History Trivia / BonusStage

* TheWikiRule: While no longer up, the Bonus Stage Wiki would detail each episode in great detail, pointing out each and every reference fans could find, and host full scripts of each episode. The show makes several references to the wiki in its later seasons, in one case pointing out the references listed were often incorrect.

* CreatorBacklash: Matt Wilson began liking the show. Then they got some really irritating and stupid fans. Then, they '''really''' hated the show and its fans. That they got threatened both if they stopped ''or continued'' making the show, and that there were reports of fans [[StalkerWithACrush stalking them]]... causing them to justify the hate. Allegedly, they not only renounce Bonus Stage, but they stopped playing video games altogether.
** This would become {{subverted|Trope}} later on. Although not the kind of content they'd make now, Matt has become more fond of it today than when they cancelled the series in 2006. They usually [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQu3G8DllNE repurpose]] the characters for [[https://youtu.be/jWjGgostgn0 other projects]] of theirs, and even [[https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/681419 reprise the roles of Phil and Joel in a fan animation]].

* TorchTheFranchiseAndRun: The show ended with Phil traveling back to the first episode, convincing Joel to cancel the series, and killing his past self, therefore ceasing his existence. ("I've been [[Franchise/BackToTheFuture McFlyed]]!") Since past Joel realizes the show isn't funny without Phil, he immediately [[HangingAround hangs himself]], therefore erasing the rest of the series from the timeline. [[DownerEnding The end]].
** Well, that's how it ``originally`` went. The episode was updated a week later with future Elly and Brad convincing Joel to invent something that lets episodes 1 to 87 exist. Joel [[DownerEnding hangs himself regardless]], but at least another generation could enjoy the show.
* {{Uncancelled}}: Came very close. After Matt Wilson announced that they were ending ''Bonus Stage'' a season early due to his family's financial troubles, a fan offered to pay them $15,000 to continue the series. However, nothing came out of it. Because of the lack of communication, Matt ruled out that there wouldn't be a season 8. Fans allegedly sent the curator threats, which led to the forums getting shut down temporarily. (The fan later explained the situation that they went into rehab for 6 months after immediately striking the deal. They paid for the 89th episode, even offering to pay upfront for a ''Bonus Stage'' movie along with completely financing a DVD. However, it was too late, as Matt already moved on from the series.)
** Matt eventually continued the series for ''one episode'' (which they dubbed the "lost episode"), paywalled it for 99 cents, and brought up the possibility that the series might continue if sales went well. Unfortunately, there was a lack of interest, therefore clocking the series in at 89 episodes.

** Season 8, obviously.

* {{Uncancelled}}: Came very close. After Matt Wilson announced that they were ending ''Bonus Stage'' a season early due to financial troubles, a fan offered to pay them $15,000 to continue the series. Nothing ever came of it. It's possible that the entire thing was a cruel prank.

* CreatorBacklash: Matt Wilson began liking the show. Then he got some really irritating and stupid fans. Then, he '''really''' hated the show and its fans. That he got threatened both if he stopped ''or continued'' making the show, and that there were reports of fans [[StalkerWithACrush stalking him]]... causing him to justify the hate. Allegedly, he not only renounces Bonus Stage, but he stopped playing video games altogether.
* TheOtherDarrin: From the second part of episode 75, "The Day the World Did Stuff", on, Elly and June were voiced by women instead of a pitch-shifted Matt Wilson. In Elly's case, it was {{lampshade|Hanging}}d as her apparently having a frog in her throat the whole time.
* {{Uncancelled}}: Came very close. After Matt Wilson announced that he was ending ''Bonus Stage'' a season early due to financial troubles, a fan offered to pay him $15,000 to continue the series. Nothing ever came of it. It's possible that the entire thing was a cruel prank.

** The plots to seasons 7 and 8 were changed around after season 6 ended. Perhaps anticipating that the series might not make it to an 8th season, Matt wrapped up several of the characters story arcs in season 7. He then left an option open for a more bare-boned (and therefore cheaper to make) season 8, with the 100th and final episode "Thank You for Playing" (in which every villain Joel and Phil had to face over the course of the series return to fight them, forcing the two to recruit all of their allies to counter the villains) being replaced by the much less ambitious "Trial Expires After 30 Minutes" (in which Joel and Phil confront the cloaked villain who [[spoiler:killed Rya]]).

* CreatorBacklash: Matt Wilson began liking the show. Then he got some really irritating and stupid fans. Then, he '''really''' hated the show and its fans. That he got [[FanDumb threatened both if he stopped]] ''[[UnpleasableFanbase or continued]]'' [[FanDumb making the show]], and that there were reports of fans [[StalkerWithACrush stalking him]]... causing him to justify the hate. Allegedly, he not only renounces Bonus Stage, but he stopped playing video games altogether.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Season 8, obviously.

* CreatorBacklash: Matt Wilson '''really''' hated the show and its fans. That he got [[FanDumb threatened both if he stopped]] ''[[UnpleasableFanbase or continued]]'' [[FanDumb making the show]], and that there were reports of fans [[StalkerWithACrush stalking him]]... perhaps some of the hate was justified, at least to him.