No one on the Earthworm Jim cartoon cared for their jobs.

4th wall breaks, forgetting lines and hostility, oh my! Did you know the Portuguese dub of the show aired on a live block ala Krusty the Klown called Batatoon and had a supposed stage fight on that show? It's true!

[@kwingsletsplays]

Actually, this is how Parody shows were written in the 90s. The Audience is suppose to be in on the Joke, because even the characters aren't taking the plot seriously. Like WB's Freakazoid.

[@mistermann4163]

Something that Teen Titans Go failed at real badly the more I think about it. Try's to do the unfunny punchline, the confusing set up, and the random joke in some random order with references sprinkled in but never had a story to tell let alone a good one.

[@kanna-san.]

​@@mistermann4163at least kids liked it

[@sirquagsire971]

​@@mistermann4163and then there's just borderline fet*sh art sometimes

[@ClownHoundII]

​@kanna-san. Kids will like anything. There was even a show a while that was all just butt and fart jokes. Kids loved it too.

[@MrLightningbob]

Cow and Chicken

[@minimalbstolerance8113]

My personal favourite joke from EWJ? The bit where the villain of the week summons a universe destroying monster. Jim summons a lawyer who tells the monster he needs a permit to destroy the universe, and to get the permit, he has to fill in a form that's a pile of paper taller than Mount Everest. We then get the hilarious exchange: Monster: "But that'll take me a billion years!" Lawyer: "Three billion. I need it in triplicate."

[@CheeseMiser]

LOL

[@El_Febo_Abel]

¡I can't believe than this is not in the video!.

[@teddyroo12]

@El_Febo_Abel it was almost in the adult jokes one, but it was too long and kept getting claimed

[@El_Febo_Abel]

@@teddyroo12 Maybe a 2nd part.

[@curlycocoanut]

“I yearn for the sweet embrace of the grave” LMFAOOOOO

[@kanna-san.]

Real

[@DMMDestroyer]

Doomer as a kid

[@VixstraLarge]

"Fantastic!!"

[@Ratscallion_exe]

PP 10,000 _FAN-TASTIC_

[@nottoday5773]

4:10

[@WakoDoodle]

Psycrow threatening the narrator is probably the most clever thing in any series. The guy has the power to define fate and yet is the only mortal among them at all times! Another reason why I love psycrow!

[@lizardguyNA]

You'd enjoy Powerpuff Girls then. Mojo Jojo's evil plan for an episode was to kidnap the Narrator and take over the show.

[@BoopaKing]

Dave the Barbarian also did that and there was even a redone version of the intro where the evil pig is tormenting the barbarians.

[@gaymothaunt]

i still can't figure out what on earth his accent is supposed to be

[@dorourke105]

all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put the 4th wall back together again

[@hjalfi]

Luckily one of the riggers had some duct tape.

[@SaladbarSlytherin]

Before they gave us Deadpool, there was...Jim.

[@samiamrg7]

It reminds me of both “The Tick,” and “Dave the Barbarian.” I didn’t realize until now that Dave the Barbarian had some humor stylings in common with “The Tick.”

[@mesousagaby740]

Funny you say that, cause Doug Langdale created Dave The Barbarian and developed the Earthworm Jim cartoon.

[@TheSomewareMan]

If I'm not mistaken, Earthworm Jim and Dave the Barbarian have the same narrator. Don't quote me on that, though. I haven't checked to be sure

[@Starpotion]

The Tick slaps

[@demiraichan]

Still not in Disney+ and it's a crime. Also Freekazoid.

[@Petsinwinter2]

​@@TheSomewareMan absolutely did. Jeff Bennett, a legend. Also Peter Puppy in this if you didn't notice.

[@eins2001]

3:21 Taylor Swift when she needs the tv remote

[@keironhiggspoet]

looking back they really did have a allstar cast of voice actors playing every character. the cream of the early to late 90s crop of recognisable VAs. just missing Robert Paulson to make it complete

[@NoNeed2No]

His name is Robert Paulson.

[@Jagerbomber]

@@NoNeed2No *en

[@rightyloosey8554]

This was probably the best possible advertisement you could have possibly given me to immediately look for a way to watch this show.

