CRGA 9/2 - 9/7
Lari 35960
Monday:
** Show #4 ** CRGA v2.0 ** (This entry last updated on Aug-23-1994)
"Hooked on a Ceiling" --
+ Title is probably a reference to the 1970's tune
"Hooked on a Feeling" by B. J. Thomas. (RWA, JB)
+ Just to be painfully correct about it, the version everyone
remembers was by Blue Swede, who took the song to #1 in 1974.
(Thomas took it to #5 in 1968.) (MMcD)
+ Recurring musical theme is Modest Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an
Exhibition". (WBB)
+ The narrator in the circle was patterned after John Houseman. (RDB)
+ The four creatures who he hooks away are the Teenage Mutant Ninja
Turtles, who were popular a couple years ago but are rapidly
vanishing
into oblivion. One of the turtles was named Michaelangelo, hence the
relevance (they're all named after famous painters). (WBB, RAR)
+ "Ceilings, nothing more than Ceilings" == parody of "Feelings" by
Morris Albert. (RWA, JB)
+ Dogs playing poker -- famous cheezoid cheapo paintings from some time
ago. Doesn't EVERYONE have one of these prints lying around
somewhere? (WBB)
+ Paintings with the big-eyed kids were a popular style some years ago,
alas. These paintings were originally credited to Walter Keane and
his
wife, but it was later proven, more or less, that Mrs. (Margaret)
Keane
was the true artist. (SS, MB, MF)
+ "He prefers the YOUNG Elvis" -- refers to the well-publicized poll
taken by the United States Postal Service regarding which image of
Elvis to put on his commemorative stamp (young vs. old -- the
Warners picked Old, the Americans picked Young) (WBB)
- The matador painting (half visible to the left of the dogs playing
poker), the dogs playing poker, the Keane kids, and the portrait of
Elvis are all classic examples of tacky art. (MB)
+ E.T. of course refers to Spielberg's famous movie.
+ The pose used for E.T. and Elliot is a wonderful combination of
Michelangelo's "hand of man touches hand of God" scene on the Chapel
ceiling and the "ouch" scene from "E.T." (MB)
+ "Mikey" (he likes it!) refers to the old Life cereal commercials.
+ "His Eminence" == Steven Spielberg, of course (WBB)
- The voice and model for Michelangelo was Kirk Douglas. See
Ren & Stimpy for more parodies of Douglas. (AS)
- There was a long discussion about Charlton Heston when the episode
aired. Charlton Heston starred in "The Agony and the Ecstasy" (a
film
about Michelangelo painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel) and it
would perhaps have made more sense for the toon to parody Heston.
But the consensus is that the toon spoofs Douglas. (DD, MB)
"Goodfeathers: the Beginning"
+ Goodfeathers == Goodfellas (1990 Martin Scorsese movie)
+ Pesto == Joe Pesci
+ Bobby == Robert De Niro
+ Squit == Ray Liotta. The voice is a dead-on imitation of Ray Liotta,
including the "as far back as I remember" line that starts
Goodfellas.
But some readers feel that Squit doesn't have much in common with Ray
Liotta's character in "Goodfellas". (MB, AS)
+ The Godpigeon == The Godfather (Bird resembles Marlon Brando)
- Goodfeathers is funnier if you watch Goodfellas, the Godfather movies
and Raging Bull. A lot of the parodies of Scorsese's style (like the
animated moving background to emulate the infamous 5-minute long
steadicam shot in Goodfellas) will make more sense. (AS)
- Pesto's blowing up routine ("are you calling me a ________?!?") is
from
Goodfellas as well -- that's one you gotta see the original to get
the
impact. (AS)
- Bobby's "You _____ with me?" bit is from "Taxi Driver". (MB)
- "Badabing..." is something James Caan says in Godfather Part I. (AS)
- A passenger on the subway resembles the "Waitress" (before version)
from *Hollywood Plucky*. (MA)
Tuesday:
** Show #47 ** CRGA v2.0 ** (This entry last updated on Dec-28-1994)
"Video Review" --
+ DYN: Poster in the movie store: "Coming soon- X-Toons!" with what
looks like Wile E. Coyote as Wolverine. (No, not the one from Buster
and The Wolverine!) (RWA)
- A natural continuation of the numerous similar cartoons made in the
40's. Perhaps the best known is Bob Clampett's "Book Revue".
- Way too many movies and actors to type in. From what I could see
the movies matched the actors accurately, with the few comedic
exceptions: Bugs Bunny is "Bugsy" (not Warren Beatty), Baby Plucky
and Daffy are "The Mighty Ducks" (not Emilio Estevez and friends),
Hello Nurse is "The Babe" (not John Goodman).
