| “ | We thought it only fair to warn you that the show you're about to see may disturb you. It may shock you! It may even horrify you! | ” |
— Phineas Flynn | ||
A rainy day causes Phineas and Ferb to cancel today's activities. To pass the time, Grandpa Reg tells the story about one of Ferb's Victorian ancestors, Ferbgor, who helped a scientist, Dr. Phineastein, creating a platypus monster. While locked in his own building, Doofenshmirtz tells Agent P the story about his ancestor, Jekyll Doofenshmirtz, who made a concoction brewed to turn him into a monster.
Episode Summary[]
"We thought it only fair that the show you're about to see may disturb you. It may shock you. It may even horrify you!"
On a stage, Phineas and Ferb are wearing tuxedos. Phineas warns the viewers that the following program may scare or even horrify them, to which Ferb follows by spewing a hairball. "You've been warned," Phineas finishes, before a giant title of the episode smashes into the ground.
Now, with rain pouring down in front of the Flynn-Fletcher house, Phineas is downtrodden and tells Ferb that they can't do their plan to stand alone in a field with a metal pole. Sitting back down, Phineas queries where Perry is, and cut to him in his lair, Major Monogram appearing in the same fashion as the boys did in the beginning. He tells him that this mission may terrify him, but it probably won't since he's been doing this for a while. He then explains that the tarp behind him is because of water damage, and then worries about the time, rushing to go to his cousin's wedding after telling Perry to stop Doofenshmirtz.
"Would you hold it down, I am trying to use the quill!"
Back at the Flynn-Fletcher house, Grandpa Reg gets reminded of the story of Ferb's ancestor, Ferbgor. It cuts to a flashback, a gray tinted Victorian-age village, where Ferbgor and Dr. Phineastein collect a spare part from a "semi aquatic mammal". Then they spot a poster for the "Best Monster Contest", and Phineastein knows what they're going to do today. Heading back to the castle, Candace asks if the story could be in color, to which Phineas adds "Perhaps muted color would be better". Reginald says who's telling this story, and then gets back to it. He then shows us Constance, the duo’s disapproving castle governess, who is writing with her quill. She then yells at them to keep it down, and then the boys hide after bringing a giant Platypus monster to life. After laughing maniacally, Phineastein notes that it's really big. Phineas asks Reg how big, to which he responds by saying "Bigger than a refrigerator, but smaller than a really big refrigerator."
Also in the present, Perry enters the door at Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated, but is yelled at by Doofenshmirtz to keep it open. It's too late, so Dr. Doofenshmirtz tells him how the storm made his security system go haywire. To pass the time, he tells Perry the story of his ancestor, Jekyll Doofenshmirtz. In the flashback (looking exactly like Reg's and in the same place and time), Dr. Jekyll Doofenshmirtz is working on a machine, when his butler, Jameson, tells him the Angry Mob is here (Doofenshmirtz explained that to be truly evil back then, you had to have your own evil mob after you). Since it's early, the Mob must sit in the lounge. After a little while, Jekyll comes up to them and shows them his newest invention: The Concoction Brewinator! He uses it to create a cup of some liquid, and then drinks it. To his surprise, instead of a giant evil monster, he becomes a small fairy princess. He tries to get them to stay, but they leave anyway, laughing.
Back with Reg's story, he goes on to explain that the boys were preparing the monster for the big night. Phineastein demonstrates to Ferbgor that he taught him to "play dead", and Constance storms down after having enough of the noise. Once down there, Phineastein explains that they're entering the Monster Contest, and Constance says they don't even have a monster. The Monster then chatters behind her, and she screams and tells them that she's telling Mob. She bicycles down to the Mob, and tells them that the boys have made a monster.
Dr. Jekyll Doofenshmirtz's rampage.
Back in Doofenshmirtz's story, Dr. Jekyll Doofenshmirtz explains to Jameson that the reason he turned into the Fairy Princess is because he accidentally had it on that dial. He fixes it and drinks the right one, becoming a giant Hyde-like monster. He then goes on an evil rampage around the village.
At the end of it, he storms over to the boy's castle, actually "getting the nose" of the Platypus monster, who chases after him angrily. The boys must go after him and get him back. The monster chases him all through the village, as the boys look in places like a cave.
The Monster's rampage.
