2.23: "Ponyville Confidential", *Spoilers*Spoilers*GABBY GUMS GOSSIP*Spoilers*Spoilers* Options

[Guardian Prime]

It is almost time for another CMC episode with lots of gossip.

Ponyville Confidential: In order to become the gossip columnist for their school paper, the Cutie Mark Crusaders adopt the name ‘Gabby Gums,’ but when they land the job, their happiness is cut short by the pain they cause to other ponies with their hurtful stories.

(IMG:http://www.freeimagehosting.net/newuploads/8ea15.gif)
(click the graphic to go to the chat)

[Sobana]

I hear from official sources this will be 'juicy'.

[Nayuki]

I hear from official sources this will be 'juicy'.

Um... confirmed. Well, I really like the episode (obviously I'm biased though). Looking forward to tomorrow.

[Don_East]

I hear from official sources this will be 'juicy'.

Considering the description & the preview, I have my doubts.

[Cabooceratops]

I'm gonna miss the episode chat tomorrow, guys, going to have to work.

Sadface. =C

[TM2-Megatron]

I'm looking forward to it. Though there seem to be a fair number of fans who don't like Crusaders episodes, I've usually enjoyed them. Maybe Scootaloo will get the major focus, this time around; she hasn't really had an episode this season.

[Sobana]

I hear from official sources this will be 'juicy'.

Um... confirmed. Well, I really like the episode (obviously I'm biased though). Looking forward to tomorrow.

Oh good, because I heard that rumor from you, lol, silly. =p

[Nayuki]

I hear from official sources this will be 'juicy'.

Um... confirmed. Well, I really like the episode (obviously I'm biased though). Looking forward to tomorrow.

Oh good, because I heard that rumor from you, lol, silly. =p

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[Rezo]

Easily among the best episodes this seaosn, together with Sisterhooves Social, May the Best Pet Win, Sweet and Elite and Hearts and Hooves Day. Loved every moment, and there simply isn't anything bad to say about this episode~

[Zeel1]

One of the better CMC episodes there, I think, found myself laughing quite a bit.

I expected them to teach Diamond Tiara a lesson by publishing some horrible story about HER, and teaching her how it feels - similar to how this kind of episode was resolved with Spongebob - but it was probably for the best that they resolved it in a much nicer way, and she got a little comeuppance anyway, so I'm good with that~

Liked all the little continuity nods, too.

Incidentally, I'm guessing Namby-Pamby is related to Hoity-Toity. Just a guess... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-waspy.gif)

[Sobana]

I hear from official sources this will be 'juicy'.

Um... confirmed. Well, I really like the episode (obviously I'm biased though). Looking forward to tomorrow.

Oh good, because I heard that rumor from you, lol, silly. =p

(IMG:http://www.gameinformer.com/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Components-UserFiles/00-00-55-19-52-Attached%20Files/4572.tumblr_5F00_lrocgkLILx1qfgjtno1_5F00_500.gif)

lol, so silly! I love that gif, if fits into so many situations. <3

[Skids]

Very nice episode. Showing us more of misadventure of the cutie mark crusaders and the dangerous of gossip. Show had a good flow with lot of nice reference to past episodes. LIEK THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE. Defently one of the better episodes with the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

[Don_East]

*SIGH* Well, this went as I expected would be, generic kiddie plot played straight with only a few select moments that are worth writing about.

And this is pretty much my problem for the CMC episodes. The show put up such a high standard that stuff like this feels like a downgrade, like it was mandated by the higher ups and the writers decided not to bother.

I did like two things...

* The continuity nods were nice like Trixie getting name dropped, & Big Mac still having Smarty Pants made me LOL.
* Speaking of Big Mac, his Silent Bob style speech was brilliant. And the fact it was juxtaposed with Applejack borrowing Big Mac's catchphrases.

But there's just stuff I didn't like.

