Space Ghost Coast to Coast: Difference between revisions

What happens when you take stock footage from a [[The Sixties|1960s]] action cartoon and re-use it in a nonsensical talk show spoof? You get something like '''''Space Ghost Coast to Coast''''', one of the earliest outputs of Ghost Planet Industries (now known as [[Adult Swim|Williams Street Productions]]). ''Coast to Coast'', which had 104 episodes produced between 1994 and 2008 on a fairly sporadic basis, ostensibly followed the talk show career of titular former superhero Tad Ghostal (better known as ''[[Space Ghost]]'') as he interviewed various celebrity guests -- but the episodes usually degenerated into Space Ghost bickering with Zorak and Moltar (two former enemies of Space Ghost who SG forced to become his band leader and director respectively) or some other off-the-wall craziness.

 

 

'''Moltar:''' Joel Hodgson, Space Ghost, not Robinson. }}

* [[Alliterative List]]: Subverted in "Joshua":

* [[All Just a Dream]]: "Batmantis" and "Curses".

** "Flipmode" became this some time after the gas leak.

* [[Art Shift]]: Space Ghost briefly changes character designs to look more like Dr. Katz in two episodes: "Brilliant Number One" (and Two) and "King Dead".

*** "Baffler Meal" became "Kentucky Nightmare". They initially decided not to make the episode because it focused too much on the Aqua Teens (Space Ghost only had about three lines). Once they made ''Aqua Teen Hunger Force'' into it's own show and it became a hit, they decided to finally make the "Baffler Meal" episode.

* [[Bad Santa]]: Bizarro-Santa in "Girl Hair."

* [[Badass Grandpa]]: Space Ghost's grandfather Leonard Ghostal's age and decrepitude is surpassed only by how violent and intimidating he is; his threats are enough to give even Zorak pause.

'''Zorak (subdued):''' Okay. }}

** This is helped by the fact that he's voiced by Macho Man [[Randy Savage]]. Oh '''YEAH!'''

* [[Beard of Evil]]: Chad parodies this; his facial hair is different every time he's on camera.

* [[Beat]]: Uncomfortable pauses are used liberally in every episode, to the point of [[Lampshade Hanging]]:

'''Zorak:''' [takes a sip of coffee] Beat! }}

* [[Berserk Button]]: Space Ghost attempts to pick a fight with Bob Costas after he thought Bob called him a monkey; see [[Large Ham]] below.

* [[Blatant Lies]]: In "Woody Allen's Fall Project", James Kirkconnell's claim that the re-enactments are word-for-word. Now to be fair, he's mostly right, but there are still some discrepancies between the original episodes and the re-enactments. For instance, in "Girlie Show", Zorak says "He can't fire me; I'm the hardest working mantis in showbiz! Yow!" But in the re-enactment, Zorak ends with "Hi-yo!" And in "Freak Show", Bill Manspeaker says "And I'd say, "Stop hittin' me, who's talking to me? Stop it!", while in the re-enactment, he says "And I'd say, "Stop hittin' me, who's hittin' you? Stop it!" And Weird Al belts out a different note in the re-enactment than in "Banjo".

* [[Body Snatcher]]: The episode "Snatch", which involves the studio being invaded by alien pods that <s>keep you up all night with their coughing</s> kill and replace their victims.

* [[Brother Chuck]]: Anyone remember Tansit? Or Lokar? Or Christy (the band's drummer)?

** Andy Merrill used in-character DVD commentary to provide [[Word of God]] that Lokar simply died at some point and the other characters literally forgot Tansit existed at all.

* [[Christmas Episode]]: "A Space Ghost Christmas". Also ostensibly "Boo Boo Kitty", since Space Ghost wishes everyone a merry Christmas at the end.

* [[Cloudcuckoolander]]: Space Ghost himself. A shining example is the episode "Brilliant Number One", which also paints guest Peter Fonda as one.

** Pretty much everyone has at least a few traits of this.

** The show has a tendency to turn its ''guests'' into these; see the [[Redubbing]] entry. The results often make the people Space Ghost interviews seem a bit...off.

* [[Cold Open]]: Occurs frequently. It would actually be easier to list episodes which ''didn't'' use a cold open.

* [[Confusing Multiple Negatives]]: In "Needledrop", Space Ghost says:

* [[Continuity Nod]]: One of the charges Space Ghost is threatened with in the episode "Lawsuit" is devastating Paris (see [[Disproportionate Retribution]]), which happened in an episode from the previous season.

