Rack, Shack, and Benny
Encyclopedia
Rack, Shack, and Benny, released in October 1995 on VHS, is the fourth episode of the VeggieTales
animated series and the first to present one story instead of two shorter ones. Subtitled "A Lesson in Handling Peer Pressure," it teaches viewers about avoiding unhealthy peer pressure and standing up for their beliefs.
The video is a retelling of the biblical story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
, from the Book of Daniel. In the story, King Nebuchadnezzar II requires that all his subjects bow down before a false idol. But three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
, refuse and are thrown into a furnace. They remain unharmed, and Nebuchadnezzar recognizes the power of their God.
Rack, Shack, and Benny adheres to the original story (including the very child unfriendly fate of being thrown into a furnace), but places it in a chocolate factory at which all employees are required to bow down before a giant chocolate bunny and sing "The Bunny Song."
about how he has peer pressure
, because he is always tempted by his friend "Billy" to watch a show that Dexter isn't supposed to watch. The story begins.
The story is told by Grandpa George, who made his debut on this episode. The story takes place at the Nezzer Chocolate Factory—an analogue for the biblical Babylon—where the employees work hard all day, making chocolate bunnies on an assembly line, including three plant employees named Rack, Shack, and Benny. Rack, Shack, and Benny were instructed by their parents to not eat many sweets, but their plan is thwarted. The factory has just sold its two-millionth chocolate bunny, and Mr. Nezzer, the owner of the factory, announces that all employees of the Nezzer Chocolate Factory may celebrate by eating as many bunnies as they like for thirty minutes. While all the employees tear ravenously into the chocolate bunnies, Shack reminds Rack and Benny to heed their parents' advice about eating fewer sweets.
When Mr. Nezzer comes out to soak up the appreciation of his employees, he finds them all lying ill, except for Rack, Shack, and Benny. They are rewarded, and Mr. Nezzer offers them a promotion, which they accept. The following day, Mr. Nezzer calls them into his office and tells them that he has erected a ninety-foot bunny statue for his employees to worship; He says that he believes that if the bunny were a big bunny then all of his employees will love it as much as he. To make matters worse and to blackmail them into worshiping his bunny statue, he also reveals the dreaded Bunny Song, whose lyrics state that nothing in the world—whether it be God, parents, healthy food, or school—is more important than the bunny. He intends to force all of his employees to bow down before the bunny statue and sing the song. Those who refuse will be declared "bad bunnies" and tossed into the fiery furnace.
The song's lyrics, as well as Nezzer's obsession with the bunny statue, draw Rack, Shack, and Benny's concern. They become afraid of being thrown in the furnace, since they do not agree with the lyrics of the song. When the time comes for the employees to bow down and sing the Bunny Song, Rack, Shack, and Benny refuse. Enraged, Mr. Nezzer orders that Rack, Shack, and Benny be sent to the furnace. At the factory, before their deaths, Mr. Nezzer gives them one last chance to sing the song. Still, they refuse, explaining that they were taught to stand up for their beliefs. Now infuriated Mr. Nezzer finally calls them "Bad Bunnies" and sends them down a chute into the furnace.
But they are rescued at the last second by Laura Carrot who arrived with a delivery truck. After a chase, Rack, Shack, and Benny are rescued. When Mr. Nezzer attempts to kill Rack, Shack, and Benny off, Laura unplugs Mr. Nezzer's machines, much to Nezzer's anger. Laura's efforts are thwarted, and Rack, Shack, and Benny fall into the furnace. Mr. Nezzer gloats, but much to his surprise, they do not burn. A fourth person (Mr. Nezzer's assistant, Mr. Lunt says, "He's real shiny," implying it is either an angel or God himself) appears in the furnace, and they are spared. Rack, Shack, and Benny emerge from the furnace, unscathed. Mr. Nezzer apologizes and is redeemed.
The story ends with Mr. Nezzer giving the order to his employees to worship the God of Rack Shack and Benny and making the employees sing a song called "Stand Up!" about how to do what is right instead of caving into peer pressure.
Back on the countertop, Bob and Larry wrap up, but Larry is still stuck in the sink. He recognizes now that peer pressure is not always good advice, and that common sense, one's own beliefs, and what one was taught by one's parents are more valuable than fleeting fads. He laments his wasted life, and Bob offers to help. Unfortunately, Bob ends up stuck in the sink as well. He gets no help.
The Bible verse selected for this episode was 2nd Thessalonians 2:15, and the theme was remembering to stand up for one's beliefs, and to remember parental advice, as opposed to caving into peer pressure. The show then ends.
We don't know that happens next to Bob after he was stuck in the sink at the end. He might have been drown in the drain or he was trapped, but looks like something negative happens. It was meant to be a good ending, but the way it's shown has been a very tragic ending for the episode.
, mentioned in an interview on the DVD edition that he hoped that kids, who saw the protagonists refuse to sing the song would recognize its negative context as unacceptable, but concerned and unhappy parents wrote to Big Idea, complaining that their kids were singing in public about not loving their mom or their dad or not going to church or school. Vischer said that the lesson, that he learned was to never mix negative lyrics with a catchy tune, since children will sing the song irrespective of the content.
