Saturday, October 30, 2021
Thursday, October 28, 2021
The Cast of “The Cool Fox Show” Character Biographies
Cool Fox is the show’s host and a cool guy. Cool Fox can get easily jealous of guests who are cooler than him. Cool Fox often is the voice of reason between the stupidity of the show’s head writer One Man Gang and the insanity of Tiny Batman. Cool Fox loves Chicago deep dish pizza and his favorite coming from famed pizzeria Lou Malnati's. His dream guest for his show, one who he sends multiple invites to appear on his show to is Dolph Lundgren, but of course Mr. Lundgren always declines Cool Fox’s offer. Cool Fox overall is just a standard late night talk show host, that just so happens to be a talking cartoon toy fox.
Tiny Batman is Cool Fox’s talk show sidekick and a smaller much sillier version of the famed Caped Crusader from the comic books. Tiny Batman is bat-shit crazy and loves to say his name repeatedly. Tiny Batman, like his bigger counterpart, is also a billionaire playboy, who only does the show because of his love to be on TV and because he’s bored when there’s no crime to fight. Tiny Batman has three bastard children with three different baby mamas who he never had relationships with. So, remember the moral of the story, don’t mess with Tiny Batman!
Head Writer One Man Gang is the head writer of “The Cool Fox Show”, Cool Fox’s second onscreen sidekick and a retired professional wrestler. The One Man Gang is the nephew of the show’s producer and he is later revealed to be the bastard son of Tiny Batman. One Man Gang is a fan of the work of Jim Henson and got to meet his idol on the show, much to the annoyance of his father Tiny Batman. One Man Gang is slow and not that bright, but he’s just a gentle giant who somehow has a great job and good friends.
Producer Ash Williams is the show’s producer and the one who manages the production money. Producer Ash is known for being a badass and for one of his hands literally being a chainsaw. Producer Ash is very intelligent and has a high IQ. Producer Ash is close to the owner of the network, Mr. Thing, and he is truly one who can rival Cool Fox’s coolness. Producer Ash may appear imposing and frighting, but honestly, he’s the most fearful one of all and just as scared as any normal person, maybe even more. Because Producer Ash must keep this ship from stinking no matter the cost and just be the best boss that he can to his loyal crew of dumb dumbs.
Mr. Thing Kirby Grimm Esquire is a media mogul that owns the public access station that airs “The Cool Fox Show” and a retired superhero. Mr. Thing is a millionaire, yet he has gone bankrupt at least five times. Mr. Thing won this station in a poker game and his office happens to be above the studio where “The Cool Fox Show” is filmed. Mr. Thing isn’t very good with his fortune spending it on things like fancy art and even a pet rhinoceros named Buttercup. Mr. Thing is both still rich and always on the verge of bankruptcy. Since Mr. Thing has no children of his own, his entire fortune and media empire will probably go to his idiot nephew, retired space bounty hunter and current network intern, Bossk, who if, God help us all, gets the station, it’s game over!
Bossk is a retired bounty hunter from an alien planet and a current network intern who works on “The Cool Fox Show”. Bossk is also the nephew of Mr. Thing and the heir to his fortune. Bossk is very dumb and an alcoholic. Bossk has a very annoying voice and behaves like a literal child. Bossk isn’t even in college and the only reason he got the internship was because of good old nepotism. Bossk likes to get drunk at bars with Tiny Batman and he and Tiny Batman even have matching tattoos. Bossk claims to work on the side of the space mafia, while he’s really a space mob informant working for the space FBI to not go to prison planet. Bossk is half lizard and half human creature, and he claims that he’s from a planet called LizMars, his race is called Lizardechtos claiming he is a royal descendent of a great space lizard king and a being of pureblood on his home planet. It’s rumored he is not an alien prince, but his father being an average human who just screwed a Komodo Dragon in the Bronx Zoo during afterhours. Bossk will one day own the station that airs “The Cool Fox Show”, it’s not a matter of if, it’s only a matter of when!
Señor Rey Fenix is a retired professional Mexican professional wrestler, a yoga teacher, an aspiring health guru and a network intern. Señor Rey Fenix is a go getter and dreams of bigger and better things. Señor Rey Fenix hates working at the bottom but is too clueless on how to work his way up to the top. Señor Rey Fenix recently got a promotion as assistant janitor to Captain Steve Caveman at the public access station.
Uncle Roddy “Drunky” Piper is a retired professional wrestler, full time town drunk and occasional crew member on “The Cool Fox Show”. Uncle Roddy is a parttime cameraman on “The Cool Fox Show” and when he’s not, nobody knows where he is? Uncle Roddy is nobody’s uncle, but he’s called uncle because he’s the second oldest employee working at the station next to Captain Steve Caveman. Uncle Roddy rocks in both the bagpipes and an electric guitar for an AC/DC cover band. Uncle Roddy isn’t a friendly uncle, he’s the uncle you really don’t want to talk to very much.
Pirate Hunter Zoro is a college student, an ex-con, and a network intern. Pirate Hunter Zoro is very frighting individual along with saying “he’ll cut a bitch” as every other word. Zoro does various odd jobs both for the public access station and outside of the public access station. Why was Zoro hired in the first place? Desperation, really. Pirate Hunter Zoro is secretly the bastard son of Cool Fox, and he just wants his father’s love, even though Cool Fox has no idea that Zoro is his son. Pirate Hunter Zoro, while on parole, is giving a second chance at life by working for a public access station and “The Cool Fox Show”. But honestly, Zoro is more bark than bite.
Buttercup is the pet female rhinoceros who lives in Mr. Thing’s office. Buttercup loves straw and milk. Buttercup just dreams of going back home to Africa and for Mr. Thing to give her a belly rub every now and then.
Sir Powdered Toast Man is a retired superhero, a former radio DJ and a rival media mogul to Mr. Thing. Sir Powered Toast Man is very waspy and rich, and he wants to own it all. Sir Powered Toast Man is even more flaunting of his wealth than Mr. Thing with an even fancier office than his rival. Sir Powered Toast Man tries and fails to lure Cool Fox away from Mr. Thing’s station over to one of several of his. But Cool Fox has turned him down because he too has money issues at times and can rarely foot the bill. For now, Mr. Thing and Sir Powered Toast Man are on good terms and share content with each other. Sir Powered Toast Man wants to buy his rival out, but it’s just a waiting game for him.