- DYN: In "The Mighty Ducks", Baby Plucky morphs into Big Plucky
all of a sudden (diaper changes to tank-top). (RWA)
+ The "bombs" thrown at the dinosaur are: Heaven's Gate, Ishtar, Howard
the Duck, 1941, Leonard Part 6, and Dune. All were greatly hyped
movies that had great expectations but turned out to be flops.
(WBB, RWA)
- Near the end they sing about the titles on the shelves, and the
lyrics
say "The Presidio" when the shot is of "Medicine Man. Both star
Sean
Connery (pictured), but are otherwise unalike. (DavE)
"When Mice Ruled the Earth" --
+ Machine comes from H. G. Wells's book *The Time Machine*. (Treesong)
- The design of the machine itself, were swipes from the 1979 film
TIME AFTER TIME, with Malcolm McDowell and Mary Steenburgen. In the
movie, the vehicle also rotated as it began its journey through time.
Even the "tunnel" effect seen in WMRTE is similar to the depiction of
time travel in the earlier film. (DT)
- They weren't just "similar" they were identical! Right down to the
dish
antenna to collect solar energy and the little key hole in the side
(which was not used in the cartoon). "Time After Time" is one of my
favorite movies so I was having quite a time spotting all the FX
references used. Especially good was the coloring effect used when
the
ship disappears, this was exactly the same (it looked hokey and cheap
in the movie but was quite impressive for a cartoon!) (PC)
Ending Song --
+ The final song and ear-pulling is from the ending of "The Carol
Burnett Show". Carol always tugged at her ear as a signal to her
grandmother that she was well. The Warners overdo it a bit. (MB)
Wednesday:
** Show #39 ** CRGA v2.0 ** (This entry last updated on Aug-23-1994)
"Smitten with Kittens" --
+ The old lady in "Smitten With Kittens" was a *perfect* Ruth Gordon
tribute. If she weren't dead, I'd have sworn it *was* her. Go see her
in "Any Which Way But Loose" or "Any Which Way You Can", where she
plays Clint Eastwood's mother -- I think you'll see more than a
slight
resemblance. (DD)
- Better yet, see "Harold and Maude". One of the all time great
movies.
(MB)
"White Gloves" --
- No noteworthy comments so far.
Thursday:
** Show #3 ** CRGA v2.0 ** (This entry last updated on Aug-23-1994)
Unique song line -- "Come Back Shaney"
+ It is a play on a line from the Western movie SHANE. As the title
character is about to leave town, a little boy implores him to,
"Come back, Shane!" (TF)
"H. M. S. Yakko" --
+ The cartoon is a takeoff of Gilbert & Sullivan's operettas
*The Pirates of Penzance* and *HMS Pinafore*. (BW, WBB)
- Gilbert and Sullivan wrote them back in the late 1800's. *Pirates*
was redone as a Broadway play & a movie in the 1980's. (MF)
+ Carving on boat reads "Cap'n Mel is a meany". (WBB)
- A primer for potential G & S fans: "Gilbert & Sullivan Weekend"
by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Co. (WBB)
- For info about the Warners' songs and their correspondence to
real G&S songs, ask for the file "hmsyakko.txt".
"Slappy Goes Walnuts" --
+ Slappy's signature musical theme in this and all Slappytoons is
Dvorak's "Humoresque". Those wacky TV guys! (WHH)
- The whole bit with the wolf looks distinctly Averyish, but in a way
as
to parody Avery's parody-laden style. (RWA)
+ For those who are unfamiliar with it, "Bonkers" is a cartoon about
Bonkers the Bobcat (who sounds like, and sort of vaguely looks like
Roger Rabbit) which premiered the week before Animaniacs did.
+ During a transition shot over to the dog's house, there is a brief
shot of a Museum, with the name "UTTAM Art Museum". I finally
noticed
that one of the StarToons production team is Uttam Kumar. (NDR)
+ I could tell exactly what tune Slappy would be playing when I saw the
dynamite under the xylophone. This is obviously a gag borrowed from
"Show Biz Bugs". (PH)
+ The significant thing about "Show Biz Bugs" is that the "Those
Endearing Young Charms" gag was actually done with a xylophone, like
in
this cartoon. I think all the other times it was done with a piano,
like in "Ballot Box Bunny". And, for what it is worth, the gag was
also done (with piano) in the 1944 B&W Private Snafu cartoon "Booby
Traps". But this probably isn't the first appearance of the gag
either. (PH)
+ I wonder if anyone got one of the more obscure gags: The "World of
Walnuts" song was a parody of the old "Disney's Wonderful World of
Color" theme. Like Slappy sez, "Now THAT'S comedy." :-) (TF)
+ They also parodied the "kaleidoscope" background behind opening
titles. (BW)
+ Lionel Hampton was a big-band leader and famous vibraphone
(a xylophone-like instrument) player of the 40's and 50's. (WBB, CB)
"Yakko's Universe" --
+ The last segment, "Yakko's Universe" [is] borrowed from the Monty
Python movie: "The Meaning of Life" - the song right after the scene
where the guy "donates" his internal organs. (PH)
+ It is called "Galaxy Song" in the credits of *TMoL*. (PH)
+ For a long posting by Paul Hendry discussing the inaccuracies of the
numbers in the lyrics, ask for "universe.txt".