* First of all, and this is real pet peeve, why didn't Fluttershy say anything? She's a main character and should have a say in the matter! She could easily chimed in & agree with Twilight. And no her crying does not count as dialogue since it was obviously recycled. Unless Andrea Libman was unavailable & could only do a couple of lines for Pinkie Pie, I'm taking points off.
* For that matter, what was Applejack doing at the spa? Isn't she's supposed to reject that kind of girly stuff?
* Diamond Tiara is one note again, seriously what is her deal? For a show that tries to add depth, it seems the antagonists get the short end of the stick.
* The fact this plot is the same story I've seen in several shows & didn't add any twist. The closest I can think of is the CMC writing a letter of apology when they could've just write an article portraying Diamond Tiara in a bad light. But still, it's just bleh and was a chore to watch because of it.

Grade: C-

[Scavgraphics]

Chat Transcript

Welcome! You have entered [The Well] at 10:57 am
[Dvandom] 10:57 am: I have the sound muted, which is making Strawberry Shortcake rather surreal.
[scavgraphics] 10:57 am: And the ice broke...and they all died
[Shoggoth] 10:57 am: that countdown went into exponents
[pao] 10:58 am: it's not muted, still surreal
[Guardian Prime] 10:58 am: I'm on HaxMega (Justin.tv) right now.
[Nayuki] 10:58 am: HaxMega buddies
[scavgraphics] 10:58 am: Guardian...it was just being an example of everything Lauren created FiM to be against
[Dvandom] 10:58 am: The TV spots and web ads work at counter purposes...one asks who Gabby is, the other says who.
[Arson] 10:59 am: Idiot that I am, I backed out of the Bronystate stream. Now in Bronytv.
[Arson] 10:59 am: Pony stick figure.
[Shoggoth] 10:59 am: aw snap
[Shoggoth] 11:00 am: everything is lagging
[Shoggoth] 11:00 am: noooooo
[The Well]: DeAtHmArE has entered at 11:00 am
[Dvandom] 11:00 am: "I'm laughing at the idea of reading a newspaper."
[Arson] 11:00 am: Welcome!
[DeAtHmArE] 11:00 am: Shutterbug present
[Arson] 11:00 am: Ah. I didn't recognize you.
[pao] 11:00 am: hello
[DeAtHmArE] 11:01 am: I have the same issue with login name vs display name
[scavgraphics] 11:01 am: wonders why some folks name when logged in here is diff then on AS proper
[sobana] 11:01 am: What was Feather Weights cutie mark?
[pao] 11:01 am: a feather, surprisingly
[Dvandom] 11:01 am: A feather
[pao] 11:01 am: wouldn't have guessed from the name
[Dvandom] 11:02 am: Scav: You can change your display name on the board, but apparently the chat uses whatever ID you had when you signed up.
[Arson] 11:02 am: So his special talent is...being as light as a feather?
[Arson] 11:02 am: Yup. Same here.
[scavgraphics] 11:02 am: ah
[pao] 11:02 am: what do you get when you cross an elephant with a rhinoceros?
[The Well]: Rezo has entered at 11:02 am
[sobana] 11:02 am: This stuff is so deep
[Shoggoth] 11:02 am: No, lightly sneaking around. We have Equestrias newest super spy
[scavgraphics] 11:03 am: i guess it's a more symbolic mark, like Twilights
[Arson] 11:03 am: Oh. I thought it might be flight. Redundancy like Twi.
[Dvandom] 11:03 am: He is the beloved of Ma'at.
[Shoggoth] 11:03 am: Nah, her mark clearly represents explosions
[Arson] 11:03 am: Or chickens.
[Dvandom] 11:04 am: Cheerilee seems bitter at not getting to run it directly.