Scuba Diver Dave is a writer of “The Cool Fox Show” along with his brother and he also hosts the show that’s on after “The Cool Fox Show”. Scuba Diver Dave is quite shy and afraid of clowns and women. Scuba Diver Dave is one of Cool Fox’s oldest friends and they knew each other before they got on TV. Scuba Diver Dave is a stand-up comedian and improv performer who performs regularly on the Chicago comedy scene. Scuba Diver Dave also has never been to the ocean despite wearing his trademark Scuba diving suit. Scuba Diver Dave is overall a pretty kind and caring yet very nerdy dude.
Sneezing Red Puppy is a red furred Basset Hound with either a bad cold or even worse allergies. Sneezing Red Puppy is Scuba Diver Dave’s comedic sidekick on his show and a fellow writer on “The Cool Fox Show”. Cool Fox has been friends with Sneezing Red Puppy since childhood. Sneezing Red Puppy is also a trained actor and improv performer who studied at The Second City in Chicago. Sneezing Red Puppy would take allergy medicine, but then he would lose he shtick so that’s why he doesn’t.
Mikey Whipwreck is a retired professional wrestler and a writing intern. Mikey is basically the love child of Woody Allen and “Bobcat" Goldthwait and he is an aspiring comedian. Mikey is the second comedic sidekick to Scuba Diver Dave on his talk show and he gives Scuba Diver Dave a run for his money on who’s the bigger dork. Mikey appears to have bipolar disorder or at least his mind alters his personality frequently due to years of chair shots to the head. Mikey is best friends with One Man Gang who Mikey treats almost like his little brother. Mikey is a people pleaser even though he’s quite shy around people.
Tiny Hawkman is a new comedic sidekick of Scuba Diver Dave and a rival of Tiny Batman. Tiny Hawkman is a Christmas elf given to Scuba Diver Dave and his crew by Santa Claus when Mr. Claus was a guest on his show. Tiny Hawkman is less crazy than Tiny Batman but they both used to work in Santa’s Workshop. Tiny Hawkman is new at the game of comedy and public access. He’s no match for Tiny Batman, but come on, who doesn’t love Tiny Hawkman!
Captain Steve Caveman is a former Saturday morning cartoon icon and current janitor and handyman. Captain Steve Caveman currently works at the public access station that airs “The Cool Fox Show” because he feels that it’ll help him find his way back to the big time. Captain Steve Caveman is jealous of his rival Quick Draw McGraw who also faded into obscurity after the 1970’s but yet still gets acting work at the local dinner theater. Captain Steve Caveman is war veteran and served in the Dinosaur Vietnam War before any of us were even born. Captain Steve Caveman is assisted in his job by Señor Rey Fenix who is useless which gives Captain Steve Caveman even more work to do around the station. Captain Steve Caveman applied for a writing job on “The Cool Fox Show” yet hasn’t heard back. For now, Captain Steve Caveman cleans the bathrooms and halls of the station quietly with pride as he sheds his fur for Señor Rey Fenix to clean up.
“The Cool Fox Show” Series Plot Synopsis
“The Cool Fox Show” is a fictional talk show hosted by an old childhood toy of mine and one of the coolest guys around, Cool Fox. Cool Fox is joined by two sidekicks, the show’s head writer and retired professional wrestler The One Man Gang and Tiny Batman, a smaller and sillier version of the famed Caped Crusader. “The Cool Fox Show” airs on a local small time public access TV station near Chicago, Illinois and airs usually at 2AM close to the graveyard slot, but the show is a ratings hit for the station, making the station’s rich owner Mr. Thing, quite rich. Each episode of “The Cool Fox Show” has our host interview a famous character or celebrity, but it’s their Funko Pop version and not really them.
Usually, most episodes follow the same structure, an awkward interview with a guest, the station and characters doing anything for money and ratings, and just complete chaos and silly hijinks in general. So tune in to “The Cool Fox Show” on the official “Shooting The Buck Podcast” YouTube channel or down in the link below.
Saturday, October 23, 2021
"Playroom: The Few That Remain" An Online Picture Book Plot Info
“Playroom: The Few That Remain” is a sequel to both “Playroom: Before The Goodwill” and a direct sequel to “Playroom: The Living Toys”. After The Playmaster’s final play day, the toys who survived the apocalyptic event called “The Goodwill” now live in a wasteland run by an evil figure only known as The Businessman. The Businessman runs all trades and sales inside The Playroom and has amassed God-like power and rules The Playroom like a king. Goofy Villager along with the aid of Brother Badass, who is Badass’s lost older brother, and Cool Fox, who is a high-ranking broker/salesman in The Businessman’s company known as Mega Bucks, work together to stop The Businessman along with repairing the damage done by “The Goodwill” event.
Goofy Villager on his quest to Mega Bucks headquarters to end The Businessman’s reign meets an old foe who now becomes a reluctant alley, The Master. The Master had survived “The Goodwill” and still roams The Playroom but has lost all his powers and henchmen. During the quest, Goofy Villager battles a drug cartel who distribute a highly addictive corn chip made special by a figure known only as The Dealer. Goofy Villager also meets a former smuggler in The Dealer’s cartel named BJ who joins the quest because he feels a higher calling. Goofy Villager and his team also meet Gun Girl who happens to be the daughter of GunMan and Giant Woman who is a soldier for hire in The Playroom. BJ and Gun Girl start to fall in love with each other as we soon discover that The Businessman has a new more powerful version of The God Summoner.
Goofy Villager and our heroes also discover in the cave of collages a new prophecy of hope called “The New Runners” along with learning about a fabled book that shares the secrets of how-to bring toys to life. After battling the giant bird that guards the cave of the collages along with losing a few team members, our heroes head to the mountains towards the headquarters of The Businessman. After a confrontation with a creature known as The Night Beast which our heroes managed to escape more truths are unearthed. BJ is really named Badass Jr. and is the son of Badass and God Woman. BJ is a demi-God and the half-brother of Neo, the lost fabled God of The Playroom. With The Businessman and The Dealer having joined forces, a final battle erupts inside The Playroom as many of our heroes fall in battle. We discover that The Businessman’s new God Summoner is in fact Neo who is freed by his half brother BJ. BJ explains who he is to Neo and says they have to say their world. But Neo says that it’s over and it’s time for “The New Runners” turn. With BJ guiding Neo to freedom from The Businessman’s headquarters, BJ is killed by The Dealer’s henchmen.
