Homestar Runner (character)
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| This article is about a character in the Homestar Runner series. |
Principal characters
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Homestar Runner, usually just called Homestar, is the main character featured in many popular Homestar Runner internet cartoons.
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[edit] Character
A self-described "star athlete" who enjoys running, Homestar refers to himself as the captain of a sports team led by the Coach Z. Nobody knows the exact sport, but Homestar claims it is America's favorite pastime. He also describes himself as being able to "run, jump, and kick the fastest, highest, and like nobody's business." Homestar also has a girlfriend called Marzipan; however, they don't seem to like each other very much and have broken up several times. His favorite food is the Bronco Trolley, peanut butter and an orange slice on a Triscuit, and his favorite beverage is Melonade. He is amiable but absent-minded. Homestar has no visible arms, but seems to be able to grasp things all the same, and has even been shown carrying or manipulating more than two things at once. His name was coined by The Brothers Chaps who, while listening to a Winn-Dixie grocery store commercial featuring then-Braves baseball player Mark Lemke, heard a sports-challenged friend (Jamey Huggins from Of Montreal) mangle the phrases "home run" and "all-star" into "homestar runner", while making fun of the commercial announcer who apparently sounded "old-timey".
Since he is somewhat dim, Homestar consistently assumes that everyone likes him, and is unable to grasp when he has been the victim of a prank. Thus, although he is invariably the butt of jokes, he usually goes unfazed, and sometimes manages to come out on top. This is a source of frequent frustration for Strong Bad, who once remarked, "It's like, even when we win, he wins." Strong Bad is also annoyed by Homestar's habit of borrowing and returning his possessions without the former's knowledge.
Homestar often unintentionally insults his friends, and is unable to understand their resulting feelings of anger.
[edit] The Show
Homestar also has his own television show called "The Show". The show is constantly different, at one point being a game-show program, and at another a make-over show, referred to by Strong Bad as his "You're a Bad Boyfriend TV Show". It is unknown if this show is actually broadcast on any network, or if anyone really watches it.
[edit] Highschool Homestar
In highschool (Strong Bad email), Homestar seems to be older than everyone. This is because when Strong Bad is talking about them in middle school, Homestar comes up with a broom, moves it around a bit and talks. Coach Z is at the age everyone else is here, but seems, at some toons, to be older than everyone, and Homestar at the same age as Strong Bad, Strong Sad, etc. So, its unclear as to who's older, and if Coach Z and Homestar can change their age. (However, highschool took place in Strong Bad's "doodle" memory, and isn't necessarily true.)
Homestar Runner first appeared in July 1996 in the form of a children's book, "The Homestar Runner Enters the Strongest Man in the World Contest." The book tells the story of Homestar and Pom Pom entering a competition in which the character who can holds the most grapes wins. The other contestants were Mr. Bland, Robot, Senor, and Strong Bad. As the contest progresses, Mr. Bland and Senor are unable to hold the grapes. Next to go down is Robot, but only because he is unplugged by Strong Bad's partner, The Cheat. Homestar notices this, and The Cheat helping Strong Bad hold his grapes. Homestar drops his grapes and exposes The Cheat with a kick. Unable to hold the grapes on his own, Strong Bad falls and Pom Pom is declared the winner. Pom Pom shares his victory with Homestar.
The book was honored on homestarrunner.com on August 21,2006 with a 10th anniversary cartoon.
Homestar's first appearance on the world wide web was in a story called Where My Hat Is At? Done in a book like format with no moving animation, the story follows Homestar as he searches for his hat. Coach Z and Bubs are introduced in the tale.
[edit] Alternate versions
[edit] Old-Timey Homestar
Old-Timey Homestar is featured in the 1930's cartoons. He is shorter and has a larger and more serious-looking underbite. His hat is a beanie cap with a propeller. His head is also rounded off more on top. He has an exaggerated U.S. Midland accent.
[edit] 1-Up
This futuristic, anime-style Homestar is taller, has larger eyes and shoes, a smaller hat, and a more complex star design on his shirt, although he still has no pants. He idolizes Stinkoman, the 20X6 version of Strong Bad, and hopes to someday be "the guy" like him. He is named after the video game term for an extra life.
[edit] Atari-style Homestar
A very pixelated form of Homestar Runner. It appears in "Main Page 13" and "Armless Invaders" as well as for about an eighth of a second in the Strong Bad e-mail "long pants". It is supposed to resemble a character from the 8-bit Atari 2600. Its speech is made up primarily short beeps, most from real Atari games.
