Line #167 WebVideo/AskLovecraft


1	[[quoteright:151:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/asklovecraft_7877.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:151: "Hello, I'm Howard Phillips Lovecraft, and today's question comes from..."]]
3
4	''[[https://www.youtube.com/c/LeemanKessler Ask Lovecraft]]'' is a Q&A-style web show created by Leeman Kessler, which started in 2012.
5
6	The premise is the famous CosmicHorrorStory writer [[Creator/HPLovecraft H.P. "Howie" Lovecraft]] has been resurrected through some sort of mysterious dark science (the series often hint that even Lovecraft himself doesn't quite understand how it works). To pass his time, Lovecraft answers questions and gives advice to the poor fools who dare seek it. It was hosted on Website/ChannelAwesome until Kessler's departure from the site in April 2018.
7
8	In January 2022, Kessler announced that he was planing to end the weekly series within the year, citing that ending the show on "the even decade" would be "neat and clean and requires little explanation for most". Though he has assured his audience that he might still produce the occasional special episode. The final episode, "Strange Aeons", then aired on June 27, 2022. Kessler has since also begun working on a SpiritualSuccessor of sorts, ''Always Has Been'', a series of short videos released through [=TikTok=], concerning tales of strange, weird, and, at times, eldritch lore about his home state of Ohio.
9	----
10	!! This series contain examples of the following tropes:
11	* AccentRelapse: The shock of [[spoiler: his ex-girlfriend coming to Earth]] causes P.H. to briefly drop his faux Southern accent for EvilSoundsDeep.
12	* AdaptationDistillation: Believes that the directors who would be best able to adapt his work is Creator/FritzLang and Creator/JohnWaters.
13	** AdaptationDecay: Fears discussing adaptations because of the potential for a "Dagon II: Electric Boogaloo."
14	* AffablyEvil: P.H., Lovecraft's doppelganger. He's a truly perfect mirror reflection, which includes a [[TheEeyore generally sunny disposition,]] a distaste for racism, and being good with kids. He's also a cheerfully psychotic HumanoidAbomination.
15	** FauxAffablyEvil: In "Sade," he loses his temper and lets his [[NotSoHarmlessVillain real]] [[OurDemonsAreDifferent self]] peek through the facade.
16	* AllAnimeIsNaughtyTentacles: Addressed in "Adults Only." Suffice it to say, he's very uncomfortable with this trope (as he was with any sexual topic) and his association with it.
17	* AmbiguouslyBi: When asked who his favorite "scream queen" is, the [[ItMakesSenseInContext 22 year-old version of Leeman Kessler]] answers "Creator/BruceCampbell."
18	* AmicableExes: [[spoiler:Howie and Sonia Greene.]] Also TruthInTelevision for the most part.
19	** PsychoExGirlfriend: [[spoiler:Sade to P.H.]]
20	* TheAntiNihilist: "The Meaning of Life" declares that while Lovecraft is an atheist, he believes that the lack of any divine purpose for humanity actually ''empowers'' humanity to decide its own purpose and create beauty where it can for no other purpose than the beauty itself.
21	* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: In "Azatoth," Lovecraft discusses an incident where someone apparently erected a shrine to Azatoth, only to tear it down again while no one was looking. He fears that this is not the work of cults, or religious fanatics, but worst of all, ''[[FelonyMisdemeanor performance artists.]]''
22	* AsHimself: ''Leeman Kessler'' appears as himself -- both the modern version and a 22 year-old past version -- on occasion, alongside Lovecraft and P.H., though usually not of his own volition. The "Everything's Fine" episode even sees him being forced by P.H. to perform as Lovecraft.
23	** Kessler's wife appears as herself in "Dr. Kessler".
24	* AxCrazy: A muted example, but the first thing P.H. does when he starts playing a game of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' is to find the local library and [[PyroManiac set it on fire.]] He's ''very'' insistent that the DM describe the fire and [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything how it licks against the sky.]]
25	* BackFromTheDead: Lovecraft is, and he's here to answer your questions!
26	** [[spoiler: As of 2016, his ex-wife ''Sonia Greene'' also returns from the dead.]]
27	* BadassBookworm: He's very happy that the depiction of himself in ''H.P. Lovecraft's: Necronomicon'' accurately recreates his love of swordplay.
28	* BadBadActing: Leeman's acting of him playing his own role InUniverse while impersonating Lovecraft in "Everything's Fine" is hilariously off.
