The Monster of Phineas-n-Ferbenstein
Victorian ancestors create a monster in a stormy tale.
"The Monster of Phineas-n-Ferbenstein" is the first half of the 22nd episode and the 40th broadcast episode of the animated series Phineas and Ferb. It features a Victorian-era story told to Phineas and Ferb by their grandfather, while Perry the Platypus hears a parallel tale from Dr. Doofenshmirtz. The episode received generally positive reviews and was nominated for the Emmy Award for "Outstanding Special Class – Short-format Animated Programs" in 2008, but the award was never given out.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Phineas and Ferb
- Season
- 1
- Episode
- 22a
- Director
- Zac Moncrief
- Writer
- Jon Colton Barry (story, storyboards)
- Martin Olson (story)
- Mike Diederich (storyboards)
- Production
- 122a
- Air date
- 17 October 2008
- Guests
- Malcolm McDowell as Reginald Fletcher
Facts from the source article.
Plot
The episode opens with Phineas and Ferb warning the audience that the program will be frightening, disturbing, and horrifying. After a power outage cancels Phineas's plan to stand in a field with a metal rod, their step-grandfather Reginald tells them the story of their ancestor Ferbgor, a hunchback henchman who helps his master Dr. Phineastein gather platypus body parts to create a monster for a "monster ball." Meanwhile, Perry the Platypus accidentally locks himself and Dr. Doofenshmirtz in the latter's apartment due to a storm. Doofenshmirtz tells Perry the story of his Victorian ancestor Dr. Jekyll Doofenshmirtz, who tries to transform himself into a beast using a Concoction-inator but becomes a fairy princess instead. In Reginald's tale, the monster frightens the governess Constance, who rallies a mob against Phineastein and Ferbgor, but the two train their beast for the monster ball.
Production
The episode was conceived and storied by Jon Colton Barry and Martin Olson, with Barry adapting it into storyboards alongside Mike Diederleh. Zac Moncrief directed it. Malcolm McDowell and Jane Carr guest starred as Grandpa and Grandma Fletcher, having previously voiced the characters in "A Hard Days Knight" and "The Flying Fishmonger." The episode originally aired on Disney Channel on October 17, 2008, continuing a Halloween theme started by the October 3 airing of "One Good Scare Ought to Do It." The second half of the show was "Oil on Candace."
Reception
Julie Bonner of Ultimate Disney described Phineastein and Ferbgor as "interesting relatives." In 2009, the episode was nominated for an Emmy in the category "Outstanding Special Class – Short-format Animated Programs," competing against the SpongeBob SquarePants episode "Dear Vikings." Co-creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh were reportedly "thrilled" about the nomination. Povenmire noted that the category previously reserved one slot for children's shows alongside shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced they would not present the award to either nominee, to the shock of director Moncrief.
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