01x07 - Taste

[bunniefuu]

[all] Ta-da!

[eyebrows squeak]

[hydraulics whirring]

[beeping]

[rock music plays]

-♪ Answer Time ♪
-♪ Answer Time! ♪

-♪ It's StoryBots: Answer Time ♪
-♪ Answer Time! ♪

♪ They live in your computer
And they got a job to do ♪

♪ They're all about learning
They make it fun too ♪

♪ When you have a question
They answer it for you ♪

♪ It's StoryBots: Answer Time ♪

♪ Answer Time! ♪

[clock ticking]

[beeps and rings]

-[all speaking]
-[Bing] Hi, how's it going?

Hey, Bing. What is
the strongest animal in the world?

-Great question! Let's see.
-[keyboard clacks]

-[whirs]
-Ah! Got it.

The dung beetle can pull
over , times its own weight.

That would be like a human
moving , pounds!

Whoa!

-[giggling]
-Is that guy pushing a giant ball of--

Wow, thanks for calling in!
That was a great question.

[chuckles and sighs]

[laughs]

Hey, StoryBots. What's the fastest car
in the whole world?

-Oh! Let me check.
-[keyboard clacks]

Wow!

The fastest car in the world
can go kilometers per hour.

Whoa, that's super fast!

-[bot] Bet I could go faster!
-Huh?

-Watch this!
-[powers up, blasts]

Yeah!

-[rockets sputter]
-Oh! Whoa!

-[blasts]
-[screams]

[bot screams and groans]

I am okay!

[Boop] Boop.

[alarm blaring]

Ooh, everybody, a Level Three question!

[static crackles]

Uh… Like, hello?

-Is that a mushroom?
-I think so.

StoryBots! Ah,
I'm so glad to get through to you.

Oh, hello, Ms. Mushroom.
What can we do for you today?

[sighs sadly] I don't know, Bo.

I've just been feeling really sad lately.

Is it because you spend
all that time growin' in the dark?

[sobs] I guess I do, but-- That's not it.

Is it because the dirt
you grow in is all stinky and slimy?

No, that's not it either.

The dirt I grow in might be stinky,
but it's full of nutrients.

So, what is the problem, Ms. Mushroom?

[whimpers] Well, StoryBots,
I'm calling today because--

[sobs] Because--

Because kids don't like me!

Kids don't like me! They think I'm yucky!

They think I'm stinky!
They think I'm gross, StoryBots!

[wailing]

Oh, Ms. Mushroom.

I'm sure kids would love you
if they got to know you.

[wailing] No!

They think I'm a stinky mushroom,
and they always will!

[sobbing]

Well, on the bright side,
Ms. Mushroom, dude, it's not just you.

A lot of kids don't like
any kinds of vegetables.

[weeps] Hey!

I'm not a vegetable, Bang.

I'm a fungus.

A fungus? What's that?

It's a classification of organisms
that includes yeasts, mildews, and molds.

Oh, I don't think that's a selling point.

Boop.

Anyway, I just want kids to love me.

Love me the way they love
pizza, ice cream, candy,

and all that other good stuff.

Oh, man. You'd have to be super tasty
to get that kind of love.

That's why I called!

I need to learn how taste works
so I can make myself taste better.

[gasps] Then I'll be loved
by kids everywhere.

Okay, g*ng. Do any of us
know any taste experts?

[gasps] Chef Pierre is
the most famous chef there is.

He's gotta know something
about how taste works.

-Chef Pierre! That's a great idea!
-[all agree]

Please hurry, StoryBots!

I'm so sick of having
to slather myself in butter and salt

just to get people to like me.

Don't worry, Ms. Mushroom.
We are on the job.

[whirring and suctioning]

♪ Answer Time! ♪

[whirring and clanking]

Hey, StoryBots. What is a hiccup?

[whirring]

What is a hiccup?

Well, it's quite simple, really.

Inside every person

is a muscle called the diaphragm.

It sits between the stomach area
and the chest.

Sometimes, for reasons
still unknown, it twitches,

resulting in a loud noise
that sounds-- [hiccups]

Well, kind of like that, actually.

