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* PlanetOfSteves: Every man in Stinky's family is named Stinky.
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* NeverTrustATrailer: The trailers for TheMovie would make you think it was primarily about a block party concert to save the neighborhood. The block party in question is only merely a very brief scene near the beginning of the film that is actually an asbysmal failure for the main characters.
to:
* NeverTrustATrailer: The trailers for TheMovie would make you think it was primarily about a block party concert to save the neighborhood. The block party in question is only merely a very brief scene near the beginning of the film that is actually an asbysmal abysmal failure for the main characters.
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* NeverTrustATrailer: The trailers for TheMovie would make you think it was primarily about a block party concert to save the neighborhood. The block party in question is only merely a very brief scene near the beginning of the film that is actually an asbysmal failure for the main characters.
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* MeanCharacterNiceActor: In universe - Arnold of all people is chosen to play the "black hearted villain" for the titular school play in ''"Eugene, Eugene."'' But so nice is Arnold that he can't go through with the director's ultra-cynical rewrite of the ending in which his character wins and the hero dies totally crushed because it's just too cruel, so he helps scheme to change the ending back into it's original HappyEnding.
to:
* MeanCharacterNiceActor: In universe - Arnold of all people is chosen to play the "black hearted villain" for the titular school play in ''"Eugene, Eugene."'' But so nice is Arnold that he can't go through with the director's ultra-cynical rewrite of the ending in which his character wins and the hero dies totally crushed because it's just too cruel, so he helps scheme to change the ending back into it's its original HappyEnding.
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Not an example of Never Live It Down.
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* NeverLiveItDown: Arnold is given orders by Iggy not to tell anyone that he sleeps in Bunny Pajamas. When asked by his other friends about his visit, he says he found something he wore funny, and they find out, and Arnold, despite his endless to tell Iggy he's sorry, is shunned by him. Eventually, Arnold is forced by Iggy to step out with Bunny Pajamas on, and is soon made at him.
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* NeverLiveItDown: Arnold is given orders by Iggy not to tell anyone that he sleeps in Bunny Pajamas. When asked by his other friends about his visit, he says he found something he wore funny, and they find out, and Arnold, despite his endless to tell Iggy he's sorry, is shunned by him. Eventually, Arnold is forced by Iggy to step out with Bunny Pajamas on, and is soon made at him.
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** Rhonda sometimes gets this in episodes that focus on her. The episode "Rhonda Goes Broke" comes to mind.
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** Rhonda sometimes gets this in episodes that focus on her. The episode "Rhonda Goes Broke" comes to mind. mind.
** Harold, anytime "Ridi Pagliaccio" acts as his LeifMotif
** Harold, anytime "Ridi Pagliaccio" acts as his LeifMotif
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** Harold has the Ridi Pagliaccio aria: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4o5CAV8MKU Look at me Arnold, look at me. I am. I am... a clowno, a Big Fat Ugly Clowno!]]
to:
** Harold has the Ridi Pagliaccio aria: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4o5CAV8MKU Look at me Arnold, look at me. I am. am a.... I am... a clowno, am a... Big, Ugly Clowno, a Big Fat Ugly Clowno!]]
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** Harold has the Ridi Pagliaccio aria: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4o5CAV8MKU Look at me Arnold, look at me. I am. I am... a clowno, a Big Fat Ugly Clowno!]]
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**Rhonda sometimes gets this in episodes that focus on her. The episode "Rhonda Goes Broke" comes to mind.
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** There was originally a tenant at the boarding house named Lana, but she disappeared after season 1, there was supposed to be a subplot with her [[Squick falling in love with Arnold]] unsurprisingly, Nick shot down that idea in a hurry, so Lana was removed as a result.
to:
** There was originally a tenant at the boarding house named Lana, but she disappeared after season 1, there 1. There was supposed to be a subplot with her [[Squick [[{{Squick}} falling in love with Arnold]] Arnold]]; unsurprisingly, Nick shot down that idea in a hurry, so Lana was removed as a result.
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* LoveDodecahedron: ''Weird Cousin'' and ''Arnold visits Arnie'' make one of these where AllLoveIsUnrequited. With both towns combined, we have a chain: Arnold->Lilah->Arnie->Lulu->Arnold->Hilda->Arnie->Helga->Arnold. Graphically, this would resemble a figure-eight.
to:
* LoveDodecahedron: ''Weird Cousin'' and ''Arnold visits Arnie'' make one of these where AllLoveIsUnrequited. With both towns combined, we have a chain: Arnold->Lilah->Arnie->Lulu->Arnold->Hilda->Arnie->Helga->Arnold.Arnold->Lila->Arnie->Lulu->Arnold->Hilda->Arnie->Helga->Arnold. Graphically, this would resemble a figure-eight.
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* LovingAShadow: In ''Helga's Masquerade'', Helga tries to be more like Lila so Arnold would like her more. He does, but only because of thinking of her as Lila.
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* OffscreenTeleportation: Being offscreen most of the time, it's pretty easy for Brainy to do this. Lampshaded in several episodes where he shows up behind Helga in the most ''improbable'' places, such as on Elk Island, the [[spoiler:Supposedly]] haunted train, and in an Alley that Helga ''made sure'' was empty.
** That last one got {{Lampshaded}}:
** That last one got {{Lampshaded}}:
to:
* OffscreenTeleportation: Being offscreen most of the time, it's pretty easy for Brainy to do this. Lampshaded in several episodes where he shows up behind Helga in the most ''improbable'' places, such as on Elk Island, the [[spoiler:Supposedly]] haunted train, ''inside a tree'', and in an Alley that Helga ''made sure'' was empty.
** That last oneempty which got {{Lampshaded}}:
** That last one
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** One time he appeared INSIDE A TREE!
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** That last one got {{Lampshaded}}:
-->'''Helga:''' Look, Brainy, this is just ''weird.'' How is it that you're standing behind me again? How did you get in this little arch? Were you waiting for me to come to this alley? What's your ''deal?''
-->'''Helga:''' Look, Brainy, this is just ''weird.'' How is it that you're standing behind me again? How did you get in this little arch? Were you waiting for me to come to this alley? What's your ''deal?''
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Unfinished Pot Hole tag
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* MadLibsCatchPhrase: Phoebe's "[verb]-ing!" in response to Helga asking her to do things. Most often it's "forgetting!" whenever she and Helga have a conversation that [[LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain "never happened." Helga borrows it in "Phoebe Breaks a Leg" as part of the HourglassPlot.
to:
* MadLibsCatchPhrase: Phoebe's "[verb]-ing!" in response to Helga asking her to do things. Most often it's "forgetting!" whenever she and Helga have a conversation that [[LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain "never happened." "]] Helga borrows it in "Phoebe Breaks a Leg" as part of the HourglassPlot.
