History Recap / MysteryScienceTheater3000S09E03PumaMan

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/7b0282b3469d5eba3b32657b2aa192c1.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Oh, ''Thep Umaman''.]]

Film watched: ''Film/PumaMan''

->''"You know, I have almost no respect for pumas now. I now know that if I ever run into a puma, I can just push it the hell over."''
-->-- '''[[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 Crow T. Robot]]'''

!!The Segments:
[[AC:Prologue]]
* Servo becomes a biker, but Creator/MikeNelson concludes that he has [[CompensatingForSomething short man's disease]].

[[AC:Segment 1]]
* Down in Castle Forrester, Pearl is hosting a ball to celebrate her moving there. Brain Guy's not participating as he's watching ''Series/{{Sliders}}'' with some friends. Servo continues to wear his ballgown in the theater.

[[AC:Segment 2]]
* Inspired by the movie, Mike tries to get the dry look from the Nanites, asking for someone other than Shelly [[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S08E12TheIncrediblyStrangeCreatures after his past experience with her]]. Shelly doesn't take it well.

[[AC:Segment 3]]
* Crow and Servo, dressed up like Vadinho, tell Mike that he is chosen by the gods to be the mighty champion of justice, Coatimundi Man! Unfortunately, Mike is distracted from his destiny by cold sesame noodles, which he shares with Gypsy.

[[AC:Segment 4]]
* Mike find the Bots with an Aztec mask and a replica of Roger Whittaker's head. Their plan is to use the folk singer for their own gain, but Mike comes up empty with ideas.

[[AC:Segment 5]]
* Crow leaves the Satellite, but arrives back shortly. Pearl's ball is unsuccessful as all of the people arriving were only interested in Brain Guy's party. Roger Whittaker soon arrives, to Pearl's relief, but he instead tries to sneak away, lured by the strains of {{Music/Asia}} he can hear from the other room. Pearl then takes his guitar and beats him up.

