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Prometheus and Bob
Screen Shot 2015-04-30 at 11.46.22 AM
Segments: 41 (38 with one "tape" and 3 with two "tapes")
Date Ran: 1996-2000
First KaBlam! Appearance: Your Real Best Friend!
Last KaBlam! Appearance: Under New Management
Directed/Written/Created By: Cote Zellers
Produced By: Demitra Vassiliadis
Luna Vox Productions
What you are about to see is top secret. It is a video tape recorded 900,000 years ago by an alien using a remote-controlled camera. It shows his attempts to educate a caveman. They have been codenamed the Prometheus and Bob tapes.


Prometheus and Bob is a stop motion animation segment created by Cote Zellers, featured on the Nickelodeon animated sketch comedy series KaBlam!.

An alien named Prometheus befriends a caveman, Bob, and teaches him everyday things like eating breakfast or using the toilet. Each lesson is recorded by Prometheus via his remote-controlled camera.

Overview[]

Originally, Cote Zellers pitched a pilot to Nickelodeon, where Prometheus teaches Bob the use of fire, while documenting the teaching with a video camera. It would end with Prometheus being cooked alive by Bob, and a Monkey flying Prometheus's saucer into the camera. The pitch was successful, on the condition that the pilot is never shown due to its very dark nature, in comparison to the more family-friendly installments seen on KaBlam!.

Prometheus and Bob worked with a very small crew. David Ernst was model maker and sound design was done by Daniel Shklair. Zellers voiced both Prometheus and Bob, where his voice was pitched up slightly for Prometheus and pitched down slightly for Bob. Zellers said Prometheus was originally "very processed" but didn't seem to have any kind of range, so the character became less processed over time and more his voice as time went on, while Bob would usually just babble, like a real caveman.

A live-action Prometheus and Bob film was planned, with a short "Painting" to be presented before the main film. According to Zellers when interviewed by Cult Popture[1], David Spade and Chris Farley were considered to portray Prometheus and Bob, respectively. Although Farley died in December 1997, the development process would move forward, as the film was to be directed by Harald Zwart, co-produced by Amy Heckerling and Twink Caplan, and written by Joe Stillman. A script was written that Zellers despised. When he was denied permission to rewrite it, the production stalled out. Zellers said that the remains of the script went into the 2010 fantasy adventure comedy film, Gulliver's Travels, starring Jack Black. Despite "Painting" being finished, it has not been seen publicly.

Characters[]

Prometheus[]

Prometheus is an alien who is Bob's educator. He tries to teach various things, but his plans fail almost all the time. Prometheus gets frustrated easily, which could make him either temperamental or overwhelmed.

Bob[]

Bob is a caveman who is taught by Prometheus. He is slow and dimwitted, frequently damaging things with his brutish, yet impressive strength. Bob often gets both himself and Prometheus hurt, and he cries when things disappear. He also has a tendency to panic when he's frightened.

Monkey[]

The monkey usually appears while Prometheus tries to teach Bob. He finds ways to entertain Bob and foil Prometheus's educating but sometimes can be supporting. Also, while Prometheus struggles with the lessons that Bob fails to learn, Monkey always seems to figure out the concept and demonstrates his mastery by performing it in the background.

The Overlord[]

Another member of Prometheus's race, the Overlord is Prometheus's superior, who has appeared a few times, but always during the most inconvenient times. He scolds Prometheus in all of his appearances, but then usually gets driven away by Monkey.

Prometheus's Robots[]

Prometheus owns several robots. He uses them to assist him when a lesson requires more than just him to teach Bob. They have no personality and most of them serve Prometheus without question.

Episodes[]

This is a list of every tape, in chronological order:

