History AudioPlay / TheFurtherAdventuresOfNickDanger

** ''--Looks like I've solved another one for you, Bradshaw.''

* TheUnreveal: Nick is about to announce his plan to solve the time-travel crisis, but he only gets as far as "All right, everyone, take off your--" before he's cut off by ''Franklin Roosevelt'', announcing [[spoiler:the attack on Pearl Harbor--and the United States' immediate and unconditional surrender to Japan.]]

** This eventually devolves into a [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext fist fight with himself]].

Compared to other Firesign Theatre pieces, the story is relatively straightforward--but ''relatively'' is the operative term here. PrivateDetective Nick Danger, Third Eye (voiced by Phil Austin) is sitting in his office, listening to "the monotonous staccato of rain on my desktop", when he is approached by a suspicious little man, Rocky Roccoco (a PeterLorre expy, voiced by Phil Proctor), who wants to sell him what Nick describes as "a two-bit ring from a [[{{Spoonerism}} Cracker Back Jox]]", and mentions a woman with many names, including Betty Jo Bialosky.

* {{Gayngster}}: Rocky Roccoco (appropriately, as he's an expy of PeterLorre's character Cairo from ''Film/TheMalteseFalcon'')

-->'''Nick:''' Sure Lieutenant is that all?

* BrickJoke: "Well she's no fun she fell right over" [[spoiler: is similar to a line spoken on the other side of the record. Nick then "flips" the record to check his location with reversed audio of the first side playing momentarily.]]

* MundaneMadeAwesome: Rocky Roccoco's dramatically proffered...pickle.

* SdrawkcabAlias: At one point Nick Danger reads the name on his office door as "Regnad Kcin" [[note]] [[DontExplainTheJoke The text on the glass is on the outside the right way, so that's why it's reversed on the side that Nick sees]][[/note]]

* SdrawkcabAlias: At one point Nick Danger reads the name on his office door as "Regnad Kcin"

* BlandNameProduct: "Looseners" is probably a reference to "Lucerne", a major California dairy at the time.
** Since it's a castor-oil breakfast cereal designed to "clean out your whole system", Looseners is probably also a reference to "loose bowels".

* {{Gesundheit}}: At one point, the butler, Catherwood, blurts out [[Music/TheBeatles "Goo goo ga joob"]] and Nick responds "Gesundheit."

-->'''Nick Danger:''' [[IncrediblyLamePun I wonder where Ruth is?]]

* [[NumberOfTheBeast 666]]: "Here's the case I call number 666"

[[redirect:Music/TheFurtherAdventuresOfNickDanger]]

[[quoteright:236:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nick_danger_color_1362.gif]]
[[caption-width-right:236:[[HardboiledDetective This flatfoot]] [[IncrediblyLamePun really gets around...]]]]

->''The makers of Fantastic Cigarettes, long in the leaf and short in the can, bring you another true story from the tattered casebook of Nick Danger, Third Eye. Let's join him now in the adventure we call...Cut ‘em Off at the Past!''

"The Further Adventures of Nick Danger" is a long track from Creator/TheFiresignTheatre's album ''How Can You Be in Two Places at Once, When You're Not Anywhere at All?'', which took up the entire second side of the original vinyl release. A parody of the HardboiledDetective and FilmNoir, as well as old-timey {{Radio}} shows, it remains one of their most popular works.

Compared to other Firesign Theatre pieces, the story is relatively straightforward--but ''relatively'' is the operative term here. PrivateDetective Nick Danger, Third Eye (voiced by Phil Austin) is sitting in his office, listening to "the monotonous staccato of rain on my desktop", when he is approached by a suspicious little man, Rocky Roccoco (a PeterLorre expy, voiced by Phil Proctor), who wants to sell him what Nick describes as "a two-bit ring from a [[{{Spoonerism}} Cracker Back Jox]]", and mentions a woman with many names, including Betty Jo Bialosky.

