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* IWantMyMommy: Harold can be heard crying “Mommy!” as Ernie chases the kids (mistaking them for real aliens) with a [[DropTheHammer giant mallet]].
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* IWantMyMommy: Harold can be heard crying “Mommy!” as Ernie chases the kids (mistaking them for real aliens) with a [[DropTheHammer giant mallet]].mallet.
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* WholePlotReference: This episode's entire plot is based on Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast “The War of the Worlds,” which also sent many people into a panic.
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* WholePlotReference: This episode's entire plot is based on Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast “The War of the Worlds,” which also sent many people into a panic. Although the amount of panic is disputed to this very day.
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* WithUsOrAgainstUs: Upon learning that Principal Wartz was planning to surrender to the aliens, Bob threatened him to grow a spine and fight for the human race or he'd send him back to his wife in chocolate box. Wartz immediately started rooting for humans.
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* WithUsOrAgainstUs: Upon learning that Principal Wartz was planning to surrender to the aliens, Bob threatened him to grow a spine and fight for the human race or he'd send him back to his wife in chocolate box. Wartz immediately started rooting for humans.humans.
-->'''Wartz''': Go, humans, go! Go, humans, go! Fight, fight, fight!
-->'''Wartz''': Go, humans, go! Go, humans, go! Fight, fight, fight!
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* LockedOutOfTheLoop: Arnold and Gerald don't tell Helga and the other fourth graders dressed up as aliens about the prank. When they eventually find out about it from Stinky, Helga is furious and attacks him.
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* CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: PlayedWith. While the kids are running for their lives, they blame Helga for getting them into the mess by making them all dress up as aliens, with Curly commenting they should've been pirates like he wanted.
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* CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: PlayedWith. While the kids are running for their lives, they blame Curly blames Helga for getting them into the mess by making them all dress up as aliens, with Curly commenting they're in, saying it wouldn't have happened if they should've had been pirates like he wanted.wanted. Helga tells him to put a sock in it.
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* ConspiracyTheorist: Bob claims to have been nearly abducted by aliens in North Dakota. As a result he's become an avid believer in aliens and their eventual invasion of the earth.
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* ConspiracyTheorist: Bob claims to have been nearly [[AlienAbduction abducted by aliens aliens]] in North Dakota. As a result he's become an avid believer in aliens and their eventual invasion of the earth.
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Changed line(s) 42 (click to see context) from:
* WithUsOrAgainstUs: Upon learning that Principal Wartz was planning to surrender to the aliens, Bob threatened to grow a spine and fight for the human race or he'd send him back to his wife in chocolate box. Wartz immediately started rooting for humans.
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* WithUsOrAgainstUs: Upon learning that Principal Wartz was planning to surrender to the aliens, Bob threatened him to grow a spine and fight for the human race or he'd send him back to his wife in chocolate box. Wartz immediately started rooting for humans.
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Changed line(s) 40 (click to see context) from:
** Helga makes a similar comment when Harold tells her he bought extra strong latex to use for their alien makeup, [[NowYouTellMewhich is why it won’t come off]]: “Oh, criminy, I’m surrounded!”
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** Helga makes a similar comment when Harold tells her he bought extra strong latex to use for their alien makeup, [[NowYouTellMewhich [[NowYouTellMe which is why it won’t come off]]: “Oh, criminy, I’m surrounded!”
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* BigWorldShout: Upon learning that the reason she and the others had been chased by angry mobs all night was because of Arnold's prank, Helga angrily yells his name at the top of her lungs. Arnold vaguely senses it.
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* BigWorldShout: BigWordShout: Upon learning that the reason she and the others had been chased by angry mobs all night was because of Arnold's prank, Helga angrily yells his name at the top of her lungs. Arnold vaguely senses it.
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* CouldveAvoidedThisPlot: PlayedWith. While the kids are running for their lives, they blame Helga for getting them into the mess by making them all dress up as aliens, with Curly commenting they should've been pirates like he wanted.
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* CouldveAvoidedThisPlot: CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: PlayedWith. While the kids are running for their lives, they blame Helga for getting them into the mess by making them all dress up as aliens, with Curly commenting they should've been pirates like he wanted.
