C&C - Venture Brothers - "Guess Who's Coming to State Dinner?" [9/8]

[tucsoncoyote]

Time for The Venture Brothers to Continue.. and this time:

Dr. Jonas Venture (Sr.)'s 'Gargantua-1' (From Careers in Science) Finally falls out of orbit and crashes to Earth (Just Like Skylab), right onto a Terrorist Camp! (*THUD!*)

Bud Manstrong Survives the Crash and is declared a hero and gets an award for destroying the terrorist camp. But what is his Real motive????


Brock Sampson Runs into Hauser, an old enemy pal of his..(how can Hauser and Brock be Pals and Enemies)?

Bud Manstrong's a Momma's Boy (And Brock is just not after Bud's Momma!.. Or is he?)

Bud Manstrong for ... Vice President? :eek: :p Can we say.. Manchurian Candidate? I knew we could!

And what is Abraham Lincoln Doing Haunting not only the White house, but also the Lincoln Bedroom at the White house? and what do Pennies and 5 Dollar Bills have to do with this? and Dean Kissing Hank? Or what the heck is going on???!!!

Plus, Sally Impossible and Ned are back.. Along with "the Ghost Captain" and Dr. Jonas Jr.

Okay so why the odd looks? You'd be looking too if you had this episode actually Happen. and Club Soda will get rid of Anything! Even Stubborn force fields and Red Wine!

Time to Cut to the Chase, and Discuss..This is too Weird but then.. This is The Venture Brothers... GO TEAM VENTURE!.

So Guess who's Coming to State Dinner?

:coyote:

[Golgo13]

This one was pretty slow in the first half, but picked right up in the second. Ghost Linchon was hilarious as was Brock's nemesis, but there could've been a lot more fun to be had with Bud Manstrong and the President.

[ClockStomper]

Loved how the President was a mix of Bush-isms and Clinton lechery. Although the near Hank and Dean kiss was creepy, even if it was a gay Lincoln reference.

[Nin-Nin69]

So if Lincoln could posess anything that resembles him, then why not posses the Lincoln Memorial? I don't care if South Park and Dexter's Lab did this already. It would've been funnier to see the statue break into the oval office and beat up Manstrong.

[K-S-O]

Except that the statue may not have been able to make it through the barrier...

I laughed hard when Ghost Lincoln in 5 dollar bills ran through the barrier and freaked out everyone!

[Non Sequitur]

The statue is also attached to its seat.

[v1cious]

pretty funny episode. i love how this is more of a saga instead of just a regular comedy show.

[David Lucas]

I was just sayin that after watching the whole first season, it really is like FullMetal where every character that ever appeared shows up again repeatedly or at least referenced.

Think about it, in this one episode we saw:

Dr. Venture
Brock Samson
Bud Manstrong
The Russian Chick on the Space Station
Hank
Dean
The Captain of the Sargossa
Jonas Jr
Ms. Impossible
Her brother

That's like 5 episodes worth of guest stars! I love it!

How much you wanna bet that Hauser ends up showing up a lot more than usual, even if he is somewhat of a reject.

Venture: "Those are nuclear batteries."
Pres: "Nuculur?"
Venture: "That's not really a word, but yes."

This show brings a tear to my eye every single time, although I still don't quite understand that Manchurian Candidate plot. Why would they put the Gargantua-1's microchip on the back of his neck, why would it blink when his mom said "Listen to your mother.", how did it control him, and did the whole doctor's standing over him talking about the chip thing really happen.

And why did the penny and dollar bills pass through the force field when not even sound or radio waves could?

I mean, I don't really care, just usually Venture Bros. wraps up all the loose ends really nicely.

Still, it was odd to hear the word "blow job" said on Adult Swim, I don't think I've ever heard that before on any of their shows.

[v1cious]

Still, it was odd to hear the word "blow job" said on Adult Swim, I don't think I've ever heard that before on any of their shows.
thery said it on Stroker and Hoop.

[Swordfish_II]

And Sealab.

[Gobias]

This was kind of a weird episode. Very hard to follow.

[Nin-Nin69]

The statue is also attached to its seat.
That didn't stop the mini version of Lincoln Memorial to move.

[Discloner]

When Lincoln possessed Dean...and tried to break through the forcefield I was laughing hysterically. Everyone just kind of had a collective shocked expression on their face, including Lincoln, over the floating penny; and for whatever reason I found it particularly hilarious.

But then again, all of Venture Brothers is usually hilarious...so. :p

[Kitschensyngk]

Abraham Lincoln's ghost sounds like one of the Monarch's henchmen...#21 or 24, I can't tell which, I get them confused.

Did anyone notice that Jonas Jr.'s office resembles the office in Blofeld's volcano lair in You Only Live Twice?

"My Lincoln sense is tingling!"

[The Myst]

Who did Dana Snyder do? I saw him in the credits.

