Rocko Episode Discussion: "Gutter Balls"

[Classic Speedy]

Sorry, it's been a while since the last Rocko thread. Anyway, time for a season 2 episode, "Gutter Balls".

Direction/storyboards: Jeff "Swampy" Marsh
Assistant Direction/storyboards: Dan Povenmire
Story: Carlos Alazraqui, Tim Hill, Martin Olson, Joe Murray
Additional writing: Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, Dan Povenmire
Animation Direction: Howy Parkins

So Ed's in the attic, reminiscing of a past bowling tournament. But there was apparently a traumatic incident that we're not shown yet...

Anyway, it turns out Ed is reduced to coaching Bev and her friends' bowling team, and since the other team forfeited, Ed has to find a replacement team and fast.

So, not wanting to be outdone by some pros, he goes next door to Rocko, Heffer, and Filburt, who are busy playing Spank the Monkey (heh). They've never bowled before, so it should be perfect........... right? RIGHT?!

Anyway, in trademark Rocko fashion, there are some funny exaggerations at the bowling alley, like the smelly shoes.

Even as novices, it turns out Rocko and Filburt aren't too shabby, so Ed devises all sorts of tricks to keep the upper hand, all of which fail.

My personal favorite of the pranks is when Ed puts oil on Heffer's platform shoes, and Heffer goes sliding back into Ed's mouth. Upon Ed spitting Heffer out thanks to Filburt's heimlich maneuver, Heffer is blasted into the pins and gets a strike. I love Bev's line: "Ed, if you're going to talk, take the steer out of your mouth."

Eventually Ed snaps at everyone, including his own teammates, who leave him on his own. But the ref doesn't allow a single person to play on a team, so Ed dresses up as Bev (poor job, dude...) and yells at the ref when he asks why "she's" not a redhead. Love that part too.

Finally the rest of the traumatic incident is revealed: Ed, cocky son of a gun that he is, wastes one of his throws because he only needs ONE try to win this round.

Too bad he completely blows it on his last throw by accidentally launching it into the ceiling, causing a chain reaction that destroys the entire bowling alley... everything but... you guessed it, the row of pins.

Anyway, Ed overcomes his crippling memories and actually knocks down the last pin this time, but just as he's about to get the trophy, Bev walks by, ruining his disguise. So the ref awards Rocko, Hef, and Fil the trophy.

Great ending gag: You think Rocko's going to give Ed the trophy, but he just announces that he's going to put it in his own window so he can look at it whenever he wants. It's still one of my favorite endings to a Rocko episode.

This one's a favorite from season 2. I love the repeated "one... pin." line that is repeated over and over in Ed's head. Your thoughts on this one?

[Darklordavaitor]

Ah, I've always had a soft spot for this one, particuarly in the end when Ed dresses up like Bev to try to win the tournament. Really shows how good the series is at simple, fun comedy.

[Blackstar]

Did anyone else notice how the 2 commentators at the bowling tournament in Ed's flashback were named Chip and Dale?

[Lonestarr]

"And there you have it: a completely gratuitous show of bravado."

It's all in the delivery, but that line kills.

[Neo Yi]

It's so funny to look at the very irony of Rocko's innocence who states he'll put his trophy on the window for Ed to look at whenever he desires thinking it'll make him happy when it actually insults him. It's so agonizingly terrible until you realize Rocko means well and Ed Bighead is really a jerk for the most part, so it all balances out.

Classic.