part of an anti-meat crusade/turn to vegetarianism.

PINKY AND THE BRAIN:
Brain in one episode takes up smoking, encounters a tobacco company looking for a new spokesman, and makes ads to encourage kids to smoke. Seems kind of jerky to me, though Brain does have a change of heart by the end...

BATMAN:
See any of his DC Comics from the past 12 or so years. Nothing like his respectable Animated Series self----just, well, *dreadful* in these books. Long list of jerky acts (ranging from telling other heroes they aren't as good as *he* is at anything, putting down Robin and Alfred, to recently performing surveillance on other superheroes out of paranoia). Per one poster on the comics forum, DC supposedly puts out non-jerky Batman stories in (expensive) miniseries and the like, but apparently have decided their regular comics should have, uh, this guy. Whatever... :-)

SUPERMAN:
As much as I like the Man of Steel, he's had jerky moments as well, mainly in 60's stories where he tries to "teach Lois a lesson" re: hunting his secret identity or tricking him into marrying her.

Any others?

HellCat
01-15-2006, 11:35 AM
SUPERMAN:
As much as I like the Man of Steel, he's had jerky moments as well, mainly in 60's stories where he tries to "teach Lois a lesson" re: hunting his secret identity or tricking him into marrying her.



http://www.superdickery.com/dick/1.html

judyindisguise
01-15-2006, 11:46 AM
Well, Cosmo, of course, from "The Fairly Odd Parents". Before "jerkitis" set in, he was far more likable and much funnier. There are hack writers in the cartoon biz who seem to think all male leads in a cartoon have to act like jerks or else their manhood is in question. :sad: The FOP aired this morning "Talking Trash" was a good example of that. Timmy was a jerk in that episode too. All of which combined to make 11 minutes of non-stop non-laughs.

Madame Foster acted in a jarringly jerkass way in a recent episode of "Foster's" when she stole Mac's plane tickets to Europe. Fortunately, "Foster's" excellent Christmas episode went a long way towards setting her right again.

Anthonynotes
01-15-2006, 12:13 PM
http://www.superdickery.com/dick/1.html

Yes, I'm well aware of said website (ignoring the somewhat-inane remarks about taken-out-of-context stories/covers)... :-)

Kazuya Prower
01-15-2006, 12:17 PM
Most of the characters in Fairly Oddparents have been acting jerky lately.

Zubby
01-15-2006, 12:32 PM
TEEN TITANS:
Robin, while a decent guy most of the time, can be a huge jerk at times, and is arrogant much of the time.

One of his jerkiest moments is in 'The Beast Within'. I've seen that episode many times, and I've never gotten over how badly Robin treats Beast Boy. Threatening to send Beast Boy to jail for something that he knows is out of his control? Come on!

tb4000
01-15-2006, 12:45 PM
If the show is absurdist on its own, I don't really fault them for being asses, as the whole thing is like one big farce. I do like how Cindy on Jimmy Neutron, after going on so many adventures with him, and now supposedly in love with him, acts a little overbearing, but has toned down in the recent seasons.

Juu-kuchi
01-15-2006, 12:59 PM
Susie in that "Susie's Trike" episode of Rugrats. Sure Angelica is not always the nicest girl on the show, but then again Susie was a jerk in this episode, with a resolution that seemed to tidy up the fair amount of loose ends that go to show that Susie needs glasses because she couldn't see her trike.

Dark Fact
01-15-2006, 02:31 PM
Leonardo in TMNT Season 4 first half. Being a jerk because he feels he needs to toughen up his bros so that there won't be a repeat of Exodus Part 2? Glad the Ancient One helped him kick that habit!

judyindisguise
01-15-2006, 03:50 PM
If the show is absurdist on its own, I don't really fault them for being asses, as the whole thing is like one big farce. I do like how Cindy on Jimmy Neutron, after going on so many adventures with him, and now supposedly in love with him, acts a little overbearing, but has toned down in the recent seasons.

I agree with that FWIW.