Episode Guide - IFC PARODIES - Series Two (2006)
IFC – GREG THE BUNNY FILM PARODIES SEASON TWO (2006)
It was almost a full year later that our second run of film parodies would air on IFC.
In 2006 Dan Milano, Sean Baker and friend/webmaster/puppeteer Chris Bergoch (along with Greg and Warren) visited the San Diego Comic-Con, where fans came out in support of both the Fox series and the new show. The second season again featured six brand-new parodies, based on popular films. The A-Team opening was once again used at the head of each episode.
1. “Monster” (Monster)
In parody of “Monster,” the biography of serial-killer Aileen Wuornos – we explore the darker side of our own monster, The Wumpus. When the lonely Wumpus makes his first friend (Greg) he becomes unhealthily attached, and secretly starts killing anyone who annoys Greg or poses a threat to their friendship. His victims include Warren the Ape, who he strangles behind a bar, Pal Friendlies, who he thrashes in his office, and Gilbert Gottfried (in a cameo, as himself), who gets brutally shot in a local diner. Wumpus is eventually caught and stands trial. He starts to make a confession but in a shocking turn of events, he blames the murders on Greg. Greg the Bunny ends up being convicted of Wumpus’ horrible crimes and is sentenced to die in the electric chair. With Greg out of the picture, our show then gets a new title – “The Wumpus The Monster Show.”
2. “Blue Velveteen” (David Lynch parody)
Though this is largely a parody of David Lynch’s film “Blue Velvet,” with Greg in the Kyle MacLachlan role and Warren as Dennis Hopper, it also pays homage to “Twin Peaks,” “Dune” and “The Elephant Man.” When Wumpus is found dead, Greg suspects Warren of his murder. Against the advice of Pal Friendlies, Greg follows Warren home and discovers a seedy world of mystery and vice. We meet Warren’s roommate, The Elephant Man (puppeteer Paul McGuiness as John Merrick), and his girlfriend Isabella (puppeteer Victor Yerrid, in the Isabella Rossilini role). Together this trio engage in puppet sex and violence, and soon discover Greg spying on them. They abduct him and take him to their favorite cabaret, where Count Blah (based on Dean Stockwell in Blue Velvet) attempts to sing the title song, though we could not afford the rights. The whole episode ends with Greg waking up in “The Red Room” from “Twin Peaks,” to find Wumpus dancing and talking backwards. Annoyed with all these Lynchian clichés, Greg yells at the filmmakers and decides to storm off this parody, upset that it doesn’t seem to make any sense.
3. “Passion of the Easter Bunny” (American Movie)
In this homage to the documentary “American Movie,” Greg attempts to make a feature, independent film – a commercial rip-off of Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Christ,” entitled “Passion of the Easter Bunny.” Featuring cameos by the real-life subjects of “American Movie,” Mark Borchadt and Mike Shank. With Mark and Mike as Greg’s crew, he attempts to film his biblical epic with no budget and no talent. Features Warren the Ape as Pontius Pirate (arr!), Count Blah as God and a cast of human and puppet actors. Watch as Greg, a tyrant of a director, screens his film – only to end up crucified, both literally and figuratively.
4. “Dogville” (Lars VonTrier’s Dogville)
Probably our most bizarre parody since our parody of David Lynch’s “Eraserhead.” When Pal Friendlies makes an unexpected visit to the set, he accidentally causes a light to fall on Greg’s head, rendering him unconscious. Poor Greg suddenly finds himself waking up in the strange world of Dogville. Here, we enter the signature style of Lars VonTrier’s “Dogville” – where everything is shot in a black void, with major sets and props represented by chalk outlines. All his friends are here, but aren’t quite themselves. Lap Fliesrend, a man who looks a lot like Pal, brings Greg into town. Once there, Greg is told he can stay so long as he takes on a series of local chores. And like Nicole Kidman in the film, Greg soon finds himself taken advantage of. UNLIKE the film, Greg soon learns to use the town’s unique style against itself. And, armed with chalk and an eraser, he soon starts to “rewrite” things to suit his needs – turning simple items like an old washtub into luxurious items like a jaccuzi tub. Soon this simple little town becomes corrupted by Greg’s influence, and they “steal” all his belongings. Enraged, Greg reacts by burning the entire town to the ground (by writing FIRE on the walls with red chalk…) But of course it was all a dream – and Greg wakes to find himself back on the set of our show, where his only worries are the serious blow to the head he received. He begins frothing at the mouth and dies from an aneurysm.