The Businessman, now losing power, is confronted by The Master who offers him advice that he must just surrender. Everyone in The Playroom realizes their world is ending and they can’t do anything about it. In the real world we discover what is really going on. This whole thing was The Playmaster’s final play day with his old toys because The Playmaster is a normal young man. The Night Beast is The Playmaster’s new puppy. Lastly, “The New Runners” prophecy is The Playmaster giving some of his old toys to his niece and nephew who will have a new run with them. Our story ends with the chosen few survivors of The Playroom that weren’t donated to Goodwill being given to The Playmaster’s niece and nephew. The Playmaster reads a story to his niece and nephew about how to bring toys to life and it is just “The Adventures of Pinocchio”. Only four toys survived and are given a new run, Goofy Villager, The Master, Gun Girl and Neo. So starts a new run in a very different Playroom that is far away from home.
Sunday, October 10, 2021
"Greg the Comedian" Short Film Idea (Flashpoint Class Project)
“Greg the Comedian” is a short film about a struggling stand-up comedian named Greg who wishes to be like his comedy idol Rodney Williams. Oddly enough, even though Rodney Williams is dead, and Greg has never met Rodney in real life, Greg’s comedy idol appears before him. The imaginary Rodney Williams serves as Greg’s mentor, critic and friend. Greg has a day job working as a repairman, which he’s pretty good at, but he longs for more.
Greg is excited because a talent scout from a cable TV network is coming to his next performance. Greg needs to have a killer set. Greg, with the help of the imagined Rodney, work all day on his set with the goal of performing it that night. While Greg is working on his set, his comedian friend Cindy notices that Greg’s comedy is ripping off Rodney Williams and she has videos to prove it. Greg realizes that he’s been imitating his idol and now knows he must come up with his own original jokes.
At the comedy show, Greg bombs and Cindy ends up getting the attention of the talent scout. Greg goes home as the imaginary Rodney Williams says goodbye. Greg starts to work on his own material. At the next comedy show, he kills it and realizes he doesn’t need Rodney to be funny.
The Guide and True Power (The Background Character Club: Episode Scenario)
Zeus and Leopold are rehired as producers for another season of “The Background Character Club” much to their confusion due to the events that lead to their firings in the first place. Spotty, the producers and the contestants film the show as normal by day while Spotty aides “The No Names” rebellion at night. Beardy, secretly a double agent due to him being a loyal member of the Booktopia police force, begins to investigate “The No Names” members and true intentions.
But, during filming of the season’s last episode, a bomb was blown off in a legendary Booktopia museum by “The No Names” as the city begins to riot. Spotty now revealing he is working with “The No Names” aides them in the riot while Beardy reveals he still works for the Booktopia police force. With the riots lasting into the night, “The No Names” eventually take over the capital of Booktopia and capture the leader of Booktopia, Zeus. Spotty feeling conflicted due to his brother betraying him, now must prevent his death at the hands of “The No Names”. But Spotty is too late, as Beardy is killed alongside many other Booktopia police officers. As “The No Names” and especially Captain No Name take over Booktopia, it’s not quite a happily ever after.
Captain No Name is named the new leader of Booktopia as he begins cracking down on enforcing his beliefs and his new laws. Spotty sadden at what he has done, flees Booktopia for a life on the sea. While at sea, Spotty is abducted by an unknown force. Spotty finds himself in a mysterious control room where he meets an alien being named The Guide.
The Guide tells Spotty that Booktopia is a dimension that was created a billion years ago to contain the imaginations of the people of planet Earth. The Guide is not from Earth but from another far-off planet. He comes from a long line of his race who watches over the dimension of Booktopia alongside the Earth to protect and keep balance. The Guide says that he will end the regime of “The No Names” and return Booktopia to the way it was before. Spotty agrees, but The Guide asks Spotty one thing before he sends him back to Booktopia.
The Guide says that Spotty must lead the citizens of Booktopia because The Guide foresees Spotty becoming a legend among the citizens of Booktopia. Spotty says how can he become a leader when he is merely in the background. The Guide says, fate will find a way. The Guide says goodbye and tells Spotty to say hi to Zeus for him. Spotty awakens in his bed inside back home in his studio apartment confused when he gets a knock on the door. Zeus comes to Spotty share some big news.
Due to the show being a hit, Zeus decides to hold an election for the title of president of Booktopia and he wants Spotty as his running mate. Spotty refuses Zeus’s offer and Zeus shrugs it off. Zeus says that he wants Spotty back at the studio to film a new season of “The Background Character Club”.
After Zeus leaves, Spotty goes to his computer to start to register as a candidate to run against Zeus for Booktopia. After Spotty registers, the first presidential election of Booktopia truly begins!
The Rebellion In The Background (The Background Character Club: Episode Scenario)
Loki who is now the president of the TV network, eventually cancels “The Background Character Club” much the anger of Spotty, Zeus and Leopold Bloom. Loki fires Zeus, Leopold Bloom and Spotty from the network. Since Zeus and Leopold have money saved from outside investments, losing their jobs means nothing to them. But Spotty now can’t afford to pay rent and must move back in with his adoptive parents.
Spotty, being an English Mastiff, was adopted and raised by a family of Miniature Schnauzers, who run a Mexican restaurant. Spotty’s parents are very supportive of their adoptive son and are happy that he can work in the restaurant again. Spotty also has an adoptive brother who is the biological son of his adoptive parents named Beardy.
Beardy is a police officer of the Booktopia police force. Spotty and Beardy have a great brotherly bond despite the height difference Beardy is investigating strange events in Booktopia that include a raise in burglaries and missing persons cases, some that include high profile citizens of Booktopia. As Spotty works in his family’s Mexican restaurant which his brother Beardy frequents to grab lunch along with seeing his family.
Spotty and Beardy start to grow suspicious of a mysterious hooded figure who also frequents the family restaurant. Beardy decides to follow the mysterious hooded figure to see if he’s tied to his investigations. Eventually, Spotty and his family discover that Beardy has gone missing. Spotty on a hunch, mentions to the police that he saw a mysterious hooded figure frequent the restaurant and Beardy tried following his whereabouts.
