Arthur: Season 2: Episode 1: Arthur Meets Mister Rogers/ Draw!

Arthur  PBS 

Episode 1a: Arthur Meets Mister Rogers 

            This the ultimate PBS cross over, of the ages.  I have to mention that Arthur wore it's PBS life in a pride in away that most other shows didn't on the network. Like, this show did air on other channels in other countries, but had PBS stuff in it , like mentioning Antiques Roadshow and Nova.   The show wasn't really afraid of mention and having real human people we know in the show. (Minus Lance Armstrong, but we all have regrets)  This one was probably the first of the episodes to ever have that happen. 

         Mister Rogers, or Mister Fred Rogers, and I hate that I might have to do an explainer here, had a show on PBS called Mister Rogers' Neighborhood a show that predated PBS by a few years  and ended in 2001. He passed away in 2003. Mister Rogers and his show were probably the first thing one would think of when the name PBS was brought up, that or Sesame Street, but they don't matter for this post. (Then why'd you bring that up?)   

            This episode is the first episode of season 2 of "Arthur" which aired on October 20, 1997. They went for a strong start here.  Let's get in to the episode.  

        Arthur has big news that Mister Rogers is coming to the school, tomorrow.  Prunella, Muffy, and Binky react in a way of saying that Mister Rogers is a baby thing. Again, I get what the plot is going to do because Arthur decides not to tell people that Mr. R is going to be staying at his house, because of that reaction. But, it's freakin' Mr. Rogers, a real life guy on TV, I don't think any kid would act that way, even if his show was for younger viewers, it's freakin' TV star!   

           Mr. Rogers is played by Mister Rogers who is staying at the Read House because they know him somehow.  D.W is really happy he's at the house  and Arthur doesn't want people to know now, because he doesn't want to be embarrassed and made fun of.  Also to be fair, Arthur shouldn't have listened to Prunella, Binky, or Muffy, I mean really.  

             Arthur does things to hide that Mister Rogers is at his house, even pretending he wants to change his name to Fred. D.W wants to take D.W for a walk around. I do think it's fitting Arthur would think that people [Binky and Prunella] would laugh at him for being with Mister Rogers, because he's eight and would think that way,  as much as D.W wants to show him off.  I like how Mister Rogers plays along. Buster being Buster is impressed when he sees Mr. Rogers even forgets his name.  See, Arthur, Buster is a great friend.  Arthur tells Buster not tell people. 

                Brain, Prunella, and Rubella are at the ice cream shop and Rubella thinks Arthur has been taken by zombies and worries that everyone else could end up zombie slaves. A) I didn't zombies did slavery, B) If this was Buster, he'd be saying Aliens, C) it's funny that the eldest character here is saying this.  

         I do love Buster's reactions with Mister Rogers it's wholesome and sweet.  Rubella. Prunella, and Brain decide to peek in Read's windows because sure.  He also ends up thinking that zombies have taken them. I love how Arthur saying that Buster is there for homework help snaps him into thinking zombies are a possible true answer. 

               The police show up because a neighbor thought the trio were prowlers.  Now the news shows everyone that Mister Rogers is at the Read house.  Arthur feels bad and Mister Rogers comes to talk to him.  I like how everyone is impressed that Mr. Rogers was at his house and even Binky is impressed when he shows up.  

            This episode also introduces Arthur lore that Arthur messes with his glasses when he lies, it does show up in other episodes too, it's nice someone used as his thing.   This episode is pretty great, more than just having Mister Rogers in it, it's has some funny moments too. The heart is really nice here too and Mister Rogers brings his charm.  I think it fits that this show was going for an older kid audience than many parts of PBS Kids fare where 8 , like Arthur's age, would be where a kid might see things like Mister Rogers as a baby or out of their age range type thing.  Arthur built up an occurrence in his head after seeing the other kids react in a way that worried him and plays with that through. The message of a true friend wouldn't be mean shows through like Buster, his best friend, doesn't even hint at making fun of Arthur is really happy to see the Mr. R.   

I will also mention the word from us kids segment  here, being the kids wondering how Mr. Rogers was turned into a cartoon worked. It's a nice little look at animation and voice acting. 

            A great start to season 2, and a good memorable episode. 8/10.

More after the jump. 

Arthur: Season 3: Episode 11: Double Tibble Trouble/Arthur's Almost Live Not Real Music Festival

Arthur   PBS 

Episode 11a: Double Tibble Trouble 

       The Cold Open: DW and her friend Emily seem to be going on a dangerous journey and this danger is the Tibble House. The terrible twin duo boys who like to terrorize others on the Earth. 

    The Episode: You know the way to tell the Tibble twins apart is the scarfs they wear, Timmy wears red fitting a high energy personality and Tommy wears blue.  That's for this episode to put out how these two interact and how they are different when cleaved.   First the whirring and playing playing plane crashing into gasoline tanks. (Uh help)  D.W notices that Tommy is alright unless Timmy eggs him on to something, and she'd like to see how he would be if Tommy was out of the picture.(She's going to have him taken by the mob?)  She makes a wish, a disturbing one, that she could only play with Tommy without Timmy.  Even though it was a helicopter, her wish came true.  

         Timmy is out sick, Tommy is also wearing the red scarf because the show really wants us confused. Tommy doesn't really know what to do without Timmy and seems less energetic.  D.W and Emily are enjoying this.    They want to cheer up Tommy to get his mind off of Timmy but that's hard. In a twist, D.W and Emily try to be like Timmy to work with Tommy. They take turns to be Tibbles which again defeats the thing in the first place. 

            D.W finds out that she doesn't like being a Tibble and quits. Thankfully they got quit feelings at the right time, when Timmy is well and now Tommy is sick. Timmy is happy that they helped his brother out.  Now, D.W and Emily get to fill in for Timmy.  Now where's an episode where Tommy or Timmy fill in for D.W?

            Simple episode, pretty fun to see some Tibble stuff to a point. D.W and Emily pretty much having to be Tibbles to fill in was something different and kind of interesting.  It was very nice to see this work the way it did.   

More after the jump

Arthur: Season 1: Episode 13: So Long, Spanky/ Buster's New Friend

Arthur PBS 

       Episode 13a: So Long, Spanky 

      The Cold Open: D.W has a bird name Spanky (that's a name) and that Arthur mentions that he's not a big fan of the bird. He does feel a little sad for him though since he does have to be D.W pet.