[hiccups] Oh! And like that too.

[hiccups repeatedly] Oh! Oh my.

-[hiccups repeatedly]
-[crashing and clattering]

[hiccups]

[whirring]

Hi, StoryBots. Can you tell me a fun fact?

[whirring]

[automated voice] Fun Fact
number ,,.

Did you know that ancient Egyptians
slept on pillows made of stone?

[ancient music plays]

Psst. Are you awake?

Yeah. I can't sleep.

Me neither. Wanna have a pillow fight?

Yeah, you're on!

[both grunting and straining]

[rocks scraping]

[screams]

[shattering]

Bad idea.

-[whooshing]
-[screaming]

[automated voice] Next stop,
Chez Pierre's fancy restaurant.

[Pierre] No, no, no, no!
Wrong, wrong, wrong!

Put the ingredients in the bowl
and then mix!

Use flour, not flowers!

The biggest band in the world

has decided to eat Pierre's food,
so it must be perfect!

-[screaming]
-Hmm?

[rumbling]

Whoo-hoo-hoo! [laughs]

What is the meaning of this? [groans]

Are you kidding--

-[clangs]
-[groans]

This is unacceptable!

-[clangs]
-[groans]

[gasps] Chef Pierre! He's out cold!

Does this go in the fridge or the toaster?

A pinch of salt, or a cup?

Who will be head chef now?

[slide whistle plays rising note]

Um, excuse me. Can anyone-- Huh?

[eyebrows squeak]

[all gasp]

This is missing something, no?

Oh, I know what it needs.

Gumdrops-- [screams]

[exclaims]

[yelps]

-Got them.
-I forgot about the stove!

[classical can-can music plays]

-[grunts]
-[extinguishing]

Phew.

Ugh!

I know how to fix this!

-[glistens]
-Perfect.

[bell rings]

Ah, the beef bourguignon?

No, it's my special spaghetti
with maple syrup and hot dogs.

[bell rings]

Huh?

[screams]

[splattering]

[bell rings]

[splatters]

[bell rings]

[bell rings]

[whirring]

[Bo exclaims]

-Got it!
-[Bo screams]

-[sous chef exclaims]
-Ahh! My eyes!

[Bo screams]

[all exclaim]

[clangs and splashes]

Huh?

[gasps] Huh?

[humming melodically]

Huh?

[gasps]

[kettle whistling]

What is the meaning of this?!

Who are you?

Huh? [yelps]

-I'm sorry. I'm Bo, and--
-What are you doing to my restaurant?

Oh, I was just trying to help.

I actually only came here
to find out how taste works.

Well, Miss Bo. [grunts]

I don't know how people taste food,
I just know how to make it delicious,

which you clearly know nothing about.

-[doors slam open]
-[bots gasp]

Okay, who made that wild meal?

It was her! Bo!
She made everything you ate.

Chef Bo?

Yes, but I can explain.
See, I rushed in and--

[customer] Fantastic food!

-[record scratches]
-Huh?

I'm the manager
of the hit rock band The Taste Buds.

My clients had to get ready
for their concert tonight,

but they wanted to give
their compliments to the chef

and tell them that the food rocked!

Here's a backstage pass
for our show tonight to say thanks.

Oh, wow! Thank you.

Keep on rockin' in the food world.
Hope to see ya later!

The Taste Buds, huh?

Well, they have "taste" in their name.

Maybe they'll know something
about how taste works.

Sorry about your kitchen, Chef Pierre,
but I got a concert to go to.

Bye-bye! Bye-bye now!

Hmm.

We need more gumdrops!

And where are the smiling faces
on these dishes?

[whirring]

Hi, StoryBots!

What is poison, and what is venom?

[whirring]

[announcer] We now return to…

-[audience cheers]
-Dr. Bill!

Please welcome my next guest,
Ms. Rattlesnake.

[applauding]

Thanksss for having me on, Dr. Bill.

Now, let's get down to brass tacks here.

Are you or are you not poisonous?

[chuckles] I am not poisonousss.

[all gasp]

I find that really hard to believe.

We are not poisonousss,

but we are venomousss.

