- Madame BlueberryEpisode number: 10Original release date: July 1998
- Countertop Intro
We see Bob the Tomato standing all alone on the Countertop, while trying to greet the kids, when the sound of a horn honking is heard before Larry drives past him from behind in a jeep. Bob tries again in greeting the kids when the jeep drives by once again. Bob then asks Larry what he's doing and for him to come over, to which Larry replies that he'll be right there. Larry then drives up to Bob in the jeep after that. When Bob asks what this thing is that Larry is driving, Larry explains that it's his "Soo-Vee Action Jeep", which he's been waiting for forever and now it's his at last. Bob tells Larry that he must be happy to have a cool toy like that, before Larry admits that he's almost happy, which Bob is confused about. Larry then hops out from the jeep and explains that there's one more thing he needs to be happy, which is the "Soo-Vee Action Camper", which he explains that you hook up to the back of the jeep and that he'll be ready for a weekend of wilderness fun. When Bob asks Larry if he'll be happy once he gets the camper, Larry explains that there's also the Dirtbike, the Jetski, and the Hang-glider, to which Bob asks Larry how much stuff he needs to be happy. Larry also does not know how much stuff he needs, before Bob then says that this would be a good topic for today's show. However, Jean-Claude and Phillipe Pea show up, saying that they may be able to help out, before Jean-Claude asks Bob where French Peas come from. When Bob answers "France", Jean-Claude then tells him that in France, they have a story that can help their problems called "Madame Blueberry". Larry says that he's seen it before, asking if it has Jerry Lewis in it, to which Jean-Claude says that it does not, before saying, "Be quiet and watch the show".
- Madame Blueberry
We are then treated to a beautiful forest scenery, before the camera pans across the forest, as a butterfly flies across the sky. Finally, the camera then pans towards what looks like a large and beautiful treehouse in the middle of the forest, which stands in front of a pond. Jean-Claude then narrates that Madame Blueberry was a sad little berry who lived by herself in a house in a tree. Her butlers, Bob and Larry, show up every morning at nine, before Madame Blueberry then opens the door as she starts singing about how she's so blue that she don't know what to do. Bob and Larry are able to help Madame Blueberry with washing the dishes, but Madame Blueberry complains about how the things she has aren't as good as they were, as well as envying all the things that her neighbors have. After the song ends, Madame Blueberry starts crying, while Bob and Larry try her best to help her snap out of her funk, to no avail.
When Larry is bringing a tray of tea, he looks out the window to see some construction going on a little ways off. Bob and Madame Blueberry also join him, before seeing that what is being built is a brand new store called "Stuff-Mart". The doorbell then rings, before Bob goes to answer it. Bob then calls out to Madame Blueberry that there's someone to see her. A trio of salesmen (played by The Scallions) explain to Madame Blueberry that they come from Stuff-Mart and were wondering if Madame Blueberry would be interested in going shopping there. When Madame Blueberry expresses interest, the salesmen then give her a Stuff-Mart catalog, before they start singing the "Stuffmart Rap", explaining to Madame Blueberry about all the interesting things you can buy there. However, Bob is dubious, thinking that it's not good to just buy more and more stuff to be happy, while the lead salesman tries to tell him otherwise. Soon, the salesmen lead Bob, Larry, and Madame Blueberry to the direction of Stuff-Mart after that.
- Silly Songs with Larry
We see that Larry is stuck in a bear trap, before Archibald Asparagus shows up, explaining that due to the disastrous outcome of the previous Silly Song, management has decided to review compositions from other performers for this segment. Among the alternate songs that we screened, one was selected based on the sense of artistry and all-around propriety. When Larry asks what Archibald is saying, Archibald answers that Silly Songs is cancelled until further notice. Larry then asks how he's supposed to get out of the bear trap, with Archibald telling him that he'll think of something.
- Love Songs with Mr. Lunt
Mr. Lunt starts singing the song "His Cheeseburger", telling the story about how Jerry Gourd is desperate for a cheeseburger from Burger Bell, but is unable to get one on account of the restaurant being closed. Because of that, he stays at the restaurant all night until the morning comes. When Jerry awakes, he looks ahead to see a billboard for Denny's, promoting an offer of bacon and eggs for half price. Jerry then decides to take this offer, promising to come back for a cheeseburger when lunchtime comes. After the song ends, Archibald then tells Mr. Lunt "I thought you were going to sing about growing up in Connecticut", with Mr. Lunt replying "I grew up in New Jersey".
