Fun fact: Dino was actually a reference to Dean Martin, who's nick name was Dino. He really was part of a group called "The Rat Pat." He did shows with his then business partner Jerry Lewis, on the "Colgate Comedy Hour" back in the... I believe... 40s & 50s (don't quote me on that). Jerry and Dean did some movies together, like: "The Good Earth" and "The Caddy." Dean Martin, much like Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, was a Crooner. Dean did some movies on his own after He and Jerry had a falling out. Dean even had his own Variety Show at one time during the 70's. Dean also used to Box, I think before he got into show business. Unfortunately, Dean Martin did have a drinking problem, and after his son was killed in an accident, he tried to stop drinking. Just FYI.
I remember this episode. The jokes were so on-point, and it is honestly surprising to see that they managed to make an episode based on this kind of story. But yeah, the ending definitely feels weird for a HA episode. Like, it should be nice that things worked out and Dino is happy again, but no one being that mad about what he did feels... off. Realistically, most people would see it as a cheap publicity stunt to drum up sales and hate his guts for it.
Ikr. If this was real life this stunt would make him more infamous. Something Dino DIDN'T want! I think It'd be better if he kept faking he was dead. Megamind would kinda do this Story much better years later!
I haven’t seen this episode in twenty years, and I STILL remember lines from it: “Can we go now?” “In a MINUTE!” “Look at this! He’s kissing my wife, he’s petting my dog!”
Frank Sinatra was a known member of the mafia, and he used his connections and violence to get his way in the music industry, so I’m gonna say any unflattering imitations are fair game.
I always really liked the episodes with Dino mainly because of the personality he brings. He was a troubled guy dealing with a messy career and struggling to maintain relevance. I always kind of preferred this episode over the one where Arnold gets him to perform at his school's dance which shows him having a similar attitude because it showcases the true depth of how Dino feels about his life and career, and how even though he's lived a pretty sad life (at least that's how he sees it), he realizes by the end that it isn't worth throwing away the way he did.
Honestly could see him basically getting what he wanted at the end as a kind of a commentary about how celebrities tend to get away with and be forgiven for things that others would be piled on for in the mainstream.
I agree that it was a strange episode looking back. Dino faking his own death is indeed selfish, and I'm actually surprised how the episode's concept made it to broadcast.
Before I watch the video. I do want to say that it is refreshing to see people talk about old television shows from our childhood. Even when it’s a criticism or addressing the messages that the episode is trying to represent, you get the feeling that you grew up in that era and remember how different life was when you were a kid to how different entertainment is now
I liked as it is pretty realistic and relevant to this day in my opinion when a famous person dies all of a sudden he's your childhood hero but the people who knew them personally might actually see them as just a person either you hated them or liked them what I really liked was his writing partners reaction at first he sounded blasé about his friend passing but it was sort of heartwarming that you see him break down crying at the lost of his friend as he hated the person he became but still saw him as a close friend who deserved to be mourned
I think what they were trying to go for with Dino faking his death hits harder as someone with depression and future/career anxiety than when I was younger...so to see Dino get forgiven so quickly for going through with it kind of makes me angry.
I remember watching this episode as a kid and even i suprise how even Hey Arnold able to make an episode like this. A fomer famous singer believe to be dead only to discover that he actually alive and try to live in secret. You expect you see story like that in a grow-ups show, not a kid show....
I feel Nickelodeon pushed the boundaries in kids cartoons, and I applaud them for that. Because kids need to know about some horrible parents who do the worst things and their families suffer! I don’t think it’s a bad episode, since it’s trying to be like the Krusty the Clown episode in the Simpsons who faked his death because of legal problems from the IRS!
Yeah, when we were kids, Nickelodeon (and other channels) didn’t sugarcoat it or mess around. And that was awesome. Most shows on Nick in the 90s were definitely NOT “just for kids.” Rocko and Ren & Stimpy for example. I’m so lucky to have grown up with Hey Arnold literally since it first premiered when I was 7. I would hate being a kid today, with all the wokeness and censoring just so the snowflakes don’t get offended. 🤦♂️
@@stevarino1989 that’s what I liked about Nickelodeon in the 90s, because they were able to talk about taboo topics regarding broken families and even drug abuse! They made it for older kids and families! Now modern kid shows are just talking down to kids with woke nonsense, it’s too pandering!
@@meltedvelveetacheesesauce4540 maybe because you didn’t really watch Nickelodeon. It’s not your genre then! But you can’t deny that those cartoons are groundbreaking!
My assumption is that it isn't talked about as much because of the rushed/bland ending. Didn't really feel like a Hey Arnold ending, it felt more like a generic cartoon ending. That said, this episode easily has some of the best humor in the whole series, and it gets even better with age. The older and more cynical I get, the harder I laugh at these jokes and quips.
I remember this episode! I had a lot of the same feelings you did. I enjoyed most of it but I was found the ending a bit rushed. Like that there wasn’t enough time for an ending so he’s quickly forgiven. If they had an extra minute I would have liked a scene afterwards that said Dino is popular again BUT his stunt landed him in legal hot water so he’s working off fines/attorneys bills. His stardom goes up and he does more shows, but he’s not really making more money and is financially in the same place. The “win” of the episode is he is a lot happier now from the perspective of his experience.
Mr Enter, you forgot that "Helga' Parrot" didn't end with the parrot saying her name, all of her classmates shocked and Helga blasting the F word causing Arnold to faint.
