Gumshoes, Carmen Sandiego's gang of globe-trotting goons has glommed again. This time, the scene of the crime was Brussels, Belgium, the beautiful city of Renaissance, architecture, great food, and bilingual citizens. But nothing catches a fancy of Brussels visitors like this fountain. With this bronzed statue of a little boy answering the call on May 5. Seriously, the fountain was built in 1619 by a sculptor named Jérôme Duquesnoy. This statue, or manneken as they say in Dutch, is real proof that different cultures find different things offensive, while some societies, perhaps even people in our own, would find this little guy horribly crass and tried to have him destroyed. But in Belgium, he's just an object of whimsical humor. They sell little squirting souvenirs on these streets, and whenever there's a holiday or festival, city workers dress him up in a new custom tailored outfit. Well, today he was abducted. Top Grunge, that grimy greaseball with a permanent cold, bagged him in broad daylight. Gumshoes, here's your mission: get Grunge, reinstate the statue, and then capture Carmen Sandiego.
Hey, Carmen, this statue's leavin' a trail!
Head for Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and hide the statue behind the famous geyser.
A hole in the earth that spits out water and steam. It's generated by red-hot magma beneath the earth's surface.
I don't know, Carmen. Didn't they have a huge forest fire a few years back?
Don't worry. If it happens again, the mountains can help put it out. And you'll love the geyser, Grunge. It smells like sulfur.
What does sulfur smell like?
Rotten eggs. Just like you.
Carmen, that's the nicest thing you ever said to me. (sneezes)
This is Lynne Thigpen speaking for Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? and remember: It's not a brag, it's not a bolt, we turn criminals into pulp.
Gumshoes, Carmen Sandiego and her slew of sleazy slugs have struck again. This time, they did the illicit action in Illinois. Metropolis, Illinois built itself as a hometown of Clark Kent A.K.A. Superman. Back in the 1940s, when the DC Comics superhero first became famous, the folks in Metropolis noticed that their city has the same name as Superman's fictional city. Years later, they turned coincidence into opportunity by jumping into the roadside attraction business. Now, Metropolis boasts the only official Superman phone booth, Superman billboard, water tower, and annual celebrations. It's even got a newspaper called, you guessed it, the Metropolis Planet. But it was dire headlines today when Wonder Rat, in a bit of medium-mongering jealousy, stole the entire city. He says he won't release it until every last image of Clark Kent is replaced with his own heroic visions. They'll be illing in Illinois until Metropolis is returned. Gumshoes, this cannot be tolerated. Your mission is to round up the rat, get the city of Metropolis back to the city of Metropolis, and then catch that burg-burgling bigwig Carmen Sandiego.
Nyah, I'm thinkin' of changin' the name of this town I stole. How does Ratopolis sound?
How does jail sound? ACME's about to nab you. Head for Monrovia, the capital of a West African nation that's home to one of the world's largest fleets of privately owned ships.
Yeah, yeah, right. Ship owners all over the world register there, 'cause they charge low taxes and lenient regulations. Say, I could use a nice rat-cruise.
Forget it. You've got to hide. Head into the rainforest and disguise yourself as a Pygmy Hippo. This is one of the few parts of Africa where they live.
Gee, I don't know Carmen. Wonder-Dwarf-Pygmy-Hippo-Rat? It just doesn't roll off the tongue.
(each time Metropolis is revealed in the 2nd round)
Superman Land!
Kryptonite!
Faster than a speeding bullet!
More powerful than a locomotive!
Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!
Dated Lois! In the movie!
LOOK! Up in the sky!
Carmen Sandiego and her school of scurrilous scallywags have struck again. This time, they took a pop shot at Paris, France. The meeting by the emperor Napoleon, the splendor of Arc de Triomphe was built to honor the French army. Napoleon's fortunes didn't last long, but the Arc has lived on. Until last night, that is when Eartha Brute, that brawny burglar, barged up the trophied masse and snarked up the Arc. There will be darkness in the City of Light until their beloved monument is returned. Gumshoes, your mission is to bag the brute, return the Arc to Paris, and then put an end to Carmen Sandiego's career in crime.
(After Eartha's profile) She's a cross trainer, a weight gainer, and a no brainer.
Carmen, how long do I have to carry this Arc around?
Quit whining. ACME's on your tail, Brute. I want you to hide the Arc behind the Barrier Reef off the caribbean coast of Central America. Then, head inland where the Howler Monkeys live.
They sound like this. (makes monkey sounds) You can hear their cry almost a mile away.
Hey, sounds like my brother.
For our next clue we turn to James Avery, an informant from ACME Shredder-Net. Watch.
