Strong Bad Email

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<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:202px;"><div class="hovul" style="font-size:smaller;border-bottom:1px #CCC solid;margin-bottom:4px;padding-bottom:4px">[[hr:sbemail.html|Strong Bad Email menu]]</div>[[File:Compé email.png|200px|Strong Bad checks his email.]]<div style="padding-top:4px">Strong Bad checks his email.</div></div></div>
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<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:202px;"><div class="hovul" style="font-size:smaller;border-bottom:1px #CCC solid;margin-bottom:4px;padding-bottom:4px">[[hr:sbemails|Strong Bad Email menu]]</div>[[File:LappierEmail.png|200px|Strong Bad checks his email.]]<div style="padding-top:4px">Strong Bad checks his email.</div></div></div>
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'''Strong Bad Email''', frequently shortened to '''sbemail''', was originally a small feature in which [[Strong Bad]] would answer a fan-sent email and commonly mock the spelling and grammar of those who wrote to him. The animations were initially brief, but gradually the responses grew to establish numerous [[inside jokes]], [[running gags]] and catchphrases, as well as [[Strong Bad Email Spin-offs|spin-offs]], such as [[20X6]], [[Teen Girl Squad]], [[Hremails]], [[Strong Badia]], the minor character [[Senor Cardgage]], [[Trogdor]], and even the main character [[Homsar]]. A typical Strong Bad Email includes numerous [[Easter egg]]s and other hidden material, often found at the ending screen. Many Strong Bad Emails, such as [[japanese cartoon]], [[video games]], and [[theme song]]<!-- This need not be a complete list, three examples are fine. -->, are satirical views of particular aspects of popular culture.  
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'''Strong Bad Email''', frequently shortened to '''sbemail''', is a feature in which [[Strong Bad]] answers an email sent by a real-world fan. Arguably the most recognizable feature of the site, it is [[First Time Here?|occasionally joked]] that its success has led to Strong Bad becoming the most popular character in the [[Homestar Runner (body of work)|Homestar Runner]] series {{--}} even surpassing [[Homestar Runner]] himself.
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Introduced in 2001, Strong Bad Email has historically been the most frequently updated feature of [[homestarrunner.com]], but was put on hiatus from September 2008 to June 2009. [[The Brothers Chaps]] stated in interviews that they wanted to focus on other characters and vary their output.<span class="plainlinks"><sup style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em">[http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&category2=&article_no=3983&page=1]</sup></span> Email 200 just happened to be a round number at which to take a break.<span class="plainlinks"><sup style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em">[http://omgnintendo.blogfaction.com/article/108144/one-year-of-wiiware-matt-and-mike-chapman-on-strong-bads-cool-game-for-attractive-people/]</sup></span>
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A typical email opens with Strong Bad humorously mocking the spelling and grammar of the sender, then transitioning to an anecdote or scheme related to a question asked by the email, concluding with Strong Bad returning to his computer to finalize his typed response. Strong Bad Emails include numerous [[Easter egg]]s and other hidden material, often found at the ending screen; many feature satirical views of aspects of popular culture such as [[japanese cartoon|Japanese cartoons]], [[video games]], and [[theme song|TV show theme songs]]<!-- This need not be a complete list, three examples are fine. -->. Originally introduced in 2001 as a small feature with brief animations, the responses gradually expanded in scope to establish numerous [[inside jokes]], [[running gags]], and [[catch phrases]]. Full-fledged [[Strong Bad Email spin-offs]] include [[Trogdor]], [[Teen Girl Squad]], [[20X6]], [[Strong Badia]], [[Hremails]], the secondary character [[Senor Cardgage]], and even main character [[Homsar]].
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With the October 5, 2009 update, a link to the [[Store]] page where [[Store_CD/DVDs|DVDs of the emails]] could be purchased was added on a [[sticky note]].
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Strong Bad Email had historically been the most frequently updated feature of [[homestarrunner.com]], with a new email being added to [[Strong Bad Email Menu|the menu]] most Mondays from [[2002]] through [[2008]]. The pace of releases slowed after [[email thunder|the 200th email]] in September 2008. Creative duo [[the Brothers Chaps]] took a self-imposed break at the bicentennial, returning to sbemail production in late 2009. Soon after this, Homestar Runner entered into an extended [[hiatus]] from 2010 through 2014; nowadays, as the site is updated irregularly, multi-year gaps are now common between sbemails and a new one is typically prompted by a special event or circumstance. The [[social media]] account [[@StrongBadActual]] has since become the main format for the character to respond to and otherwise interact with fans.
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__TOC__
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{{clear}}
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==Strong Bad Emails==
==Strong Bad Emails==
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<!-- If a new email is advertised, but not actually on H*R.com, please do not add it to this list. -->
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<!-- If a new email is advertised, but not actually on H*R.com, please add it to the Not Quite Strong Bad Emails list instead of here. -->
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===[[Compé]] Era ===
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===[[Lappier]] Era===
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''(August 2009 &mdash; present)''
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''(April 2015 {{-}} present)''<br>
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<blockquote class="lappy email menu">
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<table class="emaillinks">
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<autocolumn cols="3" width="33%">
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209 - [[parenting]]<br>
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208 - [[the next april fools thing]]<br>
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207 - [[too cool]]<br>
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206 - [[sbemail 206]]<br>
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<br><!--remove a <br> each time an email is added until they're all gone-->
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<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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</autocolumn>
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</table>
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</blockquote>
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===[[Compé]] Era===
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''(August 2009 {{-}} October 2009)''<br>
<blockquote class="compe email menu" style="background:url(/images/thumb/e/e3/compeBackCatalog.png/800px-compeBackCatalog.png) no-repeat bottom;">
<blockquote class="compe email menu" style="background:url(/images/thumb/e/e3/compeBackCatalog.png/800px-compeBackCatalog.png) no-repeat bottom;">
<table class="emaillinks">
<table class="emaillinks">
<autocolumn cols="3" width="33%">
<autocolumn cols="3" width="33%">
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205. [[videography]] <!-- NOTE: We're keeping the "new!" here until the official site removes it. Until that happens, please do NOT remove it. --> <span style="color:red">new!</span><br>
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205. [[videography]]<br>
204. [[dictionary]]<br>
204. [[dictionary]]<br>
203. [[independent]]<br>
203. [[independent]]<br>
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<br><!--remove a <br> each time an email is added until they're all gone-->
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<br>
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<br>
<br>
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<div class="overlay"></div>
<div class="overlay"></div>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
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===[[Corpy NT6]] Transition===
===[[Corpy NT6]] Transition===
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<div style="padding: 0.2em;background:#08089C"></div>
<div style="padding: 0.2em;background:#08089C"></div>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
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===[[Lappy 486]] Era===
===[[Lappy 486]] Era===
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''(November 2004 &mdash; June 2009)''<!--The last lappy email was released on June 30; please do not change the date to July-->
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''(November 2004 {{-}} June 2009)''<!--The last lappy email was released on June 30; please do not change the date to July-->
<blockquote class="lappy email menu">
<blockquote class="lappy email menu">
<div>subject: sb_email menu</div>
<div>subject: sb_email menu</div>
<table class="emaillinks">
<table class="emaillinks">
<autocolumn cols="3" width="33%">
<autocolumn cols="3" width="33%">
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201. [[hremail3184]]<br>
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201. [[hremail 3184]]<br>
200. [[email thunder]]<br>
200. [[email thunder]]<br>
199. [[being mean]]<br>
199. [[being mean]]<br>
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165. [[strong badathlon]]<br>
165. [[strong badathlon]]<br>
164. [[looking old]]<br>
164. [[looking old]]<br>
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163. [[what I want]]<br>
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163. [[what i want]]<br>
162. [[the chair]]<br>
162. [[the chair]]<br>
161. [[4 branches]]<br>
161. [[4 branches]]<br>
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142. [[secret identity]]<br>
142. [[secret identity]]<br>
141. [[death metal]]<br>
141. [[death metal]]<br>
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140. [[highschool]]<br>
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140. [[high school]]<br>
139. [[portrait]]<br>
139. [[portrait]]<br>
138. [[space program]]<br>
138. [[space program]]<br>
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</table>
</table>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
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===[[Compy 386]] Era===
===[[Compy 386]] Era===
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''(September 2002 &mdash; November 2004)''
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''(September 2002 {{-}} November 2004)''
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<blockquote class="compy email menu">Volume in drive C: has no label<br>
<blockquote class="compy email menu">Volume in drive C: has no label<br>
Directory of C:\sbemail\updated somedays<br>
Directory of C:\sbemail\updated somedays<br>
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</table>
</table>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
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===[[Tandy 400]] Era===
===[[Tandy 400]] Era===
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''(August 2001 &mdash; September 2002)''
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''(August 2001 {{-}} September 2002)''
<blockquote class="tandy email menu">
<blockquote class="tandy email menu">
<div style="border:none;background:none;text-align:center;padding-left:17%"><u>&nbsp;FILENAME </u>&nbsp;-  <span style="color: orange">updated mondays</span></div>
<div style="border:none;background:none;text-align:center;padding-left:17%"><u>&nbsp;FILENAME </u>&nbsp;-  <span style="color: orange">updated mondays</span></div>
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29. [[superhero name]]<br>
29. [[superhero name]]<br>
28. [[1 step ahead]]<br>
28. [[1 step ahead]]<br>
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27. [[3 Wishes]]<br>
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27. [[3 wishes]]<br>
26. [[CGNU]]<br>
26. [[CGNU]]<br>
25. [[super powers]]<br>
25. [[super powers]]<br>
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</blockquote>
</blockquote>
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==DVD Releases==
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== History ==
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{{seealso|Timeline of Homestar Runner}}
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===Prehistory===
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{{seealso|Strong Bad#Character Design and Conception}}
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[[Strong Bad]] is one of the oldest [[Homestar Runner (body of work)|Homestar Runner]] characters, created alongside [[Homestar Runner|the title character]] for ''[[Original Book|The Homestar Runner Enters the Strongest Man in the World Contest]]'' in 1996. As early as the release of [[A Jumping Jack Contest]] in 2000, [[the Brothers Chaps]] realized that he was "probably the most interesting character".{{ref|1}} He swiftly became a fan favorite and [[TVTropes:Main/BreakoutCharacter|breakout character]]; the Brothers Chaps took note of this, attributing it to his role as the antagonist and his [[Strong Bad Losing His Edge|humorously mild]] insults.{{ref|1}}{{ref|2}} Also around this time, the brothers were exploring the potential of the characters in toons like [[A Jorb Well Done]] and new series formats like [[Marzipan's Answering Machine Version 1.0|Marzipan's Answering Machine]].{{ref|2}} This led to the Chaps deciding to give Strong Bad "his own little feature": answering emails from fans.{{ref|33}}
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*Emails 1-200 have been released on the [[strongbad_email.exe]] 6-disc DVD series. There is also a best of selection, [[SBEmails' 50 Greatest Hits DVD]].
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===The first sbemails (2001)===
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[[File:sbemail1.PNG|thumb|The first Strong Bad Email toon was [[some kinda robot]], released August 22, 2001.]]
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An [[email]] address to contact the Chaps was listed on the site from its earliest days (it would be removed in late 2015). As of a few months before the launch of Strong Bad's email account, the brothers were typically receiving "five or ten mails a day" from fans;{{ref|3}} one such fan had been [[Abdi LaRue]]. Requiring an email for Strong Bad to reply to, the Brothers Chaps reached out to LaRue: informing them of Strong Bad's then-new email address and suggesting they send him an email.{{ref|4}} Abdi's email (inquiring if Strong Bad takes off his mask and boxing gloves when sleeping) was answered August 22, 2001 in the first Strong Bad Email: [[some kinda robot]].
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===DVD Emails===
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<blockquote>'''THE BROTHERS CHAPS:''' Strong Bad Emails were meant to be a really short thing to occupy the space between our longer cartoons. But they ended up turning Strong Bad into one of the most interesting characters.{{ref|5}}</blockquote>
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The following emails only appear on the DVD set:
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The original idea had been to write a reply from Strong Bad to every email he received, with one selected each week that would be voiced, animated, and posted on the website; this plan was almost immediately abandoned,{{ref|7}}{{ref|8}} with the volume of responses (fifteen emails a day) immediately recognized as too much to deal with.{{ref|7}} Even emails that were selected would not receive a reply, with the sender only realizing they'd been chosen upon viewing the resultant toon.<!-- per [[User:ThomasO#slumber_party]], accepted & confirmed by the wiki. Unconfirmed, similar claims made at https://www.reddit.com/r/HomestarRunner/comments/1c4030f/i_wrote_the_email_that_started_strongbadia/kzld43i/?context=1 https://www.reddit.com/r/HomestarRunner/comments/1bwa682/anyone_ever_had_their_sbemail_answered/ky51u1h/ -->