[Arson] 11:04 am: Sabotage?
[Shoggoth] 11:04 am: Eh, My net is acting up. So I will have to find it later :\
[Arson] 11:04 am: FEZ!
[Dvandom] 11:04 am: "And don't call me chief!"
[pao] 11:05 am: nice double on "namby-pamby" -> "Namby Pamby"
[scavgraphics] 11:05 am: heh...namby bamby
[Rezo] 11:05 am: This is already awesome
[Rezo] 11:05 am: Best editor
[Arson] 11:05 am: We officially have a pony named Namby Pamby.
[Arson] 11:05 am: With your sister...
[Dvandom] 11:05 am: Wingfail
[pao] 11:06 am: Scotaloo flight still nerfed
[Arson] 11:06 am: You know you're terrible when even the birds laugh at you.
[Arson] 11:07 am: I want pictures of SPIDERMAN!!
[Dvandom] 11:07 am: Now we know their skin doesn't look the same color as their fur....
[Arson] 11:08 am: Diamond Tiara: queen of Tabloids!
[pao] 11:08 am: good job with Diamond Tiara thus far
[Arson] 11:08 am: Agreed
[scavgraphics] 11:09 am: Ponnies have coffee
[DeAtHmArE] 11:09 am: huh
[sobana] 11:09 am: oh my gosh! Scoot trying to fly and baby pictures of Bloom! So cute!~
[Rezo] 11:09 am: Has Diamond Tiara's VA changed, or is it just my stream having horrible, horrible audio?
[Nayuki] 11:10 am: I'm pretty sure the VA is still the same
[scavgraphics] 11:10 am: and now we know why scoot's flight is stunted
[DeAtHmArE] 11:10 am: I think her voice is at least a bit different.
[sobana] 11:10 am: So juicy so far! Time to turn on the juice and see what shakes loose!
[pao] 11:10 am: don't think it's changed, but I haven't heard her recently...may be a slightly different tone from the same VA
[DeAtHmArE] 11:11 am: It probably isn't "Bon-Bon" different though lol
[Rezo] 11:11 am: Audio issues, then
[Rezo] 11:11 am: Horrible, horrible audio issues
[sobana] 11:11 am: We never seen her take such a serious role like this before, a different tone in her voice all together
[pao] 11:11 am: def. not Bon Bon different
[pao] 11:13 am: unicorn keep-away
[Dvandom] 11:13 am: She'd never admit it, but Rarity has a rather low sense of humor.
[scavgraphics] 11:13 am: haa
[Arson] 11:14 am: I smell Hijinks...
[scavgraphics] 11:14 am: lyra x bonbon
[pao] 11:14 am: like the typewriters!
[Dvandom] 11:14 am: Does inkstined pony even know what he's doing?
[Dvandom] 11:15 am: Trixie!
[Skids] 11:15 am: ink+paper=completed newspaper
[scavgraphics] 11:15 am: so jester hat is the spa?
[Skids] 11:15 am: TRIXIE RFERENCE!
[pao] 11:16 am: the Mayor dyes her mane gray...that's hilarious
[Dvandom] 11:16 am: Ha! Giant toenail painting rig.
[Arson] 11:16 am: Waterproof newspaper.
[pao] 11:16 am: RD's reputation in 3, 2, 1...
[DeAtHmArE] 11:16 am: lol, she can't do it
[Dvandom] 11:17 am: Dashie is ticklish
[pao] 11:18 am: Mac and Smartypants
[DeAtHmArE] 11:18 am: lol
[Skids] 11:18 am: ROFL
[pao] 11:19 am: tah-dah
[Arson] 11:19 am: How'd they get that picture...?
[DeAtHmArE] 11:19 am: saw that coming
[pao] 11:20 am: the Featherweight as super-spy thing is becoming more plausible
[Dvandom] 11:20 am: I WILL DESTROY HER!
[Skids] 11:20 am: Today we mourn the lost of sweetie bell
[Arson] 11:20 am: Because payback is a b*tch
[sobana] 11:21 am: They mentioned Trixie! =D
[Rezo] 11:21 am: Top tier episode, easily on part with the other bests this season~
[scavgraphics] 11:21 am: they mentioned trixie?
[Dvandom] 11:21 am: It's the All Callback ep.