As the police try that lead mentioned to them by Spotty thinking they might know the identity of the hooded figure. Spotty leaves work early, to go for walk around town, only to be kidnapped by a gang of hooded figures. Spotty now ends up in a mysterious headquarters of a rebellion of background characters called “The No Names” run by a man called Captain No Name that wishes to overthrow the corrupt government of Booktopia. Spotty learns that Beardy was kidnapped by “The No Names” too and held hostage alongside other powerful citizens of Booktopia. Spotty pleads for “The No Names” to let his brother Beardy and everyone else go.
But Captain No Name refuses because he convinces Spotty that “The No Names” aren’t the enemy here, the elite characters of Booktopia are. After sharing that Spotty’s reality show inspired a movement among the background citizens of Booktopia, “The No Names” formed to take power back to the people. Captain No Name convinces Spotty, they are a force for good and now Spotty becomes an ally of the rebellion. Spotty also gets Beardy free from being held hostage on the condition that Beardy join “The No Names” rebellion too. Beardy, even though very reluctant, joins “The No Names” rebellion for his little adoptive brother. Captain No Name, through a secret connection at the network, gets Spotty his old job back as host of “The Background Character Club” and now “The Background Character Club” is back on the air for another season as a rebellion is brewing.
It's A Hap-Hap Rumble Slam (The Background Character Club: Episode Scenario)
After a day of filming, Spotty, Deer and Vladimir Lenin go out drinking together. Little does Spotty know that his drink was spiked and the next morning Spotty washes up on the shore of a mysterious beach. Spotty starts exploring only to discover he has somehow ended up on the island of Lilliput. On the island of Lilliput, the citizens are very small to the point that they could be mistaken for bugs. Spotty, being an English Mastiff, is already very large back home, but now he’s struggling to gain the trust of the Lilliputians who fear him even more due to his size.
But Emperor Golbasto of Lilliput realizes that Spotty could be an asset to him and his people. Emperor Golbasto imprisons Spotty and orders him to challenge another giant who washed up onto the island named “Macho King” Lemuel Gulliver in a fight. Spotty, being the nice guy that he is, along with just wanting to be a gentle giant, agrees to this.
Before Spotty battles “Macho King” Lemuel Gulliver, we discover that Deer and Vladimir Lenin also ended up in Lilliput after boarding a party boat during their drunken outing. Lenin reveals that he spiked their drinks with Rohypnol because he wanted to make their party extra fun, along with possibly doing unspeakable things to Spotty.
Meanwhile, Spotty watches “Macho King” Lemuel Gulliver on TV to discover he’s a cocky bully to the Lilliputians and Spotty realizes that Gulliver’s form of fighting is professional wrestling (side note, Lemuel Gulliver behaves like famous professional wrestler "Macho Man" Randy Savage, with his voice even sounding like Savage’s). The match between Spotty and Gulliver is held. Spotty now embracing a wrestling persona of his own (a persona similar to pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan) wrestles Gulliver in a stadium filled to the brim with Lilliputians.
As the Lilliputians cheer for Spotty, along with two surprise appearances during the match by Deer (with a wrestling persona that is very similar to the professional wrestler "Stone Cold" Steve Austin) and Vladimir Lenin who comes to the arena the USSR national anthem as his entrance music. Spotty, Lenin and Deer defeat Gulliver.
The crowd of Lilliputians want the three to slay the giant Gulliver but in fear Gulliver starts to rip his wrestling attire off. Gulliver, now talking in his normal voice reveals that he too washed up on Lilliput years ago where he became a god among them. Gulliver loved the power he had in Lilliput, because back home in Booktopia, he’s just a fast-food worker. Gulliver crying not because he wants to live, but because he wants to die in Lilliput as a god.
But in the end, Spotty gets a good enough signal on his cell phone to get him, Deer, Lenin, and Gulliver a lift back home to Booktopia. Gulliver is scared to return to Booktopia, but Spotty says that maybe he can share his story on Lilliput to the citizens of Booktopia. Now Gulliver thinking that he might have a way to cash off on his adventures on Lilliput agrees to go home with our heroes. Zeus brings his private yacht over to Lilliput to take Spotty, Gulliver, Lenin, and Deer home. Zeus is pissed at Spotty and Deer because they missed filming the show, but he’s happy because Gulliver used to work at his favorite burger place.
Gulliver was a good fry cook and the burger place went to shit after Gulliver had left. Gulliver agrees to make Zeus’s favorite burgers again, only if Gulliver can get an interview on his TV network. Zeus agrees, and as they sail back home to Booktopia, Spotty, Deer and Lenin share one last beer together. But Lenin spiked Spotty’s beer and Spotty suddenly passes out. Zeus throws Lenin off his yacht after Lenin drugged Spotty. Lenin is now floating alone lost at sea, but not for long, because Loki comes to Lenin’s aide once again.
Sorry You’re A Big Loser, Here’s Some Cake (The Background Character Club: Episode Scenario)
For some mysterious reason, all of the contestants have now gained over 100 pounds and have become very obese. Zeus, angry at Spotty for letting all the contestants literally let themselves go, almost fires Spotty before he comes up with the show’s next challenge. Spotty pitches Zeus a new competition for the show’s next episode. Now that all the contestants are currently obese, Spotty makes it a competition for the contestants to lose weight and get back in shape. Whoever loses the most weight at the end of the episode is declared winner and the people who lost the least weight, will be eliminated from the show. Zeus, loving Spotty’s idea, sets this weight loss competition into motion for the next round of episodes.
Along with Spotty, Zeus gets three other personal trainers to help whip the contestants back into shape. Of course, Zeus picks his own son Hercules to be one of the personal trainers. Zeus’s other personal trainer picks are Thor and Beowulf. Thor, Beowulf, and Hercules treat the contestants cruelly and make them workout nonstop to an unhealthy degree. Thor, Beowulf, and Hercules also behave like douchebags the entire time as the make fun of the contestants’ weight and bully them in general.
Spotty is a more caring and sympathetic workout coach as he guides the contestants in a more realistic ways to lose weight. With the ratings still slumping and the contestants still not losing any weight, Spotty feels something is not right. Spotty goes to investigate and discovers Loki is the new catering chef on the show and he has put a magical potion that increase weight gain into the contestants’ food to the point where they’ll just keep gaining the weight back, no matter how much they lost. Meanwhile, Hercules and Cinderella are having relationship issues which affects their jobs.
Cinderella, due to her recent depression issues and her divorce from Prince Charming messing with her head, she has turned to food to cope. Cinderella let herself go and has now ballooned to over 450 pounds and Hercules is ashamed to be with her due to her weight. Hercules being the health nut and muscle man he is, hates fat people. Cinderella is now questioning is she worthy being loved, no matter what size she is? Since no matter if she’s thin or fat, she can’t truly find love and happiness because every man she’s with doesn’t truly love her in the end.