[@WhatABinglylittlescronklylil-]

This show is so.. Charming?? How come i’ve never even heard of it before-

[@Gaia_BentosZX5]

That's because there's hidden gems like this one in a sea of Ren & Stimpy copycats (prior to the Spongebob Standard, we had to deal with the Spumco Standard. It was anything BUT pleasant given the work ethic!).

[@HitsujiEmi]

The Wizard of Ooze was one of my favorite episodes specifically because of all the fourth wall breaks.

[@RippahRooJizah]

Sure ran into the wall a couple times.

[@AdiG1]

Jim asking what sounded like "what's a nonce" was very much unexpected (It's English slang for a paedophile)

[@adamofblastworks1517]

I thought it was slang for idiot.

[@DearAnem0ia]

Wait, is it? I thought it was just a weird way to say "idiot" or something.

[@FlareStorms]

yeah​@@DearAnem0ia

[@adamofblastworks1517]

@@DearAnem0ia I said the same thing earlier, but apparently my reply was deleted for some reason.

[@AW-sx8hm]

But in the case of 'for the nonce' it just means for now. There isn't an actual paedophile demanding attention away from Jim.

[@LisaVGG]

You know something I find fun, when a narrator for a show goes off script like Earthworm Jim’s does. Cause we all know that even if the character of the narrator is going off script the actual guy voicing the narrator isn’t which I just find funny

[@vksasdgaming9472]

I broke with gag of Psy-Crow's dastardly plan of deposing Lucy. Her actual name is too long.

[@tuckernutter]

I mean tbh as a non personified disembodied voice they could be ad libbing for all we know

[@jaborsey_joseph]

This show was underrated. Too bad the creator hated it.

[@daniexists6]

"Too bad"? I think you mean, "It's good that noted piece of shit Doug TenNapel hated it."

[@paulpavlus6664]

he did?

[@teddyroo12]

Yeah he thought it was a cash grab. Then again, he hates a lot of things

[@teddyroo12]

This points out one of the things Duckie hates. ME! More specially the part where I like woman as a woman

[@Saxdude26]

Knowing he didn'tlike the cartoon makes me like it even more.

[@RetroGaming-gp2ef]

You can hear a bit of Homer in his voice

[@teddyroo12]

Hmm..... I wonder why?

[@RetroGaming-gp2ef]

@@teddyroo12 Well I know he’s voiced by his voice actor. But you can seriously hear a bit of Homer.

[@murray9807]

I hear the Devil Robot

[@Nevakanezah_]

P sure the president's va is Phil Hartman, aka troy mcclure

[@ElvishShellfish]

It’s fun picking out character voice actors across their shows. Even actors with a huge variety of styles will rely on some of the same ticks and techniques to create a character voice. Billy West from Futurama builds a bunch of different voices off of an impression of Larry Fein, one of the three stooges.

[@josephjennings3146]

0:50 - funny how this was a legit that actually happened. Crazy when cartoons make funny outcomes that the universe just…somehow finds a way…

[@TheStubbzy]

I was obsessed with this show when I was a kid. Even now, I think it was an awesome cartoon. I wish it had gotten more episodes, but I'm also glad that it ended before it went downhill.

[@c-o-b-o-2010]

When you have a cartoon premise so weird that you don’t know what to do with it, just make it an off the walls 4th wall breaking comedy, and you’ll make gold!

[@patcahill3724]

I love the Earthworm Jim cartoon, so underrated

[@silverghost3063]

Its really cool how the 4th wall gag with the budget running out was later used in TAWOG

[@Gell-lo]

And Chowder

[@marisokami5259]

this show seems unironically good

[@thegreat1007]

This is probably one of the greatest shows based on the IP ... it was 100% faithful to the source material the video game they did an excellent job

[@JacobFiveash]

I love Earthworm Jim.

[@HamiltonAppiah]

Me too

[@robotnikcentric64]

Me three

[@HuladeHoopla]

Why is this as funny as it is to me? Like it's such a non-cartoon cartoon but people enjoyed their jobs and it shows. You know. Minus the guy who made it.

[@diegomorales7290]

Wait what? He did? Shame, the animators and voice actors look/sound like they're having fun

[@Kj16V]

"What a huge action sequence!" 😂 💀

[@lordlapizul]

I love that the narrator just wasn't having it anymore in "Wizard of Ooze". Even when there's danger he's on the phone with his agent demanding to be let out of the show. 😂

[@KaseyKay92]

😂😂😂The plot development alarm!!! 😂😂😂

[@jaketaller8567]

4:10 Cody: I yearn for the sweet embrace of the grave.