Tape No. Title Summary KaBlam! Episode
1 Tape #1 Prometheus meets and befriends a caveman named Bob, and inadvertently frees a monkey from two other cavemen. The Best of Both Worlds
5 Breakfast Prometheus teaches Bob how to eat eggs for breakfast, only for one of them to hatch. Cramming Cartoons Since 1627
8 Furniture Prometheus teaches Bob how to use a chair, but Monkey gets the last laugh. Won't Crack or Peel!
10 Boxing Prometheus teaches Bob how to box, only for Bob to befriend his punching bag. Hurts So Good!!
12 Glue Prometheus teaches Bob about the uses of glue, but they (and Monkey) get into a sticky situation. KaFun!
16 Spear Prometheus is about to teach Bob how to use a spear. Better Than A Poke In The Eye!
17 (1) Art Prometheus teaches Bob about creating artwork, only for Bob to improvise. Your Real Best Friend!
17 (2) Wheel Prometheus teaches Bob how wheels roll, only for Bob to get carried away. It's Flavorific!
20 Bob's Birthday Prometheus wants Bob to celebrate his birthday. Bob, however, is being a party pooper. Your Logo Here!
22 Music Prometheus teaches Bob how to play music with instruments, but the sounds attract an uninvited guest. Comics for Tomorrow Today!
25 (1) Bowling Prometheus teaches Bob how to bowl, but Bob has difficulties. Your Real Best Friend!
25 (2) Clothing Prometheus teaches Bob how to wear clothes. It's Flavorific!
28 Trapping Prometheus teaches Bob how to catch prey, but their lesson attracts one too many uninvited guests, including Monkey, the Overlord and a saber-toothed tiger. Better Than A Poke In The Eye!
32 Fishing Prometheus teaches Bob how to fish, but Monkey messes with their lesson. Not Just For People Anymore!
37 Bridge Prometheus teaches Bob how to make and cross a bridge, but they both fall down a pit. All Purpose KaBlam!
42 Canoe Prometheus teaches Bob how to ride a canoe, but Bob is too afraid. Tastes Like Paper!
49 Milking Prometheus teaches Bob how to milk a cow, only for Monkey to get involved. Harold's Glow-in-the-Dark Brand Butter
52 Hammock Prometheus teaches Bob how to use a hammock, but Monkey messes with their lesson. More Happiness than Allowed By Law!
55 Pottery Prometheus teaches Bob how to make pottery, but Bob's stupidity and Monkey's tricks complicate the lesson. Won't Stick to Most Dental Work!
57 Shelter Prometheus teaches Bob how to shelter himself from harsh weather, but Bob is too impatient to learn during a rainstorm. KaBlam! Gets Results
63 Farming Prometheus teaches Bob how to grow plants, but Bob ends up using Prometheus's growth serum incorrectly. Get Sam Donaldson's Mystery Bag
65 Ball Prometheus teaches Bob how to play with a ball. Money Train 2
71 Cooking Prometheus teaches Bob how to cook soup, but Bob is more interested in eating fire ants. Comics of Champions
86 Toilet Prometheus teaches Bob about personal hygiene, but Bob has other ideas. Holdeth The Pickle, Holdeth The Lettuce
88 Ice Skating Prometheus teaches Bob how to skate on ice, but Bob's nervousness and a hungry killer whale complicate things. I Just Don't Get It!
97 Construction Prometheus teaches Bob how to build a concrete wall, but Monkey wants to play with the tools. Hand Cranked For Your Enjoyment!
99 Kite Prometheus teaches Bob how to fly a kite, but Monkey goes for a ride in the sky. Resistance is Futile
103 Leverage Prometheus teaches Bob about using different weights, only to get stuck under a boulder. E Pluribus KaBlam!
205 Laundry Prometheus tries to teach Bob how to clean laundry, only for him and Bob to end up using their spring as a hot tub. You May Already Be a...KaBlammer!
212 Robot Prometheus shows Bob the usefulness of his robots, but one of them goes rogue. The New Class
213 Television Prometheus and Bob try to revisit their past lessons by watching television, but Monkey messes with them instead. Great for Paper Training!
254 Bed Prometheus teaches Bob how to sleep in a bed, only for Bob to not cooperate. Year Round Fun!
256 Treehouse Prometheus teaches Bob how to build a treehouse. It's All In The Wrist!
332 Arctic Prometheus teaches Bob how to survive in the arctic, only for Bob to start a snowball fight with him, Monkey and a polar bear. You'll Love Our Selection!
400 I.Q. Test Prometheus challenges Bob to see just how smart he is, but Bob isn't really up for it. Takes a Knockin' and Keeps Tick-Tockin'
402 Exercise Prometheus teaches Bob how to exercise, only for his lesson to backfire. A Nut in Every Bite!
403 Dating Prometheus teaches Bob how to get a date (with a cavewoman), but Bob is too nervous. Timeless!
404 Softball Prometheus teaches Bob how to play softball, but Monkey wants to play too. Sasquatch-ercise!
406 Pet Prometheus teaches Bob how to play with a puppy, but Monkey becomes jealous. Going the Extra Mile!
412 Magnetism Prometheus teaches Bob about magnets, only for Bob to swallow one. In It To Win It!
677 Evolution Chamber Prometheus and Bob learn not to tamper with natural evolution. Under New Management

Trivia[]

  • On "The Top 100 Moments In Nicktoons History" in November 2007, voted on by viewers on Nick.com, its segments on the KaBlam! episode "Comics for Tomorrow Today!" were ranked #61.
  • In the intro on some KaBlam! episodes or when the segments aired by themselves on Nicktoons, an abbreviated variant was also used: "900,000 years ago, an alien videotaped his attempts to educate a caveman. The Prometheus and Bob tapes."
    • In "Evolution Chamber" (Tape 677), the last Prometheus and Bob segment aired, a variant is used with the announcer saying "900,000 years ago, an alien got sick of trying to educate a caveman. He created a machine that would transform his unevolved student into an intelligent, modern man. The Prometheus and Bob tapes."
  • Much like the cast of Action League Now!, Prometheus and Bob themselves have made cameo appearances in the Henry and June segments outside of their short films:
    • In the episode "Won't Stick to Most Dental Work!," despite not making a physical appearance (sans their short later in the episode), Henry mentions that when he opened his restaurant "Henry's House of KaBoom!," one of the food items he made and sold were "Prometheus Burgers."
    • In the episode "Hurts So Good!!," the last Henry and June segment presents footage of Prometheus, Bob, and the Monkey singing along with Loopy from Life with Loopy, the cast of Action League Now!, Sniz and Fondue, and the Henry and June cast.
      • Additionally in the same episode, Prometheus and Bob make cameo appearances on air fresheners being sold by Henry and June in their efforts to acquire staples.
    • In the episode "Better Than A Poke In The Eye!," Henry and June host a tour of their studio to guests, where they introduce characters from the other segments on the show. Prometheus and Bob make an appearance in an outer space portion of the tour, where they vaporize a particularly rude tourist with a laser for mocking the guides.
    • Prometheus and Bob appear as attendees of the "Life with Loopy Birthday Gala-Bration," a special KaBlam! episode honoring the segment Life with Loopy.

Photo[]

References[]

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