Luckily, with the guidance of her Fairy Godmother, Cinderella and Hercules make amends. Hercules learns to love Cinderella’s curves and they together mend their relationship alongside respecting their bodies in healthier ways. After Spotty mentions that Loki has been causing mischief behind the scenes to Zeus along with that it was Loki’s mischief that caused all the contestants to gain weight. Zeus gives all the contestants the antidote to Loki’s weight gain potion.
Like magic, all the contestants return to their normal weight rapidly and are back their normal selves. Spotty, Zeus and Leopold Bloom slowly begin to discover that Loki isn’t alone in his actions as he had help in ruining their show. They later discover Loki has formed a team that is trying to cancel “The Background Character Club”. Before they could stop Loki, something awful happens before the episode ends. Our heroes learn that Loki is now the new president of the network and now the future of “The Background Character Club” is truly at stake.
Big Beautiful Woman Haters (The Background Character Club: Episode Scenario)
This will be an entire side story episode about The Three Little Pigs named Stu, Harry and Paul with the whole episode being a parody/tribute to “The Three Stooges” comedy shorts with Stu, Harry and Paul behaving like the titular Three Stooges. The episode begins when The Three Little Pigs being framed for stealing cookies from a bakery. The Three Pigs claim that it was a one-armed fat lady who stole the cookies from the bakery, but the police don’t care. Now trying to escape the police for a crime they didn’t commit, along with finding the real criminal, The Three Little Pigs must not only deal with being fugitives, but their own idiocy.
After many slapstick hijinks and even The Three Little Pigs taking various odd jobs such as boxers, plumbers, and musicians, which gets them in more trouble while on the run from the law. They are finally cleared of all charges against them as the one-armed fat lady is captured and confuses to the crime. It is revealed that the one-armed fat lady is really the Greek god, Hera. Hera is Zeus’s ex-wife and after their divorce, she has packed on the pounds and lost her arm in a freak mauling accident. Now that they are no longer fugitives, Zeus throws a party for The Three Little Pigs and thanks them for stopping his ex-wife Hera. Only for the party to go south when the DJ plays a remix of the song “Pop Goes the Weasel” which makes Paul snap and go into a violent fugue state.
Paul starts attacking party guests as Stu and Harry try to calm Paul down before he can do anymore damage to the party goers. Paul eventually calms down and snaps back to his normal mindset when he smells a cheese deep-dish pizza. Due to the damage Paul had caused at the party, along with Stu and Harry defending their brother, Zeus kicks them out of his mansion and bans them from Booktopia. Stu, Harry, and Paul after being banished by Zeus, become hobos, and ride the rails not knowing anything to do with their lives instead.
But before the episode ends, we learn that Hera is bailed out by Vladimir Lenin who is now working with Loki. Vladimir Lenin introduces himself to Hera with him saying that he, Loki, and Hades are working on an evil mission and need her help. Hera accepts when she learns that this evil mission will help take down her ex-husband Zeus. Now Loki, Hades, Hera, and Vladimir Lenin leave the police station together with only one goal, cancel “The Background Character Club” reality TV show.
Glengarry Glen Scrooge (The Background Character Club: Episode Scenario)
Running out of ideas for competitions for the contestants to compete for on the show, Zeus comes up with an idea for a new competition that involves another man that he has a financial debt with due to a failed outside investment, Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge decides to hire the contestants and Spotty to his firm Scrooge & Marley. Scrooge (who behaves a lot like the character Blake from the film “Glengarry Glen Ross”) and his clerk Bob Cratchit (who behaves a lot like Jordan Belfort of “The Wolf of Wall Street” fame) berate and torment their new employees.
Which makes Spotty feel sorry for all the contestants, as he tries to keep the peace. Scrooge has three prizes for the new employees/contestants. First prize is a cash prize of $80,000 and second prize is 100 shares in Tech Carson Industries and third prize is everyone else is fired. So as the contestants start to become soulless businessmen and as greed abounds to corrupt them, Spotty, still the caring soul that he always is, befriends Bob Cratchit’s gravely ill son Tiny Tim. As Spotty becomes a father figure to Tiny Tim along with teaching him how to play the ukulele. Only when the final day of the competition arrives, the Scrooge & Marley firm is hit with accusations of an accounting scandal that ruins the entire firm.
Scrooge and Cratchit are arrested for their financial crimes and all Scrooge & Marley assets are to be sold off to recoup the costs. The scandal affects the stock price of Tech Carson Industries, and its owner, Tech Carson, reacquires his shares that Scrooge & Marley held in his company. Tech Carson donates some of his required shares to the contestants as an apology for the actions of Scrooge and Cratchit. Now shareholders in Tech Carson Industries and jobless, Spotty and the contestants return home to Booktopia to resume filming of the show, much to the dismay of Zeus who now lost even more money after the scandal.
When Spotty worked for Scrooge & Marley, he and Tiny Tim worked together to invent the three-cartridge rocket pack. When Spotty returned home, he got a letter from Tiny Tim saying he sold the patent of the three-cartridge rocket pack to Tech Carson Industries. Tiny Tim tells Spotty that he took all the money from the sale to Tech Carson Industries and only he will receive royalties from the patent. Spotty annoyed realizing he got screwed then looks out his window to see a new superhero flying in the sky named Zip-Jet. As Spotty looks closer at Zip-Jet, through his window, he notices a ukulele wrapped behind his back and crutches around his arms.
Let's Go To Asgard (The Background Character Club: Episode Scenario)
After Zeus lost a poker game to his old frenemy Odin, Odin is now the new producer and owner of “The Background Character Club” reality show. Because it’s closer to his home, Odin moves production of the show to Asgard. Spotty, The Morlocks and the contestants reluctantly move to Asgard as Asgardian hijacks ensue. Spotty has to temporary leave Asgard, because after a phone call from a Russian mob boss, he’s worried about his on again, off again boyfriend Vladimir Lenin’s life and must travel to Russia. In Spotty’s place, Hercules heads to Asgard to be the temporary host of the show. Hercules has a rivalry with Odin’s son Thor, and they begin to butt heads on the set. As the contestants compete for the latest prize that is the legendary Asgardian sword Angervadil. Jag Jaguar starts to fall in love with a Valkyrie named Herja, after she saved him from a troll attack.