Hahaha! I remember Dino Spumoni! I loved the “big band era” and swing music culture, and it was hilarious to have a character from that era put into Hey Arnold, he was my favorite side character.
So this episode has stuck with me over the years. Its not one I forgot about, its one of the episodes that comes to my mind pretty regularly when thinking about the show. And like I don't even think this one aired very often, but despite that Its been burned into my memory. I think its probably because, like you said, its wild that this show got away with an episode where a guy faked his own death. Like I remember hearing that for the first time as a kid and being taken aback, normally they don't say the word die in kids shows of that era. They use some euphemism, but nope. This one came out and said it. And even though it was a fake death, I was still surprised they where talking about it on TV even at that young of an age. I personally remember also really liking the episode as well, and I honestly still do. This show seems to get better every time I go back and watch it. Like I remember back when it first aired I was a very little kid at the time and hated it, then I came back a few years later and thought it was alright, then I came back a few more years later and thought it was pretty good, now I consider it one of the best cartoons every made. I just love this show.
Hmmm... Let me put a spin on this to maybe understand where they were going with it. I think the moral they were shooting for was, "You don't know what you got in life until it's gone." Dino fakes his death, and it takes seeing a guy who is legitimately just being Dino and living his life for Dino to realize he threw away quite a lot in the name of a dumb little scheme that probably wouldn't have worked anyways. Dino's suffering while a guy quite literally does just barge in, make himself out to be Dino, and gets all the stuff Dino thinks he deserves. As far as why they kid-glove him about his actions... I think it's part of the whole sleaze appeal that the actual Rat Pack had. This was a group of performers that did shows for the Mafia and had plenty of stories under their belt. We might be seeing the effects if Reality is Unrealistic. I could buy that some Rat Pack performer would have enough connections to pull off a somewhat competent version of this, and they always seemed to play into that with Dino. Dino was always portrayed as this performer who did outlandish things and got away with stuff because he's Dino and he had that star power. So in a weird ass way, this is legitimately all consistent to the character.
The hot and cold feelings this episode gives is partly why Hey Arnold remains my favorite cartoon of all time, because it feels real. It's not all sunshine like most cartoons, and it's not all despair and gloom like some. It (at least this episode) sits right in that middle ground that most of us know.
You know what I think deserves an admirable animations review? Big city greens. It's funny, the writing is well done, there's plenty of character development, the lessons it teaches are good and it is very severely underrated. I mean no one talks about it. Yet, it's one of the few shows on TV that me and my dad laugh at. What do you all think?
Since TOH and Amphibia is ended; BCG is the most popular cartoon in the Disney Channel. The show's 4th season will start soon and there will be a BCG movie. How do you think it is underrated???
That is a fair point. But my reason is, I don't hear anyone really talk about it the way they do other well written shows. For that reason, I personally feel that it is underrated and that it deserves more attention
I recently rewatched some of Hey Arnold and I realized something. Helga is a bad example of a tsundere character and she doesn't deserve to be with Arnold. The problem with Helga is that she was too reliant on her love for Arnold. If the show wanted to be realistic. Helga should have realized it would better if she didn't get with Arnold and move to guy she wouldn't be so dependent on.
I remember this episode & it was fun rewatching it back when I rewatched the series :) I've seen a few people talk about it. one episode I didn't remember that I don't really see anyone talk about is the episode where Arnold finds the cranky author living in a cabin hidden on Elk Island.
Man, this was one of my favorite episodes from when I was a kid! Dino reminds me of a Sinatra typa guy and that always stuck with me to this day. What a vibe!
I remember when this episode aired. I loved it back then. As one who re-watches Hey Arnold regularly, watching the review, I found myself quoting whole portions of the episode and couldn't stop laughing. There was a 90s meme back then about celebrities faking their death by crashing into mountains and the like; Simpsons did it with Krusty. If I remember right; there was an actual celeb fake death that birthed the meme in 70s, but I could be wrong. The episode is a acquired taste, for sure, especially with implications and such; but it follows the old formula for comedy; you can get away with almost anything, as long as it's funny. That Dino really was an incredible stimulation!
This was actually one of my most enjoyed episodes growing up. I really felt for Dino, even though he is kind of a selfish jerk, I always got the sense that he’d lived a herd life, and wasn’t really smart enough to think though the implications of what he did. As for the ending, yeah, you probably have a point. But the episode does make it clear that most everyone in Dino’s personal life really didn’t care when he died. Even his “best friend” only admits he missed him after he “dies.” It’s sad that random strangers he’d never met cared more about his supposed death more than his wife and child. That doesn’t make what he did ok, but I do feel for the guy. I’m glad he got a happy ending, sentimental sap that I am.
Even as a kid I really liked this episode before knowing of who Frank Sinatra was. The humor like you said was so on point and good. But again, even as a kid I remember thinking he seemed to be let off the hook way too easy for pretending to kill himself, lol. But now as an adult where I also get alll the references, it;s just too good to hate. The ending is a bit meh on how they handle Dino not being actually dead, but now as a big Sinatra fan as well this epiosde just hits really well.
I do remember this episode, but I was so young at the time that a lot of the humor went over my head. As soon as you said Dino's full name, it started to come back. The whole method of death that's implied for Dino--my kid brain thought it was implied that he died from sadness and he knew it was coming, hence the note. I found the fact that the other residents thought Dino was a ghost to be absolutely hilarious and I really need to go give this a rewatch because I remember the beats of the episode, but DANG did I miss a lot of the subtext as a kid.
