Cheat Commandos
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The Cheat Commandos is a fictional cartoon series and line of action figures in the universe of the animated cartoon series Homestar Runner. The commandos resemble a series of stereotypical G.I. Joe figures, and are described as "an elite fighting force, sworn to defeat the evil forces of Blue Laser!"
The earliest reference to the Cheat Commandos appeared in Strong Bad Email #93 - Army where the Cheat is reluctantly addressed as Firebert by Strong Bad. The Cheat Commandos next appearance is in "Cheat Commandos: Rock Rock On!"
The Cheat Commandos toys are produced by the fictional Cheap as Free Toys, and are all modelled after long-time Homestar Runner character The Cheat. Nominally an action cartoon, episodes of the Cheat Commandos quickly degenerate into blatant advertisements for Cheat Commandos playsets, accessories, and breakfast cereal. Even the theme song goes so far as to include the lyric "Buy all our Playsets and Toys!" This is in keeping with the series' style of parodying 1980s cartoons, which were seen by many as being only slightly less blatant advertising for their related toy lines. Like other '80s cartoon series, they released an educational film entitled "Commandos in the Classroom", which kept the spirit of the previous episodes by saying that good people love "all our playsets and toys".
[edit] Characters
Gunhaver: Apparent mission commander, Gunhaver sports "cool glasses" and a "stylin' coat". Has a gun, though not seen with it until "Let Us Give TANKS!". First name possibly Charles, as mentioned in "Let Us Give TANKS!".
Firebert: The original Cheat commando. Is ridiculed for his bad commando name, and is The Cheat's alter ego in the Cheat Commandos.
Silent Rip: Has a job spying on enemies, he seems to have a voice similar to that of a stereotypical surfer.
Crackotage: Referred to as "that guy who flies that plane," he talks in rhyme followed by a laugh (You can't shoot and you can't fly, if you went with us you'd probably die! He he ha ha!). However, in "Commandos in the Classroom" it is shown that he is losing his mojo when it comes to rhymes (example: "Movie night is my favorite night, I think it is my favorite night! He he ha ha!"). His mojo returns in "Let Us Give TANKS!".
Fightgar: The true commando, he carries a bandolier around his neck, wears a red bandanna, and seriously needs to shave. He talks in a rough London accent and has been seen wearing implausible disguises.
Flashfight: Described as being "in charge of stuff!!", Flashfight has not yet made an appearance in a Cheat Commandos cartoon.
Ripberger: Believed to be a ninja. His first appearence is in the Holiday Toon "Let Us Give TANKS!".
Foxface: The only female, her role in the commandos is unknown. (It is implied that she is a token female.) She has yet to be seen in a cartoon, though her bullet proof purse is seen and clearly labeled in one episode by the armory.
Reinforcements: The only one seen carrying a weapon regularly (his Justice Rocket Backpack Rocket Rocket), he is a stereotypical commando. He has jungle camos and a desperate need for a shave. He has made three brief appearances in the cartoons, always saying "hey guys" very quickly, if he says anything.
Reynold: The commandos' mercenary/civilian contractor. Due to his lack of combat skill, Reynold does not get brought along on missions, which he resents. He is a main character in Shopping for Danger. Gunhaver taught him against making Inappropriate Peer-2-Teen Choice Behaviors in Commandos in the Classroom, after he tried to "swear a cuss," (Diaper Biscuits!) but ended up admitting that he might as well go home and get teen pregnant. Apparently, he looks vaguely like Drew Carey. He also suffers from strabismus, as revealed when, in one cartoon, he took off his glasses to disguise himself as Gunhaver.
Blue Laser Commander: A parody of G. I. Joe's Cobra Commander, Blue Laser is an evil mastermind who leads an organization bent on crushing the Cheat Commandos and creating absurd diabolical plans such as "blowing up the ocean". He is forced to relocate his headquarters to his nana's backyard and is desperate to clean the mildew out of his bathroom before he crushes the Cheat Commandos. (Incidentally, the first masked Cobra Commander toy was repainted and released in the European "Action Force" toyline as "Red Laser." Perhaps this is an intentional reference, perhaps not.)
The Twins: Blue Laser's babies? First apear in Shopping for Danger.
Blue Laser Minions: Blue Laser Commander's identical henchmen. Often confuse even Blue Laser Commander, even to the point of throwing a fork in one minion's eye in "Let Us Give TANKS!".
Reynold's Brother: A stereotypical kindergoth whose parents apparently rent Reynold's room out to him every Thanksgiving, much to Reynold's dismay. He spends most of his time listening to loud music and playing video games, and thinks Reynold is "so lame".
Oliver Smidgen: seems to love Gunhaver's piano playing and asks him to play a song. His name is an apparent reference to Oliver Twist. Along with Reynold's Brother, he is one of the only purely civilian The Cheats to appear in the Cheat Commandos series.
Green Helmets: These seem to be the normal infantry members of the commandos. Gunhaver doesn't care much for them, as he shows when he ignores their calls for help and instead takes a Thanksgiving break in "Let Us Give TANKS!". His reason for ignoring them is because "We've got like 50 of them."
