TVSquad

(S06E01) "I studied elevator repair!" - Carl

Yes, before someone says something - I know this episode isn't new. However, episodes being released via DVD prior to their broadcast premiere isn't entirely new. I for one didn't even know that the first four episodes of this season have been available on the volume six DVD since it came out back in December. That being said, it was new to me (and I hope for many of you too).

So... dumpster diving, anyone?

Why Shake was digging through piles of trash I don't want to know, but hey - he found a genie named... Gene E. Clever huh? At first glance, this episode reminded me a lot of "Dumber Dolls" (the one with Happy Time Harry). Same sort of premise - little tiny guy running around, wrecking havoc. The only difference? Gene can grant wishes. Harry just got drunk and peed on things.

My one gripe with the episode was Gene's power. Regardless of what you wished for, all he could do was turn you invisible. As a result, the Aqua Teen's were invisible for 95% of the episode and all you got was their voices. Half the fun of this show is seeing Shake's facial reactions when he does something. I would have loved to have seen his face during the bathroom scene. Obviously it wouldn't have worked because he needed to be invisible to sneak in, but honestly, I think it would have been just as funny for them not to be invisible but just think they were. Something tells me they would have believed anything Gene told them.

A couple other highlights:

• Meatwad's endless references to Nickelodeon, Hannah Montana, and The Suite Life with Zack and Cody were hilarious.
• Shake's screenplay sounded great! "Fast" - a truckload of snakes... on a bus.
• I loved when Shake started treating the bathroom excursion like an episode of Planet Earth - "filthy predators" and "big boobed cranes." Funny stuff.
• Anyone else notice the name of the Wikipedia-esqe site that Frylock was using? It was called "Libel Tree." Zing!

Overall, not a bad ep of ATHF. But then again, none of them really are. The end of the episode, with Carl getting carried away by ants, got me wondering though - just how many times has he died on this show?