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The Adventures Of Teddy Ruxpin: Wizard Week
Reviewed: 06/03/2018
The Wizard's Rise From Pettiness Rises.
Well; now that we ran a episode that aired in the wrong slot, we continue on with the real meat of this story arc: the festival known as Wizard Week. This is basically the prototype of all silly Johnny Test episode: Have races; only it's like the Olympics. Because, the Wizard is broke after his petty feud with his brother that no one cared. Now; he has to make the money back with this festival which is all about him. Yeah; what a cocky jerk? Also, Tweeg has challenged Gimmick to a duel and the loser must leave the valley forever! This is turning into a wrestling show; but literally without actual wrestling. Basically; a Vince Russo show. So, how does this episode fare? So; let's rant on shall we...?
We begin this one at the Wizard of WeeGee's place as the wizard is counting that MONEY, MONEY, YEAH, YEAH. Because you see, in the Ying Zoo arc; the Wizard of WeeGee and the Wizard of Ying had a stupid contest to see who can build the best fair in the world. Oh wait; he's playing paddle ball while also cutting bingo promos. Louie comes from the curtains and says something about records as the wizard gets to fifty and the string is broken, just like his finances. Yup; his petty attempt to outdo his brother has destroyed him money wise. So, the heel did get the last laugh after all. So, TaleSpin even stole that concept from this show. Louie wants him to take a walk because it's a beautiful day. Classy, eh? Wizard blows him off because he's too depressed. See, that's why pettiness would make you penniless. Louie wants him to throw a party for himself. Oh TAG, Louie! The guy is broke, for goodness sakes! Unless LOUIE is going to fund the party. Wizard looks out the window and then Louie wants to invite the Wizard of Ying over and the Wizard of WeeGee is angry about that one. So, the wizard comes over and wants a coin and Louie no sells because the wizard is now a bad investment. Word. Wizard just wants to flip something; so Louie gives him a button. Of course! Then Louie wants an eight letter word for celebration as he is doing a crossword puzzle out of nowhere. If you think this sequence is wasting time; wait until the modern era where the pacing is much faster and they are forced to do too much stuff going on in every segment just to fill time. Wizard is so flustered that he cannot flip a button without dropping it on the floor and Louie proclaims that the eight letter word is festival. That inspires the Wizard; because he's desperate for money. Louie thinks he's flipped; but at least the Wizard is going to charge money for this event instead of being like TNA Impact; so at least the Wizard has a clue. So, Louie brings out his notepad and giant green pencil and we write down that the festival will be called Wizard Week, a stupidenous event to display skill and ability. And of course, make the Wizard of WeeGee look good after getting his head handed to him.
As the wizard is talking, we segue and scene change to a sky shot of Gimmick's house as Teddy is now reading the Grundo Gazette (written by Louie, of course) talking about winning prizes and the entry fee is three pieces of copper. Okay; that sounds reasonable as LB hops by and listens to Gimmick loving this idea from the front door. Of course, they had to flip the image to get LB to watch from left to right instead of right to left which the scene was chugging along with. The winners get a mystery prize as the trio is at the sofa. There will be ground races that cover most of Grundo, air races and water races. I would think the air race would cover most of Grundo; but it doesn't. I guess the wizard (or Louie) figured that if it covered most of Grundo, the Airship would win hands down and doesn't want to make it that easy for Teddy and company. So, the trio decides to enter the race as a team because they are unstoppable and they do the triple handshake spot, which is basically Grubby and Gimmick shaking hands on the closeup with Teddy palming both hands on top. LB turns around and bails to steal a newspaper and inform Tweeg about this, because he is a heel and Tweeg is too dumb to believe anything LB says. So we head to inside Tweeg's Tower as Tweeg is mixing pink liquid in flasks and beakors. Must be making chewing gum as LB comes in with the newspaper in his mouth. They do the most obvious attempt to drop the chemist items spot and everything shatters. Tweeg is upset about this as he cleans up the mess as LB informs him about Wizardweek while calling him Tweep. Tweeg don't care about the Grundo Gazette, although that will change in the Reunion Arc. LB then gives him an incentive: Tweeg's hated rival Gimmick is entering and he cannot lose because he's the greatest inventor in all of Grundo. He is a GOAT and that gravely offends Tweeg! Because he's a wacky alchemist who thinks he can make gold out of buttermilk. And that angle has hit a dead end, by the way. Now Tweeg wants the newspaper and LB spits it right in Tweeg's face. Tweeg blows him off for not handing anything to people and LB gives a witty retort for that. Tweeg reads newspaper.
