Fourth Wall Breaks

From Homestar Runner Wiki

Once in a blue moon, the H*R characters "break the fourth wall" by recognizing their existence as cartoon characters on a computer screen rather than in a fictional world of their own. They have only done this in the following Strong Bad Emails:

• huttah!: The Cheat actually watches the e-mail on his own computer
• the process: the entire email implies that Strong Bad is aware that he is a cartoon being watched by people at home
• mile: Strong Bad tells us he won't be checking his e-mail this week.
• flashback: they extend the size of the display area and Homestar Runner is "behind the black"
• for kids: Strong Bad alludes to the idea of children at home watching the emails
• other days: Strong Bad does his email earlier for "Eastern European viewers across the pond"
• extra plug: the scene at the end with the cast making a fake e-mail give the impression that Strong Bad knows someone's watching, and that they want to see the e-mail finished
• virus: the characters recognize that they are in a cartoon
• animal: Strong Bad says goodbye to everyone.
• Not the 100th Email!!!: References to the 404 page and the user poking around the site.

In addition, the fourth wall has been breached in the following toons:

• The System is Down: References to both the 404 File Not Found 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."

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