Welcome to the very first installment of Monday Mashups!
Right now you’re probably rubbing your tired eyes and asking yourself, “what’s a Mashup?” Or, more likely, you’re pounding your alarm clock into the floor with a waffle iron and crying about it being Monday morning again. We can’t help with the latter because we deal with the same compulsions, so we’ll start by explaining the former.
A Mashup happens when two movies, TV shows, or Cartoons are smashed together to create an entirely new concept. Both usually share a common thread, and the goal is to bring together two unlikely characters in order to create a funny parody.
These are gonna be a lot of fun to put together, and they’ll also give you an opportunity to flex your own creative muscles in the comment section. Toss out suggestions, or put your own twist on the story!
But before we stuff all of it into a blender and choke down a Mashup smoothie together this miserable Monday morning, let’s start of with a brief commentary on the TV show and movie that we picked for today’s hybrid.
Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood
For three decades, the classic PBS character, Mr. Rogers, was a staple for domestic housewives and their carpet-staining spawn. Unfortunately, a good number of the parents who were raising these little shits (us), were probably also living in San Francisco at some point during the late 1960′s.
After being injected with gateway drugs like Pixie Stix and Jolt Cola, we ran around the house, breaking things, lighting pets on fire, and pooping our pants like vengeful little Charles Bronsons. Then came the couch for a time out. But luckily, as fate would have it, Mr. Rogers always came skipping through the door during that half hour long attempt at undoing the shoe laces that kept us fastened to the seat.
He calmly sang through our noisy struggles, and taught us valuable things like, how to tie our shoes, and why processed sugars are not a good source of nutrition. Most importantly, he helped us recognize the bad behaviors that had gotten us quarantined in the corner of a room in the first place.
God bless you, Fred.
Friday
And fifteen years later we’re all delinquent potheads…
In the movie, Friday, Smokey (Chris Tucker) plays the role of bad influence on straight-laced friend, Craig (Ice Cube), by peer-pressuring him into adopting a daily regiment of ingesting 45 cubic feet of marijuana smoke a day.
Friday is mainly a Comedy, and a good portion of it takes place in and around the front porch where the only funny shit happens in life. There isn’t really much of a ‘meat and potatoes plot’ to the movie – they just sit around all day smoking weed and observing life in the hood.
The movie ends with a dramatic fist fight between neighborhood bully, Debo, and Craig. Oh, and the fight involves a brick to the face too, which was pretty cool. Nothing like a brick to the face.
Click HERE for the official movie trailer.
The Mashup
Fred Rogers is the gentle ruler of a quaint Pittsburgh neighborhood, setting a wholesome example for neighborhood kids (him and that questionable package-handler, Mr. McFeely (which by the way, sounds more like a cheeseburger being marketed to sex offenders…)).
Mr. Rogers sets a high moral standard for himself and his public conduct – that is of course, until his new neighbor, Smokey, moves into the house next door in the movie…
*Lightning Bolt Alert*
Sorry in advance…
Excerpts:
[Smokey and Mr. Rogers sitting on front porch.]
Smokey: ”Where McFeely at? He supposed to be here an hour ago.”
Fred: ”Maybe he’s stuck in traffic?”
Smokey: ”Dude ride a bike! How he gonna get stuck in traffic?”
Fred: ”What are you expecting from him?”
Smokey: ”A Weedy Delivery! You know what we gonna do with it?”
Fred: ”Start an indoor garden project?”
Smokey: ”Whoa, whoa! Hold up.”
ENTER Mr. McFeely: the ‘speedy delivery’ guy, carrying a federally-issued parcel-carrying bag stuffed with crayons, bubble gum, puppets…
…and Marijuana.
Mr. McFeely: ”Speedy Delivery!”
Smokey: ”Now I know you didn’t just bring no damn puppets around here, McFeely. C’mon, man!”
Mr. McFeely: ”It’s a perfectly crafted replica – I thought you might enjoy seeing it! Take a look here, even the mouth moves!”
Fred: (playing with puppets) ”These are beautiful, Mr. McFeely.”
Smokey: ”Look, ya’ll can’t be doin’ shit like this around here. This the hood!”
Mr. McFeely: ”He even has the same –”
Smokey: ”– Gimme my damn delivery! Now go on get your dancin’ ass up on outta here! Me and Fred got some important business to take care of right now.”
Fred: ”Thank you Mr. Mcfeely.”
Smokey: ”Crazy fool…”
15 Minutes Later…
*Rolls doobie*
Smokey: ”Look, I know you don’t smoke weed – I know this. But I’m gonna get you high today. Because you ain’t got no job, and you ain’t got shit to do!”
Fred: *zips up sweater*
Smokey: ”Just do like I do. You gonna be in a world of make believe pretty soon, Fred.”
Fred: ”A lovely fragrance it has.”
Smokey: ”You and me gonna have to work on that lingo…”
15 Minutes Later:
Smokey: ”Stop takin’ off ya damn shoes, Fred!”
Fred: ”It’s awfully warm outside today. I think I’ll change into a lighter sweater.”
Smokey: (laughs) “You trippin’, man. Sit back down.”
Fred: ”Do you have any sugar-free fruit juice inside to drink?”
Smokey: ”Whoa, hold up man, what you doin’ with that chalk?”
Fred: (strolls off porch) ”Would you like to sing a song with me, Smokey?”
Smokey: (yelling from porch) “Put down the damn sidewalk chalk! I’m tellin’ you. Fred!”
Fred: (Singing) ”It’s a beaut-if-ful day in this neigh-bor-hood, a beaut-if-ful day for a neighbor –”
Smokey: ”Don’t be doin’ no damn chaulk drawins’ on the sidewalk like that!”
Fred: (Singing) ”Would you be mine? Could you be mine?”
Smokey: ”Get back over here, man! This the last time I let you smoke with me!”
Fred: ”I have always wanted a neighbor – just – like – you!”
Smokey: ”Fred!”
Glad we were neighbors, Fred. Go make the best of this beautiful day. \m/
