The Strangerhood/episode listing

The following is a list of episodes for the machinima series The Strangerhood.

Episode 0
The trailer of The Strangerhood, which introduces all of the main characters. The episode is set to a song written for the series, entitled "Crazy Zoo", performed by the band The Uggos (The Single On The Band's Soundtrack For The Strangerhood)
 * Title: The Strangerhood Trailer
 * Length: 0' 57"
 * Release: September 28, 2004

Episode 1
A man awakens in a bed next to a stoner. After questioning the stoner without result, he is asked his name. To which the man responds he has no idea. A man with camo-paint on his face is seen walking through his kitchen. He makes his breakfast and sits down to eat. While eating he realizes that he is not in his own house, then apathetically keeps eating. An old black man sits at his couch contemplating who he is and why he is in a house that is not his. A business man walks along the sidewalk greeting everything from the mailbox to the living room. Catherine compliments herself in front of a mirror. A foreign man with a mustache is contemplating what he forgot to do as we see the stove catching fire behind him (he remembers that it is garbage day). A young girl shouts for someone wondering where she is and why she is talking to herself. The man and the stoner get together and contemplate their names. The man believes his name is Sam, since it is written all over his underwear. The stoner believes his name is Durnt. Sam points out the stoner's name tag says "My name is Wade" but Wade still swears his name is Durnt. While Wade is attempting to teach Sam how to say Durnt, the old black man strolls up to them. He quickly becomes frustrated with Sam and Wade and walks away. Sam calls out to him believing they should stick together.
 * Title: Why Are You Here?
 * Length: 5' 20"
 * Release: October 18, 2004

Episode 2
Each person, except Sam and Wade, finds notes telling him or her to go to the house that Wade and Sam are inhabiting. They are all vaguely informed about their situation by The Omnipotent Voice, who also tells them that cookies and Tang are forbidden and that someone in the room will die at the end of the transmission. A studio audience shows up partway through the episode, though they remain off-screen the entire time.
 * Title: The One With The Premise
 * Length: 4' 44"
 * Release: November 10, 2004

Episode 3
To replace the recently deceased goldfish, the house gets a new goldfish in addition to the ones remaining in the tank. Griggs manages to get rid of the studio audience by insulting them. Sam names the new fish, but Tovar objects, saying that it is an insult to humans and goldfish to give them a name. Chalmers agrees with Sam, but only because he thought that they needed names to indicate which one they wanted to eat in case of an emergency, since they cannot say, "I want to eat Anonymous."
 * Title: We Have a Floater
 * Length: 3' 40"
 * Release: December 2, 2004

Episode 4
The Omnipotent Voice orders Sam, Wade, and Tovar to compete against Catherine, Dr. Chalmers, and Dutchmiller in a contest to cook and eat grilled cheese sandwiches. Unaware of the names of the second team's members, the voice just calls them "Gold Digger", "Curmudgeon", and "Weirdo", respectively. Both teams lose: the first team's oven catches fire, and the second team has dietary restrictions or preferences that prevent them from eating cheese. Griggs becomes separated from the others and is stalked by a mysterious gnome or leprechaun.
 * Title: Sublimination Round
 * Length: 4' 48"
 * Release: February 5, 2005

Episode 5
Wade and Tovar report to Sam and Dr. Chalmers that Nikki was murdered while they were swimming in the pool. They recall various reasons for Nikki's death — such as electrocution, drowning in the pool, and drowning in the cement — until they remember that had not actually seen it: They had been playing Marco Polo, and both had their eyes closed. Sam then tells Wade and Tovar that only one person at a time is supposed to close their eyes in the game.
 * Title: Things Misremembered
 * Length: 4' 37"
 * Release: March 31, 2005

