I watched the last of the tapes.  I know I've seen this before.  Something in the back of mind keeps telling me that all of this is familiar.  I've seen that clown before, I've watched that show, but I can't seem to remember it so clearly.  Funny, how time makes you forget...

The later tapes where even more off putting than the last.  The oddities continued much more fluently than the first.  Gooffo would stare at the camera for an insane amount of time with the audience waiting in silence. He would just say lines that didn't make sense and the audience seemed to understand every word as if it did.  He even had an episode where he just laughed for half off it.  No words,no songs, no games, just that creepy laughter.  I swear that laughter haunts my nightmares.  It's just so, out of place.

As the final tapes where being viewed, I noticed that the stage had begun to show some signs of aging.  The paint had chipped a little, some of the fixtures hung or dangled, and the fun-house had lost its spectrum of color.  Gooffo never acknowledged it.  He went on with his show as normal, looking just as joyful as any other clown.  The children didn't have a care in the world.  It didn't matter where the show was filmed, just as long as the clown was there.

Out of all the tapes, the last two seemed different from the rest.  The first was the shortest of them all, simply being a few minutes long.  The clown stood up on stage, like the beginning of every episode, yet he was a little more serious and less gleeful.  He kind of twitted his thumbs and looked to his audience.

"Good morning children.  Today I have some news.  This will be the final episode of My Funtime Fun-house."

Cries of sadness and denial came from the audience.  These people seemed genuinely upset over this news.

"I know this isn't the greatest of news, but your old pal Mr. Gooffo's going to make it all right.  Today will be our special finale.  Everyone will be given the greatest prize I can give.  Everyone will be allowed into my funhouse!"

The negativity in the audience faded and a few cheers replaced the whining.  Everyone in the audience lined up, and one by one entered the tiny door that lead into the fun-house.  Within moments the stage was empty with Gooffo just watching the camera.  It was silent.  Then like every episode he went to the doorway, waved goodbye to the nonexistent audience and closed the door behind himself.  The camera just stayed on for a full minute after that.  Nothing else really happened in that tape.  It was as if the camera had no one to turn it off.

As I reached for the last tape I noticed a new title written on the side.  It was something different.

"Public Entertainment Office's Special Announcement"

This was not an episode of the show, but what came on the next week after the final episode.  A narrator now spoke as a still image of the clown showed onscreen.

"We are sorry to inform you that the beloved children's show 'Mr. Gooffo's Funtime Fun-house' has been cancelled and taken off the air completely.  Due to controversy about it's mascot, Mr. Gooffo, and issues behind the scenes we can no longer fund the program.  By request of the director, Micheal Sway, all reruns for the show are to be cut as well.  As he puts it, 'the show has now been placed into the past, and the children of today want some new, exciting content.'  We are sorry for any inconvenience.  Thank you for watching and we now return you to........."

The tape now began to tangle in the VCR.  I tried to retrieve it with no luck.  It was really wedged in there.  I need to call someone about it in the morning.  Until then, I think I may look up all the information about the issues onset.  It may help with my review.  Until then I have to say goodbye for today.

Next week, I won't be able to post another update.  My family and I are going to the Great Lakes before school kicks back up for us.  I may post some photos of our trip between now and then, so make sure to check for new content.  Until then...