Man, this could've been a really good suicide allegory, but with the lighthearted twist being that he's not dead, but instead was so depressed that he faked his death to get away from the spotlight. This could've had a great message about how fame can really whittle a man down and put too much pressure on him or his career. Arnold could've been trying to convince Dino that he should come forward and reintegrate back into society as a metaphor for choosing to live instead of 'die'.
Dino did have a disco album, which Sinatra actually had. His schtick of "nothing but the hits" (mainly covers) meant that he's taken on just about any song with strings, up to and including "It's Not Easy Being Green." Yet he did have a profound sadness with "In the Wee Small Hours" being considered the very first concept album and a masterwork of sadness.
With my limited knowledge of how long it takes to produce a season of an animated show, I wonder if the production team finished this episode and some time after found out about Sinatra's death and there was just an aura of, "Uhhhh...Uh-oh..." emanating the room.
I was never much of a Hey Arnold fan, so I don't know much about Dino as a character. But on the occasions when I do watch it, I often find myself gravitating towards this episode. I find it interesting because, regardless of how mentally manipulative it is, it implies Dino is not in a good mental place. I'm no psychologist, but I think it's safe to assume that no person who fakes their own suicide is in a good mental place. It does make you look at Dino differently, although HOW differently is up to the individual viewers. And unlike other shows, where everyone is immediately sad, shocked, and ashamed that someone ended themselves, in this episode, we actually get to see some people disregard Dino's death or are even happy about it if I recall correctly. It shows that real life is not as cut-and-dry as "your death will make everyone sad." It's far messier than that. Some people who were close to Dino didn't care that he was gone, and that says a lot.
Oh my god, I remember this episode! When I was little, I used to actually like this episode. Nowadays... I just think it's okay, a lot of this episode is really funny, and one more thing you forgot to mention: I actually loved this part: Can we go now? IN A MINUTE!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 That part seriously cracks me up! But... I honestly agree, after re-watching this episode, the ending... kinda ruins it. Where Dino admitted he faked his own death, but everybody forgives him. That was honestly kind of a selfish thing to do, don't you think? It honestly makes me confused. I mean, I can understand why, I mean, everybody loves Dino, but it just honestly doesn't make any sense in my opinion. I'd probably give this episode a 6 out of 10. Most of it was enjoyable, except for the ending.
This feels like the kind of episode that gives you a rollercoaster of emotions during and after viewing. It is difficult to wrap my head around how I myself should feel about it.
This episode reminds me of The Simpsons episode Bart the Fink where Bart reveals that Krusty has been cheating on his taxes and he gets audited for tax evasion so he decides to fake his death because the IRS took everything from him.
As I’ve gotten older and more into Sinatra, I appreciate the character of Dino a lot more. And an appearance from him usually means hearing some good music. And yeah, I remember this episode. I like it, but when you spell out the ending it does feel like he gets off easy.
Forgiveness does not necessarily mean condonement, or that one is obliged to trust that person again. That being said, I'm pretty sure faking your own death is illegal, unless you're in legitimate danger. Either way, faking your death at all, let alone suicide, is just plain cruel to those who care about you. There had to be a better way to for Dino to handle his issues...
The note in isolation does make ot sound kinda like dino wanted those to think his “death “ was intentional but before that part grandpa also says “there was an accident short man” so its kinda confusing
I remember watching this one when it first aired in 1999. I was in 5th grade. (Holy shit I feel old 😂) This is definitely a messed up episode, and I wouldn’t have forgiven Dino that quickly either! I do love the bit at the funeral where his one ex wife keeps screaming at her son that they’ll go “IN A MINUTE!!!” I think there are slightly darker episodes. Helga On the Couch is one of them. It actually aired not long before this one! It took me a long time to really process that episode and how screwed up Helga’s home life really was. The Parrot episode is an honorable mention. And the episode with the Ghost Bride murder/suicide. “Here lies Cynthia Snell. She lived her life and went straight to …” 😂😹
It's an insightful episode with the shoe washing up on the beach and all.And Rhonda was like I'm sorry about your friend. But he wasn't a very good singer.
Hey Arnold! pretty much went to original places in story and structure more than most cartoons did. There's a Veteran's Day holiday special of all things. And a great one at that too.
I do remember watching this episode when it first premiered. I may not have fully understood the full context at the time, but I thought it was really funny. Looking back as an adult, while I don't approve what Dino did, I still find thia episode funny enough to consider good. That said, Hey Arnold was a series where I would actively avoid rewatching specific episodes if they annoyed me in sone way. The ghost jokes and Dino getting shit on makes it worthwhile for me.
["... ]it leaves you with this lingering bittersweet aftertaste, that makes you question if you really did like it at all". Yeah, sounds like Hey Arnold! to me. Don't remember seeing this one in particular though.
Oh I remember the episode. Not particularly the most special for me, but one I don’t have a problem rewatching among other episodes back in the day. Actually, Hey Arnold is a show where there’s not a single episode I heavily disliked. Lesser favorites for sure, but not one that outright bothered me or out of place I guess.
Is this the episode that caused a conspiracy theory that real life celebrities ain't actually dead but instead decide to fake their deaths to "retire" because they're sick of their high life?