Tweeg thinks he can win; but LB thinks Gimmick is a smart piece of opposition. Word. Tweeg goes over to his desk and insults Gimmick while writing a letter as he is going to show Gimmick what he is made off. Tweeg finishes the letter and stuffs it in his mouth. He also tells LB not to leave until the challenge Tweeg made is answered. Scene change back to the living room and then we get a great moment here: Teddy Ruxpin reading the letter and trying so hard not to be angry or laughing his head off. This was so great. LB is laughing; so you know this is going to be funny. And then Teddy finishes reading the letter, and that sets Gimmick off like a time bomb. He might as well be the G-rated Scott Steiner; only much more cohernet. The stips are: Tweeg wins, Gimmick leaves his house and valley forever. It's the same stips in the first Grungeball game played, and why would you want to employ the same stips on the guy you lost too. I have a better one: Tweeg wins and gets the rights to all of Teddy's crystals. Oh wait, Teddy would no sell that challenge because MAVO hates him! Gimmick accepts the challenge and apparently, if Tweeg loses he has to leave Gimmick Valley. Spoiler alert: Neither one leaves the valley at all. Gimmick accepts the challenge and storms upstairs to invent while LB ends by calling him Limmerick. That was funny, actually. So, we head to Nogburt Castle with Louie in his bicycle helicopter riding towards said castle as he starts posting various banners and a flag, including one that reads: Have You Hugged Your Wizard Today? Umm, no; and I don't care too. Cut to Prince Arin and Princess Aruzia watching Old Beanly in an orange airplane. Ah; now we know where the Gutangs got their flying machines from then! A blond haired Illiper in a brown coat, blue shorts, grey shoes and a grey beret starts the propeller and pulls the start thottle and the propeller literally shoots out of the plane! Aruzia is not happy at all with this; but Louie really thinks this is funny. Jump cut to Jethro fixing the engine of a wooden racing car while Ginnie is riding in it. Jethro slams the engine door harshly as Ginnie starts the engine and she goes backwards and crashes.
Off-screen of course and we see no aftermath after this as we cut back to a repeat shot of Louie laughing and then we scene change to Leota and the wood sprites bringing out a green sailing boat which is giant by their sizes. One of the elves in green uses a wooden hammer to nail the board away so the ship can slide down the ramp into the water and then within seconds the boat sinks and Leota has to fly away. At least they used a unique shot for the Louie laughing spot as we head to the Wooly Whatsit's house as his team consists of Wooly, Current Fuzz, Previous Fuzz and someone else marching in a paper airplane and Wooly tries to use a giant slingshot; but it slices the airplane in half and nearly kills Current Fuzz in the process, but he's all right. Cut back to Louie making peach smoke to inform us that Wizard Week begins tomorrow and we head back to Tweeg's Tower near the cannon area as Tweeg is underneath his iron chariot; just in case any gods try to smite him. LB comes in and yells Tweedle at him and Tweeg bumps his head on his own iron chariot. He seriously needs to learn how to no sell this yell. Tweeg protests this as LB claims that he's has a hard time learning because he's a bubble head. Yeah, I'll bet! LB informs Tweeg that Gimmick has accepted the challenge and Tweeg is happy to drive the slow drip out of the valley. LB claims that Gimmick's team is the team to beat. Word. Tweeg proclaims that they are the team to cheat. Double word. LB does the Vinny laugh and it last a split second as we scene change to the airship with Gimmick on board just running around and doing stuff in a disorganized fashion and even Teddy is thinking this is dumb. So, someone hates Peter Griffin as much as I do. Word. Oh; and Grubby and Teddy are checking a wheel for the third time and Gimmick chews them off on it. Tweeg has finally gotten to him and it shows as Gimmick is nailing a board and Gimmick hammers his thumb instead, yelping in pain. Thankfully; Teddy and Grubby come up as Teddy tells him to calm down because this is not working and it's costing him thumbs. Gimmick finally calms down after a pep talk and that ends the segment nine and a half minutes in. All right then.
