A ShakeSparagus Play

**A ShakeSparagus Play** is the sixth episode of The VeggieTales Show, which teaches a lesson about humility.

## Summary

The famous playwright, ShakeSparagus, wants Larry to star in his next play. All is not well and doesn’t end well when being the star goes to Larry’s head. That’s when Bob decides that Larry needs to learn a lesson about humility. The Veggies reenact the biblical story of King Nebuchadnezzar who ruled over a very large kingdom and was very proud. His pride hurt himself and hurt others until God put him in a "time out" to learn a very important lesson. Join the Veggie crew as they learn that whether you are a king or the star of a play, that being humble and looking out for the interests of others is always the best way.

## Characters

* Bob the Tomato
* Larry the Cucumber
* Junior Asparagus
* Archibald Asparagus
* Pa Grape
* Laura Carrot
* Jimmy and Jerry Gourd
* Mr. Nezzer
* Mr. Lunt
* The French Peas
* Madame Blueberry
* Petunia Rhubarb
* Jimmy Neutron
* Timmy Turner
* Wubbzy
* Daizy
* Dora
* Boots
* Backpack
* Map
* Swiper
* Fiesta Trio
* Benny
* Isa
* Tico
* Diego
* Baby Jaguar
* Bruce Onion *(non-speaking role; theme song only)*

## Songs

* The VeggieTales Show Theme Song
* The Three Sandwiches
* The Humble Song

## Fun Facts

### Trivia

* This is the first episode for several things:
	+ The first episode written by Sean Gaffney, as well as the first episode not written by Phil Vischer.
		- This also makes it his first writing credit with Big Idea since the LarryBoy and the Sinister Snow Day book in 2003.
	+ The first episode to not have Khalil make an appearance.
	+ The first episode since God Wants Us to Make Peace to feature Mr. Nezzer's office.
	+ The first episode since The Best Christmas Gift that does not have a break in the middle of the story.
	+ The first episode since The Best Christmas Gift to have a closing song.
* This is the final episode to date to be produced by Tom Newman.
* There are a few differences between pre-production and the final product:
	+ Mr. Nezzer was originally going to be voiced by Phil Vischer, and he had even recorded his lines for him before David Mann was casted for the role. Despite this, Vischer's recordings can still be heard on the storyboard for this episode.
	+ Larry was going to state that his Aunt Zelda was sitting in the third row during the last show, and that she brought a parakeet. This was likely cut out due to time.
		- Later on, he would have also brought up how his Aunt Zelda took a vacation in Orlando and that it was "hot and sticky" when she stepped outside. This scene would have also had Bob shaking his head as Larry is talking, before correcting him and telling him that humility was different. Larry believed that he meant when it is cold and slippery.
	+ The scene where Bob acknowledges how Mr. Nezzer had already made a poster for MacCheese was going to show Bob and Larry themselves looking at the poster, with both of them having different reactions, in addition to Bob saying his line rather than do it offscreen.
	+ Larry was going to squeeze the action figure he holds before telling Mr. Nezzer about Mr. Lunt's act rather than doing it after.
	+ Extra dialogue was recorded during Larry's fantasy sequence, which was likely cut out due to time. Said dialogue is as follows:
		- **Mr. Nezzer (O.S.)**: And the crowd goes wild!
		- **Crowd**: Bravo! Bravo!
		- **Mr. Nezzer (O.S.)**: They throw you roses!
		- **Larry**: I'm not a roses kind of cucumber.
		- **Mr. Nezzer (O.S.)**: They throw you croissants!
		- **Larry**: (gasps) Yummy! (eats a croissant)
	+ The scene where Larry tells the others about how they got picked to produce MacCheese was going to be done via a zoom-in shot rather than fade from the fantasy sequence, with the other veggies saying "Ooh!" once he finishes.
		- Scallion #3, wearing headphones and a shirt, was also going to be seen at the table, writing on a stack of paper and drinking coffee from one of the play's licensed coffee mugs. He was eventually replaced by Junior in the final product.
		- Jean-Claude was also originally shown in this scene instead of Laura like in the final product.
	+ After Larry says "Not like those silly shows you usually direct" to Bob, he was also going to add "No offense", with Bob replying "Some taken."
	+ Mr. Lunt was going to remind someone named Betsy (whom he said had her hair done at a special for the show) about the news.
	+ Carla's letter was going to start off with "Dear VeggieTales" instead of "Dear Bob and Larry".
	+ After Bob says "I think you found the perfect fan letter after all", Petunia was going to give a concerned/upsetting look.

### Goofs

* When Bob becomes shocked about putting on ShakeSparagus' play at the last minute, he goes slightly wall-eyed.
* Near the end of the second scene of the MacCheese play, The French Peas' voices get swapped.
* When Jimmy and Jerry enter into Nebuchadnezzar’s throne room, there is a shot where you can spot Jerry’s forehead clipping through his eyelid.
* A couple of Jimmy's line during the Nebuchadnezzar play are not pitch-shifted properly.
* During Nebuchadnezzar’s scene in the wilderness, Laura’s line "I told you" is spoken by Lisa Vischer (using Junior’s voice) instead of Kira Buckland.
* When Archibald says that God restored King Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom, his body becomes contorted. Most notably, his spear appears squished.
* Throughout the episode, various characters' mouths become slightly jagged and angular in shape, most notably in some closeups of Mr. Lunt and Archibald.

### Inside References

* Larry's robe that he wears in the MacCheese poster is the same one from King George and the Ducky.
* In Larry's fantasy about the MacCheese play, his costume is the same one used by one of the family members from the Mac and Cheese silly song.
* The sunglasses Larry wears are actually the glasses he wore in The Best Christmas Gift, albeit with the shades darker to make them look like sunglasses.
* The French Peas taunting Larry from a giant wall is a reference to Josh and the Big Wall!
* When Mr. Lunt wishes to not contradict with Larry's claim about him making the hanging gardens, Larry responds with "Then don't," mirroring one of his lines from King George and the Ducky.
* There are a few references to Esther... The Girl Who Became Queen:
	+ Nebuchadnezzar’s throne room set looks like the one from said episode.
	+ Larry's Nebuchadnezzar costume is similar to King Xerxes', most notably the crown/headpiece.
	+ When Nebuchadnezzar is grazing in the fields, the backdrop behind him features a artistic rendering of the Babylonian palace that looks similar to the one from Esther.
* Pa's Daniel costume is the same one that has been seen in previous episodes.
* Madame Blueberry's helmet in the Nebuchadnezzar play is the same one she wore in God Wants Us to Make Peace, albeit with the wings removed.
* Laura’s sheep costume is the same as Jerry and Goliath’s sheep costumes from God Wants Us to Make Peace, albeit smaller.
* The verse at the end is re-used from Lettuce Love One Another!