[@kanna-san.]

He's so real for that

[@Nix-Man]

2:08 "And what's a nonce?" Oh my...

[@redrasegarden]

Do I wanna know?

[@nicreven]

@@redrasegarden a british term for a sex offender . typically relating to somebody who does that with. Children. I dunno how much youtube lets me say

[@redrasegarden]

@@nicreven thnx

[@The.Orange.Wizard]

It can also mean ‘for the time being’ it’s a double entendres

[@YouMissed2025]

Jimmy Savile

[@KeyleeTamirian]

Cartoons like this defined my perception of any kind of plot since i was a toddler.

[@Zistheone2]

“Of course the worst part about being the narrator is the degrading hula skirt they make me wear.”

[@BYERE]

It must've been a lot of fun playing the narrator, getting to be as sarcastic as you want half the time.

[@davidthecommenter]

this is the stupidest thing i've ever seen and i love it, it's like if you hung the world's biggest lampshade

[@csx00]

Heck yeah! I was looking for a video essay and all I got was a highlight reel of early 90s satire cartoon taken seriously by a description box and commenters. Good stuff. Feels like there's some kind of meta joke about irony here that would have worked in Anamaniacs or Freakazoid, or even Earthworm Jim

[@teddyroo12]

I wanted to give the title something other than "4th wall compilation" so that's what I went with

[@csx00]

@@teddyroo12 Satire Inception?! Amazing.

[@thegreat1007]

This is so hilarious the writing was so absolutely hilarious I wish they were still making these episodes the jokes were absolutely hysterical narrator doesn't like the predictable writing does he getting an attitude isn't he😂

[@Chronoplague]

4:42 The line, "if it were just a cartoon, could I do THIS!" is one of my favorites in the whole show. The delivery is so good!

[@HereForTheComments]

This cartoon is very Freakazoid. In fact, maybe most cartoons from the 90s used this kind of humor.

[@seronymus]

I wonder why

[@hypnotised-clover]

Sam and Max, Earthworm Jim, Freakazoid, Animaniacs, Pinky and The Brain, all have similar, satirical humour.

[@EbonySaints]

​@@seronymusIt was a confluence of factors. - Budgets and creative freedom went *way* up from the 70s and 80s to the 90s. While limited animation never stopped surrealism and post-modernism, the fact was that cartoons were cheaply made and a vehicle for selling toys and filling timeslots. You could dedicate a little more time to the writing when you weren't shilling toys every second. - The rise of creator-driven productions. Most people point to _The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse_ as the starting point for this, though the success of other shows like BTAS and R&S showed that you didn't have to have the same old format as usual to be a success. - The culture of the time. The 90s were *really* referential in a lot of ways and obviously, that influence from movies, books and music filtered into cartoons. - Residual 80s backlash. The 80s were fairly straitlaced as far as cultural factors go and the loosening of previous moral taboos as well as a new generation of people tired of all the stale, predictable stuff made a lot of stuff in the 90s have a flippant, "devil may care" 'tude. The 90s were a welcome break from the past and it really shows. The problem was that a lot of future productions took the wrong lessons from the era. The referential comedy became the whole point as opposed to just an enhancer. The edgy-ness went into overdrive in the next decade where everything that pretended to be mature was mostly just crass. The 90s were the celebration kegger for the West for cartoons and a lot of other things. The 2000s were the hangover.

[@WreckItRolfe]

It had disappeared by the late-90s, from what I remember

[@ripleyandweeds1288]

"And what's a nonce?" I'm not surprised they got away with that joke given this aired primarily in the US, but _oh my god_

[@genericfriend2568]

Jim is exactly the kind of hero that the world needs

[@RHODEHOUSE_guy]

I like how when the show's budget starts to run out, you can tell the animation is ironically better. Edit: Momma I'mma famous

[@Treeeee2008]

Less money on colors and details, more money on fluidity!

[@DibsAtraiyu]

Restriction is the biggest influence for creativity

[@tomjackal5708]

@@DibsAtraiyu thanks maro

[@animfan98]

Dan Castellaneta's voice is definitely much easier on the ears than Doug TenNapel's.

[@paulpavlus6664]

Indeed.

[@teddybeer6206]

Nah. I prefer Jim as a redneck than as a superhero.