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* MadLibsCatchPhrase: Phoebe's "[verb]-ing!" in response to Helga asking her to do things. Most often it's "forgetting!" whenever she and Helga have a conversation that [[LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain "never happened." Helga borrows it in "Phoebe Breaks a Leg."
to:
* MadLibsCatchPhrase: Phoebe's "[verb]-ing!" in response to Helga asking her to do things. Most often it's "forgetting!" whenever she and Helga have a conversation that [[LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain "never happened." Helga borrows it in "Phoebe Breaks a Leg."Leg" as part of the HourglassPlot.
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* MadLibsCatchPhrase: Phoebe's "[verb]-ing!" in response to Helga asking her to do things. Most often it's "forgetting!" whenever she and Helga have a conversation that [[LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain "never happened." Helga borrows it in "Phoebe Breaks a Leg."
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Big Beautiful Woman is about fat women.
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** Ernie, the construction worker that lives at the Sunset Arms. He's so short that he can fit into a briefcase (as demonstrated in the [[GameShow "Fighting Families"]] episode). Played with in "Ernie In Love," in which he falls for the [[BigBeautifulWoman Large and Lovely]] fashion model, Lola. He also takes a bit too much pride in his work - demolishing skyscrapers and other ''tall'' buildings.
to:
** Ernie, the construction worker that lives at the Sunset Arms. He's so short that he can fit into a briefcase (as demonstrated in the [[GameShow "Fighting Families"]] episode). Played with in "Ernie In Love," in which he falls for the [[BigBeautifulWoman Large the tall and Lovely]] Lovely fashion model, Lola. He also takes a bit too much pride in his work - demolishing skyscrapers and other ''tall'' buildings.
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* ObliviousToLove: Arnold, big time. This is actually subverted in a couple of later episodes where it is implied that his ''subconscious'' knows that Helga is in love with him and is trying to get him to figure it out. Justified because he might be a little reluctant and uncomfortable being involved with someone who has given so much grief over the years...and does it ''right'' after being nice to him. He at least, however, generally shows that he knows she is a much nicer person that she lets on.
to:
* ObliviousToLove: ObliviousToLove:
** Arnold, big time. This is actually subverted in a couple of later episodes where it is implied that his ''subconscious'' knows that Helga is in love with him and is trying to get him to figure it out. Justified because he might be a little reluctant and uncomfortable being involved with someone who has given so much grief over the years...and does it ''right'' after being nice to him. He at least, however, generally shows that he knows she is a much nicer person that she lets on.
** Arnold, big time. This is actually subverted in a couple of later episodes where it is implied that his ''subconscious'' knows that Helga is in love with him and is trying to get him to figure it out. Justified because he might be a little reluctant and uncomfortable being involved with someone who has given so much grief over the years...and does it ''right'' after being nice to him. He at least, however, generally shows that he knows she is a much nicer person that she lets on.
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* ObliviousToLove: Arnold, big time. This is actually subverted in a couple of later episodes where it is implied that his ''subconscious'' knows that Helga is in love with him and is trying to get him to figure it out. Justified because he might be a little reluctant and uncomfortable being involved with someone who has given so much grief over the years...and does it ''right'' after being nice to him.
to:
* ObliviousToLove: Arnold, big time. This is actually subverted in a couple of later episodes where it is implied that his ''subconscious'' knows that Helga is in love with him and is trying to get him to figure it out. Justified because he might be a little reluctant and uncomfortable being involved with someone who has given so much grief over the years...and does it ''right'' after being nice to him. He at least, however, generally shows that he knows she is a much nicer person that she lets on.
** Helga, meanwhile, seems totally oblivious to Brainy's crush on her - even after he tries to give her a ring.
** Helga, meanwhile, seems totally oblivious to Brainy's crush on her - even after he tries to give her a ring.
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** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in the episode "Old Iron Man" where, while under the impression that they're going to die in the water, Phil and his friend Jimmy Kafka exchange various expressions for death, such as "going to Davy Jones' locker" and "waking up to the deep sleep". Phil comes up with "The Last Tango in Paris" which Kafka criticizes since it's not a euphemism for dying.
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** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in the episode "Old Iron Man" where, while under the impression that they're going to die in the water, Phil and his friend Jimmy Kafka exchange various expressions for death, such as "going to Davy Jones' locker" and "waking up to the deep sleep". Phil comes up with "The Last Tango in Paris" which Kafka criticizes since it's not for "not being a euphemism for dying.dying".
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* NoAccountingForTaste: For some unexplained reason, Lila ''like'' likes Arnold's weird cousin Arnie.
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* NoAccountingForTaste: For some unexplained reason, Lila ''like'' likes Arnold's weird cousin Arnie. This also applies to Suzie's marriage to Oskar.
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** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in the episode "Old Iron Man" where, while under the impression that they're going to die in the water, Phil and his friend Jimmy Kafka exchange various expressions for death, such as "going to Davy Jones' locker" and "waking up to the deep sleep". Phil comes up with "The Last Tango in Paris" which Kafka criticizes since it's not a euphemism for dying.
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* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: The series is now hard to see on US TV nowaday, and is only watchable via Digital Downloads and On Demand (Via Nick Rewind section in both ways). Other countries, though, still air the show.
** Amazon did release all five seasons on DVD via "Create-a-Space", though the later seasons quickly went out of print in a few years and now usually sell for [[CrackIsCheaper ''hundreds of dollars]]
** One aversion is that the series is available on Netflix Instant, although a few random episodes are inexplicably missing (the most notable being the important "Parent's Day").
** Due to be averted in America thanks to The90sAreAllThat, starting September 5.
*** Creator/ShoutFactory has [=DVDs=] of the first season and a half.
** Amazon did release all five seasons on DVD via "Create-a-Space", though the later seasons quickly went out of print in a few years and now usually sell for [[CrackIsCheaper ''hundreds of dollars]]
** One aversion is that the series is available on Netflix Instant, although a few random episodes are inexplicably missing (the most notable being the important "Parent's Day").
** Due to be averted in America thanks to The90sAreAllThat, starting September 5.
*** Creator/ShoutFactory has [=DVDs=] of the first season and a half.
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** Amazon did release all five seasons on DVD via "Create-a-Space", though the later seasons quickly went out of print in a few years and now usually sell for [[CrackIsCheaper ''hundreds of dollars]]
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* JerkAss: Big Bob, The Jolly-Olly Man, Oskar Kokoshka, Jaime O, Nick Vermicelli, and Wolfgang consistently. Alot of the kids (Helga, Harold, Sid, Stinky, Rhonda, etc.) have their moments frequently as well.
