Where's God When I'm S-Startled?

***Where's God When I'm S-Scared?*** is the first episode of the show. It teaches a lesson in handling startles. It was released on DVD on Thursday, April 21, 2022.

## Plot:

### Opening Countertop:

Bob the Cucumber and Larry the Tomato greet the viewers on the countertop and read a letter they received from a 6 year-old girl named Lucy Anderson hailing from Phoenix, Arizona. Her letter reveals that she's startled by monsters that she believes are in her closet. Larry chimes in, remembering when he thought monsters were in his closet, but they turned out to be his fluffy bunny slippers. Bob tells Lucy to "check and see if it’s just your slippers" and then segues into the first story: *Tales from the Toaster*.

### *Tales from the Toaster*:

Rudy Monster is watching a late night Frankenstein movie before being told by his mom (Marie Bonfamille) he needs to go to bed. As he walks upstairs, he's in denial over whether or not the movie startles him, but he soon imagines his family portrait coming to life and dashes to his bedroom.

In his bedroom, Bob and Larry soon emerge and begin to explain how God is bigger and that there *is* no need to be startled. Frankenstein (Jimmy Gourd) soon appears, which frightens Rudy. He soon explains he's merely an actor from Toledo, Ohio whose job is to scare as part of his career. The lesson, in song, causes Rudy's dad (Patch Radcliffe) to ask what the noise is. Rudy explains he knows God and is no longer startled. His dad soon tells him to be careful on what he watches in the future and shuts off the lights.

### *Funny Songs with Larry*: "The Water Tiger Song":

In the beginning of the song, Larry appears wearing his oversized cowboy hat, and sings about a water tiger, but suddenly, Oscar the Grouch interrupts him, forbidding him to sing that everybody's got a water tiger. At the end, Larry sings about a mallard duck, and Oscar tackles him.

### *Dennis and the Fossa's Den*:

One night in the palace of Jerusalem, the Wisemen (Scoop, Muck, and Lofty) are summoned to the palace of Jerusalem. King Xerxes (Oscar the Grouch) appears explaining he's experienced a nightmare and wants to know what it means. The Wisemen cannot provide an answer, but Dennis (Larry the Tomato) emerges and explains the dream. He's soon promoted to second-in-command, to the disappointment of the Wisemen, who start plotting to get rid of him.

The next morning, the Wisemen trick Xerxes into signing a law declaring Israelites must pray to Xerxes or be thrown into the Fossas' Den. Dennis is soon caught praying to God by the Wisemen, who then sentence him to consumption by the fossas. An angel soon reminds Dennis that God is always protecting him. Meanwhile, the Wisemen celebrate while Xerxes prays that Dennis' god can keep Dennis safe.

The next morning, everyone goes to the fossas' den. Miraculously, Dennis emerges from the Fossas' Den unscathed, to the surprise of Xerxes and the Wisemen. After Dennis says goodbye to the fossas & thanks them for the pizza, Xerxes implements a new law stating Israelites must pray to God. The Wisemen, in fear of having been caught in the act, flee to Egypt with Dennis and Xerxes chasing after them.

### Closing Countertop:

We return back to the countertop with Bob and Larry to wrap up the show. Bob compliments Larry's performance in the Dennis segment, to which Larry thanks him and replies that it was his "finest hour". They both proceed to hop over to Qwerty the computer to talk about what was learned today, triggering the What Have We Learned song to play and interrupt Bob. After the song is done, Bob explains how Rudy Monster learned that no one has to be startled because God is bigger than anything and is always looking out for everyone because He loves everyone so much. Larry then adds that in the Bible, Dennis learned he didn't have to be startled because he know God was protecting him from the danger of the fossas in the fossas' den. They then see if Qwerty has a Bible verse for them. After accidentally providing a meatloaf recipe, Qwerty displays the verse of the day, Isaiah 41:10: "So don't get startled for I'm with you." Bob encourages the viewers to remember that specific Bible verse whenever they feel startled and to also pray with their parents to thank God for His protection. Larry agrees and they both sign off after reminding the viewers that God made them special, and He loves them very much.

## Voice and Performance Cast:

* Phil Vischer as Bob the Cucumber and Jimmy Gourd
* Mike Nawrocki as Larry the Tomato
* Frankie Cordero as Rudy Monster
* Kath Soucie as Marie Bonfamille
* Jason Marden as Patch Radcliffe
* Eric Jacobson as Oscar the Grouch (puppetry only; uncredited)
* Caroll Spinney as Oscar the Grouch (voice; posthumously)
* Alan Marriott as Scoop (speaking voice)
* Rob Rackstraw as Scoop (singing voice; uncredited)
* Lachele Carl as Muck
* Emma Tate as Lofty

## Songs:

* "Vegetable Stories Theme Song" sung by Bob the Cucumber, Larry the Tomato, Rudy Monster, Marie Bonfamille, and Patch Radcliffe (taken from the album, *VeggieTunes Vol. 1*)
* "God is Bigger" sung by Bob the Cucumber, Larry the Tomato, Rudy Monster, the monsters, and Jimmy Gourd (taken from the album, *VeggieTunes Vol. 1*)
* *Funny Songs with Larry*: "The Water Tiger Song" sung by Larry the Tomato (taken from the album, *VeggieTunes Vol. 1*)
* "King Xerxes Suite" sung by Oscar, Scoop, Lofty, Larry, and one of the maids (taken from the album, *VeggieTunes Vol. 1*)
* "Oh, No! What We Gonna Do?" sung by Scoop, Muck, and Lofty (taken from the album, *VeggieTunes Vol. 1*)
* "We've Got Some News" sung by Scoop, Muck, and Oscar (taken from the album, *VeggieTunes Vol. 1*)
* "Startle Not, Dennis" sung by an angel (taken from the album, *VeggieTunes Vol. 1*)
* "You Were in His Hand" sung by Oscar (taken from the album, *VeggieTunes Vol. 1*)
* "What We Have Learned" sung by the chorus (taken from the album, *VeggieTunes Vol. 1*)