Oh, now, now, now,
how is that different from poisonous?

'Cause I tell you what, that sure as heck
sounds like the same thing.

[cheering]

Well, I'll--

You're telling me these aren't
two peas from the same pod?

Well, you see--

That sounds to me
like they're from the same area code.

-They are different, because--
-We're waiting. Explain it to us then.

Okay. Poison--

Well, Ms. Rattlesnake, we're still waiting
to hear this incredible difference.

I am trying to--

'Cause an aardvark with lipstick
is still an aardvark. Am I right?

[cheering wildly]

[yells] Silence!

[rattling]

I'm trying to tell you.

"Poisonous" is a word used for organisms
that release poisons when you eat them,

like poisonous berries.

And "venomous" is a word used

for organisms that inject their venom

when they bite or sting,
which is what I do,

along with other animals like bees.

[eyebrows squeak]

Actually, that does make
a lotta dolgarn sense.

Stay tuned for my next guest,
an ape who claims he's not a monkey.

[chuckles] What is this world comin' to?

-[cheering]
-[theme music plays]

♪ I'm a sleek and scaly slithering snake ♪

♪ I've got a bad, bad bite
Make no mistake ♪

♪ Some say it's full of poison
But really it's not ♪

♪ 'Cause "venom" is the word
For the stuff I've got ♪

♪ There's a difference
In the way that the two get in ♪

♪ You see, poison is swallowed
Or absorbed through the skin ♪

♪ There are poisonous berries
And mushrooms too ♪

♪ Don't play in poison ivy
Whatever you do ♪

♪ But venom like mine
Isn't quite the same thing ♪

♪ It's injected in a bite or a sting ♪

♪ There's venom in the stinger
Of a wasp or bee ♪

♪ And the fangs
Of a dangerous snake like me ♪

♪ That's venom ♪

[hisses]

♪ Not poison, but venom ♪

[hisses]

-[whooshing]
-[screaming]

[automated voice] Next stop,
StoryBots Amphitheater.

[crowd cheering]

Taste Buds. Manager speaking.

-[warming up]
-Mm-hmm. Oh, yeah?

Looks like we're rockin' tonight, Buds.

[approaching screaming]

[groans] Oh! [giggles]

-Chef Bo! Glad you made it.
-[band members gasp]

Did you say "Chef Bo?"

Bud, how'd you get your food
to taste so wild?

Oh, I don't know anything about taste.

I actually came here
to find out how taste works.

Well, you've come to the right place.

Buds, wanna tell our chef here
about how you represent the five flavors

known to rock a person's taste buds?

Gladly.

[lights switching]

-[heavy metal music plays]
-I'm salty, like French fries!

Sour, like a lemon!

I'm bitter, like grapefruit
and Brussels sprouts!

Sweet, like fruits and ice cream!

And I'm umami, the band's newest member.

It's the savory flavor
of meat or tomatoes.

And we are…

[all] The Taste Buds!

[guitars ring]

So cool!

But wait! How do those five flavors
tie into how people taste things?

-[lights click]
-[crowd cheers]

Stay and rock out,
and I think you'll find your answer.

StoryBots, are you ready to rock?

[cheering wildly]

One, two, three, four!

[hard rock music plays]

♪ When you bite into a sandwich
Or a pizza pie ♪

♪ You're tasting something yummy
There are reasons why ♪

♪ You've got taste buds!
Those are bundles of cells ♪

♪ On your tongue and in your throat
And other places as well ♪

♪ When you chew your food
And saliva mixes in ♪

♪ It washes over your taste buds
And they begin ♪

♪ To analyze what chemicals
The food contains ♪

♪ Then they send
The information to your brain ♪

♪ There are a few tastes
That your taste buds recognize ♪

♪ We know at least five ♪

♪ They're salty, sour, bitter, sweet ♪

♪ And umami
That's a savory taste like meat ♪

♪ Tastes combine in different ways
Like sweet and sour in lemonade ♪

♪ Or salty and umami in a hearty stew ♪

♪ That's a part of the way
That you taste your food ♪

♪ Taste your food! ♪

♪ Taste your food! ♪

[crowd cheering]