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* BigWorldYell: Upon learning that the reason she and the others had been chased by angry mobs all night was because of Arnold's prank, Helga angrily yells his name at the top of her lungs. Arnold vaguely senses it.
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* BigWorldYell: BigWorldShout: Upon learning that the reason she and the others had been chased by angry mobs all night was because of Arnold's prank, Helga angrily yells his name at the top of her lungs. Arnold vaguely senses it.
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* AnarchyIsChaos: Thanks to Douglas Cain blowing Arnold and Gerald's prank out of proportion coupled with a black out caused by lighting up the city water tower like a mothership, the entire city is thrown into an uproar.
* BigWorldYell: Upon learning that the reason she and the others had been chased by angry mobs all night was because of Arnold's prank, Helga angrily yells his name at the top of her lungs. Arnold vaguely senses it.
* CouldveAvoidedThisPlot: PlayedWith. While the kids are running for their lives, they blame Helga for getting them into the mess by making them all dress up as aliens, with Curly commenting they should've been pirates like he wanted.
* MeanBoss: Douglas Cain to one of his reporters who wanted to end his shift early, disregarding his requests and ordering him to stick to his route in search of aliens, regardless of how fruitless it seemed.
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* SurroundedByIdiots
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* SurroundedByIdiotsSpeakOfTheDevil: Upon learning of how the situation has gotten out of hand, Arnold asks Grandpa where Helga and the others went after he saw them. Cue said group running by, being chased by an angry mob.
* SurroundedByIdiots:
* SurroundedByIdiots:
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** Helga makes a similar comment when Harold tells her he bought extra strong latex to use for their alien makeup, which is why it won’t come off: “Oh, criminy, I’m surrounded!”
* WholePlotReference: This episode's entire plot is based on Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast “The War of the Worlds,” which also sent many people into a panic.
* WholePlotReference: This episode's entire plot is based on Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast “The War of the Worlds,” which also sent many people into a panic.
to:
** Helga makes a similar comment when Harold tells her he bought extra strong latex to use for their alien makeup, which [[NowYouTellMewhich is why it won’t come off: off]]: “Oh, criminy, I’m surrounded!”
* WholePlotReference: This episode's entire plot is based on Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast “The War of the Worlds,” which also sent many people into apanic.panic.
* WithUsOrAgainstUs: Upon learning that Principal Wartz was planning to surrender to the aliens, Bob threatened to grow a spine and fight for the human race or he'd send him back to his wife in chocolate box. Wartz immediately started rooting for humans.
* WholePlotReference: This episode's entire plot is based on Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast “The War of the Worlds,” which also sent many people into a
* WithUsOrAgainstUs: Upon learning that Principal Wartz was planning to surrender to the aliens, Bob threatened to grow a spine and fight for the human race or he'd send him back to his wife in chocolate box. Wartz immediately started rooting for humans.
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Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_2023_10_25_91154_pm.png]]
In this parody of the panic caused by Orson Welles' adaptation of "The War of the Worlds," the whole city mistakes a Halloween prank set up by Arnold and Gerald as an actual alien invasion.
!!Tropes:
* AccidentalMisnaming: As usual, Bob calls Helga “Olga.” This time, it’s when she interrupts the TV show he was watching.
-->'''Helga:''' How many times is he gonna call me Olga?! Does he think it’s funny or something?
* ActorAllusion: Maurice [=LaMarche=], who primarily voices Bob Pataki, lends his voice to Orson Welles {{Expy}} Douglas Cain using his [[WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain Brain]] voice, which is itself a parody of Orson's speech pattern. Appropriate, considering the episode’s WholePlotReference to “War of the Worlds.”
* AlienInvasion: Arnold and Gerald’s prank works so well that the entire city thinks the world’s being invaded by aliens.
* ArsonMurderAndAdmiration: Grandpa Phil’s response when Arnold says he’ll never pull another prank like that again.
-->'''Grandpa Phil:''' You terrified the entire city, you nearly caused the end of the world...I’m proud of you, boy!
* ClingyCostume: Helga tries to prove to the angry mob of adults chasing them that they’re just a bunch of kids in costumes by wiping off her grey makeup, but it won’t come off. It turns out Harold bought “permanent exterior latex” for them to use.
