Wonder Tool
A salesman drops into Manny’s repair shop with the Wonder Tool 3000, a device that can- allegedly- perform the functions of any normal tool. Manny is hesitant to buy the expensive item, but the salesman manages to talk him into accepting a free trial, hoping that the repairman will “see the light” and buy the Wonder Tool after experiencing firsthand what it can do. However, Manny quickly discovers that the Wonder Tool is not quite as wondrous as the salesman claimed…
“Wonder Tool” includes the following tropes:
- Advanced Tech 2000: The high-tech multitool Willy wants to sell to Manny is named the Wonder Tool 3000.
- Agony of the Feet: A light cover Mr. Lopart was trying to install fell and hit him on the foot, causing him to do a Hurt Foot Hop… while balanced precariously on the top of a stepladder.
- Bottle Episode: Nearly the entirety of the episode takes place in Manny’s workshop.
- Call-Back: Manny’s toaster collection, introduced in “Tool For Sale”, makes a return, and he ends up gifting one of his toasters to Willy due to… complicated circumstances.
- Employee of the Month: Apparently, Willy’s company gives whoever sells the most in a certain month the title of “Salesman Of The Month”, and a commemorative free toaster to go with it.
- Every Device Is a Swiss-Army Knife: The Wonder Tool 3000, full stop. It welds, saws, hammers, drives screws, has two different ways of holding things in place (with suction cups and plier-like claws), and can apparently do a few other things as well since Willy cited it as having the functions of nine different tools. Unfortunately, it also has a tendency to go absolutely haywire.
- Furry Confusion: Mr. Lopart is seen using an inanimate screwdriver while trying to install a cover for his shop’s new outdoor light.
- Hammerspace: Somehow, the Wonder Tool 3000, despite being decidedly wider than Willy’s skinny briefcase, is able to fit inside it with no issue.
- Humble Goal: Willy’s dream in life is apparently to be named “Salesman Of The Month” at his company. Oh, and get the free toaster that comes with the title.
- Hurt Foot Hop: Mr. Lopart does one after the light cover he was trying to install falls and hits his foot. Unfortunately, he was standing on top of a stepladder at the time, so he accidentally hops off and subjects himself to further Amusing Injuries.
- Literal-Minded: Pat again, after Stretch wins the around Kelly’s store despite spending most of it in last place.Felipe: Slow and steady wins the race!
Pat: I thought Stretch won the race. - Slow and Steady Wins the Race: In the intro, the tools hold a race around Kelly’s hardware store, and Stretch, despite having been in last place, wins because he’s the only one who manages to avoid the massive pileup that results when the other tools crash into Turner (who was in first). This trope is namedropped by Felipe (who was acting as announcer) after the race ends.Felipe: Slow and steady wins the race!
Pat: I thought Stretch won the race. - Telescoping Robot: There is absolutely no possible way that all of the various tool-arms that pop out of the Wonder Tool 3000 could actually fit inside it, at least not without leaving the body of the Wonder Tool an empty shell that lacks any possible mechanisms for powering and controlling said arms.
Tool Games
Manny and the tools are called to fix speakers at the Sheet Rock Hills Elementary School’s carnival. While waiting for some glue to dry, the tools decide to try out some of the fair’s games. Unfortunately, Rusty, fearing he’s not good at any of them, ends up causing a bit of trouble…
“Tool Games” provides examples of:
- An Aesop: You never know what you could be good at until you try.
- Animal Reaction Shot: Fluffy is seen rolling her eyes after Mr. Lopart’s latest pratfall.
- Bowling for Ratings: The beginning of the episode has the tools playing a game of “bolt bowling”, where upright bolts are used as pins and a roll of duct tape as the ball. Rusty manages to score exactly zero points while playing, setting up the episode’s character conflict as he believes he’s just not good at anything.
- Chekhov's Gag: Pat wanting to win a box of nails ends up helping Manny and the tools find Rusty (who’d run off due to not wanting to play any more games), through a bit of a convoluted circumstance- Pat brings up his desire again, Turner tells him that carnivals don’t give out hardware as prizes, Pat retorts that, if that’s true, then why did he see a monkey wrench in a box of prizes, and then Turner realizes that Pat Failed a Spot Check and that wrench is Rusty.
- Continuity Nod: The flagpole installed in “Amigo Grande” is seen proudly standing in front of Sheet Rock Hills Elementary School.
- Duct Tape for Everything: Forget even sticking it to anything- apparently, a roll of duct tape makes a good ball for “bolt bowling”.
- "Everybody Laughs" Ending: The episode ends on Manny and the other tools laughing while Rusty lists the games they could play back at the shop.
- Failed a Spot Check: While searching for a hiding Rusty, Pat saw a monkey wrench in a box of prizes and failed to register that hey, that just might be Rusty. Justified due to Pat being The Ditz.
- Fundraiser Carnival: Sheet Rock Hills Elementary is holding one, and Manny is needed to repair a broken speaker because “you just can’t have a carnival without carnival music”. When the repair ends up requiring waiting for glue to try, the tools take advantage of this time to try out the carnival’s attractions, setting the episode’s plot into motion.
- Running Gag: Pat repeatedly saying that he wants to win a box of nails as a prize at the carnival.
- "Test Your Strength" Game: The school’s carnival includes a high striker as one of the attractions- Pat wins it easily due to being a hammer, and then immediately asks if he won a box of nails for it.
- Whack-a-Monster: A whack-a-mole game can be seen in the background of the carnival.