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* JerkAss: Big Bob, The Jolly-Olly Man, Oskar Kokoshka, Jaime O, Nick Vermicelli, and Wolfgang consistently. Alot of the kids (Helga, Harold, Sid, Stinky, Rhonda, etc.) have their moments frequently as well. There are also several one-time characters that are like this(Doug, the Jolly-Olly Man's father, Frankie G, Ludwig, The Sewer King, etc)
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* JerkAss: Big Bob, The Jolly-Olly Man, Oskar Kokoshka, Jaime O, and Wolfgang consistently. Alot of the kids (Helga, Harold, Sid, Stinky, Rhonda, etc.) have their moments frequently as well.
to:
* JerkAss: Big Bob, The Jolly-Olly Man, Oskar Kokoshka, Jaime O, Nick Vermicelli, and Wolfgang consistently. Alot of the kids (Helga, Harold, Sid, Stinky, Rhonda, etc.) have their moments frequently as well.
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** There was originally a tenant at the boarding house named Lana, but she disappeared after season 1 when they couldn't think of a personality for her.
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** There was originally a tenant at the boarding house named Lana, but she disappeared after season 1 when they couldn't think of 1, there was supposed to be a personality for her.subplot with her [[Squick falling in love with Arnold]] unsurprisingly, Nick shot down that idea in a hurry, so Lana was removed as a result.
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* PinkGirlBlueBoy: Helga and Arnold.
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* PinkGirlBlueBoy: Helga and Arnold.
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* PinkGirlBlueBoy: Helga and Arnold.
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** As well as the other tenant Mr. Smith, who was put on a helicopter.
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** As well as the other tenant Mr. Smith, who was put on a helicopter.
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* JerkAss: Big Bob, The Jolly-Olly Man, Oskar Kokoshka, Jaime O, and Wolfgang consistently. Alot of the kids (Helga, Harold, Sid, Stinky, Rhonda, etc.) have their moments frequently as well.
* JerkJock: Wolfgang, and most of the fifth-graders.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Helga, Big Patty, Harold, Stoop Kid, and (buried ''quite'' deep) Big Bob.
* TheJinx: Eugene. To him, however, Arnold is the jinx since almost everything bad that happens to him happens whenever Arnold is around.
* KangarooCourt[=/=]JokerJury: In "False Alarm", which makes Arnold's vindication of [[spoiler:Eugene]] that much more effective.
* KafkaKomedy: Almost any moment with [[TheChewToy Eugene]] falls under this.
* KarmaHoudini: Most of the bullies never get punished by adults. A lot of people do some very rude/mean things and get away with it. ''Especially'' the older kids like Wolfgang. Only once do we see a couple of them get told off or called out on their actions...and they were one-shot characters with no names.
** [[TearJerker Tearjerkingly]] [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructed]] in "Helga and the Nanny". When Miriam gets a new job, Helga’s parents hire a nanny named Inga to look after Helga. However, while Inga actually cares for Helga, Helga feels as though Inga is trying to control her life, especially when Inga calls her out on her bad behavior, telling her that sewing is a sane way to canalize anger. Finally, Helga loses her paitence completely, and [[MoralEventHorizon frames Inga for theft]]...only to be surprised when the other kids call her out. Inga is fired and has to return to her country. When Helga finds her, her guilt gets the better of her, and she confesses to the framing, only for Inga to tell her she knew it all the time. Helga is confused as to why she is getting off scot-free, until Inga explains that she is not: at the end of the day, Helga is nothing but an angry and sad kid, who damages those who care about her, and because of that she cannot be happy. The show ends with Helga in her unhappy home, sadly sewing something, realizing that her actions have cost her a happy home and someone who cares about her.
* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: The series is now hard to see on US TV nowaday, and is only watchable via Digital Downloads and On Demand (Via Nick Rewind section in both ways). Other countries, though, still air the show.
** One aversion is that the series is available on Netflix Instant, although a few random episodes are inexplicably missing (the most notable being the important "Parent's Day").
** Due to be averted in America thanks to The90sAreAllThat, starting September 5.
*** Creator/ShoutFactory has [=DVDs=] of the first season and a half.
* KidsAreCruel: If a kid is not the [[DayInTheLimelight focus of the episode]], chances are they will be part of a crowd, laughing at the current protagonist's misfortune.
* KnowYourVines: The early camping episode ended with Big Bob Pataki rushing through a small bush to get back to his campsite after a disastrous hike, cutting off Arnold telling them to go around it. This bush was poison ivy, causing him more misery.
* LampshadeHanging: Later episodes (and Gerald specifically) liked to point out Arnold's [[ChronicHeroSyndrome need to go out of his way to help people]].
* LargeHam:
** Helga, of the theatrically melodramatic variety, and Curly, of the [[AxCrazy violently disturbed]] variety.
** Gerald, whenever he's reciting one of his beloved UrbanLegends.
** The Jolly Olly Man also can also outclass Curly as a [[AxCrazy dangerous lunatic]]
* LaserGuidedKarma: In "Phoebe's Little Problem", Harold is the only one who still makes fun of Phoebe after she vindicates herself at the end of the episode (as well as probably being the one who made fun of her the most throughout the episode). He then wets his pants at the end of the episode, becoming the new ButtMonkey.
** Big Bob always falls victim to this.
* LastDayToLive: Helga gets kissed by a monkey and believes that she has contracted monkeynucleosis. She believes she's going to die and soon finds herself on her death bed, her health failing. She decides to tell everyone exactly what she really thinks of them and give them her stuff. Eventually, she brings Arnold into her room to tell him her true feelings, but before she can her friend barges in and reveals that monkeynucleosis doesn't really exist and that Helga won't die after all. And thus, Helga's secret lives on.
** In the pilot (later remade into the episode "24 Hours To Live"), when Arnold thought he was going to be beaten to a pulp by Harold the next day, Helga followed him around and shouted "_hours, _minutes, and _seconds until you DIE!" to illustrate the point.
** Also in the episode Grandpa's Birthday, where Grandpa believes he will die the moment he turns 81, according to family history.
* LeftHanging: Will Arnold ever find his parents? We'll never know.
* LeitMotif: Violins tend to start playing whenever Helga's "soft side" is shown. Also, there's a "Helga loves Arnold" theme that plays sometimes when she's goes on one of her love rants or has a special moment with him. This theme is usually played on violin, but there are some interesting variations. For instance, it's a bass riff in the DisneyAcidSequence of "Helga's Love Potion", and it gets a full orchestral upgrade in the movie when she kisses Arnold.
** Several other characters have LeitMotif as well. Phoebe has one that is apparently, interestingly enough, a faster and slightly modified version of Helga's theme.
** Oskar Kokoshka has a theme as well, and is apparently the only one of the boarders with a theme of their own. It plays particularly when he's being especially sneaky.