♪ Oh, that's some of the story
But there's more to tell ♪

♪ Another part of tasting
Is your sense of smell ♪

♪ Your food releases chemicals
While you chew ♪

♪ They flow into your nose
And when they do ♪

♪ They meet with special cells
Up in your nose ♪

♪ Olfactory receptors
Is the name of those ♪

♪ And like your taste buds
Signal to your brain ♪

♪ Your olfactory receptors do the same ♪

♪ Your brain puts together
All the signals that come through ♪

♪ From your nose and your taste buds too ♪

♪ Then figures out the tastes
That you've had before ♪

♪ And knows what you're eating
And if you want more ♪

[plays drum solo]

♪ Like a taco or spaghetti or barbecue ♪

♪ That's the awesome way
That you taste your food ♪

-♪ Taste your… ♪
-[screams]

♪ I said that's the awesome way
That you taste your food, yeah ♪

♪ Taste your… ♪

♪ I said that's the awesome way
That you taste your food ♪

-♪ Taste your… ♪
-♪ Hey! Hey! Hey! ♪

♪ I said that's the awesome way
That you taste your food ♪

-[crowd cheers]
-[fireworks explode]

Oh, that really rocked!

Thank you for teaching me
about how taste works!

Don't mention it. See you later, Bo.

-[all say goodbye]
-Thanks for coming to our show!

Bye! Goodbye-- Oh, wait.

I'm actually going that way,
so if you could all just--

-Yes. Thank you. Goodbye!
-[crowd cheers]

[in sing-song] Goodbye, now! Bye-bye!

[whirring]

[school bell rings]

[stately music plays]

Welcome, class.

Today, we will demonstrate how taste works

with the TasteTron .

[hums proudly]

As we see here,

humans have special cells
in places like their mouths and noses

that help them taste food.

Observe what happens

when my assistant Gopher
feeds the TasteTron some food.

[chimes]

[Gopher yells]

When people chew,
their teeth break up the food

and saliva washes it over taste buds.

These taste buds
then analyze the chemicals in the food.

-And send signals about them to the brain.
-[Gopher banging]

These signals typically
fall into five tastes,

salty, sour, bitter, sweet, and umami.

[beeping]

Taste buds in the mouth
don't do all the work alone.

Olfactory receptors in the nose
also send signals to the brain.

The brain relies on these signals
to decide whether to keep chewing

or to spit the food out…

and opt for something else.

No! Gopher, stop this! Ow!

-And that's how taste works.
-Ow! Ow! Ooh!

Just stop. Stop!

[exclaiming]

[whooshing]

-[keyboard clacks]
-Hello! Ms. Mushroom?

Can you hear me?

[gasps] Bo! I'm so glad you're back.

Did you find out how people taste food?

I sure did,
but I'm not sure it's gonna help.

Don't worry, Bo. I'm tougher than I look.
I promise I can handle it.

What do you got for me?

Well, people have special cells
in their mouths and noses

that analyze the chemicals
released from food.

Those cells send signals to the brain
to figure out the flavor of the food.

So, to taste better,

I need to change the chemicals
that are released when I'm chewed?

What? How am I supposed to do that?

Oh, I don't know if you can.

But, like, why change yourself
at all, dude?

Yeah! You can learn
to love yourself for who you are.

And how you taste.

And don't forget,
people's tastes are changing all the time.

Yeah! That kid that doesn't like
mushrooms today

may love you next month, or next year!

Boop.

There's, like, tons of adults
that love mushrooms.

Oh! And kids grow into adults!

-Yeah! Ha, right.
-[all laugh and agree]

You're right, StoryBots.

I guess I never really thought
about it like that.

I'm a stinky little mushroom,
and I'm proud!

That's the spirit!

Thank you, StoryBots!
I feel so much better.

I'm ready to show the world
who I really am!

♪ I'm a stinky mushroom ♪

♪ I'm a stinky mushroom ♪

♪ I'm a stinky mushroom ♪

♪ I'm a stinky mushroom! ♪

-[static crackles]
-[theme music playing]