"I Only Have Surprise for You" is the 6th episode of Season 4 of Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.
Plot[]
SPOILER: Plot details follow.
When Mac arrives at Foster's, he's suspicious that Bloo is planning a surprise party for him. When he informs Mr. Herriman about it, Mr. Herriman starts singing a birthday song into the loudspeaker, but Mac tells him that Bloo doesn't throw surprise parties on his actual birthday because it's a bigger surprise that way. He goes on to explain that he doesn't want a party because every time Bloo throws a party, he humiliates him. Mr. Herriman accepts, and Mac thinks everything is alright until he goes crazy thinking that everything his friends say or do is a trap. Bloo tells him there's no party, and nothing is going on until Goo walks in the door and says, "Duh! I'm here for the party!" Goo tries to cover up what she said by saying she was here to see her imaginary friend, "Artie". After watching the gang talking about the party, he decides to give them a surprise himself and shouts, "It's UN-party time!"
After ruining most of the party, (putting too much yeast in the cake, ruining the decorations, etc.) Mac quickly walks upstairs to ruin the presents, and Bloo tries to stop him, but is trapped. Bloo warns the girls (Goo and Coco) but quickly runs back upstairs where he finds the girls tied up and gagged by Mac, who quickly ties up Bloo, destroying all the presents. Mac then says that Bloo has humiliated him for the last time and that the party is over and runs off.
Meanwhile, Frankie complains to Mr. Herriman that Mac ruined her cake, Eduardo and Wilt complain that he ruined their decorating, and Bloo and the girls try to tell them that he ruined the presents. However, they were prepared for this and had the "B-team" decorate for them. Mr. Herriman thanks Bloo for watching Mac's every move and says that the party is in the library, and, overhearing, Mac rushes to the library.
After all the imaginary friends see what Mac has done, they tell him that the party’s not for him, but Artie, who runs away crying, and all of Foster's residents are mad at Mac. Mac tells Bloo he's got to make it up to Artie, and they both re-decorate the party. Bloo tells Mac that Artie loves clowns and says he should dress up like one for Artie. After Mac totally humiliates himself in front of the imaginary friends, it is revealed that Artie is actually Madame Foster disguised, and the whole house (Except Eduardo, who just went where he was told) was in on him making his own party. Bloo reminds Mac that he's always one step ahead.
During the end credits, Eduardo asks Madame Foster where Artie is so he can introduce him to Bongo the clown, who appeared briefly before Goo arrived. Madame Foster shows him her costume and Eduardo thinks Artie has lost his skin and runs away. Bongo says to Madame Foster, "What's wrong with you people?! This isn't Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, it's Foster's Home for Crazy People!", then runs away.
Spoilers end here.
Characters present[]
Speaking:
Big Fat Baby, Bloo, Bongo, Coco, Eduardo, Frankie Foster, Goo, Jethro Precious, Mac, Madame Foster (Artie), Mr. Herriman, One Eye Cy, Paper, Rock, Scissors, Wilt
Non-speaking:
Bingo, Burple Bear, Clambake, Fluffer Nutter, George Mucus, Iris, Jackie Khones, Keystone Blop, Mabel Licorice, Mac and Terrence's Mother, Madame Mustachio, Moptop, Mr. Edmonton, Myopic Patootie, Myron Giant, Phineus B. Vurm, Pinecone Cola, Pokey Toehair, Preparation Ape, Ramone, Sassyfrass, Socket Tubey, Spritz Coleman, Stoolie Dan, Sunset Junction, Terrence, The Tortoise in the Air, Yogi Boo Boo
Reception[]
This episode has been very controversial and received mixed to negative reviews from critics and fans alike. Many have considered it one of the worst episodes in the series (along with "Imposter's Home for Um... Make 'Em Up Pals", "Everyone Knows It's Bendy", and "Foster's Goes to Europe") due to Bloo being unlikable, the Foster's residents unfairly treating Mac, and the ending being deemed unnecessarily cruel.
Trivia[]
- Mac wears boxers that read "I Heart FB", a nod to "World Wide Wabbit".
- The woman who was at the information desk in "Store Wars" makes a cameo in this episode, being shown as a bank teller.
- Two flashbacks show that Mac's family has/once had a dog.
- Mac's Rambo-like outfit is featured as an unlockable bonus costume for him in Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL.
- This is Terrence's final appearance in the series until the series finale.
- This is also the only episode where Terrence appears but doesn't have his own dialogue.
- This episode marks the fifth and final appearance of Mac's mom.
Cultural references[]
- The title is a reference to the song "I Only Have Eyes for You", originally created by Harvey Warren and Al Dubin.
- The outfit Mac wears as he plans on sabotaging the surprise party is a nod to Rambo.
- When Mac swings out of Bloo, Coco, Wilt, and Eduardo's room, he does it in a similar manner to Spider-Man. Coincidentally, Sean Marquette voiced Spider-Man in the video game Ultimate Spider-Man.
Goofs[]
- Mac says he hates clowns in this episode; however, in "Adoptcalypse Now", he appears to like them, as he likes the clown friend Jokey.
- In the credits, Eduardo is calling for Artie and wondering where he is, even though he was among Madame Foster when she removed her costume.
- At 17:37, Eduardo is making an angry face, but in the next shot, he’s suddenly not angry anymore.
- When Mac ruins Artie's party just as everyone's coming in and still thinks that it's his party, he eats all the candy from the pinata, but his sugar rush doesn't happen.