Fourth Wall Breaks

From Homestar Runner Wiki

On rare occasion, the H*R characters "break the fourth wall" by recognizing their existence in a cartoon rather than in a fictional world of their own.

First Time Here? sets the stage for fourth wall breakages, especially when Strong Bad shows up to let you know why you're here.

Although the characters interacting with various aspects of being in a cartoon is rare, Strong Bad obviously knows he's being watched during his email show, as the whole idea of Strong Bad Emails revolves around such knowledge.

Excluding Strong Bad Emails that involve Strong Bad addressing the viewers, here is a list of fourth wall breakages in the toons.

Fourth Wall Breakages

• Stinkoman 20X6: When 1-Up requests Stinkoman's help, Stinkoman says that he already helped him in Level 4.
• island: When Yami Yugi asks what Strong Bad would do if he were stuck on a desert island, Strong Bad nonchalantly replies, "I suspect it would be like most cartoons," indicating that he himself is in a cartoon. Later, Homestar imitates Main Page 3, with similar effects.
• huttah!: The Cheat actually watches the e-mail on his own computer.
• couch patch: Strong Bad points out that the couch patch is visible in Homestar's flashback.
• flashback: The size of the display area is purposefully extended and Homestar Runner is "behind the black."
• Not the 100th Email!!!: References to the 404 page and the user poking around the site.
• old comics: Strong Bad says he and Homestar were used in a comic that aired at least 60 years ago. Since they are obviously not that old, he is pointing out the fact that he and Homestar are unaging cartoon characters.
• virus: The Virus opens most of the characters' minds to realize that they are in a cartoon.
• animal: Strong Bad says that a man with a laptop computer comes "from the right side of the screen."
• part-time job: Strong Bad peeks around the edge of the black on his way to Bubs'.
• In Search Of The Yello Dello DVD and The King of Town DVD: Characters doing commentaries and being in previews for the toons that are DVDs show that they know it was a cartoon.
• The System is Down: Here are references to both the Error Page and Homestarrunner.com being down.
• Homestar Presents: Presents: Strong Bad informs the viewers that Homestar runs around frantically from Decemberween to New Years, then, in the easter egg, there is a poster on the wall that reads, "Left Out Characters' Support Group & Buffet."
• In Search Of The Yello Dello DVD: The TV announcer says that the Yello Dello is "the most rare and exotic bird in this entire cartoon."
• Where's The Cheat?: Strong Bad says "Don't worry, big guy. We'll cut to a montage."
• Marzipan's Answering Machine Version 8: Homestar says "This is Homestar Runner from Homestarrunner.com".
• Peasant's Quest: If you talk to the second "Haldo" brother and say "Haldo" without talking to the first one (the one at the booth), he will say, "What'd you read that in PQ Stragedy [sic] Guide? Go talk to my brother first." Also, if you type "throw baby" before you actually get the baby, the game will say that you must have "misread the walkthrough on GameFAQS."
• Strong Sad: On Strong Sad's character page, he runs his finger down the left side of the screen.
• bottom 10: After the end of the e-mail, Strong Bad acknowledges that there are no easter eggs at the end.