Dimwit Dexter

General	Script	Gallery

"Old Man Dexter"

Premiere Order "Dimwit Dexter"

"DeeDeemensional"

"Old Man Dexter"

Production Order "Dimwit Dexter"

"Dexter's Rival"

Dimwit Dexter
Season 1, Episode 004 / 5c
Episode name reference to/pun on: None (The original name, "Dumb Like Dee Dee", is a pun on the phrase "dumb like a fox".)
Air date	March 25, 1996 (first airing) May 25, 1996 (TNT; sneak preview; second airing) May 26, 1996 (TBS and Cartoon Network; third airing)
Production number	4 (pilot) 106c (series)
Written by	Genndy Tartakovsky
Directed by	Craig McCracken and Paul Rudish (art direction) Genndy Tartakovsky

Dimwit Dexter (originally called Dumb Like Dee Dee) is the fourth pilot episode of Dexter's Laboratory. It first aired on March 25, 1996 and later on May 26, 1996 as the third segment of the fifth episode in season 1.

In this episode, Dexter overworks his brain to the point where it shuts down. As a result, he starts behaving erratically and becomes the butt of jokes amongst Dee Dee and the kids in the neighborhood.

Plot

Dexter is in his laboratory working on his latest invention, running checks, writing on a blackboard, typing on a computer, and writing on a piece of paper. Inside his brain, a group of men working at a factory notice the machinery overworking and it shuts down, making Dexter feel relaxed. With his new behavior, Dexter licks on his blackboard, places the lab rat inside one of his diodes, and eats a green glob. He then runs out of his lab playfully and rolls down the stairs several times.

Dee Dee, noticing Dexter's behavior, takes him to her room where she dresses Dexter up as a girl named "Ginger." They first play hide-and-seek, where Dexter stands and watches Dee Dee count. On the third try, Dee Dee goes to hide while Dexter instead plays with Dee Dee's unicorn. While imitating a horse with the unicorn doll riding piggyback, Dexter races out of the house and sees several kids outside playing. He goes to hide in a bush and rushes out wearing his underwear. One of the boys announces to the other kids about this, garnering their attention.

With the kids watching, Dexter jumps into a mud puddle, inflates himself with water from a garden hose, and falls into a garbage can. Later, Dexter takes a goldfish out of its bowl and places it into his underwear. He then starts dancing, making the kids laugh at him even more. Finally, the kids gather around Dexter as he prepares to kiss a duck's bottom, with the other kids chanting his name. Inside Dexter's brain, the factory is back in normal condition and Dexter comes to his senses. While the kids cheer Dexter for kissing the duck's bottom, he runs back inside the house in complete embarrassment.

While regaining his breath, the duck kisses Dexter and looks at him romantically.

Characters

• Dexter
• Dee Dee

Trivia

• During the Dexter's Laboratory Top 10 event that aired during Cartoon Network's weekly block Cartoon Cartoon Fridays on August 16, 2002, this episode was number 5.
• Mom and Dad don't appear in this episode.

Cultural References

• The line "Sir! She can't take any more!" is derived from the 1966 sci-fi TV show Star Trek: The Original Series.

Goofs/Errors

• When this episode aired on The Cartoon Cartoon Show, the Cartoon Cartoons theme played over the title card instead of the original music.
• When Dexter rubs the lipstick off his lips, it is on his arm, but in the next few frames, Dexter is wearing lipstick again.

Production Notes

• The episode name was originally titled "Dumb Like Dee Dee".
• This episode along with "Jurassic Pooch" and "Dial M for Monkey: Orgon Grindor" were produced in the same year of 1996 according to the credits.
• This is one of a select number of episodes where Dexter is seen in his underwear.