The Episode:  A little of season 1 flavor for us this time. You get a bit of that early Arthur charm. This episode deals with death.  Death of pet, but death.   D.W was talking to her bird and notices he's a little sick and thinks to get him some water but then death. D.W brings Spanky to her father to tell him he's not getting up and David explicitly says dead. But this is a PBS show and PBS shows for children aren't shy,  so death ,  a heavy topic, gets a spotlight here. Commendable.  I think this is one of the first Arthur "issues" episodes where the show takes an approach of looking at a more serious topic and working with it. 

          I am concerned that Arthur just runs into the kitchen and asks is something dead? like that.  But he does care when he finds out that Spanky has died.  D.W asks a question about if Spanky will ever wake up and her father says he won't, he's gone.  They do a funeral for Spanky.  Also a toad shows up and that's important for later. 

           This episode does give some nice Arthur and D.W moments, though he might be acting too quickly on the idea of helping her find a new pet.  She tells the toad that it can't stay in the can she put on top of Spanky's grave, then in jumps into her backpack and scares two kids whose plan were to scare her. (Also Billy and Bobby seem like protype Tibbles that didn't make it)  Later is causes some havoc in her preschool class. 

             Later the toad comes back and helps get D.W's purse that fell out of her hand. (Sentient toad) When she's getting tucked into bed, she asks about Spanky again, and then the todd shows up in her bird cage. She then chases him around her room. The next morning, she wants to find him and seems worried about him after not seeing him.  She finds him when she thought her mom had put him the washing machine, then he leaps through the house.  

            Finally, she decides to make him her pet. 

        The episode doesn't linger on the death and how D.W handles it, but it does bring it up as part of what happens to Spanky, a bird we only saw this episode, and brings that as something that happened.   It handles the topic with care but doesn't into stretching it for the entire plot as much. D.W asking questions that fit well with her age and what could be her way of trying to understand.  I liked Arthur trying to help her, and the Toad was pretty fun.  

        It's a good episode, unless you are a bird. 

More after the jump 

Arthur: Season 15: Episode 1: Fifteen

Arthur PBS 

           Episode 1 : Fifteen 

        Arthur turned 15 years old and began its fifteenth season in the year 2011. They decided to go for a full half hour (24 minute) length episode to commemorate and also to really nail in the fact that the show is fifteen by using the number alot.

 

The Cold Open:  Arthur asks do you always feel like you are in a rush?  (modern living) Then it cuts because Arthur runs out of time.  Not really ironic. 

The episode:   This episode goes big on the number 15 and 15 minutes.  But what it also does is provide three running stories into each other.  The first of part of the episode sets this up. First, George is going to be on a radio quiz called 15 minutes of fame (ding) and will have to answer questions for a grand prize of $500, which will be donated to the school. (not $1500?, weak)  That will be happening the next day.  Also that next day, the students of Mr. Ratburn's class have to turn in their reports for art history.  Also if every report is handed in time and the class will get enough points on whatever Ratburn is doing there for a no homework day. This part will focus on Arthur who did a report on Michelangelo ,but forgot to bring it to school, so he has 15 minutes to go back, get his report and bring it to school.  And there's a plot with Pal and Kate.  

The writer of this episode. 

                I've not really [ At least, I don't think I have as of this point] delved into the Arthur series and Baby Kate and Pal plots. They seemed to have started pretty early on, meaning season 6 with "The Secret Life of Dogs and Babies". This is where the go with the baby character of the Read Family and the dog , Pal, being able to communicate with each other ...and other babies and animals because sure?  I don't think those are the most entertaining episodes of the show, since it seems to just take away from doing well anything else.  What at least helps here is that it's not the only plot of this episode.   They have a plot that will tie more into Arthur's.  

George FM / Copyright WGBH 

         First, George's plot. George is practicing for the radio show quiz and asks Arthur to help him. Arthur's plot connects to his a few ways. Arthur tells him he has to go after helping for a minute and the Michelangelo thing will come to play later.   George makes it to the radio station (92.5 fm Quiz fm , coming next week, we are  92.5 FM The Screech)  after scaring a lady off the bus. Also odd running gag of messing up George's name, 

        The school gets to hear the radio show in an assembly. With a static shot of George, in case they forget who he is. George's way of figuring out answers for questions is pretty neat. He uses recalling different memories to get an answer.  Though this episode decides to change Wally's, George's Dummy, origin story for some reason.  Also the questions are real questions and accurate like baseball bat's traditional wood being ash wood.  The Latin question works because the third grade teacher decides to teach like an 8th grade teacher and apparently uses Latin word when needed. 

         Arthur's plot, which will get fully into in a moment, ties into George's.  That report he was doing on Michelangelo plays in the final question George has to answer.  Also the part where the radio show uses the 'phone a friend' style thing works with Arthur's plot too. I'll just say here, George gets it right and woo hoo. 

Are you going to eat that.. stapler, or the money/ Copyright WGBH 

            Let's go to the star of the show's plot, Arthur.   Arthur comes to school and realizes he left it home. He has to hand it in so the class can get No Homework Day.  He decides to turn around and go get it.  Arthur's Dad found the report and decides he's going to bring it to Arthur. (Good ole Dad) Would make  good question of who is faster?  Anyway this goes wrong as the classic thing of dropping some papers he though he scooped up the right ones and brings it to Buster since Arthur is on his way back home.  The real papers are in the recycle bin.  The Kate and Pal plot also will tie into this, but that's later for us.  

        

            As mentioned earlier, Arthur meets some obstacles, like being stopped by George to help him with some last minute studying. He makes it home and thanks to his dad finding the report, he can't find the report now. (What a mess)   Buster calls him on his cell phone, that's right Arthur characters have cell phones, and tells him that the report is at school. Buster doesn't know.  

        Thanks to Francine being curious about what Arthur wrote about she peeks at the report and it's not  the report. Buster calls Arthur and tells him, now Arthur has to go back. Buster also has to cover for Arthur because he's a good friend like that.  How Arthur finds his report, because he does, ties into the Pal and Kate plot, so we'll move on him going to school, right when George called his name for a 'phone a friend' thing.  He thankfully makes it to give George the answer for Michelangelo's full name is Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni. (That's right you learn things in this blog)   Good thing that Principal Haney being confused with tech gag played into the episode to give some time for Arthur to show up.   

           But even though the report has made it, and the class will get their day, Buster talked to much and Mr. Ratburn makes them write a report about what happened today.  

