Toy Gory

"Toy Gory" is the second episode of the first season of Meelk n' Creem. It originally aired on Nickelodeon on July 4, 2000. In the episode, King Iyce Creem struggles with his fear of the dark, so he tasks Meelk and Creem to find one of the Mighty Bears, a failed line of 30-inch glow in the dark teddy bears created in 1997, which are now hidden in several caves full of mysterious creatures. The episode introduces various side characters such as newscasters Omlit and Choklit Lollee, weather reporter Bahnahnah Meelkshaik, and army leader Graytid.

Plot
The episode opens with King Iyce Creem struggling to sleep in the dark, and he dreams about monsters invading the kingdom and eating him. He wakes in a cold sweat and decides he needs to get help.

He consults Graytid, the fearless leader of Eten's army, on ways to stop his fear. She tells the tale of Mighty Bears, a 1997 line of failed 30-inch glow in the dark teddy bears, and their fate of being dumped in several caves.

After some research, King Iyce Creem discovers one of the caves just a few miles from the castle. As Meelk n' Creem walk past the doorway excited for their day off, King Iyce Creem enlists them with finding one of the bears.

Meelk and Creem are placed on a bus of old women headed for a casino. They jump from the window upon reaching the cave, with neither the blind old women or headphone-wearing driver noticing.

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Cast

 * BaconMatthew as Meelk, Sundai, Omlit, Creature #5, Creature #7
 * Jason O'Mara as Creem, Creature #2, Creature #6
 * Tress MacNeille as Queen Kickback, Graytid, Choklit Lollee, Old Woman #2, Creature #4
 * Stephen Fry as King Iyce Creem, Creature #3
 * Mark Hamill as Mighty Bear
 * Mary Kay Bergman as Bahnahnah Meelkshaik, Old Woman #1
 * Carlos Alazraqui as Creature #1, Cave of Coolness
 * Richard Pearce as Bus Driver

Cultural references
The title is a reference to the 1995 animated film Toy Story. A line spoken by one of the creatures in the cave, "Ooh, look, a friend in me!" upon being stabbed is also a reference to the film's opening song "You've Got a Friend in Me".

The casino bus Meelk and Creem take to the cave is labelled EXPRESS TO POOPSTOWN, with "poops" being a reference to popular casino game craps.

When Meelk shows up to the bus disguised as an old woman, his design is a reference to Daniel Hillard's titular disguise in the 1993 comedy-drama film Mrs. Doubtfire.

The Cave of Coolness, a talking cave seen in Creem's delirious vision, is a reference to the Cave of Wonders from 1992 film Aladdin.

Broadcast and reception
The episode premiered on July 4, 2000 at 6pm on Nickelodeon, being watched by 0.22 million viewers. It aired alongside a rerun of Store-bought Pineapples.

In the United States the episode premiered on December 11, 2000. It aired at 5:15 after the premiere of the first episode. It was watched by 0.93 million viewers.

In a 2013 poll by Nickelodeon, the episode was voted as the second best episode of season one, behind Creemmas.