Awesome Show continues its exploration of family with Season Two, Episode Nine, “Pepperoni.”
Theme:
Throughout seasons one and two, Awesome Show returns again and again to the idea of family. While dads and dad-adjacent imagery have been fully (if not exhaustively) explored, Season Two focuses more closely on motherhood. Episode Five “Forest,” depicted motherhood in a positive albeit fierce light, but for Episode Nine, all of the warm, fuzzy feelings are gone. The mothers depicted in the Channel Five Tuesday Afternoon Movie are as despicable as the dad usually featured on the show. Coming after Casey’s ode of his own abusive mother in Episode Eight, “Pepperoni” serves as a continuing commentary on the family as a supposed unit of social stability.
Hi-Lights:
Tom Goes to the Mayor (Live)
For those who came to Awesome Show because of the delightful madness of “Tom Goes to the Mayor,” this sketch is a special treat. The Mayor (played by Eric) fumes as the Marching Band Guy refuses to stop marching, eventually erupting into violence. Fans of “Tom Goes to the Mayor” will savor the loving recreation of the Mayor’s office and the forcefully struck poses.
Breadheads (Part 2)
Here, Awesome Show lampoons the documentary format, delighting fiendishly in all the squalor, sadness, and horror of its subjects’ lives. The self-proclaimed “Breadheads” are two ladies who love children’s entertainer Bread Harrity more than anything else in this world (but especially their kids). Here, the ladies wait outside a nearly abandoned Cincodome desperately waiting for Bread’s arrival.
Breadheads (Part 3)
Bread arrives and with the most romantic line ever recorded (“You guys like party?”) whisks our heroines off for casual sex. But when our ladies get too freaky too fast (and frankly speaking, too musical) Bread backs down.
Anatomy of an Episode:
Tom Goes to the Mayor (Live)
See Hi-Lights. The Mayor is not happy with his sometime lover, the Marching Band Guy.
Bread Harrity
We are introduced to the children’s singing sensation Bread Harrity as he sings a rousing spaghetti and meatballs themed song.
Breadheads (Part 1)
See Hi-Lights. We are introduced to two women who love Bread with wild abandon.
Kid Break: Teen Edition (“I’m Never Gonna Wipe My Butt”)
Full of things that teens love (anger, pimples, and “extreme” aesthetics) Tim confesses his stance on wiping his butt. Eric is appropriately horrified.
Hobby Holes with K.J. Nutt
Starring Fred Armisen, K.J. Nutt shows us how to make a hole out of paper.
Brule’s Rules: Protein
Do you have ants on your ice cream? Don’t worry. They’re made of protein.
Channel 5 Tuesday Afternoon Movie: Interlude
For retro-geeks, this station identification is simply nostalgia dripping wonder.
Breadheads (Part 2)
See Hi-Lights. The ladies wait for Bread outside of the famed Cincodome.
Hobby Hole (Part 2)
K.J. Nutt shows his assistants how to dig a hole properly.
Video Match
Rainn Wilson stars as a micro-penised man with an alter ego named Karlore. Be warned, Karlore can and will “fuck anything.”
Writin’ a Jingle for Tom Skerrit
The boys work so hard to impress Tom Skerrit with their jingles. Honestly, when Tom Skerrit rejects them, it’s like watching a grown man kick a puppy in the face. But at least it earns the freeze frame and “Great Job!”
Breadheads (Part 3)
See Hi-Lights. Bread is scared away by his fans’ all-consuming devotion.
Coda
Tim and Eric listen to a soulful rendition of “Never Gonna Wipe His Butt.”
Winner:
For his turn as the Mayor (one of my favorite fictional characters) and his fearless song and dance contributions in “Breadheads,” Eric Wareheim is taking this one home. Keep up, Tim, tomorrow’s the finale to Season Two.
Pennie Sublime