Difference between revisions of "5.08 Changing Channels"
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{{InfoboxEpisode | {{InfoboxEpisode | ||
| − | |image= [[Image:Promo pic for 5.08.jpg| | + | |image= [[Image:Promo pic for 5.08.jpg|350px]] |
| − | |title=Changing Channels | + | |title= Changing Channels |
|episode= Season 5, Episode 8 | |episode= Season 5, Episode 8 | ||
|firstaired= November 5, 2009 | |firstaired= November 5, 2009 | ||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
|imdb= [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1511910/ Changing Channels] | |imdb= [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1511910/ Changing Channels] | ||
|download= [http://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/changing-channels/id329061978?i=339033220 iTunes], [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VVHLOY Amazon.com] | |download= [http://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/changing-channels/id329061978?i=339033220 iTunes], [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VVHLOY Amazon.com] | ||
| − | |outline= | + | |outline= When [[Sam]] and [[Dean]] get trapped in a series of TV shows, they suspect the work of the [[Trickster]]. |
| − | |motw= [[ | + | |motw= [[Gabriel]] |
| − | |timeline= | + | |timeline= |
|location= Wellington, Ohio | |location= Wellington, Ohio | ||
|map= | |map= | ||
| Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
Wellington, OH, USA | Wellington, OH, USA | ||
}} | }} | ||
| + | |prevep= 5.07 The Curious Case of Dean Winchester | ||
| + | |nextep= 5.09 The Real Ghostbusters | ||
}} | }} | ||
|Synopsis= | |Synopsis= | ||
| − | Sam and Dean investigate a death where the wife swears her husband was killed by the Incredible Hulk. They soon work out that they are dealing with | + | [[Sam]] and [[Dean]] investigate a death where the wife swears her husband was killed by the [[Incredible Hulk]]. They soon work out that they are dealing with a [[Trickster]], but he manages to lure them into a trap and plant them into a series of TV shows including a hospital drama of which Dean is a fan (''[[Dr. Sexy M.D.]]''), a Japanese game show, an ad, and a sitcom. [[Castiel]] manages to appear at one point but is banished. When he reappears, Castiel is bloodied and bruised, and says he thinks it may be something more powerful than the Trickster – who appears and again banishes him. The Trickster says he is trying to drive home the lesson that they must play their roles as [[Michael]] and [[Lucifer]]'s vessels and finish the [[Apocalypse]] even though it will destroy the Earth. Dean tries to find out which side the Trickster is on, but he denies he is allied with either [[Heaven]] or [[Hell]]. |
| − | Sam and Dean continue in TV until, during a cop show, they think they spot the Trickster, and they stab him with a stake dipped in blood. But, while it momentarily appears things are back to normal, when Sam appears to have been transformed into the [[Impala]], it is obvious they aren't out. They've merely changed channels again. Finally, acting on a hunch, Dean sets a ring of [[ | + | Sam and Dean continue in TV until, during a cop show, they think they spot the Trickster, and they stab him with a stake dipped in blood. But, while it momentarily appears things are back to normal, when Sam appears to have been transformed into the [[Impala]], it is obvious they aren't out. They've merely changed channels again. Finally, acting on a hunch, Dean sets a ring of [[holy oil]] and entraps the Trickster, who reveals himself to be an [[archangel]] – [[Gabriel]]. |
| − | Gabriel reveals he left Heaven | + | Gabriel reveals he left Heaven and took on his disguise as the Trickster because he couldn't bear his father ([[God]]) and brothers (Lucifer, Michael, and the other [[angels]]) fighting. He says that Sam and Dean are destined to be the vessels, because they mirror the relationship between Michael and Lucifer. Dean is like Michael – the loyal son obeying the absent father – and Sam is like Lucifer – the rebellious son. He says it has always been predestined. Dean gets Gabriel to bring [[Castiel]] back, and then they leave after setting off the fire sprinklers so Gabriel will be released eventually. |
| − | |||
| − | Dean gets Gabriel to bring [[Castiel]] back, and then they leave after setting off the fire sprinklers so Gabriel will be released eventually. | ||
|Characters= | |Characters= | ||
| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
* [[Dean Winchester]] | * [[Dean Winchester]] | ||
* [[Castiel]] | * [[Castiel]] | ||
| − | * | + | * [[Trickster]] / [[Gabriel]] |
| − | |||
|Pad_of_Definitions= | |Pad_of_Definitions= | ||
| + | * [[Acting in Unison]] | ||
| + | * [[Angel Lore]] | ||
| + | * [[Archangel]] | ||
| + | * [[Costumes & Disguises]] | ||
| + | * [[Dr. Sexy M.D.]] | ||
| + | * [[Gank]] | ||
* [[Holy Oil]] | * [[Holy Oil]] | ||
| + | * [[Hugs]] | ||
| + | * [[Impala]] | ||
| + | * [[Incredible Hulk]] | ||
