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In early 2015, an unfinished cut of the episode was leaked on YouTube, but it was claimed for copyright infringement by Cartoon Network on April 8, 2015. |
In early 2015, an unfinished cut of the episode was leaked on YouTube, but it was claimed for copyright infringement by Cartoon Network on April 8, 2015. |
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==Plot Summary== |
==Plot Summary== |
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| − | ''Note: The following plot summary for this episode was provided by a user who had witnessed the leaked copy of the episode, which is no longer available.'' |
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[[Master Shake|Shake]] is taking pictures of [[Meatwad]] for a bidding website, where he is attempting to sell [[Meatwad]] to the highest bidder. However, Shake hasn't received any bids at all, with only minutes left on his auction. A very angry [[Frylock]] comes into the room to find out about Shake's latest scheme. Even he is surprised to see zero bids. Shake decides that they need to get publicity for his auction, so the [[Aqua Teens]] head to Boston. |
[[Master Shake|Shake]] is taking pictures of [[Meatwad]] for a bidding website, where he is attempting to sell [[Meatwad]] to the highest bidder. However, Shake hasn't received any bids at all, with only minutes left on his auction. A very angry [[Frylock]] comes into the room to find out about Shake's latest scheme. Even he is surprised to see zero bids. Shake decides that they need to get publicity for his auction, so the [[Aqua Teens]] head to Boston. |
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Revision as of 17:17, 22 April 2015
"Boston" is the first episode of the fifth season of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and the 69th episode of the series overall. The January 31, 2007 Bomb scare in Boston, Massachusetts is parodied in a satirical fashion. "Boston" was pulled by Turner Legal to avoid further controversy surrounding the incident. Until its leak in 2015, this was the only episode of the series that was never released.
Background
"Boston" was produced and originally intended to air as the first episode of season five. It was rejected for air at the direct demand of the Turner Networks legal department (since [adult swim] still rents channel space and is owned by Turner Networks, which was owned by Ted Turner) to avoid further controversy after the 2007 Boston bomb scare, during which Cartoon Network basically disavowed all responsibility for the incident despite being listed on the permits, blamed everything on the two guys hired to put up the Mooninite signs and paid a total of two million dollars in damages to the city of Boston; a million to cover the cost of the investigation and another million in "good will money" for "Homeland Security purposes". After Turner Networks paid the damages, Cartoon Network president Jim Samples stepped down on February 9, 2007. This response was widely heckled by loyal [adult swim] fans and people everywhere who weren't Ted Turner's lawyers or Homeland Security agents. It's worth noting that it was also in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, Atlanta, San Francisco, Austin, Seattle and Philadelphia. Despite that, none of the other cities freaked out the way that Boston did.
The second episode of season five, "Robots Everywhere", aired as the season premiered on January 20, 2008.
Known episode information
In a 2008 interview Dave Willis confirmed that the episode is a response to the 2007 Bomb Scare. In the interview Willis also revealed that three different versions of the episode do exist; when asked if the episode will ever air, or become available to the public, Willis in-directly said no. He and Matt Maellaro have remained tight lipped on the topic. The only mention of "Boston", aside from it being mentioned by Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro, is an episode page on the official website, but the episode simply features a question mark, in place of an actual description of the episode.
During the production of "Boston" executives at Adult Swim were very nervous about the episode leading to further controversy, and forced Willis and Maiellaro to re-write the episode several times; ultimately three different versions were produced. When asked about the episode Maiellaro has stated it is relatively tame in comparison to what South Park creators would have done in a similar situation.[1] Maiellaro has stated the episode does not make reference to bombs and for the most part is written as if it was something that could actually happen in reality, unlike most episodes that mainly focus on surreal plot lines. Very little information about the specific storyline or plot of "Boston", although in 2011 Willis hinted on Twitter that it also relates to the band Boston, but did not confirm. Willis also mentioned that comedian Paul F. Tompkins made a guest appearance in it who he referred to as an "Amazing comedian". "Boston" was confirmed to be Matt Maiellaro's favorite episode.
To date, "Boston" has never aired on television, let alone been released to the public in any format. Many people believe it won't be released until long after Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro's demise.
This was likely the first episode produced in 16:9 high definition, however, "Robots Everywhere" was the first to air. This marks the first time an episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force has been prevented from airing, no other episodes have been pulled since (although many have been censored prior to 2005).
Fan rumors
There have been many rumors about this episode over the years by series fans (mainly on the Adult Swim message boards). None of which were officially confirmed but several are highly unlikely.
