There have been many internet cartoons that have set the internet ablaze with wild laughter. Who doesn’t remember their first time seeing classics like Charlie the Unicorn or animated songs like Badger Badger Mushroom? However, the sheer joy that many experienced from such videos was often short-lived. As is the case with many forms of internet entertainment, the sheer amount of content that is released on a regular basis often means that properties have less of a chance of sticking around in the public consciousness. One series that should never, ever be forgotten is Homestar Runner.
For those who have never heard of this wondrous series of web cartoons, Homestar is a character with a propeller hat and no arms. He’s a total moron with a constantly upbeat attitude that loves, well, running. He’s also joined by a colorful cast of characters in a non-descript land in which shenanigans fill their daily lives. The website itself was a joy to behold and in some ways a modern marvel of flash animation, as it included games and interactive and animated menus the likes of which the world had never seen before. It was more than just a web cartoon, it was basically a small network of shows all contained within its own little universe. The site continues to receive updates, though these are few and far between in their cadence. In order to remedy this, the world, now more than ever, needs an official Homestar Runner television series.
The pieces are all already in place. Looking back at Homestar’s output the site has both longer and shorter cartoons. There’s also the Strong Bad Emails section, which has already once broken into the larger public lexicon with hits like the song, ‘Trogdor’, which some will recall was featured in the original Guitar Hero. There’s even a sub-series of comics created by Strong Bad called “Teen Girl Squad,” which are entirely voice by Strong Bad and follow a group of teenage girls facing off against normal, everyday situations in entirely ridiculous, over-the-top ways. They’re essentially the kind of comics that a person would remember seeing the artistic kid in their class doodling away at, but the voiceover and plinking piano music that accompanies them takes them over the top and into the territory of inducing riotous laughter.
It’s a classic adage that if something isn’t broken, it shouldn’t be fixed. Homestar Runner definitely falls into this camp as it is still just as funny today as it was upon its debut years ago. Part of this is due to the series having entirely original content and not relying on cultural references to make jokes. Homestar feels timeless as a result, and the original content should still be enjoyed by audiences This is the first place that the series should start, by essentially repackaging its original videos. Series like SpongeBob already have a format of combining two smaller episodes into a full half-hour time block, so organizing two longer videos with one shorter video between them from Homestar’s catalog should make the series feel right at home with standard kid’s shows.
There’s also the option for the series to include either Strong Bad emails or Teen Girl Squad segments as the middle portion of episodes or simply as episodes of their own. These would go well with episodes of Cheat Commandos, a set of videos on the site that featured a G.I. Joe-esque team of soldiers that all looked like the series character, The Cheat. These videos on the site were typically longer and the most plot-heavy, with the Cheat commandos using their military skills to complete everyday tasks like renting movies, attending Thanksgiving dinner, or going grocery shopping while facing off against their nemesis, Blue Laser.
Where Homestar would really shine though is in its ability to appeal to both children and adults. Strong Bad especially has a knack for bringing in some suggestive and sarcastic humor. A lot of his jokes are quick little asides that would definitely fly right over most children’s heads, especially with the speed that he delivers them at. Adults would catch them, and they are never inappropriate to the point that they would feel uncomfortable with their children watching them.
A TV series could also create new content and explore characters that never fully got their due in the original videos. Take Stinko-Man, for example, a parody of anime characters that even had his own Mega Man style game viewers could actually play on the Homestar website. There are ultimately so many different pieces at work here within the series that could be used to create a wildly entertaining children’s show, it’s simply too perfect an opportunity to pass up, even if it were to be brought to a streaming service. Just like with the old theme song, “Everybody” would be welcome.
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