no more light-switch raves

August 5, 2008 3:09 PM

HomestarRunnerFilter: I was a dedicated HR fan for several years in the early/mid 2000s. However, I have barely visited the website in the past 2 years. What must-see toons have I missed?

Help me catch up on the essential Homestar hilarity that I have ignored these last few years. Strong Bad's Cool Game is coming out next week and I don't want to miss out on any of the inside jokes!

posted by gnutron to computers & internet (15 comments total)

There's a new paper.
posted by infinitewindow at 3:16 PM on August 5, 2008 [2 favorites]

I'm excited about SBCG4AP as well, but as an semi-avid fan, there's really no substitute for plopping yourself down and watching them all, though years' worth of cartoons is a bit daunting. I forget about the site for months at a time, then the craving strikes and I waste spend an evening catching up. Take it in bite-sized chunks - there's not more than a few hours of actual cartoony goodness, giving you plenty of time to catch every morsel of inside-jokeyness when the game comes out.
posted by antonymous at 3:29 PM on August 5, 2008

chronological list
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:50 PM on August 5, 2008

I agree with antonymous and envy your many sessions of cumulative lulz to come. Don't forget to check the wiki for Easter Eggs before watching anything.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:52 PM on August 5, 2008

This email was sent in by my daughter, so it's obviously my favorite.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 4:06 PM on August 5, 2008 [1 favorite]

I wish they'd pop them all out on DVD or something... my oh my the lulz to be had over and over!
posted by mr.anthony337 at 4:46 PM on August 5, 2008

mean't to put this link in my last.
posted by mr.anthony337 at 4:53 PM on August 5, 2008

If you want to get all the inside jokes for the game, you should watch everything. Carefully.

If you just want to enjoy it, I expect you won't need to do any "research" ahead of time.
posted by aubilenon at 5:05 PM on August 5, 2008

C'mon, y'all. "Watch everything" is not really a good answer to my question.

Please tell me which 2-3 toons from the past two years gave you the biggest larfs. Are there any new characters or specific jokey-phrases I should be aware of?
posted by gnutron at 5:14 PM on August 5, 2008

Then Homestar walked in, naked as a jaybird!
posted by Countess Elena at 6:02 PM on August 5, 2008

In email #173, The Paper gives out and is replaced with a color inkjet. Be sure to check out that one, and the next few (where SB adjusts to the change).

Their most recent short was another Cheat Commandos cartoon.
posted by CrunchyFrog at 6:03 PM on August 5, 2008

Have you seen the fishing one? I forget the title, possibly Lures & Jigs. One day when all the bosses were gone I played this one over the intercom at work. Ahhh, good times.
posted by CwgrlUp at 7:47 PM on August 5, 2008

Well, you've only missed like 4 big toons at most, so you should definitely watch all of those.

For the shorts, watch 500 The Cheats for the surreality, random favorites include Sbemail 150!?! (yes, that's a short, not a Sbemail), Summer Short Shorts, No Hands on Deck, my brother really liked Important Rap Song though I was kind of eh, Ever and More and The Baloneyman. On the Holiday stuff you shouldn't miss the Halloween episodes (Happy Hallow-Day and Jibblies 2) and the Fan Costumes, particularly last year's, are excellent. The Trogday stuff (Happy Trogday and Trogday 08) was just okay to me, but perhaps important for continuity, Let us Give Tanks if you're a Cheat Commandos fan. They do seem to be into the sloshy (alternative band introduced to Strong Bad by Strong Sad) continuity although I can take it or leave it.

Teen Girl Squad I don't know what to tell you, I love 'em all, but for sure watch #10 (were you just first basin' it with that piece of loose leaf?!).

I don't think there's anything on the Answering Machine you can't live without.

The big problem, of course, are the Sbemails. You've missed like, 40-50 and there's lots of good stuff and who knows where the in-jokes will hail from. I can't remember what a tenth of them are about. Definitely watch Death Metal, Technology, Alternate Universe, Your Funeral, The Paper, Pizza Joint, and Web Comics stand out, but I'm sure I'm missing lots of great stuff, and you know they do love the obscure where continuity and in-jokes are concerned. Also the game will probably look to the online games for in-joke material, so maybe check out Peasant Quest (if you haven't yet), Stinkoman and Dungeonman 3.
posted by nanojath at 8:27 PM on August 5, 2008

Pizza Joint was great, Alternate Universe features a SB-related super group, ISP features some fabulous Homestar tech support.

As far as the toons go, the Halloween and Decemberween ones are always the best.

Peasant Quest is a pretty well-realized Sierra-style adventure game.

If you aren't up to speed with Teen Girl Squad, you really must sit through them all.
posted by Rock Steady at 8:31 PM on August 5, 2008

You've seen Trogdor, I hope. The 5th anniversary of Trogdor had a new song. Awesome.
posted by artychoke at 9:30 PM on August 5, 2008