| + | * [[Sammy]] | ||
| + | * [[Sampala]] | ||
| + | * [[Supernatural Sitcom]] | ||
* [[Title Card]] | * [[Title Card]] | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
* [[Vessel]] | * [[Vessel]] | ||
| − | + | ||
|Music= | |Music= | ||
| − | + | * "[[Together (The Supernatural Sitcom Theme)]]" by [[Jay Gruska]] | |
| − | + | :''(opening credits to the episode)'' | |
| − | + | * "Move You" by Anya Marina | |
| − | + | :''(plays while Dean watches Dr. Sexy, M.D.)'' | |
| − | + | * "Not A Through Street" by Anya Marina | |
| − | + | :''(plays when Dean and Sam enter the hospital)'' | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | * "Move You" by Anya Marina | ||
| − | * "Not A Through Street" by Anya Marina | ||
* "Something Real" by Renee Stahl | * "Something Real" by Renee Stahl | ||
| − | * "Love | + | : ''(plays when Dr. Sam gets the "you're a great doctor" speech and over Dean getting shot)'' |
| − | + | * "I Love to See You Happy (Livin' My Life)" by Robbi Spencer | |
| − | + | :''(plays over Sam performing the surgery)'' | |
| − | + | * "The Knight Rider Theme Song" by Stu Phillips | |
| + | :''(plays when Dean drives Sam to call out the Trickster)'' | ||
| − | + | |Quotes= | |
| − | |||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | + | '''Dean:''' Hey there, Sam. What's happening?<br> | |
| + | '''Sam:''' Oh, nothing. Um. Just the end of the world. | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | + | '''Bikini Girl:''' We have some more research to do.<br> | |
| + | '''Sam:''' Dean...<br> | ||
| + | '''Dean:''' Son of a bitch! | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | |||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | ''' | + | '''Sam:''' What are you watching?<br> |
| − | ''' | + | '''Dean:''' Hospital show. Dr. Sexy, MD. I think it's based on a book.<br> |
| + | '''Sam:''' When did you hit menopause?<br> | ||
| + | '''Dean:''' It's called channel surfing. | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | ''' | + | '''Dean:''' You're not Dr. Sexy.<br> |
| − | '''Dean:''' | + | '''Dr. Sexy:''' You're crazy.<br> |
| − | ''' | + | '''Dean:''' Really? Because I swore part of what makes Dr. Sexy sexy is the fact that he wears cowboy boots. Not tennis shoes.<br> |
| + | '''Sam:''' Yeah. You're not a fan.<br> | ||
| + | '''Dean:''' It's a guilty pleasure. | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | + | '''Sam:''' Okay. Um. I need a penknife, some dental floss, a sewing needle, and a fifth of whiskey. Stat! | |
| − | '''Sam:''' | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | + | '''Sam:''' I've got genital herpes. | |
| − | '''Sam | ||
| − | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | ''' | + | '''Dean:''' I hate this game. I hate that we're in a procedural cop show and you wanna know why? Because I hate procedural cop shows. There's like three hundred of them on television and they're all the freaking same. It's ooh, plane crashed here—oh shut up. |
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | ''' | + | '''Gabriel:''' Well played, boys. Well played. Where'd you get the holy oil?<br> |
| + | '''Dean:''' Well, you might say we pulled it out of Sam's ass. | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | ''' | + | '''Dean:''' Do you blame him? I mean, his brothers are heavyweight douchenozzles.<br> |
| + | '''Gabriel:''' Shut your cakehole. You don't know anything about my family. I love my father, my brothers. Love them. But watching them turn on each other? Tear at each other's throats? I couldn't bear it! Okay? So I left. And now it's happening all over again. | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | '''Sam:''' | + | '''Dean:''' All that stuff he was spouting in there, you think it was the truth?<br> |
| − | '''Dean:''' | + | '''Sam:''' I think he believes it.<br> |
| + | '''Dean:''' So what do we do?<br> | ||
| + | '''Sam:''' I don't know.<br> | ||
| + | '''Dean:''' Well I'll tell you one thing. Right about now I wish I was back in a TV show.<br> | ||
| + | '''Sam:''' Yeah, me too. | ||
}} | }} | ||
| + | |||
| + | |Trivia_References= | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | + | [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJbqZoZv_Ws Sitcoms have] been around since TV began from shows such as ''I Love Lucy'' through to ''Two and a Half Men''. They were often aired with a pre-recorded [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laugh_track laugh track], although in the last decade this has become a less common practice. | |
| − | |||
| − | ''' | ||
| − | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | ''' | + | "[[Together (The Supernatural Sitcom Theme)]]" plays over [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjizUGe9WjA opening credits] which mimic those of '70s and '80s sitcoms like [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AIaakO9YDw ''Laverne and Shirley''] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO5oDScu4ps ''Full House''.]<br> |