JJames
Pssst. Gumshoes, Eartha's in a Chinese city, on the eastern bank of the Yangtze River. It's a site that's been inhabited for thousands of years. Twice this century, the city was capital of China, but not anymore. Now it's a bustling commercial center that's capital of Jiangsu Province. That's all I know. Good luck. Get outta here!
Thanks, James. Robert, do you recognize him? Cartoons? Shredder. Shredder everybody.
Gumshoes, Carmen Sandiego and her army of anti-social aardvarks has struck again. This time, they vandalized the green valleys and verdant meadows of New Zealand. First severed by Polynesian people, now called Māori about 1,000 years ago, the islands of New Zealand were colonized by the British in 1840. And they brought some very important friends: sheep. Why are sheep important in New Zealand? I'll tell you. Okay, it's the 19th century. England's farmland is shrinking while its population is growing. "Hmm," England says, "how do we feed these folks? Hey! We got New Zealand, a huge colony crawling with sheep, but it's 13,000 miles away. Well, I guess we'll just have to develop refrigeration. Yes!" So they froze the sheep, tipped them halfway around the world, and everyone was happy. England had food, New Zealand had a major industry. Now if you can just freeze Carmen and send it to Mars... well, anyway. Yesterday, Vic the Slick, disguised as Little Bo Peep, rounded up 65 million of the cloven hoofed critters and herded them away. Every last sheep from Wellington to Waikawa is gone, gone, gone. Now gumshoes, here's your mission: vanquish Vic, shag the sheep home, and then corral that criminal Carmen Sandiego.
(the Sheep are heard bleating in the background)
All this bleepin' bleatin' is givin' me a headache, Carmen.
Take two aspirin and scram before ACME makes mutton out of you.
(sings when the Sheep are revealed in the second round) Little lost lambies!
Gumshoes, Carmen Sandiego and her posse of pugnacious poachers have pounced again. This time, they went out of this world. 600-15,000 miles above the equator, the Van Allen radiation belts surround the Earth. The donut-shaped vans are named for physicist James A. Van Allen, leader of a team that discovered them in 1958. They form a part of the Earth's magnetic field, and they trap charged particles thrown off by the Sun. Now sometimes, particles leak out and make their way into the upper atmosphere. There, they collide with gases creating a light show known as the Aurora. Or they did until Patty Larceny circumnavigated the globe and stole the belts. She foolishly thinks she can decorate her bedroom with the pretty colors of the Aurora. Your mission, gumshoes, is to pinch that pilfering Patty, put the belts back in place, and pack Carmen Sandiego off to prison.
Gumshoes, Carmen Sandiego's swarm of sorted sociopaths has struck again. This time, they convened a criminal conclave in Nairobi, Kenya. Nairobi has become one of Africa's leading international cities, and the gleaming Kenyatta Conference Center helped pave the way. Named for former president Jomo Kenyatta and opened in the early '70s, this 28-story building was home to the U.N.'s first African headquarters. These days, its fine facilities hosts a wide-range of conventions and conferences from around the world. And from the top-floor viewing deck, you can see the entire city of Nairobi stretched out before you. But today, meetings were abruptly adjourned when the Kenyatta Conference Center disappeared. Wonder Rat, Carmen's scruffy scheming scallywag, snatched the center then made a hasting retreat. He plans to use it as a centerpiece of his very own resort, Ratlantic City. Your mission, gumshoes: whisk that whiskered Wonder to jail, return the Kenyatta Conference Center to Nairobi, and then capture Carmen Sandiego.
(to everyone in ACME Control Net, who are asleep, via noxious gas) C'mon, it's a big joke, right? HEY! Big jo--! (he then comes up with an idea) LUNCH!
(everyone wakes up and Greg laughs)
Hey, you guys! You guys! Hey! You guys! You guys! HEY!
(everyone stares at him)
(everyone angrily throws things at him as he exits)
Head for a national park with one of the world's biggest volcanoes. Native Americans called it Tahoma.
Aw, a huge volcano? Gee, Carmen, I hope you're not trying to get rid of me!
Relax. There hasn't been a major eruption for about 2,000 years. These days it's home to the largest single-peak glacial system in the U.S. outside of Alaska.
Tahoma, huh? I never heard of it.
That's because it was renamed by a British explorer. He called it Mount Rainier.
Hey. If he can rename it, then I can rename it. How about Mount Ratnier? (giggles)
(after Rockapella's parody of the Supremes' "Why Do Fools Fall in Love") Rockapella, ladies and gentlemen! Along with Lisa Price! Give 'em a round of applause!