The monster comes over to an Isabella lookalike, while Constance tries to get the Mob to go to Monster Contest where she's sure the boys are. The boys run into the Isabella lookalike who tells them the monster was at the Monster Contest. The boys then go to the contest. At the contest, Dr. Jekyll Doofenshmirtz plans to win the contest and knocks several drinks of a table to place his inator, unfortunately, the drinks splash all over the monster and starts pounding him violently. He asks a drink before continuing and drinks from his inator thinking he'll turn into a monster, only to find that he set it to fairy princess. He corrected the setting right before being grabbed by the monster. Back in the present, Doofenshmirtz tells Perry he forgets what happens after that, just as the lights come back on. He then tells him that he doesn't have time to do his evil scheme right now as he has a chiropractor's appointment, and suggests doing it tomorrow.
In the past, Phineastein and Ferbgor have found The Monster at the contest (who coughs up a wand) just in time for the winner to be announced. The winner is Constance, who has just turned into a Hyde-like monster after accidentally drinking the brew and was chased by the angry mob. Phineastein tells the Isabella lookalike that they're never going to lose the monster again, and Reginald ends the story by saying, "And that is why there are pumpkins." Confused, Phineas tells him he was just telling them a giant platypus-monster story, to which Reg says that sounds like a good story. Phineas sighs, and as the lights turn on, he asks Ferb if he has anything to say. He responds with,"Platypus monsters are the only monsters to lay eggs".
Transcript[]
Read the transcript of The Monster of Phineas-n-Ferbenstein.
Songs[]
End Credits[]
The credits sequence from "Oil on Candace", featuring the last verse of "Impress My Professor", is used here due to the lack of a unique credits sequence to this episode. (standalone broadcasts only)
Gallery[]
|
| View the image gallery for "The Monster of Phineas-n-Ferbenstein". |
Running Gags[]
I know what we're gonna do today![]
Dr. Phineastein: I know what we're gonna do today! Ah-hahahahahahahaa!! |
The "Too Young" Line[]
None.
Ferb's Line[]
Grandpa Fletcher: And that is why there are pumpkins.
Phineas: Um, Grandpa, you were telling us about a platypus monster. Grandpa Fletcher: Ooh, that sounds very exciting, tell me about that. Phineas: But you were— I mean— I didn't— (sighs) I got nothin'. Ferb? Ferb: Platypus monsters are the only monsters to lay eggs. |
He also spewed a hairball after Phineas warned the viewers that the following program may scare or even horrify them. |
What'cha doin'?[]
Seeing the platypus monster in the reflection of the water Isabella lookalike: What'cha doin'? |
Isabella lookalike: La-La-La-La... (Seeing Dr. Phineastein and Ferbgor) What'cha doin'?
Phineastein: We're looking for a giant platypus monster. Have you seen one, by any chance? Isabella lookalike: Funny you should ask. We spent the entire afternoon together. We went swimming, had a little lunch— did you know he eats raw snails? (shudders) Ew! I stuck to PB&J on whole wheat. |
Hey, where's Perry?[]
Grandpa Reg: This weather isn't fit for man nor platypus. Phineas: Hey, where's Perry? |
Phineas: Hmm. I wonder where Perry goes off to. Grandpa Reg: Lost your platypus, eh? That reminds me of a really great monster story. |
Oh, there you are, Perry[]
Dr. Phineastein: Oh, there you are, platypus monster. And to think I worried you might get into some mischief. |
Perry's entrance to his lair[]
None.
Evil Jingle[]
Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated!
(unused) Doofenshmirtz back in the old country!
Memorable Quotes[]
Phineas: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We thought it only fair to warn you that the show you're about to see may disturb you. It may shock you! It may even HORRIFY you! Ferb spits out hairball You've been warned. |
Phineas: Looks like a real summer storm! Thunder crashes Well, our plan to stand alone in a field with a metal rod is out. |
Major Monogram: Ooh, cheese and crackers! I'm late for my cousins wedding. |
Grandpa Fletcher: It's about Ferb's ancestor. He was his great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great uncle. (lights short out) Candace: Great. |
Dr. Phineastein: I know what we're gonna do today. (laughs maniacally) |
Candace: Can't you at least tell a story in color, Grandpa? (castle goes from black-and-white to pink and girly)
Phineas: Perhaps muted color would be better. (castle turns gray-green) Grandpa Fletcher: Who's telling this story, anyway? |
Constance: Will you hold it down? I am trying to use the quill! |
Constance: I'm telling mob! |
Jekyll Doofenshmirtz: (To Jameson) You know, in hindsight, I question even including a fairy princess setting to begin with. But, you know, live and learn. |
Random Villager: I am finally cured of my irrational fear that a giant platypus will see me in my underpants! (Platypus monster walks by) It's even worse than I imagined. |
Phineastein: Oh, there you are, Platypus monster. |
Jeremiah: (To Constance) I can't remember a day when you looked more beautiful. (Constance turns into monster) Well.... now I can. |
Background Information[]
- Isabella, Jeremy, and Roger aren't seen in the episode, but their lookalikes are seen in the back-story.