| − | ''' | + | <blockquote> |
| + | The lyrics for the ''Supernatural'' Sitcom Theme Song are:<br> | ||
| + | Town to town, two-lane roads <br> | ||
| + | Family biz, two hunting bros -<br> | ||
| + | Living the lie, just to get by.<br> | ||
| + | As long as we're movin' forward<br> | ||
| + | There's nothing we can't do<br> | ||
| + | Together we'll face the day<br> | ||
| + | You and I won't run away<br> | ||
| + | When demons come out to play<br> | ||
| + | Together we'll face the day!<br> | ||
| + | </blockquote> | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| + | ''Dr. Sexy, M.D.'' was first mentioned as a book series in [[4.18 The Monster at the End of This Book]] by the publisher as one of the reasons the ''Supernatural'' books went out of print. | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | ''' | + | '''Dean:''' Well, it turns out that Bill Randolph had quite the temper. He's got two counts of spousal battery, bar brawls, and court-ordered anger management sessions. You might say you wouldn't like him when he's angry. |
| + | :The wife of the first victim reports seeing ''The Incredible Hulk'' - and the line Dean quotes is a classic from the TV show and movies. | ||
| + | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Ferrigno Lou Ferrigno] starred as David Banner's (played by [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0084642/ Bill Bixby], hulky green alter ego. [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0051509/ Eric Bana] played Bruce Banner in the [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286716/ 2003 movie ''Hulk''], and [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001570/ Ed Norton] played him in the [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800080/ 2008 ''Incredible Hulk'']. The actual Hulk was basically CGI in these movies.'' | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | ''' | + | '''Sam:''' Okay, Trickster's like a Hugh Hefner type, right? Wine, women, song—maybe he doesn't want the party to end. Maybe he hates this angels and demons stuff as much as we do. Maybe he'll help us. |
| − | + | :''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Hefner Hugh Hefner] is the publisher of Playboy Magazine, and known for his extravagant lifestyle.'' | |
| − | |||
}} | }} | ||
| − | |||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | + | '''Dean:''' A bloody, violent monster, and you wanna be Facebook friends with him? Nice, Sammy. | |
| + | :''Dean has come a long way since a girl gave him her [[MySpace]] address in [[2.08 Crossroad Blues]] and Dean asked Sam, "Yeah, MySpace, what the hell is that? Seriously, is that like some sort of porn site?"'' | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | '' | + | ''[[Dr. Sexy M.D.]]'' - hospital show set at Seattle Mercy Hospital - is a send-up of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey%27s_anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy''] a medical drama which aired opposite ''Supernatural'' in the U.S. on Thursday nights, revolving around the love lives of the staff of Seattle Grace Hospital. Dr. Derek Shepherd, played by Patrick Dempsey, is nicknamed [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Mcdreamy "McDreamy"] by other characters on the show. The scenes and melodramatic dialogue mimic that of ''Grey's Anatomy'' - as can be seen in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QiYtEpMKHQ these video clips.] |
| − | |||
| − | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | ''' | + | '''Gabriel:''' As it is in Heaven, so it must be on Earth. One brother has to kill the other.'' |
| − | + | :''Gabriel references the concept of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouroboros Ouroboros]; the connection between Heaven and Earth. As above, so below. The same alchemical symbol was used on the journal of [[Doc Benton]] in [[3.15 Time Is on My Side]]. It is also referenced in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_Tablet The Legend of The Emerald Tablet]. | |
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | + | The character Johnny Drake on ''Dr. Sexy, M.D'' is a take-off of the patient [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denny_Duquette Denny Duquette] on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey%27s_anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'']. He had a romance with intern [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izzie_Stevens Izzie Stevens], but then died. Denny was played by none other than [[Jeffrey Dean Morgan]], a.k.a. [[John Winchester]]. In a classic case of [[Surprise JDM]], he later returned twice to ''Grey's Anatomy'' as a hallucination brought on by Izzie's brain tumor. | |
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | + | {{TriviaQuote |Text= |
| − | " | + | The repeated use of phrase "Doctor" when addressing someone is a reference to the 1985 comedy [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spies_Like_Us ''Spies Like Us'']; in one of the film's most famous scenes, a group of doctors address each other repeatedly as "Doctor." |
