Earthday Birthday

## Stats

**Earthday Birthday** is the fourth episode of the series *HBO Storybook Musicals* that aired on April 22, 1990. It is based off of *It Zwibble and the Big Birthday Party* by *Lisa Werenko and Tom Ross* (WereRoss), originally published in 1988.

## Synopsis

Millions of years ago when dinosaurs were facing extinction, groups of dinosaurs gathered their eggs under the stars and wished the babies would survive. Two meteors crash into one of the stars causing stardust to fall onto the eggs, and so the babies, known as the Zwibble Dibbles, hatch when life on Earth is in danger. Orbit, an orange dinosaur, wakes everybody up and runs out the house looking for It Zwibble. They run into Fred the Deer, who gives Orbit a flower headband. While pondering more, they also run into Cobb a muskrat, who also gives Orbit a sign that says "Orbit's tree". They find It Zwibble who is using magic to lift garden tools in the air. He tells Orbit to do "Earth Magic", and gives him an acorn that he plants in the ground, to plant an oak tree.

It Zwibble grows magical wings and while holding Orbit, runs off. After running a long time, the two become airborne and look at the many sights of the ground above. While flying, they get caught in a heap of smoke coming from a factory. They fly back to Buzzville and Orbit brings up the air pollution and even more pollution, and they decide that this must be stopped. Orbit brings up having a birthday party for the Earth, which everybody agrees on.

Meanwhile, a dinosaur-lizard creature, self claimed Queen of the Dump who lives in a trailer filled with garbage, sings about how much she loves trash along with her two other mischievous children. She tells them they need more "leg room", and orders them to clean out her trash filled house. Back in Buzzville, the Zwibble Dibbles set up for the party. Orbit isn't sure what he wants to do to help out, and when he sees a keg in the river, he tries to toss it out, deciding to clean the stream. Shrew, a grumpy rat, sees the party workers, and takes a look at the pinned calendar and notes that April 22nd is his birthday, realizing that they are most likely giving a party for him.

After Orbit finishes cleaning up, he takes a nap, just right when It Zwibble delivers a mailbag containing invitations to his house. The Queen of Dump's two minions hijack the wheelbarrow containing the trash and runs around, causing the debris to fly out and trash everywhere. They also take the mailbag and throw it in the bush. When Orbit wakes up, he sees the large mess and realizes little guys can't make big differences. Saddened, he goes to the party grounds, where only four dinos plus It Zwibble are, waiting for the other kids, and packs his things and leaves the Dibbles. By dusk, the party people still haven't arrived, and everybody leaves, only leaving It Zwibble by himself.

As Orbit ventures, he spots that his acorn is starting to grow, and does realize that guys like him can make a difference. He also spots the invitation bag and returns them to It Zwibble. It Zwibble uses stardust to make the people come to the party, with the help of Orbit. Everybody starts to have fun until Shrew hops up the gazebo to make a speech thanking everyone for having a party for him. It Zwibble comments that it is indeed his birthday, and also a birthday for all of Earth's creatures. As the group gathers for cake, the Queen of Dump and her two others are spying on them. She says that there will always be more garbage, and they leave to order takeout.

## Songs

* Home Sweet Home
* Thank Goodness For Garbage
* A Party of One

## Trivia

* This episode originally premiered on Earth Day 1990. Coincidentally, the episode's air date is the date of the party seen in the episode.
* E.T. is referenced in the Home Sweet Home song.
* Orbit comments that he gets to wear his flower garland when he makes his pledge, but he doesn't.
* The official description of the episode calls Orbit a "her".
* Also speaking of Orbit, he lacks his polka dot spots as seen in the original book series.
* Fred is seen holding a purple Zwibble Dibble when he asks It Zwibble if he's going to bed, but a few seconds later is then holding a blue one.