----
!!Tropes:
* AccidentalMisnaming:
-->'''Servo''': Oh, Thep-Umaman.
* ActorRoleConfusion: Mike and the bots insist on referring to Creator/DonaldPleasence's character as "Donald Pleasence."
* AnalProbe: Vadinho's final fate, according to Mike.
* AssPull: The bots, when convincing Mike of his role as Coatimundi Man, clearly haven't thought out his power suite: [[invoked]]
-->'''Crow:''' Yeah...you can shoot....uh....magnetic...uh, laser....beams...from....from your nose! Yeah! Yeah!
* BitingTheHandHumor: Towards the then-owner of the Sci-Fi Channel.
--> '''Donald Pleasance:''' The men who control the whole destiny of the world is here.
--> '''Crow:''' Barry Diller? Here?
* {{Blackmail}}: The 'bots envision this being done to Tony by a fly.
* CallBack: When Mike is calling the Nanites for a hair appointment, he gets Shelly.
-->'''Mike''': No offence, but last time, you made my hair, [[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S08E12TheIncrediblyStrangeCreatures like 70 miles high]].
* ChromaKey:
-->'''Mike:''' He has the ability to [[DrivingADesk rear-project]] major cities!
* ContinuityNod:
** [[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S08E12TheIncrediblyStrangeCreatures Ortega]] is one of the guests who comes over to watch ''Sliders'' with Brain Guy.
** Mike's Coatimundi Man hat is the same giant foam hat from the Cowboy Mike's Ric-O-Chet Bar-B-Q Sauce! sketch in ''Film/TheStarfighters''. Crow even [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] it when he wears it back into the theater:
--->'''Crow:''' '''Bold''', Mike.
** Once again Bobo is singing songs by Music/{{Asia}}.
* CoolAndUnusualPunishment:
-->'''Mike:''' You will drop your pants to your ankles and walk through town saying 'I am a ninny!'
* CreatorProvincialism: Several of the brands mentioned during "Puma Man" (Snyder Drug, Red Owl) are regional chains local to Minnesota, where the show was produced.
* DesignatedHero: Discussed. [[invoked]]
-->'''Crow:''' I'll go mess up, and you save me!
* DullSurprise:
-->'''Crow:''' At all times, he has the look of a man who's been hit with a fish.
* EvilLaugh: Crow and Servo, because they control Roger Whittaker.
* FamilyUnfriendlyDeath: Kobras dies in a flaming helicopter wreck.
-->'''Crow:''' ''(singing)'' Burn an old man! Singe all his flesh off!
* FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse: Joked about when Puma Man manhandles Kobras and Mike riffs Kobras attempting to weasel out of being beaten up by claiming that he had a rough childhood.
* FridgeLogic: [[invoked]] It occurs to Mike that pumas are not noted for their powers of flight.
* GagHaircut: Mike is given "the dry look" by hairdresser nanite Shelly, which turns his head into [[VisualPun a literal desert with a tiny cactus on top]]. Crow suggests running a river over his head to turn it back to normal.
* GenderBender: Played for laughs when Vadinho shows Tony the childhood picture to prove that he is the Puma Man.
-->'''Vadinho:''' You were only a boy at the time.\\
'''Crow:''' Then you were a girl, and then you were a boy again.
%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.
* HoYay: InUniverse between Tony and Vadinho.
-->'''Crow (as Tony):''' Please get off, I'm feeling funny down there.
* LanternJawOfJustice: Vadinho's doesn't go unnoticed by the crew.
* MaliciousMisnaming: When informing Mike and the bots they're not invited to her party, Pearl refers to Tom Servo as "Tim Servo".
* MindControlDevice: Tom and Crow attempt to mimic the film's method of {{Brainwashing}} to make the perfect assassin by building a bust of... folk singer '''''Roger Whittaker!'''''
* TheNapoleon: Tom's "short man's disease" causes him to become more belligerent and dress up like an outlaw biker.
* NeverSayThatAgain: Mike tells Servo this after the latter makes a joke related to ''Film/TheMask''.
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Roger Whittaker played by Kevin Murphy, although it's not a literal example of the trope, since poor Roger might have been harmed a little when Pearl beaned him with his own guitar.
* NoJustNoReaction: This exchange:
-->'''Tony:''' But why does Kobras want the mask?\\
'''Servo:''' So he can be [[Film/TheMask ssssmokin'!]]\\
'''Mike (firmly):''' Never...''ever''...do that again.
* OnePersonBirthdayParty: Pearl's "return to Castle Forrester" moving party is a complete non-starter, with only Bobo in attendance (and he leaves once the canapés run out). Observer's casual get-together to watch ''Series/{{Sliders}}'' in his room, meanwhile, attracts over 70 people in an hour and turns into a raucous drunken sing-along.
* ParanoiaFuel: InUniverse, as the 'bots warn Mike and the audience.
-->'''Crow:''' Roger Whittaker could be on you at any moment.\\
'''Servo:''' There he is! I'm kidding... this time.
* PimpedOutDress: Both Pearl and Servo sport Edwardian hoop dresses.
* PornStache: One of the mooks sports a generous one, leading to this riff:
-->'''Servo:''' Help! My mustache makes me fall sideways!
* PowerPerversionPotential: Tony and Jane decide to "boff in the air", making Mike moan, "They ''immediately'' defile the gifts the Gods gave them."
* PretentiousPronunciation:
** Every time Kobras says "Puma Man" [[UsefulNotes/BritishEnglish the British way]] ("Pyooma Man", as opposed to "Pooma Man"), Mike and the bots 'correct' him (Mike: "Oh, is that right, ''Dyonald''?"); then when he says "human being", Servo says "That's 'hooman being'... oh, no, wait..."
** One riff plays on this as well:
--->'''Vadinho:''' I say put it on.\\
