"Listen. I don't know anythin' about video games, but I heard that you two are my star programmers. So I am hell-bent on having you boys continue to do what's really important to me..."
"Making sweet-ass video games and getting messed up on hootch! Yeah!"
"NO, YOU GOOFY-LOOKIN' COW TURDS! MAKING ME MONEY!"
The Woz is the first episode of the first season of Code Monkeys and the first in the series overall. It is followed by E.T.
Plot[]
Finishing their latest game at GameAVision, programmers Dave and Jerry are called by Steve Wozniak, their CEO, to gather everyone for an important announcement. We are introduced with Black Steve, a gun-wielding accountant, Todd, an RPG [and mother] obsessed programmer who is a douchebag as far as anyone is concerned, and Mary, a female programmer who Dave frequently harasses and Jerry has a crush on.
With everyone assembled, along with secretary Clare, Woz makes his announcement: he wants to sell the company and pursue his dream of making computers. This news doesn't sit well for anyone, especially Dave, who is entrusted to help sell the company. Instead, he tries to drive away everyone of them to keep things the same. He scares off a family company with sound producer and flamboyant gay man Clarence, traps a pair of Canadian shareholders with the equally creepy Todd, and grosses out another group with a prank of microwaving his own poop, which explodes in their faces.
Dave's plan is successful, but comes at a price. Woz announces that there are only two potential buyers left: Mr. Larrity, a Texas businessman, and Bellicovision, the absolute last gaming company Dave wants anyone to be involved with. He decides that Larrity may be the better option simply because he is not Belicovision, but now Woz wants a majority vote from the rest of the staff. At the outdoor BBQ pit and fun zone, everyone votes except for Jerry, leaving a tie. Both Dave and Mary want him to go to their side, Larrity and Bellicovision respectively, but Jerry ends up choosing Larrity.
Dave and Jerry meet with Mr. Larrity later that day, who begins making changes at everyone's expense (save for Black Steve, who gains the boss's respect and keeps his office). They also meet Dean, his dimwitted son, and Benny, a Korean child he adopted and assigns as GameAVision's beta tester. As the new boss, Larrity makes it clear that he cares more about money than anything else, and doesn't know anything about video games, nor does he care so long as he's making profit. During his first pitch meeting, Larrity turns down many game ideas and completely ignores Mary.
Realizing the mistake he has made, though he shifts the blame on Jerry, Dave asks Wozniak to leave his new company Apple computers, and come back. Woz declines and tells Dave to take charge and help his team, insisting that Larrity is a good man.
Dave finds and saves almost everyone from moving to Belicovision and return to GameAVision. During this time, Todd and Black Steve try to assassinate Larrity but fail in all attempts. In the end, Black Steve sells out Todd to get on Larrity's good side, leading the boss branding Todd like a steer because of his viking helmet.
Later, Dave told Jerry a prank that he defecated in the brownie bowl, Jerry tries to warn him to keep quiet Dave turns around and sees everyone shocked and disgusted while Larrity replies that this is the second time he ate shit his week.
Video Game references[]
- In Mr. Wozniak's office, Majora's Mask is hung on the wall, which Wozniak puts on for a brief moment. This is an obvious reference to Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask for the Nintendo 64.
- During the "lil' meander" where Larrity introduces himself to Dave and Jerry, they pass through environments that are graphically and architecturally very similar to worlds 1-2 and 1-4 of Super Mario Bros. A Koopa Troopa is also seen in this area, which Dave jumps on, sliding it under Jerry and Larrity and knocking them over. Clarence disappears from here in a Warp Pipe, all of which are clearly referring to recurring elements in the popular Mario series.
- A recurring element in Larrity's office in this and many future episodes are random items placed on his desk with a price number next to them. This is a reference to The Legend of Zelda.
- When Black Steve shoots his gun at Dave and Jerry, if you look close enough, you can see a mean little face on the bullet. This is similar to the Bullet Bills from the Mario franchise.
- Also hanging on the Wall in Wozniak's office can be seen a shy guy mask from Super Mario series.
- When Jerry tries to jump the gap, the pose and death sequence are from Megaman.
- While applying at Bellecovision, Jerry is whipped by an employee, using a whip just like the one from Castlevania.
Film References[]
- Dave cuts open a not-dead donkey with a lightsaber and crawls inside, explicitly referring to the scene in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes back when Han Solo cuts open his Tauntaun to keep Luke Skywalker warm.
- The Hover-board which can be seen in the Break room driven by Steve Woz is a parody from Back to the Future II
References[]
- Apple is a real computer company famous for the Apple I, Apple II, and the Macintosh.
- Bellicovision is a parody of Colecovision an 80's game company.
- Mr. Wozniak actually owns Apple currently.
- Mr. Larrity's obsession with money is a reference to the game industry of real-life. According to consensus, the individual programmers create games out of a "love for the craft," but the large corporations that fund the games are only interested in profits.
Notes[]
- The final score was 11,969.