- Many have speculated this is a joke by series creators, and does not actually exist.
- Fans have speculated its plot was based around the band Boston, and was pulled after a member died before airing
- The episode will be aired after the current Boston mayor (Thomas "Mumbles" Menino) is out of office.
- Ted Turner personally promised them he'd cancel the show and sue [adult swim] for damages if it even leaked to the Internet.
- This one is highly probable, as Mumbles Menino openly bragged to the press about how quickly Turner Networks' lawyers offered him a hefty settlement once he threatened to have their top executives arrested and charged under the city's post-9/11 anti-terrorism laws for "sponsoring a deliberate terrorist hoax". Considering that Cartoon Network's president was forced to resign, a gag order on talking about the details of the settlement is likely part of the settlement itself, and also a major explanation why Dave and Matt are so tight lipped about the details: they don't want to lose their show, nor do they want to get sued by Ted Turner.
Retrieval attempt
In December 2012 RebelTaxi, a popular Cartoon Network fan commenter on YouTube, posted a video trying to get the episode released. The video encouraged fans to use Twitter to send the hash tag #AquaTeenBoston to the official Twitter pages for Cartoon Network and [adult swim].
RebelTaxi has previously started a series of fan petitions to get an unaired episode of Dexter's Laboratory titled [[wikipedia:Rude Removal|Rude Removal]" released. These attempts were successful as they convinced [adult swim] to later release the unaired episode on their website and YouTube on January 22, 2013. The attempts to get "Boston" released, however were later proven unsuccessful.
In early 2015, an unfinished cut of the episode was leaked on YouTube, but it was claimed for copyright infringement by Cartoon Network on April 8, 2015.
Plot Summary
Shake is taking pictures of Meatwad for a bidding website, where he is attempting to sell Meatwad to the highest bidder. However, Shake hasn't received any bids at all, with only minutes left on his auction. A very angry Frylock comes into the room to find out about Shake's latest scheme. Even he is surprised to see zero bids. Shake decides that they need to get publicity for his auction, so the Aqua Teens head to Boston.
At the airport, Meatwad complains about going through customs, and Frylock states he's happy they didn't get his candy-shooter (which looks like a real firearm). The Aqua Teens arrive at their destination, and they put Meatwad in a crawl space under an overpass. Meatwad also has some batteries, wires, and lights around him, which seems to mimic the real-life bomb scare. Master Shake and Frylock wait for someone to drive by to get some publicity.
Three weeks later, the Aqua Teens are still waiting for someone to pass by. Surprisingly enough, the ghost of Paul Revere appears and takes them to see Ben Franklin, who claims that Meatwad's display is worth quite a bit of money. Now rich, Frylock and Shake continue hanging out with the ghosts as Meatwad flies a kite in a thunderstorm. Meatwad's getting struck by lightning over and over causes people in Baltimore to mistake him for a bomb. A crowd of people from Baltimore come to investigate and even convince Paul Revere that Meatwad is a bomb.
Master Shake says they cannot make them leave, but they do indeed force the Aqua Teens out of the city. After stating that he spent all the money they earned, Master Shake then shows Frylock and Meatwad what he spent the money on. Shake shows off a very elaborate drawing his made with what appear to be a very large Lite Brite. Shake then becomes angry that it didn't blow up the city.
He takes the device, now with a large amount of TNT, to Carl's front door. Shake rings the doorbell and walks back over to Frylock. Carl answers and is rendered unconscious by the explosion. Shake says that he's glad that children weren't involved, and Frylock states that they have to make it bigger than it really is. Later, the bomb squad attempt to perform their job by destroying up Carl, who they believe is a bomb. Shake comes out of his house with a sandwich, which prompts them to try to blow up the sandwich, only to see Shake burst into a pool of blood.
The Mooninites, dressed as terrorists, have apparently been watching this display in a cave in the desert. Ignignokt states to his camera, which may or may not be on, that they are dangerous and that they have many more supposedly dangerous sandwiches. Ignignokt attempts to cut off his own head with a saw before he and Err realize what they're doing is stupid.
Trivia
- The city of Baltimore is represented by Johnny Unitas, quarterback of the Baltimore Colts from 1956 to 1972; Cal Ripken, Sr., longtime coach for the Baltimore Orioles; and by the cast of the movie Hairspray, which is set in Baltimore.
- Interestingly enough, the terrorist version of Ignignokt can be seen on the artwork for the volume Five DVD Box Set.