Pip Puffin won the sword Angervadil and makes it to the next round of the show. After Wally finds out that Odin cheated in the poker game between him and Zeus, along with other hijinks, Zeus gets back control over “The Background Character Club” and moves it back to its original home of Booktopia. Spotty saved Lenin from the Russian mafia, only to later find out that Lenin himself had a hand in his own kidnapping. Spotty angrily breaks up with Lenin again and flies back to Booktopia to return as host the show. Jag won Herja’s heart after he saved her from a troll himself, and they write love letters to each other because Herja stayed in Asgard, as Jag had to go back to film the show back in Booktopia. As Lenin drinks Vodka alone in a bar back in his mother Russia, he is visited by Loki who offers Lenin deal that might help Lenin win Spotty’s heart once and for all.
Royal For A Day (The Background Character Club: Episode Scenario)
Spotty and the contestants head over to the fairy tale kingdom where Prince Charming and Cinderella reside and rule. As the contestants duke it out for a chance to be royal for a day and rule the Charming kingdom for one whole day, Prince Charming and Cinderella can’t keep up their fairy tale marriage anymore. Cinderella discovers that Prince Charming has had numerous affairs with numerous fairy tale princesses throughout the years and even during their relationship.
Cinderella drinks heavily to cope with her depression and starts to reevaluate her fairy tale life. At the end of the episode, a winner is declared and made a queen for a day. Cinderella finally breaks up with Prince Charming for good filing for divorce and moves in with her new boyfriend, Hercules. Prince Charming now rules his kingdom alone, longing for what he lost, but he still must keep up the fairy tale façade. In the end, no one truly gets a happily ever after, even in fairy tales.
Penguins vs. Morlocks Production Wars (The Background Character Club: Episode Scenario)
Zeus and Leopold are looking to cut production costs on filming of “The Background Character Club” which leads to the firing of most of the crew. With the crew mostly being made up of The Snow Queen’s penguins and Morlocks. Now Zeus and Leopold must decide between The Snow Queen’s penguins or the monstrous Morlocks as the show’s grunt crew members and interns. Spotty, fearing the fates of The Snow Queen’s penguins and the Morlocks, tries to make peace as a war starts between the penguins and the Morlocks for their jobs on the show.
Spotty pleads with Zeus and Leopold to end this war/union strike so that the show can resume production. Zeus and Leopold finally decide that, in the end, the Morlocks are the cheaper option. The Morlocks are also better, stronger workers and aide the production of the show much better than the penguins. After the war/union strike The Snow Queen takes her penguins home, and they all watch the show together back at her ice castle with The Snow Queen happy that her servants and loving pets are back home for good.
From Russia With Vodka Lovers (The Background Character Club: Episode Scenario)
Spotty, the show’s producers and the contestants are moved to Russia temporary due to a production cost saving move by Zeus to film a couple of new episodes in Russia. While the contestants are still duking it out to win the grand prize, Spotty takes a break from hosting the show to explore Russia along a journey to find himself. Hercules hosts the show in Spotty’s absence, much to Jag’s annoyance. One day, Spotty visits Lenin’s Mausoleum because he felt drawn to it from deep inside himself. After getting passed the guards at the Mausoleum and feeling inspired by the tale of Snow White, Spotty gives Lenin a kiss, which wakes him up from a curse.
Spotty, struggling with his sexuality, realizes that Vladimir Lenin is his true love. Spotty hasn’t come out publicly yet and Lenin wants to get married on the spot, but Spotty is reluctant. The episode ends with Spotty leaving Lenin in Russia with both of their hearts broken in the process. Lenin vows to see Spotty again, along with rebuilding his public image. Yet, Lenin is a slow learner and doesn’t adapt well to modern times. But he’ll do anything to be reunited with his reluctant lover again.
“The Background Character Club” Pilot Page By Page Outline
1. Spotty, a male talking cartoon English Mastiff, who currently works as an intern for a TV network in a magical realm called Booktopia, pitches an idea for a new reality competition show to his boss and network big wig, Zeus. After Spotty nervously pitches his show on the spot inside Zeus’s dressing room. After hearing the pitch, Zeus greenlights production and names Spotty the host of his own show. Spotty is now on cloud nine.
2. Now in a mansion, Spotty introduces us to all the contestants and explains the rules of “The Background Character Club” to the viewers. We get to know the each contestant and they are all given member jackets. Spotty lets the contestants make themselves at home in the mansion before taking them to their first challenge.
3. Spotty takes the contestants to their first challenge in Camelot where they meet the legendary King Arthur. The first challenge of “The Background Character Club” is to pull the fabled sword in the stone out of the stone. Much to the dismay of King Arthur, contestant Pip Puffin wins the first challenge by pulling the sword out of the stone and is now the new King of England. King Arthur takes Pip Puffin to court to regain his throne only to learn from Spotty that the sword was a replica and just a metaphor challenge. The case is dismissed, and the show continues to the next challenge.
4. The next challenge for our contestants is for each of them to kiss Snow White and who ever wakes her up from her eternal slumber wins. The contestants reluctantly, much to their annoyance and their discuss of kissing a corpse, each kiss Snow White but none can wake her up. Lucy wins the challenge after punching Snow White in the chest with a hard hit that cause Snow White to wake up in pain, much to the dismay of Spotty.
5. In the mansion kitchen, two contestants Dale and Jag Jaguar try to get to know each other. Dale wants to learn what book Jag is originally from only for Jag to guarded and reluctant to share his true origins. Dale moves on while Jag just goes back making a sandwich.
6. In the mansion’s playroom, two other contestants named Lucy and Bob get to know each other. Lucy shares that she has a famous cousin who happens to be Puss In Boots. Suddenly, Wally the Viking drunkenly enters the playroom looking for a fight. Wally starts to wrestle Bob with Lucy and Pip fleeing the room.
7. In the library, three other contestants named Buzz, Deer and Mary get to know each other along with discussing what they would do if they win the competition.
8. Now in the editing room, as Spotty watches a grunt cartoon penguin intern edit the current footage of the show, Zeus enters to fire Spotty not only as host of the show but from the entire production. Since Spotty sold the rights to “The Background Character Club” to Zeus thus having no real power on the production. But before Spotty leaves for good, Zeus discovers that Spotty’s replacement host, who happens to be his own son Hercules, can’t do the hosting gig for a few weeks due to another commitment. Even though Spotty’s job is safe for now, he and Zeus leave the editing room on bad terms.