29	* BaitAndSwitch: When Lovecraft finds out that ''ComicBook/ArchieComics'' has used his name and likeness in its stories, he's absolutely horrified and distraught... [[HiddenDepths That no one introduced him to Archie before.]]
30	** In "War" Howie waxes philosophical on the neccesity of dealing with difficult topics before easing into the viewers question "Why is there war [[spoiler: between the cats of Earth and the cars of Saturn]]?"
31	* BasedOnADream: In "Dreams" and "Dreams Visited" Howie relates that many of his stories were based on his dreams, but these days his dreams all consist of [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall staring into a great eye and being interrogated by strangers.]] [[invoked]]
32	* BeYourself: Howie's advice to all aspiring writers is to find their own voice.
33	* BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy: [[spoiler: Simon Cowell]] is a HumanoidAbomination who ought to be banished to the otherworldly realm from whence he came.
34	** Lovecraft is saddened to find out that the only pictures of him that have survived paint him as extremely dour and depressed, [[spoiler: without his "trademark" [[HawaiianShirtedTourist Hawaiian shirt.]]]]
35	* BerserkButton: Don't ever accuse Howie of not being the real Lovecraft, or worse, a mere thespian portraying Lovecraft.
36	** Do not suggest abusing or abandoning a cat. It can literally blind him with rage.
37	* BitingTheHandHumor: Considering he's crowdfunded his Youtube channel trailer can come off as this.
38	-->'''Howie:''' I'm Howard Phillips Lovecraft and chances are if you're watching this, you've made some terrible life decisions.
39	* BlackComedy: From his Website/{{Twitter}} feed:
40	--> "[Halloween] isn't all [[WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown Great Pumpkins]] and [[RazorApples razor blades,]] sadly."
41	* BlazingInfernoHellfireSauce: Lovecraft was sent a copy of the book "Ana Kai Tangata" by ''Scott Nicolay,'' strangely packaged with an entire pack of chili powder. [[MasochistsMeal P.H. appreciates the gift.]]
42	* BureaucraticallyArrangedMarriage: Lovecraft would like to remind you that ''all'' marriages were originally this, and pretenses of love or marital bliss are, at best, [[MarriageBeforeRomance something you get to have after the fact.]] At worst, it's just a business contract that costs too much and has too much ceremony around it.
43	** He makes this comment in response to someone who wants a Lovecraftian wedding. By his reasoning, ''all'' marriages are inherently Lovecraftian, and "adding an extra tentacle or two" is mostly just for aesthetics.
44	* CameBackWrong: Howie often notes the resurrection process was somewhat imperfect and leave shim with holes in his memory.
45	** CameBackStrong: On the other hand, the [[Main/EyeScream feeding of grave worms upon his eyes]] corrected his nearsightedness.
46	* CatsAreMean: Despite being a KindHeartedCatLover, Howie admits this is true.
47	* ChildrenAreInnocent: [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] by Howie. He claims that when children are ripped from the safety of the womb to this powerlese existence in a strange alien and threatening world [[GoMadFromTheRevelation they perfectly understand the horror of human existence]] only for their parents to [[{{Masquerade}} slowly lull into the idea that they are safe and the world makes sense]].
48	* ClosetSublet: Howie sleeps in the Kessler's closet between episodes, but since it gives him unfettered access to their library, he doesn't mind so much.
49	* ColorCodedCharacters: Howie and P.H. can be immediately recognized from the colour of their suit (respectively black and dark red/purple)
50	* CoolAndUnusualPunishment: Lovecraft is asked for a recommendation on how to punish Leeman for getting his wife to blog about ''Series/{{Farscape}}.'' After watching the whole thing for himself, Lovecraft suggests the punishment of... Being forced to promote her blog (which can be found [[http://geekuallyyoked.com/ here.]])
51	* CovertPervert: When playing D&D with P.H., Lovecraft asks the DM if there are any [[HotLibrarian comely women in the library.]]
52	** In his interview with Creator/CountJackula, Howie suggests that the erotic subtext with some of his creations are fully intentional.
53	* CreditsGag: A RunningGag in the series. Examples include:
54	** The title card for "Phantom" shows Howie wearing a Phantom style half mask himself.
55	** During his brief abandonment of the show [[spoiler: right after his ex-wife's resurrection]] the title card showed a ? mark over a black profile.