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | The | + | The name of the show in Japanese is くるみわり (kurumiwari) which literally translates to "walnut splitter".}} |
| + | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| + | Nutcracker! is a reference to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_game_shows Japanese game shows] which are known for their weird, often humiliating and painful stunts. On the show [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJbqZoZv_Ws ''Say This Right! Nut Cracker''], contestants have to recite a tongue-twister, and if they get it wrong they get hit in the nuts with a ball on a stick! | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | + | [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy17dtyskyU The ad for "Herpexia"] is a spoof of the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iLTfG75s6g ad for Valtrex] genital herpes treatment. | |
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | + | '''Trickster:''' Oh, you know. Sam starring as Lucifer. Dean starring as Michael. Your celebrity death match. Play your roles. | |
| + | :''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrity_Deathmatch Celebrity Deathmatch] was a claymation series, that involved celebrities fighting to the death that aired on MTV from 1998-2002 and 2006-2007.'' | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | The | + | The "procedural cop shows" Dean refers to include shows like the ''CSI'' and ''Law and Order'' franchises. Like ''Grey's Anatomy'', ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'' aired in the U.S. at the same time as ''Supernatural'' on Thursday night. They specifically reference ''CSI: Miami'''s David Caruso's character, crime lab lieutenant [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Caine Horatio Caine.] Sam and Dean mimic his mannerisms, demonstrated in this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sarYH0z948 video clip] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeeyWvo1rNg this one] of taking his sunglasses on and off and turning to profile, and/or looking into the middle-distance as he makes a pithy observation about the crime. However, if you look closely to the badge one of the techs is wearing, it says LVPD (Las Vegas Police Department) specifically referencing ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'' which takes place in Las Vegas (the first in the ''CSI'' franchise). |
| − | + | ||
| − | At [[Salute to Supernatural Chicago 2009]] Jensen and Jared revealed that they'd watched the "Horatio" one-liners on | + | At [[Salute to Supernatural Chicago 2009]] [[Jensen]] and [[Jared]] revealed that they'd watched the "Horatio" one-liners on YouTube in preparation for the scenes. They said that for years on ''Supernatural'' there'd been a running joke if a line was a bit "on the nose" that they'd send it up in this way. The lines "a plane crashed here" and "no talent douchebags" were [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XZsoXjtvU0 adlibbed by Jensen.] |
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight_Rider_%281982_TV_series%29 Knight Rider] was a 1980s series (recently unsuccessfully revived) about crime fighter Michael Knight played by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hasselhoff | + | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight_Rider_%281982_TV_series%29 ''Knight Rider''] was a 1980s series (recently unsuccessfully revived) about crime fighter Michael Knight played by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hasselhoff David Hasselhoff] and his intelligent car [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KITT KITT]. When Sam is turned into the Impala, there is a red light which appears behind the front grille which moves from side to side, just like KITT had. |
| − | |||
KITT, just like the Impala, is the epitome of a character-car. In the past, fandom has produced fan fiction that portrayed the Impala with a soul, and more often than not, a voice. See also [[Impala]], [[Sampala]] and [[Crack]] fiction. | KITT, just like the Impala, is the epitome of a character-car. In the past, fandom has produced fan fiction that portrayed the Impala with a soul, and more often than not, a voice. See also [[Impala]], [[Sampala]] and [[Crack]] fiction. | ||
}} | }} | ||
| + | |||
| + | |Minutiae= | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | [http://www. | + | [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0154000/ Christine Chatelain], who played Dr. Ellen Piccolo, previously played [[Jenny (Vampire)|Jenny]] in [[1.20 Dead Man's Blood]] and later [[15.20 Carry On]]. |
}} | }} | ||
| − | |||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | + | "[[Together (The Supernatural Sitcom Theme)]]" was co-written by [[Jay Gruska]] and [[Jeremy Carver]]. | |
