Close Enough is an American cartoon series created by JG Quintel, and produced by Cartoon Network Studios for HBO Max. The series originally premiered with its first season on July 9, 2020 and ended on April 7, 2022.
The show served as a spiritual successor to Regular Show, with a similar premise but aged up from protagonists in their 20s to their 30s.
Plot
The series is described as a surreal take on transitioning from twenty-something to thirty-something. The show revolves around a married couple juggling such everyday challenges as parenthood, friendship, ham theft, stripper clowns, and choosing the right daycare. [1]
Regular Show references
As JG Quintel's next line of work following Regular Show, "Close Enough" features multiple Regular Show references. The following is a list of each of the references.
Overall
- The wallpaper seen in the gang's kitchen is abstract art of each of Regular Show's main characters as well as the House.
The Perfect House
- One of the open houses seen in the opening montage is almost identical to Pops' House, with the exception that it is owned by Kim & Thurston from Sonic Youth.
- In the "Perfect House", a picture of the Ulti-Meatum from "The Best Burger in the World" is framed on the wall.
Skate Dad
- During the cold open, Josh shouts "Yeayuh", a common catchphrase between Mordecai and Rigby.
- When Candice chooses a Satan-themed skateboard at the skateboard shop, a demonic voice can be heard speaking backwards. If the episode is reversed, the voice clearly says "Buy Regular Show DVDs".
100% No Stress Day
- In the daycare center, Candice can be seen playing with a keyboard which looks identical to The Power.
- When Josh uses his brain to think, a glimpse of the Regular Show version of Neil deGrasse Tyson appears.
Cool Moms
- One of the kids in the gym is wearing an Eggscellent Hat, commonly associated with Rigby.
Robot Tutor
- When Candice logs onto the computer, all the text on screen is muddled up in codes. A couple of these codes are references to Regular Show.
- "BLARGH" is likely a reference to the in-universe viral video, "blargh.avi" as seen in "Cat Videos".
- "25YERX" is possibly a reference to the show's finale and its tie-in comic "25 Years Later", in which the Park reunion occurs 25 years after the events of the finale.
Clap Like This
- The title and game of the same name is an obvious reference to the Regular Show arcade game "Clap Like This" from "Just Set Up the Chairs".
Snailin' It
- Some graffiti in the background resembles the outline of Hi Five Ghost.
The Canine Guy
- A chalk drawing of Mordecai can be briefly seen outside the crew's apartment.
- Among Emily and Bridgette's drugs is a sheet of LSD tabs. On each tab is an image of Mordecai.
- The final scenes of the episode are resemblant to the final scenes of "Fuzzy Dice", featuring "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds over still images of the characters from the episode, displaying onscreen text that describes what happened to them next.
Meet the Frackers
- Josh shouts out "Oh jeez!", a phrase commonly used by Mordecai during times of distress.
Sauceface
- The lunchbox Candice is given features Regular Show characters on the front from a promotional picture used to promote the first few seasons.
- The lunchbox in question is an actual piece of Regular Show merchandise from 2012.
Joint Break
- A plush doll of Skips can be seen on Candice's bed.
Cyber Matrix
- The park in the cold open is incredibly reminiscent of the Park from Regular Show.
- The background during the Kira montage is the same background used for the opening titles of Regular Show.
Time Hooch
- Similar to "100% No Stress Day", a keyboard resembling The Power can be seen in the crew's garage.
World's Greatest Teacher
- Mr. Campbell's "World's Greatest Teacher" has the exact same design as Benson's "World's Best Boss" mug, with the obvious exception of the words used.
Candice Candice Revolution
- The text that shows up in the cold open saying "Rules" is in the same font as the Regular Show logo.
Randy Free Solos
- The hooded figure who meets Randy bears resemblance to the Capicola Gang leader's appearance in "Steak Me Amadeus".
The Weird Kid
- When Mr. Campbell is watching a video titled "How to Kiss", his recommendations include clips from Regular Show, from the episodes "My Mom", "It's Time" and "Rigby's Body"
Bike & Survive
- One of the usernames on Alex's exercise bike is "My_Mom", an obvious nod to Muscle Man's infamous jokes.
Halloween Enough
- Josh wears a Mordecai costume for Halloween, even shouting one of his catchphrases: "OOHHH!!!"
- The story told by Bridgette is very similar to Benson's story in "Terror Tales of the Park III", called "The Previous Owner".
- When Candice breaks the fourth wall and enters Cartoon Network Studios, multiple Regular Show references are seen.
- A Mordecai Mouth Chart is displayed on a pinboard among "Close Enough" works.
- The fact that Josh is dressed as Mordecai is acknowledged on an adhesive note.
- J.G. Quintel appears and recommends "Regular Show" to Candice, saying her parents probably wouldn't let her watch "Close Enough". When recommending the show to her, J.G. draws a picture of Candice with Mordecai and Rigby on an adhesive note, while the Regular Show opening theme plays in the background.
The Perfect Couple
- Two arcade games shown in this episode are "Broken Bonez" and "Destroyer of Worlds 2". The former game was previously seen in "High Score" and the latter was seen in "Just Set Up the Chairs". A sequel to "Destroyer of Worlds" was first revealed in "Kill 'Em with Kindness".