56	** For "Watchmen", Howie's image is made up as [[ComicBook/{{Watchmen}} Dr. Manhattan.]]
57	* {{Cult}}: Howie loves it when people tattoo themselves with the Elder Sign or the Yellow Sign, because it reminds him of cult-like behavior. He finds it less flattering when they [[LoonyFan tattoo his likeness onto themselves,]] however.
58	* CuriosityKilledTheCast: Believes that the theme of Literature/TheShadowOverInnsmouth is that Robert Olmstead really shouldn't have been poking his nose into other people's business.
59	* DamnedByFaintPraise: The only positive trait Howie ascribes to [[Creator/AugustDerleth August Derleth's]] work is 'quantity'.
60	* DeliberateValuesDissonance: A source of [[PlayedForLaughs constant comedy,]] since Lovecraft retains his old belief system from when he was alive.
61	** In "A Bear in the Woods," Lovecraft is asked: "If a bear farts in the woods, does it still stink?"
62	--->"Now, this question might strike one as [[ToiletHumour impertinent or inane,]] but it actually follows a long line of thought experiments, such as: "does an unobserved fallen tree make a sound?" or "[[BreadEggsMilkSquick do Italians have souls?]]"
63	* DeliberatelyCuteChild: Kessler isn't above using his baby daughter to garner sympathy and/or views.
64	** His more recent videos start with a cute child's voice saying the series' title while the title card is displayed.
65	* TheDevilIsALoser: "Devil" shows that Lovecraft believes most portrayals of the eponymous character aren't very scary as giving a potential EldritchAbomination human appearance and motivations makes it understandable and thus less frightening.
66	* DidntThinkThisThrough: After agreeing with Arthur Chenin that perhaps it is right to punch Nazis, [[spoiler: Arthur punches him [[Main/DontExplainTheJoke due to Lovecraft's racist attitudes.]]]]
67	* {{Disneyfication}}: In "Fairy Tales," Howie shows his disapproval of this process in said tales, preferring the darker, original stories, which he sites as an influence in his work.
68	* DoWrongRight: In "Money," Howie seems less offended that a fan asked him for money than said fan failing to put any effort into the attempt and suggests starting a Website/{{Kickstarter}}, [[FourOneNineScam pretending to be Nigerian royalty]] or [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall impersonating a dead celebrity]] [[HypocriticalHumor and asking for donations.]]
69	** Also believes that if a person is going to ignore one's life and loved ones by spending their life on the Internet, they should at least be doing something enjoyable.
70	* DoingItForTheArt: [[invoked]] {{Discussed\| Trope}} in "Sponsorship" Howie totes this as the only way to approach creativity authentically and states that he would not accept any corporate sponsorship. [[NotSoAboveItAll Unless it's from an ice cream company.]] Except for Bryer's. [[NoodleIncident They know what they did.]]
71	* DontFearTheReaper: In the episode "George" while eulogizing a fan that had passed away, Howie expresses the opinion that society's aversion to the topic of death is to its detriment.
72	-->'''Howie:''' [Death] is the most common experience we shall all face. It unites us in our humanity. And if we can face that, it reaffirms our own humanity. And if we can sit in that discomfort without blinking, without turning away, we might very well find wisdom.
73	* {{Doppelganger}}: Lovecraft has one called "P.H." He looks almost identical to Lovecraft himself, except he has a Southern accent and a [[{{Troll}} slier demeanor.]] He also seems to be much more in tune with popular culture than Lovecraft, and much more accepting of modern social mores... At least, [[SociopathicHero when he's not grave robbing or setting things on fire.]]
74	* DropInCharacter: Creator/CarlSagan, oddly enough. Whether he's also BackFromTheDead or TimeTravel is involved isn't clarified.
75	* EvenEvilHasStandards: P.H. refuses to defend H.P's racism and [[SubvertedTrope refuses to excuse it]] as a [[ValuesDissonance product of their times.]]
76	** He also believes stealing from libraries is terrible.
77	* EvilCounterpart: P.H. to Howie. [[spoiler: Sade to ''Sonia Greene.'']]
78	* EvilIsNotAToy: If anyone is foolish enough to take P.H. a little too casually, he will usually [[Main/FauxAffablyEvil let his mask slip for a moment]].
79	* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: The episode "Jabberwocky" largely consists of Howie dramatically reciting the eponymous poem, in response to a question about whether [[Creator/LewisCarroll Lewis Carroll's]] work might be considered an early example of EldritchAbomination.