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | + | The mini bikes the boys are seen riding in the opening credits are actually mini bikes they ride around on set.[http://photos.latimes.com/backlot/gallery/supernatural/2008/10/19/Supernatural_jared_mini_bike See pics of them] during the filming of [[4.06 Yellow Fever]].'' | |
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | + | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey%27s_anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy''] has become known for its use of indie pop music and each episode is named after a song. This is precisely the type of music Kripke didn't want used in ''Supernatural''. [http://www.supernaturalwiki.com/scripts/pilotdraftscript.PDF In an early draft] of the script for the ''Supernatural'' Pilot he wrote "CUE MUSIC And you can take your anemic alternative pop and shove it up your ass. Dean plays bass thumping, pile driving Zeppelin, and he plays it loud." (See [[Music]] for more). | |
| − | + | In this episode, great care went into choosing the music. [http://xfinity.comcast.net/blogs/tv/2009/11/03/the-big-tease-scoop-on-greys-chuck-supernatural-and-more/ Kripke said], "We share a music supervisor with ''Grey’s'', [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandra_Patsavas Alex Patsavas], so she made sure we had the perfect type of songs. I think a few may have even been used on ''Grey's''.'" | |
| − | + | The music used in the "crime procedural sequence" echoes [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjRG2530rwI the opening theme to ''CSI: Miami''] which uses "Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who. | |
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| + | Jensen and Patrick "McDreamy" Dempsey both appeared in the Marilyn Monroe biopic ''Blonde'' – [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oZC24Ph-xY a scene from the movie.] | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| + | Dean drives the [[Sampala]] past a sign that says "Centennial Point Wilderness Area." Centennial Highway was the highway on which [[Woman in White]] [[Constance Welch]] would pick up her victims in [[1.01 Pilot]]. | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| + | The "Changing Channels" free-for-all meme was started by clex-monkie on LiveJournal and produced fan fics after the premise of the episode, in which Sam and Dean are channel hopping to other TV shows than portrayed in the episode, among them ''Leverage'', ''The Vampire Diaries'', and ''Glee''.<sup>[http://clex-monkie89.livejournal.com/742063.html Source]</sup> | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| + | Wallpaper in the motel Sam and Dean stay in was later seen in [[11.06 Our Little World]]. | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| + | This door to the abandoned warehouse where the [[Trickster]] traps [[Sam]] and [[Dean]] has a large number 4 on it. This door also appears in [[2.18 Hollywood Babylon]] as the door to the ''[[Hell Hazers II: The Reckoning]]'' set and [[6.15 The French Mistake]] as the door to the "''Supernatural''" set. | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| + | In June 2010, The CW submitted this episode, along with [[5.04 The End]] for consideration for an Emmy nomination. | ||
| + | }} | ||
|Sides_Scripts_Transcripts= | |Sides_Scripts_Transcripts= | ||
| Line 189: | Line 225: | ||
|Promotion= | |Promotion= | ||
| − | + | * [http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/10/13/supernatural-first-look-sam-and-dean-check-into-seattle-grace/ Synopsis] by Ausiello | |
| − | + | * [http://xfinity.comcast.net/blogs/tv/2009/11/03/the-big-tease-scoop-on-greys-chuck-supernatural-and-more/ Episode Spoilers] from Matt Mitovich | |
| − | *[http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/10/13/supernatural-first-look-sam-and-dean-check-into-seattle-grace/ | ||
| − | * [http:// | ||
| − | |||
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* [http://eclipsemagazine.com/hollywood-insider/13210/ Interview] with [[Richard Speight Jr.]] | * [http://eclipsemagazine.com/hollywood-insider/13210/ Interview] with [[Richard Speight Jr.]] | ||
| − | * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= | + | * [http://s889.photobucket.com/albums/ac98/Superwiki/season5ep8/ Promo Pics] |
| − | * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= | + | * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9o437wX-B4 "Soon" Promo] |
| − | * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= | + | * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-DRdjbcFPU Promo Clip] |
| − | + | * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMW9NFSTNdQ Space TV Promo] | |
| + | }} | ||
| + | ==Episode Meta== | ||
| + | *[https://bardicvoice.livejournal.com/59988.html 5.08 Changing Channels: As It Is In Heaven, So It Must Be On Earth] by bardicvoice (November 2009); [https://web.archive.org/web/20190816011142/http://bardicvoice.livejournal.com/59988.html archive link], [https://spn-heavymeta.livejournal.com/290851.html spn-heavymeta] | ||