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*[[Greeting Cards]] <small>(Bonus Email #1)</small>
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Sbemails were initially envisioned as a simple and short feature,{{ref|5}} in the manner of a farcical {{w|advice column}}.{{ref|6}} Early sbemails typically ran for a minute or less, and frequently would only feature Strong Bad typing at his computer. At this point, both brothers still had full-time jobs{{ref|2}}{{ref|8}} and lived in different states ([[Mike]] in Georgia, [[Matt]] in New York),{{ref|2}}{{ref|3}} necessitating a split production. Mike, who worked freelance and had more free time,{{ref|2}}{{ref|3}} would animate while Matt provided voices; writing duties were shared between the two.{{ref|3}} Some early entries had no script, with Matt simply reading through then riffing on a fan's email and sending the resultant audio file to Mike for animation.{{ref|6}}{{ref|9}}{{ref|10}}
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*[[E-mail Birds]] <small>(Bonus Email #2)</small>
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*[[Videro Games]] <small>(Bonus Email #3)</small>
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*[[Family Resemble<!--sic; we know this is misspelled-->nce]] <small>(Bonus Email #4)</small>
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*[[Real-Live E-Mails]] <small>(Bonus [[Puppet Stuff]] Email)</small>
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*[[Accent]] <small>(Bonus Email #5)</small>
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*[[Comic Book Movie]] <small>(Bonus Email #6)</small>
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==Podstar Runner Releases==
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Sbemails, much like the rest of [[HomestarRunner.com]], were not being updated on a set schedule at this point: they were released on varying days of the week, usually with over a week elapsing between them. A total of seven email toons were released in 2001.
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Beginning January 30, 2006, Strong Bad emails were released under a feature called [[Podstar Runner]]. They have featured popular [[Toons]], [[Teen Girl Squad|Teen Girl Squads]], and Strong Bad Emails in .m4v format. They are designed to be viewed on a Fifth Generation Apple [[Wikipedia:iPod|iPod]], but are workable on a variety of other portable media players. These emails are featured or have been featured through this service (in order of release, top left being the earliest, bottom right being the latest):
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===Weekly schedule (2002{{-}}2008)===
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<blockquote>'''MATT CHAPMAN:''' I'd been living in New York, and then I moved back [to Georgia] and we decided "Hey, let's start doing something every week." We'd done a few Strong Bad Emails at that point, but we decided "that's the easiest thing we could do. We could do one of those a week." So that was 2002 {{--}} I feel like just the weekly updating of Strong Bad Emails was really when [the site's popularity] started to go crazy.{{ref|11}}</blockquote>
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[[Image:sbemail45.PNG|thumb|Sbemails released in 2002, such as [[techno]], gained significant traction and led to the burgeoning popularity of [[Homestar Runner (body of work)|Homestar Runner]].]]
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2002 was a significant year for Homestar Runner. Matt moved back to Georgia, with the brothers sharing an apartment, and now that they could collaborate in-person they strove to dedicate more time to the website. The then-simple Strong Bad Email toons were selected as something that could be done every week.{{ref|11}} The email that established this weekly pace was [[brianrietta]]{{ref|10}} on January 10, 2002; the subsequent email, [[i love you]] (released January 14), standardized the practice of releasing a new sbemail every Monday. Most [[H*R.com updates 2002|updates released in 2002]] were Strong Bad Emails.
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The site's popularity gradually increased throughout the year,{{ref|12}} boosted by the new weekly schedule.{{ref|5}} At the time, high-speed internet in homes was less common and the site's fans were more likely to watch the toons at work (often in technical jobs) or at colleges, its popularity spread via word-of-mouth; fittingly, viewership and merchandise sales saw a spike in September coinciding with the beginning of the school year.{{ref|11}} Both brothers still had full-time jobs at the beginning of the year,{{ref|8}} but income from the [[store]] allowed both to leave their other work to focus on Homestar Runner full-time by the September spike.{{ref|12}}{{ref|13}} Matt would later recall the 2002 emails [[guitar]] and [[techno]] as being particularly popular, influencing their selection of emails to focus on humorously disparaging specific niches.{{ref|11}}
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Strong Bad Email's popularity surged in the following years. At the beginning of 2003, Strong Bad was receiving hundreds of emails a day{{ref|7}} {{--}} this figure would increase to 2,000{{-}}5,000 within mere months,{{ref|6}} remaining as the standard for years. The deluge of messages peaked in summer of 2003 at nearly 8,000 a day{{ref|6}} (with the caveat that a significant portion was simply {{w|Email spam|spam}}).{{ref|14}} Mondays in 2003 were seeing nearly 300,000 visitors coming to the site to watch the new sbemail,{{ref|13}} compared to 200,000 on other days.{{ref|15}} A common inquiry {{--}} addressed on the [[FAQ]] page and its [[Email FAQ|predecessor]] {{--}} was whether the emails Strong Bad answers were genuinely sent by fans: they all are,{{ref|2}}{{ref|7}} with the exception of [[mile]] (which was purportedly [[Powered by The Cheat|made up]] by [[The Cheat]]).
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Though the brothers had hoped to add another weekly feature,{{ref|2}}{{ref|9}} the demands of running [[Harmless Junk, Inc.|their own business]] restricted their time.{{ref|9}}{{ref|16}} Additionally, as Strong Bad Emails continued to increase in runtime and complexity, their production took away from opportunities to make other types of cartoons;{{ref|15}} the Chaps estimated that "at least 60 to 70 percent" of the site's updates were sbemails.{{ref|17}} However, they did not feel limited by the popularity of the series, with Matt reflecting that "when we feel Strong Bad Emails are getting old, we can quickly jump into something else."{{ref|18}} The toon [[Sbemailiarized!]], released in 2009, joked that the difference between sbemails and other cartoons on the site was "not all that much!"
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====Milestones====
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[[File:Doppelgangers.png|thumb|Sesquicentenn-email, 2005! ...I{{--}}I mean six.]]
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Emails that reached a centenary milestone, or a significant division thereof, often focused on (or at least made note of) the landmark. Thus far, five emails have commemorated a significant number of emails; several of these had been teased with an additional toon released the week prior that played off viewers' anticipation.
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*'''50:''' [[50 emails]] {{--}} Strong Bad attempts to check 50 emails in honor of his 50th email-check, but only succeeds in answering three.
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*'''100:''' [[flashback]] {{--}} The email is presented in "[[Widescreen|wiiidescreeeen]]". [[Marzipan]], [[Homestar Runner]], [[Senor Cardgage]], [[Old-Timey Strong Bad]], and [[Limozeen]] congratulate him on his 100th email (although Homestar absentmindedly wishes him a "happy 100th birthday" instead). The [[Compy]] presents Strong Bad with a congratulatory screen indicating that he has checked 100 emails, and Strong Bad celebrates by saying "email" 100 times.
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**[[Sbemail 100 Fakeout]] {{--}} Viewers hoping to see email 100 before its official release are teased by Strong Bad.
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*'''125:''' [[rock opera]] {{--}} Strong Bad performs a rock opera featuring scenes and at least one word from all of his previous emails.
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*'''150:''' [[alternate universe]] {{--}} Strong Bad visits alternate universes featuring [[Strong Bad#Variations|different versions of himself]]; they all form a {{w|Supergroup (music)|supergroup}} to sing a ballad commemorating the "sesquicentennemail".
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**[[Sbemail 150?!?]] {{--}} Strong Sad trys to convince Strong Bad to check a 150th email, proposing a storyboard for it.
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*'''200:''' [[email thunder]] {{--}} [[The Poopsmith]] breaks his vow of silence to sing a grand fanfare (by [[They Might Be Giants]]). The email also ends with a screen listing the first 200 emails.
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**[[Place Ya Bets!]] {{--}} [[The Deleteheads]] speculate on what will happen in email 200.
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**[[Sbemail 200 Fakeout]] {{--}} The Deleteheads camp out at the URL for the 200th email.
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===Bicentennial and Break (2008{{-}}2009)===
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<blockquote>'''MATT CHAPMAN:''' 200 was a nice round number to take a break from [Strong Bad Email] and do other stuff on the website.{{ref|19}}</blockquote>
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The milestone of 200 emails was reached on September 23, 2008 with [[email thunder]]. The narrative of this cartoon quickly shifts from celebrating Strong Bad's achievement to the surprising reveal of [[Homestar Runner]]'s competing email show {{--}} [[hremails]] {{--}} which have been running parallel with sbemails. Though the toon ends with Strong Bad gleefully destroying Homestar's computer, the coming months would see the release of additional hremails and other cartoons while the Brothers Chaps took a pause from producing more sbemails. In interviews, the brothers expressed that this hiatus was taken to vary their output and that, though they were enjoying the change, this did not necessarily signal the end of sbemails.{{ref|17}}{{ref|19}}
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[[File:HomestarRuinerWiiChannelBanner.png|thumb|[[SBCG4AP Intros|"I've got ''other'' plans for the Lappy today."]]]]
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Another landmark in 2008 was the release of ''[[Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People]]'', produced by [[Telltale Games]] in partnership with the Brothers Chaps (the [[Firsts|first time]] Homestar Runner had been licensed out to a third party). This five-part {{w|episodic video game}} centered around Strong Bad's adventures, kicked off by answering emails in the manner of the site's toons (notably, these emails were created by Telltale's writers rather than sent by fans);{{ref|20}} each game also featured additional, optional emails the player could guide Strong Bad to read, respond to, or delete. Though the release of the game's episodes overlapped with sbemails going on hiatus, the brothers were quick to specify that the decision to pause sbemail production was not a result of the ''SBCG4AP'' workload.{{ref|19}}
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Strong Bad Emails returned in 2009, with Strong Bad reclaiming the fanmail format from Homestar in [[hremail 3184]] on June 30. Four more emails were subsequently produced, albeit now at a monthly rate rather than the previous weekly pace. The 205th email, [[videography]], was released October 5, 2009; though this toon was not particularly noteworthy or conclusive on its own, it would prove to be the last email for over five years.
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===The Big Hiatus (2010{{-}}2013)===
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{{seemain|Hiatuses}}
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[[File:sbemail206_teaser.jpg|thumb|[[sbemail206]] was {{prs|174295231376785409|27|Feb|2012|site=ronginald|alt=first teased}} more than three years before its eventual completion.]]
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Updates to HomestarRunner.com began to slow in [[H*R.com updates 2009|late 2009]], quickly and dramatically dropping to where [[H*R.com updates 2010|only three toons were produced in 2010]]. The site entered an extended hiatus in 2011, with no new toons for over three years.
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During this hiatus, Matt occasionally posted to his Twitter account [[@ronginald]]. He affirmed that the site would continue to be updated "[[@ronginald#18185|forever! just sporadically and without warning]]", and hinted that [[sbemail 206|a new Strong Bad Email]] could be released "{{prs|174295231376785409|27|Feb|2012|site=ronginald|alt=Someday, when you least expect it...}}".
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===Modern Era (2015{{-}}present)===
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<blockquote>'''MATT CHAPMAN:''' We're not expecting [Homestar Runner] to be our full-time gig [again], we just want this to be fun. There were points in the initial run where it was a great job, but it was also stressful. If we want to make a great cartoon, every couple months it will be something new. But we're not going to stay awake all night just to finish a Strong Bad Email.{{ref|21}}</blockquote>
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HomestarRunner.com became active again in 2014, albeit without a schedule and with a slower pace of updates as the new standard;{{ref|21}} as the [[main page]]s put it, the site is now "updated every someday". Strong Bad Emails returned with [[sbemail 206]] on April 1, 2015. The email cheekily acknowledges the time that had passed between emails; however, befitting its release date, it is primarily an [[April Fools' Day]] cartoon that is not centered around Strong Bad replying to a message from a fan.
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Sbemail 206 also began the practice of ending with [[CGI Paper|a prompt for fans]] to "email" Strong Bad by making a post directed at [[@StrongBadActual]] on Twitter (rather than emailing strongbad@homestarrunner.com). This [[social media]] account began posting regularly in 2014, and is presented as being run by Strong Bad with nearly all posts being written in-character to some degree. In the post-hiatus era, it has become the most active facet of the body of work and superseded many features: [[Weekly Fanstuff|acknowledging fan works]], [[Sketchbook|sharing production artwork]], and [[FeedBurner Page|announcing new toons and projects]] have all been done through this account. Though only two full Strong Bad Emails have been made in response to fans' tweets, the account has generally substituted for sbemails' primary function of allowing Strong Bad to interact directly with fans.
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Four Strong Bad Emails have been made since 2015. As there is no longer a set schedule for the feature, they are typically motivated by a holiday or made as a reward for a fan contest rather than simply checking Strong Bad's inbox at an arbitrary time:
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*[[sbemail 206]] (April 1, 2015) {{--}} An [[April Fools' Day]] cartoon
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*[[too cool]] (August 14, 2017) {{--}} [https://twitter.com/El_Buendonado/status/867413867294535682 The winner] of {{prs|867138694666481665|23|May|2017|alt=a fill-in-the-blank contest}}
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*[[the next april fools thing]] (April 1, 2018) {{--}} Initially presenting as an April Fools' Day cartoon, the toon is soon revealed to be a sbemail responding to [https://archive.is/fzBEL a fan's tweet]
 +
*[[parenting]] (April 1, 2022) {{--}} Produced as a reward for a backer of the [[Trogdor!! The Board Game]] Kickstarter, "not an April Fool's Joke"{{ref|22}}
 +
 