(after Rockapella chases Lisa before the Chase) Lisa Price, with Rockapella.
Darwin Research Station. (Shoeprints are revealed)
No. Thank you. Rockapella, ladies and gentlemen.
Gumshoes, Carmen Sandiego and her team of twisted twerps have struck again. This time, they bullied their way to Binghamton, New York. Binghamton is the home of WSKG-TV, a member station of PBS. From its studios, WSKG serves 21 counties in New York and Pennsylvania. Other TV networks are owned by big corporations, but PBS is a joint venture of its 341 member stations. Local stations like WSKG produce both community, oriented, and national programs, and they raise a significant portion of their money through membership drive. SKG has been a PBS member since 1968. But now, Binghamton is PBS-less because Wonder Rat, that sniveling superhero wannabe, stole the station. He plans to turn it into RTV, Rat Television, 24 hours a day, written, directed, and starring himself. Gumshoes, there will be no more PBS in the 21 counties until the station is returned. You've got to round up that rat, free SKG, and then catch Carmen Sandiego.
MZMike Ziegler
Hey! When that rat stole the station, he stole me with it! He holds the station south, just across the Rio Grande. We're getting T.V. shows from a network called Televisa. It's huge! They've got 4 national channels, lots of original programming, and even some American T.V. shows dubbed with Spanish voices. I hope you get this tape, Gumshoes. Remember, (forms the ACME Triangle of Excellence with his hands) Vigilance, Dedication, Courage. Now, get me outta here!
Yeah! So, Carmen, this is great! I'll have my network goin' in no time.
ACME's on to you. Head for the home of Chennai Cheetah Studios.
Yeah, Yeah. Where Federico Fellini directed his movies. He could do my life story. We'll call it La Dolce Vita Rat On. That means this sweet ratlife.
I know what it means. Just lay low and stay away from the reconte vershoto.
Yeah, Yeah. I gotta watch my weight in these tight space. Maybe I could market a diet drink. Maybe?
(each time WSKG is revealed in the 2nd round)
Cool totebag!
Viewers like you-ooo!
Won't you be my neighbor?!
Pledge Drive!
Gumshoes, Carmen Sandiego's clique of clueless kleptomaniacs has struck again. This time, they burgled the beans from Colombia, South America. Now when it comes to a warming drink, the world loves a good cup of coffee. And Colombia is the second largest coffee grower on Earth after Brazil. The crop was first planted there as early as the 1700s, and it flourished in the rich soil and high altitude of Colombia's mountain regions. Since then, coffee has become vital to the country's economy. In most years, it makes up more than half of Colombia's agricultural exports. But now, the beans have been bamboozled. Top Grunge, Carmen's portly putrid prince of percolating pilferage, biked down to Colombia to get a hot cup of joe and some sinkers and hauled away the entire crop. Your mission, gumshoes: flatten Top Grunge's tires, bring back the beans to Bogota, and then capture Carmen Sandiego.
Gumshoes, Carmen Sandiego's ring of ruthless racketeers have struck again. This time, they struck in Southern California. The Colorado River Aqueduct is a man-made waterway. It runs from the Colorado River's Parker Dam on the Arizona border to Los Angeles, California, 235 miles away. It's a cheap source of water for 14 and a half million people in the Los Angeles area. If it weren't for aqueducts, the endless suburbs of L.A. would still be once were: a part desert. But now, these wanted waters roar no more. Vic the Slick, Carmen's showcase of bad taste, has corralled its currents. Armed with an atomic Shop-Vac, he sucked up the water and took it away. Your mission, gumshoes: cut Vic to the quick, return the river to its rightful bed, and then capture Carmen Sandiego.
Vic, ACME's after you. Hide the river in a sea where you'll find the Greek Archipelago. It was home to Europe's first known great civilization.
Hey, Carmen, what makes 'em so great?
The Minoan culture on Crete goes back about 5,000 years. At a time when most Europeans were still living in the Stone Age, the Minoans were master artists and builders who used a decimal number system and created a form of writing.
Eh, that's pretty good, but no culture is truly great without polyester.
You're hopeless, Vic. Just get moving.
Ladies and gentlemen, Elliott has left the building.
