| Series: | Phineas and Ferb |
| Season: | 1 |
| Episode: | 22 |
| Production: | 114 |
| Director: | Dan Povenmire |
| Music: | "I Ain't Got Rhythm" "Danny's Story" "Fabulous" "Snuck Your Way Into My Heart" "Music Makes Us Better" |
| Guests: |
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| Episode List: | List of Phineas and Ferb episodes |
| Season Article: | Phineas and Ferb (season 1) |
| Prev: | It's About Time! |
| Next: | Tree to Get Ready |
"Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together" is the 22nd broadcast episode of the American animated television series Phineas and Ferb. It originally aired on Disney Channel in the United States on March 8, 2008. The plot concerns an attempt by Phineas Flynn and Ferb Fletcher to reform the band Love Händel for their parents' wedding anniversary.
The story was written by Bobby Gaylor and Martin Olson, and storyboarded by Chris Headrick and Chong Lee. It was directed by series co-creator Dan Povenmire. The episode's central characters, the members of Love Händel, are parodies of three of the production staff, Gaylor, Povenmire, and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh. Jaret Reddick, Carlos Alazraqui, and Steve Zahn guest starred as Love Händel members Danny, Bobbi Fabulous and Sherman/Swampy, respectively.
"Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together" was well received and is considered a fan favorite. It has been referred to by the Phineas and Ferb co-creators as one of their favorite episodes in several different interviews. The episode garnered a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for the song "Ain't Got Rhythm" in the category "Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics."[1]
Phineas and Ferb's parents, Linda and Lawrence, are arguing over something Lawrence has forgotten. Linda goes out alone for the afternoon, leaving Lawrence confused; then Candace informs him that today is his wedding anniversary. Lawrence goes to the garage to search for a gift and discovers an old album by Love Händel: he explains to the children that he and Linda shared their first kiss at the band's farewell concert. Lawrence despairs of recapturing the moment, but Candace, Phineas, and Ferb watch a Where Are They Now?-type special about Love Händel, and decide to reform the band. Candace tries to keep Linda away from the house while Phineas and Ferb are looking for the members of the band.
Meanwhile, Perry breaks into Dr. Doofenshmirtz's hideout, only to discover that he is only putting a birthday party for his 16-year-old daughter Vanessa. Doofenshmirtz explains that he has been trying to give out the best birthday parties for her, but failed for some reasons, as she felt so extremely unhappy about her birthdays all her life (this was evident of several birthday photos that Doofenshmirtz shows to Perry in his wallet). Seeing this, Perry agrees to set aside his rivalry and help Doofenshmirtz prepare for the party.
Phineas and Ferb set out to convince the members of Love Händel—lead singer Danny, bassist Bobbi Fabulous, and drummer Swampy (whose real name is Sherman)—to reform. Danny alone agrees immediately, with a song; Bobbi and Swampy needed convincing (as Danny wished them luck on it), through song as well. At the same time, Isabella and the Fireside Girls are starting the stage building. Lawrence, at the same time, tries to cater a small dinner and hires a singing telegram; unfortunately, the dinner catches fire, and Lawrence's hastily planned evening goes up in smoke. Phineas and Ferb arrive and assure Lawrence that all is well, explaining that the band has agreed to reform. Meanwhile, Candace continues keeping Linda away from the house by taking her to the mall to try on some dresses.
Doofenshmirtz, back at his lair, ties Perry to a giant firecracker rocket, explaining that he will end the party with fireworks and explode Perry at the same time. When Vanessa arrives, however, she hates the "girly" theme Doofenshmirtz has chosen and sits down to mope at a table, fearing that this would embarrass her in front of her arriving goth friends. At Phineas and Ferb's house, Love Händel's rehearsal descends into infighting; sure that no one will want to hear them anymore, the band are again on the verging of breaking up when they hear the roar of the crowd. Meanwhile, Doofenshmirtz mopes of failing another attempt of giving Vanessa a good party, so he decides to ignite Perry's rocket to cheer himself up, but Perry frees himself and a fight ensues, during which Doofenshmirtz becomes tied to the rocket by accident instead. At the same moment, the band begins to play; Candace and Linda arrive home. Linda reunites with her husband, and eventually kiss, thanks to some motivation from Ferb, who yells to Lawrence to kiss her.
The explosion as Doofenshmirtz's firecracker rocket launches leaves the lair filthy and partly destroyed; the creepy look thrills Vanessa's arriving goth friends (including her boyfriend Johnny), who find it to be cool. Touched by this, Vanessa happily thanks both her father for getting one birthday party right for her and Perry for helping her father out. As the rocket ascends, Doofenshmirtz is himself cursing Perry, as usual, but pauses to notice Love Handel singing below. The band finish their song just as Doofenshmirtz's rocket explodes with a heart-shaped flare. The episode ends with Love Handel singing "Music Makes Us Better" and with everyone (including Doofenshmirtz, who has survived the explosion unscathed) dancing during the end credits.
"Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together" was written by Bobby Gaylor and Martin Olson, with storyboards by Chris Headrick and Chong Lee. Series co-creator Dan Povenmire directed the episode. Povenmire and Headrick had previously collaborated on a direct-to-video Looney Tunes short entitled Hare and Loathing in Las Vegas.[2]
Each member of Love Händel was inspired by a member of the production team, who had previously been musicians themselves. Danny was named after and based on Povenmire, Bobbi Fabulous on Gaylor, and Swampy on co-creator Jeff "Swampy" Marsh. Povenmire and Marsh each played in different bands in Los Angeles for over a decade.[3] Gaylor was a spoken word performer who played pop and rock music;[4] he recorded an album titled Fuzzatronic Dreams.[3]
As well as the show's regular voice actor cast members, "Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together" featured guest stars in the roles of the three band members. Jaret Reddick[5] (the leader of the Grammy-nominated band Bowling for Soup,[6] [7] who also perform the show's regular, Emmy-nominated theme song[6] [8] [9]), Carlos Alazraqui, and Steve Zahn portrayed each of the bandmates (Reddick as Danny, Alazraqui as Bobbi and Zahn as Swampy respectively).[5]