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWbGcTxauNs Grandpa Phil]] has a theme as well, that features heavily whenever he has a flashback to his youth.
* LikesOlderWomen: Arnold, who's in fourth grade has had crushes on Ruth (a brunette girl with braces) and Maria who are sixth graders, and his teacher Ms. Felter.
* LimitedWardrobe: Roughly 90% of the time, the kids are in the same clothes. There are quite a few episodes that subvert this, however.
** Justified in Helga's case.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: All of Arnold's classmates, their families, and the people living in the boarding house.
* LongLostRelative: Mai Hyunh, Mr. Hyunh's daughter. They were separated during the chaos of the Vietnam War. The ChristmasEpisode centered around Arnold finding his daughter and reuniting them for Christmas.
* LoveDodecahedron: ''Weird Cousin'' and ''Arnold visits Arnie'' make one of these where AllLoveIsUnrequited. With both towns combined, we have a chain: Arnold->Lilah->Arnie->Lulu->Arnold->Hilda->Arnie->Helga->Arnold. Graphically, this would resemble a figure-eight.
** However, one must also consider that [[spoiler: "Arnold Vists Arnie" is AllJustADream, so it is unlikely that Lulu and Hilda actually exist, and they are more likely Arnold's subconscious representations of Lila and Helga]].
** Not that the actual shape of love between the non-dream characters is much better. At it's most convoluted it's around this: Brainy has a crush on Helga, who has a crush on Arnold, who has a crush on Lila, who has a crush on Arnie, who got a crush on Helga instead.
* LoveMakesYouCrazy: Helga, Brainy, Arnold, the whole series centers on unrequited love that indeed makes the characters crazy.
** Amusingly, love is also the only thing that consistently makes Arnold act in ways his conscience would normally disagree with, especially later on in the show when he's almost exclusively squeaky clean.
* LovesMyAlterEgo: Arnold, Helga, and "Cecile" make this a very odd incarnation of the trope.
* MagicRealism: Pigeon Man, as well as Eugene's excessively bad luck.
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: In many episodes, the characters will investigate an urban legend. Almost every time something related to the tale comes up, a logical explanation for it is provided seconds later. Toward the end of the episode, they decide it was all just a story and don't believe it, only to have the episode conclude with a heavy implication or just blatant proof that the legend was true.
* MeanCharacterNiceActor: In universe - Arnold of all people is chosen to play the "black hearted villain" for the titular school play in ''"Eugene, Eugene."'' But so nice is Arnold that he can't go through with the director's ultra-cynical rewrite of the ending in which his character wins and the hero dies totally crushed because it's just too cruel, so he helps scheme to change the ending back into it's original HappyEnding.
* MeaningfulName: Eugene's name is ironic in that it means 'born lucky'.
* {{Meganekko}}: Phoebe.
* TheMessiah: Arnold. For that matter Lila, although she came off as an intentional [[PuritySue parody]].
* MightyWhitey: Arnold's adventuring parents.
* MillionToOneChance
* MiracleRally
* MirrorUniverse: "Arnold Visits Arnie"
* TheMovie: [[strike: Was a bomb.]] Was actually quite profitable. In fact, according to box office revenue, the film made $15 million on just a $3 million budget. Sure, it wasn't a box office smash hit, but it made a profit of $12 million. Now with the critics, yes, it did bomb.
** One little detail, though: the film's promotional budget was around ''$13 million''. Yep, that's over 4 times the amount it cost them to make the movie itself. That means that overall, there was a net loss of ''$1 million''.
* MrImagination: Arnold, during the first season.
* MundaneFantastic
* MusicalEpisode: "What's Opera, Arnold?" and "Eugene, Eugene!".
* MyNameIsNotDurwood: Helga's father always calls her by her sister's name, Olga.
* MysteriousInformant
* NakedPeopleAreFunny: Arnold's grandma surfs with a group of nudists in "[[BeachEpisode Summer Love]]".
--> '''Grandma:''' (''walking by with a surfboard obscuring her'') Up the establishment!
--> '''Grandpa:''' Aw, Pookie, nobody wants to see ''that''!
--> '''Grandma:''' (''laughing'')
* MythologyGag: In the episode "Monkey Business" Helga gives away her sousaphone when she thinks she's gonna die from monkeynucleosis. In the original Arnold claymation shorts, she played a sousaphone in Arnold's band.
* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous:
** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskar_Kokoschka Oskar Kokoschka]] should consider being an artist.
** "New Bully On The Block" Introduces [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart Wolfgang's]] rival: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethoven Ludwig]]. There's a bit of Fridge Brilliance when it's shown that they're forced to engage in art activities such as dance and oboe.
* TheNapoleon:
** Ernie, the construction worker that lives at the Sunset Arms. He's so short that he can fit into a briefcase (as demonstrated in the [[GameShow "Fighting Families"]] episode). Played with in "Ernie In Love," in which he falls for the [[BigBeautifulWoman Large and Lovely]] fashion model, Lola. He also takes a bit too much pride in his work - demolishing skyscrapers and other ''tall'' buildings.
** Helga also calls Arnold this in "Phoebe Takes the Fall".
* NearDeathExperience
* NerdsAreSexy: Gerald thinks this about Phoebe.
* NeverLearnedToRead: Oskar, until Arnold helped him.
* NeverMessWithGranny: Sure, Arnold's grandma may be a little nuts, but if provoked, she will kick your ass.
* NeverSayDie: Mostly averted, as several episodes featured death as a plot device (ie: Dino faked his death in attempt to sell more records, Grandpa spent an episode thinking he was about to die, Sid thought he murdered Principal Wartz, and a few other examples). However, when they make allusions to the afterlife, they sometimes mention heaven by name, but always use a euphemism in place of the word "hell," leading to quotes like this:
--> '''Grandpa:''' ''(after thinking he died)'' Well, that's it, I must be in heaven. Oh no! Oskar's here! This must be the other place!
** However, he ''does'' say "die" after finding out he's not going to kick the bucket for another 10 years.
** "HEY ARNOLD! 24 HOURS UNTIL YOU DIIIEEE!!!"
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Arnold does this to Lila's heart when he reveals that he doesn't ''like'' "like" her, and regrets it afterwards because he realizes that he does genuinely like her after the fact.
* TheNicknamer: Helga, who has a name for everybody: "Football Head", "Hair Boy", and "Arnoldo" (among ''many'' others) for Arnold; "''Tall'' Hair Boy" and "Geraldo" for Gerald; "Pink Boy" for Harold; "Princess" and "Rhondaloid" for Rhonda; "Stinko" for Stinky; "Little Miss Perfect" for Lila. Even her best friend Phoebe isn't immune: Helga usually calls her "Pheebs", but at least that one's pretty common.