 +
==Releases==
 +
===DVD===
 +
[[File:6discSetPhoto.jpg|thumb|128px|The six-disc DVD reprint set, released in 2020.]]
 +
Emails 1–200 were released on the [[strongbad_email.exe]] 6-disc [[DVD]] series. Multiple DVD-exclusive emails were also featured in this set.
 +
*The first 100 emails were collected in a three-disc box set.
 +
**[[strongbad_email.exe Disc One|Disc 1]] contains emails 1-50 ([[some kinda robot]] through [[50 emails]]), plus three bonus emails: [[Greeting Cards]], [[E-mail Birds]] and [[Videro Games]].
 +
**[[strongbad_email.exe Disc Two|Disc 2]] contains emails 51-80 ([[website]] through [[stunt double]]).
 +
**[[strongbad_email.exe Disc Three|Disc 3]] contains emails 81-100 ([[date]] through [[flashback]]).
 +
*[[strongbad_email.exe Disc Four|Disc 4]] contains emails 101-130 ([[car]] through [[do over]]), plus the bonus email [[Family Resemble<!-- sic -->nce]], and the [[Puppet Stuff]] email [[Real-Live E-Mails]].
 +
*[[strongbad_email.exe Disc Five|Disc 5]] contains emails 131-160 ([[boring (really)]] through [[coloring]]), plus the bonus email [[Accent]].
 +
*[[strongbad_email.exe Disc Six|Disc 6]] contains emails 161-200 ([[4 branches]] through [[email thunder]]), plus the bonus email [[Comic Book Movie]].
 +
*The [[Sbemails' 50 Greatest Hits DVD]] contains 55 fan-favorite emails.
 +
 
 +
===Podstar Runner===
 +
[[Image:SBEmail in iTunes 2.PNG|thumb|Strong Bad Emails & More!]]
 +
The [[Podstar Runner]] feed distributed various Strong Bad Emails in .m4v format, designed for viewing on an {{w|iPod}}, from 2006 through 2008. This feed additionally featured [[Toons|toons]] and [[Teen Girl Squad]] issues alongside Strong Bad Emails.
 +
 
 +
These are all of the emails that were featured through this service (in order of Podstar Runner release, earliest to latest):
<table width="100%">
<table width="100%">
-
<autocolumn cols="4" width="20%">
+
<autocolumn cols="5" width="20%">
*[[techno]]  
*[[techno]]  
*[[dragon]]  
*[[dragon]]  
Line 338: Line 433:
*[[haircut]]
*[[haircut]]
*[[animal]]
*[[animal]]
-
*[[highschool]]
+
*[[high school]]
*[[theme song]]
*[[theme song]]
*[[mile]]
*[[mile]]
Line 381: Line 476:
</table>
</table>
-
There are many emails Strong Bad has gotten during the years from when he had the old computer with green lines moving down the screen, to the amazingly awesome new computer, Compe! If you would like to view all of these from the old green lines moving down the screen computer to the amazingly awesome new computer, Compe, then you're out of luck if you want to view them in one piece because that's not possible, but you can view them one by one! Just click on an email, click on watch at the top right-hand corner, and watch them one by one! That is all.
+
===YouTube===
 +
The [[homestarrunnerdotcom]] [[YouTube]] channel was registered on October 1, 2007. When it first began uploading Strong Bad Emails on March 31, 2009, they were direct rips of the DVD versions (featuring title cards with the email names in Title Case and ending with The Paper reading ">> The End <<"), with [[independent]] being uploaded in a previously unreleased DVD-style version with altered scenes. Starting in 2017, 1080p versions of the emails have been uploaded, with email titles in all lowercase and the paper reading "> THE END <", often incorporating the Easter eggs from the original website versions.
-
==Emails Not Checked By Strong Bad==
+
These are all of the emails that have been uploaded (in order of YouTube release, earliest to latest):
-
Some emails are checked by someone other than Strong Bad, but count as Strong Bad Emails anyway.
+
<table width="100%">
-
 