[Sandoz]

Not my favorite episode of the season, but Ghost Lincoln provided some laughs.

He didn't say that. He said "hand job."
The president asked for a blow job on his intercom.

[The Landstander]

This show brings a tear to my eye every single time, although I still don't quite understand that Manchurian Candidate plot. Why would they put the Gargantua-1's microchip on the back of his neck, why would it blink when his mom said "Listen to your mother.", how did it control him, and did the whole doctor's standing over him talking about the chip thing really happen.Assuming this isn't going to be a re-curring plotline, the one element they left out (unless I missed it) was that in the original movie, the mother was a Communist, and organized for her son to be brainwashed in order to be turned into a killer to take out a candidate. Here, they didn't really give any explanation for motive. They also changed the signal that made him turn crazy; in the movie, it was seeing the Queen of Hearts. There was also no Lincoln's ghost.

If it sounds a bit non-sensical, it's because the movie was a bit non-sensical. Still good, though.


And I liked this episode a lot, a nice return after a few meh episodes in a row.

[Scirel]

Assuming this isn't going to be a re-curring plotline, the one element they left out (unless I missed it) was that in the original movie, the mother was a Communist, and organized for her son to be brainwashed in order to be turned into a killer to take out a candidate. Here, they didn't really give any explanation for motive. They also changed the signal that made him turn crazy; in the movie, it was seeing the Queen of Hearts. There was also no Lincoln's ghost.

If it sounds a bit non-sensical, it's because the movie was a bit non-sensical. Still good, though.


And I liked this episode a lot, a nice return after a few meh episodes in a row.

It was more of a parody of the new version:

The mother was still the culprit but she was with a large corporation instead of communists. the code to make him be controlled was saying his full name 3 times in a row. no ghosts either.

[PickHut]

This has got to be the weakest episode so far for this season. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't as good as the other episodes. Had its moments, like Doc breaking into the Oval Office trying to sell his invention to the president, as well as Lincoln trying to explain the situation to the boys. The continuity of this episode to the space station one was good, though. I always thought that had a terrible ending, so it was nice following that up here.

I give GWCtSD? a B-.

[GMB]

This episode had a lot of good ideas--unleashing the Venture group into the political arena's kinda funny, as is the idea of a Manchruian Candidate homaghe and the return of Bud Manstrong.

Unfortunately, it ended up having about one idea too many, because the end result was a jumbled, loud, unfocused mess that was kinda funny here and there, but mostly just a loud-ass incoherent misfire that didn't so much end as just kinda stop dead. So much was crammed in, in fact, the Ventures themselves felt almost like guest stars in their own show.

But at least it didn't have the damn Monarch in it, so that's a letter grade up right there. It was sorta funny in places, I'm just not sure it held together as a complete episode. Just dial it back a bit next time, guys. B-

[Artimus Gigan]

I thought the Secratary was Dr. Girlfriend in disguise

I thought this episode was going to be a soapbox, but it wasn't

I was wrong on both accounts

it felt like there should have been more to it

[maczero]

Incoherent plot and inconsistencies be damned! This was one of my favorite eps if for no other reason than the "Honest Abe is a 'mo!" line!:D

That was one of the few times I laughed out loud at this show!

[David Lucas]

No, no. I've seen both versions of Manchurian Candidate, I understand the reference, they just left a lot of plot holes in their story. I'm sure someone got some help out of the explanations you both gave though, so thanks on behalf of them, I guess.

I really like Jonas, Jr. more and more everytime I see him. How he went from a fratricidal psychotic cyborg bent on revenge, to the nicest, most intelligent, and just overall friendly person on the entire show is, as I say, amazing writing.

"Hey! Nephew!"

[Freedom Fighter]

Wow, they were really running away with 'perks' the President could get, throwing Bush and Clinton references in there. Otherwise, it took the second half of the episode to get it up to being watchable. Rusty's forcefield device (which is probably one of the best things he's ever invented, scientific-wise, 'cept for the fact it worked too well) and Jonas Jr. being called in to clean-up the mess, Hank & Dean teaming up with the ghost of Abe Lincoln, Mr. Manstrong's mother continuously hitting on Brock... some good stuff for what it was.

I just got a kick out of Hank & Dean gluing $5 bills to the ghost and them actually sticking to him.

6.5 out of 10 for "Guess Who's Coming to State Dinner?"

[maczero]

Mr. Manstrong's mother continuously hitting on Brock... some good stuff for what it was.
Y'know I didn't get Brock's disgust. She wasn't the worse looking thing Brock has bedded. I mean the guy has had sex with a one eyed chick (or wants to), a skanky stripper, an even skankier and homlier prostitute, and a chick so ugly her face had to be hidden from the viewers. The only tail he's turned down is Dr. Girlfriend and that's only because he's not sure if "she" was originally a she.