* NoAccountingForTaste: For some unexplained reason, Lila ''like'' likes Arnold's weird cousin Arnie.
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Dino Spumoni is a poor man's FrankSinatra.
* NoirEpisode: ''Grandpa's Packard''.
* NoNameGiven: The main character himself. "Arnold...um, the last name's kind of smudged..."
** His last name is [[spoiler:Shortman]]. [[WordOfGod The creator confirmed it.]]
* NoSwastikas: In [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teB_OOvmZDE Grandpa's war story]], all of the Germans wear arm bands with frowny faces. The major's hat even has an eagle gripping a frowny face.
* NotInFrontOfTheParrot: In "Helga's Parrot," the parrot nearly divulges Helga's secret because it's remembered one of Helga's poems. Luckily, [[spoiler: the parrot is devoured]] before it can say anything.
* NotMyLuckyDay:
** Not Eugene's lucky ''life''.
** "The List", where Arnold has a huge organized list with plans for an awesome day, but everything goes wrong. The song his Grandma sings cheers him up though.
* ObfuscatingDisability:
** One episode had Phoebe taking advantage of Helga's niceness when she thought she broke a leg, via using a fake cast.
** Helga also fakes blindness in "April Fools Day" to get revenge on Arnold for his prank on her.
** Helga also fakes amnesia in "Beaned" to get a guilty Arnold to take care of her.
* ObliviousToLove: Arnold, big time. This is actually subverted in a couple of later episodes where it is implied that his ''subconscious'' knows that Helga is in love with him and is trying to get him to figure it out. Justified because he might be a little reluctant and uncomfortable being involved with someone who has given so much grief over the years...and does it ''right'' after being nice to him.
* OddballDoppelganger: Arnold's cousin Arnie. Later in the series, an episode shows there is a whole group of odd counterparts to every other character in the series. Well, [[AllJustADream maybe.]]
* OddFriendship: Rhonda and Nadine. Rhonda is a stuck-up primadonna and is into fashion, which Nadine isn't. Nadine is much more down to earth and is fascinated with bugs and arachnids, which gross Rhonda out. But despite this, they've been best friends since they were four years old.
* OffhandBackhand: Helga frequently does this to Brainy.
* OffscreenTeleportation: Being offscreen most of the time, it's pretty easy for Brainy to do this. Lampshaded in several episodes where he shows up behind Helga in the most ''improbable'' places, such as on Elk Island, the [[spoiler:Supposedly]] haunted train, and in an Alley that Helga ''made sure'' was empty.
** One time he appeared INSIDE A TREE!
* OneeSama: In a rare Western example of this trope, Lila quickly develops this dynamic with Olga due to their similarities. To the point where Helga, who usually can't stand Olga, actually becomes jealous, proving AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther.
* OneSideOfTheStory: One {{Rashomon}}-tribute episode.
* OneSteveLimit:
** It's explicitly mentioned once that there is only one "Arnold" in the school. {{Averted}}, however, by his cousin Arnie.
** One episode also features Arnold going around the neighborhood, calling for his pet pig Abner, only for a confused man to stick his head out of his window and repeatedly call "What?!"
** "Helga" and "Olga" are actually just different translations of the same name: German and Russian, respectively.
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Patty is called "Big Patty" until Harold stands up for her and tells Sid and Stinky to stop making fun of her and call her Patty.
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: When Grandma starts acting serious you know something is wrong.
* OperationJealousy:
** Helga somehow convinces Arnold to do this with her to make Lila jealous.
** Also done when Helga "dates" Stinky in an attempt to make Arnold jealous.
* TheOtherDarrin: Played straight with Arnold who had five different voice actors (J.D. Daniels, Toran Caudell, Phillip Van Dyke, Spencer Klein, and Alex D. Linz), but averted surprisingly well with Gerald who had an episode about his voice changing just so they could continue to use his voice actor Jamil Walker Smith after his voice changed.
* OutOfFocus: One of the things that went wrong with TheMovie.
* PantyShot: Helga in "Downtown As Fruits". There are upskirt shots of her white panties under her dress and milk carton costume when she comes on stage to stall, and inform the audience of the missing fruits in the play (Arnold as a banana, Gerald as a strawberry), when she gets stuck after being sent flying across the stage from Arnold and Gerald's entrance and when she's trying to free her own head from the hole of the carton.
* ParentalBonus: "Oscar Kokoshka" was also the name of a real life modernist artist.
* ParentalFavoritism: Strong in the Pataki family; [[TheAce Olga]] is praised for her accomplishments and is given more attention than Helga, which causes a one-sided strain between the two. Olga actually wished she could be like Helga, without all the fussing and attention.
* PassiveAggressiveKombat: Mr. Simmons' [[spoiler:boy]]friend Peter and Mr. Simmons' mother indulge in a bit of this during the Thanksgiving episode.
* PersonalRaincloud: Happens at the surprise birthday party Arnold throws for Eugene.
* PhraseCatcher: "Whatever you say, Helga." Usually said by Arnold, but has occasionally been said by a few other characters, like Gerald.
** Also "You're a bold kid, Arnold," or some variation. Also counts as a CatchPhrase, because it's only ever said by Gerald.
* PlaceboEffect: In "Helga's Love Potion", Helga drinks a potion to make her fall out of love with Arnold. [[GoneHorriblyRight It worked, but then she desperately wanted to reverse the effects of it because she felt empty]]. [[spoiler: She was cured when she found out that all she drank was some grape soda]].
* PoisonousFriend: Helga, at times. Though she often means well in situations where she is made to help others, her idea of the right way to do something is a little... skewed. In episodes where she gives advice or puts down a plan of action, chances are that plan will be harsh, immoral, and ultimately not helpful. She lampshades it in "Deconstructing Arnold" while explaining to Arnold why he is the right person to give advice and she... isn't.
--> Helga: ''(cheerfully)'' Look at me! I'm terrible at helping others. I'm the worst! I have no moral conscience whatsoever.
* ThePollyanna:
** Eugene's optimism is almost frightening, given his bad luck.
** Also Lila, who is devistatingly poor and has a MissingMom, but always smiles and acts polite. This makes sense when you realize that Lila is now taking on the responsibility of caring for her father all by herself at the age of nine. This is already a tough task as an adult, but as a child it has to be even more difficult. Also considering that she doesn't want her father to worry about any of this forces Lila to smile and keep her real feelings tucked away. Much like in real life, Lila is an excellent example of what can happen if a child is burdened with a heavy load at such a young age [[spoiler: [[WordOfGod considering her repressed dark side.]] See StepfordSmiler below.]]
