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Are You Afraid of the Dark?

The Tale of Laughing in the Dark

Season 1, Episode 2, Aired Aug 22, 1992

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9.0

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After a clown, Zeebo, stole some charity money from the circus, he ran from authorities and hid in the funhouse. After it caught fire, killing Zeebo, it was believed that he started the fire on accident because he loved to smoke cigars. A teenager named Josh decides to prove that the funhouse isn't haunted by stealing Zeebo's nose. He learns that the story isn't fiction when Zeebo comes back to collect.

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Christian Tessier

Josh
GUEST STAR
Tamar Kozlov

Kathy
GUEST STAR
Aron Tager

Zeebo/Carney

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Fan Episode Reviews (18)

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Exciting and in Vancouver?

10

"Perfect"

By nejihyuga21, Sep 22, 2008

Well, Kristen was freaked out no duh! At first there were a lot of screaming going on especially in that spookhouse. Freaky wasn't it? In Vancouver and Playland was pretty much exciting but when I went there, my parents didn't leave me be but were with me there and I couldn't ditch them. Josh was so cocky and yeah, the Carney, was freaky enough. The house inside itself had nasty things going on. Weegee finally stepped up and dared Josh to do it. the legendary Zeebo made me suspicious. Zeebo's voice creeped me out big time and Josh is finally scared at last. He returned it and no harm done. The dinner and pudding was scary.moreless
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This is one of the episodes I remember most from my childhood.

9.1

"Superb"

By davidhoke, Jun 04, 2008

In my most honest opinion I believe this should have been the first scary story to be told by the kids. " The Tale of the Phantom Cab " was pivotal and this episode, though it had its flaws, was amazing. This is one of the few episodes I actually remembered watching when I was five years old or so. The only reasoning this episode doesn't get above 9.1 is because of some not so amazing acting, and because it was more of a suspense than a thriller. Overall, this is the episode you want to begin with. Forget the stupid tale of the phantom cab. Laughing in the Dark will be the only " pilot " episode you need.moreless
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Absolutely chilling!

9.5

"Superb"

By Duofan, Dec 18, 2007

This is one of my all time favorites of the AYAOTD Series. It is simply, great. I loved how the cast and the story sets up the mood. Especially when the viewers can see him snatching up the Clown's nose, we KNEW that something was about to happen.

I am a bit too old to get afraid of this episode, but the fact that The Clown can seek revenge is a pretty scary thought.I also liked the part when he offers the clown to stop scaring him with cigars, I guess he learned his lesson?

Either way, it is one of the best things that Nickelodeons could have produced.moreless
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Creepy! First episode I ever saw.

9.2

"Superb"

By rebelu2, Jul 19, 2007

This was pretty good. Zeebo the Clown was the best. This punk kid Josh says to his friend Weegee and his sister that he ain't afraid to go into this creepy fun house that is heard to be haunted by a ghost of a clown named Zeebo. I'm glad that little brat learned his lesson. I liked the acting of Josh and Weegee, but the best actor was Carney. He was brilliant with his line: "It's the most fun in the park when you're laughing in the dark." Brava!moreless
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An amusement park, a dare, a time to be scared.

8.6

"Great"

By Vampyr_raye666, Apr 30, 2007

This eisode wasn;t one of my favourites but thats because im deathly afraid of clowns. I have to admit, I had nightmares after watching this episode again. It was vry exciting and one of the resons I watch this show. The stories these kids tell are supposed to be scary, this episode sure was!
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (9)
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- Kristen is afraid of clowns.
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- This story is told by Betty Ann.
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- The funhouse exit is behind door number 4.
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- The door that Zeebo is behind is door number 6.
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- At the end, the statue of Zeebo is holding one of his new cigars.
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- Goof: The size of Zeebo's nose changes through out the episode.
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- Goof: Josh managed to easily get into the park, even though it was closed, and the entrance to the Spook House would have probably been locked, although it wasn't.
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- Goof: The size and shape of the spilled pudding changes in the second shot.
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- Goof: At the end of the episode, Josh returns to the haunted funhouse at the carnival with Zeebo's nose and a box of cigars. He should not, as a minor, have been able to purchase a fresh, new box of cigars.
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QUOTES (9)
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- Betty Ann: (Opening line to story) It was Friday night and Playland was jammed. For thousands of kids, it had everything they wanted, but for one kid... it had just a little too much.
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- Kristen: Oh no! I can't do this. I hate clowns! Eric: Oh, I've heard of that. It's called Bozo-Phobia.
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- David: Maybe the old guy was really Zeebo's ghost...
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- Josh: Legend has it the ghost of Zeebo is still there, trapped for all time.
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- Josh: (looking in mirrors) Look at me I'm Zeebo. Zeebo. Zeebo! (imitates Zeebo) Hand over the dough! What do you think I am some kind of clown? Zeebo: (laughs) What do you think I am some kind of clown?
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- Weegee: Kids have seen things in there. They heard things too.
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- Carney: Coming in, mister brave young lad?
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- Carney: Pick the right door and you'll go free... pick the wrong door and there he'll be.
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- Carney: It's the most fun in the park when you are laughing in the dark!
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NOTES (4)
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- The fun house of this episode was filmed in La Ronde which is an amusement park in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is currently owned by Six Flags.
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- Though the second episode of the season, this episode is third on the season one DVD.
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- Aron Tager who played Zeebo and the Carney is best known for his role as Dr. Vink in many other episodes. This is the only time that he played someone aside from Dr. Vink in the series.
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- Throughout the rest of the series many of the character's call eachother a variation on the name Zeebo such as "Zeeb". It's usually used in a negative way.
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ALLUSIONS (2)
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- Bozo the Clown
  
  Zeebo the Clown sounds very similar to the popular, Bozo the Clown.
  
  Eric jokes that the fear of clowns is called "Bozo-Phobia," which is another reference to the famous clown.
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- Middle Finger
  
  When Josh enters the funhouse, he gets the nose, and when he leaves he puts it on his middle finger and sticks it up with the clown's nose on it. This is an obscene gesture and its appearance on a children's show is very odd.
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