More after the jump

I have gathered you here today to tell you about what I found online/ Copyright WGBH

            Now we rewind, one more time. This time to Pal and Kate's plot.  As mentioned before, their plot starts when Arthur's dad finds the report. Pal hears big trouble and wants to help Arthur out.  The dog didn't catch what a report was and that Arthur's dad already picked it up. This is a strange thing to write. He and Kate go searching around for the report.  They find a picture.  

       This episode goes deep with it's artist references Buster did a report on Pieter Bruegel , Dutch painter from the 1600's.  The picture Pal and Kate find is an Arthurized version of  L.H.O.O.Q. by Marcel Duchamp, a French artist, where he took the picture of the Mona Lisa and added a Mustache. (This is why Disney fears the public domain) 

            Nemo, Francine's Cat, decides to grab the picture because reasons.  Francine's cat breaks into other people's houses apparently.  This gets weirder, D.W's imaginary friend, Nadine, shows up. In "Arthur" lore the pets and babies can see imaginary friends of other kids.  Also Vicita's friend and the Tibble's friend shows up. Why? They think the picture part of a plot by cats to eliminate imaginary friends to kids will play with cats more.  (They don't know anything about cats do they?)   Nadine says that Nemo is part of the group to find the secret formula and Pal and Kate have to get the picture back. Alright then. 

                Anyway, not going to deep into their plot and will just connect that Pal gets the image back from Nemo and drops it in front of Arthur. It has dog drool on it and Arthur is disgusted that causes him to bring it to the recycle bin, where he finds his report.  Good thing because the truck comes and takes the stuff from the bin. That makes the the friends and Kate think their mission was accomplished.  

            That's the episode. It's a pretty fun episode with a mixture of things going on to not drag anything down too much.  I like how each plot works with other and the side stuff being added in really brings a nice combination to it. It even manages to make a Pal and Baby Kate plot be entertaining.  I do like the tension brought up each part. Will Arthur find his report? Will George do well? Will cats take out imaginary friends?  (What?)

         It's not a bad episode, it feels well paced, uses it's time well, and has an interesting set of plots. It plays well in the context of it being a 15th anniversary special but also can feel not to be one. I like the art references in this too. it is funny to forget that Arthur works under PBS' mission to explain and educate and the episode does that too without feeling too oft and forced. 

            It was fun.  That does it for now for us, tune in next time when we write a blog post in 15 minutes.  

                 

            

Arthur: Season 23: Episode 3: The Pea and the Princess/D.W. and Dr. Whosit

Arthur PBS 

Episode 3a : The Pea and the Princess 

    The Cold Open:  No, this episode isn't Arthur doing a whole episode in the world of the Princess and the Pea. Though kind of. Prunella is running a play with the 3rd graders (Arthur's class) and has done the Disney thing of making the play one name "The Pea" instead of you know. (We found it would test better with boys if it just didn't have the word Princess in it. Francine didn't like the new name and gets into a skirmish and causes a heavy vase to hit Prunella's leg. We get a break a leg joke. Proud of her taking out Prunella, Francine talks to us and says now let's go back to the beginning.  (Apparently this was the middle?) 

The Episode:   Rewinding back, Prunella has done her own version of a public domain story (Public domain rules!) and is able to cast students for it.  So first, there are auditions.  Francine and Muffy have both been made into princess. This episode makes two behind mentions, good for it.  Apparently, Prunella's idea is her play has two princesses because Francine fits the role of a strong princess and a prim and proper one.  Binky has been made the pea, which apparently is a role now.   

          Prunella makes instant changes to play like somehow, both Buster and Arthur are both horses' rear ends. (someone thought that was funny)  Francine thinks its annoying and wants to fix the play.  It seems the final straw was her renaming the play "The Pea".   And the events we saw earlier happened, and now Francine made some changes. Binky quits.  This also goes badly. Then there's a quick apology and then there's work to fix the play. Francine gets Binky and now the evening showing of the play. 

            Then it goes fine. This episode is simple, mostly Francine getting annoyed and not quitting, strange play moves, and random things in-between. The idea of the episode is that Prunella made a play her way and wasn't really being bossy or rude, but trying to make her vision work and Francine didn't like it, especially after having some lines cut.  That's really it.    I don't know 6/10? If we're grading here. 

The Kids segment: Improv is cool. 

More after the jump 

Arthur: Season 25: Episode 1: Binky Wrestles with a Story / All Will be Revealed

Arthur PBS 

       Episode 1: Binky Wrestles with a Story 

              Back to the Arthur and the final season, which I did cover the final episode of the series because that's how I go- out of order.   PBS ran the final season on PBS Kids Channel all in one day in 2022 and that was it. Though, I do think that they had like 3 or 4 seasons produced at once and broke it up, this one has 4 episodes or 8 segments so that's a thing.  Let's go.

Cut 

             The cold opening:  Honestly the episode must have been made when  Batman vs. Superman was out or close enough after it, that's not what the episode is about, I just wanted to point out their Superman and Batman parody characters are doing their own versus movie.  Anyway,  you might think I was bored of this intro and not really, instead they want to you watch the episode anyway so let's get to that. 

        The episode:  Mr. Ratburn announces that the next day is take a student to work day.  Anyway, Binky gets Buster's mom. Remember she works at the newspaper.  On the one hand, I'm happy the never updated the job or changed her work at a website or something.  (she'd be gone in a round of layoffs anyway)  Binky thinks that newspaper job will be fun because he thinks newspaper reporters stop crime.  (do they stop crime, and just choose not to?, this is a joke for one person who takes things seriously)  He founds at the job is mostly talking and not adventure. (he wanted talk radio) It's a low crime rate town so no robberies that much. 

            He does get to go to a press conference with the mayor and finds that boring too.  Binky keeps looking for excitement.  Good thing it's not awkward for Harry and Buster's mother since they don't date anymore. Anyway, Binky talks to Harry about being bored, he says get there's nothing wrong with boredom. (We're bored right now!)   He also tells Binky for his report for class try to make it exciting.  

the pen is mightier than I don't know/ copyright WGBH 

             It's a nice moment to Binky and Bitzy working together. There's also a dream sequence of Binky pretending editing is a wrestling match (that's why the episode is call this)  It cuts to Binky doing his report at school, as if he was presenting it to us after all.  huh? 

        It's alright. ... sorry wait... 