80	* FauxHorrific: Lovecraft finds himself deeply disturbed by the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' theme song, being traumatized after reading it aloud, and needs some to gather himself, after which he states that he found the song so perfectly captured the "complete alienation and cosmic despair" he attempted in his own writing, that he wondered for a moment why he even bothered.
81	* FlatEarthAtheist: Howie adamantly refuses to believe in real life supernatural phenomena and spiritulism [[{{Hypocrite}} despite being a corpse reanimated by black magic.]]
82	** Well, technically he was brought to life by [[WebVideo/WarningReadersAdvisory Derek the Bard's]] [[Film/ReAnimator reagent]]. So he was actually to life by science instead of black magic.
83	** He also lives with his evil counterpart from a hell dimension and [[AudioPlay/AVoiceFromTheDark personally encountered a genuine eldritch abomination]], [[spoiler:even becoming possessed by it]]. He blames magnets.
84	* FootDraggingDivorcee: Howie is portrayed as this toward his wife Sonia [[spoiler: when she also returns from the dead.]] TruthInTelevision as Creator/HPLovecraft never signed their divorce papers.
85	* {{Foreshadowing}}: When asked in his live show which other celebrity he thinks should be re-animated, he emphatically declares it should be anyone other than his ex-wife ''Sonia Greene.'' [[spoiler: Come 2016, guess who's BackFromTheDead?]]
86	* FoundFootageFilms: His review of ''Film/{{Cloverfield}}'' suggests Howie is a fan of this genre.
87	* FourthWallMailSlot: The entire show is built around this premise, though it's not entirely clear where he's getting the letters from.
88	* FourthWallObserver: He's aware of the existence of CreepyPasta, the Website/SCPFoundation, Podcast/WelcomeToNightVale, and Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos, along with other works of horror that draw on his influence. Generally, he approves of them.
89	* TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou: {{Defied\|Trope}}. Howard has made it very clear, across multiple episodes, that [[EldritchAbomination the creatures]] [[CosmicHorrorStory from his stories]] are fictional characters.
90	** Although he fears Music/TomWaits is as close to an actual avatar of ''Nyarlathotep'' the real world can provide.
91	** Played straight in "Modern Writers" in which he notes the trope of our insignificance in the greater scheme of things within Cosmic Horror is all too real.
92	* HalloweenSpecial: Is it at all surprising that he dedicated an episode to talking about how much he loves Halloween?
93	** He's still trying to figure out why there are so many [[SexyWhateverOutfit sexy costumes out there,]] and in particular why [[{{Squick}} someone would make a slutty shoggoth outfit,]] though.
94	* HistoryRepeats: In 2016 episode "Brexit", Howie gives a dark RealLife version of this trope by comparing the political situation surrounding Brexit and the EU to the chaos predating UsefulNotes/WorldWarI during his life.
95	* HorrorHost: Howie hopes the series will eventually lead to this sort of job offer.
96	-->'''Howie:''' For you people at Syfy or Creator/TurnerClassicMovies, you know how to reach me.
97	* HorrorHunger: PlayedForLaughs. He claims he must [[SweetTooth eat several times his own weight in sugar]] each day to remain animated.
98	* HoYay: [[invoked]] {{Discussed\| Trope}}. The topic of "Good Chums" involves looking at Lovecraft's work, and how many men there are in his stories who only stay around other men, and who lack any apparent romantic attachment to a member of the opposite sex. Howard attributes this mostly to people in the modern age who read sexual undertones into all sorts of innocuous relationships:
99	-->"We've lost the ability to talk about real male friendships. We're so eager to uncover clues of the erotic that we miss out that [[HeterosexualLifePartners sometimes a good friend is just a good friend.]] History and literature are replete with examples of this, such as Achilles and Patroclus, [[Film/BenHur1959 Ben Hur and Messala]], [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Sam and Frodo]], even Literature/TheBible's own King David and Jonathan. Actually, [[ZigZaggedTrope that's not a good example]], those two were [[ShipperOnDeck totally gay for each other.]]"
100	* HumanoidAbomination: P.H. describes himself as Howie's "brother from another mother of a thousand young."
101	* IReadItForTheArticles: {{Inverted\|Trope}}. P.H. is horribly disappointed to find out that a book called "Sex and the Cthulhu Mythos" is an academic treatise on sexuality in Lovecraft's works, rather than [[RuleThirtyFour something more salacious.]]
