So I went to CEC today...

[Isabella Price]

I figured it would be the best place to go have dinner, so me and a friend went down there for a few hours. The place was nearly empty, only about 3 families. They actually had the show running, so we went and ate while we watched them move (or, lack thereof, Jasper's hand fell off!). The entire time we were sitting there, I was explaining Showbiz Pizza to the few people around us, telling them how it was converted to CEC and all that, and then all of a sudden, Chuck starts saying something like "Wasn't there a pizza place we were competing with once?". All the characters started talking back and forth, dropping hints to the pizza place they couldn't remember.

Munch: "Now what was the name of that pizza place? Give me a hint."
Jasper: "That's a FAT chance."

Everyone found it ironic that all of a sudden they started talking about Showbiz, as if they were listening in on our conversation. Haha. At the end of the skit, Chuck said something along the lines of, "Well, that's Showbiz for ya!"

I found that amusing enough to share. ;P

[Flash Kid]

Yeah. Others have posted about that Showbiz joke, too. Haha

FK

[zeekeroo]

WOW! THAT's ALMOST CREEPY!

It drives me crazy when my mom tries to tell me Chuck E. winked at her.

Do any of the Chuck E.s even have a wink?

[Flash Kid]

WOW! THAT's ALMOST CREEPY!

It drives me crazy when my mom tries to tell me Chuck E. winked at her.

Do any of the Chuck E.s even have a wink?
I believe they all do, yes.

FK

[Fatz Geronimo]

Huh, I know I should feel amused but I can't help feeling that Chuck and the gang are somewhat evil now.

I wonder if anyone else really gets that joke anymore, kind of ironic someone who would was actually there!

Were it me, I probably would've 'booed' Chuck.

[NickRyder]

That's kinda funny - although I think its kinda bad taste for them to joke abou SPP, since SPP basically saved THEIR butts from being tossed in dumpsters...

[terry67401]

Boy, if that ain't the truth!! LOL!!

[MechaCory]

I heard the anti Showbiz sketch recently as well. How long has that been part of the program? I'm a literal lifelong CEC fan and always will be one...but knowing how kind and awesome Aaron F is and how raw a deal the Showbiz thing went down, its just kind of disheartening they'd program in that sketch.

It's ironic, because then the whole hour show was about "Celebrating the 80's".

Let's celebrate, like it's 1988. Let's have some fun, like it's 1981.
(the lyrics go something like that)

I was thinking "uh, yeah, let's celebrate like it's the 80's Chuck, where's your PTT era buddies, stage show and such being referenced?" Sad CEC corporate treats that era like Disney treats Song of the South. Hey let's make fun of the franchise that helped us out and became part of the CEC family, before tossing them to the curb! Oh and here's a white washed disengenuous ode to the 1980's kids! :)

Here's PTT era CEC(at a "Showbiz Pizza" oddly enough) circa 1988, the way I prefer to remember the main 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cWfz4EWFm0

[Isabella Price]

I heard the anti Showbiz sketch recently as well. How long has that been part of the program? I'm a literal lifelong CEC fan and always will be one...but knowing how kind and awesome Aaron F is and how raw a deal the Showbiz thing went down, its just kind of disheartening they'd program in that sketch.

It's ironic, because then the whole hour show was about "Celebrating the 80's".

Let's celebrate, like it's 1988. Let's have some fun, like it's 1981.
(the lyrics go something like that)

I was thinking "uh, yeah, let's celebrate like it's the 80's Chuck, where's your PTT era buddies, stage show and such being referenced?" Sad CEC corporate treats that era like Disney treats Song of the South. Hey let's make fun of the franchise that helped us out and became part of the CEC family, before tossing them to the curb! Oh and here's a white washed disengenuous ode to the 1980's kids! :)

Here's PTT era CEC(at a "Showbiz Pizza" oddly enough) circa 1988, the way I prefer to remember the main 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cWfz4EWFm0

Dude. Everything you just said right there was like....magic. I agree with you completely. And I'm so glad to see someone who actually KNOWS what Song of the South IS. I love that movie, and it makes me sad that Disney has an entire RIDE dedicated to it, yet it's still banned and so obscure nobody's even heard of it!