             EEEEE! That was fine. I can't really oh no! It's simple for an episode, it's nice. To me that's how I felt so it's that.   7/10. 

            More after the jump

Arthur: Season 3: Episode 15: Arthur and D.W Clean Up/ The Long, Dull Winter

Arthur PBS 

Episode 15a: Arthur and D.W Clean Up

   The Cold Open:  Arthur talks about how he changed his room into the  Mall of America, but also it can clean itself, unlike the Mall of America.  He was supposed to be cleaning his room.

  The Episode:  Arthur  wants to go with his friends to a fun air, the next day, and that's important because  before that day Arthur's mom wonders if he has cleaned his room. He has not.  I always find it funny how messy rooms look on cartoons, they always go excessive, but it funny. His mother lets him play soccer but he has to clean is room later. It is showing that she is being fair and he made did make a promise. So you can feel too bad for him.  Arthur again decides he finds  a way to watch his show instead of cleaning his room.  

          Arthur failed to clean is room and now he can't go to the happy fun thingy and  has to clean his room. His mom also stops D.W from laughing by saying that she has to clean her room too.  The father, who had nothing to say now suggests an idea where the two siblings work together to clean up their rooms.  D.W wants to throw stuff way, but Arthur doesn't want her to.  

            D.W becomes a Francine and Arthur shipper because she knows the audience.  The father tries to talk to them and thinks up the idea they just don't talk and this seems to go well. The episode has has some fun Easter eggs from past seasons of episodes.   They do end up finishing but now it's D.W's room's turn.  D.W has a set way of doing things and gets annoyed.  when Arthur doesn't follow along, her way. 

            The parents interject into the story because of their arguing.  D. W tells the parents she'd rather just do it her self.  Arthur gets to go to the park for the event.  That was moment for D.W.  The end of the episode Arthur and his friends get to help clean up the park.   

            A simple episode, pretty fun. It works well Arthur should have done his room before and wouldn't have missed some of that fun. D.W had no investment in the event herself but it was nice of her to let Arthur go while she did her room herself. Mostly because she was going to go mad if Arthur kept doing things the 'wrong' way.  It's a good basic episode. 

    More after the jump

Arthur: Arthur Says Goodbye

Arthur PBS 

      

      Arthur is one of those weird constants that just kind of exists. The books began in the 1970's and then the TV series premiered in 1996. That TV series kept running and running, unlike other shows that keep running and running, and maybe because of the target audience of said series, it's not as much noticed. When this series was announced to be ending, there was different reactions, including "That was still running?"  Arthur did get in the news a few times, but it's nothing like The Simpsons  where it gets news for breathing. 

     In 2022, PBS ran the 25th and final season of the long-running WGBH series.  I do have the feeling the final few seasons were made together and just kind of  broken up and order changed because of some stuff, but that's here nor there. (Though there is proof of that too)   I've been writing blog posts about the series, shorter than I've seen the series, it's been apart of my life. My childhood love of it was stronger, but there was still a comfort to watching it.  Of any series that should be having new episodes and just keep running, in my view, besides some game shows, soaps, some news shows,  this might be one of the few that should just keep running. 

  

       I'm not really sure how "Arthur" can end in a way that is big or grand, because it's Arthur and that's not a bad thing, I'm not writing this because I think that' s a bad thing, I'm writing that in the sense, that Arthur is not a show that needs a finale in the sense that we have a long story line that needs to be wound up.  The end was coming and it was actually already made, Arthur was ending.  

       I can think of episodes that would be good conclusions for this series , like "When Duty Calls" (don't read if you don't want to be spoiled , run!) There is something like lower expectations of how to super end this series. There is also that special where they start 4th grade, which I should get to. 

  

         Back to my constant statement, the idea that it was a constant, for now, it will still rerun and maybe they'll have future Arthur stories, but there is something final about a finale (I know, what I said) it feels weird in a way, even if it's alright.  I hope I'm getting that out well.  (Also this is not the last "Arthur" post on this site )   

    

    The finale wasn't a special, it was two-standard eleven minute segments, which also helps the reruns.  This post is about them.  

But first, let's talk to more after the jump (that was awful ouch) 

Arthur 25: Season 24: D.W's New Best Friend/ Freaky Tuesday

Arthur PBS 

            We  have made it to season 24, which for our marathon series of posts is the last aired season of new episodes until season 25 airs, which actually will be the final season. These episodes aired in 2021.  This season has 3 episodes or 5  segments, including a special that's a re-done episode.  So it only made sense to just two segments and get it done with instead.   So I picked "D.W's Best Friend" and "Freaky Tuesday" which are part of episode 3. I do have admire that Arthur's theme  intro is still just over a minute, they never cut it so that's good. Anyway to the episodes.

     

 

   Cold Opening:   D.W and Bud, wait what's he doing here, they were supposed to have moved away, did they forget him?  Oh huh? What?  Not mad, just confused. Anyway, D.W and Bud are riding in a minivan, (apparently the Reids got a mini van at some point) to a puppet making thing. 

     The Episode:   The puppet making class is taught by an eight grader (which to 4 or 5 year  olds is old) named Hana (they spelled it that way, don't yell at us).  The episode really sets up awkwardness where the young kids are baffled by the 13-year-old, like the adults writing the episode. D,W and Bud didn't seem to have fun with the class.  

            The next day, Hana knows about D.W's character she's trying to make because she was a fan of it when she was younger. She uses a word that will be outdated by people in the future when this episode reruns in 2033. (If there is a year 2033)  This quickly turns D.W to like Hana as they bond over scars the toys caused them, which is something. 

This is the future of clothing/ Copyright WGBH

      Through out ride in the van D.W mentions Hana multiple times. Later in the grocery store, D.W meets Hana and her friends. (Hana is the only that stands out)  D decides to start liking things Hana likes.  Anyway, D.W with Hana's help makes D.W's  puppet into a making a bug princess. 

   Katinka Mink, the favorite singer for  Hana, is coming to town and D.W tells her on the phone. D.W thinks the girl is her best friend (hence the title)  and decides to start dressing up kind of like Hana. 

    At the puppet class, and D.W finds out that Hana doesn't consider a best friend in the way D.W thought she would. She's heart broken, and presents her puppet as sad.  Then the episode goes into a song. Yep it's animated sequence of D.W as her a bug princess  singing about being rejected. I guess Hana got the message and apologizes to D.W and it works. She and Bud make up and the end.