* ConspiracyTheorist: Bob claims to have been nearly abducted by aliens in North Dakota. As a result he's become an avid believer in aliens and their eventual invasion of the earth.
* CopycatMockery: Helga’s dad has told his alien encounter story so many times that Helga has it memorized and she can be seen laying on the couch and boredly mouthing the words.
* DressesTheSame: At the beginning of the episode, Ernie and Mr. Hyunh argue about who’s going to be FrankensteinsMonster for the Halloween party. It seems that they never settled on an agreement, because at the party they’re both seen in a Frankenstein costume and are still arguing with each other.
* FailedAttemptAtScaring: Helga tries to scare her dad with her alien costume, but because he cares so little about anything she says or does, it doesn't have any effect on him.
* GoneHorriblyRight: Arnold and Gerald set out to scare adults at the boarding house Halloween party. Not only do they accomplish this, they incite city-wide chaos after their prank gets broadcasted by local celebrity and alien nut, Douglas Cain. Angry mobs are formed, the power goes out, and the city’ water tower gets hit by an explosion.
* TheGreys: In this universe, everyone thinks aliens look like this; short, grey creatures with big heads.
* HalloweenEpisode: Arnold and Gerald decide to scare the grown-ups on Halloween.
* HypocriticalHumor: Oskar criticizes the boys for watching “The Z Files”, a scripted show about aliens, but then he and the other men jump up to watch “UFO Tonight” when it comes on.
* IAmAMonster: Bob says this when he realizes that he almost killed his daughter when he thought she was an alien. It actually ends with a very rare sweet moment between the two of them as he gives her a big hug.
* IWantMyMommy: Harold can be heard crying “Mommy!” as Ernie chases the kids (mistaking them for real aliens) with a [[DropTheHammer giant mallet]].
* ItsPersonal: Bob doesn’t take up the fight against the aliens until it’s announced on the radio that the chaos is causing beepers to be jammed.
-->'''Bob:''' Beepers are jammed? That tears it! Now it’s personal, Miriam!
* MySignificanceSenseIsTingling: When Helga yells Arnold’s name in anger at the top of the ridge, Arnold can sense it all the way from his grandpa’s car driving through the middle of town.
-->'''Arnold:''' Did you hear something just now, Gerald?
-->'''Gerald:''' No.
-->'''Arnold:''' I’ve got a bad feeling about Helga and the other kids.
* PowerOutagePlot: The kids’ “mothership” (a.k.a the water tower covered in Christmas lights) uses so much electricity that it causes a city-wide power outage.
* TheQuisling: Principal Wartz was planning to ingratiate himself to the aliens by bringing them chocolates and offering to lead them to the children.
* ShoutOut: One of the guests at the boarders’ Halloween party is dressed as [[WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones Fred Flintstone]], while his date appears to be [[Creator/ElviraMistressOfTheDark Elvira]].
* ShowWithinAShow: At the beginning of the episode, Arnold and Gerald are watching a show about aliens called “The Z Files” - a reference to ''[[Series/TheXFiles The X Files]]''.
* SurroundedByIdiots
** Douglas Cain’s reaction when he loses the signal on the alien broadcast: “I’m surrounded by incompetence.”
** Helga makes a similar comment when Harold tells her he bought extra strong latex to use for their alien makeup, which is why it won’t come off: “Oh, criminy, I’m surrounded!”
* WholePlotReference: This episode's entire plot is based on Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast “The War of the Worlds,” which also sent many people into a panic.
In this parody of the panic caused by Orson Welles' adaptation of "The War of the Worlds," the whole city mistakes a Halloween prank set up by Arnold and Gerald as an actual alien invasion.
!!Tropes:
* AccidentalMisnaming: As usual, Bob calls Helga “Olga.” This time, it’s when she interrupts the TV show he was watching.
-->'''Helga:''' How many times is he gonna call me Olga?! Does he think it’s funny or something?
* ActorAllusion: Maurice [=LaMarche=], who primarily voices Bob Pataki, lends his voice to Orson Welles {{Expy}} Douglas Cain using his [[WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain Brain]] voice, which is itself a parody of Orson's speech pattern. Appropriate, considering the episode’s WholePlotReference to “War of the Worlds.”