* PostRobberyTrauma: "Mugged" and "Monkeyman".
* PottyFailure: In "Phoebe's Little Problem" [[spoiler:Harold wets his pants in front of the whole school.]]
* ProductPlacement:
** Harold has ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' posters in his room in the episode "Weighing Harold". Said show premiered shortly after this episode aired.
** You can actually spot CatDog in the background a couple times.
* PutMeInCoach: Arnold and the basketball coach.
* PutOnABus: Arnold would have been put on one in the never-made SpinOff ''The Patakis'', ostensibly so that the focus could be put on Helga. [[SpotlightStealingSquad Plenty of focus was already on Helga]], the real reason was that with Arnold gone [[spoiler:(after having [[AllThereInTheManual dated her for years]])]], she could be [[TheWoobie miserable]] again.
** There was originally a tenant at the boarding house named Lana, but she disappeared after season 1 when they couldn't think of a personality for her.
** As well as the other tenant Mr. Smith, who was put on a helicopter.
* JerkJock: Wolfgang, and most of the fifth-graders.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Helga, Big Patty, Harold, Stoop Kid, and (buried ''quite'' deep) Big Bob.
* TheJinx: Eugene. To him, however, Arnold is the jinx since almost everything bad that happens to him happens whenever Arnold is around.
* KangarooCourt[=/=]JokerJury: In "False Alarm", which makes Arnold's vindication of [[spoiler:Eugene]] that much more effective.
* KafkaKomedy: Almost any moment with [[TheChewToy Eugene]] falls under this.
* KarmaHoudini: Most of the bullies never get punished by adults. A lot of people do some very rude/mean things and get away with it. ''Especially'' the older kids like Wolfgang. Only once do we see a couple of them get told off or called out on their actions...and they were one-shot characters with no names.
** [[TearJerker Tearjerkingly]] [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructed]] in "Helga and the Nanny". When Miriam gets a new job, Helga’s parents hire a nanny named Inga to look after Helga. However, while Inga actually cares for Helga, Helga feels as though Inga is trying to control her life, especially when Inga calls her out on her bad behavior, telling her that sewing is a sane way to canalize anger. Finally, Helga loses her paitence completely, and [[MoralEventHorizon frames Inga for theft]]...only to be surprised when the other kids call her out. Inga is fired and has to return to her country. When Helga finds her, her guilt gets the better of her, and she confesses to the framing, only for Inga to tell her she knew it all the time. Helga is confused as to why she is getting off scot-free, until Inga explains that she is not: at the end of the day, Helga is nothing but an angry and sad kid, who damages those who care about her, and because of that she cannot be happy. The show ends with Helga in her unhappy home, sadly sewing something, realizing that her actions have cost her a happy home and someone who cares about her.
* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: The series is now hard to see on US TV nowaday, and is only watchable via Digital Downloads and On Demand (Via Nick Rewind section in both ways). Other countries, though, still air the show.
** One aversion is that the series is available on Netflix Instant, although a few random episodes are inexplicably missing (the most notable being the important "Parent's Day").
** Due to be averted in America thanks to The90sAreAllThat, starting September 5.
*** Creator/ShoutFactory has [=DVDs=] of the first season and a half.
* KidsAreCruel: If a kid is not the [[DayInTheLimelight focus of the episode]], chances are they will be part of a crowd, laughing at the current protagonist's misfortune.
* KnowYourVines: The early camping episode ended with Big Bob Pataki rushing through a small bush to get back to his campsite after a disastrous hike, cutting off Arnold telling them to go around it. This bush was poison ivy, causing him more misery.
* LampshadeHanging: Later episodes (and Gerald specifically) liked to point out Arnold's [[ChronicHeroSyndrome need to go out of his way to help people]].
* LargeHam:
** Helga, of the theatrically melodramatic variety, and Curly, of the [[AxCrazy violently disturbed]] variety.
** Gerald, whenever he's reciting one of his beloved UrbanLegends.
** The Jolly Olly Man also can also outclass Curly as a [[AxCrazy dangerous lunatic]]
* LaserGuidedKarma: In "Phoebe's Little Problem", Harold is the only one who still makes fun of Phoebe after she vindicates herself at the end of the episode (as well as probably being the one who made fun of her the most throughout the episode). He then wets his pants at the end of the episode, becoming the new ButtMonkey.
** Big Bob always falls victim to this.
* LastDayToLive: Helga gets kissed by a monkey and believes that she has contracted monkeynucleosis. She believes she's going to die and soon finds herself on her death bed, her health failing. She decides to tell everyone exactly what she really thinks of them and give them her stuff. Eventually, she brings Arnold into her room to tell him her true feelings, but before she can her friend barges in and reveals that monkeynucleosis doesn't really exist and that Helga won't die after all. And thus, Helga's secret lives on.
** In the pilot (later remade into the episode "24 Hours To Live"), when Arnold thought he was going to be beaten to a pulp by Harold the next day, Helga followed him around and shouted "_hours, _minutes, and _seconds until you DIE!" to illustrate the point.
** Also in the episode Grandpa's Birthday, where Grandpa believes he will die the moment he turns 81, according to family history.
* LeftHanging: Will Arnold ever find his parents? We'll never know.
* LeitMotif: Violins tend to start playing whenever Helga's "soft side" is shown. Also, there's a "Helga loves Arnold" theme that plays sometimes when she's goes on one of her love rants or has a special moment with him. This theme is usually played on violin, but there are some interesting variations. For instance, it's a bass riff in the DisneyAcidSequence of "Helga's Love Potion", and it gets a full orchestral upgrade in the movie when she kisses Arnold.
** Several other characters have LeitMotif as well. Phoebe has one that is apparently, interestingly enough, a faster and slightly modified version of Helga's theme.
** Oskar Kokoshka has a theme as well, and is apparently the only one of the boarders with a theme of their own. It plays particularly when he's being especially sneaky.
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWbGcTxauNs Grandpa Phil]] has a theme as well, that features heavily whenever he has a flashback to his youth.
* LikesOlderWomen: Arnold, who's in fourth grade has had crushes on Ruth (a brunette girl with braces) and Maria who are sixth graders, and his teacher Ms. Felter.
* LimitedWardrobe: Roughly 90% of the time, the kids are in the same clothes. There are quite a few episodes that subvert this, however.
** Justified in Helga's case.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: All of Arnold's classmates, their families, and the people living in the boarding house.
* LongLostRelative: Mai Hyunh, Mr. Hyunh's daughter. They were separated during the chaos of the Vietnam War. The ChristmasEpisode centered around Arnold finding his daughter and reuniting them for Christmas.