     That was alright, simple episode. There's not much more to really add for me.  

More after the jump

Arthur 25: Seasons 23 When Duty Calls

Arthur PBS 

    Welcome to our penultimate post in the  Arthur Marathon, this time we are heading to season 23, and this time we are doing a 30 minute special because why not, and the fact that seasons 23 and  24 are very short. I  have a belief that seasons 22, 23,  and24 were done around the same production and just broken up into their own little seasons. They did also add new 1 hour specials around this time as well. (The money from viewers like you is lacking somewhere, give them more money , you!) 

  

       I picked this 30 minute special, even though I haven't done the introduction episode of the character that is focus of this episode, and well one day, I probably will. 

 

   "When Duty Calls" first aired on October 16, 2019.

            The special two-parter breaks from the normal set up of a cold opening so we just head right into the episode.  Arthur, Buster, Muffy, Fern, and Ladonna are having a story making thing together. Ladonna and Fern had been working together on something and it was Ladonna's turn her story ends with  a character named "Lafonna" was carried away and "Vern" never saw each other again.  This stuns Fern, then Ladonna says she thought it would be good to end the book since she won't be working on it anymore.

Our book is about ourselves/ Copyright WGBH

    

        Ladonna then announces that her father is being transferred to Oregon and she's moving away.  Since her family is a military family and has moved before, including to Elwood City. Fern seems more upset than Landonna was. Meanwhile, Bud, Landonna's little brother, is going around D.W's room and saying goodbye to stuff. 

             Bud seems sad that he's moving while D.W seems to be sad too.   While Fern, seems confused, Ladonna comes up to the treehouse and gives back stuff she borrowed.  They are kind of sad because they wanted her to keep it. The episode remembers that Buster went away for awhile (a while season almost!)  They decide to use Buster's experience,  with ice cream. (That's how something works) 

Actually my Dad is CIA and we have to leave or.../ Copyright WGBH

            It kind of works, Buster mentions he now remembers that he was afraid that his friends would forget him and there's a nice Arthur and Buster hug.(bros for life) Fern guesses that Ladonna is worried about them forgetting her. Muffy intercepts an idea and suggests they make a video. Since this is Muffy, I'm sure it will be an extravagant and over the top.

      D.W is trying to dictate a letter for Bud to her Dad to write, this is hard.  D.W decides to try other ideas, we'll see how that works. Muffy puts together a  video and it goes well as something Muffy makes something. Muffy's video is a mess. (Muffy's self awareness is dead) 

More after the jump

The Lookback: Arthur : Seasons 21 and 22 : Sue Ellen and The Last Page/ When Rivals Came to Roost

Arthur PBS 

    We've headed towards the 21st and 22nd seasons and this is nearly the end of our long marathon of posts. (If you are reading this when we do in order or something) 

  

        We head to season 21, with episode 3b, now we've covered episode 3a  .  This is "Sue Ellen and The Last Page" that first aired in October 2017. 

     

   Cold Opening:   YouwhoTube, their version of Youtube, that Muffy is on becasue I'm sure many people are just interested in Muffy's life, just like millions. Sue Ellen wants Muffy to show the library and Sue Ellen 

  

    The episode:  This is an episode from 2017 , that's important.  Since the show ebbs and flows with being with modern times, it was always has, the funny thing is that show had been on for so long that early episodes that were modern for their time have some outdatedness just by the factor of time. The funny thing is that Arthur ends every airing with a message to check out "Arthur" books and other books at your local library. 

        

Libraries are scary/ Copyright WGBH

            This episode is about the library possibly shutting down. The city council wants to cut the funding because there aren't as many patrons as before due to the internet. Sue Ellen wants the place to continue. Her idea is get many people in support of the library to the council meeting.

      

    Oh this episode isn't trying to present the new era is bad and that modern people should feel bad because they might have ignored libraries for a few years. (That'd be a different show)  They instead are showing civic investment.  That you, the viewer, (the kid viewers mostly) if they feel something   is wrong to work for what they feel is right.  In this case, work for the something you care about, like the library. 

 

       During the meeting, Sue Ellen gives a speech to plead for the library. (I like that she mentions that's been in town for just about a year, which is true for the series, but also feels funny since the show has been on the air so long)  Anyway, ironically Sue Ellen finds out from a newspaper that the library will be closing down.  

 

         Because Muffy likes internet hits, she's happy that her recording of Sue Ellen's speech got hits.  Sue Ellen sees that Muffy modified the speech  but says that are supportive comments about the library and  they get the idea to raise money for the library. (It's weird to see an episode mention hashtag)   They also find out that libraries also do other things.  (they do?) 

           Then Sue Ellen and Muffy find out that the library used to dances, and even though the place was saved, there's going to be some cutbacks, even with some of the money raised. Muffy, thanks to seeing the picutre of her parents dancing at the library gets an idea.  Her father has sponsored new computers for the place. Then there's dancing. 

          

         They kind of pull a big save for the episode thanks to having a rich guy help, maybe the moral is find a rich guy to help.  The episode was fine, it was presented more neutrally with the idea of working to save something you care about was  a good one.  

  More after the jump

The Lookback: Arthur 25: Seasons 19 and 20: Mr. Ratburn's Secret Identity/Arthur and the Whole Truth

Arthur PBS 

     We've made it to seasons 19 and 20 as our Arthur turns 25 marathon continues.  Back when we did the 20th year, Season 20 didn't start yet , Season 19 was the last season we did for that run. Eventually, Season 20 did get a post  and thankfully we get to do a partner episode for that one. 

 This is a look at season 19 , episode  9a.  (You can read about season 19 episode 9 b here) 

      The Cold Opening :   It starts with Arthur and Buster leaving a movie and talking how people don;'t notice  how a superhero, Dark Bunny, looks like his non super counter part. (Oldest topic ever) While superhero things happen around them without noticing. If there was a superhero in their city they'd notice, they said.

     The Episode:  First in class his portable telephone rings (his words not ours) and he has to leave the class with a movie while he takes care of something. Arthur and Buster wonder what's going on because it was so out of character for him.  Buster claims Mr. Ratburn is a super hero. (They also reference season 1 where they thought he was a vampire) 

        Mr. Ratburn was talking to Principal Hainey about  Sir. Chester Whimple is coming to town, who is a great opera singer. He's coming to guest star at the community theater.  Buster walks by the teacher's lounge and sees Mr. Ratburn singing and looking like he's flying since it's one of those doors that only has a window that can show shadows. 