'''Mike:''' And you say "pyoot it oon."
** This was going on from the opening riff (with a dash of AccentUponTheWrongSyllable thrown in) where the mashed-together title ''The Pumaman'' was read "Thep-yoo-MAY-min."
* RummageSaleReject: Mike's Coatimundi Man costume quickly turns into this. Justified in that it was all a ploy by the bots to make him look silly.
* RunningGag:
** The heroic declaration of "Puma Man!" whenever Tony's being decidedly un-heroic. Also, the spoofing of Pleasence using the British pronunciation of "Puma". Much fun was also had at the expense of "Vadinho's" name sounding like a type of onion[[note]]Vidalia, if you didn't know[[/note]].
** Culminating in the final scene at the Stonehenge-like monolith structure with Mike (as Tony) saying to Vadinho, "Hey, Vidalia would you mind just worshiping for us? I think we'll just get going...."
--->'''Vadinho:''' Kneel.\\
'''Crow:''' I told you, my name's Tony!
** They even do a preview of the pronunciation gag before it's even established:
--->'''Vadinho:''' I say put it on.\\
'''Mike:''' And you say "pyoot it oon".
** As usual, Mike and the 'bots make constant references to Pleasence's baldness.
--->'''Kobras:''' Comb the area.\\
'''Crow:''' Donald's only use for the word "comb", right there.
** "[[AC:[[LarynxDissonance I am a wood sprite! Tee Hee]]!]]"
** Crow saying "[[{{Disco}} Do the hustle!]]" any time Puma Man's very disco-esque action music would play.
** "Look! It's a (insert unflattering comparison)! No wait, it's just Donald Pleasence."
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: By the end of the movie, Crow's had enough and he's planning on quitting. He doesn't, but still...
* SeparatedByACommonLanguage: When Tony and Vadinho walk by a river.
-->'''Servo:''' Look, you call it corn, I call it maize. We'll never get along.
* ShoutOut:
** Pearl's moving beauty mark is a reference to Prince John's mole in ''Film/RobinHoodMenInTights''... which in turn was a ShoutOut to Eye-Gor's moving hump in ''Film/YoungFrankenstein''.
-->'''Bobo:''' [[ExtremeOmnivore Oooh, Junior Mint!]]
** Brain Guy can't attend Pearl's ball because he's having people over to watch ''Series/{{Sliders}}''.
** Why does Donald Pleasance want the mask? "So he can be ''[[Film/TheMask ssssmokin'!]]''"
** At one point the bots sing the theme tune to ''Series/TheGreatestAmericanHero'' with altered lyrics.
--->'''Crow:''' Believe it or not, this movie's still on/It should have ended two hours ago-oh-ohhh!
** As Vadinho watches some extremely indecisive Mooks from behind a brick wall built to have a lot of holes in it: "You won't get my [[Creator/EdgarAllanPoe Amontillado]]!"
** Crow calling Martin Creator/GilbertGottfried from ''Up All Night''. (Gottfried had taken over for Rhonda Shear.)
** Mike's Coatimundi Man outfit includes a ''Series/{{Rhoda}}'' vest and a ''[[Series/DoctorWho Doctor]] [[Creator/TomBaker Who]]'' scarf.
* SidekickExMachina: "So the hero is this guy; I think it's time we faced that fact."
* SpecialEffectsFailure: Pointed out and riffed, of course. [[invoked]]
** "Puma Man can tear through pure contact paper."
** "Help, I'm falling at a 60° angle, [[ArtisticLicensePhysics defying all the laws of physics!]]" [[invoked]]
** [[DrivingADesk He has the power to rear-project entire cities."]]
* TakeThatScrappy: InUniverse, after Vadinho punches out Tony.
-->'''Servo:''' Yes! The Aztec speaks for all of us!
* TenMinuteRetirement: In the final segment, Crow gets fed up with the movie and decides to "quit". He walks away... then barely gets off-screen before running back and asking if Mike is hiring.
* WeakWilled: The crew's opinion of Jane.
-->'''Servo:''' I think controlling her will might involve Sloe Gin and a Trans-Am.
* WithLyrics: Mike and the 'bots add their own lyrics to the jingle-istic "Puma Man Theme" ("Soundtrack by my little brother's Casio"):
-->'''Crow:''' ''(singing)'' Puma Man, he flies like a moron...\\
'''Servo:''' ''(singing)'' The fat-free yo-gurt that's not short on fla-vor!\\
'''Mike:''' ''(singing)'' Dick's... Red Owl... selection and service...\\
'''Servo:''' ''(singing)'' Sny-der Drug.. .we're busting up prices!\\
'''Crow:''' ''(singing)'' When... you want... the fla-vor of ba-con in a dip!\\
'''Crow:''' ''(singing)'' Burn an old man, [[FamilyUnfriendlyDeath singe all his flesh off!]]\\
'''Crow:''' ''(singing)'' Now... they're going... to boff in the air...!
** Crow declares "This is music to praise the gods with..." Ask and Servo shall provide:
--->'''Servo:''' ''(singing)'' Glory to our Space Gods in the Highest! Gloria, in Excelsis Space Gods!
** And then there's the 'love theme' version of the song at the end, which Servo quickly notices sounds a little like Music/LionelRichie and [[Music/TheSupremes Diana Ross]]'s duet "Endless Love":
--->'''Servo:''' ''(singing)'' Thepyewmaymiiin... there's only you in my life...
* YankTheDogsChain: With her ball a complete failure, Pearl asks for someone up there to give her a break "just this once." Enter Roger Whittaker (controlled by Servo)... Then after just a few minutes, Whittaker decides to join the action (the ''Sliders'' party with Observer, Bobo, and friends) in the back room. Pearl creams him with his guitar.
-->'''Roger Whittaker:''' But Pearl, they're singing Music/{{Asia}} songs in there!