For the first Veggietales sing-along video, a "New and Improved Bunny Song" was written, which had a repentant Mr. Nezzer singing that eating too much candy is wrong and that church and school are important. The original offending lines were dubbed to, "I didn't eat my soup or my bread, just the bunny," and I will go to church and I will go to school", respectively, and Mr. Nezzer talks over the female singers' solo. In later releases of Rack, Shack, and Benny, "I don't love my Mom or my Dad" was changed to "I don;t love my soup or my bread," and the line "I won't go to church and I won't go to school" was changed to "I won't eat no beans and I won't eat tofu" respectively.
VeggieTales
VeggieTales is an American series of children's computer animated films featuring anthropomorphic vegetables in stories conveying moral themes based on Christianity...
animated series and the first to present one story instead of two shorter ones. Subtitled "A Lesson in Handling Peer Pressure," it teaches viewers about avoiding unhealthy peer pressure and standing up for their beliefs.
The video is a retelling of the biblical story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are characters in the biblical Hebrew book of Daniel Chapters 1 – 3, known for their exclusive devotion to God. In particular, they are known for being saved by divine intervention from the Babylonian execution of being burned alive in a fiery furnace...
, from the Book of Daniel. In the story, King Nebuchadnezzar II requires that all his subjects bow down before a false idol. But three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are characters in the biblical Hebrew book of Daniel Chapters 1 – 3, known for their exclusive devotion to God. In particular, they are known for being saved by divine intervention from the Babylonian execution of being burned alive in a fiery furnace...
, refuse and are thrown into a furnace. They remain unharmed, and Nebuchadnezzar recognizes the power of their God.
Rack, Shack, and Benny adheres to the original story (including the very child unfriendly fate of being thrown into a furnace), but places it in a chocolate factory at which all employees are required to bow down before a giant chocolate bunny and sing "The Bunny Song."
Synopsis
The show starts with Bob the Tomato alone. Larry the Cucumber appears on the countertop, wearing an oven mitten on his head. When asked why, he says that it is because he saw it on the cover of "Veggie Beat" magazine and that everyone is doing it. Unable to see, however, he crashes into the sink. Bob reads a letter from Dexter Wilmington from Tuscaloosa, AlabamaTuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
about how he has peer pressure
Peer pressure
Peer pressure refers to the influence exerted by a peer group in encouraging a person to change his or her attitudes, values, or behavior in order to conform to group norms. Social groups affected include membership groups, when the individual is "formally" a member , or a social clique...
, because he is always tempted by his friend "Billy" to watch a show that Dexter isn't supposed to watch. The story begins.
The story is told by Grandpa George, who made his debut on this episode. The story takes place at the Nezzer Chocolate Factory—an analogue for the biblical Babylon—where the employees work hard all day, making chocolate bunnies on an assembly line, including three plant employees named Rack, Shack, and Benny. Rack, Shack, and Benny were instructed by their parents to not eat many sweets, but their plan is thwarted. The factory has just sold its two-millionth chocolate bunny, and Mr. Nezzer, the owner of the factory, announces that all employees of the Nezzer Chocolate Factory may celebrate by eating as many bunnies as they like for thirty minutes. While all the employees tear ravenously into the chocolate bunnies, Shack reminds Rack and Benny to heed their parents' advice about eating fewer sweets.
When Mr. Nezzer comes out to soak up the appreciation of his employees, he finds them all lying ill, except for Rack, Shack, and Benny. They are rewarded, and Mr. Nezzer offers them a promotion, which they accept. The following day, Mr. Nezzer calls them into his office and tells them that he has erected a ninety-foot bunny statue for his employees to worship; He says that he believes that if the bunny were a big bunny then all of his employees will love it as much as he. To make matters worse and to blackmail them into worshiping his bunny statue, he also reveals the dreaded Bunny Song, whose lyrics state that nothing in the world—whether it be God, parents, healthy food, or school—is more important than the bunny. He intends to force all of his employees to bow down before the bunny statue and sing the song. Those who refuse will be declared "bad bunnies" and tossed into the fiery furnace.
The song's lyrics, as well as Nezzer's obsession with the bunny statue, draw Rack, Shack, and Benny's concern. They become afraid of being thrown in the furnace, since they do not agree with the lyrics of the song. When the time comes for the employees to bow down and sing the Bunny Song, Rack, Shack, and Benny refuse. Enraged, Mr. Nezzer orders that Rack, Shack, and Benny be sent to the furnace. At the factory, before their deaths, Mr. Nezzer gives them one last chance to sing the song. Still, they refuse, explaining that they were taught to stand up for their beliefs. Now infuriated Mr. Nezzer finally calls them "Bad Bunnies" and sends them down a chute into the furnace.