- Act 2
Bob, Larry, and Madame Blueberry are stilling following after the Stuff-Mart salesmen towards the direction (while Larry runs into a low-hanging tree branch along the way), before Madame Blueberry looks over to see a little girl (played by Annie the Onion) and her parents celebrating the little girl's birthday with some oatmeal and a piece of apple pie, since they don't have very much. The little girl then starts singing about all the things she's thankful for, which confuses Madame Blueberry, before she continues onward towards Stuff-Mart. Once inside Stuff-Mart, Madame Blueberry then starts shopping for all the things that she could ever want, with everything that she's purchased getting shipped to her house.
While Bob, Larry, and Madame Blueberry take a lunch break at the food court, Bob asks Madame Blueberry if she's done shopping and ready to go home yet, but Madame Blueberry says that she will not leave until she had everything she needs to be happy. After she says this, a little boy (played by Junior Asparagus) asks his dad (played by Dad Asparagus) for the train set that he saw on TV, but Dad tells him that they cannot afford it. Then, as an alternative, he asks Junior if he would like a ball, which Junior says that he would like. Junior then starts singing, thanking his dad for the day they had together and the fun that they had together while playing with the ball his dad bought him. This confuses Madame Blueberry even further, before realizing that she wasn't really all that happy, even with everything she's been buying.
The salesmen then approach Madame Blueberry, telling her about another aisle for her to check out, which is toaster ovens. Madame Blueberry then says that she doesn't need a toaster oven, before telling the salesmen that what she really wants in life, like the boy with the ball and the girl with the piece of pie has, which is a happy heart. Madame Blueberry then says that she was so foolish, realizing that she's had so much that she ever had, and that all she wanted in life was more stuff, but now she's seen the light and that she'll be thankful for what she has, which Bob and Larry are happy to here. However, the trio then looks over and notice that the treehouse is now starting to tip over, due to the weight of all of the stuff that's being stuffed into it. Bob and Madame Blueberry are able to commandeer shopping carts, but Larry is left with a shopping basket instead, which he just pushes along one step at a time.
Bob and Madame Blueberry are able to make it to her house, just as her treehouse finally becomes stable. However, the butterfly then comes along before landing on the weather vane, which causes the house to tip over and dump out all of Madame Blueberry's stuff (along with a Stuff-Mart employee (played by Jean-Claude)) into the pond, much to Madame Blueberry's despair. Bob reassures her that her house is still okay, but then the last item - the air compressor - falls into the pond, causing the house to get flung off the tree. The house flies over the heads of Bob and Madame Blueberry, then Larry, and then Annie's family before crashing into the parking lot of the Stuff-Mart. Later, Bob, Larry, Madame Blueberry, Junior, and Dad Asparagus have been invited by Annie and her parents to join them at Annie's birthday celebration. Madame Blueberry and her friends then start singing a reprise of "The Thankfulness Song", singing about how they're thankful for everything that they have and that a thankful heart is a thankful heart, before the camera then pans on the sun setting in the distance.
- Countertop Outro
Bob and Larry are both crying over the outcome of the story, with Jean-Claude telling them to pull themselves together. Jean-Claude and Phillipe then tell Bob that it's time to start the song, before the "What Have We Learned" song starts playing once again. Bob takes the time to blow his nose before the song resumes once again. After the song ends, Jean-Claude and Phillipe then leave Bob and Larry to review the lesson, with Larry explaining that "Madame Blueberry learned that being greedy makes you grumpy, but a thankful heart is a happy heart". Bob and Larry then go to see Qwerty for a verse, which Qwerty brings up as "He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house.... Proverbs 15:27a". Larry then states that being greedy gave Madame Blueberry trouble, with Bob adding that even before Madame Blueberry's house got smashed, being greedy made her a very grumpy berry. Larry agrees before saying that even if he doesn't get the Camper, the Dirtbike, or the Jetski, he'll be thankful for what he has. Bob and Larry then sign off before leaving, as the episode ends.