| + | *Bond, Silvia. 2009. Having Fun that is Funny: "Changing Channels" Season 5, Episode 8. ''Pink Raygun'', November 10; [https://web.archive.org/web/20120326112136/http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/11/10/supernatural-changing-channels/ archive link], [https://spn-heavymeta.livejournal.com/290075.html spn-heavymeta] | ||
| + | *Chan, Suzette. 2009. [http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=1594 Supernatural Talk: Tarts talk about Supernatural 5.08 Changing Channels]. ''Sequential Tart'', December 28; [https://web.archive.org/web/20190404124336/http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=1594 archive link] | ||
| − | + | [[Category:Canon]][[Category:Episodes|0508]][[Category:Season 5]] | |
| − | [[Category:Canon]][[Category:Episodes]][[Category:Season 5]] | ||
Revision as of 22:51, 30 November 2020
| |
| Title | Changing Channels |
| Episode # | Season 5, Episode 8 |
| First aired | November 5, 2009 |
| Directed by | Charles Beeson |
| Written by | Jeremy Carver |
| On IMDB | Changing Channels |
| Outline | When Sam and Dean get trapped in a series of TV shows, they suspect the work of the Trickster. |
| Monster | Gabriel |
| Timeline | |
| Location(s) | Wellington, Ohio |
| « Previous Episode | Next Episode » | |
Contents
Synopsis
Sam and Dean investigate a death where the wife swears her husband was killed by the Incredible Hulk. They soon work out that they are dealing with a Trickster, but he manages to lure them into a trap and plant them into a series of TV shows including a hospital drama of which Dean is a fan (Dr. Sexy M.D.), a Japanese game show, an ad, and a sitcom. Castiel manages to appear at one point but is banished. When he reappears, Castiel is bloodied and bruised, and says he thinks it may be something more powerful than the Trickster – who appears and again banishes him. The Trickster says he is trying to drive home the lesson that they must play their roles as Michael and Lucifer's vessels and finish the Apocalypse even though it will destroy the Earth. Dean tries to find out which side the Trickster is on, but he denies he is allied with either Heaven or Hell. Sam and Dean continue in TV until, during a cop show, they think they spot the Trickster, and they stab him with a stake dipped in blood. But, while it momentarily appears things are back to normal, when Sam appears to have been transformed into the Impala, it is obvious they aren't out. They've merely changed channels again. Finally, acting on a hunch, Dean sets a ring of holy oil and entraps the Trickster, who reveals himself to be an archangel – Gabriel. Gabriel reveals he left Heaven and took on his disguise as the Trickster because he couldn't bear his father (God) and brothers (Lucifer, Michael, and the other angels) fighting. He says that Sam and Dean are destined to be the vessels, because they mirror the relationship between Michael and Lucifer. Dean is like Michael – the loyal son obeying the absent father – and Sam is like Lucifer – the rebellious son. He says it has always been predestined. Dean gets Gabriel to bring Castiel back, and then they leave after setting off the fire sprinklers so Gabriel will be released eventually.
Characters
Definitions
- Acting in Unison
- Angel Lore
- Archangel
- Costumes & Disguises
- Dr. Sexy M.D.
- Gank
- Holy Oil
- Hugs
- Impala
- Incredible Hulk
- Sammy
- Sampala
- Supernatural Sitcom
- Title Card
- Vessel
Music
- (opening credits to the episode)
- "Move You" by Anya Marina
- (plays while Dean watches Dr. Sexy, M.D.)
- "Not A Through Street" by Anya Marina
- (plays when Dean and Sam enter the hospital)
- "Something Real" by Renee Stahl
- (plays when Dr. Sam gets the "you're a great doctor" speech and over Dean getting shot)
- "I Love to See You Happy (Livin' My Life)" by Robbi Spencer
- (plays over Sam performing the surgery)
- "The Knight Rider Theme Song" by Stu Phillips
- (plays when Dean drives Sam to call out the Trickster)
Quotes
Dean: Hey there, Sam. What's happening?
Sam: Oh, nothing. Um. Just the end of the world.
Sam: Oh, nothing. Um. Just the end of the world.
Bikini Girl: We have some more research to do.
Sam: Dean...
Sam: What are you watching?
Dean: Hospital show. Dr. Sexy, MD. I think it's based on a book.
Sam: When did you hit menopause?
Dean: You're not Dr. Sexy.
Dr. Sexy: You're crazy.
Dean: Really? Because I swore part of what makes Dr. Sexy sexy is the fact that he wears cowboy boots. Not tennis shoes.
Sam: Yeah. You're not a fan.
Sam: Okay. Um. I need a penknife, some dental floss, a sewing needle, and a fifth of whiskey. Stat!
Sam: I've got genital herpes.
Dean: I hate this game. I hate that we're in a procedural cop show and you wanna know why? Because I hate procedural cop shows. There's like three hundred of them on television and they're all the freaking same. It's ooh, plane crashed here—oh shut up.