* LoveDodecahedron: ''Weird Cousin'' and ''Arnold visits Arnie'' make one of these where AllLoveIsUnrequited. With both towns combined, we have a chain: Arnold->Lilah->Arnie->Lulu->Arnold->Hilda->Arnie->Helga->Arnold. Graphically, this would resemble a figure-eight.
** However, one must also consider that [[spoiler: "Arnold Vists Arnie" is AllJustADream, so it is unlikely that Lulu and Hilda actually exist, and they are more likely Arnold's subconscious representations of Lila and Helga]].
** Not that the actual shape of love between the non-dream characters is much better. At it's most convoluted it's around this: Brainy has a crush on Helga, who has a crush on Arnold, who has a crush on Lila, who has a crush on Arnie, who got a crush on Helga instead.
* LoveMakesYouCrazy: Helga, Brainy, Arnold, the whole series centers on unrequited love that indeed makes the characters crazy.
** Amusingly, love is also the only thing that consistently makes Arnold act in ways his conscience would normally disagree with, especially later on in the show when he's almost exclusively squeaky clean.
* LovesMyAlterEgo: Arnold, Helga, and "Cecile" make this a very odd incarnation of the trope.
* MagicRealism: Pigeon Man, as well as Eugene's excessively bad luck.
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: In many episodes, the characters will investigate an urban legend. Almost every time something related to the tale comes up, a logical explanation for it is provided seconds later. Toward the end of the episode, they decide it was all just a story and don't believe it, only to have the episode conclude with a heavy implication or just blatant proof that the legend was true.
* MeanCharacterNiceActor: In universe - Arnold of all people is chosen to play the "black hearted villain" for the titular school play in ''"Eugene, Eugene."'' But so nice is Arnold that he can't go through with the director's ultra-cynical rewrite of the ending in which his character wins and the hero dies totally crushed because it's just too cruel, so he helps scheme to change the ending back into it's original HappyEnding.
* MeaningfulName: Eugene's name is ironic in that it means 'born lucky'.
* {{Meganekko}}: Phoebe.
* TheMessiah: Arnold. For that matter Lila, although she came off as an intentional [[PuritySue parody]].
* MightyWhitey: Arnold's adventuring parents.
* MillionToOneChance
* MiracleRally
* MirrorUniverse: "Arnold Visits Arnie"
* TheMovie: [[strike: Was a bomb.]] Was actually quite profitable. In fact, according to box office revenue, the film made $15 million on just a $3 million budget. Sure, it wasn't a box office smash hit, but it made a profit of $12 million. Now with the critics, yes, it did bomb.
** One little detail, though: the film's promotional budget was around ''$13 million''. Yep, that's over 4 times the amount it cost them to make the movie itself. That means that overall, there was a net loss of ''$1 million''.
* MrImagination: Arnold, during the first season.
* MundaneFantastic
* MusicalEpisode: "What's Opera, Arnold?" and "Eugene, Eugene!".
* MyNameIsNotDurwood: Helga's father always calls her by her sister's name, Olga.
* MysteriousInformant
* NakedPeopleAreFunny: Arnold's grandma surfs with a group of nudists in "[[BeachEpisode Summer Love]]".
--> '''Grandma:''' (''walking by with a surfboard obscuring her'') Up the establishment!
--> '''Grandpa:''' Aw, Pookie, nobody wants to see ''that''!
--> '''Grandma:''' (''laughing'')
* MythologyGag: In the episode "Monkey Business" Helga gives away her sousaphone when she thinks she's gonna die from monkeynucleosis. In the original Arnold claymation shorts, she played a sousaphone in Arnold's band.
* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous:
** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskar_Kokoschka Oskar Kokoschka]] should consider being an artist.
** "New Bully On The Block" Introduces [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart Wolfgang's]] rival: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethoven Ludwig]]. There's a bit of Fridge Brilliance when it's shown that they're forced to engage in art activities such as dance and oboe.
* TheNapoleon:
** Ernie, the construction worker that lives at the Sunset Arms. He's so short that he can fit into a briefcase (as demonstrated in the [[GameShow "Fighting Families"]] episode). Played with in "Ernie In Love," in which he falls for the [[BigBeautifulWoman Large and Lovely]] fashion model, Lola. He also takes a bit too much pride in his work - demolishing skyscrapers and other ''tall'' buildings.
** Helga also calls Arnold this in "Phoebe Takes the Fall".
* NearDeathExperience
* NerdsAreSexy: Gerald thinks this about Phoebe.
* NeverLearnedToRead: Oskar, until Arnold helped him.
* NeverMessWithGranny: Sure, Arnold's grandma may be a little nuts, but if provoked, she will kick your ass.
* NeverSayDie: Mostly averted, as several episodes featured death as a plot device (ie: Dino faked his death in attempt to sell more records, Grandpa spent an episode thinking he was about to die, Sid thought he murdered Principal Wartz, and a few other examples). However, when they make allusions to the afterlife, they sometimes mention heaven by name, but always use a euphemism in place of the word "hell," leading to quotes like this:
--> '''Grandpa:''' ''(after thinking he died)'' Well, that's it, I must be in heaven. Oh no! Oskar's here! This must be the other place!
** However, he ''does'' say "die" after finding out he's not going to kick the bucket for another 10 years.
** "HEY ARNOLD! 24 HOURS UNTIL YOU DIIIEEE!!!"
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Arnold does this to Lila's heart when he reveals that he doesn't ''like'' "like" her, and regrets it afterwards because he realizes that he does genuinely like her after the fact.
* TheNicknamer: Helga, who has a name for everybody: "Football Head", "Hair Boy", and "Arnoldo" (among ''many'' others) for Arnold; "''Tall'' Hair Boy" and "Geraldo" for Gerald; "Pink Boy" for Harold; "Princess" and "Rhondaloid" for Rhonda; "Stinko" for Stinky; "Little Miss Perfect" for Lila. Even her best friend Phoebe isn't immune: Helga usually calls her "Pheebs", but at least that one's pretty common.
* NoAccountingForTaste: For some unexplained reason, Lila ''like'' likes Arnold's weird cousin Arnie.
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Dino Spumoni is a poor man's FrankSinatra.
* NoirEpisode: ''Grandpa's Packard''.
* NoNameGiven: The main character himself. "Arnold...um, the last name's kind of smudged..."
** His last name is [[spoiler:Shortman]]. [[WordOfGod The creator confirmed it.]]
* NoSwastikas: In [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teB_OOvmZDE Grandpa's war story]], all of the Germans wear arm bands with frowny faces. The major's hat even has an eagle gripping a frowny face.
* NotInFrontOfTheParrot: In "Helga's Parrot," the parrot nearly divulges Helga's secret because it's remembered one of Helga's poems. Luckily, [[spoiler: the parrot is devoured]] before it can say anything.
