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"Dial M for Monkey: Huntor" | Premiere Order "Star Spangled Sidekicks" |
"TV Super Pals" | 
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"Dial M for Monkey: Huntor" | Production Order "Star Spangled Sidekicks" |
"TV Super Pals" |
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| Star Spangled Sidekicks | |
| Season 1, Episode 7a | |
| Episode name reference to/pun on: The song The Star Spangled Banner and the word "sidekick" | |
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| Air date | November 20, 1996 |
| Production number | 107a |
| Episode no. overall | 7a |
| Written by | Genndy Tartakovsky |
| Directed by | Genndy Tartakovsky |
Star Spangled Sidekicks is the first segment of the seventh episode of season 1 in Dexter's Laboratory. It first aired on November 20, 1996.
In this episode, Major Glory hosts tryouts for a new sidekick, and both Dexter and Dee Dee sign up.
Plot[]
Dexter and Dee Dee are watching an episode of Major Glory where the antagonist, Doctor Diablos, is preparing to rob a bank. Major Glory flies in, planting the American flag in the ground then beating up Doctor Diablos and his henchmen. After the episode, Major Glory announces that he's opening up tryouts for a new sidekick at the Independence Mall.
Dexter and Dee Dee both prepare for the tryouts, with Dexter going into his laboratory to create a superhero suit and Dee Dee going into her room to make a superheroine costume by hand. Once their costumes are complete, Dexter laughs at his creation. Dee Dee feels that her costume isn't complete, but Mom loans Dee Dee her rubber gloves.
At the Independence Mall the next day, several kids are gathered outside waiting for their turn to audition as Major Glory's sidekick. While Fatboy, a young, obese boy, has his turn, Dexter makes his appearance as "Dexstar". Dee Dee, dressed as "Diva Dynamite", appears shortly after, declaring her patriotism that moves Major Glory to tears. He readily agrees to let Dee Dee join him as his sidekick.
Suddenly, Doctor Diablos and his henchmen bust into the mall, sending the kids, except for Dexter and Dee Dee, running in fear. As a battle ensues, Dexter watches Dee Dee get hit in the head with a small rock, prompting him to join in to save her, using his powers and distracting Dee Dee when two of Doctor Diablos' henchmen flew towards her.
After the battle, Dexter faints from exhaustion. Dee Dee tells Major Glory that she can't be his sidekick because she has to take care of Dexter all the time. Major Glory respects her decision and reluctantly has Fatboy follow him. They go off into the sunset, with Dee Dee saluting them.
Characters[]
Trivia[]
Notes[]
- None known.
Errors[]
- Dexter's Major Glory mask that he threw on the floor disappears after declaring he should be Major Glory's sidekick.
- Dee Dee was still in her Major Glory costume before Dexter made his speech. Afterwards, she was back in her normal clothing.
Episode connections[]
- Dexter's superhero persona, Dexstar, was reused in the episode "Dyno-Might".
Cultural references[]
- When Dee Dee introduces herself as "Diva Dynamite", she does do while referencing "The Star-Spangled Banner".
- Fatboy stating that he "takes a bite out of crime" is derived from McGruff the Crime Dog, a fictional character and advocate for crime prevention.
- Incidentally, this is the first reference to McGruff the Crime Dog, with a second reference to him appearing in the episode "G.I.R.L. Squad".
- Dexter's introduction as "Dexstar, Boy of Wonder" is a parody of DC Comics character Robin, who was originally known as "Robin the Boy Wonder".
Production Notes[]
- This is the first episode (besides the Dial M for Monkey segments) where the overseas animation by Rough Draft Studios, Inc. in Korea, taking over for the remainder of the series.
- This episode along with "The Justice Friends: TV Super Pals" and "Game Over" were produced in the same year of 1996 according to the credits.
- This is the first episode of Season 1 copyrighted to Cartoon Network Studios as opposed to Hanna-Barbera Cartoons as in previous six episodes; this would continue for the rest of the episodes in Season 1, before returning to being copyrighted to Hanna-Barbera Cartoons in Season 2.
- It was the very first episode aired after Time Warner and Turner Entertainment has merged.
- The designs of the store mannequins Dexter slices the heads off of in his guise of "Dexstar" are recycled from the 2 Stupid Dogs (another Hanna-Barbera series Genndy Tartakovsky and Craig McCracken worked on) episode "Door Jam", albeit colored differently.
- This is the first episode to feature Major Glory's simplified design. In his previous two appearances, Major Glory was depicted with a semi-realistic musculature and chin. From this point on, his legs are significantly slimmed down and his chin is considerably enlarged.