- Perry's distinctive chattering noise is replaced by a more monster-like growl.
- Dr. Jekyll Doofenshmirtz's butler, Jameson, bears more than a striking resemblance to Heinz Doofenshmirtz's brother, Roger.
- While several of the characters in the flashback look exactly alike to the characters that appear in the show, only Ferbgor and Jekyll are said to be related to them.
- Olivia Olson who plays Vanessa Doofenshmirtz makes a secret vocal cameo, singing all of the parts in the episode's song.
- Both Linda and Lawrence do not appear in this episode.
- Phineas and Ferb originally planned to stand in a field with a metal rod, but cancelled it due to the storm. Dr. Phineastein and Ferbgor take over the duty of coming up with the Big Idea: creating a platypus monster.
- Ferb's line is a parody of what he first said in the series back in "Rollercoaster".
- Constance's words written in the quill are what her counterpart, Candace, said in Rollercoaster and The Magnificent Few. The line she yells at the boys is also from "Rollercoaster".
- When the platypus monster walks into the Best Monster Contest, among the crowd standing around is the Giant Floating Baby Head that has been seen in "One Good Scare Ought to Do It!", "It's a Mud, Mud, Mud, Mud World", "Out of Toon" and other episodes.
Production Information[]
- Episode description from a 2008 Phineas and Ferb press release[1]
- In "The Monster of Phineas-n-Ferbenstein," Grandma and Grandpa Fletcher (voiced by Jane Carr and Malcolm McDowell, respectively) recount the eerie story of Ferb's great great ancestor, Ferbgor. Phineas and Ferb flash back to the Victorian era and learn the story of Dr. Phineastein and his sidekick, Ferbgor, who created their own monster. At the same time, Dr. Doofenshmirtz recounts the story of his great great grandfather, Dr. Jekyll Doofenshmirtz, who created a horrible potion that turns a normal man into a monster.
- This episode is titled "How to Make a Monster" in the UK, according to the UK TV Guide.
- The episode was nominated for an Emmy award in the category "Outstanding Special Class - Short-format Animated Programs". Both nominated shows did not win due to lack of votes [2][3]
Continuity[]
- This episode appears to take place immediately after or the day after the events of "The Flying Fishmonger".
Errors[]
Candace's animation error
- Right before Grandpa Reg says, "This weather isn't fit for man or platypus," Candace briefly has four arms, two by her side and two on the back of Ferb's chair, and two torsos, one leading to nothing.
- When Constance enters the door changes from a wide opening to a simple door.
- When Constance drinks the potion, her clothes grow with her, as opposed to ripping like with Dr. Jekyll Doofenshmirtz.
- When Dr. Jekyll Doofenshmirtz drinks the potion at the Monster's Ball the Concoction Brewinator has two dials. One pointing to the evil monster and one pointing to the Fairy Princess.
- When Dr Jekyll Doofenshmirtz becomes a fairy princess, the angry mob walk out of the room and one of them closes the door, but the light patch on the floor (in the shape of the open door) remains, even when the door is closed.
- Dr. Jekyll Doofenshmirtz in fairy princess form drops his wand when the Platypus Monster grabs him. But, after the Platypus Monster eats him, he coughs out the wand. Jekyll, however, could have grabbed the wand off screen as a last-ditch effort to escape the monster.
- When Dr. Jekyll Doofenshmirtz knocks on Phineastein and Ferbgor's door and the Platypus Monster opens the door the shadow of the monster cannot be seen on the ground, but when Dr. Jekyll Doofenshmirtz runs away, the shadow of the Platypus Monster can be seen.
- When Constance was telling the mob that Phinenstein and Ferbgor created the Platypus Monster her eyes were the same as her skin.
- Isabella's lookalike claims that she had a PB&J on whole wheat with the platypus monster. However, peanuts are not indigenous to Europe, let alone Drusselstein. Peanuts were also primarily food for livestock until the 1930s.