+
<autocolumn cols="5" width="20%">
-
*[[mile]] &mdash; Email completely made up by [[The Cheat]]
+
*[[guitar]]
-
*[[anything]] &mdash; checked by [[Homestar]]
+
*[[techno]]
 +
*[[comic]]
 +
*[[dragon]]
 +
*[[japanese cartoon]]
 +
*[[kids' book]]
 +
*[[virus]]
 +
*[[bottom 10]]
 +
*[[death metal]]
 +
*[[different town]]
 +
*[[montage]]
 +
*[[video games]]
 +
*[[band names]]
 +
*[[the movies]]
 +
*[[theme park]]
 +
*[[CGNU]]
 +
*[[action figure]]
 +
*[[radio]]
 +
*[[best thing]]
 +
*[[pizza joint]]
 +
*[[i love you]]
 +
*[[50 emails]]
 +
*[[slumber party]]
 +
*[[fan club]]
 +
*[[invisibility]]
 +
*[[sisters]]
 +
*[[some kinda robot]]
 +
*[[your funeral]]
 +
*[[dangeresque 3]]
 +
*[[email thunder]]
 +
*[[for kids]]
 +
*[[geddup noise]]
 +
*[[independent]]
 +
*[[animal]]
 +
*[[space program]]
 +
*[[myths & legends]]
 +
*[[technology]]
 +
*[[alternate universe]]
 +
*[[isp]]
 +
*[[4 branches]]
 +
*[[personal favorites]]
 +
*[[theme song]]
 +
*[[caper]]
 +
*[[specially marked]]
 +
*[[superhero name]]
 +
*[[hygiene]]
 +
*[[army]]
 +
*[[crying]]
 +
*[[halloweener]]
 +
*[[ghosts]]
 +
*[[colonization]]
 +
*[[monster truck]]
 +
*[[flashback]]
 +
*[[stunt double]]
 +
*[[caffeine]]
 +
*[[crazy cartoon]]
 +
*[[kind of cool]]
 +
*[[pet show]]
 +
*[[love poems]]
 +
*[[your edge]]
 +
*[[licensed]]
 +
*[[trevor the vampire]]
 +
*[[mile]]
 +
*[[making out]]
 +
*[[brianrietta]]
 +
*[[depressio]]
 +
*[[homsar]]
 +
*[[homestar hair]]
 +
*[[butt IQ]]
 +
*[[sbemail 206]]
 +
*[[too cool]]
 +
*[[credit card]]
 +
*[[i she be]]
 +
*[[duck pond]]
 +
*[[the basics]]
 +
*[[studying]]
 +
*[[stand-up]]
 +
*[[tape-leg]]
 +
*[[spring cleaning]]
 +
*[[cartoon]]
 +
*[[sb_email 22]]
 +
*[[little animal]]
 +
*[[the bird]]
 +
*[[super powers]]
 +
*[[3 wishes]]
 +
*[[one step ahead]]
 +
*[[12:00]]
 +
*[[sugarbob]]
 +
*[[flag day]]
 +
*[[gimmicks]]
 +
*[[weird dream]]
 +
*[[dullard]]
 +
*[[helium]]
 +
*[[property of ones]]
 +
*[[vacation]]
 +
*[[little questions]]
 +
*[[lures & jigs]]
 +
*[[your friends]]
 +
*[[new hands]]
 +
*[[theme party]]
 +
*[[island]]
 +
*[[cheat talk]]
 +
*[[current status]]
 +
*[[marzipan]]
 +
*[[huttah!]]
 +
*[[morning routine]]
 +
*[[interview]]
 +
*[[fingers]]
 +
*[[unused emails]]
 +
*[[the show]]
 +
*[[autobiography]]
 +
*[[mascot]]
 +
*[[privileges]]
 +
*[[funny]]
 +
*[[2 emails]]
 +
*[[big white face]]
 +
*[[the process]]
 +
*[[sibbie]]
 +
*[[date]]
 +
*[[suntan]]
 +
*[[anything]]
 +
*[[2 years]]
 +
*[[the next april fools thing]]
 +
*[[no loafing]]
 +
*[[impression]]
 +
*[[couch patch]]
 +
*[[labor day]]
 +
*[[local news]]
 +
*[[stupid stuff]]
 +
*[[lackey]]
 +
*[[monument]]
 +
*[[the bet]]
 +
*[[car]]
 +
*[[lunch special]]
 +
*[[cheatday]]
 +
*[[replacement]]
 +
*[[haircut]]
 +
*[[pom pom]]
 +
*[[other days]]
 +
*[[old comics]]
 +
*[[time capsule]]
 +
*[[extra plug]]
 +
*[[pizzaz]]
 +
*[[the facts]]
 +
*[[part-time job]]
 +
*[[origins]]
 +
*[[dreamail]]
 +
*[[secret recipes]]
 +
*[[rock opera]]
 +
*[[rampage]]
 +
*[[long pants]]
 +
*[[garage sale]]
 +
*[[do over]]
 +
*[[boring (really)]]
 +
*[[modeling]]
 +
*[[lady...ing]]
 +
*[[record book]]
 +
*[[portrait]]
 +
*[[bedtime story]]
 +
*[[parenting]]
 +
</autocolumn>
 +
</table>
==Not Quite Strong Bad Emails==
==Not Quite Strong Bad Emails==
-
The following shorts were originally associated in one way or another with the Strong Bad Emails. They are numbered by halves to show where they appeared chronologically in the list above. Numbers 99&frac12;B, 118&frac12;, 158&frac12; and 199&frac12;B are not linked to from anywhere on the site.
+
The following were originally associated in one way or another with the Strong Bad Emails. They are numbered fractionally to indicate when they were released chronologically relative to the above list.
-
*205&frac12;. [[Doomy Tales Of The Macabre]] <small>(Strong Sad mentions how Strong Bad checks emails on the Compé.)</small>
+
*208½B. {{postref|1113577095802884097|3|Apr|2019}} {{--}} Strong Bad replies to one of the [[Discount Strong Bad Emails]] generated by [[twitter:@JanelleCShane|Janelle Shane]]'s neural network.†
-
*202&frac12;. [[Compy Catalog]] <small>(Strong Bad buys a new computer for checking emails.)</small>
+
*208½A. {{postref|1032482957523599360|22|Aug|2018}} {{--}} Strong Bad checks an email on the [[Tandy 400]] using [[Mario Paint]], with a subject similar to [[the basics]].†
-
*200&frac12;B. [[April Fool 09]] <small>(Strong Bad "sbemailiarizes" the Intro to homestarrunner.com.)</small>
+
*206½B. [[The House That Gave Sucky Tricks]] {{--}} The page title is "St. Cadaverstump's Home for Wayward Sbemails", suggesting that at one point this was originally going to be a sbemail.
-
*200&frac12;A. [[Sbemailiarized!]] <small>(Strong Bad explains how old toons can be recycled into Strong Bad Emails.)</small>
+
*206½A. [[Dad's Garage & Friends - 13 Jun 2015]] {{--}} Strong Bad and Homestar Runner showcase the worst parts of improv.
-
*199&frac12;B. [[Page Load Error]] <small>(Secret URL address for anyone who wanted a peek at Email 200 before it was released.)</small>
+
*205½D. [[Dad's Garage & Friends - 11 Jul 2014]] {{--}} A Strong Bad Email played at [[Dad's Garage]].†
-
*199&frac12;A. [[Place ya bets!]] <small>(Its HTML file is "sbemail199andahalf". In it, [[The Deleteheads]] try to predict what will be in Strong Bad Email #200.)</small>
+
*205½C. [[April Fool 2014]] {{--}} Strong Bad updates the website's "best feature".
-
*193&frac12;B. [[The Homestar Runner Gets Something Stuck In His Craw]] <small> (The reading of the story takes place after what appears to be a Strong Bad Email.) </small>
+
*205½B. [[Sbemail 136 Alternate Versions]] {{--}} Original drafts of [[Sbemail 136]].†
-
*193&frac12;A. [[SBCG4AP Advertisement]] <small>(This email is an advertisement for a game that was in the making and never actually appeared on the Strong Bad Email page)</small>
+
*205½A. [[Doomy Tales of the Macabre]] {{--}} Strong Sad mentions how Strong Bad checks emails on the Compé.
-
*191&frac12;. [[Rotten Eggs]] <small>(A message made by the splattered rotten Easter egg reads, "Sbemail Next Week.")</small>
+
*202½. [[Compy Catalog]] {{--}} Strong Bad buys a new computer for checking emails.
-
*171&frac12;. [[DNA Evidence]] <small>(The toon is about a [[DNA Evidence (running gag)|running gag]] from six consecutive Strong Bad Emails.)</small>
+
*200½E. [[April Fool 09]] {{--}} Strong Bad "sbemailiarizes" the Intro to homestarrunner.com.
-
*170&frac12;. [[Sbemail 169 Deleted Scene]] <small>(A deleted scene from [[from work|sbemail 169]])</small>
+
*200½D. [[Sbemailiarized!]] {{--}} Strong Bad explains how old toons can be recycled into Strong Bad Emails.
-
*158&frac12;. [[Lappynapped!]] <small>(Messages on Strong Bad's answering machine, as the Lappy is missing.)</small>
+
*200½C. [[8-Bit is Enough]] {{--}} Strong Bad can check emails during the game.†
-
*152&frac12;. [[Weclome Back]] <small>(Strong Bad tries to show an email he checked over summer vacation (in midair, no less), but hits "stop" instead of "record" on the video camera.)</small>
+
*200½B. [[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective]] {{--}} The game starts with Strong Bad sending an email about Dangeresque 3 to his fans. Additionally, Strong Bad can check emails during the game.†
-
*149&frac12;. [[Sbemail 150?!?]] <small>([[Strong Sad]] tries to get Strong Bad to do his 150th email.) </small>
+
*200½A. [[Baddest of the Bands]] {{--}} Strong Bad can check emails during the game.†
-
*136&frac12;. [[Sick Day]] <small>(A failed attempt at an email due to sickness striking the entire cast.) </small>
+
*199½C. [[Sbemail 200 Fakeout]] {{--}} Secret URL address for anyone who wanted a peek at Email 200 before it was released.*
-
*127&frac12;. [[HomestarRunner.com PAY PLUS!]] <small>("The Email Show" is one of the pay-per-view features.)</small>
+
*199½B. [[Place Ya Bets!]] {{--}} Its HTML file is "sbemail199andahalf". In it, [[The Deleteheads]] try to predict what will be in Strong Bad Email #200.
-
*118&frac12;. [[Broken Compy Menu|Strong Bad Email?]] <small>(Broken Compy Menu.)</small>
+
*199½A. [[Strong Badia the Free]] {{--}} The game starts with an email from [[The King of Town|Roy T.]] about the King of Town. Additionally, Strong Bad can check emails during the game.†
-
*99&frac12;B. [[Not the 100th Email!!!]] <small>(Secret URL address for anyone who wanted a peek at Email 100 before it was released.)</small>
+
*198½. [[Homestar Ruiner]] {{--}} The whole game is an attempt to answer Ennie M.'s email requesting that Strong Bad beat the snot out of Homestar Runner. Additionally, Strong Bad can check emails during the game.†
-
*99&frac12;A. [[Puppet Time]] <small>(A message was taped onto Puppet Compy's screen that read "Probably at a barbecue, from SB")</small>
+
*193½B. [[The Homestar Runner Gets Something Stuck In His Craw]] {{--}} The reading of the story takes place after what appears to be a Strong Bad Email.
-
*84&frac12;.  [[Teen Girl Squad Issue 4]] <small> (A message was taped onto the Compy on the Strong Bad Email menu that read "made a new teen girl squad")</small>
+
*193½A. [[SBCG4AP Advertisement]] {{--}} This email is an advertisement for a game that was in the making and never actually appeared on the Strong Bad Email page.
-
*68&frac12;B. [[Lookin at a Thing in a Bag]] <small> (A message was taped onto the Compy in the email menu that read "Looking at a thing in a bag" when the cartoon was released.)</small>
+
*191½. [[Rotten Eggs]] {{--}} A message made by the splattered rotten Easter egg reads, "Sbemail Next Week."
-
*68&frac12;A. [[King of Town Email]] <small>([[The King of Town]] tries to answer an email on his recently bought (but broken) Tandy 400.)</small>
+
*171½. [[DNA Evidence]] {{--}} The toon is about a [[DNA Evidence (running gag)|running gag]] from six consecutive Strong Bad Emails.
-
*66&frac12;. [[Arcade Game]] <small>(Homestar Runner reads Strong Bad's note he left on the Compy 386.)</small>
+
*170½. [[Sbemail 169 Deleted Scene]] {{--}} A deleted scene from [[from work|sbemail 169]].
-
*59&frac12;. [[Superbowl Dealie]] <small>([[The Paper]] reads "Due to the big game, the Strong Bad Email will be late this week.")</small>
+
*158½. [[Lappynapped!]] {{--}} Messages on Strong Bad's answering machine, as the Lappy is missing.*
-
*36&frac12;. [[TV Time Toons Menu]] <small>(Placing the mouse over Strong Bad Email will bring up a short, soundless email from Stu. See [[Wireless Bizness]].)</small>
+
*152½. [[Weclome Back]] {{--}} Strong Bad tries to show an email he checked over summer vacation (in midair, no less), but hits "stop" instead of "record" on the video camera.
 +
*149½. [[Sbemail 150?!?]] {{--}} [[Strong Sad]] tries to get Strong Bad to do his 150th email.
 +
*136½. [[Sick Day]] {{--}} A failed attempt at an email due to sickness striking the entire cast.
 +
*127½. [[HomestarRunner.com: PAY PLUS!]] {{--}} "The Email Show" is one of the pay-per-view features.
 +
*118½. [[Broken Compy Menu]] {{--}} The page title is "Strong Bad Email?". It is a short toon that played on the email menu after the release of [[virus]].*
 +
*99½B. [[Sbemail 100 Fakeout]] {{--}} Secret URL address for anyone who wanted a peek at Email 100 before it was released.*
 +
*99½A. [[Puppet Time]] {{--}} A message was taped onto Puppet Compy's screen that read "Probably at a barbecue, from SB".
 +
*84½.  [[Teen Girl Squad Issue 4]] {{--}} A message was taped onto the Compy on the Strong Bad Email menu that read "made a new teen girl squad".
 +
*68½B. [[Lookin at a Thing in a Bag]] {{--}} A message was taped onto the Compy in the email menu that read "Looking at a thing in a bag" when the cartoon was released.
 +
*68½A. [[King of Townmail]] {{--}} [[The King of Town]] tries to answer an email on his recently bought (but broken) Tandy 400.
 +
*66½. [[Arcade Game]] {{--}} Homestar Runner reads Strong Bad's note he left on the Compy 386.
 +
*59½. [[Superbowl Dealie]] {{--}} [[The Paper]] reads "Due to the big game, the Strong Bad Email will be late this week."
 +
*36½. [[TV Time Toons Menu]] {{--}} Placing the mouse over Strong Bad Email will bring up a short, soundless email from Stu. See [[Wireless Bizness]].
-
==Strong Bad Email Menus==
+
<nowiki>*</nowiki>[[Secret page|Not linked to]] from anywhere on the site.<br/>
-
 
