Airdate: Monday, September 8, 2008
Sender: Nice Dad
A "Nice Dad" wants Strong Bad to be a better role-model for the kids, and asks if he could "point out why being mean isn't always the best choice". In Strong Bad's opinion, such a task is like asking a hungry shark to teach lessons in not tearing other creatures apart, or asking a "42 year-old online game-playing man-child that still lives with his ex-wife's parents" to teach lessons in responsibility and personal hygiene. Strong Bad finds that the only time being mean isn't the best choice is when someone else is carrying an over-sized ice cream cone, and even then the prospect of a messy pratfall is more tempting than the prospect of free ice cream.
Cut to the King of Town sitting at a desk in a classroom, introducing "a state-required skit about being nice" performed by "Coach Z's Nicetown Players". Coach Z and Marzipan play the popular kids at a party, who make fun of Strong Mad (playing a nerd in "pulled-up pants") and send him off crying... only for the vengeful nerd to attempt to assault "Head Male Cheerleader" with a bat with nails in it. Just before the blow is struck, the players freeze, the lights dim, and Marizpan heavy-handedly delivers the moral.
Coach Z: Drap it! (rap music begins playing)
Now being mean ain't the greatest choice!
My name's Coach Z, and I—
King of Town: And we've run out of time.
Strong Bad: (offscreen) You suck.
Strong Bad concludes that Nice Dad's kids could learn "all sorts of crap-kicked-out-of-them lessons" from the Nicetown Players, and "resident parenting expert Hungry Shark" agrees.
(New Paper comes down.)
Tropes:
- Bad "Bad Acting": The Nicetown Players' skit features very wooden acting, and Strong Mad completely forgets his line, instead asking "IS THIS MY CUE?"
- Basement-Dweller: Strong Bad thinks that asking him for tips on "being nice" is like asking for life advice from a "42 year-old online game-playing man-child that still lives with his ex-wife's parents".
- Bullying a Dragon: Coach Z and Marizpan tease a nerd... played by Strong Mad, who comes back and threatens Coach Z's character with a baseball bat.
- But Not Too Evil: Parodied, with Strong Bad mocking "Nice Dad" for asking him to give moral lessons.
- Funny Background Event:
- During the pan over the King of Town introducing Coach Z's Nicetown Players, you can see someone has drawn on the chalkboard to make it look like the King is getting his brains blown out. An Easter egg lets viewers cycle through several variations on this gag.
- After the freeze-frame, while Marizpan gives the moral of the story, Strong Mad playfully pokes Coach Z with his baseball bat.
- Peer Pressure Makes You Evil: Marzipan's character in the skit joins in laughing at the nerd in order to impress Head Male Cheerleader.Marzipan: I shouldn't laugh, but I want to fit in. Good one, Head Male Cheerleader!
- Piss-Take Rap: Coach Z attempts to bust a half-assed rap at the end of the Nicetown Players' skit. An Easter egg shows the full version of the song.
- Sex Signals Death: Just as Head Male Cheerleader propositions Marzipan's character to "park out" with him, Strong Mad's nerd character comes in and tries to beat him with a baseball bat fulla nails.
Now being mean ain't the greatest choice!
My name's Coach Z and I likes to get noice!
If you don't believe me, listen to my voice
I'll tell ya why being nice is the greatest choice!