5. “Wacky Wednesday” (Being John Malkovich)
Though this was originally intended as a parody of “Being John Malkovich,” it’s actually more of an homage to the body-switching movies of the 80s, such as “Freaky Friday,” “Vice Versa” and “Like Father, Like Son.” When Greg finds an ancient, Azetc dog skull at a Chinatown curio shop, it causes he and Warren the Ape to magically switch bodies. These bitter adversaries must now walk a day in each other’s shoes --- Warren must go to a bunny audition and Greg must stand trial for Warren’s manslaughter charge. Pal Friendlies, an expert at Aztec magic, eventually returns each of them back to their original bodies. Will our heroes learn a little something about one another and find common ground? Don’t bet on it. Features a cameo by Gilbert Gottfried, as a man trying to return a Dead Mogwaii to the curio shop.
6. “Plush: Behind the Seams” (Moulin Rouge / Velvet Goldmine)
The puppet band “Plush,” originally appeared in our “Welcome to the Dollhouse” episode of the 1999 series, with their music video for “Dignity on Ice.” Now in 2006, we examine the band through interviews with its members as they reunite (minus Greg’s cousin Gary) for the debut of their new single, “I’m Drivin you Crazy,” a premiere music video shot entirely in the signature style of The Cars’ “You Might Think.”
These episodes were released on DVD as Volume two of the Film Parodies, by SHOUT Factory home video in 2008.
It was almost a full year later that our second run of film parodies would air on IFC.
In 2006 Dan Milano, Sean Baker and friend/webmaster/puppeteer Chris Bergoch (along with Greg and Warren) visited the San Diego Comic-Con, where fans came out in support of both the Fox series and the new show. The second season again featured six brand-new parodies, based on popular films. The A-Team opening was once again used at the head of each episode.
1. “Monster” (Monster)
In parody of “Monster,” the biography of serial-killer Aileen Wuornos – we explore the darker side of our own monster, The Wumpus. When the lonely Wumpus makes his first friend (Greg) he becomes unhealthily attached, and secretly starts killing anyone who annoys Greg or poses a threat to their friendship. His victims include Warren the Ape, who he strangles behind a bar, Pal Friendlies, who he thrashes in his office, and Gilbert Gottfried (in a cameo, as himself), who gets brutally shot in a local diner. Wumpus is eventually caught and stands trial. He starts to make a confession but in a shocking turn of events, he blames the murders on Greg. Greg the Bunny ends up being convicted of Wumpus’ horrible crimes and is sentenced to die in the electric chair. With Greg out of the picture, our show then gets a new title – “The Wumpus The Monster Show.”
2. “Blue Velveteen” (David Lynch parody)
Though this is largely a parody of David Lynch’s film “Blue Velvet,” with Greg in the Kyle MacLachlan role and Warren as Dennis Hopper, it also pays homage to “Twin Peaks,” “Dune” and “The Elephant Man.” When Wumpus is found dead, Greg suspects Warren of his murder. Against the advice of Pal Friendlies, Greg follows Warren home and discovers a seedy world of mystery and vice. We meet Warren’s roommate, The Elephant Man (puppeteer Paul McGuiness as John Merrick), and his girlfriend Isabella (puppeteer Victor Yerrid, in the Isabella Rossilini role). Together this trio engage in puppet sex and violence, and soon discover Greg spying on them. They abduct him and take him to their favorite cabaret, where Count Blah (based on Dean Stockwell in Blue Velvet) attempts to sing the title song, though we could not afford the rights. The whole episode ends with Greg waking up in “The Red Room” from “Twin Peaks,” to find Wumpus dancing and talking backwards. Annoyed with all these Lynchian clichés, Greg yells at the filmmakers and decides to storm off this parody, upset that it doesn’t seem to make any sense.