9. The following day, filiming of the show continues with the contestants playing in a football game between them and a bunch of cartoon penguins. After Deer scored the first touchdown of the game, he won the challenge and the game ends because they will get kicked off the field soon.
10. Back at the mansion, Spotty says the next challenge is to slay a dragon as angry dragon flies into the mansion looking for her baby. Pip Puffin grabs a huge egg out of Spotty’s hands and gives it to the dragon. Pip returns the dragon egg to its mother and wins double immunity.
11. In the mansion’s ballroom, the contestants who didn’t win the challenges must face three celebrity judges Cinderella, Pinocchio, and Don Quixote who will decide their fates. Buzz eliminated himself after randomly attacking Don Quixote. Mary is revealed to be one of Cinderella’s evil stepsisters which causes Cinderella to nervously leave due to PTSD. As chaos and confusion happens around them, Spotty says Dale, Wally, Bob, and Jag Jaguar are not eliminated tonight due to this mess. These four contestants remain members of “The Background Character Club” for another day.
12. Now in the network office of Zeus, Spotty is being yelled at by the legendary Greek god. Zeus is very pissed about last night events at the ballroom as Zeus is conflicted because the show’s production is becoming a nightmare but it’s still a ratings hit. Zeus also informs Spotty that Jag must be eliminated because he’s originally from The Island of Dr. Moreau and Dr. Moreau wants Jag Jaguar back. Spotty also learns that he will lose his cartoon penguin crew because their owner The Snow Queen wants them back. Spotty leaves Zeus’s office while Zeus continues to try and fix the damage from this crazy production.
13. At the mansion, all the contestants pack up and attempt to leave because they have given up altogether on their dreams of getting out of the background and feel they are on a sinking ship. As Spotty tries to both save his show and persuade the contestants to stay on the show. While Spotty is pleading his case, Jag pulls out a gun because he wants to own the mansion and not return to The Island of Dr. Moreau. When Spotty tries to calm Jag down, Spotty slips that he hasn’t gotten the okay for the contestants to get their own book. Before Jag could shoot anyone, The Snow Queen appears and freezes Jag.
14. The Snow Queen arrives to the mansion to reclaim her penguins with Hercules also arriving to be the new host of the show. The penguins joyfully return to their owner The Snow Queen, and after she leaves, Jag unfreezes. Jag then shoots Hercules only for the bullet to bounce off him. Jag and Hercules start to wrestle each other.
15. Dale, Lucy, Pip Puffin, Wally, and Bob resume packing up as Spotty sobs due to his creation dying before his eyes. Suddenly we hear the announcer who reveals that the show isn’t over and next week we’ll find out what happens to our contestants. Thus, we are reminded that everyone signed contracts, so they are in this for the long haul. After losing the penguins, new crew members arrive in the form of the Morlocks, who happen to be on loan from The Time Traveler. Spotty suddenly get an idea for the next challenge on the show.
16. Zeus drives down a busy street when he starts to notice things changing around him with posters of Spotty appearing all over the city of Booktopia. Zeus wondering what Spotty is up to heads to a throne room where Zeus discovers that Spotty used the Time Traveler’s time machine to go back in time to alter the present day where Spotty is now both a billionaire and the king of England because he traveled back in time to pull the stone out of the stone before King Arthur could. Spotty gleefully saying that he’s now more powerful than Zeus as he now rules Booktopia. During Spotty’s rant, Zeus pulls out his cell phone to make a few phone calls and eventually returns everything back to normal because Zeus, being a literal god, trumps Spotty’s newly created timeline authority in every way. Spotty, sadly returns to hosting the show and is spiteful towards Zeus as the feeling is mutual.
17. Meanwhile, Lucy tries to eat Pip Puffin only for Spotty to chase her away because cats are afraid of dogs. Spotty asks what is wrong with her for trying to eat Pip only for her to tell him that Jag at Dale. Later, Spotty and Zeus watch as they return Jag Jaguar back to Doctor Moreau after he killed Dale. Spotty and Zeus begin to realize they are losing contestants, so they need to find replacements fast.
18. Spotty and Zeus hold auditions for new contestants. Former contestant Mary tries and fails to audition but is caught right away. Three little pigs named Stu, Paul, and Harry audition with a slapstick comedy act, only for the Big Bad Wolf to appear out of nowhere and steal Harry. The last individual to audition female penguin named Penny who sings beautifully only for The Snow Queen to appear to force her to come back home. After this failed audition, Zeus and Spotty both decide just to keep the contestants they already have so they just forget the whole thing.
19. In the ballroom, the judges are preparing to eliminate another contestant when Wally appears in a bikini mixing up dates for the swimsuit competition and the elimination day.
20. The judges’ made their decision and have decided to eliminate Bob. Bob accepts his loss and now must find another job, but not before giving the middle finger to the camera as he drives off.
21. After Bob is eliminated, the contestants are shocked to find out that Jag Jaguar is officially back on the show as a contestant and he’s still in the competition.
22. Zeus is playing golf when a producer friend named Leopold Bloom arrives to talk business with Zeus. Leopold wants to offer Zeus a deal on a possible new contestant for the show.
23. Hades, an old rival of Zeus enters and states he wants to become a producer on “The Background Character Club” too as Zeus stands guard.
24. Hades proposes to Zeus a new contestant that he and Leopold had in mind, who happens to be a succubus.
25. Zeus loving the idea wants to know who this succubus contestant is only for the announcer to cut them off before they could say who the succubus is. The announcer tells the audience to tune in next time if only this show were to get picked up.
END
The Background Character Club: Character Descriptions
Spotty is a talking cartoon English Mastiff who happens to be background character living in a world of literary icons called Booktopia. Like every background character in Booktopia, he longs to be a star. Spotty is the creator and host of “The Background Character Club” reality TV show. Spotty is kind, caring and just a lovable goofball. Spotty seeks attention and acceptance from others. Spotty also suffers from Asperger syndrome, which is a high functioning form of Autism. Spotty is just trying to learn the ins and outs of the entertainment business within Booktopia. Spotty just wants to survive and will do anything for a gig. Spotty is there to help others even though he mostly tries to help himself in the end. Spotty wants to be remembered for good reasons, he may act selfish sometimes, but again, he’s just Spotty.