+
†Neither released to nor hosted on [[homestarrunner.com]].
-
*1–32 [http://www.homestarrunner.kitkorp.com/sbemail_first.html Tandy 400 menu]
+
-
*33–34 [[Broken Tandy Menu]]
+
-
*35–40 [http://www.homestarrunner.kitkorp.com/sbemail_youguysokay.html Slightly damaged Tandy menu]
+
-
*41 [[HR:sbemail(vacation).swf|Vacation menu]]
+
-
*42–118 [[HR:sbemail.swf|Compy 386 menu]]
+
-
**Between 55 and 56 [[Decemberween Email Menu]]
+
-
**Between 118 and 119 [[Broken Compy Menu]]
+
-
*119–201 [[HR:sbemail_lappy.swf|Lappy 486 menu]]
+
-
*202 [[HR:sbemail_corpy.swf|Corpy NT6 menu]]
+
-
*203-Current [[HR:sbemail.html|Compé menu]]
+
-
 
+
-
==Milestones==
+
-
Whenever Strong Bad reaches an email milestone, such as 100 or 200, the email will be special or at least some note will be taken. Thus far, five emails have been considered milestones.
+
-
 
+
-
*50. [[50 emails]] &mdash; Strong Bad checks 50 emails (or attempts to) in honor of it being his 50th email check.
+
-
*100. [[flashback]] &mdash; The email is done in widescreen. [[Marzipan]], [[Senor Cardgage]], [[Old Timey Strong Bad]], and [[Limozeen]] congratulate him on his 100th email. Upon the Compy indicating that he has checked 100 emails with a special screen, Strong Bad says "email" 100 times. [[Homestar]] says "Happy 100th birthday, Strong Bad".
+
-
*125. [[rock opera]] &mdash; features scenes and at least one word from all of Strong Bad's emails.
+
-
*150. [[alternate universe]] &mdash; Strong Bad goes into many alternate universes featuring alternate versions of himself, which at the end accompany him in a supergroup ballad. Called the "sesquicentennemail".
+
-
*200. [[email thunder]] &mdash; The email song is a grand fanfare written by [[They Might Be Giants]] and sung by [[The Poopsmith]]. The email also ends with a screen listing the first 200 emails.
+
-
 
+
-
Frequently, a "teaser" toon is released a week before a milestone email in order to play off the anticipation for the upcoming milestone. The teaser toons so far have been [[Not the 100th Email!!!]] (teasing viewers hoping to view email 100 before it was released); [[Sbemail 150?!?]] (in which Strong Sad tries to convince Strong Bad to check email 150 and writes a proposed storyboard for it); [[Place ya bets!]] (in which [[the Deleteheads]] speculate on what will happen in email 200); and [[Page Load Error]] (in which the Deleteheads camp out at the sbemail200.html URL).
+
==Fun Facts==
==Fun Facts==
===Trivia===
===Trivia===
-
*Some time during mid-2003, "updated mondays" on the main Strong Bad Email Menu changed to "updated somedays." Nothing like this is even noted in Lappy, Corpy or Compé-era emails.
+
[[File:TwitterEmailError.jpg|thumb|At the peak of his popularity, Strong Bad was receiving thousands of emails every day.]]
-
*On the Compy 386 menus, Strong Bad types "<tt>dir /p</tt>", a [[Wikipedia:DOS|DOS]] command used to list all the files in a directory, and to pause between each screen's worth of files.
+
*In 2001, prior to the introduction of Strong Bad Email, the site received five or ten emails a day from fans.{{ref|3}} By January 2003, the daily number had climbed to "500 or more",{{ref|7}} peaked in mid-2003 with five to eight thousand daily emails,{{ref|14}} and by 2004 had leveled out to between two and five thousand a day.{{ref|6}}
-
*Not including Not Quite Strong Bad Emails, Strong Bad has checked 234 <!--PLEASE NOTE: This number takes into account each individual email Strong Bad has checked. In some Strong Bad Emails he checks more than one.-->emails as of [[videography]].
+
*During the Tandy 400 era (until at least July 2002), emailing Strong Bad would result in this automated response:
-
*As of [[being mean]], it would take 9 hours, 42 minutes, and 34 seconds <!--409930 frames plus 13 minutes and 13 seconds from the DVDs--> to watch every Strong Bad email, including the DVD exclusives but excluding clickable Easter eggs. Including clickable Easter eggs, it would take 10 hours, 35 minutes, and 37 seconds. <!--447922 frames plus 13 minutes and 30 seconds from the DVDs-->
+
-
*Email #22, "[[sb_email 22]]", was actually made between emails 40 and 41. It was originally skipped and later made and released under the title 'the lost email' right before Strong Bad replaced his computer with the Compy 386.
+
-
*As of [[the movies]], Strong Bad Emails make up about 60% of the toons on the site.
+
-
*Back in the Tandy 400 era (at least until July 2002), emailing Strong Bad would result in this automated response:
+
<blockquote>Thanks for your freakin email. I hope it's not stupid.<br>
<blockquote>Thanks for your freakin email. I hope it's not stupid.<br>
Once I finish these swiss cake rolls I'll read it and if it's awesome enough,<br>
Once I finish these swiss cake rolls I'll read it and if it's awesome enough,<br>
Line 457: Line 700:
But if your email is terrible, then it gets R.E.D. alright.<br>
But if your email is terrible, then it gets R.E.D. alright.<br>
The Cheat Reads it, Strong Mad Eats it, and I Deletes it.<br>
The Cheat Reads it, Strong Mad Eats it, and I Deletes it.<br>
-
[[HR:processing.html|Click Here]] to see us in action!<br>
+
[[OldHR:processing.html|Click Here]] to see us in action!<br>
Check back every Monday to see if your email has what it takes.<br>
Check back every Monday to see if your email has what it takes.<br>
Watch me while I'm awesome,<br>
Watch me while I'm awesome,<br>
Strong Bad</blockquote>
Strong Bad</blockquote>
-
 