[sobana] 11:21 am: Also, horns are made from rubber and when you slap them it stops the magic
[Rezo] 11:21 am: lol'd so much at Big Mac with Smarty Pants
[scavgraphics] 11:21 am: hey nayuki...any reason the titles are backwards/upside down/mirrored?
[Skids] 11:21 am: Ponyville police found the victom body killed by a fashion saddle tied to tight.
[pao] 11:22 am: "Et tu..." who put Latin in my pony?
[DeAtHmArE] 11:22 am: lol
[Dvandom] 11:22 am: The Gilded Pages of your Betrayal!
[Skids] 11:22 am: lol
[Arson] 11:22 am: Like I said.
[Arson] 11:23 am: payback.
[Arson] 11:23 am: Yes.
[pao] 11:23 am: rocking the depth-of-field effect this episode
[DeAtHmArE] 11:23 am: Diamond Tiara has no feelings
[Dvandom] 11:23 am: Featherweight is a voyeur....
[DeAtHmArE] 11:23 am: dun dun dun
[pao] 11:23 am: BLACKMAIL! although he now has documented the blackmail attempt...
[Arson] 11:23 am: Blackmail!
[DeAtHmArE] 11:24 am: blackmail inception
[Dvandom] 11:24 am: Naturally they Gabby up on Diamond Tiara.
[Arson] 11:24 am: They'd better.
[Arson] 11:24 am: How very Dash.
[Dvandom] 11:25 am: Now, is that an everything force field, or...wait, loquacious Mac?
[pao] 11:25 am: Mac/AJ reversal FTW
[Arson] 11:25 am: Twi has FORCEFIELDS!!
[scavgraphics] 11:25 am: BWHAHAHAHA!
[Dvandom] 11:25 am: Is the forcefield against everything, or just them?
[Skids] 11:25 am: Nice reversal with the apple family
[Arson] 11:26 am: The theme of this episode is...PAYBACK IS A B*TCH!!
[pao] 11:26 am: yep, editor never reads it
[Dvandom] 11:26 am: Editor not editing too much
[DeAtHmArE] 11:26 am: lol, nice?
[scavgraphics] 11:26 am: she wants a job at Marvel, obviously
[Dvandom] 11:28 am: He knows where all the bodies are buried.
[pao] 11:28 am: also, oversight failure...and Featherweight's feather is now a quill! interpretation!
[Arson] 11:28 am: A quill? Clever...
[Rezo] 11:28 am: Oh, and Lyra/ bonbon were there, too, of course, right after each other~
[Arson] 11:29 am: Once again, expectations have been thoroughly exceeded. Loved it!
[Nayuki] 11:29 am: so Sobana, would you say that the episode was juicy?
[Rezo] 11:29 am: CMC episodes are best episodes <_<
[scavgraphics] 11:29 am: hmm..did think the CMC pics would get posted as comeupance
[sobana] 11:29 am: Yes, very juicy! =D
[pao] 11:29 am: I'd say it's the most laugh-out-loud, but not my favorite overall of S02; but I'm thoroughly pleased
[sobana] 11:29 am: My scources were right after all! =D
[Arson] 11:29 am: Welp, later!
[Skids] 11:30 am: Decent episode.
[scavgraphics] 11:30 am: guess we'll have to wait for Pixel
[sobana] 11:30 am: My mom laughed at the part were Rainbow Dash was pouring rain on CMC
[scavgraphics] 11:30 am: Kitty for the Derpy thru time gossip
[sobana] 11:30 am: I seen Dinky!
[The Well]: Arson has left at 11:31 am
[sobana] 11:31 am: I love all the call backs they did!
[sobana] 11:32 am: "Trixie's secrets revealed! ...She used magic." =/
[The Well]: DeAtHmArE has left at 11:32 am
[scavgraphics] 11:33 am: i don't subscribe to that heracy Sobana
[sobana] 11:33 am: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFb7nrBEjbw
[sobana] 11:34 am: Heracy?
[pao] 11:34 am: "heresy"
[sobana] 11:35 am: Oh, Heresy!
[scavgraphics] 11:35 am: the Dinky heresy!
[pao] 11:36 am: so is there any way to make the dark YouTube theme (which they're doing as an Earth Day thing) the default? maybe there's something on userscripts.org...
[sobana] 11:37 am: But I seen dinky! O_O
[sobana] 11:38 am: She was the one reading the newspaper that Diamond Tirara snatched away!
[scavgraphics] 11:40 am: yes..there is a dinky...but she's not Derpy's Daughter. Derpy is not a single mom/formly pregnant teen slaving away at the postal office. She's an idiot savant, platonic companion to Doctor Whooves...who slaves away at the post office.