  

            Buster imagines a whole super hero scene where Ratburn and he take down aliens. Oh yes, the episode gives away that Ratburn is not a hero early on, and decides to mess with Buster and now Ladonna when they see him carrying a giant rock thinking it's real.  Ladonna imagines that she is in the swamp, and Mr. Ratburn a swamp creature superhero.  Arthur doesn't believe Ratburn is a super hero.  

  

Take me to Park Avenue ! / Copyright WGBH

        While he goes to the man's house, convenience comes into play again when  Mr. Ratburn decides to go outside and leap around in tights and the door getting closed by the wind and locked. (Because that's how these shows have doors work)  He sees an open window to scale back into the house and now Arthur is convinced. Arthur now imagines Mr. Ratburn as Silkworm man. (what?)  Arthur is Larva lad. (what?)  This episode is weird. They start to act weird around the teacher and they found out he's a costume designer.  

 

           It's funny that season 1 episode is mentioned because it's kind of re-tread of that one where kids think Mr. Ratburn is something he's not, this time Arthur tries to doubt and prove differently buts into is as well. It's slightly entertaining to see though, the episode uses convenient moments to as the joke and to make things seem as they aren't.   

More after the jump

The Lookback: Arthur 25: Seasons 17 and 18: Binky's Music Madness/Fountain Abbey

Arthur  PBS

      ,    We head to seasons 17 and 18 now, and wow Arthur is a long running show and many of you were surprised that Arthur has been this long.  We've covered the partner episodes before, which were actually part of our wrap up during 2016. That post covers 3 episodes from seasons 17-19 because 20 hadn't come out yet, so we stuck 3 together, we won't be doing that this time. 

    Now to season 17,epsiode 10a, "Binky's Music Madness" 

             

      The Cold Opening: Arthur explains that Binky can play almost any kind of music you can think of. (Even Freeform Jazz?)  Arthur tries to play a piece of music, Binky comes down and warns everyone not to listen to it, it will get stuck stuck in your head. Arthur hits play and the episode starts. 

       The Episode :   Francine and Muffy are at a music show with a group called Bang on A (sideways) Can Allstars.  Apparently Francine liked their music.  They meet the group and Francine asks if they could come to their school. It's funny to watch Muffy try to cover up from not liking their music. Meanwhile, Arthur seems to have enjoyed the music he heard on Francine's player, the line about how it must feel to be Buster was funny.  Binky listens to the music and apparently it makes him trip into a different mind set.

Woah man/ Copyright WGBH

      Binky wants to reject it but he doesn't know what to do. The music apparently made him hear music in everything. (We also don't question how the kids with ears on top are listening to music on the side of their heads.)  He tries to play his clarinet but the noises mess with him and he decides to go to sleep. 

   

      The he as a dream of his friends being zombie like wanting him to listen to the music. He tries to play his clarinet then it makes quack sounds.  Then he wakes up and gets the idea to record random sounds; then make his own music with those sounds.  He makes up his own music group name and plays it for his friends.   Apparently, the friends liked it.  Binky reveals that he made it and reveals he took 3 days and nights to make it, and they still like it.  Bang on a Can All stars show up and they like Binky's music.  They decide to add more to his music. It ends with them all playing together. 

     

       The message that music can be anything is really nice, and the episode is pretty fun to enjoy. Also this is a real music group in real life so that was a nice addition as well. 

  More after the Jump

The Lookback: Arthur 25: Seasons 15 and 16: Muffy's Classy Classics Club/So Funny , I forgot to Laugh

Arthur PBS 

          We have headed to Season 15 (and 16) and the last time we did these seasons like this, they were the 2nd to last of the marathon, well not this time. oh my.   You can read that post here   

    This is season 15, episode 8a.  

                   

       The Cold Opening:  Bailey, Muffy's Butler, talks about how he enjoys working for Muffy. (Apparently, he's lost it) He does say it's not easy to work for her,  but it's never dull.

    

     The Episode:  Muffy gets a doll that seems to be a knock-off of American Girl, it comes with books that encourages people to start book clubs and Muffy decides  to start her own book club. She sends a book to Arthur, Francine, Alan (the Brain) , and has Bailey join her too. (She just drafted people into her club like a mad man)  They found the house has library but with mostly fake books. (When you want to look good but not that good)  The library also has a fake fire place. 

     Anyway when it comes up, the book has mixed reviews with the others not liking the book.  Then Muffy finds out book clubs switch books each week, so that means Alan gets to suggest a book.  Muffy decides the best idea is to not read the book. Anyway, the next book club, Muffy can't bluff her way through fake the book.  When Arthur fakes up what happens and they catch her.

This is how you hold a book/ Copyright WGBH

     Muffy gets mad and Francine, Alan, and Arthur decide to quit her book club. (revolt) She tries to get others to join but this is a failure. I also have to laugh at her father being surprised they have library. Muffy admits her books are not very good, since they sold mostly to sale dolls.  

   In the fake library, Muffy finds the book Francine wanted to read and reads it. She seems to enjoy it.  She has a weird dream (an "Arthur" hallmark) and I'm disturbed. The next day, she decides to rejoin the book club and things seem to have gone better. 

           Muffy learns that mass manufactured books that are meant to sell toys exists, and she learned to give other things a chance. Yay!  The library joke was strange but funny. This wasn't a bad episode it got it's message out clearly.

  More after the Jump 

The Lookback: Arthur 25: Seasons 12 and 14 : Matchmaker , Match Breaker/ All the Rage

Arthur PBS 

              Now on to season 12 of  Arthur  and to episode 6b, which is a b-side to the episode we did in 2016 called "The Cherry Tree" 

            The Cold Open:   Arthur has a diary (oooh) and Francine wants to see what he's writing but you know privacy and Francine gets annoyed by this.  Muffy shows up  and does the same thing, but Arthur climbs and tree and they walk away.   Arthur tells us somethings are just private. 

    The Episode:  Muffy's brother , Chip, shows up home from college.  Muffy is very excited  and throws him a welcome home dinner.  Francine's family is also there , because of course, but it seems that Chip and Catherine (Francine's sister) seem to be getting  along.  Fun fact: this is the first episode Chip actually shows up in the series, he's been mentioned before. 

