Our JPM studies for BoJack Horseman Season 1 lead to some surprising conclusions
I need to be honest.
I did not expectBoJack Horsemanseason 1 to have a high Jokes Per Minute (JPM).
That does not exactly sound like a JPM honeypot.
But wouldnt you know it,BoJackachieves an absurdly high JPM anyway.
Its 7.79 is the highest weve recorded save forRick and Mortyseason 3 (so far).
What can we learn from this?
Well BoJack has many factors in its favor.
My Mulligan was Carey Mulligan.
Just kidding it was Emily Mortimer.
BoJack
Best Visual Joke:
Season 1 gets off to a stronger start than I remembered.
This is probably due to how novel the shows universe is.
Creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg and friends clearly have a lot of fun melding the human universe with the animal.
Refer to our best visual gag of the hospital BoJack ends up in being called St. Elmers Medical Center.
Tom JumboGrumbo
Heres a good example of where JPM tends to fall short.
This is perhaps the worst episode of season 1.
And the jokes, while numerous, also seem like they belong to a different, hackier show.
Still the JPM for BoJack Hates the Troops still comes in at a very high 8.13.
Thats good for third highest of the season!
The MSNBSea gag is pretty incredible though.
Todd
Prickly-Muffin is your highest JPM episode ofBoJack Horsemanseason 1.
I couldnt really tell you.
Nothing really stands out about the episode in terms of concept or interesting tone.
It just happens to be packed wall to wall with jokes.
The presence of Sarah Lynn helps out tremendously particularly her new catchphrase of suck a dick, dumbshits!
Van Cleef
Zoes and Zeldas is the first episode ofBoJack Horsemanthat truly hints at the greatness to come.
This episode is positively filled with easter eggs forBoJackfans from the future.
For instance, BoJack jokes to his friend Herb Kazazz get cancer, jerkwad.
Of course Herb will end up getting cancer later on in his life.
We also get to see the lower half of Todds high school girlfriends face in a flashback.
She will be introduced in full two seasons later!
Now THIS is what Im talking about.
This is in my estimation the first perfectBoJack Horsemanepisode.
Its completely, unreservedly hilarious.
And if that werent enough, the episode establishes the uneasy, awkward home life that Diane experienced.
At the near-halfway point of season 1,BoJack Horsemanis really rolling.
This episode really highlights the advantages that animated storytelling has in achieving high JPMs.
There are about 7 funny airport signs within the first 5 seconds of the episode.
Charlie
The final minutes of Say Anything are a fine example of the kind of tragicomedyBoJack Horsemanexcels at.
Princess Carolyn goes through hell in this episode.
Her agency merges with another, putting her job on the line.
Instead of focusing on keeping her job she risks it all for one last tryst with BoJack.
She thens resigns herself to staying at work until the late hours of the night.
The episode ends with her phone vibrating and wishing her a happy birthday!
Thats both equally tragic and somehow darkly hilarious.
Say Anything also sees the introduction of working class hero Charley Witherspoon!
The guy who sits, Charlotte.
There are some stellar visual jokes in The Telescope.
All BoJack wants is to be forgiven for his past behavior by his friend Herb Kazazz.
But even on his deathbed, Herb will not grant him clemency.
Because he doesnt deserve it.
I cant believe this is the same episode that features a remarkable Sit, Ubu, sit, joke.
Shout out to Princess Carolyns Rachel hairstyle in the 90s too.
Im like Miss Daisy and youre like Minnie Driver.
Mr. Peanutbutter
Two episodes ago we got the introduction to folk hero Charley Witherspoon.
Now we get the introduction of the even more impactful Vincent Adultman!
Vincent Adultman is just a comedy treasure.
Its funny that hes clearly three kids in a trench coat.
Its even funnier that BoJack is the only person to realize it.
This is also the first episode that recognizes the comedic potential of Todd and Mr. Peanutbutters teams up.
One Trick Pony reveals how muchBoJack Horsemanbenefits from its Hollywood setting.
It also leads to the wonderful line Naomi Waaaaaaaaaaat!
This is actually an unusually verbal episode ofBoJack Horseman.
Not a ton of visual humor to be found.
That might explain the lowered JPM.
Thankfully it also leads to even more wonderful lines like Im sick of this dog and pony show.
Thats a testament to how seriousBoJack Horsemanis taking its storytelling here in the twilight of season 1.
I did a business.
Vincent Adultman
Hey Vincent Adultmans back!
Or at the very least the one I use in my day-to-day life most often.
Were all just adults going to stock markets and doing a business.