[scavgraphics] 11:40 am: let the story ring out from this chat!
[sobana] 11:41 am: I don't remember implying all that. But I do recall saying that I did seen her. =p
[Skids] 11:41 am: The Dinky and Derpy connection was disproven with the sister social where dinky was teamed up with another pony.(berry punch i think)
[sobana] 11:42 am: Of couse, Derpy does have the eye-hoof corderation to run a race like that, silly.
[Dvandom] 11:43 am: Aww, my apartment isn't on Google Street View, so I can't see the Quest version of it.
[sobana] 11:44 am: o.o
[Dvandom] 11:44 am: (For those who haven't seen yet, Google Maps has added an 8-bit vision "Quest" mode for April Fool's)
[scavgraphics] 11:44 am: quest version?
[scavgraphics] 11:44 am: ah
[sobana] 11:45 am: Ah, I seen the pony "Quests" of those.
[pao] 11:45 am: (Dragon Quest) No, Namby Pamby edits the school newspaper; the princess is Celestia
[sobana] 11:46 am: Good connection there! =D
[pao] 11:48 am: also, to Dvandom's GMaps comment, the street view 8-bit only works if MapsGL is not enabled (but overmap 8-bit works fine with MapsGL)
[scavgraphics] 11:49 am: i have a boring quest map
[sobana] 11:51 am: I'm going to log, see you bronies later! =D
[Skids] 11:52 am: later
[Nayuki] 11:52 am: see ya
[Dvandom] 11:52 am: Bai
[pao] 11:52 am: the intro video is great (original Famicom!)
[scavgraphics] 11:52 am: ah, if you double click, a charater appears and zooms to street view
[sobana] 11:52 am: always a plus when Nayuki says bye to meh! <3
[scavgraphics] 11:52 am: intro vid?
[The Well]: sobana has left at 11:53 am
[Dvandom] 11:54 am: You can also drag the Dragon Warrior icon onto the map to get street view.
[pao] 11:54 am: http://www.youtube.com/googlemaps
[pao] 11:54 am: (Pony chat is now 8-bit GMaps chat (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-fire.gif) )
[Dvandom] 11:55 am: 8-bit Ponyville map!
[Dvandom] 11:55 am: (Secret of the Blanks)
[Skids] 11:56 am: Dragon warrior/dragonquest wih goggle maps. *dies form pure bliss*
[pao] 11:57 am: (Dragon Quest) I told you, Namby Pamby edits the school paper! (I didn't realize the teen dragons used that twice)
[scavgraphics] 11:58 am: Dear Princess Celestia...today I learned you shouldn't question where you come from.
[scavgraphics] 11:58 am: yeah, still don't like the moral of that one
[Dvandom] 11:59 am: Assimilationist!
[scavgraphics] 11:59 am: should I be insulted/concerned that googling my address, one of the top hits is "Mental Health Professionals in Louisville, CO"
[Dvandom] 11:59 am: The moral of the story: It's good to seek out your cultural roots, but some cultures just suck and you should probably just go back to assimilating.
[pao] 12:00 pm: it's easy to dislike morals you read in a way you dislike...I think that "don't let your heritage dictate who you are" reads much better and fits as well
[Shoggoth] 12:01 pm: That google maps 8bit is pretty cool
[Shoggoth] 12:01 pm: and somehow manages to explain why old final fantasy maps seemed so small
[pao] 12:01 pm: found my office, looks pretty much the same 8-bitted...
[scavgraphics] 12:04 pm: so today we learned that ponies have printing presses, and the Jester Hat is the spa
[Dvandom] 12:04 pm: Found my office, and my boyhood home.
[The Well]: Guardian Prime has left at 12:05 pm
[pao] 12:05 pm: and two-key typewriters, don't forget about those
[pao] 12:08 pm: FurReal friends needs Sand Flea technology for those bunnies: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&a...lh5QyqgfQAzml1A
[pao] 12:08 pm: oops, stupid copy-paste from google search: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b4ZZQkcNEo
[Skids] 12:08 pm: the first link had malware in it
[Nayuki] 12:10 pm: awesome robot