Friday:
** Show #65 ** CRGA v2.0 ** (This entry last updated on Dec-28-1994)
"The Warners' 65th Anniversary Special" --
+ "My Father the Tuna", the pre-empted show, was being painted on a
studio
wall during the episode "Wakko's Gizmo". Also, wasn't that
Hollywoodchuck
on the couch speaking? (BEC)
+ Dorothy Chandelier Pavilion == Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in LA
+ "Buddy" really did star in a number of Warner cartoons in the 1930's;
he was as bland as they portrayed him. (WBB)
+ Nit: Bugs Bunny, having been created in 1940, could not have told
the
Warners to get an agent in 1934. (KJP)
+ Buddy becomes a nut farmer in Ojai, a real (small) community in
Ventura
County, CA. Ojai was home of both Steve Austin and Jaime Sommers
(the bionic man and woman). (BEC, GDepew, HS)
+ Irving "Swifty" LaBoo == Irving "Swifty" Lazar, a famous,
now-deceased
Hollywood agent. Known for throwing a huge party after Oscar
ceremonies. (WBB)
- Professor Kingsfield talking about Herman Mankovitz is a double
reference to Orson Welles's *Citizen Kane*. Mankovitz worked with
Welles on the screenplay (how much has been open to debate for
years),
and John Houseman, who played Professor Kingsfield in the Paper
Chase,
was a producer on that project. (Ripcity)
+ The sequence where the Warners have flypaper stuck to their behinds
is
most likely a takeoff on the famous "flypaper" sequence from the
Disney
cartoon "Playful Pluto." That sequence is hailed by the Disney
artists
as "...the first time a character seemed to be thinking on the
screen,
and, though it only lasted 65 seconds, it opened the way for
animation
of real characters with real problems." ("Disney Animation: The
Illusion
of Life," pg. 100-101.) (EW)
+ "Make a Gookie" song parodies "The 59th Street Bridge Song"
(aka "Feelin' Groovy") by Simon & Garfunkel (JMcA)
+ Memorable characters include: Bugs, Porky, Yosemite, and the gang;
Spartacus [Kirk Douglas]; Baby Jane [Bette Davis (from "Whatever
happened to Baby Jane?")]; George Bailey [James Stewart (from "It's a
Wonderful Life")]; The Gipper [Ronald Reagan, the only celebrity to
speak in the first episode!]; Jimmy Cagney, YW&D's "special friend"
[James Cagney was well known to play nasty characters in old movies];
Mysterious man in chair [an obvious spoof of Dr. Claw from the
Inspector
Gadget series]; Professor Kingsfield [John Houseman from "The Paper
Chase"]; Mr. Director [Jerry Lewis]. (WHH, many)
+ For some reason, they made up a name for the disco dancer, instead of
using his name from Saturday Night Fever. In any case it was
John Travolta. (WBB)
- "The Page Sisters" likely refers to Animaniacs staffers Kathryn Page
and Bobbie Page.
Note --
- A departure from the regular format is in order for this episode.
The entire credit list follows, with jokes explained as much as
possible. Thanks to: Jesse Waldack, Allen Lee, Kevin J. Podsiadlik,
Michael K. Neylon for transcribing.
~~~~
SENIOR PRODUCER: Tom Ruegger PRODUCER: Rich Arons
MUSIC BY: Richard Stone VOICE DIRECTION: Andrea Romano
STORY EDITOR: Tom Ruegger, Paul Rugg CITY DESK EDITOR: Lou Grant
+ Ref to "Lou Grant" TV show (Lou was the CD editor)
~~~~
STORYBOARDS: Joe Banaskiewicz, Christopher Dent, Bucky Beaver, Jerry
Mathers as
the Beaver, Charles Visser.