* [[Cover Version]]: Space Ghost sings [[Steve Miller Band|"Space Cowboy"]] (extremely badly) in "Kentucky Nightmare". Actually, he really only sings one line of it and then makes up a second. All accompanied with Zorak merely pounding on the keyboard, not producing any discernible melody.

* [[The Danza]]: Andy Merrill as Commander Andy.

* [[Darker and Edgier]]: Not so much darker, but definitely edgier when it hit [[Adult Swim]]. Suddenly swearing was allowed, there were some innuendos, and there was more violence.

* [[Deliberately Monochrome]]: "Brilliant Number One" starts out normal for the first few seconds, then inexplicably turns black and white and drops letterboxes on the top and bottom for the rest of the episode.

** [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] in "Zorak" during the ending:

* [[Department of Redundancy Department]]: "Living with you is like living in a living nightmare!"

** "Americaners don't like foreigners... especially when they don't live there."

** "Greetings, I'm Space Ghost, and I have an important announcement concerning my death. I, Space Ghost, am dying."

** In "Needledrop", Space Ghost tries his hand at a rap:

* [[Disproportionate Retribution]]: Space Ghost devastates France in the episode "Anniversary" for inventing the word "montage" (this came after Space Ghost was shown a montage that appeared to be celebratory at first, but turned out to full of his embarrassments).

* [[Dissimile]]: "Dames are like mustard. They taste great on a sandwich, but when you're not eating a sandwich, they just sit there in your refrigerator... on a shelf... in a jar... labeled... mustard."

* [["Everybody Laughs" Ending]]: Seen in Space Ghost's flashback to last week's show in "Curling Flower Space". Also done in "Urges".

* [[Everybody Must Get Stoned]]: Natural gas in "Flipmode", alcohol in "Idlewild South".

* [[Evil Twin]]: Space Ghost's evil brother, Chad

** Also, "Gary" (as in Gary Owens, [[Casting Gag|the voice of Space Ghost in the original cartoon]]), the evil "impostinator" created by Space Ghost's mentor, Warren. Both he and Chad are greatly preferred by Zorak and Moltar over the real deal.

* [[Eye Beams]]: Robin Leach {{spoiler|(who is possessed by Moltar's brother-in-law, Zoltran)}} fries Space Ghost with one of these. Preceded by a very [[Large Ham|hammy]] [[Pre-Ass-Kicking One-Liner]].

* [[Fear of Thunder]]: Space Ghost in "Cahill."

* [[Flash Back]]: "Curling Flower Space" is all about the flashbacks to last week's show.

* [[Follow the Bouncing Ball]]: Demonstrated in "Chinatown" when Zorak sings about Moltar.

* [[Helium Speech]]: Heard for long periods of time in "Flipmode" due to the gas leak.

* [[Hero Worshipper]]: Moltar loves Erik Estrada. When Erik finally appears on the show, Moltar is ecstatic and a kiss-up:

'''Moltar''': Well that's what I meant. That was ''totally'' uncool! }}

** Comedian Dave Thomas (of [[SCTV]], Not to be confused for the late fast-food baron) pulls this as well. Moltar and Zorak give their full support.

* [[Hypocritical Humor]]: In ''Curling Flower Spaces'', [[Jerry Springer]] accuses ''SGC2C'' of being an "ambush show."

* [[In Memoriam]]: "Sharrock," a tribute to musician Sonny Sharrock.

* [[Instrumental Theme Tune]]

* [[Kill'Em All]]: "Untitled" ends with the cast ''exploding.''

* [[Lack of Empathy]]: Space Ghost to a T. Heck, in one episode, he kills an intern, Joey, for annoying him and all he can think about is how it will affect his career.

* [[Large Ham]]: Master Shake in "Baffler Meal".

* [[Lighter and Softer]]: In "Chinatown", Zorak sings about the recently-replaced Moltar, to which Space Ghost replies: "You're losing your edge."

* [[Limited Animation]]: To the point where animation of a character walking is performed by bobbing a still frame up and down as it moves across the screen.

* [[Loading Screen]]: A rare non-video game example, and a rare example done on purpose. "Waiting For Edward" opens with nothing but a black screen, some easy listening music, and the word "Waiting" for over a minute. Suddenly, we catch a one second glimpse of the show already in progress, with Zorak riding on Space Ghost's shoulders ("Hang on Zorak! Hang-"), before quickly going back to the "Waiting" screen for a few more seconds, and finally to the actual start of the episode.