[pao] 12:10 pm: ...the first link was Google, so that seems unlikely
[pao] 12:10 pm: oh, a malformed video ID, yeah, that's why I reposted
[Dvandom] 12:11 pm: Press the A button on the steering wheel!
[pao] 12:12 pm: it's not malware, just means YT didn't recognize the ID
[scavgraphics] 12:13 pm: i guess it's good as long as you don't run into a 31 ft wall
[pao] 12:13 pm: lol, I suppose so
[pao] 12:14 pm: perhaps we should post the chat without all this completely off-topic business?
[Shoggoth] 12:14 pm: Nah, let them be confused
[pao] 12:14 pm: fair enough
[scavgraphics] 12:15 pm: well, we done with pony mentions?
[pao] 12:16 pm: I'm done, we're on to puppies now, and it's a rerun
[Skids] 12:16 pm: I'm still trying to see if I can get the dragon warrior character to walk on goggle map
[pao] 12:16 pm: and there's already a strongly negative review on the forum, so chat should help balance that out
[Dvandom] 12:16 pm: Might be part of the route-planner function?
[pao] 12:17 pm: I tried to do a route, but didn't get the 8-bit routing, just the standard route overlaid on the 8-bit map
[scavgraphics] 12:17 pm: eh, it's just Don East fullfining his role as Kein
[pao] 12:18 pm: those shoes look horrible
[scavgraphics] 12:18 pm: oh that was a joke missed, I noticed
[scavgraphics] 12:18 pm: Diamond Tirra calling them goodie two horse shoes...
[pao] 12:18 pm: oh, I didn't catch that one either
[scavgraphics] 12:18 pm: should have been goodie four horse shoes
[scavgraphics] 12:20 pm: ok..lets post
pao] 12:20 pm: make it so
[Dvandom] 12:20 pm: Actually, keeping it as two shoes for the pony version would increase the pathos of the original story.
[scavgraphics] 12:21 pm: there's a story?
[Dvandom] 12:21 pm: Yep.
[Rezo] 12:21 pm: Hee. I missed Rarity going all classical latin on Sweetie Belle
[Dvandom] 12:22 pm: Poor little girl who only had one shoe, but was aggressively optimistic. When she finally got a second shoe,
she proclaimed, "Goody, two shoes!" and danced about.
[scavgraphics] 12:22 pm: I did not know that
[Dvandom] 12:22 pm: Going from one horseshoe to two and still being pollyanna-ishly happy about it would make an even stronger
case.
[pao] 12:22 pm: that sounds suspiciously retconned, Dave, but I'll allow it
[scavgraphics] 12:22 pm: . . .
[Dvandom] 12:23 pm: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_o...Goody_Two-Shoes
[Dvandom] 12:23 pm: Also, comes originally from "Goody" being a title, from Goodwife.
[scavgraphics] 12:23 pm: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_o...es surprisingly not
[pao] 12:24 pm: surprisingly so, the phrase is older than the story, see the bottom of the article
[Dvandom] 12:25 pm: But Cotton's version does not seem to be from where the phrase entered English. The character is a walk-on.
[scavgraphics] 12:25 pm: so the History is a retconned Origin.
[scavgraphics] 12:26 pm: Good Two Shoes: Year One
[Dvandom] 12:26 pm: The idea of someone cloyingly optimistic who puts up with crap virtuously is either derived from the story, or the
story is consistent with what was known of the phrase at the time.
[Dvandom] 12:27 pm: And certainly the story got it into common usage, as per the Origin section.
[Dvandom] 12:27 pm: For all I know, of course, Cotton's Goody Two-Shoes was oddball humor on a par with Arthur "Two Sheds"
Jackson.
[pao] 12:28 pm: interesting, interesting
[pao] 12:28 pm: idioms are fun
[The Well]: Rezo has left at 12:28 pm
[Skids] 12:28 pm: I'm heading out. nice talking to ya all andgood job as always Nayuki
[pao] 12:29 pm: bye!
[Nayuki] 12:29 pm: the team working on that episode did a great job
[scavgraphics] 12:29 pm: still think it should have been goody 4shes     
[The Well]: Skids has left at 12:30 pm