            

                  This gives Francine and Muffy the idea that their siblings should get married so, they can become sisters. (What?)  The show even gives us Laverne and Shirley parody.  Anyway, they decide the logical thing to do is to get these two to be in love with each other. (This is too much work)  They convince their siblings to go to a movie and they nitpick stuff the two siblings do, but they notice that they are seemingly doing well. 

                Later they find out that their siblings are going out to lunch.  While they stalk them , Francine and Muffy start to get into tension with each other and the Laverne and Shirley Parody seems to have gotten angrier too. They decide to help end the relationship between their siblings.  This is not a good plan.  Especially since what they do can be easily traced back to them, which is for the best.  Catherine sees Chip and they talk and figure out that their siblings were doing stuff.  They admit what happened and realize that maybe they shouldn't be sisters anyway.  

My family has some weird decorations/ Copyright WGBH

  

                 The Laverne and Shirley parody was funny, the episode was alright. There was some fun charm to this episode and Francine and Muffy wanting to be sisters was sweet.  The episode goes as expected the moral of not  meddling in others affairs.  

          

     More after the jump

The Lookback: Arthur 25: Seasons 10 and 11: D.W Aim's High / Germophobia

Arthur PBS 

    

       We've made it to the tenth season (again!) Season 10 of "Arthur" first aired on PBS in 2006, during the show's 10th anniversary. They had these little Easter eggs in episodes based on the number 10; the season also had 10 episodes but that's not because of an over active 10 theme.

  

   Anyway, I've covered the partner episode to this one before,  now we are looking at  episode 5a the first aired in May 2006.

              The Cold Open:  It starts with Arthur telling us about Albert Einstein and D.W interrupts, but he continues talking about Einstein's  life but then D.W comes in and she wants to know when the show is going to start.

    

        The Episode:  It starts now!  At D.W's preschool and there's something they have to do, to talk about what they want to be when they grow up.   Back at home, Arthur and DW's dad is  watching a show about Space.  D.W gets inspired and wants to be the first to walk on Mars. (Ha Mars)   D.W "Goes to Mars" with her imaginary friend, Nadine until the dog messes up the "space ship".  (woof) 

          She goes to see the Tibble twins and they mention that Martians are on Mars and she shouldn't go, this causes her to not want her dream to be that anymore. Her dad wants to her to see some stars and then look for Mars to show her. Arthur figures out that she heard about Mars from the kids who were watching a movie, thanks to Buster making him watch it. (True friends aren't made to do anything) Glad she believes Arthur, so that's nice. 

   

The space program has gone too  far/ Copyright WGBH

   I'm also confused the dad had the book The War of the Worlds just sitting there ready for the moment to mention about people had worries about Mars. (He saw the plot)   The next day he takes her to the museum to learn about Mars, then gets a Mars model.  Now she's inspired to go to Mars to prove what lives on Mars if anything.   She also teaches her class the truth about Mars. (The truth the CIA wants you ..hey owww help help)   

             

      So the moral is don't listen to movies, good. That and it's better to research and not just accept the first thing you hear for someone because it might not be true.

 More after the jump

The Lookback: Arthur 25: Seasons 7 and 9 : Buster's Amish Mismatch/ It Came from Beyond

Arthur PBS 

   

      Our Arthur 25 years journey continues with some notes about this blog post first. First, you may notice it says seasons 7 and 9 and there's no 8. There you go, ok ok,  since these posts up to certain point are doing the episodes that were paired with episodes we covered in 2016, there was one problem. The episode we came up with for season 8, by the randomizer thing gave us  a half our special "Post Cards from Buster" so that means there's no b or a side episode with it. The best solution was to skip season 8, instead of just taking a random one and cutting  it. We will be doing a season 9 post instead.  

   In speaking of that original season 7 and 8 post you can read that here. 

    We are with Season 7 episode 7b, with this episode from 2002, we're going Amish. (Well not, really, that' d be hard to blog)  

  

           The Cold Opening:  Arthur explains that every time his class takes a field trip he takes something with him. (What?) 

          The Episode: This episode Buster rejects modernity and embraces tradition. So the class is going to an Amish farm. The episode uses Buster's not pay attention to school to explain who the Amish are and what they do.  So the episode has a tour of this Amish farm because PBS wants you to learn too.  Buster apparently falls in love with the Amish world and decides the logical answer to be Amish at home. (What?)  

       

         Buster is going to reject modernity and embrace tradition. The Brain tells him it's hard to live without modern  stuff.  He starts to not ride in cars and not answer phones. His mother doesn't want to live Amish, so he decides to be Amish in his room thanks to his mom.  His mother wonders if he could a little Amish but of course this episode is weird.  

     

I'd watch a farmer in space series/ Copyright WGBH

           Buster continues his fun at school and things go wrong because of course.  Anyway, Mrs. MacGrady tells him  that the Amish don't refuse car rides and eat food from anything, and that they do it together and helps him understand that maybe he shouldn't do this. He goes back to living in the current times,  but does offer the fun of having his friends come together and build a dog house. 

 Not a bad episode, a little odd, but not bad. 

More after the jump

The Lookback: Arthur 25: Seasons 5 and 6: The Big Dig / The Good Sport

Arthur PBS 

     Now to an episode from the futuristic year of 2000. (Wow)  We start with "The Big Dig", which is partnered with "Just Desserts" which I  covered in 2016.  This is episode 9b of Season 5.

The Cold Open: Arthur talks to us about how cool is grandpa Dave is, he's coming for sometime and Arthur and D.W are excited. 

       The Episode:   Wait, this episode is about a grandpa and called the big dig, oh no! nooo!  Anyway, it seems the kids are not happy that grandpa Dave is there after all because he's been boring and for the  plot to work, he over hears the kids talking to their mom about how boring he's been. (Painful) 

           Grandpa Dave plays checkers but he isn't fun because he sleeps during the game. Which is not as fun as it sounds.  Then a map falls out of grandpa's pocket and the kids are interested. Dave tells them abut their great (many) uncle who was a pirate. (what?) Anyway pirate dude hid his treasure and couldn't find it. It's buried in Elwood City. Dave says he intends in finding the treasure and he hopes to find it when them when he feels better.

This watch does everything but tell time/ Copyright WGBH

        Arthur and D.W dream of what they can do with the treasure, so the plan is to take the map and go and find it for themselves.  Arthur finds it and they go on the search and think the treasure is buried by the tree house. When they dig and figure out there's no treasure. Dave said the story wasn't real then he was going to hide some candy, but things got out of hand.  He feels bad and gives them a real treasure , a gold compass.  He tells them the story of how it saved their great uncle, Matthew. It ends with grandpa telling the story and the kids being entertained. 

