The first episode of the 1986 series of Dennis the Menace.
So Long, Old Paint
Dennis helps Mr. Wilson paint his house.
Trembly Assembly
Dennis and his father visit an auto showroom.
Private I
Dennis looks for his dog whilst playing detective.
"So Long, Old Paint" provides examples of:
- Butt-Monkey: Mr. Wilson.
- Here We Go Again!: At the end of the episode, Dennis decides to help Mr. Wilson redecorate his kitchen.
- ISO-Standard Urban Groceries: Mrs. Wilson comes home from the market carrying several of these.
- Malaproper:
- While using Mr. Wilson's vacuum cleaner as a spraypainter, Dennis mispronounces Boa Constrictor as "Boa Constructor".
- When Mrs. Wilson sees the state of the living room and asks Dennis what happened, Dennis mispronounces Interior Decorating as "Inferior Decorating".
- Manly Tears: Mr. Wilson does this at the end.
- Pulling the Rug Out: Dennis does this with a tarp Mr. Wilson stands on, having mistaken it for a rug that shouldn't get paint on it. Mr. Wilson tells him it isn't a rug, but to no avail, as he ends up falling out the open window nearby.
- Suddenly Shouting: After Mr. Wilson unwraps himself from the paint tape, he tells Dennis "Dennis... GO HOME!"
"Trembly Assembly" provides examples of:
- The Alleged Car: Thanks to Dennis messing with the controls in the factory, Henry's new car ends up looking like a complete mess.
- Butt-Monkey: The car salesman.
- Downer Ending: Thanks to Dennis messing about with the controls, his family’s new car looks destroyed, along with being colored in yellow and purple with green polka-dots. And it’s possible that the car salesman might lose his job because of this.
- Literal-Minded: When the salesman tells Dennis that he's driven him bananas, Dennis thinks that a good idea for a car would be one made of bananas.
- Removable Steering Wheel: Dennis plays inside a car that a salesman is trying to sell to Henry. When the salesman tells Dennis to give him the wheel, Dennis pulls it out and gives it to him, much to his horror.
- Rhyming Title: Trembly Assembly.
- Umpteenth Customer: Henry becomes the Auto Showroom's 1,000th customer of the year, and the showroom's owner gives him and Dennis the grand prize of visiting the assembly plant where their new car is being assembled.
- Would Hurt a Child: When Dennis uncovers real gloves in the glove compartment of a car he plays with, the car salesman says "The better to strangle you with." under his breath.
"Private I" provides examples of:
- Gratuitous French: "It was the same old story. Cherchez la femme." Also, Ruff is chasing after a French poodle.
- Hardboiled Detective: Dennis pretends to be this while investigating his dog's disappearance.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Mr. Cavallini's voice is an impression of Paul Lynde.
