Heff in a Handbasket is episode 9a of fourth season of Rocko's Modern Life. In series' production order, it is the first segment of the fourth episode of the fourth season.
Heffer once again meets up with that inept devil, Peaches, after Heffer sells his soul to be on a game show.
Plot[]
In "Heck," Peaches meets the lord, a shadow who berates him for not sending a single mortal for over 600 years. The shadow orders him to bring a mortal or he would suffer the consequences.
Back above ground, at Rocko's house, Rocko, Heffer, and Filburt are watching a game show on television and Heffer is annoyed of the contestants getting the answers wrong. Rocko asks Heffer if he contemplated going on a game show himself. Heffer feels eager about this, and Peaches takes control of the game show to persuade him to participate in the show. Heffer calls the number and leaves off in a limousine to attend the game show, which is being shown on channel 66. But Rocko has no cable in his house and won't be able to watch the channel.
During the game show, Peaches is the host and orders Heffer to come to the stage, much to the steer's delight. Peaches tells Heffer that he has to get 666 points to prevail in the game show and the "big trip". In order to make sure that Heffer wins the game for sure, Peaches gives him bonus points of 665. The game does not turn out as Peaches planned it since Heffer gets even the most rudimentary answer wrong. To add on to the annoyance, Heffer gets points deducted for every wrong answer. But when it comes to solving the puzzle, Heffer sloves it as "Big Fat Cow", winning the game for him instantly. Heffer is eventually sent to "Heck", and Grandma Wolfe later appears to tell Peaches that she doesn't like Heffer to be in heck with her.
Peaches reluctantly sends Heffer back above ground, where he is reunited with Rocko and Filburt at the former's house. They watch a new television show named "Peaches' Modern Life" (a parody of the main show), which Peaches is starred in as punishment for letting Heffer go, which Rocko and his friends says looks boring as they turn off the television.
Characters Featured[]
Quotes[]
- Dark Underlord: Peaches!
- Peaches: Yes, My Lord?
- Dark Underlord: We are displeased!
- Peaches: Displeased, My Lord?
- Dark Underlord: Very displeased!
- Peaches: Well, perhaps a nice donut would...
- Dark Underlord: We haven't had a mere mortal in over 600 years!
- Peaches: Well, My Lord, you see—
- Dark Underlord: SILENCE!!! Bring unto us a mortal or be prepared to suffer the consequences!
- Peaches: (mockingly) "Or be prepared to suffer the consequences."
- Heffer: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
- Rocko: Heffer? What's wrong?
- Heffer: The answer is "meatballs"! "Swedish meatballs!"
- Contestant: Um... polska kielbasa?
- (buzzer)
- Host: Oh, I'm sorry. The answer we're looking for was "Swedish meatballs".
- (audience groans)
- Heffer: NOOOOOOOOO!!!! PEE-PEL ARE SOOOOOOOO STOOPID!!!!
- Rocko: Hey, Heff, what channel are you gonna be on?
- Heffer: Sixty-six!
- Rocko: Sixty-six?
- Filburt: What's wrong with that?
- Rocko: I haven't got cable.
- Heffer: I'll take "Food" for 1 point, Peaches!
- Peaches: All right. Listen carefully. "This meat product when ground becomes the all-American hamburger."
- Heffer: HAM!
- Peaches: Are you serious?
- Heffer: WOOO!
- (buzzer, 1 point taken away and audience groans)
- Peaches: I'm sorry. The answer we were looking for is BEEF!
- Heffer: Beef? I never knew that!
- Peaches: Welcome to round two. Top three answers on the board. Name the--
- Heffer: Sea monkeys!
- (buzzer / Strike 1)
- Peaches: You didn't wait to hear the—
- Heffie: Potpourri!
- (buzzer / Strike 2)
- Heffer: Good answer!
- Peaches: SILENCE!!! You have to wait until I read the—
- Heffo and Heffa: Sea monkeys!
