What to Think
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| Mr. Show episode | |
| "What to Think" | |
| Episode no. | 1 |
|---|---|
| Prod. code | 102 |
| Orig. Airdate | November 10, 1995 |
| Writers | Bob Odenkirk & David Cross |
| Directors | John Moffitt (live segments), Troy Miller (location segments) |
| Season 1 November 3, 1995 – November 24, 1995 |
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| List of all Mr. Show episodes... | |
"What to Think" was the second episode of the HBO series Mr. Show to air. It originally aired on November 10, 1995.
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
[edit] Arts Funding Cold Open
Howell Tankerbell, a Dixiecrat Senator from the state of Georgia, is addressing the Senate about arts funding. He tells the story of the traveling salesman. In the story, the government is the salesman and the arts funding is the farmer. The salesman is looking for a place to stay, and the farmer lets the salesman stay in his barn. He warns him not to stick his "willie" in the three holes in the wall. After the farmer leaves, the salesman can't help but stick his willie in the holes. He sticks his willie in the first hole, and it feels good. He sticks his willie in the second hole in the second hole, and it feels even better. He sticks his willie in the third hole, and it hurts and it won't let go. The farmer tells him the next morning that behind the first hole was wife, behind the second hole was is daughter, and behind the third hole was a milking machine that won't let go until it gets 50 gallons. Tankerbell tells the Senate that the arts funding is like a milking machine, and that unless the Senate shuts it down; it's gonna rip their dicks right off.
Cast: Bob Odenkirk - Senator Howell Tankerbell
[edit] Tracking Collar Open
Mary Lynn Rajskub introduces Bob and David. Bob tells the audience that David is standing off-stage because certain artists have been assigned senators to monitor them. David has to wear a tracking collar; and unless he gets his senator's approval, he will be shocked whenever he gets up on a stage. Bob convinces David to try to perform anyways, until they are interrupted by Senator Tankerbell on the big screen. Tankerbell scolds him but turns off his tracking collar.
Cast: Mary Lynn Rajskub - herself, Bob Odenkirk - himself, David Cross - himself, Bob Odenkirk - Senator Howell Tankerbell
[edit] Old Swerdlow
Senator Tankerbell is attending Valdosta, Georgia's Annual Folk Festival and Jelly Off. At the festival, Tankerbell watches a performer named Old Swerdlow. Old Swerdlow performs a dance with his wooden puppet, Mr. Limberlegs; until Tankerbell stops him from performing because his puppet is naked.
Cast: Bob Odenkirk - Senator Howell Tankerbell, David Cross - Old Swerdlow
[edit] Books For Seniors
The footage of Senator Tankerbell becomes a commercial for "Books for Seniors", a special series of books that appeal to senior citizens. The excerpt is from the book The Magic Senator.
Cast: Tom Kenny - husband, Jill Talley - wife, Bob Odenkirk - voice over
Sketch Type: Video
[edit] Good News
The commercial transitions into the Christian talk show Good News on the What to Think Network (WTT). The show if coming to a close, and Southern host Dr. Rudy Moore thanks his current guest Penny. He offers the audience a preview of the next show, in which he will feature guest Burton Quimm, the leader of the organization Overcome. Overcome is a Christian organization that helps homosexuals to renounce their sinful sexual orientations. Moore plays a clip of Quimm on his show in 1982, when he first founded the organization. He informs the audience of Quimm's fall back into homosexuality in 1984; and his return to Overcome in 1986, when he married a butch-looking woman. Quimm had a second lapse into homosexuality in 1988, and returned to Christianity in 1994. Quimm tells the audience that Quimm has another lapse into homosexuality planned for August in Rio De Janeiro and the show ends.
Cast: David Cross - voice over, Jill Talley - Penny, Bob Odenkirk - Dr. Rudy Moore, David Cross - Burton Quimm, Tom Kenny - gay man, Brian Posehn - gay man, Paul Kozlowski - gay man, Ricki Trammel - gay man, John Ennis - gay man, Bob Odenkirk - gay man, Janeane Garofalo - Mrs. Quimm
[edit] Jesus & Marshal (The 13th Apostle)
Good News is followed by a program called The Bible Machine, hosted by Don Olomite. Olomite tells the audience of Marshal, Jesus's 13th apostle; and that the Book of Marshal was called Power, Profit, and Passion. A recreation of Marshal interrupting Jesus's sermon on the mount speech is shown. Marshal is portrayed as an annoying motivational speaker. Jesus ends up becoming frustrated with Marshal and letting him go. The scene turns into an ad for Power, Profit, and Passion.
Cast: David Cross - voice over, John Ennis - Don Olomite, Bob Odenkirk - Jesus Christ, David Cross - Marshal, Bill Odenkirk - Lazarus, Tom Kenny - apostle, Jack Black - voice of God, Bob Odenkirk - voice of Bob
[edit] Announcements
Bob, the announcer during the Power, Profit, and Passion ad, is seen recording several commercial tags. The final commercial is for GloboChem, and their slogan "We Own Everything So You Don't Have To!"