* [[Long List]]: In "Dimethylpyrimidinol Bisulfite", Space Ghost lists every single ingredient used in Sugarman's Potted Meat Food Product, which he endorses:

** One of the promos listed all the "real" talk shows that Space Ghost outlasted, and there were quite a few.

* [[Luke, I Am Your Father]]: Comedian [[Steven Wright]] discovers that Space Ghost is his real father.

* [[Mentos Finger]]: Zorak gives one in "Zorak".

* [[Morton's Fork]]: Played for laughs in "Gallagher" with the "Space Time Quiz Fun 9000" game. The rules are: Space Ghost asks David Cross and Bob Odenkirk a question; if they get it wrong, they get blasted. If they get it right... they get blasted.

* [[My God, What Have I Done?]]: Space Ghost says a variant of this in "Edelweiss" when he thinks he killed Zorak by blasting him too many times:

** Another variation of this from "Baffler Meal":

* [[Name's the Same]]: Seasons 3 and 4 each have an episode named "Switcheroo". Both have different premises.

* [[Negative Continuity]]: "Idlewild South" ends with {{spoiler|Space Ghost dying in a car wreck, and Space Ghost's ghost getting shot by a ghost bear}}. Don't ask.

* [[Noodle Incident]]: At the beginning of "Pal Joey", Space Ghost is being timed by Moltar to see how fast he can inviso onto the set. Space Ghost is repeatedly dissatisfied with his times, and even leaves guest Michael Moore waiting, because if he doesn't get his time down to 3.5 by 6 o'clock Sunday, he's a dead man. We never do find out the details of that comment.

* [[No Theme Tune]]: Starting in season five, the theme song was dropped in favor of a black screen shot with the word "Waiting" on it that would last for a few seconds at most (it was extended in the season finale "Waiting for Edward"). Anything resembling an intro was dropped starting in season six; the original intro was brought back for most of the eighth and final season.

* [[Once an Episode]]: Space Ghost blasting Zorak. Space Ghost inviso-ing to the desk to Zorak's music (with a few exceptions, like "Kentucky Nightmare" when he claimed they've never done that).

* [[One-Shot Character]]: Many:

** "Batmantis": Your Mother

** "$20.01": MOE 2000

* [[Only Sane Man]]: Moltar is usually the voice of reason and the straight man bullied by Space Ghost.

* [[Out-of-Character Moment]] Zorak in "Rio Ghosto":

'''Space Ghost''': Well... [stares blankly at Zorak] yeah. }}

* [[Overly Long Gag]]: The second half of the "Fire Ant" episode, in which Space Ghost follows an ant. For ''10 minutes''. There's a shortened version for the quarter-hour slot that reduces this to 15 seconds, but is otherwise identical to the original.

** The original version of "Warren" looped three times in a bizarre [[Framing Device]] that had Space Ghost and company watch the events of the episode from his TV, only to start them again when Space Ghost asks, "That was good. What else is on?". The shortened version shows only one iteration.

* [[Overly Narrow Superlative]]: "Overruled! I am the undisputed breakfast master!"

* [[Pre-Mortem One-Liner]]: In "Warren", Space Ghost delivers one before zapping Warren's monitor:

'''Space Ghost''': Tell 'em THIS! (zaps monitor) When you see 'em in Poland / Pelham / Conyers! }}

* [[Precision F-Strike]]: "Dreams" has Mortar saying the "s" word (somehow) uncensored.

** In "Jacksonville", various characters announcing they're pregnant, followed by dramatic sting music.

** In "Woody Allen's Fall Project", James Kirkconnell saying this phrase (or close to it): "And now, our word for word reenactment of a conversation that took place at a certain time, in a certain dimension, somewhere deep in space..."

* [[Say My Name]]: "Banjo! Banjo!! ''[[Skyward Scream|BAANJOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!]]''"

* [[Self-Deprecation]]: Among other things, the second season's DVD box cover features such critical blurbs as "Needs some work." and "Jarring and unpleasant."

** From the intro to "Woody Allen's Fall Project":

** From "Joshua":

* [[Slow Motion]]: Demonstrated in "Cahill" when Zorak blasts Space Ghost with his laser gun.

* [[Soap Opera Disease]]: Space Ghost's unknown disease in "Terminal". Though being a ghost, he's already dead, so at the end after he "dies", he opens his eyes and says "Huh, this isn't so bad."

* [[Something Completely Different]]: The "Sharrock" episode, which is really a tribute to the music of Sonny Sharrock and Lance Carter. They even featured Thurston Moore, guitarist for the alternative rock [[Sonic Youth]], under the pretense that it's Fred Cracklin.

** "Joshua", which is a mock infomercial for how to "take advantage of the power of the Space Ghost". It also includes some fake behind-the-scenes footage.