This post has been edited by Scavgraphics: Mar 31 2012, 01:32 PM

[Dvandom]

Post posting, we had a long discussion of the origins of Goody Two-Shoes, as I defended that leaving it as two horseshoes would make the tale even more poignant. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-hotrod.gif)

---Dave

ETA: And now it's been added.

This post has been edited by Dvandom: Mar 31 2012, 01:34 PM

[Guardian Prime]

It felt really weird watching it on a live stream on my computer. This is going to take some getting use too. I was on HaxMega's stream and it ran mostly smooth. The stream did have a couple of video glitches where the stream would just pause for a moment and then resume, which was a tad irritating. I don't know if it was the stream doing that or my WiFi.

Anyways, good episode. Loved the Big Mac and Smartypants continuity there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-fire.gif) And Trixie's name drop was awesome, too. The picture with Celestia stuffing her face with cake was also funny.

[PhantomFox]

While the plot was somewhat predictable, they avoided the usual pitfalls of such a story. First off, the CMC don't enjoy writing these gossip columns, and would rather write real articles. Thus, they avoid coming across as insensitive jerks or as holding the Idiot Ball. The insensitive jerk is Diamond Tiara who forces them to continue. She's may be one note, but a pretty accurate schoolhouse bully. Kids ARE that mean. Secondly, it had a generous dose of the Mane 6, as the CMC tend to work best when interacting with them. The 'snooping' was a good Checkov's Gun that was well used, the wealth of callbacks was enjoyable, Diamond's Karmic Retribution was good, and I enjoyed the Mane 6's shunning of the CMC for crossing the line was amusing and different from each other. This is Great tier for me, and may move up to Celestia tier after I have time to digest it. Best CMC episode so far regardless.

[Nutjob R/T]

I can't believe it hasn't been said.

Diamond Tiara wants PICTURES! Pictures of SPIDER MARE!

Oh hey look what I found.

(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/brdrn.jpg)

This post has been edited by Nutjob R/T: Mar 31 2012, 04:07 PM

[DrSpengler]

That was great. I don't get why some fans hate the CMC; many of the best episodes have been theirs.

Fez Pony and Big Mac snapping were my favorite parts. Makes two seasons of Big Mac saying nothing but "eeyup" and "nope" totally worth it for just that one joke.

[Legion Maximus]

Great episode! I loved that they avoided having the CMCs suddenly Learn An Important Lesson by having them feel guilty from the beginning . . . yet continue because they were so caught up in getting their cutie marks. Diamond Tiara's special talent appears to be being an unethical leader; I forsee her running companies into the ground when she grows up, only to escape on a golden parachute every time, always inexplicably going on to bigger things.

The Main Six's reactions to the gossip were great, the spa scene had soooo many sight gags, and CELESTIA EATS CAKE.

Also liked how there was a whole news staff for the school paper. That's one of the things I love about MLP FIM, it really shows how much work goes into, well, working on something.

The >:( expression on Angel's face as he slammed the door on the CMCs was priceless.