Nick recognizes that last name as an old college sweetheart (but "[[ShoutOut everyone knew her as]] [[Music/TheBeatles Nancy]]"), and, after time out for a brief flashback, decides to look her up. When he does, she asks for his help. ("You called just in the nick of time!" "You haven't lost your delicate sense of humor, have you, Nancy?" "What?"). Along the way, Nick's footsteps are dogged by the obstructive police detective, Sergeant ("Lieutenant!") Bradshaw (Peter Bergman). Eventually, a time machine gets involved, and things become even more complex and confusing than they already were.

Nick Danger would reappear on subsequent Firesign Theatre albums, including ''Nick Danger: The Case of the Missing Shoe'', and ''The Three Faces of Al'', as well as on one of their videos, ''Nick Danger: The Case of the Missing Yolk''.
----
!! Tropes in this work:
* AlternateHistory: The presidential interruption at the end of the piece makes it clear that the show itself is taking place in an alternate universe where [[spoiler:the US surrendered to Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor]].
* BadassLongcoat: In video versions, Phil Austin would wear the classic trenchcoat and fedora typical of the HardboiledDetective.
* BlandNameProduct: "Looseners" is probably a reference to "Lucerne", a major California dairy at the time.
** Since it's a castor-oil breakfast cereal designed to "clean out your whole system", Looseners is probably also a reference to "loose bowels".
* TheCaseOf: Used in various sequels, like ''Nick Danger: The Case of the Missing Shoe'' and ''Nick Danger: The Case of the Missing Yolk''.
* DetectivePatsy: "Nancy" asks for Nick's help, but really she just wants to [[spoiler:frame him for the murder of Roccoco, who is blackmailing her]].
* EmergencyPresidentialAddress: The moment of climax is cut off by an announcement from the president, declaring that the US has been attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbor and [[spoiler:unconditionally surrenders]].
* FemmeFatale: Betty Jo Bialosky ("Nancy"); at one point she drugs Nick and frames him for [[spoiler:the murder of Rocky Roccoco.]]
* FlashbackBackBack: "No, no, no, no, no, no! You don't understand how radio works. Now, this is my flashback—all I have to do to return us to the present is fade my voice out like this and cue the organist!"
* {{Gayngster}}: Rocky Roccoco (appropriately, as he's an expy of PeterLorre's character Cairo from ''Film/TheMalteseFalcon'')
-->'''Nick (over):''' My nostrils flared at the scent of perfume. Pyramid Patchouli. There was only one joker in L.A. sensitive enough to wear that scent, and I had to find out who he was.
-->'''Roccoco:''' Good afternoon, Mister...''Danger''. My name is Rocky Roccoco.
-->'''Nick (regular voice):''' Thanks, half-pint. You just saved me a lot of investigative work.
* GenderInvertedTrope: A verbal example.
-->'''Catherwood:''' Now then, I suppose you're here to see my mistress, Mister Danger.
-->'''Nick:''' I don't care about your private life or ''what'' his name is.
* {{Gesundheit}}: At one point, the butler, Catherwood, blurts out [[Music/TheBeatles "Goo goo ga joob"]] and Nick responds "Gesundheit."
** And again, when things have spiraled completely out of control and Nancy is fighting herself from the past, we get this one:
--->'''Nancy:''' Have at you!\\
'''Other Nancy:''' Gesundheit!
--->''*Punching sound effects*''
* HardboiledDetective: Nick Danger is a surrealist take on the classic version.
* HostileShowTakeover: Sergeant ("Lieutenant!") Bradshaw attempts this when he thinks he's got the goods on Nick. He has grandiose plans of turning the show into a more action-oriented thriller. [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain And no Jewish writers, either!]]
* HurricaneOfPuns: Like most of the Firesign's works, the piece is full of puns.
-->'''Nick (voice over)''': There was something fishy about the butler. I think he was a Pisces, probably working for scale.
* IHaveManyNames: When Roccoco is quizzing Nick about the woman, he has to go through several of her names ("Melanie Haber?" "Audrey Farber?" "Susan Underhill?"). It isn't until he says "Betty Jo Bialosky" that Nick remembers: "everyone knew her as Nancy." Then Nick goes through the same routine with Catherwood: "Oh, you mean ''Nancy!''"
* InspectorJavert: Lt. Bradshaw is determined to ''get'' Nick, with an eye towards [[HostileShowTakeover taking over the show]]. "You're lucky we didn't burn you on the Anselmo Pederasty case!"
-->'''Nick.''' You caught him, didn't you?
-->'''Bradshaw.''' Yeah, but the punk got away, no thanks to you.
* LarynxDissonance: Since the Firesigns are all men, the voice of "Nancy" is a sort of half-falsetto.
* MediumAwareness: The work is full of this. Nick is aware of his own filtered narration, and asks "how do I make my voice do this?", and when the characters get stuck in a flashback, the butler explains that to escape, he just has to fade his voice out and cue the organist. There are also references to foley effects, like the cellophane used to create the sound of a crackling fire:
-->'''Catherwood:''' Let me introduce myself. I am Nick Danger.
-->'''Nick:''' No, let me introduce ''myself.'' '''I''' am Nick Danger.
-->'''Catherwood:''' If you're so smart, why don't you pick up your cues faster?
