Leonardo Is Caught in the Grip of an Outbreak of Randal's Imagination and Patrick Swayze Either Does or Doesn't Work in the New Pet Store

Infobox Television episode
Title=Leonardo Is Caught In The Grip Of An Outbreak Of Randal's Imagination And Patrick Swayze Either Does Or Doesn't Work In The New Pet Store


Series=
Season=1
Episode=3
Airdate=December 14, 2002
Story=Paul Dini
Writer=David Mandel
Kevin Smith
Director=Chris Bailey
Guests=Alec Baldwin as Leonardo Leonardo, Charles Barkley as himself, Gilbert Gottfried as Patrick Swayze, James Woods as Major Bakalava, Bryan Johnson as Steve Dave, Walt Flanagan as Walt the Fanboy, Dana Gould as the Drive Thru guy, Al Franken as the Mayor
Production=103
Prev=The Clipshow Wherein Dante and Randal are Locked in the Freezer and Remember Some of the Great Moments in Their Lives
Next=A Dissertation on the American Justice System by People Who Have Never Been Inside a Courtroom, Let Alone Know Anything About the Law, but Have Seen Way Too Many Legal Thrillers

Leonardo Is Caught In The Grip Of An Outbreak Of Randal's Imagination And Patrick Swayze Either Does Or Doesn't Work In The New Pet Store is the third episode of "". It first aired on December 14, 2002 by Comedy Central after they acquired the series.

Disclaimer joke: "However, this show is endorsed by the Celebrity Impersonators Union Local #725038."

Plot summary

A new pet store opens down the street from Quick Stop, where Dante and Randal find Patrick Swayze working. Randal fears an outbreak when Leonardo is bitten by the pet store's monkey and Leonardo has food poisoning caused by eating bad burritos from the Quick Stop. After Jay and Silent Bob steal the monkey to teach it how to smoke, Randal and Dante have to get it back so they can save the Quick Stop from being liquidated. After he discovers that the whole thing was a hoax started by Randal, the only way Dante can stop the liquidation crew is to admit that he's gay. Dante ends up saving the day by telling them, along with everyone else listening, that he's gay.

Jay and Silent Bob segment

"Science Sez": Charles Barkley tries to give this segment, but Jay and Silent Bob attack him in anger before he can finish. This scene is taken mostly shot for shot from a scene in "The Godfather".Commentary for "Clerks", episode "Leonardo Is Caught in the Grip of an Outbreak of Randal's Imagination and Patrick Swayze Either Does or Doesn't Work in the New Pet Store".]

Running jokes

* The episode marks the first mention of the "Kid in the helmet" character. This character is a reference to "Mallrats", and would go on to appear in the series' 5th episode as well as in a deleted scene in "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back".

Pop culture references

* The pet store's name is "Gerbils, Gerbils, Gerbils". It is the same store Jay and Silent Bob stood in front of in "Mallrats".
* The new character, Lando, is a reference to Lando Calrissian, a character from "Star Wars".
* Jay quotes lines from such films as "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" and "Planet of the Apes".
* The assault during the "Science Sez" segment is an exact recreation of a scene in "The Godfather", even including a blooper that originated in the film.
* Randal is convinced that the pet store monkey will cause an outbreak of the "Motaba virus", the same virus from the movie "Outbreak".
* There are two direct references to "Jaws" in this episode.
* The first letter read in the cold opening is said to be written by Jennifer Schwalbach, who is Kevin Smith's wife, and who he has previously stated is a strong feminist.
* The Chief of Police, while dressed as the McDonaldland character Big Mac, is asked whether the virus the monkey is theoretically supposed to be carrying could kill the Grimace. He quickly and angrily states: "Nothing can kill the Grimace." The Hamburglar and Mayor McCheese are also referenced in the episode.
* When Randal sees Leonardo Leonardo sick after being bitten(and also eating the rancid burritos), he adds up what he sees to equal Outbreak. However, the show is restricted from showing an unauthorized depiction of Dustin Hoffman, so they show Al Pacino instead. This is a reference to an incident in 1999 when a Los Angeles magazine printed a computer-generated image of Hoffman in a dress, causing him to sue.
* The scene at the end when Jay and Silent Bob dance with the monkey is a reference to the movie Badlands.
* Leonardo Leonardo's bodyguard says, "Sir, you must help him. If any of my parts or circuits will help, I'll gladly donate them." This is a direct (C-3PO) quote from "".

References