Gabriel: Well played, boys. Well played. Where'd you get the holy oil?
Dean: Well, you might say we pulled it out of Sam's ass.
Dean: Well, you might say we pulled it out of Sam's ass.
Dean: Do you blame him? I mean, his brothers are heavyweight douchenozzles.
Gabriel: Shut your cakehole. You don't know anything about my family. I love my father, my brothers. Love them. But watching them turn on each other? Tear at each other's throats? I couldn't bear it! Okay? So I left. And now it's happening all over again.
Gabriel: Shut your cakehole. You don't know anything about my family. I love my father, my brothers. Love them. But watching them turn on each other? Tear at each other's throats? I couldn't bear it! Okay? So I left. And now it's happening all over again.
Dean: All that stuff he was spouting in there, you think it was the truth?
Sam: I think he believes it.
Dean: So what do we do?
Sam: I don't know.
Dean: Well I'll tell you one thing. Right about now I wish I was back in a TV show.
Trivia & References
Sitcoms have been around since TV began from shows such as I Love Lucy through to Two and a Half Men. They were often aired with a pre-recorded laugh track, although in the last decade this has become a less common practice.
"Together (The Supernatural Sitcom Theme)" plays over opening credits which mimic those of '70s and '80s sitcoms like Laverne and Shirley and Full House.
The lyrics for the Supernatural Sitcom Theme Song are:
Town to town, two-lane roads
Family biz, two hunting bros -
Living the lie, just to get by.
As long as we're movin' forward
There's nothing we can't do
Together we'll face the day
You and I won't run away
When demons come out to play
Together we'll face the day!
Dr. Sexy, M.D. was first mentioned as a book series in 4.18 The Monster at the End of This Book by the publisher as one of the reasons the Supernatural books went out of print.
Dean: Well, it turns out that Bill Randolph had quite the temper. He's got two counts of spousal battery, bar brawls, and court-ordered anger management sessions. You might say you wouldn't like him when he's angry.
- The wife of the first victim reports seeing The Incredible Hulk - and the line Dean quotes is a classic from the TV show and movies.
Sam: Okay, Trickster's like a Hugh Hefner type, right? Wine, women, song—maybe he doesn't want the party to end. Maybe he hates this angels and demons stuff as much as we do. Maybe he'll help us.
- Hugh Hefner is the publisher of Playboy Magazine, and known for his extravagant lifestyle.
Dean: A bloody, violent monster, and you wanna be Facebook friends with him? Nice, Sammy.
- Dean has come a long way since a girl gave him her MySpace address in 2.08 Crossroad Blues and Dean asked Sam, "Yeah, MySpace, what the hell is that? Seriously, is that like some sort of porn site?"
Dr. Sexy M.D. - hospital show set at Seattle Mercy Hospital - is a send-up of Grey's Anatomy a medical drama which aired opposite Supernatural in the U.S. on Thursday nights, revolving around the love lives of the staff of Seattle Grace Hospital. Dr. Derek Shepherd, played by Patrick Dempsey, is nicknamed "McDreamy" by other characters on the show. The scenes and melodramatic dialogue mimic that of Grey's Anatomy - as can be seen in these video clips.
Gabriel: As it is in Heaven, so it must be on Earth. One brother has to kill the other.
- Gabriel references the concept of Ouroboros; the connection between Heaven and Earth. As above, so below. The same alchemical symbol was used on the journal of Doc Benton in 3.15 Time Is on My Side. It is also referenced in The Legend of The Emerald Tablet.
The character Johnny Drake on Dr. Sexy, M.D is a take-off of the patient Denny Duquette on Grey's Anatomy. He had a romance with intern Izzie Stevens, but then died. Denny was played by none other than Jeffrey Dean Morgan, a.k.a. John Winchester. In a classic case of Surprise JDM, he later returned twice to Grey's Anatomy as a hallucination brought on by Izzie's brain tumor.
The repeated use of phrase "Doctor" when addressing someone is a reference to the 1985 comedy Spies Like Us; in one of the film's most famous scenes, a group of doctors address each other repeatedly as "Doctor."
The name of the show in Japanese is くるみわり (kurumiwari) which literally translates to "walnut splitter".
Nutcracker! is a reference to Japanese game shows which are known for their weird, often humiliating and painful stunts. On the show Say This Right! Nut Cracker, contestants have to recite a tongue-twister, and if they get it wrong they get hit in the nuts with a ball on a stick!
The ad for "Herpexia" is a spoof of the ad for Valtrex genital herpes treatment.
