History WesternAnimation / StressedEric

* IllGirl:
** Claire is allergic to virtually almost ''everything''. This is further emphasized by her having a "prescription dolly".
** Claire's friend Julie is allergic to even more things, including air. Her mother says she feels stupid giving birth to a daughter more allergic than Claire.

Think modern life is stressful? Well, just be thankful that you're not Eric Feeble, the perpetually struggling forty-something and unfortunate star of this short-lived British black comedy animated series, and arguably one of the darkest shows ever made in this category. The series lasted for 13 episodes, broadcast in two seasons. The first season was made in 1997 and was broadcast in 1998, the second in 2000. The first series (but ''not'' the second) was co-produced by Creator/KlaskyCsupo.

Eric is a divorced father of two. He is the primary caregiver for both of his kids. Which is a stressful duty. Brian, Eric's son, seems to have a learning disability. He is 9 to 10-years-old, but has already flunked classes for three years. He doesn't speak at all, wanders aimlessly, and has a tendency to place random items into his mouth. Claire, Eric's daughter, is notably frail. She is 6-years-old and her immune system is hypersensitive. She has allergic reactions to just about everything, and has to eat special regulation food. Which doesn't stop her from craving for regular food. Maria, their Portuguese au-pair, is alcoholic. His ex-wife Liz currently lives with another man, and tries to rediscover herself through following NewAge ideas. Which doesn't prevent her from incessantly calling Eric when she feels like it.

The work environment of Eric isn't much better. His office is sandwiched between the janitor's closet and the men's toilets. Paul Power, his boss, is a very demanding individual. Never satisfied with Eric's work, Mr. Power has demoted him in previous occasions. And is always ready to press him further. Eric still has a personal secretary, Alison Scabie. Unfortunately for him, she provides no actual help. She treats the office line as her personal phone, speaking constantly with her friends. Leaving Eric saddled with her work as well as his own.

** When the first season was shown in the US, Eric was revoiced by Hank Azaria (all the other voices remained). Also, production went to a different company for its second season (which has never been repeated on British television).

* CartoonThrobbing: Eric's forehead vein is shown throbbing throughout each epsiode, until it pops out and strangles him at the end.

* TheAlcoholic: Maria and, in a few episodes, some of the issues come from her AlcoholInducedIdiocy (one example comes from when she accidentally sets the house ablaze). According to one episode, she uses booze as a perfume; in another, she only goes to church for the communion wine. ''Au Pair'' has her recovering from her alcoholism as a plot point.

** "Pony" has Eric reading Claire's note about wanting to participate in the school gymkhana (equestrian events). In the American dub, Claire's voice-over adds an explanatory "England's greatest horse show" even though those words not in the note.

* CulturalTranslation: Yes, Creator/TheBBC have broadcast ''WesternAnimation/DinoBabies'', ''WesternAnimation/LittleBear'', and ''ComicBook/BuckyOHareAndTheToadWars'' with the American voices still intact, but Stressed Eric? The cartoon was made by Creator/KlaskyCsupo (creators of ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheWildThornberrys''), but it was the BBC that chose the voice acting for the characters and the setting in it! Although when the first season was shown in the US, Eric was revoiced by Hank Azaria (all the other voices remained). Also, production went to a different company for its second season (which has never been repeated on British television.)

* TheAlcoholic: Maria and, in a few episodes, some of the issues come from her AlcoholInducedIdiocy (one example comes from when she accidentally sets the house ablaze). According to one episode, she uses booze as a perfume. ''Au Pair'' has her recovering from her alcoholism as a plot point.

* ShipTease: In "Au Pair", it's hinted Eric and the newly rehabilitated Maria may become an item... shortly before the episode ends. Eric also has a thing for Julie’s mum, once he meets her in person (having previously become exasperated with her on the phone).

* ShipTease: In "Au Pair", it's hinted Eric and the newly rehabilitated Maria may become an item... shortly before the episode ends.

* AmbiguousEnding: The last episode, "Au Pair", does this. Instead of Eric's temple choking him as usual, he and Maria find themselves cornered by one of the failed applicants for the Maria's job, ''driving a tank''. The episode ends with them all screaming.

** "Au Pair" ends with Maria finally getting her act together, only for her and the rest of the family to be possibly killed by one of the failed auditionees for her job. Although this is a prime example of AmbiguousEnding.

* CrossPoppingVeins: Eric gets them several times an episode. At the end, they get so bad that they grab him by his throat! Lampshaded in "Pony" when Claire's diary says that she is too scared to ask Eric, because of his stess vein.

[[caption-width-right:349:Life can be stressful, sometimes, but just be glad you're not this guy.]]
->''"Eric, relax"''.

Think modern life is stressful? Well, just be thankful that you're not Eric Feeble, the perpetually struggling forty-something and unfortunate star of this short-lived British animated series, and arguably one of the darkest shows ever made in this category. The series lasted for 13 episodes, broadcast in two seasons. The first season was made in 1997 and was broadcast in 1998, the second in 2000. The first series (but ''not'' the second) was co-produced by Creator/KlaskyCsupo.

** "Au Pair" ends with Maria finally getting her act together, only for her and the rest of the family to be possibly killed by one of the failed auditionees for her job. Although this is a prime example of Ambiguous Ending.

* TheyKilledKennyAgain: Eric dies of stress at the end of almost every episode. Save "Au Pair".

* FailureHero: Eric never seems to succeed at anything. And after watching the first few episodes, it becomes easier to predict how the episode is going to end for eric.

* DoorToDoorEpisode: In the first 1999 episode, Liz does this to create a fanbase for the hedgehogs. Everyone refuses.

Think modern life is stressful? Well, just be thankful that you're not Eric Feeble, the perpetually struggling forty-something and unfortunate star of this short-lived British animated series, and arguably one of the darkest shows ever made in this category. The series lasted for 13 episodes, broadcast in two seasons. The first season was broadcast in 1997, the second in 1999. The first series (but ''not'' the second) was co-produced by Creator/KlaskyCsupo.

* {{Dissimile}}: Doc's advice to Eric: "Having an interview is like sex: You just go in there, drop your pants, and get down to business."

** Doc: Relaaaaaaaaaaaaax.

* ElmuhFuddSyndwome: Claire talks like this, though, it's not as pronounced, except for when she swells up from her allergies.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Doc's real name isn't said..

** Claire is allergic to virtually ''everything''. This is further emphasized by her having a "prescription dolly"

[[caption-width-right:349:Life can be stressful, sometimes.]]