After the commercial break; we head to a makeshift track & field area with bleachers, a tower where the Wizard is sitting and Louie is attending the ticket booth. The cheering section is so contrived, I would think the Wizard had paid them even though the wizard is broke in storyline. Louie is counting the money as he proclaims that this is what the wizard needed. Word. Wizard is giddy about this and proclaims that this is the greatest scam he has ever done. At least this scam is rooted in reality; unlike he scam of magic fortune telling he so often does in this series. So, we start with the parade of team, all two of them in track gear as Teddy has broken the cardinal rule of Illiops not wearing shoes. Wooly looks like he's bleeding for some reason; but no one really cares. The Surf Grunges get their cue and look completely out of place. The team is Jethro, Ginnie, Janna Lee and some blond dood. Ironically; this is one of two team with a majority of the competitors being women. Leota's team is the other; and the only one with the captain being a woman. Leota everyone. Nogburts team has Arin, Aruzia and Old Beanly; but no Eunice. I guess Eunice didn't want to create more fricition with Newton Gimmick than there already is. Elinore's team comes next and she's the second woman captain and gets booed. Yes, Tweeg and the Bounders have the biggest team of the show. Tweeg is loving this booing and thinks it's a show of respect of him as a villain as LB retorts that one nicely for me. Sadly; Elinore agrees with him, so I cringe in response. So, the wizard motions to Louie to get up here and Louie asks what is it. Wizard tells him to bring in the GIANT BOX OF DOOM and assures Louie that he can handle it. Oookkkkkaaayyy. So we jump cut to all the face teams (there's only one legit heel team in this and they love being heels) exchanging notes and pleasure thoughts about the event. With Teddy around; this event will have the best sportmanship ever. I mean that, too; because who would want to face Teddy Ruxpin? Arin and Grubby shake hands.
This leads to Teddy Ruxpin having to shake hands with Tweeg. This will NEVER be unfunny as Tweeg crosses his fingers behind his back and shakes Teddy's hand. That'll never grow old for me as we scene change to Louie bringing in the GIANT BOX OF DOOM and shows it off to the competitors. This only serves to make the competitors ponder and you just knew Teddy Ruxpin would turn this into a song because we have gone nearly half of the show without one. Grubby's belief is somehow more plausible than Gimmick's belief because just one book in there? That would be the ultimate troll move. Louie looks annoyed because these competitors are thinking way too small. When Tweeg sounds like the most reasonable person out there, you know they think way too small. Old Beanly thinks he knows what it is and then he forgets and Leota sulks. The crowd shots have literally no animation in them during this sequence as we finish the song with dancing and kneeling. Wooly must be protesting something; I am not sure what as Louie climbs back up and asks the Wizard what is inside the box. If it's the Fox Box; it would be poison; but it's not the Fox Box, so it's nothing...AND THE WIZARD SAYS NOTHING! He's broke; what did you expect, Louie? Louie is not happy with this; because he shudders to think what Wooly would do. With Teddy around; I don't think Wooly is going to do anything to the Wizard. The Wizard proclaims that there is nothing to worry about and he'll have their present ready soon. The Wizard takes over the microphone and throws a blue trimmed, blue spotted red hanky down from the tower. I do not understand this ritual and seems to be a BS&P decision to not have a torch; which is either too dangerous for children or too dangerous to infringe on the Olympic Games. There is much better animation on the cheering shot that follows; but that isn't saying much. So, after thirteen and a half minutes of setup, the event officially begins. At least it's going on the for the next three episodes; so 13 1/2 minutes isn't nearly as long as if the episode was only 22 minutes long (The Bigger They Are, The Louder They Oink; I'm looking at you!).
Scene change to Teddy tying up Grubby's legs because he's going to be the solo competitor in the three legged race, because he has six legs, natch. So, LB and Buffy are tied together of course as Tweeg is already wanting to CHEAT TO WIN~! He brings out the container of Hot Foot Powder and it's clear that Tweeg took the picture of his foot for the front of said bottle. LB's wheezing is so bad here as Tweeg laughs and explains the cheating for us. Scene change to a shot of someone with a gun that shoots only smoke and nothing else. That's probably the only time you will see guns in this show. Unlike in TaleSpin; where there are lots of ammosexuals out there, as they now say. So, it's ready, steady, go as the bounders literally are no good at this; while Grubby is easily in the lead. Then the hot foot powder takes over and Grubby and the Fobs literally run faster and race past the finish line as Grubby wins easily. The two team literally jump into the lake after this and...You know; I was hoping that they book this way: Everyone finds out and the Bounders win by forfeit because hot foot powder is considered a banned substance and since no one knows who put it in their shoes, all the other teams are DQ'ed. That would be an awesome angle; but they didn't go for it. So, we scene change to Grubby and the Fobs getting medals, and of course Grubby takes home gold and silver. Wait; if he has six legs, shouldn't he sweep the podium under that logic? Grubby claims that he has two sets of four legs. That makes no sense since he has three sets of two legs. That was dumb as we scene change back to the PA system as the high jump is about to commence. Tweeg comes in and proclaims that he wants the high jump to go at it's highest setting and Teddy is of course questionning this tactic. LB is the competitor and calls this stupid as Tweeg motions over to LB and shows off a balloon. He floats over the bar after jumping and then bites the balloon afterwards to come down. This would have been funnier if Scott Hudson came by and said "It's really that simple". So we scene change again as Tweeg stuffs the balloon in LB's mouth. LB slowly hops to the high jump bar and then jumps.