Episode 6
The episode begins with a narrative introduction by Nikki's voice-over, in a parody of Desperate Housewives. Wade and The Omnipotent Voice seem to be the only ones aware of her voice. Sam, Wade, and Chalmers then call everyone else to tell the news of Nikki's death. Wade "remembers" an incident in which he was performing in an American Idol parody, with Sam as Simon Cowell, Nikki as Paula Abdul, Chalmers as Randy Jackson, and Dutchmiller as Ryan Seacrest. Wade lost to the "fat guy".
 * Title: Idol Desperation
 * Length: 5' 08"
 * Release: April 26, 2005

Episode 7
Sam looks through his telescope and notices that the constellations are incorrect. He explains this to Wade; he first shows him the Big Dipper, but also other non-existent constellations such as one shaped like a plumbob (the crystal that appears above active sims in the game). There is another one shaped like a "laser dog", spoofing the one in the Strangerhood Studios shorts. Meanwhile, in Dutchmiller's house, Catherine claims that she and Dutch had been married in their previous lives, before they were all gathered in Strangerhood Lane. Her behavior in episode 2 suggests that this might not be true, but that she has an eye for Dutch and will do and say almost anything to get what she wants out of him. She argues that she had the tiara to remind her, but the tiara fails to remind Dutch of anything. The episode ends with the two having a "WooHoo".
 * Title: Star-Crossed Suckers
 * Length: 4' 35"
 * Release: October 21, 2005

Episode 8
Sam and Dr. Chalmers speculate where Strangerhood Lane is located. For unfounded reasons, Dr. Chalmers believes that they are in Cleveland, Ohio. Wade appears wearing a police officer's uniform, saying that this is a sign that he should solve crimes. Dr. Chalmers believes that this is a good idea, while Sam does not. Wade offers Sam the position of sidekick; Chalmers and Wade discuss why Sam "fits the profile". Sam retorts that, if anyone should be the sidekick, it should be Wade. Wade disagrees, saying "Would a sidekick have his own opening credits montage?!" The opening credits for WSI: Wade Scene Investigation: Cleveland begin, obviously spoofing CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in the process. Wade asks Sam and Chalmers to commit some crimes so that he can solve them. Sam refuses to play the game, claiming that he had been cheated last time because Chalmers had said that jaywalking was not a crime. The group walks away as Chalmers rattles off the different crimes that he is going to commit. Griggs enters behind them and begins to ramble that the group never asks them to play their "felony game" and that he will get a high score at "nerd punching" to make them jealous.
 * Title: WSI
 * Length: 4' 44"
 * Release: November 15, 2005

Episode 9
Wade gains the ability to do a narration voice-over without moving his lips. As Wade begins talking with himself in this manner, the scenery turns black and white, and remains that way for the duration of the episode. Wade sets to work, trying to find clues to solve Nikki's death. This results in run-ins with Sam, Tovar and Chalmers, all of whom object to Wade's arrogant voice-over comments about them. The episode ends with the implication that Griggs murdered Nikki, though Wade assumes it to be the work of a woman, and an inside job by the Mafia, despite Sam's objections that there is no Mafia in the Strangerhood.
 * Title: Detective Defective
 * Length: 4' 55"
 * Release: December 1, 2005

Episode 10
The episode begins with a suggestion that the garden gnome(s) may have framed Griggs, or directed him to murder Nikki and then erased his memory. It is also suggested that the gnome or gnomes have written a letter in his name, though his name on the note that Chalmers receives is misspelled. The note claims that Griggs was "involved", but not that he was actually the murderer. As Griggs realizes that he is a wanted man, he gets into a car that he finds. But, first, he stops to consider his options, unaware that a garden gnome is in the seat next to his. As Griggs struggles to make a decision, a devil version of himself appears on his right shoulder and tempts him to simply punch anyone who threatens him. An angel version of himself appears on his left shoulder and suggests that he "give flowers to everyone". The devil and angel versions of himself are both ill-tempered, and quickly begin to fight. Claiming that Wade is "too busy with his hobbies" to listen to him, Wade's angel appears on Griggs' shoulder, despite Griggs' objections. Chalmers' angel then appears, claiming he was exiled from Chalmers for suggesting that the latter abandon his fetish for stealing refrigerators. The angels of Dutchmiller and Tovar then appear, believing that the whole thing is just a party; Sam's angel appears at first to scold everyone about the neighborhood code, but later agrees to party with the rest of them. Griggs sits still nervously, waiting for the devil and angels to finish so that he can make a logical decision.
 * Title: Devil May Care
 * Length: 3' 05"
 * Release: January 19, 2006