102	* IResembleThatRemark: When asked which of his monsters he would most like to be real, Lovecraft decides on the creature from "[[Literature/TheHound1924 The Hound]]", since it only seems to bother grave robbers, which doesn't include anyone Lovecraft cares about. [[CutawayGag Cut to P.H., wearing rubber gloves]] [[NoodleImplements and holding a hammer and screwdriver,]] looking ''very'' offended.
103	* ImagineSpot: In his "Murder" episode, Howie imagines himself as a detective in one of his own stories. [[spoiler: He fails spectacularly, even in his own imagination.]]
104	* InnocentBigot / NobleBigot: Howie's not a bad guy, per se, but that doesn't mean he can handle having [[UsefulNotes/BarackObama a black man in the White House.]]
105	* InSeriesNickname: P.H. refers to Lovecraft as "Howie."
106	** Since he apparently isn't legally allowed to say Cthulhu's name, Lovecraft refers to him as "Bernad" and later "Harold." More recently he's started to call him "Donald."
107	* {{Irony}}: Being rather uneasy about immigrants entering the country while alive, "Legal Status" reveals that upon reanimation in UsefulNotes/{{Canada}}, [[HoistByHisOwnPetard he himself is now an immigrant.]]
108	* IrrationalHatred:
109	** Of UsefulNotes/{{Esperanto\|The Universal Language}}, theater actors, and [[UsefulNotes/{{Wales}} the Welsh]], among many other things.
110	** He also hates dolphins, but unfortunately, it's quite justified, given their [[RealLife very real]] tendency to kill for sport (among many other disturbing habits).
111	* JumpingTheShark: Deliberately [[InvokedTrope invoked]] and [[DiscussedTrope discussed]] in "Mother's Day" by the introduction of "Sweetpea Lovecraft" played by his real life daughter.
112	-->'''Howie:''' According to my associate, from time to time when a show begins to go down the drain and begin seeking desperately for relevance and new energy they will introduce a small child like this and hope that does the trick of fooling viewers into maintaining interest.
113	* KindheartedCatLover: As with the RealLife Lovecraft, the Lovecraft of this show is a huge fan of cats.
114	** He does ''not'' take it well when he receives a letter from someone who claims to have shaved their Maine coon cat.
115	** And don't get him started on the Exploding Kittens card game...
116	* LastNameBasis: H.P. Lovecraft and Leeman constantly refers to each other as "Mr. Lovecraft" and "Mr. Kessler" (in a video, Lovecraft states that his relationship with Leeman is "purely professional". Also, in the video starring Leeman's wife, she's called "Dr. Kessler" by Lovecraft. Averted with P.H., who's only referred as "P.H.".
117	* LikesOlderWomen: P.H. mentions finding the "Masonic grandmas" at the local retirement home as hard partiers.
118	* LookBothWays: Howie's attempt to play ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' ends rather predictably.
119	* {{Metaphorgotten}}: In "Passion."
120	* MoodWhiplash: He's extremely flattered that others might want to translate his work into other languages, and hopes that one day his works might be read in every nation across the world... [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg Except Esperanto.]] [[BerserkButton Esperanto is a vile tongue.]]
121	* MultipleChoicePast: P.H. is rather reticent about explaining which theory of his origin is true, but in "Origin" he hints that he's Howie's EnemyWithout.
122	* MysteriousAntarctica: "Antarctica" shows Howie really enjoyed this trope in his time and believes it still holds up to this day.
123	* NightmareFetishist: While Creator/HPLovecraft was known for obsessing over the macabre and terrifying aspects of reality, no one would say he ''enjoyed'' that kind of thing. P.H., on the other hand...
124	** That being said, in live performances he does seem rather enchanted with the apocalyptic possibilities of a [[UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump Trump presidency.]]
125	* NoSenseOfHumor: He tries to write slapstick for ''ComicBook/{{Archie\|Comics}}'' after having read some of their comics. It's not nearly as funny as he thinks it is.
126	* NoZombieCannibals: {{Discussed\|Trope}} in "Edible Zombes" where Howie notes that the true reason zombie do not eat each other in fiction is that would remove them as a threat to the protagonists.
127	* NostalgiaFilter: In Lovecraft's opinion, cinema has been on a downward trend ever since the introduction of talkies.