He jumps HIGH into the air, and I mean that in more ways than one as Tweeg whisper yells at him to bite the balloon. LB bites the balloon and Tweeg clearly miscalculates the physics of balloons as LB flies around like the air is out of a balloon and comes nowhere near the bar as we cut to Louie cutting a promo in praise of the Wizard of WeeGee as the crowd cheers and then panics in that order as we get the first TOING sound nearly sixteen minutes in. The Wizard bails and LB gores the Wizard's chair into the floor. The Wizard does the greatest backflip I have ever seen and then asks if LB is sticking around for long. That was funny. So, we scene change to a repeat shot of the gun shooting as we go to the next event, the obstacle race. So we start as Teddy and Jethro are neck and neck in the lead with Wooly close behind as Tweeg runs in the opposite direction to find LB at a conveniently placed springboard. Because it's CHEAT TO WIN~! Too bad this cheating is not working out at all for Tweeg. So, Tweeg thinks he's figured everything out and so LB bites pushes the lever (CLEVER CLOGS~!) and Tweeg goes flying and headbutts the wooden structure and slides down like an idiot. He forgot distance, cue Vinny laugh from LB and that was also funny. So, scene change to the other side as we see Grubby, Jenna Lee or Ginnie and Elinore climbing down from the wooden structure and next is rope swinging from a water pond. Elinore simply runs past it because it's CHEAT TO WIN~! Problem is, everyone sees it. Grubby protests this cheating as Elinore blows him off; but then...Okay; this is so dumb and yet so funny. The payoff to this is: Elinore falls flat on her face into the water pond. Except the scene made me think that she fell from a great height into the pond; when in reality, the pond is literally two feet deep. Now; we scene change to Gimmick, Ginnie or Jenna Lee and LB running as the serious music starts playing. It's time for tire skipping. Even though it clearly shows that LB and Gimmick are almost neck and neck; LB claims that he cannot catch up to Gimmick. Time for him to CHEAT TO WIN~!
So he bites tires and shoots them to tie up Gimmick. Gimmick is gravely offended by this rule breaking and LB is like "don't care". And to think; he is soon going to turn into a quadsi-babyface in about two arcs from now. So Genna Lee/Ginnie jumps turns Gimmick and turns it into makeshift wheels and unicycles Gimmick past LB and LB acts like he still don't care. I guess he figured "hey, I love it when someone cheats back". Anyhow; no triple DQ on that one as Gimmick and the Grunges win the race as they get a tie for first place. Louie is on the microphone cutting a promo for the sponser and I wish he would just troll him right now. So, Gimmick's team exchange notes with Nogburt and they love the idea of the festival, although they probably don't like the cheating. Grubby figures that it wouldn't be interesting if they won every year. Grubby; the three big races have not even started yet! Talk about cocky. Cut back to the wizard and Louie exchanging notes on the situation. Louie tells him that the wizard needs to put something into the box; or Teddy might not be able to stop the mob that followed. Considering Teddy Ruxpin; I betcha he could stop that mob. Wizard tells him not to worry about it as the episode ends at 19:12. Animation problems aside (which is a running gag for this series in general); this was a really fun episode! You have never lived when you have to see Teddy Ruxpin shake hands with Jack W. Tweeg; it is glorious! *** 1/4 (65%).
THE REVIEW LINE
Well; outside of some dumb spots and the usual animation botchery; this was a fun episode that made sense for the most part. Although, I would have changed the stips on the race by Tweeg, this was a episode that was funny. The highlight will always be Teddy shaking hands with Tweeg, it will never grow old for me. The wizard's motive made sense and this scam is at least grounded in reality and is believable to not look like a scam. Kind of like the Olympics; only a lot less scummy. Tweeg's heel mode was fanstatic in this one as usual and I enjoyed it. To be honest, I'm glad it's this fun because we all know that the show is killing time in order to move the show along towards the huge Hate Plague arc. So, all of this won't really mean anything in the long run, except for one major angle coming up. Next up is the water and air races and then a two part ground race to end Wizard Week. And what is going to be the huge surprise at the end of this. Stay tuned to this review, because Soft Copy will not be able to help you in this regard. So...
Thumbs in the middle for this episode and I'll see you all next time.