| The Chips Are Down! | |
| Season 03, Episode 03 | |
 | |
| Air Date | 1988 |
| Previous | Paperback Hero! |
| Next | Life in the Fast Lane! |
The Chips Are Down! was episode 24.
Premise
Before Cyril Sneer can sell his feeble potato chip plant to Mr. Knox, he desperately needs to increase his sales figures. So he and the Pigs hold a phony contest for a new bike. Bert gets sucked into the contest and wastes all his money on it... until the Pigs screw up on the assembly line.
Plot
Like most other geniuses, Cyril hits the wall on occasion. His latest scheme, thought, resuscitates him swiftly as he creates a giveaway where a Blue Phantom bicycle can be won. While placing game pieces in bags of his horrendous-tasting potato chips, he ensures that that final piece can never be found. Bert, however, is bound and determined to find it which causes him to become addicted to this pernicious snack food.
Bert's zealousness to win the Blue Phantom causes him to eat, drink and sleep the chips while Ralph and Melissa worry about this unhealthy addiction. As soon as Bert runs short on funds, he resorts to other tactics, such as selling his prized possessions. Meanwhile, Cyril ensures that the public never gets what they want so he can remain as a rich and dastardly tycoon (which is extremely illegal).
Finally, Bert manages to win the Blue Phantom but he discovers his victory is pyrrhic as he has lost a lot more in obtaining the "victory" than he considered possible (biting off more than you can chew, as it were). Thus, we see Bert engage in a repentance process as he vows to eschew Cyril's horrific combinations of potato chips.
Characters
Songs
Trivia
- This episode has subtle messages against drugs and contest scams.
- First appearance of Mr. Willow, owner of Willow's General Store, and voiced by Carl Banas.
- Michael Magee is credited as the voice of Snag, who does not appear in this episode.
- At the end of this episode Cyril is seen turning green when he feels sick. The last time he turned green was in Last Legs.
- The flavors Cyril Sneer had with his chips are Turnip & Sardine, Fried Egg & Broccoli and Sour Cream and Liver. It's probably because of his cigars that he'd lost the sense of taste!
Gallery