Episode 11
The episode opens with Griggs in a prison cell. He is soon joined by Tovar, and eventually Dutchmiller, acting as Tovar's lawyer. Dutchmiller and Tovar eventually leave to chase an ambulance. The episode ends with the Omnipotent Voice and a Leprechaun in a room; The voice announces the next phases of its plan.
 * Title: Cell Block Duh
 * Length: 3' 50"
 * Release: February 2, 2006

Episode 12
This episode is set entirely within a parody of the Late Night show, with Dutchmiller as the host. There aren't many revelations within this, aside from the fact that Catherine, on her comeback appearance since Episode 7, walks in and informs Dutchmiller that she is pregnant. Sam appears as a token audience member, Tovar as a comedian, Wade and Griggs playing chess, and Dr. Chalmers as a guest on the show.
 * Title: Surprise Guest
 * Length: 3' 51"
 * Release: February 14, 2006

Episode 13
This episode is set entirely in a courtroom parodying the long-running TV drama Law & Order with the episode opening with the title "Lies & Disorder." Tovar is revealed to be a compulsive liar; blaming Sam for Nikki's murder, even though Sam and Catherine are the jury. However, Griggs is acquitted after Nikki makes her surprise comeback entrance since Episode 5, revealing that she wasn't really dead after all. Sam wins a bet against Catherine (who thought Griggs was guilty).
 * Title: Double Indumbnity
 * Length: 4' 16"
 * Release: March 2, 2006

Episode 14
This episode is also set in the courtroom from Episode 13. Nikki tells the others about what happened to her in flashback. It is a spoof on the show Alias. She claims to have seen Tovar acting strangely, and that there were two of them. She follows Tovar around, changing disguises at each new location, until she finds a strange room. She says that it is a secret room full of secret files, but she is cut off by Wade's wild theorizing. She then starts to say something about Griggs, but Wade cuts her off again.
 * Title: Nikki's Alias
 * Length: 3' 57"
 * Release: March 16, 2006

Episode 15
This episode starts off yet again in the court room and Nikki finally gets to describe what really happened. She first mentions that Griggs is her father. She then explains that she tried to race back home but was then knocked unconscious, explaining why everyone thought she was dead. When she awoke, she couldn't remember anything. Whilst everyone thought she was dead, she used the time to find more clues. Whilst looking for clues, she finds out something more shocking. Just as she is about to announce the news, she is suddenly interrupted by a parody of the title sequence from Lost, with the word Lost replaced by "STRANGERHOOD". She then announces that Catherine is a spy and that she knows exactly what is happening. Catherine's tiara is actually an antenna, that she uses to control the gnome. The gnome used an experimental mind-control ray to talk to Griggs. Catherine and the Gnome also set up Griggs to make it appear he killed Nikki. Catherine then runs off, shouting that she "won't let the others take (her) baby" giving yet another reference to Lost. Nikki tries to explain what happens in more detail but is again cut off by the Lost title parody. Nikki takes the group to the secret room, with several more Lost references making an appearance. Then the eyes of an old man appear. He has been watching the group from his lab. He asks himself where the group have gotten to and realizes they are behind him. He explains to them that by entering the lab, they have sent off a chain reaction that threatens to release the most terrifying event the world has ever seen. He gets cuts off by the final Lost title parody. The episode ends with Wade (in voice over) asking if the man will finish off the sentence.
 * Title: Lost In Place
 * Length: 3' 41"
 * Release: March 31, 2006

