| This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the DVD. |
| "Arthur Rides the Bandwagon" | |
| Season/Series: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Number in season: | 7A |
| Original airdate: |  November 24, 1998[1] September 14, 1999[2] March 1, 2002[3] |
| Credits | |
| Written by: | Peter K. Hirsch |
| Storyboard by: | Robert Shedlowich Mario Cabrera |
| Episodes | |
| Previous "Meet Binky" |
Next "Dad's Dessert Dilemma" |
| Read transcript |
"Arthur Rides the Bandwagon" is the first half of the seventh episode in the third season of Arthur.
Summary[]
They all have their own names and personalities and they're so darned cute! They're Woogles, and Arthur's gotta have one. Especially now that everyone else (even Mr. Ratburn!) is collecting them. But there aren't anymore--stores are sold out. Will Arthur grow up Woogle-less?
Plot[]
In a toy store, Arthur watches a commercial for collectible toys called Woogles. He finds them dumb, but Buster buys one.
On the way home, Arthur cannot understand why Buster likes Woogles. They meet Muffy, who has her own Woogle. When Arthur asks them whether they are making a joke, Muffy pulls Buster away, saying Arthur “just doesn’t get it”.
When Arthur tells Francine about the Woogle, he learns that she has several too, as do Mr. Ratburn and just about every kid at Lakewood Elementary. Francine offers Arthur one of hers and is offended when Arthur calls Woogles dumb. Brain explains to Arthur that Woogles are just a fad, then he shows him his Einstein Woogle.
That night, Arthur has a dream in which he has to pose for a class photo with a broccoli, since he has no Woogle. As an adult, he is still being mocked for it by his former classmates and his children leave him due to the shame.
The next day, Arthur tries to buy a Woogle, but they are all sold out. He tries to buy one from Muffy, but they have become collectors' items and are too expensive now. He eventually buys a Poogle without realizing the difference.
Arthur shows the Poogle to Francine and Muffy, but they demonstrate how inferior it is. Arthur gives his Poogle to a baby who promptly starts crying.
When Arthur tells Grandma Thora about the fad, she gives him David Read's old pet rock, a fad from twenty years ago. When Arthur shows it to Francine and Muffy, they think he has gone mad.
Arthur tells Buster that he has become addicted and thus tricks him to throw away the Woogle for a moment. Both boys wrestle for it. Buster lets Arthur hold his Woogle for two seconds, but no more.
In the school cafeteria, Arthur wants to sit with Binky, because he does not have a Woogle. Just then, Muffy gives Binky a burping Woogle.
Later in the park, Francine offers Arthur a Woogle if he will say that he always loved them. Arthur struggles with himself, but ultimately refuses. He starts making clicking noises with a bottle cap claiming that it is more fun than Woogles. Other kids crowd around him and a new fad has started.
Some time later, Grandma Thora gives Arthur a Woogle for doing well on his report card, but Arthur tells her that bottle caps are the fad now.
Characters[]
Major[]
Minor[]
Cameo[]
- D.W. Read (title card)
- Alex Davidson
- Edith Bycenko
- Fern Walters
- George Lundgren
- Sue Ellen Armstrong
- Jenna Morgan
- Mary (3rd grader)
- Jessica (3rd grader)
- Fletcher
- Maria Pappas
- Unknown Female Aardvark (Number 3)
- Grandpa Dave (mentioned)
- 3rd Grade Male Dog (Number 3)
- Rattles
- Kiefer
- Paul Jacobs
- Kenny
- Mary Perchanok
- Beulah McInnerny
- Lucy (preschooler)
- 3rd Grade Male Rabbit
- 3rd Grade Male Dog
- 3rd Grade Male Rat
Trivia[]
- At the end of the 2000 rerun intro on PBS Kids before this episode, Arthur's crashing sound changes to pots and pans.
- Moral:
- Trends come and go. Just because you don't conform to it, doesn't mean you should feel left out.
- Instead, it's important to do your own thing. You might even find you're your own trendsetter.
- A "Poogle" is a possible pet on Neopets.com, but it is nothing like the Poogles seen in this episode.
- Maria had a yellow Woogle. Alex and Fern are seen stretching a yellow one on the playground, despite their Woogles being lime-green and purple, respectively. This could mean that Maria lent hers to them.
- This is the only episode where Robert Shedlowich is a storyboard artist.
- On current PBS airings, a small part of the signal bar for the ActiMates toys is still visible on the left side of the screen for approximately the first 90 seconds of the episode (until Muffy's line, "You got Bilbo?").
- D.W. doesn't appear in this episode except for the title card. Arthur's future daughter (in his dream) bares a striking resemblance to her and is voiced by Michael Caloz
- After this episode, the Woogles continue to appear in other episodes. It's possible that the students kept their Woogles but didn't play with them anymore.
- Even though Arthur gave his Poogle to a triplet of babies, he still has his Poogle in the episode "Prunella the Packrat," which takes place long after he gives away his Poogle.
Cultural references[]
- The Woogles are likely based on Silly Slammers; which also made noises and said things when squeezed or hit against. The Woogles fad may also be based on Furby, which became popular around the time when this episode was aired.
- Buster's Woogle Bilbo may be named for Bilbo Baggins, the main protagonist of the novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien.
- Tiny Einy and his line "Fun equals you times me squared" refer to Albert Einstein and Mass–energy equivalence (E=mc²).
- There actually was a fad of "Pet Rocks" in the 1970s, and the rocks came in cardboard cages, just as David's old Pet Rock did.
Episode connections[]
- Arthur's imaginary baby is identical to the one he imagined in "Arthur's Baby."
- In Arthur's dream, adult Francine wears the same clothes she wore in Arthur's dream in the intro to the episode "Arthur and the Square Dance."
- Arthur saying "Hey" when looking at the Poogles, is the signature "hey" he said in "Arthur's Eyes," as well as other episodes.
Errors[]
- Maria's Woogle is yellow when first seen in the class picture scene, but it turns orange when Arthur is holding the broccoli. When the older Arthur shows the picture, the Woogle is yellow again.
- In one scene, the Poogle's legs are transparent.
Home Video[]
DVD
Gallery[]
- Main article: Arthur Rides the Bandwagon/Gallery
References[]