Ahhh, fatherhood. A rite of passage, a state of guaranteed manhood, and source of endless, merciless mockery. Just as Episode One continued the love affair with all things fatherly that began with “Tom Goes to the Mayor,” Season Two, Episode Two, “Dad’s Off,” ups the ante by defining fatherhood in terms of another Awesome Show favorite: unstinting competition.

We’ve made it to Season Two, and I hate to do it, but I have to start things out on a somber note. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Casey Tatum, the 17-year-old star of “Uncle Muscles’ Hour.” There may be winners and losers in this strange, cruel world of ours, but there will never be another one like you, Casey.

It’s been a long, strange ride through Season 1, and we’ve reached the end. Who will win? Who will survive? And what’s going to happen to Casey?

Episode Nine, “Hamburger,” makes use of an extended guest appearance, introduces us to the future Winterman, and gives us an extended look at the barely contained chaos that constitutes the creative process behind an episode of Awesome Show. Awesome Show has looked at the “behind the scenes” ideas of creation, teamwork, and creativity in the past. In Episode Two, “Friends,” the boys experiment with writing a jingle, while in Episode 4, “Salame,” Eric has to take on the burden of “making” the Awesome Show himself.

Awesome Show does not obey the laws of space, time, or good taste. So, for Episode Eight, “Anniversary,” we’re taken fifty years into the future where nothing has changed, only Tim and Eric have aged, and a green monster named Grum taught us all the joys of snack food. If only our own future were so bright. “Anniversary” builds on many earlier episodes in its exploration of loss, friendship, and regret.

Do you love inept local commercials, corporate training videos, and 70’s style pizza boy pornos? Boy, have we got an episode for you. As the title implies, Episode Seven deals with the idea of abstinence in several segments--primarily the “Pizza Boy” skit and “Channel Five’s Only Married News Team.”