128	* NostalgiaAintLikeItUsedToBe: [[PlayingWithATrope Played With.]] Howie's not fond of many aspects of the modern age but he doesn't fool himself that the past didn't have it's problems too.
129	* NotUsingTheZWord: Despite having been dead and having come back to life, Lovecraft insists that he isn't a zombie. He did, however, [[NoodleIncident accidentally find himself on a zombie walk,]] and felt a strange camaraderie with them. [[spoiler: At least, until he found out that they weren't real zombies, and just university students and "[[CrazyHomelessPeople the chronically unemployable,]]" which caused him to quickly run away.]]
130	** He later clarifies In "Walking Dead" and "Edible Zombies" that his status is "complicated," but he is not a mere zombie but "a classy gentleman given another chance."
131	** He seems to have settled on calling his status [[Literature/HerbertWestReanimator "re-animated."]]
132	* NothingIsScarier: Howie notes in "Compelling" his belief that it is better to use terms such as 'indescribable' or 'unnameble' for literary horrors as any such creature created by the reader's own mind will be far more effective than any created by the author.
133	* OnePersonBirthdayParty: Pretty much sums up "127th Birthday"
134	* OurDemonsAreDifferent: In "Sade", P.H. strongly implies that he [[spoiler: and by extension Sade]] originates from [[{{Hell}} a realm filled with wailing and the gnashing of teeth.]]
135	--> ''P.H. Lovecraft:''' Every devil is owed his due.
136	* OurVampiresAreDifferent: Although not different (or alien) enough, according to Howie.
137	* PaintingTheMedium: In "Vampires," Lovecraft talks about the unusual tendency of young adult fiction to [[Literature/{{Twilight}} take monsters and turn them into love interests,]] and he's particularly disturbed at the prospect that it might happen to his own monsters. Cue a pop-up comment from P.H. linking to his video on ''[[Literature/ViridianSaga Awoken]]''...
138	* PaperThinDisguise: In-universe Kessler's [[BadBadActing attempt to impersonate Howie]] during the latter's absence comes off as less than convincing despite having the same actor.
139	* PlaceboEurekaMoment: In "Starting a Cult" he goes over all the issues over starting a cult of Azathoth for a fan, Howie begins to [[Main/OnlyInItForTheMoney realize that the potential income and tax benefits far outweigh those issues.]]
140	-->'''Howie''' ''(in mask and robe)'' Okay, here's the deal. I get a cut of tithes and I get dibs on calling myself Heirophant.
141	* PopCulturalOsmosisFailure: Howie suffers often from this due to missing things between his death and resurrection, as demonstrated in "Man Bun".
142	-->'''Howie:''' ''(reading from postcard)'' "...as a veteran of the mullet wars..."\
143	[{{Beat}}]\
144	'''Howie:''' ''(confused)'' "The fish?"
145	* PunyEarthlings: In "Scale," Howie points out that to {{Eldritch Abomination}}s like his Old Ones, the most powerful and evil human is but no more a threat to them as small child with a hammer would be to us.
146	* RealMenWearPink: A fan of ComicBook/{{Archie\|Comics}} and Series/GilmoreGirls, among other "unmanly" things.
147	** [[spoiler: He really, ''really'' likes Hawaiian shirts.]]
148	* {{Retool}}: After finding himself getting numerous letters from parents who say that their babies love him, Lovecraft decides to make some changes to appeal to, apparently, the largest growing section of his fanbase [[spoiler: by shaking a baby toy in front of the camera.]] Suffice it to say, [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks the changes don't last long.]]
149	* ReclusiveArtist: [[DefiedTrope Defied]] by Howie in "Collaboration" where he points to his many collaboration, his massive amount of correspondence and the many trips he took across the country to visit friends and colleges during his life to refute this view of him.
150	* RocksFallEveryoneDies: In the first video where they play a game of [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D,]] the DM ([[AsHimself Leeman himself]]) is quickly very annoyed by Howie and PH's antics (Howie keeps asking to visit the library and PH keeps trying to put things on fire) and then throws dragons at them. What exactly happens next isn't specified (after dragons appear on the board, the video cuts to Howie standing in front of the usual library), but Howie tells that the game turned out to be much shorter than he thought, implying that they suffered from a total party kill.
151	* SecretKeeper: Creator/GeorgeRRMartin is the only person Howie has entrusted the correct pronunciation of Cthulhu.