Cast: Bob Odenkirk - Bob, Tom Kenny - studio producer
[edit] Commercials of the Future
The ad for Globo-Chem transitions into a board meeting at Globo-Chem, in which two advertising executives are speaking before the company's CEO and two of the company's executives. The ad execs tell the CEO that his company is terrible and they show him several commercials to show him what should be done. During their speech to him, they insult him profusely and introduce him to the company's new mascot, Pit-Pat, a creature whose catchphrase is "Take it from me, I love you!" The first product that they show a commercial for is "Bag Hutch", a box that can hold up to 12 bags. The second comercial is for a restaurant called "Ding Dong Burgers"; and the third is for "Tech Corp Systems". Each commercial features more and more swearing, and the executives become concerned. The ad execs eventually kill the CEO by insulting him so much, and it is made clear the Globo-Chem executives hired them to do so. After the sketch, David Cross talks to the audience, as himself about how evil corporations and the government are. Senator Tankerbell interrupts the show at this point. Suddenly, David Cross gets an idea for a television show that Tankerbell will approve of.
Cast: Bob Odenkirk - advertising executive, David Cross - advertising executive, John Ennis - Globo-Chem CEO, Tom Kenny - Globo-Chem executive, Jill Talley - Globo-Chem executive, Bill Odenkirk - man in Pit-Pat suit, Bob Odenkirk - "Bag Hutch" voice over, Janeane Garofalo - wife in "Bag Hutch" commercial, John Ennis - husband in "Bag Hutch" commercial, Bob Odenkirk - voice of Pit-Pat, David Cross - "Ding Dong Burgers" voice over, Mary Lynn Rajskub - "Ding Dong Burgers" customer #1, Brian Posehn - "Ding Dong Burgers" customer #2, Tom Kenny - "Ding Dong Burgers" customer #3, Jill Talley - "Ding Dong Burgers" customer #4, David Cross - "Ding Dong Burgers" customer #5, Bob Odenkirk - "Ding Dong Burgers" customer #6, Jay Johnston - man in "Tech Corp Systems" commercial, David Cross - himself, Bob Odenkirk - voice of Senator Howell Tankerbell
[edit] The Joke: The Musical
The show transitions into a performance of "The Joke: The Musical", performed live at the Globo-Chem Center for the Performing Arts in Langley, Virginia. A narrator introduces the play, which occurred exactly one year ago today. The play begins with a traveling salesman whose car has broken down. A farmer lets him stay in his barn and warns him not to stick his dick in the three holes. After the farmer leaves, a temptress and the Devil encourage the salesman to stick his dick in the holes. He sticks his dick in the first holes, and it feels good. He sticks his dick in the second hole, and it feels even better. He sticks his dick in the third hole, and it hurts and won't let go. The next morning, the farmer emerges and informs him that behind the first hole was his wife, behind the second hole was his daughter, and behind the third hole was a milking machine that won't let go until it gets 50 gallons. After they all leave, the milking machine enters and begins singing. Eventually, the entire cast begins singing "Auld Lang Syne" together, and Senator Tankerbell congratulates them on a good show.
Cast: Bob Odenkirk - narrator, David Cross - traveling salesman, Jack Black - farmer, Meleva Barbula - temptress, Jack Black - the Devil, Bob Odenkirk - milking machine, Bob Odenkirk - voice of Senator Howell Tankerbell, Ben Zook - "director"
[edit] Senator Tankerbell Tag
As Senator Tankerbell leaves a run-down motel room, he approaches the room's bed in which Mr. Limber Legs is sitting. He kisses Mr. Limber Legs and puts a twenty dollar bill on the bed, and leaves.
Cast: Bob Odenkirk - Senator Howell Tankerbell
[edit] Trivia
- Title: David Cross speaks the line, as a voice over in the sketch "Good News".
- Fake Special Thanks: Ciccolina
- DVD Commentary: Bob Odenkirk (as himself and as Orville Duberville LaVignon, Bob and David's arrogant acting coach who uses the commentary to promote various Mrs. Whiffle frozen products), David Cross (as himself and as Janette Dunwoody, a religious Southern woman who has never seen Mr. Show before but seems to be offended by it), Jill Talley
- The character of Marshal in "Jesus & Marshal (The 13th Apostle)" was based on Marshall Silver, a real-life motivational speaker.
- Bob Odenkirk can be seen suppressing laughter during his performance as the Milking Machine.
[edit] Credits
[edit] Cast
Here is a list of the credited cast for the episode:
- Cast: David Cross, John Ennis, Tom Kenny, Bob Odenkirk, Jill Talley
- Featuring: Meleva Barbula, Jack Black, Janeane Garofalo, Jay Johnston, Paul Kozlowski, Bill Odenkirk, Brian Posehn, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Ricki Trammel, Ben Zook
[edit] Crew
- Executive producers: Brad Grey, Bernie Brillstein, Bob Odenkirk & David Cross
- Produced by: Troy Miller
- Co-producer: Tim Sarkes
- Associate producer: Melissa Kimberly
[edit] Special thanks
- Peter Giambalvo, Peralta Productions, Meleva Barbula, Shecke Bugge, Ciccolina, Mark Cohen, Phil Duff, Ari Emanuel, Hollywood Moguls Theater, Tracy Katsky, Lisa Leingang, Upfront Theater – Santa Monica, CA, Cole Wilson