- This could be for comic relief and because Grandpa Reginald is telling the story, enabling him to make a couple of errors for artistic license.
- In some scenes Phineastein has bags under his eyes; in others he does not.
- At the end when the lights come back, Phineas and Ferb are lit like it's still dark.
- Jekyll is the great-great-grandfather of Dr. Doofenshmirtz, but Phineastein and Ferbenstein are pro pro pro pro pro pro pro pro pro pro uncles Phineas and Ferb, therefore, should have many more years of Dr. Jekyll, if Doofenshmirtz is 47 years old and Phineas and Ferb 10.
Allusions[]
- The Fatal Glass of Beer - Grandpa Red paraphrases W.C. Fields as he reads the newspaper saying "The weather isn't fit for man nor platypus."
- Frankenstein - The entire story of Phineastein and Ferbgor is a parody of Frankenstein, including the title. Also, the introduction to the episode is a direct parody of the introduction of the 1931 Universal film. The idea of the grampa telling the tale because they were trapped in the night and raining, is a parody of the real origin of Frankenstein.
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - All of Doofenshmirtz's story was a parody of the famous story, including his ancestor's name.
- Monster Movies - The episode also parodies several classic monster movies, including the ones based on the books mentioned above.
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror - At the start of the episode, Phineas says that this is a horror-themed episode, introducing it in the style of Alfred Hitchcock. This is also near-identical to the presentation before the first four Treehouse of Horror episodes, including the dialogue.
- Teen Titans - The sound that the platypus monster makes is very similar to Plasmus, a monster villain from the series. This is because both are voiced by the same voice actor, Dee Bradley Baker.
- Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas - One of the monsters bears a striking resemblance to Jack Skellington in his scarecrow costume from the opening of this movie.
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show - The spelling of this show's title (Phineas-n-Ferbenstein) may be a reference to the character Dr. Frank-N-Furter from the play and movie, created by Richard O'Brien, Lawrence's voice actor.
- The Andrews Sisters - The singers that appear during "He's Eviler" are reminiscent of the famous close harmony group.
- Young Frankenstein - The start with the text in green and the castle is parody to the start of this movie. Also, Candace's dress is similar to one of the characters of the movie.. Dr. Phineastein is a parody of Dr. Frankenstein and Ferbgor is a parody of Igor.
- Sleeping Beauty Castle - The castle seen at the beginning bears resemblance to Disneyland's icon, Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Trivia[]
- Marks the third appearance of Grandpa and Grandma Fletcher ("The Flying Fishmonger", "A Hard Day's Knight").
- This is the second Halloween episode, after "One Good Scare Ought to Do It!".
- There are two fourth wall breaks:
- In the beginning, Phineas and Ferb are in front of a curtain and tells the audience that what they are about to see can scare, or even horrify them.
- Candace asks Reginald to tell the story in color and Phineas in a muted color.
- First episode to have a different title card.
- This episode corresponds to a lyric in the theme song, locating Frankenstein's brain.
- This is the fourth episode which Perry doesn't battle Doofenshmirtz ("Get That Bigfoot Outa My Face!", "Traffic Cam Caper", "Put That Putter Away").
- This is one of few episodes to not end on a guitar strike.
Cast[]
- Main article: Credits
- Vincent Martella as Phineas, Dr. Phineastein
- Ashley Tisdale as Candace, Constance
- Thomas Sangster as Ferb
- Caroline Rhea as Mom ♦
- Alyson Stoner as Isabella ♦, Isabella lookalike
- Richard O'Brien as Dad ♦
- Dan Povenmire as Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz, Jekyll Doofenshmirtz
- Jeff "Swampy" Marsh as Major Monogram
- Dee Bradley Baker as Perry, Platypus monster
- Mitchel Musso as Jeremy ♦, Jeremiah
- Jane Carr as Grandma Fletcher
- Malcolm McDowell as Grandpa Fletcher
- Joel Grey as Beppo ♦
- Jennifer Grey as Dr. Gevaarlijk ♦
- Greg Ellis as Jameson
- Alec Holden as Django ♦
- Additional Voices: Dee Bradley Baker, Jane Carr, Malcolm McDowell, Jeff Bennett, Greg Ellis, Candi Milo
- ♦ designates a character that did not appear in this episode
References[]
| Previous: "One Good Scare Ought to Do It!" |
Episodes | Next: "Oil on Candace" |
| Previous: "One Good Scare Ought to Do It!" |
Halloween Episodes | Next: "That's the Spirit" |