* AlienInvasion: Arnold and Gerald’s prank works so well that the entire city thinks the world’s being invaded by aliens.
* ArsonMurderAndAdmiration: Grandpa Phil’s response when Arnold says he’ll never pull another prank like that again.
-->'''Grandpa Phil:''' You terrified the entire city, you nearly caused the end of the world...I’m proud of you, boy!
* ClingyCostume: Helga tries to prove to the angry mob of adults chasing them that they’re just a bunch of kids in costumes by wiping off her grey makeup, but it won’t come off. It turns out Harold bought “permanent exterior latex” for them to use.
* ConspiracyTheorist: Bob claims to have been nearly abducted by aliens in North Dakota. As a result he's become an avid believer in aliens and their eventual invasion of the earth.
* CopycatMockery: Helga’s dad has told his alien encounter story so many times that Helga has it memorized and she can be seen laying on the couch and boredly mouthing the words.
* DressesTheSame: At the beginning of the episode, Ernie and Mr. Hyunh argue about who’s going to be FrankensteinsMonster for the Halloween party. It seems that they never settled on an agreement, because at the party they’re both seen in a Frankenstein costume and are still arguing with each other.
* FailedAttemptAtScaring: Helga tries to scare her dad with her alien costume, but because he cares so little about anything she says or does, it doesn't have any effect on him.
* GoneHorriblyRight: Arnold and Gerald set out to scare adults at the boarding house Halloween party. Not only do they accomplish this, they incite city-wide chaos after their prank gets broadcasted by local celebrity and alien nut, Douglas Cain. Angry mobs are formed, the power goes out, and the city’ water tower gets hit by an explosion.
* TheGreys: In this universe, everyone thinks aliens look like this; short, grey creatures with big heads.
* HalloweenEpisode: Arnold and Gerald decide to scare the grown-ups on Halloween.
* HypocriticalHumor: Oskar criticizes the boys for watching “The Z Files”, a scripted show about aliens, but then he and the other men jump up to watch “UFO Tonight” when it comes on.
* IAmAMonster: Bob says this when he realizes that he almost killed his daughter when he thought she was an alien. It actually ends with a very rare sweet moment between the two of them as he gives her a big hug.
* IWantMyMommy: Harold can be heard crying “Mommy!” as Ernie chases the kids (mistaking them for real aliens) with a [[DropTheHammer giant mallet]].
* ItsPersonal: Bob doesn’t take up the fight against the aliens until it’s announced on the radio that the chaos is causing beepers to be jammed.
-->'''Bob:''' Beepers are jammed? That tears it! Now it’s personal, Miriam!
* MySignificanceSenseIsTingling: When Helga yells Arnold’s name in anger at the top of the ridge, Arnold can sense it all the way from his grandpa’s car driving through the middle of town.
-->'''Arnold:''' Did you hear something just now, Gerald?
-->'''Gerald:''' No.
-->'''Arnold:''' I’ve got a bad feeling about Helga and the other kids.
* PowerOutagePlot: The kids’ “mothership” (a.k.a the water tower covered in Christmas lights) uses so much electricity that it causes a city-wide power outage.
* TheQuisling: Principal Wartz was planning to ingratiate himself to the aliens by bringing them chocolates and offering to lead them to the children.
* ShoutOut: One of the guests at the boarders’ Halloween party is dressed as [[WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones Fred Flintstone]], while his date appears to be [[Creator/ElviraMistressOfTheDark Elvira]].
* ShowWithinAShow: At the beginning of the episode, Arnold and Gerald are watching a show about aliens called “The Z Files” - a reference to ''[[Series/TheXFiles The X Files]]''.
* SurroundedByIdiots
** Douglas Cain’s reaction when he loses the signal on the alien broadcast: “I’m surrounded by incompetence.”
** Helga makes a similar comment when Harold tells her he bought extra strong latex to use for their alien makeup, which is why it won’t come off: “Oh, criminy, I’m surrounded!”
* WholePlotReference: This episode's entire plot is based on Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast “The War of the Worlds,” which also sent many people into a panic.
