Wallaby on Wheels
Rocko spends a good amount of the series harboring feelings for his next door neighbor, Melba Toast (I actually didn’t find out until years later that that’s the name of a food, haha). But after finding out she has a boyfriend, Rocko is heartbroken and makes other attempts at finding love. I think on the same episode he learns the truth, Heffer signs him up for a dating show… only for them to win a date with each other because the producers needed Heffer to fill in the third slot…
Anyway, this segment has another instance where Rocko falls in love and has a decent chance at getting the girl’s attention. Unfortunately, he gets himself in a precarious situation because he wants to impress her.
He first sees Sheila (yeah I know, they had to find an excuse for Rocko, an Australian, to call a girl Sheila because, according to the Wild Thornberries that's what Aussies call girls) at the comic book store. Heffer knows her from the roller rink (one of many random hobbies he has) and offers to introduce Rocko to her.
I know roller rinks came into prominence around the time of Xanadu and earlier… but in the 90's it was such a huge thing that every kid had at least one birthday party there. I was never terribly good at skating, although I was decent on roller blades in gym class.
Anyway, this segment has another instance where Rocko falls in love and has a decent chance at getting the girl’s attention. Unfortunately, he gets himself in a precarious situation because he wants to impress her.
He first sees Sheila (yeah I know, they had to find an excuse for Rocko, an Australian, to call a girl Sheila because, according to the Wild Thornberries that's what Aussies call girls) at the comic book store. Heffer knows her from the roller rink (one of many random hobbies he has) and offers to introduce Rocko to her.
I know roller rinks came into prominence around the time of Xanadu and earlier… but in the 90's it was such a huge thing that every kid had at least one birthday party there. I was never terribly good at skating, although I was decent on roller blades in gym class.
Rocko is very uncoordinated on skates and he’s nervous Sheila won’t like him if she finds that out. Adding insult to injury, Heffer is kind of a big deal at the rink and does a solo performance that wows everyone. In order to compensate for his inadequacy, Rocko wants to one-up him by doing the obstacle course. Easier said than done and Heffer has to save him when he careens out of control into town… but then the tables turn and Rocko has to save Heffer right back. This time he gets to impress Sheila with something he’s really good at- jackhammering.
And Sheila is never seen again... too bad cuz she was pretty cool.
Eyes Capades
Rocko is taking part in a major jackhammer competition, but while training for the event, he discovers that he needs glasses. And with jackhammering being what it is, it creates a series of problems…
Honestly, this plot line feels very random and it’s never brought up again. I just found it strange that he passes his eye exam on the way to get his license in “Skid Marks” and now that he has to compete, they’re suddenly in bad shape?
There comes a point where things look hopeless and he might not be able to compete at all. But then we see him the next day at the main event and he does an incredible job. Heffer asks how he did without his glasses and Rocko simply says “I didn’t”… he went back to the optometrist and got contacts. Why they didn’t start there, I don't know, but it makes a good story about overcoming adversity
There’s also a funny moment where a famous jackhammer dude congratulates him and says he’s got contacts too. Then off the field, he wears glasses and says how they make him look intellectual. Some random person comes up to him and says “excuse me, are you an intellectual?”
Honestly, this plot line feels very random and it’s never brought up again. I just found it strange that he passes his eye exam on the way to get his license in “Skid Marks” and now that he has to compete, they’re suddenly in bad shape?
There comes a point where things look hopeless and he might not be able to compete at all. But then we see him the next day at the main event and he does an incredible job. Heffer asks how he did without his glasses and Rocko simply says “I didn’t”… he went back to the optometrist and got contacts. Why they didn’t start there, I don't know, but it makes a good story about overcoming adversity
There’s also a funny moment where a famous jackhammer dude congratulates him and says he’s got contacts too. Then off the field, he wears glasses and says how they make him look intellectual. Some random person comes up to him and says “excuse me, are you an intellectual?”