Zeus is an actual God from Greece and quite the star in Booktopia. Zeus is one of the most ruthless producers and network executives in Booktopia. Zeus is very cheap and just cares about making money. Zeus fears rebellion from the background characters and just wants to keep the status quo as it is. Zeus loves to play golf and is a loving father to his hulking, idiot, frat boy, son Hercules. Zeus is old school Hollywood mogul, and along with being a God, he loves power and keeping order.
Jag Jaguar is a talking male cartoon jaguar and a contestant on “The Background Character Club”. Jag is originally from the classic book “The Island of Dr. Moreau” but hid that fact from the show’s producers. Jag is a good football player and acts like a tough jock, even though he’s just a scaredy cat. He’s quite mysterious and he is ashamed to be an experiment of Dr. Moreau. Jag was kicked off the show, only to be revealed to be coming back for the next episode. Jag is in it to win it and just keeps his eyes on the prize.
Leopold Bloom is one of the producers of “The Background Character Club” and Zeus’s best friend. Leopold is the star of the classic book “Ulysses” and a proud Irish man. Leopold is overweight and eats whatever he can get his hands on. Leopold’s favorite food is mashed potatoes. He also carries a lucky potato in his pocket that was given to him by his father. Leopold is an alcoholic and he is often hungover when he’s not drunk. Leopold, like Zeus, loves that the reality show he produces creates because it can create a fantasy for the citizens, but he too fears that it might lead to big changes for the world of Booktopia along with a possible change to the status quo and his and Zeus’s power inside Booktopia.
Cinderella is a princess who had already gotten her happily ever after, but she still needs to pay the bills. Cinderella is one of the judges on “The Background Character Club” and she is rough personality. Cinderella will do anything to keep her royal status, even though she is divorced from Prince Charming. While trying to ignore her past of being a servant to her evil stepmother and stepsisters Cinderella currently suffers from PTSD and is a heavy drinker. Again, Cinderella just wants to be loved by everyone and anyone because she must do anything to keep her happily ever after.
Pinocchio is a little wooden puppet and another celebrity judge on the show. Pinocchio mostly ends up dying and being rebuilt during the first season of “The Background Character Club”. Pinocchio used to be a real boy. But he turned back into a puppet because that helped his career better as it was hard to promote himself as a real boy instead of being a living wooden puppet. Pinocchio is very robotic and socially awkward. Pinocchio like the other judges, is only on the show to keep his celebrity status. Plus he has to pay his bills and he just wants to stay relevant.
Don Quixote is the legendary Man of La Mancha and a very insane old man. Don Quixote is another celebrity judge on the show. Like the two other judges, he has fallen on hard times, and he needs the money from this gig. Don Quixote during the production of the show is in and out of mental hospitals and he usually escapes from them too. Don Quixote will fight anyone or anything because he’s just that insane. Even though Don Quixote gets his butt kicked repeatedly, you still shouldn’t mess with the Man of La Mancha.
Vladimir Lenin is a legendary Russian revolutionary and Spotty’s on again, off again boyfriend. Spotty met Lenin at his mausoleum. Lenin, believed to be dead for decades, was under a curse of eternal sleep the whole time and only true love’s kiss would wake him up. Spotty, who broke Lenin’s curse, happens to be Lenin’s true love which makes both parties feel awkward. Now Lenin tries to readjust to the modern world while also trying to win back his true love Spotty. Lenin is obsessed with guns to the extreme. Lenin is insane and besides guns, he’ll never go anywhere without his trusty battle axe by his side. Lenin appears scary, yet honestly, he’s just nuts, wants to be loved (mainly by his reluctant boyfriend Spotty) and just to go hang out at the bar and get drunk on Vodka with the boys.
The Background Character Club TV Pilot Pitch Info
Spotty is a young male cartoon English Mastiff and an aspiring comedy writer who currently works as an intern at a major TV network located in a magical realm called Booktopia. Spotty who lives in a studio apartment with his roommate and fellow struggling entertainer, who is a young male deer, who is just named Deer. Spotty, eventually getting the attention of his boss and network executive, who happens to be the legendary Greek God, Zeus. Spotty pitches Zeus his idea for a reality show competition where the winner will get the chance to emerge out of the background and get a starring role in their own book. Zeus greenlights his show, but even though he originally wanted his own son Hercules to host the show. Due to a scheduling conflict, Hercules can’t host the show and Spotty is reluctantly given the hosting duties to his creation, now known as “The Background Character Club”. Nine contestants compete for the prize as Spotty keeps the peace and order among these wacky background characters. Also, Deer got onto the show as a contestant mostly due to blackmailing his roommate Spotty, which Spotty didn’t tell his bosses of his true connection with Deer. “The Background Character Club” is a show that proves to be a hit in the ratings and makes a lot of money for the network. Being the number one show in Booktopia comes not without controversy. Loki, Hades, and other powerful fictional characters fear that a rebellion is brewing between the popular characters and the background characters.
As Spotty films the show, he deals with hijinks like having a reluctant on again, off again relationship with Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin whom he woke from an eternal sleep with true love’s kiss. Spotty also goes through the hijinks of working with crew members that are either The Snow Queen’s penguins or the monstrous Morlocks who are from alternate future. Spotty struggles to just balance being a reality show host and showrunner at the same time. Spotty is always butting heads with people at the network and fears that he may have created something that he’ll later regret. Spotty doesn’t know who to trust anymore, as he just continues to be a shill for the network because he does so that he can just still be in the spotlight and live the dream of not being in the background anymore. Spotty later discovers a rebellion is brewing where the background characters called “The No Names”, who want to overthrow the government of Booktopia. “The No Names” inspired by the show, want to fight the system of oppression that is just being a background character in Booktopia and a world where everyone is equal. Spotty, moved by the cause of “The No Names” secretly joins their group while continuing to be the showrunner on “The Background Character Club” reality show. As the contestants are being eliminated from the show, while Spotty secretly aides the rebellion as the powers that be who run Booktopia just to keep the status quo the same. We eventually learn that the powerful characters of Booktopia just want to keep their fame and power because, even though they are celebrities, they are lack self-confidence and will do anything to remain relevant for fear of being forgotten. As the first season of “The Background Character Club” ends, the network decides if they want to renew the show, even though it’s so popular that it gives the masses hope that they can get out of the background and thus spreads a seed of a rebellion that has already started that we can only hope it won’t lead to a world ending war.