But they are rescued at the last second by Laura Carrot who arrived with a delivery truck. After a chase, Rack, Shack, and Benny are rescued. When Mr. Nezzer attempts to kill Rack, Shack, and Benny off, Laura unplugs Mr. Nezzer's machines, much to Nezzer's anger. Laura's efforts are thwarted, and Rack, Shack, and Benny fall into the furnace. Mr. Nezzer gloats, but much to his surprise, they do not burn. A fourth person (Mr. Nezzer's assistant, Mr. Lunt says, "He's real shiny," implying it is either an angel or God himself) appears in the furnace, and they are spared. Rack, Shack, and Benny emerge from the furnace, unscathed. Mr. Nezzer apologizes and is redeemed.
The story ends with Mr. Nezzer giving the order to his employees to worship the God of Rack Shack and Benny and making the employees sing a song called "Stand Up!" about how to do what is right instead of caving into peer pressure.
Back on the countertop, Bob and Larry wrap up, but Larry is still stuck in the sink. He recognizes now that peer pressure is not always good advice, and that common sense, one's own beliefs, and what one was taught by one's parents are more valuable than fleeting fads. He laments his wasted life, and Bob offers to help. Unfortunately, Bob ends up stuck in the sink as well. He gets no help.
The Bible verse selected for this episode was 2nd Thessalonians 2:15, and the theme was remembering to stand up for one's beliefs, and to remember parental advice, as opposed to caving into peer pressure. The show then ends.
We don't know that happens next to Bob after he was stuck in the sink at the end. He might have been drown in the drain or he was trapped, but looks like something negative happens. It was meant to be a good ending, but the way it's shown has been a very tragic ending for the episode.
Cast
- Bob the Tomato as Rack (Shadrach)
- Junior Asparagus as Shack (Meshach)
- Larry The Cucumber as Benny (Abednego)
- Laura Carrot as herself
- Mr. Nezzer as himself (debut) (He was considered to be the villain)
- Mr. Lunt as Mr. Nezzer's Assistant (debut)
- Grandpa George as himself (debut)
- PeasPEASP.E.A.S. is an acronym in artificial intelligence that stands for Performance, Environment, Actuators, Sensors.-Performance:Performance is a function that measures the quality of the actions the agent did....
as The Employees (debut) - Mom Asparagus as herself
Segments
- Opening Countertop
- Rack, Shack, and Benny Part 1
- Silly SongSilly Songs with LarrySilly Songs with Larry is a regular feature in the Big Idea's popular 3D cartoon series VeggieTales. It generally consists of Larry the Cucumber singing either alone or with some of the other Veggie characters. Occasionally, another character or an ensemble gets the lead vocal. It is occasionally...
: The Dance of the Cucumber - Rack, Shack, and Benny Part 2
- Ending Countertop
Songs
- The Chocolate Factory (A.K.A. "Good Morning, George") (sung by Laura Carrot, Mr. Nezzer's Assistant, Rack, Shack, Benny, and the Peas)
- Junior's Lullaby (A.K.A. "Think of Me (VeggieTales)") (sung by Junior Asparagus and Mom Asparagus)
- The Bunny Song (Original) (sung by Mr. Nezzer and the Asparagus Vocalists)
- Think of Me (reprise) (sung by Rack, Shack, and Benny)
- I'd Tried to be Patient (sung by Mr. Nezzer)
- Stand Up! (VeggieTales) (sung by Rack, Shack, Benny, Mr. Nezzer, and the Peas)
- The Dance of the Cucumber (Silly SongSilly Songs with LarrySilly Songs with Larry is a regular feature in the Big Idea's popular 3D cartoon series VeggieTales. It generally consists of Larry the Cucumber singing either alone or with some of the other Veggie characters. Occasionally, another character or an ensemble gets the lead vocal. It is occasionally...
) (sung by Larry and Bob)
Changes to the Bunny Song
In the original edition of Rack, Shack & Benny, Mr. Nezzer sings The Bunny Song, with lines such as, "I don't love my mom or my dad, just the bunny," and, "I won't go to church and I won't go to school." As the writer, Phil VischerPhil Vischer
Phillip "Phil" Vischer is an American voice actor, animator, director, writer and puppeteer known for creating the computer-animated video series VeggieTales with partner and friend Mike Nawrocki...
, mentioned in an interview on the DVD edition that he hoped that kids, who saw the protagonists refuse to sing the song would recognize its negative context as unacceptable, but concerned and unhappy parents wrote to Big Idea, complaining that their kids were singing in public about not loving their mom or their dad or not going to church or school. Vischer said that the lesson, that he learned was to never mix negative lyrics with a catchy tune, since children will sing the song irrespective of the content.
For the first Veggietales sing-along video, a "New and Improved Bunny Song" was written, which had a repentant Mr. Nezzer singing that eating too much candy is wrong and that church and school are important. The original offending lines were dubbed to, "I didn't eat my soup or my bread, just the bunny," and I will go to church and I will go to school", respectively, and Mr. Nezzer talks over the female singers' solo. In later releases of Rack, Shack, and Benny, "I don't love my Mom or my Dad" was changed to "I don;t love my soup or my bread," and the line "I won't go to church and I won't go to school" was changed to "I won't eat no beans and I won't eat tofu" respectively.