Imagine if instead of there being an actual Dino impersinator, it was just dino himself. It wouldn't fix what he did, but it would be a better ending than the whole town forgiving him out of nowhere
It's been years since I've watched this show, let alone this particular episode. And I agree with about Dino faking his death and being forgiven so easily. Here's how I would fix the ending. Everyone but Arnold is furious and chasing Dino. Cut to 6 months later, Arnold visits Dino who is living in the woods. Dino realizes that what he did was a dick move and believes no one will want him back. Arnold invites him to dinner, Dino accepts, and it's revealed that it's a small party of people who still love him, including a few friends and family.
This episode missed a really great opportunity for character development. Dino faked his death to make money. But then he remembered that he was happier when he was poor. This episode should have ended with Dino realizing that he didn't want to be successful at all. Instead realizing that he just wanted to write and play the music that he enjoys instead of whats popular.
I had totally forgotten about that episode. Though, to be fair, it's been over a decade since I watched the show itself. Yes, I acquired the entire show on DVD a few months back, but finding the time and drive to settle down and watch ALL of Hey, Arnold at once? That's an extreme effort and not something ypu just do on a whim
Having never actually seen this episode, all I can say is... there was a Nickelodeon cartoon that name dropped Run DMC and Guns 'n Roses in the same episode?! Oh man, imagine if this episode name dropped Body Count instead? That image alone would send me into hysterics.
i remember that horrible casa Grande episode where Ronnie's dad brought a friend lama from peru and he started to physically abuse her and her brother and they tried to caught him on act and they succeeded but the episode with them forgiving him and wanting all to live together to make their father happy and all sunshine and rainbows that lama did horrible things in this episode most of them were physical abuse
I grew up without access to any but the most basic networks (CBS, ABC, maybe NBC when the weather was good...), so I didn't get access to much "Hey Arnold!" as a kid, until at some point CBS started airing Nick cartoons in its Saturday Morning lineup. Apart from the aforementioned Christmas special, this is the episode of this shows that sticks out most in my mind, and...yeah, what you said is on-point. I remember the episode making it clear that Dino was in the WORST place in his life, so it kind of has sympathy for what he did, even while acknowledging it was a pretty shitty thing to do. Still, the ending kind of just felt...standard to me. It's the "typical" kids' cartoon ending where the bad person learns a lesson and is forgiven by everyone. Maybe if it had gone with everybody hating Dino but Dino learning that it's still better to be honest and hated than loved for a lie, it would've been one of my favorite episodes (like, top 50, or something). Also, as a child who struggled with suicidal ideation, I remember this and an episode of "Lloyd in Space" (like, the first one I saw, where Lloyd falls into a wormhole, and everybody thinks he's in an alternate dimension but is really only in a nearby dumpster (yeah, that show was wild)) teaching the message that it's wrong to guilt-trip people into liking you...like, I'm not going to say these two episodes are flawless in their messaging, but it gave me something to think about.
I agree. The ending wasn't great. Yes, Arnold clapped, but because he was applauding Dino being honest. But everyone else clapping and being happy to see him really doesn't make sense. There should have been more of a "shocked gasp" reaction. His partner getting angry--"I thought you were dead! How could you do this?!" And Dino would probably be in legal trouble for fraud.
*First* of all, the joke where she says he's in heaven and everyone starts coughing is priceless.
Wait a minute - Oskar's here! This must be the other place!
My favorite moment in the episode is when the executor to his will says his ex wife gets jack squat and she says “oh nuts, take me home Chooch!”
“What killed Dino? THE ICE AGE!!”
-Mr Freeze
Fun fact: Dino was actually a reference to Dean Martin, who's nick name was Dino. He really was part of a group called "The Rat Pat." He did shows with his then business partner Jerry Lewis, on the "Colgate Comedy Hour" back in the... I believe... 40s & 50s (don't quote me on that). Jerry and Dean did some movies together, like: "The Good Earth" and "The Caddy." Dean Martin, much like Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, was a Crooner. Dean did some movies on his own after He and Jerry had a falling out. Dean even had his own Variety Show at one time during the 70's. Dean also used to Box, I think before he got into show business. Unfortunately, Dean Martin did have a drinking problem, and after his son was killed in an accident, he tried to stop drinking. Just FYI.
I remember this episode. The jokes were so on-point, and it is honestly surprising to see that they managed to make an episode based on this kind of story. But yeah, the ending definitely feels weird for a HA episode. Like, it should be nice that things worked out and Dino is happy again, but no one being that mad about what he did feels... off. Realistically, most people would see it as a cheap publicity stunt to drum up sales and hate his guts for it.
Ikr. If this was real life this stunt would make him more infamous. Something Dino DIDN'T want! I think It'd be better if he kept faking he was dead. Megamind would kinda do this Story much better years later!
@@ShadyRK9
Very much better for the Megamind movie. Metro Man ended the toxic cycle.
I haven’t seen this episode in twenty years, and I STILL remember lines from it:
“Can we go now?” “In a MINUTE!”
“Look at this! He’s kissing my wife, he’s petting my dog!”
"We had a good 2 years together, then we got married." Just the serious tone of it kills me.
Frank Sinatra was a known member of the mafia, and he used his connections and violence to get his way in the music industry, so I’m gonna say any unflattering imitations are fair game.
His ties to the Mafia actually caused Kennedy to cut ties with him in 1960. Sinatra didn't take it well, at all.
Ohhh... that's why it's a stereotype that the mafia loves Frank Sinatra
I always really liked the episodes with Dino mainly because of the personality he brings. He was a troubled guy dealing with a messy career and struggling to maintain relevance. I always kind of preferred this episode over the one where Arnold gets him to perform at his school's dance which shows him having a similar attitude because it showcases the true depth of how Dino feels about his life and career, and how even though he's lived a pretty sad life (at least that's how he sees it), he realizes by the end that it isn't worth throwing away the way he did.
