No Middle Sliders™

October 22, 2024 1:24 PM

MONSTER FACTORY is a long-running, beloved comedy video series that is a strong contender for one of the funniest goddamn things ever published on the internet. Each episode features brothers Griffin and Justin McElroy (of MBMBAM fame) diving headlong into the character creator of a random game -- Griffin controlling the sliders, Justin providing color commentary. Over the next half-hour or so of relentlessly quotable banter, strange noises, and *painfully* hilarious shenanigans, they sculpt weirdly beautiful creatures of bizarre and improbable proportions, inventing a rich (and loving) backstory along the way. (Some personal favorites: The Final Pam [Fallout 4] - Truck Shepard [Mass Effect 2] - Knife Dad [Champions Online] - Trüllbus the Crime Eater [Saints Row 3] - Super Saiyan Dennis Farina [Tiger Woods '08] - Dr. Sexgun [SoulCalibur VI] - jIM jELLY [Pro Gymnast Simulator] - Snack Braff [WWE 2K20] - Pismokio [Woodworking Simulator] - Count Beetlejuice-Beetlejuice Beetlejuice [Crusader Kings 3] - the phenomenal "Boy-Mayor of Second Life" saga). The series inspired a wave of animations, supercuts, think pieces, and art from adoring fans. Sadly, production slowed after the brothers left original host Polygon, with only the occasional new entry once or twice a year... until now. Prepare for eight straight weeks of new Monster Factory episodes every Wednesday across three different games, starting with a livestream edition played earlier today on the latest McElroy Family Clubhouse.
posted by Rhaomi (25 comments total)

I saw the post, and I felt that pang of nostalgia: yes! Monster factory is fantastic! Yes, it is deserving of a metafilter thread! But, sang, how it hurts that it's mostly a thing of the past...

So imagine my joy when I got to the end. Eight! Straight! Weeks! Woohoo!
posted by meese at 1:43 PM on October 22 [2 favorites]

If you like this please read this episode of Breaking Madden on Clarence BEEFTANK. Particularly the personal bio which I think is some of the best comedic writing on the internet.
posted by q*ben at 2:04 PM on October 22 [9 favorites]

I'm so glad that you included Count Beetlejuice-Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. One of my all-time faves.
posted by Navelgazer at 2:14 PM on October 22

Whereof that we do not know, thereof we must remain silent.
posted by y2karl at 2:41 PM on October 22

I have a parasocial relationship with the McElroys that I am not proud of, and I think it's 95% based on The Final Pam.
posted by The corpse in the library at 5:01 PM on October 22 [4 favorites]

oh hell yes
posted by DoctorFedora at 5:09 PM on October 22 [1 favorite]

If you only watch one of these, please let it be The Final Pam episodes. I cried laughing multiple times, and so many lines from it have entered my personal lexicon: "I do this!", "pretty good, it doesn't seem!", "I will take a hammer and fix the ___.", "babby need snack!!", etc. (a bonus, please enjoy this hilarious Final Pam animation by Worthikids.)
posted by yasaman at 5:44 PM on October 22 [5 favorites]

It was very enlightening to watch them do a live MF this morning. Probably my favorite episode of their weekly stream yet. Hell, it would have been even if they hadn’t done a Monster Factory. I guess my palate is more what they describe at the beginning; i usually opt for a Negroni without the sweet vermouth (sub for dry) so i guess it fits.
posted by supercres at 5:44 PM on October 22

(Final Pam and Truck Shepard for me. MF was my entry into Mcelroys and now that I’ve renounced Travnation citizenship it’s gone back to being by far my favorite.)
posted by supercres at 5:47 PM on October 22

If you only watch one of these, please let it be The Final Pam episodes

I sometimes moan "daddy like a pretty baby?' to the extreme alarm of everyone around me
posted by FatherDagon at 5:48 PM on October 22 [4 favorites]

The Spore trilogy is in my top tier Monster Factory episodes
posted by gc at 6:51 PM on October 22 [1 favorite]

I limit myself to one watch per year of jIM jELLY. It can make me laugh when nothing else can, and I don't want to dilute its power.
posted by abry0 at 6:54 PM on October 22 [3 favorites]

backpack for his applesauce
posted by moonmilk at 9:13 PM on October 22 [1 favorite]

One night after overindulging in food and drink I queued up the "just like Bart" episode to show my friends, and I was laughing so hard I nearly lost my dinner. Thank you, Monster Factory.
posted by jomato at 9:31 PM on October 22 [1 favorite]

I love this post, thank you for making it, but I think you left out my personal fave: Bart Simpson
posted by jomato at 9:48 PM on October 22 [2 favorites]

"Truck Shepard" is one of the funniest things I've ever seen, there is hardly a month that goes by where I don't have occasion to think of him.
posted by wakannai at 4:43 AM on October 23 [1 favorite]

What about The Pebble? The Rock's clone/brother needs some love, too!
posted by TofuGolem at 6:02 AM on October 23

Episode 1: It's an Any% Killford Speedrun In Dragon's Dogma 2

Despite Capcom's efforts to the contrary, we're kicking off a new season of Monster Factory with some pro strats and manips to speedrun building our new friend Killford in Dragon's Dogma.

posted by Rhaomi at 10:47 AM on October 23

I wasn’t too sure about the freeform structure of these until around the 12 minute mark of the 2008 EA Sport Golf video, at which point I simultaneously dropped my ipad, cried laughing uncontrollably, and literally shit my pants. Jesus, these should come with a warning label.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 2:20 PM on October 23 [3 favorites]

I have "RIP Roachie" badge on my jacket and I'm proud to be repping Monster Factory in a small way.

Like other victims here, I also hurt myself laughing watching the Truck Shepard Mass Effect 2 episode. The initial reaction of "oh uh, oops, uh oh!" when they realise what moving random face sliders around in a mod tool has done to the protagonist nearly killed me.
posted by slimepuppy at 8:38 AM on October 24 [1 favorite]

Welp, time for another rewatch of The Boy Mayor of Second Life. I THINK DOGS SHOULD VOTE.
posted by little king trashmouth at 11:46 AM on October 24

I just realized I have a lot of travel coming up and I could do the YouTube paid trial so I can watch these on the train / bus / plane, which will be awesome, but I'm going to be constantly tilting my phone so nobody can see what's on my screen -- I don't think I want to have any of the conversations they could inspire.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:49 PM on October 24

Mod note: [btw, this pretty baby has been added to the sidebar and Best Of blog!]
posted by taz (staff) at 3:33 AM on October 28 [2 favorites]

metal husband
posted by cortex at 8:15 AM on October 28 [2 favorites]

Episode 2: Recruiting the Perfect Pupating Gorge Washin in Dragon's Dogma 2

Killford is preparing for his quest by recruiting the perfect squad: our pupating lord Gorge Washin, the teacher's pet Speical Boy, and the ever-judgemental Dr. Hotdog. Surely they'll find something productive to do other than throwing people to the brine eels.

posted by Rhaomi at 10:36 AM on October 30