-->'''Nick:''' Are those my cues?
-->'''Catherwood:''' Yes, and they must be dry by now. Why don't you pull them up out of the cellophane before they scorch?
* MundaneMadeAwesome: Rocky Roccoco's dramatically proffered...pickle.
* NotBigEnoughForTheTwoOfUs: When time travel leads to a Nancy's past and future selves fighting, they both exclaim, "There ain't room enough in this dress for both of us!"
* OldFlame: Betty Jo Bialosky ("Nancy") went to college with Nick, and they even dated, but when he proposed, she turned him down, and couldn't tell him why. He hadn't seen her since.
* OpeningNarration: Parodying the standards of the genre:
-->'''Narrator:''' Los Angeles: He walks again by night! Relentlessly...Ruthlessly...
-->'''Nick Danger:''' [[IncrediblyLamePun I wonder where Ruth is?]]
-->'''Narrator:''' Doggedly...(dog barks)...towards his weekly meeting with the unknown. At Fourth and Drucker he turns left. At Drucker and Fourth he turns right. He crosses [=MacArthur=] Park and walks into a great sandstone building.
-->'''Nick Danger:''' Ow, my nose!
-->'''Narrator:''' Groping for the door, he steps inside (phone starts ringing)...Climbs the thirteen steps to his office (ring)...He walks in (ring)...He's ready for mystery (ring)...He's ready for excitement (ring)...He's ready for anything (ring)...He's...
-->'''Nick Danger:''' (picking up phone) Nick Danger, Third Eye.
-->'''Caller:''' I want to order a pizza to go and no anchovies.
-->'''Nick Danger:''' No anchovies? You've got the wrong man. I spell my name...Danger! (hangs up phone)
-->'''Caller:''' What?
** Also delivers a BrickJoke in that the "pizza from Nick's" routine started on ''Don't Crush That Dwarf...'', with George [=LeRoy=] Tirebiter playing the role of "Caller".
* PaintingTheMedium: All throughout. Not only do the characters routinely make references to the fact that they're in a radio show (see MediumAwareness), but at the end, Nick also knows that they're on a record album, and has them listen to part of the other side. Backwards.
-->'''Nick:''' It's ok, they're speaking Chinese.
* ParodyCommercial: Lieutenant Bradshaw gives a commercial for Loosener's Castor Oil Flakes "with real glycerin vibrafoam! It doesn't just wash your mouth out--it cleans the whole system, right on down the line."
* PoliceAreUseless: A standard trope of the genre; Sergeant ("Lieutenant!") Bradshaw is not at all interested in the disappearance of "Nancy's" husband, and just wants to ''get'' Nick.
* PrivateEyeMonologue: Nick does this throughout. Lampshaded when he comments, "how do I make my voice do this?" (Later, "Nancy" asks the same question.)
* RunningGag: Nick and others keep referring to police detective Bradshaw as "Sergeant Bradshaw", to which he angrily replies "Lieutenant!" This even happens when he attempts his HostileShowTakeover, and begins imagining the new opening of ''his'' show.
* SdrawkcabAlias: At one point Nick Danger reads the name on his office door as "Regnad Kcin"
* SerialEscalation: After several instances of Sgt. Bradshaw (LIEUTENANT!) asserting his rank, and in the middle of his HostileShowTakeover, we get this gem:
--->'''Narrator''': "The Adventures of Sgt. Bradshaw-"
--->'''Bradshaw''': (angrily) "Lieutenant-"
--->'''Narrator''': "DISTRICT ATTORNEY!"
* ShoutOut:
** The show contains many references from ''Film/TheMalteseFalcon'', but there's an explicit shout-out when Roccoco says, "You may have seen me loitering around the drugstore, drinking Chocolate Malted Falcons and giving away free high schools."
*** Also a reference to Peter Lorre's StarMakingRole: "Oh no! I've been killed! This hasn't happened to me since {{Film/M}}!"
** The character Rocky Roccoco and "everyone knew her as Nancy" are both references to Music/TheBeatles song "Rocky Raccoon".
** BobDylan's "Maggie's Farm" gets referenced as the show returns from commercial:
--->'''Nick (voice over)''': ''I had a head full of ideas that were driving me insane, and a mouthful of...cotton candy?!?''
* [[NumberOfTheBeast 666]]: "Here's the case I call number 666"
* ShowWithinAShow: The whole thing is implied to be one during a ParodyCommercial, when Lt. Bradshaw (voiced by Peter Bergman) says "Now, here in the studio it's all knuckles and know how. But when that red light goes off, I'm just plain Harry Ames: citizen, weekend father."
* TapOnTheHead: Nick gets hit on the head by [[spoiler:Nancy/Betty Jo]]. As he slowly fades into unconsciousness, he begins to hear voices, one of which is the announcer saying, "we'll be back to Nick Danger after these commercial messages".
* ThemeTuneCameo: At one point, Nick begins whistling the theme tune as he "walks the streets by night".
* TheUnreveal: Nick is about to announce his plan to solve the time-travel crisis, but he only gets as far as "All right, everyone, take off your--" before he's cut off by ''Franklin Roosevelt'', announcing [[spoiler:the attack on Pearl Harbor--and the United States' immediate and unconditional surrender to Japan.]]
** ''--Looks like I've solved another one for you, Bradshaw.''
* WhichMe: During a flashback, Nick and his flashback self get confused about who's the current narrator.
** This eventually devolves into a [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext fist fight with himself]].
----