Character Introductions: Madame Blueberry
Tropes:
- Accidental Hero: By showing gratitude for the things they had, Annie and Junior make Madame Blueberry realize that a materialistic lifestyle is not what she wants. In other words, they saved her from an unhappy life without even realizing it.
- An Aesop: Being greedy makes you grumpy, but a thankful heart is a happy heart.
- Affectionate Parody: Of Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary; the original novel is about a married woman who Thinks Like a Romance Novel and, while intelligent, is all book and no street.
- Argument of Contradictions: One of the Stuff-Mart salesmen has one of these with Bob, when he says their claim of buying more stuff leading to happiness isn't true. "No, it's not!" "Yes, it is!"
- Aside Glance: Bob gives one when he realizes that the button he pushed on his shopping cart has just printed a pizza coupon.
- Bittersweet Ending: By the time Madame Blueberry learns that she just needs to be thankful for what she has already, her house gets destroyed, and all of her possessions have been thrown in the lake. Still, it's a major improvement over its inspiration. And besides, the book "Madame Blueberry Learns to Be Thankful" softens this by showing that Bob and Larry helped rebuild the treehouse after the events of said episode.
- Call-Back:
- Buzz-Saw Louie is seen on some of the Stuff-Mart banners.
- A poster in Stuff-Mart's food court depicts the Fib fighting against Goliath.
- Chekhov's Gunman: The butterfly.
- Creator Cameo: The family seen in the story is modeled after creator Phil, his wife and daughter.
- Driven by Envy: Madame Blueberry decides to go to Stuff-Mart because she thinks her neighbors' possessions are better than hers. She even has framed photos of their stuff on display.Madame Blueberry: [singing] My neighbors have nice things. I've seen them myself.
In fact, I keep pictures up here on my shelf! - Executive Meddling: In-Universe. After the disastrous performance that was The Song of the Cebu, Archibald and the executives cancel all Silly Songs until further notice.
- Hope Spot: Two of them happen one after the other in the climax. As the weight of all the stuff she bought threatens the safety of Madame Blueberry's treehouse, the air compressor being brought up to the house manages to balance out its weight. Bob and the Madame share a relieved laugh... and then the butterfly from before lands on the weather vane, tipping the house over and dropping all the stuff into the lake behind the tree. When Bob points out that the house itself is still intact, the air compressor falls out, snapping the tree back to its original height and flinging the house into the air, where it crashes to pieces in the Stuff Mart parking lot.
- Karma Houdini: No one sues the Stuff-Mart people after what happened to Madame Blueberry's house.
- Last Note Nightmare: Most of the scenes with the butterfly in focus are accompanied by a lovely flute melody. This same melody plays in the climax when it lands on Madame Blueberry's precariously balanced house... only to end on a harsh note when the butterfly's weight ends up tipping the house over and dumping out all the stuff.
- The Last Straw: Happens in the climax of the episode, when a butterfly lands on the weather vane on Madame Blueberry's house, which causes it to tip over and dump out all the stuff that had been stuffed in her house.
- Manly Tears: Bob and Larry cry these during the countertop outro.
- Musical Nod: "His Cheeseburger", heard earlier in this episode, is playing in the Stuff-Mart's food court.
- Piss-Take Rap: The Stuff-Mart salesmen perform the "Stuff-Mart Rap" to get Madame Blueberry to shop at Stuff-Mart.
- Rhyming Episode: Specifically, Jean-Claude's narration near the start and during parts of the shopping montage.
- Shopping Cart Antics: Bob and Madame Blueberry both commandeer shopping carts near the end of the episode, while poor Larry just winds up dragging along a handheld shopping basket instead.
- Stealth Pun:
- The Stuff-Mart salesmen are played by the Scallions. They're rapscallions, and they perform a rap to advertise the wares at the Stuff-Mart.
- During the shopping montage, the Blue Danube is heard in the background.
- Tree Buchet: Happens when the air compressor falls out of Madame Blueberry's house, which causes the house to get flung off in the distance.
- We Sell Everything: Stuff-Mart.