Love seeing Mr. Enter do more Hey Arnold. It’s a great show that I feel he really understands the magic of it
TheMysteriousMrEnter really understands Hey Arnold and I can see why.
@@andykishoreHey Arnold is a great show.
@@zemox2534 Indeed.
Wish he would cover more episodes.
''He was an old guy, and that's what old guys do, they die'' Oh boy...
Honestly could see him basically getting what he wanted at the end as a kind of a commentary about how celebrities tend to get away with and be forgiven for things that others would be piled on for in the mainstream.
I agree that it was a strange episode looking back. Dino faking his own death is indeed selfish, and I'm actually surprised how the episode's concept made it to broadcast.
Hey arnold was crazy
Most shows are about someone doing something selfish.
The 90s definitely was not afraid of pushing the boundaries. Because of people not being afraid of pushing the boundaries we got really good TV shows.
Before I watch the video. I do want to say that it is refreshing to see people talk about old television shows from our childhood. Even when it’s a criticism or addressing the messages that the episode is trying to represent, you get the feeling that you grew up in that era and remember how different life was when you were a kid to how different entertainment is now
I liked as it is pretty realistic and relevant to this day in my opinion when a famous person dies all of a sudden he's your childhood hero but the people who knew them personally might actually see them as just a person either you hated them or liked them what I really liked was his writing partners reaction at first he sounded blasé about his friend passing but it was sort of heartwarming that you see him break down crying at the lost of his friend as he hated the person he became but still saw him as a close friend who deserved to be mourned
I liked that part too as pretending he hated Dino was how he was coping
I think what they were trying to go for with Dino faking his death hits harder as someone with depression and future/career anxiety than when I was younger...so to see Dino get forgiven so quickly for going through with it kind of makes me angry.
You would prolly never see kids shows tackle stuff like this nowadays
Not on this hemisphere
I remember watching this episode as a kid and even i suprise how even Hey Arnold able to make an episode like this. A fomer famous singer believe to be dead only to discover that he actually alive and try to live in secret. You expect you see story like that in a grow-ups show, not a kid show....
Whoa, a suicide note in a Nicktoon?
I feel Nickelodeon pushed the boundaries in kids cartoons, and I applaud them for that. Because kids need to know about some horrible parents who do the worst things and their families suffer! I don’t think it’s a bad episode, since it’s trying to be like the Krusty the Clown episode in the Simpsons who faked his death because of legal problems from the IRS!
Yeah, when we were kids, Nickelodeon (and other channels) didn’t sugarcoat it or mess around. And that was awesome. Most shows on Nick in the 90s were definitely NOT “just for kids.” Rocko and Ren & Stimpy for example. I’m so lucky to have grown up with Hey Arnold literally since it first premiered when I was 7. I would hate being a kid today, with all the wokeness and censoring just so the snowflakes don’t get offended. 🤦♂️
@@stevarino1989 that’s what I liked about Nickelodeon in the 90s, because they were able to talk about taboo topics regarding broken families and even drug abuse! They made it for older kids and families! Now modern kid shows are just talking down to kids with woke nonsense, it’s too pandering!
@@meltedvelveetacheesesauce4540 maybe because you didn’t really watch Nickelodeon. It’s not your genre then! But you can’t deny that those cartoons are groundbreaking!
My assumption is that it isn't talked about as much because of the rushed/bland ending. Didn't really feel like a Hey Arnold ending, it felt more like a generic cartoon ending. That said, this episode easily has some of the best humor in the whole series, and it gets even better with age. The older and more cynical I get, the harder I laugh at these jokes and quips.
"Ghosts Don't Take Showers"
Bailey School Kids ran out of ideas.
I remember this episode! I had a lot of the same feelings you did. I enjoyed most of it but I was found the ending a bit rushed. Like that there wasn’t enough time for an ending so he’s quickly forgiven. If they had an extra minute I would have liked a scene afterwards that said Dino is popular again BUT his stunt landed him in legal hot water so he’s working off fines/attorneys bills. His stardom goes up and he does more shows, but he’s not really making more money and is financially in the same place. The “win” of the episode is he is a lot happier now from the perspective of his experience.
Think the episode could have benefited from a two parter or something.
Mr Enter, you forgot that "Helga' Parrot" didn't end with the parrot saying her name, all of her classmates shocked and Helga blasting the F word causing Arnold to faint.
Hahaha! I remember Dino Spumoni! I loved the “big band era” and swing music culture, and it was hilarious to have a character from that era put into Hey Arnold, he was my favorite side character.
I'd imagine Sinatra singing Rollin' with Fred Durst
So this episode has stuck with me over the years. Its not one I forgot about, its one of the episodes that comes to my mind pretty regularly when thinking about the show. And like I don't even think this one aired very often, but despite that Its been burned into my memory. I think its probably because, like you said, its wild that this show got away with an episode where a guy faked his own death. Like I remember hearing that for the first time as a kid and being taken aback, normally they don't say the word die in kids shows of that era. They use some euphemism, but nope. This one came out and said it. And even though it was a fake death, I was still surprised they where talking about it on TV even at that young of an age. I personally remember also really liking the episode as well, and I honestly still do. This show seems to get better every time I go back and watch it. Like I remember back when it first aired I was a very little kid at the time and hated it, then I came back a few years later and thought it was alright, then I came back a few more years later and thought it was pretty good, now I consider it one of the best cartoons every made. I just love this show.