[@maxpops8427]

Not really a high bar

[@animfan98]

@@maxpops8427 Aw, his normal speaking voice is OK, and his Klogg voice is the stuff of legend! It's just that his Jim voice is a bit...abrasive.

[@jeremytung1632]

That man was EVERYWHERE in the 90s, here, genie in Aladdin the series, mega volt on darkwing duck, and of course Homer Simpson.

[@hazukichanx408]

Never had a chance to see this when it was new. Weirdly nostalgic, having played the games (even EWJ 3D, ugh...) Thanks for sharing so more people like me can at least get an idea of what the show was like!^^

[@dreamhollow]

Nah most 90s shows were like this, and we loved em for it.

[@strikermodel]

You're not old enough to get monetized? Well I'm glad you can appreciate shows like this one from before your time!

[@teddyroo12]

Thanks! You can blame ASD!

[@genericnoone9610]

wait if you created this channel in 2013, how old are you then???

[@teddyroo12]

I'm 17.

[@genericnoone9610]

@@teddyroo12 damn...It feels weird to know that people born in 2007 are old enough to vote & drink...(among other things)

[@paulpavlus6664]

WE NEED A REBOOT!!!!! WITH MANY NEW EPISODES!!!!!!

[@teddyroo12]

They're trying, but Interplay is stupid

[@Sillimant_]

I hope not, it doesn't deserve to be subjected to millennial writing and tryhards failing to be funny

[@urdimsum7961]

Wouldn't work

[@pyrolee17]

i mean if battle toads can come back why not

[@FightingFoodonsFan]

I'd settle for a re-airing, so I can watch all the episodes legally.

[@Archbishopofcheeseburger]

The more I hear Earthworm Jim yell, the more I think: "Man, he really does sound like Homer."

[@montanajackson3713]

This show deserved more episodes.

[@johnnywalker7961]

He voice Robot Devi and homer Simpson.

[@TheMattastic]

The "a horse!" bit is even better in the show because it happens right in the middle of him doing a Wonder Years voiceover that ends with "they don't give trophies in the game of life, but if they did mine would say--"

[@muffinxlpro4692]

Behind the Scenes & 4th Wall Lol Homer Jim is best Homer

[@J0sh00]

"it's the plot development alarm" 😂😂

[@therealsheldonjplankton]

If you think this show didn't care, Freakazoid was much worse.

[@kanna-san.]

And was amazing for it

[@rossnunez3512]

Leave those gophers alone you weirdo! Gotta love how he can fly and has super speed, but he travels most of the time by spreading his arms and making airplane noises as he runs.

[@TheKing-uu7jn]

I thought Jim sounded familiar until I realized he’s voiced by Homed Simpson (Dan Castellina)

[@seeleunit2000]

You mean Homer Simpson...

[@TheKing-uu7jn]

Hoomer Sampson?

[@tylerberg4832]

@@seeleunit2000homie Simpson ?

[@michaeldougherty6036]

What an A-list cast of voice actors on this this show.

[@malex2200]

As a kid this show was great. Saturday morning cartoons on the WB Network. Men In Black was pretty good too.

[@KingRoni1222]

This. This is art.

[@OnlySlightlySaneOne]

This just seems so charming and nistalgiac, I wish I coulda grown up watching this and look back on it today.

[@GoeTeeks]

Now I want to see a Narrator-off between Earthworm Jim's narrator and Joe, the narrator from Freakazoid.

[@Karlos1234ify]

I miss this show

[@BeazerProductions]

The narrator sounds a lot like the narrator from Dave the Barbarian, which was a similarly 4th-wall-breaking show and had a whole episode where the villain kidnaps the narrator and forces him to read a script where the villain wins.

[@garthdavis4320]

This series was comedy gold.

[@ItsDangerX]

These clips just make me smile, they also remind of some other series i can’t put my finger on however. Its like I’m swimming through an ocean of thoughts on the earthworm jim vessel, and I’m narrowly avoiding thoughts connected to whatever show I’m thinking of, i scrape the side of the thoughts but nothing in depth. I wanna say fairly oddparents is the show I’m thinking of but I’m just not sure. It does however also kinda remind me of looney tunes. I still can’t be certain what other show i was thinking of

[@teddyroo12]

Freakazoid?