But, besides that, you couldn't have been more right. The comment about Showbiz must have been a huge slap in the face to Aaron. Especially adding in Munch not even remembering it. :(

[MechaCory]

Dude. Everything you just said right there was like....magic. I agree with you completely. And I'm so glad to see someone who actually KNOWS what Song of the South IS. I love that movie, and it makes me sad that Disney has an entire RIDE dedicated to it, yet it's still banned and so obscure nobody's even heard of it!

But, besides that, you couldn't have been more right. The comment about Showbiz must have been a huge slap in the face to Aaron. Especially adding in Munch not even remembering it. :(

It just didn't feel like "CEC/Munch's Make Believe Band" to be saying that.
In fact, cigar chomping shyster rat fink era Chuck E Cheese(late 1970's San Jose locations) seems more charming than that. There was a period when Chuck E was a rude, condescending character that always gave everyone a hard time(til Harmony Howlette stood up to him)

But when you see the wide breadth of Aaron's undying passion and work, you see his youtube podcasts from his wherehouse, email with him or even the Rockafire Movie trailer...it's clear what a genuinely kind, loving and visionary person he is. For him to get screwed out of Wac a Mole(which is a huge multi million dollar corporate brand with Nintendo games and everything), and the Showbiz fiasco...it just really makes me sad.

CEC shows are well known for inside jokes, but previously they had been more shout outs to the creative team or in-company people(or even older PTT characters) This sketch when you see it performed, goes out of its way to rub it in instead of just a quick oneliner. Odd.
And the funny part is, up until the turn of the millennium Chuck E Cheese parent company *was* called Showbiz Pizza...so they're really only making fun of themselves(its like the Muppet show making fun of Fraggle Rock or something)

And oh gosh, Song of the South is WONDERFUL. I encourage everyone to download it and show it to friends. I mean Disney has rides, plushes, books, sing a long vhs, etc devoted to the characters...but they do ALL they can to make sure noone knows about it. The movie was ANTI racist, it exposed the antebellum racism. It even won an Academy Award. Just doesnt make sense why Disney has done that

Anyways, thanks! It's so cool to see how many CEC/RAE fans there are in california! Suckily I missed Cheesevention when it was in San Jose, but Im hoping they have a California Rockafire movie event to give an excuse for CA fans to meet up:-P

[Harmony Howlette]

Well...I thought it was funny ;)
Sometimes a gag is...just a gag. I fail to see how it was 'anti-Showbiz'.
I thought it was a pretty clever way to address the 'elephant in the room', which is something the Entertainment Department has always been pretty good at (see also: the curtain ordeal).

[MechaCory]

Well...I thought it was funny ;)
Sometimes a gag is...just a gag. I fail to see how it was 'anti-Showbiz'.
I thought it was a pretty clever way to address the 'elephant in the room', which is something the Entertainment Department has always been pretty good at (see also: the curtain ordeal).

Well yeah...I mean it's pretty cool to see a reference in this modern age by CEC toward Showbiz/RAE/Fatz. In a way, I guess you could say it's a nod to fans given virtually noone would even know what the heck they are talking about.

Incidentally, I mentioned to the manager how much I loved the place when it was PTT pre 1993, and he totally got all nostalgic. We talked about how awesome Dolli Dimples in the side room was, the coin operated King, the balcony/flags/clapper animals, the dimly lit atmosphere, etc. We also talked about how much more technically advanced and more complex to upkeep the RAE was, and how there was an RAE Showbiz down the street.The young workers standing around hadn't a clue what we were talking about:)

[MechaCory]

I thought it was a pretty clever way to address the 'elephant in the room', which is something the Entertainment Department has always been pretty good at (see also: the curtain ordeal).

If they had said "the hippo in the room", I woulda been laughing my bum off. :)

[bzier]

Yeah, I don't see that segment in the current show as a slap in the face...I see it as a nod to all of us fans reminding us of good 'ol Showbiz. This place wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for Showbiz. Those guys in the entertainment department are great for putting in little nods like that.

[MechaCory]

Yeah, I don't see that segment in the current show as a slap in the face...I see it as a nod to all of us fans reminding us of good 'ol Showbiz. This place wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for Showbiz. Those guys in the entertainment department are great for putting in little nods like that.

Yeah that's true, it's definitely an unexpected easter egg meant to the few "in the know". I guess after having *just* seen the Rockafire movie trailer and reading up on that and the history of CEI/Showbiz it felt a little mean.

[Anastacia]

Wow I thought this was a joke at first...meow! But I love it :p