[MorotheWolf]

Hmm, I didn't like this episode very much.:sad: I agree with some of the above posters that it had too much going on at the same time, and didn't really fit together well. The Manchurian candidate stuff was too obvious, and a bit random.

[The Myst]

Still wondering who Dana Snyder voiced. Anyway, this was a really average episode. There were some really funny parts but nothing too special. The President was great.

Not getting the criticism of it doing too much at once. Last week's episode did more at once than this one did.

BEST LINE: I know there was one but I'm forgetting it. Let's just say something from the President or Ghost Lincoln.

RATING: B+

[TheMecca]

So-so episode.
Schedule: No new episode next Sunday, but after that we have clear sailing until "Showdown At Cremation Creek".

[Stewie]

This felt kind of...trippy? Is that the word? It was either confusing, or there's a gas leak in my apartment. Least great of the season, but still pretty damn good.

I didn't catch on to Manstrong being he guy from that first season ep until his confrontation with Brock. I need to get that DVD and refresh. What else could I be missing.
The callbacks to continuity are great, but can be difficult to follow. When I saw invisible-skin-lady with Jonah Jr., it took me a sec to understand what was going on. It's like this show moves too fast for me.

Family Guy did a great Poltergeist bit a while back, and the one here was great as well (even if very short). At first I thought it was just good execution on both parts. But now I think it's just that parodies of Poltergeist are good no matter what. There's a lesson. If you're going to spoof a scary movie, make it Poltergeist.

[The Myst]

I think it has to do with the fact that Poltergeist was so bad that it was funny so parodies of it are even funnier.

[tucsoncoyote]

I

Think about it, in this one episode we saw:

Ms. Impossible
Her brother


Actually Ned (The Human Callous) is Ms. Possible's Mentally Retarded Cousin, Cody (The Flaming Idoit), we see in Ice Station Possible, is in fact Ms. Possible's Brother.

Also what's up with Dr. (Jonas Jr.) Venture and Ms. Possible? I mean the last time we see them together is in 20 Years to Midnight and in fact for that Matter where's "Rocket"? (The So Called Child of Ms. Possible and ???) I'm still sticking to my Theory that Jonas Jr. is the Father (though it's Rusy that's the Real father here, Jonas Jr. Had a Hand in it..)


As for Lincoln Being able to pass through the Force Field? Well he's a ghost, and in fact I thiink the Force Field was attuned that if anything the Ghost of Lincoln Carried that beared his likeness, (Such as a Penny or a $5 bill) would be able to pass through the Force Field, else he wouldn't be able to go through (it's what is called "Harmonic Symbolixm")

:coyote:

[Kryten]

Actually, it's Ms. IMpossible. Ms. Possible is on another network.

[Allen's Nickname.]

So if Lincoln could posess anything that resembles him, then why not posses the Lincoln Memorial? I don't care if South Park and Dexter's Lab did this already. It would've been funnier to see the statue break into the oval office and beat up Manstrong.

Because Lincoln's ghost haunts the White House, not Washington DC.

[Khurath]

Hrm, big step back from last week, but still very funny. I particularly enjoyed Lincoln's Ghost trying to explain who he was to Hank and, well, everything else including Lincoln's Ghost too. Manstrong is not a very funny character compared to the rest of VB's extended cast, so I think he is probably what dragged the episode down for me.

3/5 - Better than quite a few early episodes, but weak compared to the rest of the season.

[Ikwig]

Manstrong is not a very funny character compared to the rest of VB's extended cast, so I think he is probably what dragged the episode down for me.

I agree with you on that one: Manstrong is just a really annoying character, IMO. (And while occasionally you get characters who are annoying, but really funny. . . Manstrong just ain't one of them.) I don't know; I can see that one could write a 40-something character who was tied to his mama's apron strings, and naive and pure-hearted to a fault, and make him pretty amusing, but somehow the Venture Brothers crew just didn't manage it with Manstrong: he just seems kind of sad (and it's much more annoying in this ep than it was in his introductory ep). His mother is super-annoying and not much fun as well, I gotta say. On the other hand, two unfortunate characters in a cast of dozens of gems is still a great track record.

As for the rest of this ep, I enjoyed it for the most part. Lincoln's Ghost had some great parts; Brock actually saying "no" to a woman was fun; as was Brock going along with Dr. Venture's crazy scheme to pitch his invention to the President, simply because he wanted to annoy Hauser.

I'm going with a 3.5 out of 5 for this one.

[Xoie]

I loved this episode, like all of them. The speed they move at is awesome and as mentioned all the references to past episodes and things I find incredible.

[Nin-Nin69]

Because Lincoln's ghost haunts the White House, not Washington DC.

Yeah, but it's very close to the White House. Lincoln doesn't have to take a few buses to get there.

[The Myst]

I think the point is that he can't leave the White House.

But why exactly does he haunt the White House and not the theater where he was shot?

[Nin-Nin69]

Or the house he died in across the street from the theater.