3. “Passion of the Easter Bunny” (American Movie)
In this homage to the documentary “American Movie,” Greg attempts to make a feature, independent film – a commercial rip-off of Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Christ,” entitled “Passion of the Easter Bunny.” Featuring cameos by the real-life subjects of “American Movie,” Mark Borchadt and Mike Shank. With Mark and Mike as Greg’s crew, he attempts to film his biblical epic with no budget and no talent. Features Warren the Ape as Pontius Pirate (arr!), Count Blah as God and a cast of human and puppet actors. Watch as Greg, a tyrant of a director, screens his film – only to end up crucified, both literally and figuratively.
4. “Dogville” (Lars VonTrier’s Dogville)
Probably our most bizarre parody since our parody of David Lynch’s “Eraserhead.” When Pal Friendlies makes an unexpected visit to the set, he accidentally causes a light to fall on Greg’s head, rendering him unconscious. Poor Greg suddenly finds himself waking up in the strange world of Dogville. Here, we enter the signature style of Lars VonTrier’s “Dogville” – where everything is shot in a black void, with major sets and props represented by chalk outlines. All his friends are here, but aren’t quite themselves. Lap Fliesrend, a man who looks a lot like Pal, brings Greg into town. Once there, Greg is told he can stay so long as he takes on a series of local chores. And like Nicole Kidman in the film, Greg soon finds himself taken advantage of. UNLIKE the film, Greg soon learns to use the town’s unique style against itself. And, armed with chalk and an eraser, he soon starts to “rewrite” things to suit his needs – turning simple items like an old washtub into luxurious items like a jaccuzi tub. Soon this simple little town becomes corrupted by Greg’s influence, and they “steal” all his belongings. Enraged, Greg reacts by burning the entire town to the ground (by writing FIRE on the walls with red chalk…) But of course it was all a dream – and Greg wakes to find himself back on the set of our show, where his only worries are the serious blow to the head he received. He begins frothing at the mouth and dies from an aneurysm.
5. “Wacky Wednesday” (Being John Malkovich)
Though this was originally intended as a parody of “Being John Malkovich,” it’s actually more of an homage to the body-switching movies of the 80s, such as “Freaky Friday,” “Vice Versa” and “Like Father, Like Son.” When Greg finds an ancient, Azetc dog skull at a Chinatown curio shop, it causes he and Warren the Ape to magically switch bodies. These bitter adversaries must now walk a day in each other’s shoes --- Warren must go to a bunny audition and Greg must stand trial for Warren’s manslaughter charge. Pal Friendlies, an expert at Aztec magic, eventually returns each of them back to their original bodies. Will our heroes learn a little something about one another and find common ground? Don’t bet on it. Features a cameo by Gilbert Gottfried, as a man trying to return a Dead Mogwaii to the curio shop.
6. “Plush: Behind the Seams” (Moulin Rouge / Velvet Goldmine)
The puppet band “Plush,” originally appeared in our “Welcome to the Dollhouse” episode of the 1999 series, with their music video for “Dignity on Ice.” Now in 2006, we examine the band through interviews with its members as they reunite (minus Greg’s cousin Gary) for the debut of their new single, “I’m Drivin you Crazy,” a premiere music video shot entirely in the signature style of The Cars’ “You Might Think.”
These episodes were released on DVD as Volume two of the Film Parodies, by SHOUT Factory home video in 2008.
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