Doug Pumps Up
This is another episode that showcases the dynamic between Doug and Chalky.
After offering to hold Patti's shopping bags and falling over when Beebe and Connie add theirs, Doug decides to sign up for the city wide fitness test. Chalky's running the sign-up sheets at the mall and doesn't quite take him seriously when he wants to sign up.
I wouldn’t go as far to say Doug is a full on klutz although he does have his moments... but while training for the fitness test, he has a couple of freak accidents.
But he winds up in this situation after Chalky suggests he start with small weights instead of the big 100 pound barbells. It’s solid advice, but I kinda get why Doug didn’t want to listen. While Chalky really doesn’t go out of his way to act like he’s better than everyone else, if you dislike him because he’s rich and athletic, you’ll take his attitude the wrong way.
But he winds up in this situation after Chalky suggests he start with small weights instead of the big 100 pound barbells. It’s solid advice, but I kinda get why Doug didn’t want to listen. While Chalky really doesn’t go out of his way to act like he’s better than everyone else, if you dislike him because he’s rich and athletic, you’ll take his attitude the wrong way.
After Doug accidentally drops the barbell on his foot, he tries the rope climb (ugh, I’m sure I’m not the only one who hated that rope) and accidentally gives himself rope burn going all the way down.
The day of the event, he intends to be a spectator until he talks to Patti. She pulled a muscle with her shopping bags, but she’s concerned she’ll look silly if she runs with her arm in a sling. But both decide to go out and do their best anyway.
Not only does he beat Chalky in a sit-up contest, but he sets a new school record with 501.
Wow- the most I’ve ever done in a row is 50 as part of my black belt test. But after having metal put in my back to straighten my spine, I haven’t really been able to do them since. Plus the friction between the base of my tailbone and the floor hurts when I attempt crunches so I just don’t.
Doug Runs
Not gonna sugarcoat it, Mayor Robert Bob White has shown repeatedly how bad he is at his job. Yet he’s run and won the last several elections unopposed... until now.
Mrs. Dink has decided to run against him. And his initial reaction is “it’s one of those election things. They have them every once in a while.”
Anyway the whole episode focuses on Willie and Doug running for class treasurer and the mayor is so unconcerned about his own election that he throws his entire campaign behind Willie. Which includes tons of flyers and attack ads. One of the biggest issues in the school is the vending machine eating money and breaking down. So in the heat of the moment, Doug declares, “If I’m elected treasurer, candy and soda will be free!” and immediately regrets it.
He goes to Mrs. Dink for advice and she suggests making campaign promises you can keep. Which is something so many politicians have not followed through with... :sigh: moving on...
On the campaign trail, Mrs. Dink talks about how she’d been on the city council for years and the mayor has refused to listen to any of their suggestions about fixing streets and highways.
Which he says, “fix our streets and highways? That’s not my job! My job is just to sit in that big chair and ‘be the mayor.’”
In the final push for election, Doug backs off from his initial promise and amends it into something more plausible and very eloquent. Unfortunately, that doesn’t go over very well. Everyone else would rather have free stuff than honesty, apparently.
So Mrs Dink wins by a landslide and the class treasurer goes to.... Dan Freebird?
Yeah, Skeeter used a bunch of signage from his uncle’s previous run for city treasurer to support Doug (“they were free and, look, he has the same initials as you!”). Apparently he didn’t scribble his name off enough of them so he won instead of Doug.
On the campaign trail, Mrs. Dink talks about how she’d been on the city council for years and the mayor has refused to listen to any of their suggestions about fixing streets and highways.
Which he says, “fix our streets and highways? That’s not my job! My job is just to sit in that big chair and ‘be the mayor.’”
In the final push for election, Doug backs off from his initial promise and amends it into something more plausible and very eloquent. Unfortunately, that doesn’t go over very well. Everyone else would rather have free stuff than honesty, apparently.
So Mrs Dink wins by a landslide and the class treasurer goes to.... Dan Freebird?
Yeah, Skeeter used a bunch of signage from his uncle’s previous run for city treasurer to support Doug (“they were free and, look, he has the same initials as you!”). Apparently he didn’t scribble his name off enough of them so he won instead of Doug.