Gumshoes, Carmen Sandiego and her clique of reeking geeks have grabbed again. This time, they struck very close to home. It happened right in your pocket. George Washington's face has been on the US dollar since 1869. The picture, probably the best-known portrait in the United States, was originally done by the artist Gilbert Stuart in 1796. Today, 18 huge printing presses at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing turn out about 10 million dollar bills a day. There are over 5 billion $1 bills in circulation. But now, they've all been defaced. Kneemoi, Carmen's alien outlaw, took one look at the buck and fell in love with Washington's warm, friendly smile. So she swiped his image from every single dollar bill in existence. the repercussions of this crime are almost too horrible to imagine. Financial markets will fall. Economies will collapse. Coat check attendants won't get tips. Gumshoes, your mission is to exile the extra-terrestrial, find George's face, and then collar that crime boss Carmen Sandiego.
Gumshoes, Carmen Sandiego and her ragtag rabble rousers have ransacked again. This time, they attacked Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo Dome stadium is located near Tokyo's Korakuen Amusement Park. Japan's first covered stadium, it was completed in 1988. Known as The Big Egg, the stadium hosts baseball games between teams like the Yomiuri Giants and the Nippon-Ham Fighters. It also presents other big events like rock concerts and boxing matches. Or it did until yesterday when Eartha Brute took Tokyo by surprise and swiped the stadium. They'll be weeping in their wasabi all over Tokyo until their beloved egg is returned. Gumshoes, your mission is to bag the brute, return the stadium, and get Carmen Sandiego.
Gumshoes, Carmen Sandiego's swarm of swindling swine has struck again. This time, they poked their pilfering paws into Oslo, Norway. The Oslo International Museum of Children's Art is the most expensive children's art museum in the world. Opened in 1986 by Russian émigrés Rafael and Alla Goldin, it's devoted to artwork created by young people aged 2 to 18 from around the globe. The growing collection exceeds 100,000 pieces and includes everything from paintings to a scrap wire bike sculpture created by a boy from Rwanda. But now, this capital of kids creation has been copped. Top Grunge, Carmen's ogre of odious odors, reeled into Oslo, hooked the museum with his bike, and hauled it away. Your mission, gumshoes: put Top Grunge's stink in the clink, return the International Museum of Children's Art to Oslo, and then capture Carmen Sandiego.
Gumshoes, Carmen Sandiego's flock of flamboyant flakes has flimflammed again. This time, the crime happened in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1969, New Haven's prestigious Yale University received an unusual gift: a 24-foot high, two-ton sculpture called Lipstick (Ascending) on Caterpillar Tracks. The giant lipstick was the work of famed pop artist Claes Oldenburg. Some people on campus didn't care for the sculpture and it was removed in less than a year, but then supporters rose to its defense and in 1974, it was placed in Yale's Morse Courtyard where it has remained ever since. Until today, that is when Patty Larceny, posing as an Avon lady, made tracks with a fully tracked lipstick. She plans on using the sculpture to promote her newest enterprise, The School of Criminal Cosmetology. Your mission, gumshoes: put the pinch on Patty, liberate the lipstick, and then bring Carmen Sandiego to justice.
Gumshoes, Carmen Sandiego's crew of criminal cronies has struck again. This time, they boosted a big old building in Giza, Egypt. In other words, a pyramid. Built as elaborate tombs for Egyptians pharaohs, the pyramid have stood for nearly 5,000 years. The largest one is called the great pyramid of King Khufu. Built around 2500 BC, it was originally about 480 feet high and weighed six-and-a-quarter million tons. The top portion has been gone for a while, lost to erosion or looted for construction in nearby Cairo. But today, Eartha Brute removed the rest of it. Carmen's burly bruiserette snatched up the great pyramid of Khufu and barreled off down the Nile. Now you might hear some people call this the Great Pyramid of Cheops, but don't let that throw you off the trail. Cheops is just the Greek name for the king that the Egyptians called Khufu. Your mission, gumshoes: bust Eartha Brute, put the pyramid back in place, and then bag that beastly bimbo Carmen Sandiego.
Gumshoes, Carmen Sandiego and her load of lily-livered louts have lashed out again. This time, they bagged a bull in Baghdad. The region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is often called The Cradle of Western Civilization. Located mostly in Iraq, it was home to some of the earliest known human settlements, the ancient kingdom of Mesopotamia. It began around 5000 BC and at its peak, the Mesopotamian city of Ur was a rich metropolis. But empires have a way to crumbling to sand and all that's left of Mesopotamia are a few of its treasures. One of them is on display at the Iraq museum in Baghdad, a beautiful golden bull's head dating back to 2450 BC. It was unearthed this century from a royal Mesopotamian tomb. But yesterday, that elasticized alien Kneemoi stretched her way into the museum, bagged the bull's head, and bounded out of the country. She claimed the bull is the spitting image of her mother. Gumshoes, your mission is to nail Kneemoi, get the bull's golden head back to Baghdad, and cap Carmen Sandiego's career in crime.