* NotMyLuckyDay:
** Not Eugene's lucky ''life''.
** "The List", where Arnold has a huge organized list with plans for an awesome day, but everything goes wrong. The song his Grandma sings cheers him up though.
* ObfuscatingDisability:
** One episode had Phoebe taking advantage of Helga's niceness when she thought she broke a leg, via using a fake cast.
** Helga also fakes blindness in "April Fools Day" to get revenge on Arnold for his prank on her.
** Helga also fakes amnesia in "Beaned" to get a guilty Arnold to take care of her.
* ObliviousToLove: Arnold, big time. This is actually subverted in a couple of later episodes where it is implied that his ''subconscious'' knows that Helga is in love with him and is trying to get him to figure it out. Justified because he might be a little reluctant and uncomfortable being involved with someone who has given so much grief over the years...and does it ''right'' after being nice to him.
* OddballDoppelganger: Arnold's cousin Arnie. Later in the series, an episode shows there is a whole group of odd counterparts to every other character in the series. Well, [[AllJustADream maybe.]]
* OddFriendship: Rhonda and Nadine. Rhonda is a stuck-up primadonna and is into fashion, which Nadine isn't. Nadine is much more down to earth and is fascinated with bugs and arachnids, which gross Rhonda out. But despite this, they've been best friends since they were four years old.
* OffhandBackhand: Helga frequently does this to Brainy.
* OffscreenTeleportation: Being offscreen most of the time, it's pretty easy for Brainy to do this. Lampshaded in several episodes where he shows up behind Helga in the most ''improbable'' places, such as on Elk Island, the [[spoiler:Supposedly]] haunted train, and in an Alley that Helga ''made sure'' was empty.
** One time he appeared INSIDE A TREE!
* OneeSama: In a rare Western example of this trope, Lila quickly develops this dynamic with Olga due to their similarities. To the point where Helga, who usually can't stand Olga, actually becomes jealous, proving AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther.
* OneSideOfTheStory: One {{Rashomon}}-tribute episode.
* OneSteveLimit:
** It's explicitly mentioned once that there is only one "Arnold" in the school. {{Averted}}, however, by his cousin Arnie.
** One episode also features Arnold going around the neighborhood, calling for his pet pig Abner, only for a confused man to stick his head out of his window and repeatedly call "What?!"
** "Helga" and "Olga" are actually just different translations of the same name: German and Russian, respectively.
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Patty is called "Big Patty" until Harold stands up for her and tells Sid and Stinky to stop making fun of her and call her Patty.
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: When Grandma starts acting serious you know something is wrong.
* OperationJealousy:
** Helga somehow convinces Arnold to do this with her to make Lila jealous.
** Also done when Helga "dates" Stinky in an attempt to make Arnold jealous.
* TheOtherDarrin: Played straight with Arnold who had five different voice actors (J.D. Daniels, Toran Caudell, Phillip Van Dyke, Spencer Klein, and Alex D. Linz), but averted surprisingly well with Gerald who had an episode about his voice changing just so they could continue to use his voice actor Jamil Walker Smith after his voice changed.
* OutOfFocus: One of the things that went wrong with TheMovie.
* PantyShot: Helga in "Downtown As Fruits". There are upskirt shots of her white panties under her dress and milk carton costume when she comes on stage to stall, and inform the audience of the missing fruits in the play (Arnold as a banana, Gerald as a strawberry), when she gets stuck after being sent flying across the stage from Arnold and Gerald's entrance and when she's trying to free her own head from the hole of the carton.
* ParentalBonus: "Oscar Kokoshka" was also the name of a real life modernist artist.
* ParentalFavoritism: Strong in the Pataki family; [[TheAce Olga]] is praised for her accomplishments and is given more attention than Helga, which causes a one-sided strain between the two. Olga actually wished she could be like Helga, without all the fussing and attention.
* PassiveAggressiveKombat: Mr. Simmons' [[spoiler:boy]]friend Peter and Mr. Simmons' mother indulge in a bit of this during the Thanksgiving episode.
* PersonalRaincloud: Happens at the surprise birthday party Arnold throws for Eugene.
* PhraseCatcher: "Whatever you say, Helga." Usually said by Arnold, but has occasionally been said by a few other characters, like Gerald.
** Also "You're a bold kid, Arnold," or some variation. Also counts as a CatchPhrase, because it's only ever said by Gerald.
* PlaceboEffect: In "Helga's Love Potion", Helga drinks a potion to make her fall out of love with Arnold. [[GoneHorriblyRight It worked, but then she desperately wanted to reverse the effects of it because she felt empty]]. [[spoiler: She was cured when she found out that all she drank was some grape soda]].
* PoisonousFriend: Helga, at times. Though she often means well in situations where she is made to help others, her idea of the right way to do something is a little... skewed. In episodes where she gives advice or puts down a plan of action, chances are that plan will be harsh, immoral, and ultimately not helpful. She lampshades it in "Deconstructing Arnold" while explaining to Arnold why he is the right person to give advice and she... isn't.
--> Helga: ''(cheerfully)'' Look at me! I'm terrible at helping others. I'm the worst! I have no moral conscience whatsoever.
* ThePollyanna:
** Eugene's optimism is almost frightening, given his bad luck.
** Also Lila, who is devistatingly poor and has a MissingMom, but always smiles and acts polite. This makes sense when you realize that Lila is now taking on the responsibility of caring for her father all by herself at the age of nine. This is already a tough task as an adult, but as a child it has to be even more difficult. Also considering that she doesn't want her father to worry about any of this forces Lila to smile and keep her real feelings tucked away. Much like in real life, Lila is an excellent example of what can happen if a child is burdened with a heavy load at such a young age [[spoiler: [[WordOfGod considering her repressed dark side.]] See StepfordSmiler below.]]
* PostRobberyTrauma: "Mugged" and "Monkeyman".
* PottyFailure: In "Phoebe's Little Problem" [[spoiler:Harold wets his pants in front of the whole school.]]
* ProductPlacement:
** Harold has ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' posters in his room in the episode "Weighing Harold". Said show premiered shortly after this episode aired.
** You can actually spot CatDog in the background a couple times.
* PutMeInCoach: Arnold and the basketball coach.
* PutOnABus: Arnold would have been put on one in the never-made SpinOff ''The Patakis'', ostensibly so that the focus could be put on Helga. [[SpotlightStealingSquad Plenty of focus was already on Helga]], the real reason was that with Arnold gone [[spoiler:(after having [[AllThereInTheManual dated her for years]])]], she could be [[TheWoobie miserable]] again.
** There was originally a tenant at the boarding house named Lana, but she disappeared after season 1 when they couldn't think of a personality for her.
** As well as the other tenant Mr. Smith, who was put on a helicopter.