----
->''[[TheStinger (Vadinho throws Tony out of a window, who lands safely on some grass)]]''
----

** This was going on from the opening riff (with a dash of AccentUponTheWrongSyllable thrown in) where the mashed-together title was read "pyoo-MAY-min."

* ItIsPronouncedTropay:
** Every time Kobras says "Puma Man" [[UsefulNotes/BritishEnglish the British way]] ("Pyooma Man", as opposed to "Pooma Man"), Mike and the bots 'correct' him (Mike: "Oh, is that right, ''Dyonald''?"); then when he says "human being", Servo says "That's 'hooman being'... oh, no, wait..."
** One riff plays on this as well:
--->'''Vadinho:''' I say put it on.\\
'''Mike:''' And you say "pyoot it oon."
** This was going on from the opening riff (with a dash of AccentUponTheWrongSyllable thrown in) where the mashed-together title was read "pyoo-MAY-min."

* FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse: Joked about when Puma Man manhandles Kobra and Mike riffs Kobra attempting to weasel out of being beaten up by claiming that he had a rough childhood.

-->'''Tony:''' But why does Cobras want the mask?\\

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar:
-->'''Jane:''' Come any way you like, just come.\\
'''Crow:''' Now that's ''gotta'' be a proposition!

* CreatorProvincialism: Several of the brands mentioned under NotableOriginalMusic (Snyder Drug, Red Owl) are regional chains local to Minnesota, where the show was produced.

* NotableOriginalMusic: The stirring Coatimundi Man Theme, which, much like the equally stirring Puma Man Theme, sounds more like merry-go-round music.

'''Crow:''' ''(singing)'' Now... they're going... to boff in the air...!\\

-->'''Servo:''' ''(singing)'' Glory to our Space Gods in the Highest! Gloria, in Excelsis Space Gods!\\

* AuthorAppeal: Several of the brands mentioned under NotableOriginalMusic (Snyder Drug, Red Owl) are regional chains local to Minnesota, where the show was produced.

** Once again Bobo is singing songs by Asia.

** Why does Donald Pleasence want the mask? So he can be ''[[Film/TheMask ssssmokin'!]]''

** As Vadinho watches some extremely indecisive Mooks from behind a brick wall built to have a lot of holes in it: "You won't get my [[Creator/EdgarAllanPoe Amantillado]]!"

* TenMinuteRetirement: Crow gets fed up with the movie and decides to "quit". He walks away... then barely gets off-screen before running back and asking if Mike is hiring.

'''Servo:''' ''(singing)'' Snyder Drug.. .we're busting up prices!\\

\\
'''Crow:''' This is music to praise the gods with...

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Roger Whittaker played by Kevin Murphy, although it's not a literal example of the trope, since poor Roger might have been harmed a little when Pearl brained him with his own guitar.

* SidekickExMachina: "So the hero is really... this guy."

-->'''Servo:''' Glory to our Space Gods in the Highest! Gloria, in Excelsis Space Gods!\\

'''Servo:''' Glory to our Space Gods in the Highest! Gloria, in Excelsis Space Gods!\\

'''Servo:''' ''(singing)''The fat-free yo-gurt that's not short on fla-vor!\\

'''Crow:''' ''(singing)'' Now... they're going... to boff in the air...!