- (buzzer / Strike 3, audience groans)
- Announcer: The secret word is "pizza".
- Peaches: Okay. An Italian dish.
- Heffer: Pasta.
- Peaches: No, it's round and flat.
- Heffer: Calzone.
- Peaches: No, it's flat and it comes with pepperoni.
- Heffer: Flat calzone.
- Peaches: Grrahhh! No! Listen...
- Heffer: Um, mean Italian guy.
- Peaches: No, it's food! It's round!
- Heffer: Italian donut hole!
- Peaches: Rrrrrr!
- Heffer: Cranky-Pants!
- Peaches: Grrrrrrrrr!!!
- Heffer: Grrrr, grizzly bear!
- Peaches: Grrrr!
- Heffer: Grrrrr!
- Peaches: Grrrrr!
- Heffer: Grrrrrrrr!
- Peaches: Grrrrrrrrr!!
- Heffer: SEEEEEEEEE MOOOOOONNNN-KEEEEEEEEEEEEES!
- (buzzer, 2 points deducted, audience groans)
- Heffer: That was hard.
- Heffer: Grandma? Mom and Dad said you went up to Heav---"
- Grandma Wolfe: They've been spoolin' you a bunch of hooey, Hefty. You think I want to slouch around with a bunch of sandal wearin' santie clauses? I like it here. It's warm."
- Grandma Wolfe: You let the cow stay down here and I'll make your life a living hoo-ha!
- Peaches: But...
- Grandma Wolfe: DON'T MAKE ME THROW OLD FRUIT AT YOU!!
- Dark Underlord: PEACHES!!!! You let the cow go!
- Peaches: Well, My Lord, you see...
- Dark Underlord: PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE ULTIMATE PUNISHMENT!!!
- Peaches: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
- Peaches: (singing reluctantly) "Peaches' Modern Life."
- Rocko: What's this?
- Filburt: Ah, some brand new cartoon.
- Peaches: (singing reluctantly) "Peaches' Modern Life..."
- Rocko: Looks boring.
- Filburt: Yeah.
- Heffer: Yawn, yawn, yawn.
- Peaches: Spunky... Spunky...
Trivia[]
- The title is a parody of the phrase "Hell in a handbasket"
- This episode was pulled by TeenNick, most likely for content due to Heffer selling his soul. For a long time, it was not broadcast on the NickRewind block, but has since permanently joined the line-up as of February 14, 2021.
- Despite the above censorship, it was broadcast on Nickelodeon and Nicktoons during their respective tenures.
- Because "Leap Frogs" was pulled by Nickelodeon (and currently NickRewind), "Wallaby on Wheels" and "Bedfellows" were paired together, and for a time, NickRewind broadcast the mixed pairs as substitutes for this episode and "Leap Frogs".
- Ironically, a clip from this episode was used as a bumper for TeenNick's NickSplat block from 2015 to 2019.
- During the "Peaches' Modern Life" parody, Peaches (monotonously) says "SPUNKY! SPUNKY!" even though that line was only used in the theme song for Season One before they switched to the B-52s version for the rest of the series.
- The Game Show references seen in this episode are spoofs of Jeopardy, Family Feud, Pyramid, and Wheel of Fortune.
- This episode featured the only appearance of Grandma Wolfe.
- Third time Heffer says, "That was a hoot!" outside of the theme song, and the only time he doesn't say it using a soundbite from the theme song.
- In this episode, the underworld, previously referred to as "Heck," is known as "Beautiful You-Know-Where".
- Heffer sticks out of the limo's sunroof yelling "PROM NIGHT!" This is a reference to the 1992 film Stay Tuned, which had a similar premise.
- This is the first episode in (production order) where Douglas E. Ninneman (refer as Doug Ninneman) the designer assistant, serves as the character and prop designer with Martin Ansolabehere.
- This is also the first episode in (production order) where Nick Jennings served as the art director.