   It's a basic episode, not bad, maybe the idea is for delayed anticipation for something, I don't know but it was an alright episode.

 

More after the jump

The Lookback : Arthur 25: Seasons 3 and 4: Buster's Back /Prove it

Arthur PBS 

             For the Arthur 20 I looked at season 3's  Ballad of Buster Baxter, since that's what came up in the random draw. The strange thing is that episode which is Season 3 episode 1b, is connected to this episode season 3, episode 1a.  While that episode focuses on Buster feeling left out after coming back, this one is about Arthur being worried that Buster might not want to be friends anymore. It's a good contrast mixture. 

  

    It is interesting how "Arthur" held continuity where in most of season 2 , Buster is away after the episode "Arthur's Faraway Friend"  and now comes back at the start of season 3. 

       

   The  Cold Opening:  It starts with NASA where Arthur is running mission control while Buster is in a space ship and re-entering Earth.  Then Buster gets out of the space ship and Arthur was happy to see him but people notice he's changed. 

         The Episode: As, I mentioned above, the season 3 premiere has the idea of returning Buster back after committing him to being gone for a while. Arthur finds out that Buster is coming coming home. Arthur goes around the town yelling this message.  The gag that Arthur goes in a swimming pool just to tell  Muffy is funny.  Arthur is excited and sets up everything at home for Buster to get ready to play and have fun with his best friend.

            D.W sets in his mind that Buster has been to fun places around the world ,like Wisconsin, and that might mean the Buster has changed and won't want to do stuff they used to together. Arthur's other friends are also of no help. (Poor Arthur) We also get Arthur's fun imagination.  Then Arthur decides that he would like to learn 2 hours of anything to make sure he can be with "the new buster".  

    

     When Buster doesn't show up at the time he thought he was; Arthur feels that maybe Buster really doesn't want be his friend anymore. It's a sad scene and one can feel how he feels. Many times you might or someone you know you might lose contact with and later see them and there's a strange awkward difference or the worry that tastes have changed and you might not get along anymore. 

Oh great. Arthur and Buster died and won't go to the other side/ Copyright WGBH

  

  Buster shows up, and I like that he interacts with D.W's running gag of mentioning the wrong names for Buster and calls her P.W that's a good touch.  Arthur tries to impress Buster with his knowledge but he finds out that one thing Buster missed was playing checkers with Arthur. He explains that he fell asleep after the ride home and that's why he was late. Buster didn't really change.  

     This is a good episode and a nice return to Buster being back in episodes. Like I said, this episode connects with a the one after it and provides how Buster feels once he gets back. These are good pair of episodes.  Good way to start a new season as well.

 More after the Jump!

The Lookback : Arthur 25: Seasons 1 and 2 Arthur Accused/ The Short , Quick Summer

Arthur PBS The Flashback

            This year, 2021, marks the 25th anniversary of the PBS series "Arthur". Back in 2016 on this blog we did a series of posts celebrating the 20th anniversary   and now it's time to do the same for the 25th.   

"Arthur" first premiered on October  7, 1996 and has been on the air ever sense, at least as of this writing. Anyway, back in 2016 we did a series of posts and these were based off episodes of Arthur using a randomizer. It picked one segment from each episode since most of the episodes are 2 segments; this also meant that we have pairing segments that didn't get picked, so this project will start with picking episodes that were paired with the episodes we did back in 2016.  Also since 2016 there's been a few more seasons added on so, we will have to do those present those a different.

     First off, we start with Season 1, this season is the largest season of the series with 30 episodes or 60 segments. We are looking at Season 1; episode 6b, which is "Arthur Accused". It was paired with the season 1 episode we wrote about in 2016 for Arthur 20: "Locked in the Library" .  

      Since most episodes start with a monologue or a cold open I will describe that segment then do the rest of the episode.  

Pictured: Arthur being accused of murdering Buster/ Copyright WGBH 

         The Cold Open:  Buster Baxter introduces the episode as a private detective starting with a story about Arthur who is in detention and a mob is coming to the door, but Buster says we have to wait as he going back to the beginning. 

     

        The episode:  Buster narrates and the episode introduces Arthur doing some fundraising to buy a puppy for the fire department. (An interestingly random cause) The donations are in quarters (the best currency) and  Buster is dressed up as a detective.  Arthur has to drop the quarters off at Mrs. MacGrady's lunchroom since she's in charge of this whole thing. The woman seems busy on the phone so, he just leaves the quarters there.  (Arthur makes you feel like when your mom is on the phone and won't pay attention.)  Arthur and Buster goes to the arcade with Buster's Mom. Arthur hits the high score on a game. 

   The next day,  Mr. Haney, the principal, reminds Arthur to drop off  the quarters to Mrs. McGrady, which is confusing we just saw him do that yesterday. (With our own peepers we did)  Buster starts to mention that Arthur won a high score yesterday and principal thinks Arthur stole the quarters. If the money doesn't show up he'll not be allowed to picnic and have a week of detention. Buster decides to use his detective self to be on the case.

    

       Buster goes to question Mrs. McGrady  and she tells him that didn't anyone but Mr. Morris, the janitor was there. He was there to clean up some brownie mess. Buster goes to see him and gets answers mentioning the brownie mix mishap.  Buster decides to check out Arthur's home and D.W defends Arthur, kind of. (That's cool)  It wasn't looking good for ole' Arthur. 

Sadly in real life, you can't do this, you will probably die / Copyright WGBH 

      Buster  goes through his suspects list. Buster being Buster thinks that robots stole the quarters, because he's buster. (Oh no)   So yes, Arthur can't go to the school picnic, and Buster still wonders where the answer and he gets an idea.  The overflowing brownie mix.  This makes him figure out that quarters were in brownies!  The quarters didn't fit, Arthur must be acquitted. Now back to the mob, they came to get Arthur.... and take him to the picnic. (And not boil him in hot oil) 

          A fun episode giving Buster the lead role. I liked the little clues in the episode to make you think what happened.  Though the episode made sure we knew already that Arthur had given the quarters to Mrs. McGrady, so we just had to figure out what happened to them. Buster brings his humor as well and I love the image he had of Arthur Scrooge McDucking the quarters and the robot taking the quarters.   

 More after the jump