"Flop Starz" | |
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Phineas and Ferb episode | |
Promotional artwork for the episode featuring Candace discovering that Phineas and Ferb have become one-hit wonders.
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Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 4b |
Directed by | Dan Povenmire |
Written by |
Dan Povenmire (story) Jeff "Swampy" Marsh (story) Sherm Cohen (storyboards) Antoine Guilbaud (storyboards) |
Featured music | "Gitchee Gitchee Goo" |
Original air date | February 1, 2008 |
"Flop Starz" is the first segment for the first official aired episode of the animated television series Phineas and Ferb. The episode was originally broadcast on Disney Channel on February 1, 2008. In the episode, Phineas and Ferb become one-hit wonders in the matter of a morning. This is much to the disappointment of Candace, who is trying out for super stardom on a competition show titled The Next American Pop Teen Idol Star! Meanwhile, Doofenshmirtz converts his building into a giant robot to aid him in his attempt to conquer the tri-state area.
The episode's storyboard was written by Sherm Cohen and Antoine Guilbaud, though the story itself was made by the co-creators of the series. The song in the episode, "Gitchee Gitchee Goo," was the first song the series had and caused for Disney to want one in every episode. Despite the actual pilot being "Rollercoaster," the episode was broadcast to premiere the series, so a majority of the series' standard humor and plot devices had yet to be established (e.g. Perry and Doofenshmirtz have no involvement in the removal of the boys' evidence [mainly instigated by the boys themselves] and Candace's busting attempts in the A-plot are limited to two).
"Flop Starz" carried several references to the music industry and several genres (the title itself is as well a spoof of the phrase "pop stars"), as well as to the talent competition American Idol. The episode was well received by critics and fans alike, gaining 23.5 million viewers in its premiere. The song featured, "Gitchee Gitchee Goo," was as well reviewed favorably by critics. "Flop Starz" has been featured in several pieces of merchandise, including a junior novelization by Lara Bergen in 2009.
At breakfast, the family watches a promo for The Next Super American Pop Teen Idol Star!, a talent competition show, which pushes Candace to go and audition at the mall. The boys are as well curious about the world of stardom and want to know about the kind of artist who only releases one song, then its all over. They are explained the concept of "one-hit wonders" by their mother, who reminisces about her days as one named "Lindana". While the boys work on becoming one by writing a "meaningless" song in their room, Candace prepares to audition, trying on various outfits to wear to the audition -including her mother's Lindana outfit- all rejected by her friend Stacy.