152	* SelfDeprecation:
153	** In "Parody", Lovecraft says he doesn't approve of people who try to imitate him or his mannerisms, finding the phenomenon "gauche" and "highly unpleasant".
154	** In "Caged Wiseau", Lovecraft denounces impersonations as "the lowest art form, if it even can be called an art form." And claims that there is no "dignity" or "creativity" in it, and that even an ape or a bird could pull it off.
155	* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: What else would you expect from Lovecraft himself?
156	** When playing a game of D&D, he asks the DM if the buildings in the city are "cyclopean." The DM (Leeman himself) has no idea what he's talking about.[[note]][[EitherWorldDominationOrSomethingAboutBananas Cyclopean means either of or resembling cyclops, or structures made with large, irregular stones.]][[/note]]
157	* SharedUniverse: As a Channel Awesome producer, he's part of the Reviewaverse.
158	* ShoutOut: His cell phone ring is the theme from ''Film/TooManyCooks.''
159	** In "Passion," P.H. can be heard calling out for [[ComicStrip/DennisTheMenaceUS Mr. Wilson,]] the name of the person who sent in the letter that provided the episode's topic. Lovecraft chooses not to get the reference.
160	** Howie discovers the [[Main/StockUnsolvedMysteries Voynich Manuscript]] is [[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS3E89ToServeMan a cook book]].
161	** He mentions one of the many (and more bizarre) reinventions of Nyarlathotep being a [[Literature/NyarukoCrawlingWithLove a small Japanese schoolgirl]].
162	* ShowerOfAngst: A variation. After reading the theme song to ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' aloud, Lovecraft stands in StunnedSilence for a moment, and then excuses himself to the audience and walks off-camera. It then cuts to him sitting in a TroubledFetalPosition in a bathtub with a deeply disturbed expression on his face.
163	* SincerestFormOfFlattery: [[Main/SubvertedTrope Subverted]] by Howie. He believes that authors should find their own voice rather than try to imitate him.
164	* TheSnackIsMoreInteresting: P.H.'s opinion of role playing games.
165	* TheThingThatWouldNotLeave: "Rent" shows Howie, P.H. and even Carl Sagan are all this to poor Mr. Kessler.
166	* SoundEffectBleep: In "Storytime," while reading "Where's my Shoggoth?" when he gets to the part with Cthulhu.
167	--> "No, this is great ''COUGH! COUGH!'', the spawn of the stars, this is not my Shoggoth."
168	* SouthernGentleman: P.H. has a lovely Southern accent and a polite demeanor, although he's not nearly as nice as he likes to pretend. [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Not at all.]]
169	* SpinOff: The concept of H.P. Lovecraft (played by the same actor) living in the 21st century after having been reanimated originated from [[https://www.youtube.com/user/DerektheBard/featured Derek the Bard's channel]]. ''Ask Lovecraft'' is the own series of the reanimated Lovecraft, and contains occasional references to his resurrection (as well as cameos from Derek the Bard). However, this is the in-universe order, since in real life ''Ask Lovecraft'' happened first. So in-universe, Derek the Bard sent the newly resurrected H.P. Lovecraft back in time to the date of the first episode of ''Ask Lovecraft''.
170	* TheStinger: P.H. often attaches a humorous comment to the end of the credits.
171	* StylisticSuck: In-universe's Kessler's attempts at acting fall under this trope.
172	* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: Nearly entirety of "SCP" consist of a rather disturbing one with a detailed explanation of [[Website/SCPFoundation [REDACTED].]]
173	* TakeAThirdOption: His main opinion on gun control is that [[DuelToTheDeath we should bring back dueling,]] since [[RefugeInAudacity it helps us clean out the riff-raff.]]
174	** When asked if he prefers the Norse or Greek mythology, he claims that while he enjoyed those bloody and visceral tales as a child, [[TakeThat they pale in comparison to the Christian Mythos.]]
175	* TakeThat: Although he's disappointed about his candidate not winning the election to be Toronto's mayor, he's just glad that [[RefugeInAudacity the job passed from one white male millionaire to another.]]
176	** Lovecraft considers the possibility of an unicorn and a zombie getting into a fight as ridiculous as [[Literature/TheTwilightSaga a vampire and a werewolf fighting over the affection of a girl.]]
177	** In "The Devil" he says that he finds [[ComicBook/ChickTracts Jack T. Chick's]] version of God one of the most horrifying cosmic entities there is and Chick's pamphlets greatest examples of CosmicHorrorStory.