* BlandNameProduct: "Looseners" is probably a reference to "Lucerne", a major California dairy at the time.

* HostileShowTakeover: Sergeant ("Lieutenant!") Bradshaw attempts this when he thinks he's got the goods on Nick. He has grandiose plans of turning the show into a more action-oriented thriller.

* IHaveManyNames: When Roccoco is quizzing Nick about the woman, he has to go through several of her names ("Melanie Haber?" "Audrey Farber?" "Susan Underhill?"). It isn't until he says "Betty Jo Bialosky" that Nick remembers: "everyone knew her as Nancy."

* MediumAwareness: The work is full of this. Nick is aware of his own narration, and asks "how do I make my voice do this?", and when the characters get stuck in a flashback, the butler explains that to escape, he just has to fade his voice out and cue the organist. There are also references to foley effects, like the cellophane used to create the sound of a crackling fire:

* {{Gesundheit}}: At one point, the butler, Catherwood, blurts out [[Music/TheBeatles "Goo goo ga joob"]] and Nick responds "Gesundheit."
** And again, when things have spiraled completely out of control and Nancy is fighting herself from the past, we get this one:
--->'''Nancy:''' Have at you!\\
'''Other Nancy:''' Gesundheit!
--->''*Punching sound effects*''

--->'''Bradshaw (angrily)''': "Lieutenant-"

* FlashBackBackBack: "No, no, no, no, no, no! You don't understand how radio works. Now, this is my flashback—all I have to do to return us to the present is fade my voice out like this and cue the organist!"

** Also delivers a BrickJoke in that the "pizza from Nick's" routine started on ''Don't Crush That Dwarf...'', with George LeRoy Tirebiter playing the role of "Caller".

* RedHerring: Invoked/Parodied when Rocky Roccoco is pulling items out of his brown paper bag and showing them to Nick, one of them is "nothing but a tin of red herrings in heavy oil!"