Episode 16
After scolding the mysterious man for being overly dramatic about the possibility of getting fired, the characters begin to question him. He reveals his name is Sam and that the Sam we know has been wearing the underwear of Elder Sam and that he has had to go commando for the last three months. Griggs quickly misunderstands the meaning of "going commando". Elder Sam reveals that nobody has actually guessed their correct name, with the exception of Nikki. He explains that 100 years ago the entertainment industry ran out of ideas. To compensate they kidnapped people from the past, when they were watching good television, erased their memories and isolated them for observation. They believed they might have been able to create a new type of entertainment program, based on their actions and conversations. Sam asks about a reality show, to which Elder Sam believes Sam could be a writer or a studio executive for. It was believed that the isolation would make their ideas fresh and original. Dutchmiller asks if it worked, it did not. Griggs asks about the "weird stuff that happened". Elder Sam reveals himself to be the one behind the omnipotent voice and that Catherine was planted to "jazz things up". The characters demand to be sent back to their own time. Elder Sam agrees and boots up the time machine, featuring a parody of The Sims 2 loading screen. Just as the time machine is ready, Catherine and Tobar appear to stop them.
 * Title: The Montage Exposition
 * Length: 3' 50"
 * Release: April 11, 2006

Episode 17
Evil Tovar reveals that he is holding Catherine as a hostage, and announces that he will burn down the building and kill everyone if he is not released to his own time. He initially gives everyone 24 hours to make their decision, but soon drops it to 24 minutes and then 24 seconds. While this is happening, a timer counts down, and multiple camera shots are shown in a similar fashion to the television series 24. Despite the risk of space-time imploding, Elder Sam agrees to send him back at the last moment, to Wall Street, 1929, the year the stock market crashed. A computer terminal shows that the risked implosion is averted. Elder Sam then sends each character back to their respective times. Dutchmiller decides to stay behind with Catherine. When Sam notes that regular Tovar isn't being sent back, he is told that regular Tovar is "a time-space anomaly." and that the others will "probably liquify his DNA and drink it." Elder Sam comments that "genetic cannibalism" is acceptable in the future. However, once Sam is sent back, all the remaining characters decide to go play video games, realizing they have no ideas for new shows and movies due to the failure of the project. Sam wakes up on his couch in his apartment, thinking that his experiences were merely a dream. A montage is shown, explaining the fates of each character.
 * Title: The Final Countdown
 * Length: 6' 35"
 * Release: April 27, 2006

Special episodes
Although the eight residents have lost their memories and are unaware of the date, The Omnipotent Voice tells them in this episode that it is the holiday season, and orders them to celebrate the twenty days of Christmanukkah, combining the twelve days of Christmas with the eight of Hanukkah. Most of the residents like the idea, but Sam finds it to be one of the most ridiculous holidays ever.
 * Title: Seasons Greetings from The Strangerhood
 * Length: 2' 08"
 * Release: December 23, 2004

Bye Nikki Bye This is a music video commemorating Nikki's short time in the series. The song is played presumably by the "House Band," which includes Sam on guitar, Dr. Chalmers on drums, and Tovar on bass. This video is currently available only to sponsors.
 * Title:
 * Length:
 * Release: April 12, 2005

The residents offer costume suggestions and trick-or-treating tips. Nikki appears in this episode, and another famous Sims 2 character makes an appearance at the end, as well.
 * Title: Halloween Tips, Tricks and Treats from The Strangerhood
 * Length: 3' 30"
 * Release: October 29, 2005

Strangerhood Studios
Strangerhood Studios is a series of shorts, each about one or two minutes long, featuring the characters of The Strangerhood. The story, however, departs from the main plot of The Strangerhood. For example, the characters are back in the outside world, not trapped on Strangerhood Lane. Strangerhood Studios was created when the Independent Film Channel asked Rooster Teeth Productions and machinima artist Paul Marino to create six shorts for television broadcast.