178	** In "Sad Puppies" he decides that the events surrounding the titular movement must be from a child's story and suggest the title be changed to "Haughty Kittens."
179	** In "College," he relates that he finds the secret societies within such institutions wonderful resources where among other things, you can [[UsefulNotes/DavidCameron discover many creative uses of pigs.]]
180	** In "Inhuman" he considers Vicki from Series/SmallWonder to be the most well-realized utterly alien protagonist.
181	** In "Mary Sue" he provides this advice for struggling writers:
182	--> ''If you simply cannot write conflict whatsoever, that's why we have Christian romance novels.''
183	** In "Old Man Henderson"
184	--> ''I don't know why you would get together with people you don't like and pretend to be people you aren't. I mean that's what theater is for.''
185	** In live performances prior to the 2016 US presidential election, Lovecraft comes across as [[InLoveWithYourCarnage rather enchanted]] with the apocalyptic consequences of [[UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump Donald Trump's presidency.]]
186	* TheTeetotaler: As in life, Lovecraft abstains from alcohol and other intoxicants, not because of any religious reasons but because he finds it "icky."
187	** He does understand however that faced with a brief life ending in eternal oblivion and desolation, that people may choose to go through life a bit "baked" to cope.
188	* TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow: Surprisingly subverted. In "Mystery", Howie takes the view that one should pursue hidden truths when one can.
189	* ToAbsentFriends: "Clark Ashton Smith" provides the RealLife eulogy Smith gave for Lovecraft upon his death. Howie returns the favor.
190	* Administrivia/TropesAreNotBad / Administrivia/TropesAreTools: Kessler expresses this as his opinion in "Tropes". He even mentions this page as an example.
191	* TyphoidMary: Howie notes that upon his resurrection the microbes he had upon death were restored too. Which include diseases that were wiped out after his death and which the general population now lacks immunity to. He hopes you've had all you vaccinations.
192	* UnexpectedCharacter: [[spoiler: Howie's ex-wife ''Sonia Greene'' also returns from the dead.]] [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere Howie takes it well.]]
193	* UnreliableNarrator: It's best to simply take anything that P.H. says with a grain of salt.
194	** Howie is guilty of coloring his past a bit too.
195	* TheUnReveal: In the announcement of his move to ''Channel Awesome,'' Howie is about to finally reveal how to pronounce... Something. He's caught off guard by his cell phone ringing, and forgets what he was saying. [[spoiler: It was likely how to pronounce Cthulhu.]] [[note]]"Khlûl'-hloo, with the first syllable pronounced gutturally and very thickly" according to Real Life Lovecraft, if you're curious[[/note]]
196	* ValuesDissonance: {{Invoked\|Trope}} and PlayedForLaughs. Lovecraft often expresses quite extreme prejudices about other cultures and races and strongly believe women should StayInTheKitchen, and he is often left confused or disgusted with the fact that modern society have largely moved on from such things.
197	* VengeanceFeelsEmpty: [[EvenEvilHasStandards P.H.]] warns that this is the case, and [[OurDemonsAreDifferent he should know]].
198	* VisualPun: In "Golden Dawn," Lovecraft notes how it seems to be game makers that are most interested in secret societies and magic, rather than serious academics or scholars.
199	--> "Why, people use games to play in my worlds,"
200	---> ''holds up a copy of TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu''
201	--> "In the worlds of Creator/RobertEHoward,"
202	---> ''holds up a copy of TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''
203	--> "Even Creator/JaneAusten!"
204	---> ''holds up a copy of TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}''
205	* WorldOfWeirdness: The Reviewaverse. Lovecraft was initially brought to live by a [[WebVideo/WarningReadersAdvisory Canadian librarian]] with a [[Film/ReAnimator reagent]]. That's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this universe's weirdness.
206	* WriteWhatYouKnow: Howie is a big fan of this, believing it a great strength to provide authenticity in writing.
207	* YoungAdultLiterature: In "Young Adult" Howie presents the theory that rather than once a child outgrows children's literature they can be entrusted to read adult literature directly rather than being confined to a literary ghetto of "pretty young people with pretty young problems" for a probationary period.
208	----
209	->'''H.P. Lovecraft:''' This is not some cosmic sense of dread, just pedestrian fear of one's self, facing one's true self with no illusions, seeing all of one's adequacies or lack thereof.

Context WebVideo / AskLovecraft