...oops
Doug's Runaway Journal
I’ve never lost any of my notebooks for journaling (or whatever else either), but this is one episode I can definitely relate to. Doug’s journal is M.I.A. and he goes everywhere trying to track it down.
I’ve never lost any of my notebooks for journaling (or whatever else either), but this is one episode I can definitely relate to. Doug’s journal is M.I.A. and he goes everywhere trying to track it down.
I love Ms. Wingo’s comment about how great writers have had their journals published. That’s always kinda in the back of my mind when I think about getting published one day. And I’ve gotten into the habit (more so lately) about making a written record of old memories.
Doug does get his journal back and despite Roger being the one who found it, all of his worst fears don’t come to pass. For one pretty funny reason.
Doug does get his journal back and despite Roger being the one who found it, all of his worst fears don’t come to pass. For one pretty funny reason.
“Put a sock in it, Funnie! I would have loved to have read your precious diary but I couldn’t... you call this handwriting? It’s nothing but chicken scratches. If I were you, pal, I’d learn how to type. Fast!”
Score 1 for sloppy handwriting!
Yeah, my own handwriting has been a mess my whole life. I’d like to say that’s why I got good at typing, but I just really took to typing class in 6th grade. There are still times I prefer writing by hand. It depends on the situation.
Anyway, it's a cool instance where sloppy handwriting can be its own super power... just as long as you don’t intend for anyone else to read it, haha
Doug Graduates
I didn’t get a chance to rewatch the graduation episode but it’s still worth an honorable mention because of its finality. It’s the end of the Nickelodeon series and also the last time our characters will walk the halls of Bluffington Elementary.
As usual, Doug feels like he’s the only one not excited about the upcoming change. So he decides to talk to the principal about it. The only problem is no one has ever seen him and several attempts to talk to him go array.
Finally, on graduation day, he gets into the principals office for that talk...
Doug Graduates
I didn’t get a chance to rewatch the graduation episode but it’s still worth an honorable mention because of its finality. It’s the end of the Nickelodeon series and also the last time our characters will walk the halls of Bluffington Elementary.
As usual, Doug feels like he’s the only one not excited about the upcoming change. So he decides to talk to the principal about it. The only problem is no one has ever seen him and several attempts to talk to him go array.
Finally, on graduation day, he gets into the principals office for that talk...
...only to find Roger hiding out there.
He has concerns of his own, having to leave after being in 6th grade for three years and complaining about how nobody here is afraid of him anymore.
Doug actually discovers the perfect advice to tell himself while he thinks of some to give to Roger. While it’s scary to think about going to a new building and meeting new teachers, all of his friends will still be there.
He shows up at the auditorium and finds out he missed the principal's speech about what the word “graduation” really means. And he's perfectly fine with that.
Doug actually discovers the perfect advice to tell himself while he thinks of some to give to Roger. While it’s scary to think about going to a new building and meeting new teachers, all of his friends will still be there.
He shows up at the auditorium and finds out he missed the principal's speech about what the word “graduation” really means. And he's perfectly fine with that.
Just some quick comments to round this out:
a) isn’t this a continuity error? Doug says he never met the principal but in the science fair episode, he did.
Also... as perfect as Doug’s revelation is, it’s not true for everyone. He has the luxury of living in a small town where it's a tight knit community. But I didn't have that same reassurance. Our school district had four middle schools and my best friend and I went to different ones. And I lost touch with some of my middle school friends in high school because the building was too big and we didn't share many classes.
Also... as perfect as Doug’s revelation is, it’s not true for everyone. He has the luxury of living in a small town where it's a tight knit community. But I didn't have that same reassurance. Our school district had four middle schools and my best friend and I went to different ones. And I lost touch with some of my middle school friends in high school because the building was too big and we didn't share many classes.
Anyway, it's been a blast revisiting this series. But going forward with the other Nicktoons I grew up with, I probably won't go quite as overboard with discussion. Except for maybe "Hey Arnold!" When I get to that one, I can't make any promises.
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