Helga's Makeover/Trivia

Episode

Trivia

Goofs

Quotes

Transcript

Gallery

Credits

General

• First full appearance of Miriam Pataki.
• First time Helga is seen without her bow.
  • Helga is also seen without her bow in "Helga's Boyfriend", "What's Opera, Arnold?", "Helga vs. Big Patty", "Helga and the Nanny", "Arnold's Thanksgiving", "School Play", "Dinner For Four", "Helga Sleepwalks","Helga's Masquerade", "Summer Love", "Beaned", "Married" and "Ghost Bride".
  • Helga also dramatically alters her appearance again in the episodes "Helga's Boyfriend", "Arnold's Valentine", "Dinner for Four" and "Helga's Masquerade".
• First episode where Phoebe is seen without her glasses.
• Gerald's last name is revealed to be Johanssen.
• Helga says "crap" for the first time in this episode.
  • She would say it again in "Helga's Love Potion", "Phoebe Skips" and "New Bully on the Block".
• First time the Corner Store grocery market is seen.
  • Gerald's mom is seen working at the cash register.
  • Some magazines at the market shelves are titled "Mr. & Ms.", "TV Times" and "Sixteen".
  • Helga buys her usual magazines titled "Country Dudes", "Bowling Bonanza", "Farmer Woes", "Wrestling" and "Tatoos Tatoos", and additionally "Preteen Miss" which has the tagline "Making Ugly Girls Pretty".
  • Fruits and candies are in the same section, with candies way easier to reach than fruits.
• The nail glue Helga uses reads "Nail 'em down".
• First time Rhonda hosts a party in the series.
  • Rhonda would be the host again in "Hey Harold!", "Cool Party" and "Helga's Masquerade".
• This is the first episode where Arnold's name isn't said once.

Production notes

• Helga walks by the "Law Office of Garcia, James A."; Tricia Garcia is the storyboard artist for this episode.

Cultural References

• Helga says "Et tu, Phoebe", a play on the last words of Roman emperor Julius Caesar, "Et tu, Brute", referring to Brutus, his killer.
• Helga's and Harold's makeover resembles that of singer Siouxsie Sioux with their eyes and hairstyle (for Helga only) being similar.
• Harold's "The horror! The horror!" quote comes from the book Heart of Darkness, which was made into the movie Apocalypse Now.
• The musical cue used while Helga works on her makeover seems inspired on the style of singer Barry White, known for his songs featuring his bass voice, slow tempo and romantic lyrics.

Continuity

• This is the first-time Rhonda comically impersonates Helga. The second time is "Helga's Show".
  • Both times Phoebe laughed.

Morals

• Don't pretend to like stuff just to fit in with the crowd.
  • Phoebe uses these words to confront Helga's hypocritical attitude.
  • It's better to just be yourself than to look and act the way that society expects you to look and act.
• Look for friends that like you for who you are.
• Don't make fun of people.