I really like that you do more episodes about things you have mixed feelings about. It raises interesting points.
Hmmm... Let me put a spin on this to maybe understand where they were going with it. I think the moral they were shooting for was, "You don't know what you got in life until it's gone."
Dino fakes his death, and it takes seeing a guy who is legitimately just being Dino and living his life for Dino to realize he threw away quite a lot in the name of a dumb little scheme that probably wouldn't have worked anyways. Dino's suffering while a guy quite literally does just barge in, make himself out to be Dino, and gets all the stuff Dino thinks he deserves.
As far as why they kid-glove him about his actions... I think it's part of the whole sleaze appeal that the actual Rat Pack had. This was a group of performers that did shows for the Mafia and had plenty of stories under their belt. We might be seeing the effects if Reality is Unrealistic. I could buy that some Rat Pack performer would have enough connections to pull off a somewhat competent version of this, and they always seemed to play into that with Dino. Dino was always portrayed as this performer who did outlandish things and got away with stuff because he's Dino and he had that star power. So in a weird ass way, this is legitimately all consistent to the character.
The hot and cold feelings this episode gives is partly why Hey Arnold remains my favorite cartoon of all time, because it feels real.
It's not all sunshine like most cartoons, and it's not all despair and gloom like some.
It (at least this episode) sits right in that middle ground that most of us know.
I liked when his recent ex wife screeched, "in a minute!" When her son wanted to go home while they were reading his will
You know what I think deserves an admirable animations review? Big city greens. It's funny, the writing is well done, there's plenty of character development, the lessons it teaches are good and it is very severely underrated. I mean no one talks about it. Yet, it's one of the few shows on TV that me and my dad laugh at. What do you all think?
Since TOH and Amphibia is ended; BCG is the most popular cartoon in the Disney Channel. The show's 4th season will start soon and there will be a BCG movie. How do you think it is underrated???
That is a fair point. But my reason is, I don't hear anyone really talk about it the way they do other well written shows. For that reason, I personally feel that it is underrated and that it deserves more attention
For example, people don't talk about it like they talk about bluey or adventure time.
I recently rewatched some of Hey Arnold and I realized something.
Helga is a bad example of a tsundere character and she doesn't deserve to be with Arnold.
The problem with Helga is that she was too reliant on her love for Arnold. If the show wanted to be realistic. Helga should have realized it would better if she didn't get with Arnold and move to guy she wouldn't be so dependent on.
I remember this episode & it was fun rewatching it back when I rewatched the series :) I've seen a few people talk about it. one episode I didn't remember that I don't really see anyone talk about is the episode where Arnold finds the cranky author living in a cabin hidden on Elk Island.
Man, this was one of my favorite episodes from when I was a kid! Dino reminds me of a Sinatra typa guy and that always stuck with me to this day. What a vibe!
I remember when this episode aired. I loved it back then. As one who re-watches Hey Arnold regularly, watching the review, I found myself quoting whole portions of the episode and couldn't stop laughing. There was a 90s meme back then about celebrities faking their death by crashing into mountains and the like; Simpsons did it with Krusty. If I remember right; there was an actual celeb fake death that birthed the meme in 70s, but I could be wrong.
The episode is a acquired taste, for sure, especially with implications and such; but it follows the old formula for comedy; you can get away with almost anything, as long as it's funny. That Dino really was an incredible stimulation!
This was actually one of my most enjoyed episodes growing up. I really felt for Dino, even though he is kind of a selfish jerk, I always got the sense that he’d lived a herd life, and wasn’t really smart enough to think though the implications of what he did. As for the ending, yeah, you probably have a point. But the episode does make it clear that most everyone in Dino’s personal life really didn’t care when he died. Even his “best friend” only admits he missed him after he “dies.” It’s sad that random strangers he’d never met cared more about his supposed death more than his wife and child. That doesn’t make what he did ok, but I do feel for the guy. I’m glad he got a happy ending, sentimental sap that I am.
Even as a kid I really liked this episode before knowing of who Frank Sinatra was. The humor like you said was so on point and good. But again, even as a kid I remember thinking he seemed to be let off the hook way too easy for pretending to kill himself, lol.
But now as an adult where I also get alll the references, it;s just too good to hate. The ending is a bit meh on how they handle Dino not being actually dead, but now as a big Sinatra fan as well this epiosde just hits really well.
I do remember this episode, but I was so young at the time that a lot of the humor went over my head. As soon as you said Dino's full name, it started to come back. The whole method of death that's implied for Dino--my kid brain thought it was implied that he died from sadness and he knew it was coming, hence the note. I found the fact that the other residents thought Dino was a ghost to be absolutely hilarious and I really need to go give this a rewatch because I remember the beats of the episode, but DANG did I miss a lot of the subtext as a kid.
Man, this could've been a really good suicide allegory, but with the lighthearted twist being that he's not dead, but instead was so depressed that he faked his death to get away from the spotlight. This could've had a great message about how fame can really whittle a man down and put too much pressure on him or his career. Arnold could've been trying to convince Dino that he should come forward and reintegrate back into society as a metaphor for choosing to live instead of 'die'.
Dino did have a disco album, which Sinatra actually had. His schtick of "nothing but the hits" (mainly covers) meant that he's taken on just about any song with strings, up to and including "It's Not Easy Being Green."
Yet he did have a profound sadness with "In the Wee Small Hours" being considered the very first concept album and a masterwork of sadness.