Only Sam, Dutchmiller, and Catherine from the original cast have recurring roles. Wade is seen in a potential promotional poster as the "funny sidekick"; he also appears in another poster for a romance-themed pitch, along with Tovar. Nikki is mentioned in a phone conversation. Starting from episode 4, every Strangerhood character, except for Tovar, appear in the mini-series.

The Pitch 1
The network studios pitch in to Sam's idea about a new motion picture. He wishes to work independently, but Dutchmiller and Catherine push their own ideas for the film. Sam wants his series to be "gritty" and "urban", while Dutchmiller and Catherine want a "funny sidekick" or a "romantic interest". Sam becomes enraged when Dutch and Catherine try to take control, shouting, "Son of a bitch!" (a Red vs Blue reference), which soon becomes a working title.
 * Title: The Pitch
 * Length: 1' 03"
 * Release: July 12, 2005

The Pitch 2
The good news is that the pitch is highly anticipated by the studio. The catch is that no one in the focus group likes the characters or the story. Sam considers this and decides to change a few things; however, Dutchmiller and Catherine advise him to come up with an entirely new story. Eventually, they draft a script concerning a cyborg altar boy from the future and starring a time-traveling narrator.
 * Title: Statistically Speaking
 * Length: 1' 09"
 * Release: July 12, 2005

The Pitch 3
The production crew finally makes a movie about punk rock. Sam, Dutchmiller, and Catherine argue over marketing techniques and stunts to use at the movie premiere. Dutchmiller and Catherine suggest getting tattoos and burning bras. Sam objects — in vain, as usual.
 * Title: Punk 'Til I Puke
 * Length: 1' 11"
 * Release: August 1, 2005

The Pitch 4
The episode begins with a documentary style of shooting. Sam meets the focus group; they begin to make clichéd objections to his film. Chalmers rants, for a variety of reasons, about the forms they were forced to complete. Dutchmiller and Catherine announce that Sam will star in a reality show in which he will live with the focus group for the next six months. Sam is incredulous as the commercial for Unfocused for C3 (Corporate Cinema Channel) rolls, featuring various review quotes that appear to have been taken out of context.
 * Title: Reality Check
 * Length: 1' 21"
 * Release: August 15, 2005

The Pitch 5
Dutchmiller and Catherine inform Sam that the focus group still is unhappy with the latest version of his film, a cowboy western called The Old Wagon. They believe that it still needs "a little tweaking". The group offers suggestions for various anachronistic elements, such as lasers and spaceships. The episode ends with a poster for The Old Lazer Spaceship.
 * Title: Reinventing the Wagon Wheel
 * Length: 1' 18"
 * Release: September 7, 2005

The Pitch 6
Sam finally takes a stand and argues that the focus group is unqualified to judge his movies. Wade says that he usually classifies the summer blockbusters he sees by the intensity of his "Whoa!"; Catherine insists that the focus group is chosen through a lengthy "screening process". Chalmers and Wade (especially Wade) attempt to opt out of the "screening process", but have already consented to it. Sam yells that he cannot be a part of such a travesty of filmmaking; the group insists that if by "travesty" he means sacks of money and worldwide fame, then he is exactly right. Sam pauses for a moment and then demands his own parking space, to which Dutchmiller agrees. The episode then cuts to The 75th Semi-Monthly Golden Cyborg Awards and Celebrity Bakeoff, where a scene from the film is shown. The winner for Best Picture is Punk Cyborg Lazer Dog Spaceship Cat Wagon: The Movie. Sam nervously accepts the award as everyone else cheers him on. The mini-series ends with a newspaper headline about the ceremony and Sam's movie.
 * Title: Exception Speech
 * Length: 2' 21"
 * Release: October 12, 2005