"Read 'Em and Weep" is the 11th episode of season 6 of Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.
Plot[]
SPOILER: Plot details follow.
The episode opens up to show Bloo holding auditions for a "replacement" Eduardo, which is not going well. It is revealed that Eduardo, along with various other imaginary friends, have been adopted and the gang is trying to cope with their departure. A series of postcards from them reveal the pros and cons of their new lives, which worries the gang at Foster's.
Bloppy Pants' story[]
Bloppy Pants was originally adopted to a stereotypical Italian family, but fed up with the attention, he tries to go to college, only to end up as a team mascot, so he runs away to try his luck at the stock market and immediately leaves for a more adventurous life as a rodeo clown. Later, he tries to pursue his one true love, cooking, where he cannot understand the short-order phrases and quits, so he seeks a life on the open road only to be faced with the never-ending monologue of a truck driver.
Jackie Khones' story[]
Jackie Khones was adopted by a luxurious woman for "Tabby", who was originally thought to be a child for Jackie. It's later revealed that Tabby is actually a mean house cat and Jackie was adopted to be its toy. Jackie is abused constantly by the cat, but he is able to survive his encounters and sends Tabby away on a rocket and replaces her with a stuffed toy. When the woman finds out though, she is quick to assault Jackie as well.
Sam Burger's story[]
Sam Burger was adopted to a boy named Ronald and immediately went on a cruise, but the ship sank, and they became castaways, with Ronald becoming hungry and wanting to eat Sam...
Eduardo's story[]
Eduardo was adopted to a girl named Esmeralda, who lives in the forest where they normally frolic and have fun, but when Ed sets out to look for a unicorn, he attracts the attention of hunters instead, and is "shot"...
Main Plot[]
As the postcards come to a climax, and upon hearing that Eduardo has been shot, Bloo finally breaks down in tears at how much he misses Eduardo believing that he is dead. However, a truck drives through the entrance of Foster's only to reveal that the driver is Bloppy Pants and is filled with all the other friends that were previously adopted, including Eduardo. It turns out Ed was shot by a camera for a magazine paper, but Eduardo had to move out because Esmeralda's father didn't like paparazzi and was picked up by Bloppy Pants.
As a stinger ending, Tabby (from Jackie's story) comes back via a rocket that crashes through the roof and finds Jackie and attacks him again.
Running gags[]
- Bloo trying to get people to impersonate Eduardo.
- Everyone's lives starting out well but leading to them being attacked or taking another position.
Spoilers end here.
Trivia[]
- There is a 2008 calendar seen when Jackie Khones is being chased by Tabby, which is the year that this episode is copyrighted, even though it was released in 2009.
- Fourth Wall Break: When Jackie Khones gets rid of Tabby using a rocket, he says he thought it only worked in cartoons.
- This is the last episode appearances of Clambake, Moptop, Iris, Ringo Rango, Socket Tubey, Handy, Cowboy Cow and Sam Burger.
- This is also Moptop and Handy's only appearance in season 6.
Cultural references[]
- The character Morsey, who looks like a floating head made of a rockabilly hairdo, sunglasses and a morse code machine, is a reference to Morrissey, an 80's musician. He even sings a few of Morrissey's songs.
- When Eduardo says he's been "shot", the picture shown is a parody of the infamous Bigfoot picture.
- The scenes with Eduardo and Esmeralda reference classical Walt Disney movies, especially Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
- The chase scene between Jackie and Tabby is a parody of the Tom and Jerry cartoons.
- The woman in Jackie's story is similar to Mammy Two Shoes from the earlier cartoons of Tom and Jerry on how they both are pretty strong and get enraged on what happens to their property. Also, both of their heads/faces are never shown.
- Sam Burger's new owner is a spoof of Ronald McDonald, the McDonald's mascot.