Trickster: Oh, you know. Sam starring as Lucifer. Dean starring as Michael. Your celebrity death match. Play your roles.
- Celebrity Deathmatch was a claymation series, that involved celebrities fighting to the death that aired on MTV from 1998-2002 and 2006-2007.
The "procedural cop shows" Dean refers to include shows like the CSI and Law and Order franchises. Like Grey's Anatomy, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation aired in the U.S. at the same time as Supernatural on Thursday night. They specifically reference CSI: Miami's David Caruso's character, crime lab lieutenant Horatio Caine. Sam and Dean mimic his mannerisms, demonstrated in this video clip and this one of taking his sunglasses on and off and turning to profile, and/or looking into the middle-distance as he makes a pithy observation about the crime. However, if you look closely to the badge one of the techs is wearing, it says LVPD (Las Vegas Police Department) specifically referencing CSI: Crime Scene Investigation which takes place in Las Vegas (the first in the CSI franchise).
At Salute to Supernatural Chicago 2009 Jensen and Jared revealed that they'd watched the "Horatio" one-liners on YouTube in preparation for the scenes. They said that for years on Supernatural there'd been a running joke if a line was a bit "on the nose" that they'd send it up in this way. The lines "a plane crashed here" and "no talent douchebags" were adlibbed by Jensen.
Knight Rider was a 1980s series (recently unsuccessfully revived) about crime fighter Michael Knight played by David Hasselhoff and his intelligent car KITT. When Sam is turned into the Impala, there is a red light which appears behind the front grille which moves from side to side, just like KITT had.
KITT, just like the Impala, is the epitome of a character-car. In the past, fandom has produced fan fiction that portrayed the Impala with a soul, and more often than not, a voice. See also Impala, Sampala and Crack fiction.
Minutiae
Christine Chatelain, who played Dr. Ellen Piccolo, previously played Jenny in 1.20 Dead Man's Blood and later 15.20 Carry On.
The mini bikes the boys are seen riding in the opening credits are actually mini bikes they ride around on set.See pics of them during the filming of 4.06 Yellow Fever.
Grey's Anatomy has become known for its use of indie pop music and each episode is named after a song. This is precisely the type of music Kripke didn't want used in Supernatural. In an early draft of the script for the Supernatural Pilot he wrote "CUE MUSIC And you can take your anemic alternative pop and shove it up your ass. Dean plays bass thumping, pile driving Zeppelin, and he plays it loud." (See Music for more).
In this episode, great care went into choosing the music. Kripke said, "We share a music supervisor with Grey’s, Alex Patsavas, so she made sure we had the perfect type of songs. I think a few may have even been used on Grey's.'"
The music used in the "crime procedural sequence" echoes the opening theme to CSI: Miami which uses "Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who.Jensen and Patrick "McDreamy" Dempsey both appeared in the Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde – a scene from the movie.
Dean drives the Sampala past a sign that says "Centennial Point Wilderness Area." Centennial Highway was the highway on which Woman in White Constance Welch would pick up her victims in 1.01 Pilot.
The "Changing Channels" free-for-all meme was started by clex-monkie on LiveJournal and produced fan fics after the premise of the episode, in which Sam and Dean are channel hopping to other TV shows than portrayed in the episode, among them Leverage, The Vampire Diaries, and Glee.Source
Wallpaper in the motel Sam and Dean stay in was later seen in 11.06 Our Little World.
This door to the abandoned warehouse where the Trickster traps Sam and Dean has a large number 4 on it. This door also appears in 2.18 Hollywood Babylon as the door to the Hell Hazers II: The Reckoning set and 6.15 The French Mistake as the door to the "Supernatural" set.
In June 2010, The CW submitted this episode, along with 5.04 The End for consideration for an Emmy nomination.
Sides, Scripts & Transcripts
Promotion
- Synopsis by Ausiello
- Episode Spoilers from Matt Mitovich
- Interview with Richard Speight Jr.
- Promo Pics
- "Soon" Promo
- Promo Clip
- Space TV Promo
Episode Meta
- 5.08 Changing Channels: As It Is In Heaven, So It Must Be On Earth by bardicvoice (November 2009); archive link, spn-heavymeta
- Bond, Silvia. 2009. Having Fun that is Funny: "Changing Channels" Season 5, Episode 8. Pink Raygun, November 10; archive link, spn-heavymeta
- Chan, Suzette. 2009. Supernatural Talk: Tarts talk about Supernatural 5.08 Changing Channels. Sequential Tart, December 28; archive link