“See what I mean. Why yes, yes I am” (don’t know why I found that funny. It’s just a random moment I completely forgot about until just now)
And just like that, Rocko’s eyes or contacts are just mentioned again… but that’s fine
And just like that, Rocko’s eyes or contacts are just mentioned again… but that’s fine
The Emperor's New Joe
The new hot spot in O-Town is a new coffee shop run by the chameleon brothers. It's one of those groovy clubs with poetry readings and patrons snap their fingers instead of applauding.
Their new trend is coffee. However, when Rocko has a cup, he has a very strong reaction to it. “This isn’t coffee!” To avert any major fallout, Chuck and Leon take Rocko into the back room to explain the history of their coffee.
The story takes place in their old country of Balzack that was run by an emperor (who looks oddly similiar to Heffer) obsessed with being trendy, no matter how ridiculous. But when he wants coffee, the brothers try to explain there is none in their country. This lands them in jail until they get some. In actuality their coffee is grimy water a fellow prisoner (who looks oddly like Filbert) used to wash his socks. Then a short time later, the two of them ran off to America to make a new life for themselves.
Despite being moved by their story, Rocko gets on soap box to say America isn’t run by a czar and everyone has freedom to do as they choose. It’s a pretty epic speech (the most patriotic I’d heard on any Nick show)… but he gets thrown out anyway
“Ok ok, you don’t have to drink the coffee! Come back tomorrow and try the cheesecake.” As soon as they close the door behind them, a patron yells, “hey, this isn’t cheesecake!” and the cycle starts all over again.
The story takes place in their old country of Balzack that was run by an emperor (who looks oddly similiar to Heffer) obsessed with being trendy, no matter how ridiculous. But when he wants coffee, the brothers try to explain there is none in their country. This lands them in jail until they get some. In actuality their coffee is grimy water a fellow prisoner (who looks oddly like Filbert) used to wash his socks. Then a short time later, the two of them ran off to America to make a new life for themselves.
Despite being moved by their story, Rocko gets on soap box to say America isn’t run by a czar and everyone has freedom to do as they choose. It’s a pretty epic speech (the most patriotic I’d heard on any Nick show)… but he gets thrown out anyway
“Ok ok, you don’t have to drink the coffee! Come back tomorrow and try the cheesecake.” As soon as they close the door behind them, a patron yells, “hey, this isn’t cheesecake!” and the cycle starts all over again.
Every now and then, we still say that line about cheesecake to this day, haha
Camera Shy
Rocko rents a video camera from the chameleon brothers. With the aid of Heffer and Filbert, he wants to record something to send to his parents back in Australia. Just to show them his life and that he’s doing well. Naturally it’s not quite that simple and all kinds of miscues and shenanigans happen along the way
The most memorable of these- Rocko calls it a night but Heffer and Filbert still have the camera. So the two of them decide to play a little joke- Rocko apparently comes downstairs at the same time every night and drinks milk straight out of the carton. To top it all off, he’s in the nude
Next day, they return the camera and the footage. But knowing the chameleons, you know you’re not getting exactly what you asked for. Rocko comes into their coffee shop, shocked at the nude footage (complete with censor bar, lol) and the fact they made an artsy independent film out of it. Even worse, the film sold out so the three of them need to get back every single copy. As they’re erasing them, Rocko is horrified to discover his parents saw the film at the Australian film festival. But they send him a letter saying they loved it and they asked him to autograph some censor bars for their friends.The film also won first prize at the film festival.
The most memorable of these- Rocko calls it a night but Heffer and Filbert still have the camera. So the two of them decide to play a little joke- Rocko apparently comes downstairs at the same time every night and drinks milk straight out of the carton. To top it all off, he’s in the nude
Next day, they return the camera and the footage. But knowing the chameleons, you know you’re not getting exactly what you asked for. Rocko comes into their coffee shop, shocked at the nude footage (complete with censor bar, lol) and the fact they made an artsy independent film out of it. Even worse, the film sold out so the three of them need to get back every single copy. As they’re erasing them, Rocko is horrified to discover his parents saw the film at the Australian film festival. But they send him a letter saying they loved it and they asked him to autograph some censor bars for their friends.The film also won first prize at the film festival.
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