PRODUCTION/CULTURAL REFERENCES (written on 7/29/14, 8/9/14)
-Alright, let's get down to business. Although I didn't finish the episode as quickly as I wanted, I had much less trouble writing it than "That's Why They Call Her Sanna Q." as this one took only ten days. That does include days where I didn't work on the script at all because I can't be that specific. My objective was to finish the first half of the third season (This season won't have more than 28 episodes unless I really want to work on more, but I see it most likely having 26) by the end of summer vacation. The school year begins on September 4, but for some reason, I don't think I'm going to achieve my goal. The season just isn't progressing as quickly as I want it to. There's still that hurricane threat looming so I don't want to put it off.
-I said last time that during production of the second season, a fourth season was a sure thing. However, with how things have been going lately and the fact that my life might start to get a little crazy starting in junior year, it's now just a possibility. I want to devote all my time to Thank You, Heavenly when it comes to writing episodes and coming up with ideas. The last thing I want is a mediocre season after proving in the past that I could do better. Depending on how the third season goes, that will influence my decision to make a fourth season. If not, The Thank You, Heavenly Movie will come out next summer. I'm actually going to write it after I finish season three regardless of my decision. I don't want the idea to lose its luster and I start forgetting things about the trip (the students of iCarly Elementary School go to Europe for spring break, based on my real-life trip in eighth grade).
-Originally, the October 12 episode was called "Yellow Rights" and dealt with the hypocrisy of women's rights, yellow journalism (which inspired the title), misandry, and gender roles in today's society. When Jaylynn punches RK during an argument, RK punches back and everybody begins to label him as abusive because of it (even though everybody saw Jaylynn strike first). When Jaylynn begins to exaggerate the story even further, RK is disgusted and tells her to stop but she refuses to. Wade, who has started a male rights organization with Sparky and Buster, realizes that Jaylynn is taking advantage of her automatic role as the victim. The three boys begin to look into cases where other women took advantage of this, and even talk to men who are too scared to report domestic abuse or sexual assault because the police almost never look into it when the male is the victim. RK also challenges Jaylynn to a street fight. I started to think that it was very uncharacteristic of Jaylynn to be the antagonist, since she's more of the type that couldn't stand for it if she ever heard a case like that. Plus, the subject matter was pretty dark for the show to handle. I don't know, somewhere along the line, I might work on the episode again but as of right now, "Yellow Rights" is just an idea.
-I think Sparky and Buster's storyline was already explained. The Mysterious Mr. Enter's reviews were very instrumental in the making of this story, considering his hatred and disgust for what Nickelodeon has become. I just ran with this idea of Sparky and Buster trying to function on modern Nickelodeon and how they would end up. I think these two are the perfect comedy duo. Sparky isn't eccentric or an asshole, but he's mild-mannered enough to keep Buster centered, and his stupidity in check. I wouldn't write for them like I would write for RK/Wade/Jaylynn because the two of them, when they're together, provide the most human and realistic moments.
-The B-plot kinda grew organically from the opening scene and I just took it from there. Make of that what you will. I don't see Uncle Carmine making another appearance, especially considering the fact that Wade pretty much stated that he's not actually RK and KG's uncle. In case you were wondering, no, Uncle Carmine was never related to the Jennings brothers. I didn't want to just reveal that in the episode itself, so I implied it and left it a little vague.
-Speaking of Carmine, I imagined him as an Italian guy because of a Zoey 101 episode called "Walk-a-Thon" where an Italian guy of the same name was played by Jerry Kernion. Also, I became familiar with Tony Sirico's name after his role on Family Guy as Vinny. I knew he would be perfect for Uncle Carmine.
-The title of the episode is a combination of two different types of animated shows: Slice of life animation, which is mostly character-driven and draws from the experiences of the characters themselves (Phineas and Ferb and Hey Arnold! are examples), and fantastical animation, which is plot-driven and puts the characters in supernatural, surrealist situations (Adventure Time and Futurama come to mind). I was originally going to incorporate the title of this episode and its meaning but that never happened.
-The last scene was originally Buster showing Sparky an episode of The Mysterious Mr. Enter's Animated Atrocities which heavily criticizes the series premiere of The New York Diaries for wasted potential (if nothing else), very unfunny dialogue, and overproduction. Sparky pauses the video and turns off the computer, ending the episode. However, with time constraints (I was pleasantly surprised I had about 9,000 words), I instead used the ending of everyone reacting to the show. Mr. Enter will guest-star in Part II.
-I really enjoy the running gag where RK misspells or uses the wrong word for something. My favorite use of this gag is the cutaway in "RK vs. LPC & Ms. Tuxedo Pants" when RK asks Mr. Buslovich, "Why are we learning about the sexual angle?" That never fails to make me laugh.
-A tamale festival in Burbank was mentioned in the Zoey 101 episode "Zoey's Ribs" so I put it in. I don't know if it's real or not. Like I said before, I'm planting the seeds for "The Life and Times of Diana Katanova."
-Russell Hicks' disappointment over Legend of Korra still being a part of Nickelodeon is poking fun at the network's careless attitude towards the show.
-I originally used "Halftime" in "Ring Ring Ring (Sanna's Back)," when it was still a thing I was working on.
-The "Let It Roll" meta-joke was an easy one to make, but it was still funny.
-I don't exactly know who's responsible for Nickelodeon's decline. I don't know if these particular executives have anything to do with it. I just picked Hicks and Levy out of a hat.
-Sarah Levy was actually responsible for bringing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles revival to Nickelodeon. Make of that what you will.
-The Family Guy episode Buster was referring to is season ten's "Screams of Silence: The Story of Brenda Q." The episode polarized viewers after its initial airing for its depiction of domestic violence.
-The scene where Sparky and Buster confront Cyma and realize they've been played is my favorite. That's when I felt like the episode had just taken that leap into higher territory and become ten times better.
-RK calling himself Master of Sex is a reference to the television series Masters of Sex.
-Wade calling Uncle Carmine "Paulie Walnuts" is a meta-joke referring to Tony Sirico's role as Paulie on The Sopranos.
-RK's Unfabulous fantasy moment was a reference to the show of the same name where Addie Singer would constantly imagine herself doing something foreign to her regular personality. She would end up acting the rational way. It's interesting to note that the viewer doesn't know when the fantasy sequence is coming.