+
:*The link in the automated response leads to the [[Email Processing Room]].
-
The link in the automated response leads to the [[Email Processing Room]].
+
*The Brothers Chaps would frequently remark that a significant portion {{--}} or even the majority {{--}} of emails they received were asking the same low-quality questions over and over again, and were thus invariably [[deleted]]. These offending subjects were so consistent that the brothers had even considered making a meta email where Strong Bad would address the topic.{{ref|14}}{{ref|25}} Such topics included:
-
*After [[Random Toon|random.bat]] was implemented, the email list comes from the [[Secret_Pages_XML_Source#Random_Toon_XML_File|rando.xml]] file. Before this, it was included in the Flash file.
+
**Asking [[How do you type with boxing gloves on?|how Strong Bad types with boxing gloves on]]{{ref|7}}{{ref|14}} or what he looks like without his mask{{ref|8}}
-
*Occasionally, there is a [[Acknowledged Update Delays|lengthy gap]] between email updates. This is sometimes recognized at the start of the next email, as in [[army]], [[geddup noise]], [[redesign]], and [[hremail3184]].
+
***[[some kinda robot]] obliquely addressed this, while [[the chair]] poked fun at the concept.
-
*[[butt IQ]], [[CGNU]], [[3 Wishes]], and [[what I want]] are the only emails with capital letters in their titles.
+
**Requesting Strong Bad repeat a topic from a previous email,{{ref|14}}{{ref|23}} with requests to [[Draw Trogdor Again|draw Trogdor (or another dragon) again]] especially common{{ref|5}}{{ref|8}}{{ref|25}}
-
*Typing sbemail.swf in the address bar will take you to the Flash file for the [[Compy 386]] era.
+
**Suggesting a parody of a currently popular movie, event, or cultural phenomenon{{ref|5}}{{ref|8}}{{ref|23}}
-
*Holding down the left mouse button and the tab key at the same time caused the area you pressed to go white (only for Lappy-era emails). You can move the mouse in the area without the original spot going away, however if you leave the original area, the spot goes away (you can also create new dots, as long as they are partly overlapping another dot).
+
***The {{w|2006 Winter Olympics}} were given as an example of an avoided topic in 2006;{{ref|8}} by comparison, the [[Olympics]] parody [[strong badathlon]] was not in an Olympic year and the email Strong Bad responds to was not about the Olympics.
 +
**Inquiring about characters' [[parents]], particularly asking what they look like{{ref|5}}{{ref|8}}
 +
**Using obviously intentionally-poor spelling and grammar to bait a mocking response{{ref|24}}
 +
**The same email address sending several emails in a row,{{ref|26}} or an identical email again and again{{ref|24}}{{ref|26}}
 +
**Taking "too long" (over four or five sentences) to get to the point of the message, though an overly-wordy email could be edited for clarity{{ref|14}}
 +
***In [[long pants]], Strong Bad aggressively truncates an email he deems too long.
 +
***The email presented in [[space program]] was {{p|l=http://forum.hrwiki.org/viewtopic.php?p=233730&sid=30b76fd95bc7addb687f04565b6fcb0d#p233730 originally}} over twice as long when sent to Strong Bad.
 +
*Emails typically are presented on the site with all-lowercase titles, and use the URL format <tt>number-name</tt> (for instance, [[environment|<tt>homestarrunner.com/sbemails/186-environment</tt>]])
 +
**[[butt IQ]] and [[CGNU]] are the only onsite emails with capital letters in their titles.
 +
***Prior to the [[post-Flash site update]], [[3 Wishes]] and [[what I want]] used capitals as well.
 +
**Before the post-Flash update, sbemails used the format <tt>sbemail#.html</tt> for their URL.
 +
***Some emails had [[Irregular Strong Bad Email URLs|irregular URLs]].
 +
*Email #22, [[sb_email 22]], was actually made between emails 40 and 41. This number was originally skipped as the [[little animal|23rd email]] followed the [[cartoon|21st]], with the 22nd later made and released under the title "the lost email".
 +
**It is unknown if there was any intent behind this irregular order or if it was the result of a numbering error.
 +
*During active periods of updates, an extended delay between emails would occasionally be [[Acknowledged Update Delays|acknowledged at the start of the new email]] {{--}} as seen in [[army]], [[geddup noise]], [[redesign]], [[hremail 3184]], and [[sbemail 206]].
 +
*Although viewers were originally prompted to email Strong Bad at strongbad@homestarrunner.com, as of [[sbemail 206]] the [[CGI Paper]] has directed viewers to "email"  by tweeting [[@StrongBadActual]].
 +
*Email #208, [[the next april fools thing]], was originally hidden inside a holiday toon, and wasn't listed on the [[Strong Bad Email menu]] until the post-Flash site update on December 31, 2020.
 +
====Statistics====
 +
{{seemain|Strong Bad Email Statistics}}
 +
[[File:SBEScatter2.png|thumb|The runtime of sbemails slowly increased over time, with a runtime of 3{{-}}5 minutes becoming the standard by the late [[#Compy 386 Era|Compy era]].]]
 +
*Not including Not Quite Strong Bad Emails, Strong Bad has checked 238<!--PLEASE NOTE: This number takes into account each individual email Strong Bad has checked.  In some Strong Bad Emails he checks more than one.--> emails as of [[parenting]].
 +
*As of [[parenting]], it would take 10 hours, 7 minutes, and 19 seconds <!--427734 frames plus 13 minutes and 13 seconds from the DVDs--> to watch every Strong Bad Email, including the DVD exclusives but excluding clickable Easter eggs. Including clickable Easter eggs, it would take 11 hours, 33 minutes, and 3 seconds.<!--488199 frames plus 14 minutes and 43 seconds from the DVDs and YouTube-->
 +
*As of September 2022, Strong Bad Emails make up about 43% of the toons on the site by volume<!--280 toons, referenced from Toons By Length and not counting DVD/YT exclusives, 209 sbemails; 209/489 ≈ 0.4274 -->; as of May 2021, they make up about 26% of toons on the site by runtime. <!--not including Easter eggs. 36439 seconds for sbemails, 102373 seconds for toons. 36439/138812 ≈ 0.2625 -->
===Remarks===
===Remarks===
-
*At [[Flashforward 2006 Seattle - 28 Feb 2006|Flashforward 2006]], [[The Brothers Chaps]] gave a list of [[Flashforward 2006 Seattle - 28 Feb 2006#Pre-animation Process - 4:05 p.m.|five things not to email Strong Bad about]].  Additional information about which emails are selected were given in a later  [[Late Nite  JengaJam Interview - 4 Oct 2007#Email|radio interview]].
+
*Two emails have been checked by someone other than Strong Bad, but count as Strong Bad Emails anyway: [[mile]] was made up and animated by [[The Cheat]], and [[anything]] was checked by [[Homestar Runner]].
-
*During most emails, you see the back of Strong Bad's head when he sits in front of the computer, which is why he often starts a new line before the text reaches the right side of the computer's screen. However, on the Strong Bad Email menu, you don't see his head at all. This is probably so the viewers can use the bottom scroll button without anything in the way.
+
*[[Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People]] features emails both as a framing device and as interactive content in the games; however, these were not sent by actual fans.{{ref|20}}
-
*During [[Lappynapped!]], [[retirement|retirement A]], [[retirement|retirement B]] after when the Lappy was kidnapped, and after [[hremail3184]] when the Lappy is destroyed, it was still used for the Strong Bad Email menu.
+
-
**If you clicked the random.bat button on the Lappy after [[hremail3184]] was released, Strong Bad would still say the things during the random email selection even though he wasn't still there.
+
-
*The Strong Bad Email menu of the Corpy NT6 lacked a random button; however, Strong Bad sung his lines for selecting a random email and a random email will be selected by using a Flash seekbar.
+
-
**The Compé menu lacked a random button from its introduction until August 31, 2009, when a new scroll button song was also released.
+
-
*The Compé Email Menu zooms in before Strong Bad finishes double-clicking it.
+
-
*The Compé Email Menu's "go rando!" button is clickable, even when zooming in.
+
-
*When Strong Bad's head moves, his mask protrudes the top of his head.
+
-
==External Links==
+
==References==
 +
<table width="95%">
 +
<autocolumn cols="2" width="40%">
 +
# {{note|1}}Coyle, Michael. [https://web.archive.org/web/20030201082658/http://www.resexcellence.com/hack_html_03/01-30-03.shtml "The Creators of Homestar Runner, The Brothers Chapman"]. [[ResExcellence Interview - 30 Jan 2003|''ResExcellence''. January 2003]].
 +
# {{note|2}}Carriveau, Derrek. [http://web.archive.org/web/20030202085605/http://www.legionstudios.com/interviews/views/homestar/homestar.html "Legion Interviews Mike Chapman of Homestarrunner.com"]. [[Legion Studios Interviews#Mike Chapman interview|''Legion Studios''. 2002]].
 +
# {{note|3}}Stephan. [https://web.archive.org/web/20020623163502/http://www.wtfiml33t.com/viewarticle.php?artid=59&page=1 "Interview: Mike Chapman from homestar runner"]. ''[[l33t Interview|wtf i'm l33t''. Summer 2001]].
 +
# {{note|4}}{{dvdcom|some kinda robot}}; {{postref|ID=1250876792174514176|day=16|month=Apr|year=2020}}
 +
# {{note|5}}Allin, Jack. [https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18236 "Strong Bad's the Brothers Chaps"]. [[Adventure Gamers Interview - 12 Dec 2008|''Adventure Gamers''. 12 Dec 2008]].
 +
# {{note|6}}Carlson, Jay. [http://web.archive.org/web/20041011153811/http://www.theinkhole.com/homestar1.htm "The Inkhole Exclusive Interview with Homestar Runner Co-Creator Matt Chapman"]. [[Inkhole Interview|''The Inkhole''. July 2004]].
 +
# {{note|7}}Neutron, C. [https://web.archive.org/web/20030130071113/http://rundevilrun.com/ezine/interviews/hsrunner/ "Interview with Mike and Matt Chapman, creators of Homestarrunner.com"]. [[Run Devil Run Interview|''Run Devil Run'', 2003]].
 +
# {{note|8}}Chapman, Mike and Matt Chapman. [[Flashforward 2006 Seattle - 28 Feb 2006|"How and Why Homestar Runner Cartoons Get Made". Flashforward 2006 Seattle conference, 28 Feb 2006, Seattle. Lecture.]]
 +
# {{note|9}}Scott, Kevin. [https://web.archive.org/web/20030813005743/http://members.shaw.ca/kevinscott/Homestar/ "The Homestar Runner Interview"]. [[UMFM Interview - 20 May 2003|''UMFM'', 20 May 2003]].
 +
# {{note|10}}{{dvdcom|halloweener}}
 +
# {{note|11}}Rubin, Jeff. [https://headgum.com/the-jeff-rubin-jeff-rubin-show/123-homestar-runners-matt-chapman "Homestar Runner's Matt Chapman"]. [[The Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin Show Interview - 7 July 2014|''The Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin Show'', episode 123. 7 July 2014.]]
 +
# {{note|12}}Chinsang, Wayne. [https://web.archive.org/web/20061121124059/http://www.tlchicken.com/article.php?ARTid=1374 "Homestar Runner's The Brothers Chaps"]. [[Tastes Like Chicken Interview|''Tastes Like Chicken''. June 2003]].
 +
# {{note|13}}Aucoin, Don. [https://web.archive.org/web/20030814004738/http://www.boston.com:80/dailyglobe2/221/living/_Looking_at_a_Thing_in_a_Bag_-.shtml "Looking at a Thing in a Bag"]. [[The Boston Globe Interview - 9 Aug 2003|''The Boston Globe''. 9 August 2003]].
 +
# {{note|14}}Dan. [http://web.archive.org/web/20041112050031/http://www.clubaquatica.net/Interviews/matttranscript_2.htm "Matt Chapman Interview"]. [[Club Aquatica Interview - 29 Oct 2003|''Club Aquatica''. 29 October 2003]].
 +
# {{note|15}}Hirsch, Deborah. [https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2003/07/22/tooned-in-2/ "Tooned In"]. ''The Orlando Sentinel''. 22 July 2003.
 +
# {{note|16}}Carriveau, Derrek. [http://web.archive.org/web/20030824112227/http://www.legionstudios.com/interviews/views/homestar/homestar2.html "Legion Interviews Matt Chapman of Homestarrunner.com"]. [[Legion Studios Interviews#Matt Chapman interview|''Legion Studios''. 2002]].
 +
# {{note|17}}Raugust, Karen. [https://www.awn.com/animationworld/catching-homestar-runner "Catching Up with Homestar Runner"]. ''Animation World Network''. 14 May 2009.
 +
# {{note|18}}Simpson, Aaron. [https://web.archive.org/web/20061022091316/http://www.coldhardflash.com/2006/10/homestars-show-runners-part-2.html "Homestar's Show Runners, Part 2"]. [[Cold Hard Flash Interview - 1 Dec 2005|''Cold, Hard Flash''. 4 October 2006]].
 +
# {{note|19}}Ashby, Alicia. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090517084725/http://omgnintendo.blogfaction.com/article/108144/one-year-of-wiiware-matt-and-mike-chapman-on-strong-bads-cool-game-for-attractive-people/ "One year of WiiWare: Matt and Mike Chapman on Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People"]. [[OMG Nintendo Interview - 12 May 2009|''OMG Nintendo''. 12 May 2009]].
 +
# {{note|20}}Henning, Jesse. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090309183544/http://www.gamecyte.com/hands-on-strong-bads-cool-game-for-attractive-people "Hands-On: Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People"].  ''GameCyte''. 16 May 2008.
 +
# {{note|21}}Montgomery, James. [https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/homestar-runner-returns-inside-a-cult-classics-comeback-195674/ "Homestar Runner Returns! Inside a Cult Classic's Comeback"]. [[Rolling Stone Interview - 3 Oct 2014|''Rolling Stone''. 3 Oct 2014]].
 +
# {{note|22}}Homestar Runner. [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1999933720/trogdor-the-board-game/posts/3469478 "Backer Submitted Strong Bad Email!"]. ''Trogdor!! The Board Game (Kickstarter)''. 1 April 2022.
 +
# {{note|23}}Goldstein, Ben. [https://web.archive.org/web/20051018084350/http://www.giantmag.com/issue_05/movies_homestarMike.aspx "Mike Chapman: Homestarrunner Co–creator"] & [https://web.archive.org/web/20060630130842/http://www.giantmag.com/issue_05/movies_homestarMatt.aspx "Matt Chapman: Homestarrunner Co-creator"]. [[Giant Magazine Interview|''Giant'' Magazine. 2005]].
 +
# {{note|24}}Edathil, JG. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121028171847/http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TC-6478/TS-45165.mp3 "The Brothers Chaps What Made The Homestar Runner"]. [[Late Nite JengaJam Interview - 4 Oct 2007|''Late Nite JengaJam'', episode 45. 4 Oct 2007]]
 +
# {{note|25}}Chapman, Mike and Matt Chapman. [https://smartech.gatech.edu/handle/1853/14302 "Homestar Runner Comes to the GT Library!"] [[Georgia Tech - 26 Apr 2007|Georgia Institute of Technology Multimedia Studio, 26 Apr 2007, Atlanta. Lecture]].
 +
# {{note|26}}BLINK. [https://web.archive.org/web/20030720014223/http://homestarrunner.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2939 "My Interview With The Brothers Chaps!"]. [[Homestarrunner.net Interview - 21 May 2003|''homestarrunner.net''. 21 May 2003]].
 +
# {{note|33}} Ydstie, John. [https://www.npr.org/2005/05/08/4634837/strong-bad-walks-in-footsteps-of-darth-lex-j-r "Strong Bad Walks in Footsteps of Darth, Lex, J.R."]. [[All Things Considered Interview - 8 May 2005|''NPR'', "All Things Considered". 8 May 2005]].
 +
</autocolumn>
 +
</table>
-
*[[HR:sbemail.html|Strong Bad Email menu]]
+
==External Links==
-
*[[HR:sbemail_compe.swf|view the Flash file for Strong Bad Email Menu]]
+
*[[HR:sbemails|Strong Bad Email menu]]
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*{{pl|l=mailto:strongbad@homestarrunner.com Email Strong Bad}}
+
==See Also==
==See Also==
 +
*[[Hremails]]
 +
*[[@StrongBadActual]]
 +
*[[@strongbadactual (Instagram)]]
 +
*[[@strongbadnofoolin.bsky.social]]
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*[[Homestar Runner Email]]
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{{StrongBadEmailInfo|nocat=1}}
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<br>
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{{StrongBadEmailInfo}}
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{{Strong Bad Email}}
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{{H*RNav}}
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<br>
{{recenttoons}}
{{recenttoons}}
<noinclude>
<noinclude>
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[[Category:Strong Bad Email]]
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[[Category:Strong Bad Email|*]]
[[Category:Lists]]
[[Category:Lists]]
[[Category:Computer Files]]
[[Category:Computer Files]]
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[[Category:H*R Navigation]]
 