[@ItsDangerX]

I’m pretty sure it isn’t fairly oddparents that I’m thinking of though. It has to be a wb show i think but i just can’t remember

[@teddyroo12]

Freakazoid is a WB show, it is not the Fairly OddParents. Look up Freakazoid

[@ItsDangerX]

@@teddyroo12 no never watched that i think I’ve only ever heard of it

[@BitestheStuff]

What a relatable show.

[@mightilyoats2729]

So the voice actors reading their lines is no one cared for their jobs. Right.

[@gamingpanda7516]

Feels like the Sam and Max cartoon.

[@mesousagaby740]

I also sense A LOT of BoBoBo-Bo Bo-BoBo energy here.

[@seronymus]

How?

[@mesousagaby740]

@@seronymus The narrator calling out everything.

[@mommalion7028]

Oh I forgot about that!!!

[@AaronsDooM]

Love this show still getting recognition

[@SteadyEddie1983]

He clearly said whores, not horse. What a guy.

[@ShyGuy83]

This cartoon when I was 12. How on Earth did this slip my radar back in the 90s?

[@BottomOfTheDumpsterFire]

0:40 I've never seen this cartoon but this is when I realized Jim was voiced by Dan Castellaneta and now I think this might be one of the most underrated series ever solely for its selfaware humour and great voice actor pick

[@DrBagPhD]

Clearly the script writers, animators and VAs did :V

[@obscuramask7435]

What a treasure of a cartoon. Some of you never watched Adult Party Cartoon and it shows.

[@goldenguy7470]

Too bad the creator basicly hates everything, luckily we might get that new show which looks pretty good Edit: Never mind I just remembered it got cancled

[@kanna-san.]

Shame, it looked fun

[@BriahnAznable]

One of the few cartoons my dad would actually like watching. 😂

[@ShadeMeadows]

This show is TOO GOOD.

[@michaelhill1256]

Jim: Man…we were saved by girls… Me: And that’s a bad thing how?

[@Uncle-Jay]

I was super sad to see this get just one season. Jim never gets justice. Poor franchised has been so mishandled.

[@kittycatmeowmeow963]

1:41 Oh, so this is where Svengoolie got that quote from.

[@fawrun]

That bee got me actin up

[@teddybeer6206]

4:10 They actually got away with that kind of scene...

[@nihilisticpancake308]

And people say Millenial humour is new.

[@Ashguy733]

"Test Patterns get more viewers then we do." Lmao 😂

[@SpokeInNoise]

One of the funniest showes ever made

[@ElSandwich777]

The Fuzzy Wuzzy Funny Animals Pop Up Book episode lives rent free in my head for all Time.

[@eoeyclams4468]

its like if dave the barbarian had licensing

[@hectorraymondburgosgonzales]

Princess Jessie she pretty strong and my beautiful daughter too l love this sweet baby girl 😘❤️

[@grandbean9031]

I didn't even know the typical "I yearn for the sweet embrace of the grave" and its other forms were prevalent in the age of earthworm Jim.

[@anxwiy]

Few people know, but this series is based on the very cool game of the same name on Sega Genesis. This game was groundbreaking in its time and still plays well today.

[@ZacHawkins42]

Tennaple lives in your head rent-free, apparently 🤣🤣🤣

[@YouTubeMaxi2006]

I just realize the voice actor for earthworm. Jim is none, other than the same voice actor who voiced homer Simpson.😅😅😅

[@KaiTenSatsuma]

Naw, this was the vibe. A lot of "The Tick" vibes Earthworm Jim, The Tick, Freakazoid...

[@TotalDec]

I didn't know toe socks were a thing back then.

[@Cyber_Horse_Studios87]

To be fair… I think these days many of us only knew of earthworm Jim because of the sonic for hire series. XD (this show does look like it was a lot of fun. XD)

[@cloudedarctrooper]

Oh my God, "the plot development alarm"

[@hectorraymondburgos2914]

l love Princess What's Her Name so much 😍❤

[@The_Ninja_Tree]

"what did you mean by kettle drum?" "Don't question me" Legit I'm dead 😂

[@felixvanhollow9794]

This truly is Dan Castellaneta's best role

[@DiscoMouse]

8:26 Earthworm Jim confirmed prequel to Metal Gear Solid V

[@OFFP88]

boy 90s cartoons sure were something else

[@no_fishman9669]

Nah, they cared as much as they got paid, very little.