"See Oskar? He's not dead! I want my two bucks back!"
For years I've been trying to remember where the name 'Dino Spamoni' came from and why it's been in my brain somce childhood. And there we have it.
With my limited knowledge of how long it takes to produce a season of an animated show, I wonder if the production team finished this episode and some time after found out about Sinatra's death and there was just an aura of, "Uhhhh...Uh-oh..." emanating the room.
Hey Arnold stuff? Okay, good on you brother.
I was never much of a Hey Arnold fan, so I don't know much about Dino as a character. But on the occasions when I do watch it, I often find myself gravitating towards this episode. I find it interesting because, regardless of how mentally manipulative it is, it implies Dino is not in a good mental place. I'm no psychologist, but I think it's safe to assume that no person who fakes their own suicide is in a good mental place. It does make you look at Dino differently, although HOW differently is up to the individual viewers.
And unlike other shows, where everyone is immediately sad, shocked, and ashamed that someone ended themselves, in this episode, we actually get to see some people disregard Dino's death or are even happy about it if I recall correctly. It shows that real life is not as cut-and-dry as "your death will make everyone sad." It's far messier than that. Some people who were close to Dino didn't care that he was gone, and that says a lot.
Oh my god, I remember this episode! When I was little, I used to actually like this episode. Nowadays... I just think it's okay, a lot of this episode is really funny, and one more thing you forgot to mention: I actually loved this part: Can we go now? IN A MINUTE!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 That part seriously cracks me up! But... I honestly agree, after re-watching this episode, the ending... kinda ruins it. Where Dino admitted he faked his own death, but everybody forgives him. That was honestly kind of a selfish thing to do, don't you think? It honestly makes me confused. I mean, I can understand why, I mean, everybody loves Dino, but it just honestly doesn't make any sense in my opinion. I'd probably give this episode a 6 out of 10. Most of it was enjoyable, except for the ending.
Mr. Enter posting videos always makes my day more enjoyable.
This feels like the kind of episode that gives you a rollercoaster of emotions during and after viewing. It is difficult to wrap my head around how I myself should feel about it.
Can we go now?
In a minute!😂🤣
This episode reminds me of The Simpsons episode Bart the Fink where Bart reveals that Krusty has been cheating on his taxes and he gets audited for tax evasion so he decides to fake his death because the IRS took everything from him.
Arnold: When I was 9, a scumbag singer faked his own suicide, hid in my room snd had me cover the whole thing up.
Zuko: That's rough buddy.
"Frank Sinatra." I thought Dino was supposed to be Dean Martin. The Rat Pack often referred to Dean Martin as "Dean-O." 😯
It was funny when the people thought he was a ghost except for Arnold's grandpa.
As I’ve gotten older and more into Sinatra, I appreciate the character of Dino a lot more. And an appearance from him usually means hearing some good music.
And yeah, I remember this episode. I like it, but when you spell out the ending it does feel like he gets off easy.
I'd like to hear what Dino and Run DMC together sounded like.
Forgiveness does not necessarily mean condonement, or that one is obliged to trust that person again.
That being said, I'm pretty sure faking your own death is illegal, unless you're in legitimate danger. Either way, faking your death at all, let alone suicide, is just plain cruel to those who care about you. There had to be a better way to for Dino to handle his issues...
The note in isolation does make ot sound kinda like dino wanted those to think his “death “ was intentional but before that part grandpa also says “there was an accident short man” so its kinda confusing
Most Cartoons can try to have some serious moments here and there.
Love your content!! Been following for a long time now, thanks for continuing your posts.
I remember watching this one when it first aired in 1999. I was in 5th grade. (Holy shit I feel old 😂) This is definitely a messed up episode, and I wouldn’t have forgiven Dino that quickly either! I do love the bit at the funeral where his one ex wife keeps screaming at her son that they’ll go “IN A MINUTE!!!” I think there are slightly darker episodes. Helga On the Couch is one of them. It actually aired not long before this one! It took me a long time to really process that episode and how screwed up Helga’s home life really was. The Parrot episode is an honorable mention. And the episode with the Ghost Bride murder/suicide. “Here lies Cynthia Snell. She lived her life and went straight to …” 😂😹
Yeah, I always wondered why this episode seamed underrated compared to the other double-length specials in the series.
I remember it. I remember it not being my favorite because Dino is so unlikeable and yet never pays for it.
It's an insightful episode with the shoe washing up on the beach and all.And Rhonda was like I'm sorry about your friend. But he wasn't a very good singer.
I was so so. I only remembered the “him smiling down from heaven” joke and that’s really it lol
Hey Arnold! pretty much went to original places in story and structure more than most cartoons did. There's a Veteran's Day holiday special of all things. And a great one at that too.
One of the show best episodes
Even SHOWING ME a clip of Arnold Betrays Iggy-especially THAT SCENE-hits my trauma button.
If this show could be said to have one, crippling weakness, it's that the creators were zealous adherents of Status Quo is God.
I didn't remember it until this review, but I remember enjoying it
I like how the music starts dropping off as soon as dino hits the impersonator and you start really going into how negative this episode truly is
The one thing that always bugs me about this show was that the bully character Wolfgang never got his punishment for Beating up the fourth graders.
I do remember watching this episode when it first premiered. I may not have fully understood the full context at the time, but I thought it was really funny. Looking back as an adult, while I don't approve what Dino did, I still find thia episode funny enough to consider good.