* [[Sorry I Left the BGM On]]: In "Terminal", Space Ghost makes a long speech but is gradually drowned out by the background music. It's revealed that the music is coming from Zorak's boom box, who shouts "I LOVE THIS SONG!"

* [[Sound Effect Bleep]]: From "Flipmode":

* [[Special Edition Title]]: For the episode which parodied the ''Late Show with [[David Letterman]]'', a new title was commissioned panning the galaxy in the manner the ''Late Show'' titles pan around New York. It was used on other episodes in order to amortize the cost of the titles on to the budgets for them. There was also a special opening for the [[Musical Episode]].

* [[Special Guest]]

* [[Spit Take]]: Done often, one time Space Ghost does it three times in a row (the third is bloody).

* [[Start My Own]]: Before the start of the episode "Switcheroo" (with Mark Hamill and Bill Mumy), Zorak and Moltar attended Sci-Fi Con '97 behind Space Ghost's back. Space Ghost attempts to open Space Ghost Con '97 in bitterness.

* [[The Stinger]]: Nearly every episode featured a brief vocal clip after the credits. In one of them, Space Ghost flat out says: "This is the end of the show."

* [[Stock Footage]]: Occasionally, the 1966 ''Space Ghost and Dino Boy'' clips are shown. Even besides that, the vast majority of the animation in the show was recycled from the old series into the new setting (with some exceptions, such as when a character needed to do something the original animation couldn't provide). This practice was carried over to ''Sealab2021''.

* [[Stock Scream]]: When Santa transforms into his true self in "Girl Hair", the Howie Scream is heard.

* [[Straw Fan]]: Moltar was one of these when [[Erik Estrada]] and [[William Shatner]] appeared on the show.

* [[Strong Family Resemblance]]: Zorak [[Lampshade Hanging|remarks]] that Space Ghost's grandfather "sounds like Randy Savage" and "looks like [him] with a pasted-on beard."

* [[Suspiciously Similar Song]]: A few examples:

* [[Take That]]: Jeff Foxworthy is on the show after Foxworthy’s sitcom didn’t work out, but before [[Blue Collar Comedy]]. He has issues with how Space Ghost treats his underlings and points out that he once had a show, but didn’t treat anyone as badly as Space Ghost.

* [[Take That, Audience!]]: In "Pavement":

* [[Talking to Himself]]: C. Martin Croker is Zorak and Moltar.

* [[Talk Show]]: A send-up of the genre.

* [[Techno Babble]]: Zorak delivers some in "Snatch" in his plan to get rid of the replicating pods.

** Moltar in "Cahill":

* [[Telethon]]: In the episode of the same name.

* [[That's What She Said]]: In "Boatshow", Steve Allen and Brak engage in a discussion in Brak's lanaguge, and after Steve said a line, Brak replied with, "That's what ''she'' said!"

* [[This Is Sparta]]: "I! AM! BATMANTIS!"

** From "Flipmode":

* [[Those Two Guys]]: After 32 million years of service, Space Ghost plays this trope straight with Jan and Jace. No wonder why he gets sued.

** Also done in "$20.01" when Teller, as per his on-stage persona, didn't speak:

* [[Toilet Humor]]: In "Intense Patriotism," Zorak took a dump in his pod and invited Space Ghost to say hi to his kids, whom he dropped off at the pool.

* [[Two for One Show]]

* [[Unreadably Fast Text]]: Demonstrated at the end of "The Justice Hole", where we're informed to "stand by for super credits", at which point the end credits scroll by in less than a second.

* [[Vocal Evolution]]: At the beginning, Space Ghost and Zorak sound more like their original incarnations than they do over time; their voices deviate from the originals by the second season.

** It also shows us a new future of rock 'n' roll dominated by Colonial-era musicians, who perform a bizarre cover of "[[Led Zeppelin|Black Dog]]" with fast-food-related lyrics.

* [[Who Writes This Crap?]]: Subverted in "Pavement"; Space Ghost openly announces at the start that he wrote the episode. What follows is a ''very'' disorganized series of guest star interviews (for instance, Space Ghost trying to interview Goldie Hawn while indie rock darlings [[Pavement]] play loudly in the background, or defiantly eating chocolate ice cream throughout his interview with [[Red Green|Steve Smith]]) and plots that go nowhere (such as Zorak and Moltar in Space Ghost's prison).

** In "Flipmode", Zorak openly declares that the script sucks right at the start. Space Ghost forces him to participate, though.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Prime Time Cartoon]]

[[Category:The Nineties]]

[[Category:Western Animation]]