Bad Hair Day

Bad Hair Day was the pilot episode of the Donkey Kong Country TV series that aired on the 23rd of August, 1998. It was written by Nadine van der Velde.

Plot Synopsis
After singing a toe-tapping tune ("Cause I'm Cranky"), Cranky Kong greets us with his familiar breaking of the fourth wall by telling us about Donkey Kong, the Crystal Coconut, and King K. Rool shortly before the aforementioned villain appears with his henchman General Klump and army of Kritters. Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong come and dispatch the enemies quickly. Back at the lair, K. Rool finds a book on curses and finds one about cutting the enemy's hair, making him powerless until his hair grows back. He designs a robot to look exactly like Candy Kong, Donkey Kong's girlfriend and the only person who could get close enough to him to cut his hair ("I'm Candy Kong's Clone"). The robot fools Donkey Kong and succeeds in cutting his hair down to the scalp, draining him of his strength. K. Rool takes advantage of this and steals the Crystal Coconut with with other henchman like Krusha. Donkey Kong is now too weak too stop them when they arrive. Funky Kong takes them to the Mellow Yellow banana plantation in an effort to give Donkey Kong a boost of strength, though Cranky figures out the cure. He gives it to Candy, who's the only one who can do it (even though she didn't actually cut his hair). Bluster Kong, her rich jealous boss, dumps the cure on the ground, saying he didn't care if Donkey Kong was cured. But the cure ended up being transferred to the plantlife of Kongo Bongo, including the bananas of the plantation. With his strength back, Donkey Kong easily defeats K. Rool and gets the Crystal Coconut back.

Trivia

 * The two songs in this episode were "Cause I'm Cranky," sung by Cranky, and "I'm Candy Kong's Clone," sung by the Candy Robot. This is the first singing debut for both Cranky Kong and Candy's robot.
 * The concept of a hero losing his strength because of a trusted loved one cutting his hair is based on the Greek myth of Sampson and Delilah.
 * For only this episode, Ben Campbell didn't voice King K. Rool. Instead, Len Carlson, the voice of Klump, did his voice.
 * The curse that's said while cutting the enemy's hair is, "Snip snip, power slip, you're a wimp and that's it."
 * The book that K. Rool read didn't have any actual words in it, just random groups of letters.
 * Due to the limitations of the graphics, when DK's hair is cut his bald head is the same shape as his hair.
 * Because this is the pilot, Krusha is not an oaf in this episode.
 * Interestingly, King K. Rool's name was pronounced two different ways during this episode. First, he was referred to as "King Kay-Rool", and then "King Kuh-Rool" shortly afterwards. However, after this episode, he was never referred to as "Kay-Rool" again.

Quotes

 * Cranky: *about Donkey Kong* Our protector, and future king!  Got a lot of muscle mass, but uh... not so much brain mass.
 * Klap Traps: *as they're accidentally aimed at Klump* Oh boy, nice fat target!  How could we miss?
 * Donkey Kong: *looking at identical ties* Hmm... why do I always have to start the day with a tough decision?
 * King K. Rool: *reading from a book* "Curse Your Way To The Top:  Success Through VooDoo."
 * King K. Rool: You wouldn't know a good plan if it hit you in the head! Klump:  I would too!  ....If it hit me in the head.
 * Bluster: Hey, Candy. Surprise! Candy:  A birthday cake.  How original, Bluster. Bluster:  Yes, I am a thoughtful son-of-a-gun. Happy birthday! Banana cream, your favorite! Candy: Rejected; I'm watching my figure. Bluster:  Don't bother, I'm watching it for you.
 * K.Rool: *about the Candy robot* Bravo! She lives, she lives! She could fool any idiot! Klump: Fooled me!
 * Donkey Kong: I blew it. She's never gonna talk to me again! Diddy: Ah don't sweat it. You've blown it a hundred times, a thousand times, a million kajillion times!
 * Candy Robot: *after riding Donkey Kong's strength-powered elevator* You don't know your own strength.  We'll have to fix that...
 * Candy Robot: *after the haircut* There, all done!  That wasn't so bad was it?  Do you like it? onkey Kong:  *feeling his bald head* Smooth... too smooth... Diddy:  Oh no, geek alert!
 * Donkey Kong: Step back!  I'm gonna give ya one last chance to make a run for it!  OK, here it comes! *starts punching Krusha* Krusha:  Ooh, you're tickling me...
 * Diddy: *as they're about to take off in Funky's plane* Y-You know, maybe I should sit this one out- Funky:  Too late!
 * Diddy: It's a miracle, an omen, a sign from a sign-place!  Look!  More bananas! Donkey Kong:  *with a belly full of bananas* No!  Not another bite!
 * Diddy: Look, it's your head!  Your hair's growing back! Donkey Kong:  So are my muscles!

Lyrics
Cause I'm Cranky sung by Cranky Kong

''Some people call me negative, they don't like my frown. They all try to cheer me up, but I'm down with being down!''

''I know what you're thinking... He's a genius. Cause I am!''

''Cause I'm Cranky. I got my finger on the beat. Yeah I'm Cranky. The oldest, wisest ape you'll ever meet!''

I'm Candy Kong's Clone sung by the Candy Robot

I'm Candy Kong's clone, we look alike we're one and the same. I know what you're thinking, but honey I'm no ordinary dame.

''I'm sugary sweet Ooh! Just like candy cane. My charm and good looks drive all the apes insane!''

Every monkey's dream, for your evil scheme. It's so cool to work for King K. Rool!