</noinclude>
</noinclude>
{{subtitlesLinks|sbemail}}
{{subtitlesLinks|sbemail}}

Current revision as of 19:55, 5 May 2025

Strong Bad checks his email.
Strong Bad checks his email.

Strong Bad Email, frequently shortened to sbemail, is a feature in which Strong Bad answers an email sent by a real-world fan. Arguably the most recognizable feature of the site, it is occasionally joked that its success has led to Strong Bad becoming the most popular character in the Homestar Runner series — even surpassing Homestar Runner himself.

A typical email opens with Strong Bad humorously mocking the spelling and grammar of the sender, then transitioning to an anecdote or scheme related to a question asked by the email, concluding with Strong Bad returning to his computer to finalize his typed response. Strong Bad Emails include numerous Easter eggs and other hidden material, often found at the ending screen; many feature satirical views of aspects of popular culture such as Japanese cartoons, video games, and TV show theme songs. Originally introduced in 2001 as a small feature with brief animations, the responses gradually expanded in scope to establish numerous inside jokes, running gags, and catch phrases. Full-fledged Strong Bad Email spin-offs include Trogdor, Teen Girl Squad, 20X6, Strong Badia, Hremails, the secondary character Senor Cardgage, and even main character Homsar.

Strong Bad Email had historically been the most frequently updated feature of homestarrunner.com, with a new email being added to the menu most Mondays from 2002 through 2008. The pace of releases slowed after the 200th email in September 2008. Creative duo the Brothers Chaps took a self-imposed break at the bicentennial, returning to sbemail production in late 2009. Soon after this, Homestar Runner entered into an extended hiatus from 2010 through 2014; nowadays, as the site is updated irregularly, multi-year gaps are now common between sbemails and a new one is typically prompted by a special event or circumstance. The social media account @StrongBadActual has since become the main format for the character to respond to and otherwise interact with fans.

Contents

[edit] Strong Bad Emails

[edit] Lappier Era

(April 2015 – present)

[edit] Compé Era

(August 2009 – October 2009)

[edit] Corpy NT6 Transition

(July 2009)

[edit] Lappy 486 Era

(November 2004 – June 2009)

[edit] Compy 386 Era

(September 2002 – November 2004)

[edit] Tandy 400 Era

(August 2001 – September 2002)

[edit] History

See also Timeline of Homestar Runner

[edit] Prehistory

See also Strong Bad#Character Design and Conception

Strong Bad is one of the oldest Homestar Runner characters, created alongside the title character for The Homestar Runner Enters the Strongest Man in the World Contest in 1996. As early as the release of A Jumping Jack Contest in 2000, the Brothers Chaps realized that he was "probably the most interesting character".[1] He swiftly became a fan favorite and breakout character; the Brothers Chaps took note of this, attributing it to his role as the antagonist and his humorously mild insults.[1][2] Also around this time, the brothers were exploring the potential of the characters in toons like A Jorb Well Done and new series formats like Marzipan's Answering Machine.[2] This led to the Chaps deciding to give Strong Bad "his own little feature": answering emails from fans.[33]

[edit] The first sbemails (2001)

The first Strong Bad Email toon was some kinda robot, released August 22, 2001.

An email address to contact the Chaps was listed on the site from its earliest days (it would be removed in late 2015). As of a few months before the launch of Strong Bad's email account, the brothers were typically receiving "five or ten mails a day" from fans;[3] one such fan had been Abdi LaRue. Requiring an email for Strong Bad to reply to, the Brothers Chaps reached out to LaRue: informing them of Strong Bad's then-new email address and suggesting they send him an email.[4] Abdi's email (inquiring if Strong Bad takes off his mask and boxing gloves when sleeping) was answered August 22, 2001 in the first Strong Bad Email: some kinda robot.

THE BROTHERS CHAPS: Strong Bad Emails were meant to be a really short thing to occupy the space between our longer cartoons. But they ended up turning Strong Bad into one of the most interesting characters.[5]

The original idea had been to write a reply from Strong Bad to every email he received, with one selected each week that would be voiced, animated, and posted on the website; this plan was almost immediately abandoned,[7][8] with the volume of responses (fifteen emails a day) immediately recognized as too much to deal with.[7] Even emails that were selected would not receive a reply, with the sender only realizing they'd been chosen upon viewing the resultant toon.

Sbemails were initially envisioned as a simple and short feature,[5] in the manner of a farcical advice column.[6] Early sbemails typically ran for a minute or less, and frequently would only feature Strong Bad typing at his computer. At this point, both brothers still had full-time jobs[2][8] and lived in different states (Mike in Georgia, Matt in New York),[2][3] necessitating a split production. Mike, who worked freelance and had more free time,[2][3] would animate while Matt provided voices; writing duties were shared between the two.[3] Some early entries had no script, with Matt simply reading through then riffing on a fan's email and sending the resultant audio file to Mike for animation.[6][9][10]

Sbemails, much like the rest of HomestarRunner.com, were not being updated on a set schedule at this point: they were released on varying days of the week, usually with over a week elapsing between them. A total of seven email toons were released in 2001.

[edit] Weekly schedule (2002–2008)

MATT CHAPMAN: I'd been living in New York, and then I moved back [to Georgia] and we decided "Hey, let's start doing something every week." We'd done a few Strong Bad Emails at that point, but we decided "that's the easiest thing we could do. We could do one of those a week." So that was 2002 — I feel like just the weekly updating of Strong Bad Emails was really when [the site's popularity] started to go crazy.[11]
Sbemails released in 2002, such as techno, gained significant traction and led to the burgeoning popularity of Homestar Runner.

2002 was a significant year for Homestar Runner. Matt moved back to Georgia, with the brothers sharing an apartment, and now that they could collaborate in-person they strove to dedicate more time to the website. The then-simple Strong Bad Email toons were selected as something that could be done every week.[11] The email that established this weekly pace was brianrietta[10] on January 10, 2002; the subsequent email, i love you (released January 14), standardized the practice of releasing a new sbemail every Monday. Most updates released in 2002 were Strong Bad Emails.

The site's popularity gradually increased throughout the year,[12] boosted by the new weekly schedule.[5] At the time, high-speed internet in homes was less common and the site's fans were more likely to watch the toons at work (often in technical jobs) or at colleges, its popularity spread via word-of-mouth; fittingly, viewership and merchandise sales saw a spike in September coinciding with the beginning of the school year.[11] Both brothers still had full-time jobs at the beginning of the year,[8] but income from the store allowed both to leave their other work to focus on Homestar Runner full-time by the September spike.[12][13] Matt would later recall the 2002 emails guitar and techno as being particularly popular, influencing their selection of emails to focus on humorously disparaging specific niches.[11]

Strong Bad Email's popularity surged in the following years. At the beginning of 2003, Strong Bad was receiving hundreds of emails a day[7] — this figure would increase to 2,000–5,000 within mere months,[6] remaining as the standard for years. The deluge of messages peaked in summer of 2003 at nearly 8,000 a day[6] (with the caveat that a significant portion was simply spam).[14] Mondays in 2003 were seeing nearly 300,000 visitors coming to the site to watch the new sbemail,[13] compared to 200,000 on other days.[15] A common inquiry — addressed on the FAQ page and its predecessor — was whether the emails Strong Bad answers were genuinely sent by fans: they all are,[2][7] with the exception of mile (which was purportedly made up by The Cheat).

Though the brothers had hoped to add another weekly feature,[2][9] the demands of running their own business restricted their time.[9][16] Additionally, as Strong Bad Emails continued to increase in runtime and complexity, their production took away from opportunities to make other types of cartoons;[15] the Chaps estimated that "at least 60 to 70 percent" of the site's updates were sbemails.[17] However, they did not feel limited by the popularity of the series, with Matt reflecting that "when we feel Strong Bad Emails are getting old, we can quickly jump into something else."[18] The toon Sbemailiarized!, released in 2009, joked that the difference between sbemails and other cartoons on the site was "not all that much!"

[edit] Milestones

Sesquicentenn-email, 2005! ...I—I mean six.

Emails that reached a centenary milestone, or a significant division thereof, often focused on (or at least made note of) the landmark. Thus far, five emails have commemorated a significant number of emails; several of these had been teased with an additional toon released the week prior that played off viewers' anticipation.

