Every boy has his hero. Someone who stands for everything that is good and is right in the world. Someone who is strong enough to right the wrongs no matter the consequence because they know what they do is right, and someone who can really put evil in its place. Every boy has such a hero, but when the boy's father finds out this hero is not him, it tends to make him a tad jealous. In 100 years from now, things will be no different, as we see Elroy watching his hero of the episode, Nimbus the Great. A heroic spaceman who never takes off without saying, "it's space magic!" It's actually jet propulsion, but to some it's magic. George arrives home and is annoyed to find his son glued to the television, watching his favorite show. Jane on the other hand tries the robot claw-and-carry technique to pursued her son, but she ends up catching her husband in the end. Literally. She drops him soon after. Also literally. During dinner, Elroy receives a call. One of his friends calling to tell him about the hot new Moonies contest. All one has to do is submit ten box tops and a short essay on why they like Moonies, and they will win a visit from Nimbus the Great himself. Feeling completely ecstatic, Elroy sets right to work on his assignment, first requesting his father's aide in the essay. When George turns out to be no help at all, the boy goes to Henry Orbit. After trying an invigorating, vibrating mouthful, he suggests Elroy state he likes Moonies because "they're full of get up and go." George laughs at this, saying it will never work. Well just like with Judy and the Jet Screamer contest, George is wrong about the state of the entry, and Elroy is the winner.
Unfortunately, when the day of the visit rolls around, Nimbus is unable to attend. George loves the sound of this until it's brought to his attention that Elroy might actually be disappointed. Angry at Nimbus for doing such a deed, George goes down to the TV station to find an ill, congested Nimbus soaking his feet in hot water, his reason for not being able to fulfill his end of the contest. Nimbus suggests George take his place. He thinks it's a stupid idea and leaves, threatening to go over his head. Fearing this, Nimbus pulls himself out of his metaphoric sick bed and suits up; on his way home, George is confronted by his conscience (a little George with a halo). I guess they decided not to go for the angel/devil shtick. Anyway, it makes George realize that he was in fact jealous of Nimbus getting Elroy's admiration instead of him. So to do the right thing and make a stand for fathers everywhere, goes back to the station, finding Nimbus mysteriously gone, and takes one of his costumes. Jane and Elroy say farewell to the real, yet congested Nimbus as he sneezes his way out the door. A few seconds later in comes George dressed as the aforementioned hero. They see through his disguise right away, but agree to play along as George tries his best to stay in character. After clumsily flying into the walls and through the door, he comes back as George, and finds that his son really loved him for what he did, and now that Elroy had another hero in his life, George decided that was just fine by him, and so they head off together to watch Nimbus on TV.
Pretty good episode. Though I think I would have done one thing a bit differently: I wouldn't have shown the real Nimbus' visit with Elroy, just tell everything from George's POV- not knowing the real guy was there, nor seeing that Elroy and Jane know who the second Nimbus really is. Then all would be revealed at the end. But that's just me. The legendary Howard Morris voices all the extra characters in this episode. He was also the voice of, speaking and singing, of Jet Screamer in "A Date With Jet Screamer," which had a somewhat similar plot.
Unfortunately, when the day of the visit rolls around, Nimbus is unable to attend. George loves the sound of this until it's brought to his attention that Elroy might actually be disappointed. Angry at Nimbus for doing such a deed, George goes down to the TV station to find an ill, congested Nimbus soaking his feet in hot water, his reason for not being able to fulfill his end of the contest. Nimbus suggests George take his place. He thinks it's a stupid idea and leaves, threatening to go over his head. Fearing this, Nimbus pulls himself out of his metaphoric sick bed and suits up; on his way home, George is confronted by his conscience (a little George with a halo). I guess they decided not to go for the angel/devil shtick. Anyway, it makes George realize that he was in fact jealous of Nimbus getting Elroy's admiration instead of him. So to do the right thing and make a stand for fathers everywhere, goes back to the station, finding Nimbus mysteriously gone, and takes one of his costumes. Jane and Elroy say farewell to the real, yet congested Nimbus as he sneezes his way out the door. A few seconds later in comes George dressed as the aforementioned hero. They see through his disguise right away, but agree to play along as George tries his best to stay in character. After clumsily flying into the walls and through the door, he comes back as George, and finds that his son really loved him for what he did, and now that Elroy had another hero in his life, George decided that was just fine by him, and so they head off together to watch Nimbus on TV.
Pretty good episode. Though I think I would have done one thing a bit differently: I wouldn't have shown the real Nimbus' visit with Elroy, just tell everything from George's POV- not knowing the real guy was there, nor seeing that Elroy and Jane know who the second Nimbus really is. Then all would be revealed at the end. But that's just me. The legendary Howard Morris voices all the extra characters in this episode. He was also the voice of, speaking and singing, of Jet Screamer in "A Date With Jet Screamer," which had a somewhat similar plot.