That said, Hey Arnold was a series where I would actively avoid rewatching specific episodes if they annoyed me in sone way. The ghost jokes and Dino getting shit on makes it worthwhile for me.
["... ]it leaves you with this lingering bittersweet aftertaste, that makes you question if you really did like it at all". Yeah, sounds like Hey Arnold! to me. Don't remember seeing this one in particular though.
I generally like this episode, but your thoughts on its many questionable aspects are very valid.
I love this episode, and especially the part Dino Mania evening was the illustrated or phoney Dino was performing.
I forgot about this episode as a kid, except for the part about Dino doing rap.
Oh I remember the episode. Not particularly the most special for me, but one I don’t have a problem rewatching among other episodes back in the day. Actually, Hey Arnold is a show where there’s not a single episode I heavily disliked. Lesser favorites for sure, but not one that outright bothered me or out of place I guess.
Is this the episode that caused a conspiracy theory that real life celebrities ain't actually dead but instead decide to fake their deaths to "retire" because they're sick of their high life?
That was a thing long before Hey Arnold
@@ScooterCat64 really?
@@ShadyRK9 Yeah the whole "Elvis is still alive" was a thing long before this episode.
@@DisplayThisOkay oh. Well guess I was late on that one!
Good to see you’re still making content. Was hurt watching Patrick atrocities, great video 😂😂😂.
Imagine if instead of there being an actual Dino impersinator, it was just dino himself. It wouldn't fix what he did, but it would be a better ending than the whole town forgiving him out of nowhere
Dino punching the photographer and his impersonator always made me laugh XD
It's been years since I've watched this show, let alone this particular episode. And I agree with about Dino faking his death and being forgiven so easily. Here's how I would fix the ending. Everyone but Arnold is furious and chasing Dino. Cut to 6 months later, Arnold visits Dino who is living in the woods. Dino realizes that what he did was a dick move and believes no one will want him back. Arnold invites him to dinner, Dino accepts, and it's revealed that it's a small party of people who still love him, including a few friends and family.
This episode missed a really great opportunity for character development. Dino faked his death to make money. But then he remembered that he was happier when he was poor. This episode should have ended with Dino realizing that he didn't want to be successful at all. Instead realizing that he just wanted to write and play the music that he enjoys instead of whats popular.
as much as I'd remembered this episode of Hey Arnold it was indeed a Strange But interesting episode
I had totally forgotten about that episode.
Though, to be fair, it's been over a decade since I watched the show itself.
Yes, I acquired the entire show on DVD a few months back, but finding the time and drive to settle down and watch ALL of Hey, Arnold at once?
That's an extreme effort and not something ypu just do on a whim
Dang, Rhonda is savage.
But yeah, they should've had someone chew him out for this.
Wait, Dino punched a journalist? I thought he was supposed to be unlikeable
Having never actually seen this episode, all I can say is... there was a Nickelodeon cartoon that name dropped Run DMC and Guns 'n Roses in the same episode?! Oh man, imagine if this episode name dropped Body Count instead? That image alone would send me into hysterics.
I do not for the life of me remember this episode in the slightest. Gives off a "this episode was banned" vibe.
i remember that horrible casa Grande episode where Ronnie's dad brought a friend lama from peru and he started to physically abuse her and her brother and they tried to caught him on act and they succeeded but the episode with them forgiving him and wanting all to live together to make their father happy and all sunshine and rainbows that lama did horrible things in this episode most of them were physical abuse
I always thought Dino was based off dean Martin who actually did go by Dino
I remember this episode but mostly for the funny lines.
Been thinking about this episode for weeks now.
I grew up without access to any but the most basic networks (CBS, ABC, maybe NBC when the weather was good...), so I didn't get access to much "Hey Arnold!" as a kid, until at some point CBS started airing Nick cartoons in its Saturday Morning lineup.
Apart from the aforementioned Christmas special, this is the episode of this shows that sticks out most in my mind, and...yeah, what you said is on-point. I remember the episode making it clear that Dino was in the WORST place in his life, so it kind of has sympathy for what he did, even while acknowledging it was a pretty shitty thing to do. Still, the ending kind of just felt...standard to me. It's the "typical" kids' cartoon ending where the bad person learns a lesson and is forgiven by everyone. Maybe if it had gone with everybody hating Dino but Dino learning that it's still better to be honest and hated than loved for a lie, it would've been one of my favorite episodes (like, top 50, or something).
Also, as a child who struggled with suicidal ideation, I remember this and an episode of "Lloyd in Space" (like, the first one I saw, where Lloyd falls into a wormhole, and everybody thinks he's in an alternate dimension but is really only in a nearby dumpster (yeah, that show was wild)) teaching the message that it's wrong to guilt-trip people into liking you...like, I'm not going to say these two episodes are flawless in their messaging, but it gave me something to think about.
I’m surprised they didn’t just flat out call him Frank Sinatra
They went this route because Parody.
@@KeybladeMasterAndy wouldn’t be the first or last time someone did this
A strange episode indeed
This episode i vividly remember seeing when it first aired.
This episode was very interesting and I love this video
I like the documentary style format of this episode
I agree. The ending wasn't great. Yes, Arnold clapped, but because he was applauding Dino being honest. But everyone else clapping and being happy to see him really doesn't make sense. There should have been more of a "shocked gasp" reaction. His partner getting angry--"I thought you were dead! How could you do this?!"
And Dino would probably be in legal trouble for fraud.
I remember it existing, not much else. I *have* to rewatch Hey Arnold at some point