[edit] Bicentennial and Break (2008–2009)

MATT CHAPMAN: 200 was a nice round number to take a break from [Strong Bad Email] and do other stuff on the website.[19]

The milestone of 200 emails was reached on September 23, 2008 with email thunder. The narrative of this cartoon quickly shifts from celebrating Strong Bad's achievement to the surprising reveal of Homestar Runner's competing email show — hremails — which have been running parallel with sbemails. Though the toon ends with Strong Bad gleefully destroying Homestar's computer, the coming months would see the release of additional hremails and other cartoons while the Brothers Chaps took a pause from producing more sbemails. In interviews, the brothers expressed that this hiatus was taken to vary their output and that, though they were enjoying the change, this did not necessarily signal the end of sbemails.[17][19]

Another landmark in 2008 was the release of Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, produced by Telltale Games in partnership with the Brothers Chaps (the first time Homestar Runner had been licensed out to a third party). This five-part episodic video game centered around Strong Bad's adventures, kicked off by answering emails in the manner of the site's toons (notably, these emails were created by Telltale's writers rather than sent by fans);[20] each game also featured additional, optional emails the player could guide Strong Bad to read, respond to, or delete. Though the release of the game's episodes overlapped with sbemails going on hiatus, the brothers were quick to specify that the decision to pause sbemail production was not a result of the SBCG4AP workload.[19]

Strong Bad Emails returned in 2009, with Strong Bad reclaiming the fanmail format from Homestar in hremail 3184 on June 30. Four more emails were subsequently produced, albeit now at a monthly rate rather than the previous weekly pace. The 205th email, videography, was released October 5, 2009; though this toon was not particularly noteworthy or conclusive on its own, it would prove to be the last email for over five years.

[edit] The Big Hiatus (2010–2013)

See main article: Hiatuses
sbemail206 was first teased more than three years before its eventual completion.

Updates to HomestarRunner.com began to slow in late 2009, quickly and dramatically dropping to where only three toons were produced in 2010. The site entered an extended hiatus in 2011, with no new toons for over three years.

During this hiatus, Matt occasionally posted to his Twitter account @ronginald. He affirmed that the site would continue to be updated "forever! just sporadically and without warning", and hinted that a new Strong Bad Email could be released "Someday, when you least expect it...".

[edit] Modern Era (2015–present)

MATT CHAPMAN: We're not expecting [Homestar Runner] to be our full-time gig [again], we just want this to be fun. There were points in the initial run where it was a great job, but it was also stressful. If we want to make a great cartoon, every couple months it will be something new. But we're not going to stay awake all night just to finish a Strong Bad Email.[21]

HomestarRunner.com became active again in 2014, albeit without a schedule and with a slower pace of updates as the new standard;[21] as the main pages put it, the site is now "updated every someday". Strong Bad Emails returned with sbemail 206 on April 1, 2015. The email cheekily acknowledges the time that had passed between emails; however, befitting its release date, it is primarily an April Fools' Day cartoon that is not centered around Strong Bad replying to a message from a fan.

Sbemail 206 also began the practice of ending with a prompt for fans to "email" Strong Bad by making a post directed at @StrongBadActual on Twitter (rather than emailing strongbad@homestarrunner.com). This social media account began posting regularly in 2014, and is presented as being run by Strong Bad with nearly all posts being written in-character to some degree. In the post-hiatus era, it has become the most active facet of the body of work and superseded many features: acknowledging fan works, sharing production artwork, and announcing new toons and projects have all been done through this account. Though only two full Strong Bad Emails have been made in response to fans' tweets, the account has generally substituted for sbemails' primary function of allowing Strong Bad to interact directly with fans.

Four Strong Bad Emails have been made since 2015. As there is no longer a set schedule for the feature, they are typically motivated by a holiday or made as a reward for a fan contest rather than simply checking Strong Bad's inbox at an arbitrary time:

[edit] Releases

[edit] DVD

The six-disc DVD reprint set, released in 2020.

Emails 1–200 were released on the strongbad_email.exe 6-disc DVD series. Multiple DVD-exclusive emails were also featured in this set.

[edit] Podstar Runner

Strong Bad Emails & More!

The Podstar Runner feed distributed various Strong Bad Emails in .m4v format, designed for viewing on an iPod, from 2006 through 2008. This feed additionally featured toons and Teen Girl Squad issues alongside Strong Bad Emails.

These are all of the emails that were featured through this service (in order of Podstar Runner release, earliest to latest):

[edit] YouTube

The homestarrunnerdotcom YouTube channel was registered on October 1, 2007. When it first began uploading Strong Bad Emails on March 31, 2009, they were direct rips of the DVD versions (featuring title cards with the email names in Title Case and ending with The Paper reading ">> The End <<"), with independent being uploaded in a previously unreleased DVD-style version with altered scenes. Starting in 2017, 1080p versions of the emails have been uploaded, with email titles in all lowercase and the paper reading "> THE END <", often incorporating the Easter eggs from the original website versions.

These are all of the emails that have been uploaded (in order of YouTube release, earliest to latest):

[edit] Not Quite Strong Bad Emails

The following were originally associated in one way or another with the Strong Bad Emails. They are numbered fractionally to indicate when they were released chronologically relative to the above list.

*Not linked to from anywhere on the site.
†Neither released to nor hosted on homestarrunner.com.

[edit] Fun Facts

[edit] Trivia

At the peak of his popularity, Strong Bad was receiving thousands of emails every day.
  • In 2001, prior to the introduction of Strong Bad Email, the site received five or ten emails a day from fans.[3] By January 2003, the daily number had climbed to "500 or more",[7] peaked in mid-2003 with five to eight thousand daily emails,[14] and by 2004 had leveled out to between two and five thousand a day.[6]
  • During the Tandy 400 era (until at least July 2002), emailing Strong Bad would result in this automated response:
Thanks for your freakin email. I hope it's not stupid.
Once I finish these swiss cake rolls I'll read it and if it's awesome enough,
I'll answer it on the site.
But if your email is terrible, then it gets R.E.D. alright.
The Cheat Reads it, Strong Mad Eats it, and I Deletes it.
Click Here to see us in action!
Check back every Monday to see if your email has what it takes.
Watch me while I'm awesome,
Strong Bad
  • The Brothers Chaps would frequently remark that a significant portion — or even the majority — of emails they received were asking the same low-quality questions over and over again, and were thus invariably deleted. These offending subjects were so consistent that the brothers had even considered making a meta email where Strong Bad would address the topic.[14][25] Such topics included:
  • Emails typically are presented on the site with all-lowercase titles, and use the URL format number-name (for instance, homestarrunner.com/sbemails/186-environment)
  • Email #22, sb_email 22, was actually made between emails 40 and 41. This number was originally skipped as the 23rd email followed the 21st, with the 22nd later made and released under the title "the lost email".
    • It is unknown if there was any intent behind this irregular order or if it was the result of a numbering error.
  • During active periods of updates, an extended delay between emails would occasionally be acknowledged at the start of the new email — as seen in army, geddup noise, redesign, hremail 3184, and sbemail 206.
  • Although viewers were originally prompted to email Strong Bad at strongbad@homestarrunner.com, as of sbemail 206 the CGI Paper has directed viewers to "email" by tweeting @StrongBadActual.
  • Email #208, the next april fools thing, was originally hidden inside a holiday toon, and wasn't listed on the Strong Bad Email menu until the post-Flash site update on December 31, 2020.

[edit] Statistics

See main article: Strong Bad Email Statistics
The runtime of sbemails slowly increased over time, with a runtime of 3–5 minutes becoming the standard by the late Compy era.
  • Not including Not Quite Strong Bad Emails, Strong Bad has checked 238 emails as of parenting.
  • As of parenting, it would take 10 hours, 7 minutes, and 19 seconds to watch every Strong Bad Email, including the DVD exclusives but excluding clickable Easter eggs. Including clickable Easter eggs, it would take 11 hours, 33 minutes, and 3 seconds.
  • As of September 2022, Strong Bad Emails make up about 43% of the toons on the site by volume; as of May 2021, they make up about 26% of toons on the site by runtime.

[edit] Remarks

[edit] References

  1. ^ Coyle, Michael. "The Creators of Homestar Runner, The Brothers Chapman". ResExcellence. January 2003.
  2. ^ Carriveau, Derrek. "Legion Interviews Mike Chapman of Homestarrunner.com". Legion Studios. 2002.
  3. ^ Stephan. "Interview: Mike Chapman from homestar runner". wtf i'm l33t. Summer 2001.
  4. ^ some kinda robot (DVD commentary); @StrongBadActual tweet (16 Apr 2020)
  5. ^ Allin, Jack. "Strong Bad's the Brothers Chaps". Adventure Gamers. 12 Dec 2008.
  6. ^ Carlson, Jay. "The Inkhole Exclusive Interview with Homestar Runner Co-Creator Matt Chapman". The Inkhole. July 2004.
  7. ^ Neutron, C. "Interview with Mike and Matt Chapman, creators of Homestarrunner.com". Run Devil Run, 2003.
  8. ^ Chapman, Mike and Matt Chapman. "How and Why Homestar Runner Cartoons Get Made". Flashforward 2006 Seattle conference, 28 Feb 2006, Seattle. Lecture.
  9. ^ Scott, Kevin. "The Homestar Runner Interview". UMFM, 20 May 2003.
  10. ^ halloweener (DVD commentary)
  11. ^ Rubin, Jeff. "Homestar Runner's Matt Chapman". The Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin Show, episode 123. 7 July 2014.
  12. ^ Chinsang, Wayne. "Homestar Runner's The Brothers Chaps". Tastes Like Chicken. June 2003.
  13. ^ Aucoin, Don. "Looking at a Thing in a Bag". The Boston Globe. 9 August 2003.
  14. ^ Dan. "Matt Chapman Interview". Club Aquatica. 29 October 2003.
  1. ^ Hirsch, Deborah. "Tooned In". The Orlando Sentinel. 22 July 2003.
  2. ^ Carriveau, Derrek. "Legion Interviews Matt Chapman of Homestarrunner.com". Legion Studios. 2002.
  3. ^ Raugust, Karen. "Catching Up with Homestar Runner". Animation World Network. 14 May 2009.
  4. ^ Simpson, Aaron. "Homestar's Show Runners, Part 2". Cold, Hard Flash. 4 October 2006.
  5. ^ Ashby, Alicia. "One year of WiiWare: Matt and Mike Chapman on Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People". OMG Nintendo. 12 May 2009.
  6. ^ Henning, Jesse. "Hands-On: Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People". GameCyte. 16 May 2008.
  7. ^ Montgomery, James. "Homestar Runner Returns! Inside a Cult Classic's Comeback". Rolling Stone. 3 Oct 2014.
  8. ^ Homestar Runner. "Backer Submitted Strong Bad Email!". Trogdor!! The Board Game (Kickstarter). 1 April 2022.
  9. ^ Goldstein, Ben. "Mike Chapman: Homestarrunner Co–creator" & "Matt Chapman: Homestarrunner Co-creator". Giant Magazine. 2005.
  10. ^ Edathil, JG. "The Brothers Chaps What Made The Homestar Runner". Late Nite JengaJam, episode 45. 4 Oct 2007
  11. ^ Chapman, Mike and Matt Chapman. "Homestar Runner Comes to the GT Library!" Georgia Institute of Technology Multimedia Studio, 26 Apr 2007, Atlanta. Lecture.
  12. ^ BLINK. "My Interview With The Brothers Chaps!". homestarrunner.net. 21 May 2003.
  13. ^  Ydstie, John. "Strong Bad Walks in Footsteps of Darth, Lex, J.R.". NPR, "All Things Considered". 8 May 2005.

[edit] External Links

[edit] See Also



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