+ The transition from Dent to Beaver is probably by means of
the former baseball player Bucky Dent. (RO)
+ Bucky Beaver: Animated pitchman for Ipana toothpaste in
early/mid
'60s. "Brusha brusha brusha new Ipana toothpaste". (DSchoo)
+ Jerry Mathers: See "Leave it to Beaver"
MODEL DESIGN: Julienne Gimeno, Julienne Fries, Bob Doucette
+ Julienne Fries: shoestring potatoes
SHEET TIMING: Jeff Hall, Monty Hall, Kids in the Hall, Norm McCabe, McCabe
& Mrs. Miller, Tom Ray, Man Ray, Sting Ray, Bob & Ray, Ray Stevens, Darrin
Stevens, Larry Tate.
+ Monty Hall: host of "Let's Make a Deal"
+ Kids in the Hall: Canadian sketch comedy show, comparable to
Monty
Python
+ Norm McCabe really does sheet timing, but "McCabe & Mrs.
Miller" is
a film from the 70's by Robert Altman. (MB)
- Man Ray: American surrealist painter & photographer.
+ Bob & Ray: radio comedy team, see Show #51
+ Ray Stevens: singer of funny joke songs like "Ahab the Arab"
+ Darrin Stevens & Larry Tate: see "Bewitched"
SLUGGER: Bill Knoll, Grassy Knoll.
+ The "grassy knoll" is a place in Dallas that plays a major role
in
most conspiracy theories concerning the Kennedy assasination.
(MB)
LOUISVILLE SLUGGER: Baseball Bat.
SLUG: Slimey Gooey Thing.
~~~~
B.G. KEY DESIGN: Dan McHugh, Marty Strudler, Apple Strudler, Peach
Cobbler.
B.G.s: Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb.
+ Refers to disco kings The BeeGees, of course. (too many)
B.G. COLOR: Brian Sebern
SPECTRUM COLORS: Roy G. Biv
+ Mnemonic for remembering
Red,Orange,Yellow,Green,Blue,Indigo,Violet.
COLOR KEY: Bunny Munns, Richard Daskas, Carolyn Guske, Robin Kane, Charles
Foster Kane, Chris Naylor, Eric Nordberg, Linda Redondo, Redondo Beach,
Florida.
+ Charles Foster Kane: main character in CITIZEN KANE
BATHROOM KEY: Cannot be Duplicated.
FRANCIS SCOTT KEY: National Anthem Writer.
KEY LARGO: Starring Humphrey Bogart & Lauren Bacall.
~~~~
MARK UP: Jean DuBois, Lisa Leonardi, Valerie Walker, & Clint Walker as
"Cheyenne".
+ 1955-63 show called "Cheyenne" starred Clint Walker.
Originally
ran under the umbrella title "Warner Bros. Presents"! (WBB)
MARK DOWN: "Goof Troop" Tapes at K-Mart.
ANIMATION CHECKING: Jan Browning, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Brenda
Brummet,
Brenda Brummet Browning, Jennifer Damiani, Jennifer Damiani Browning,
Bunty
Dranko, Elizabeth Barrett Bunty, H.M.S. Bunty, Karl Jacobs, Karl Jacobs
Jingleheimer Schmidt, Howard Schwartz, John Jacob Jingleheimer Schwartz.
+ Elizabeth Barrett Browning is a famous poet. (MB)
+ HMS Bounty featured in "Mutiny on the Bounty" (WHH)
INTEREST FREE CHECKING: With a $2000 Deposit.
~~~~
PRODUCTION ADMINISTRATOR: Alyson Brown, Charlie Brown, He's A Clown, That
Charlie Brown.
+ "He's a clown...": a song from the ?0's
COPYING & SHIPPING: Carlton Batten, Carlton Batten Browning, Carlton
Batten
Down the Hatches, Ana Durand, Duran Duran, Ana Duran Duran, Que Sera Sera,
Whatever Will Be, Will Be, The Future's Not Ours To See, Ana Duran Duran,
What Will Be, Will Be.
+ Duran Duran is an 80s glam-pop band
+ "Que Sera Sera" is an older song sung by Doris Day, see
Hitchcock's
"The Man who Knew Too Much"
DIGITAL PRODUCTION: Alan G. Brown, Sweet Georgia Brown, Sweet Elizabeth
Barrett Georgia Browning.
+ "Sweet Georgia Brown" is an old tune from the 10's or 20's and
now
the theme of the Harlem Globetrotters (WHH, RO)
~~~~
POST PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR: Joe Sandusky.
GUY WHO CUTS OUT ALL THE BORING STUFF: Joe "Snippy, The Animator's Best
Friend"
Gall.
ADR COORDINATOR: Kelly Ann Foley.
ADDITIONAL FILM EDITING: Al Breitenbach, Kelly Ann Foley, Theresa
Gilroy-Nielson, Leslie Nielsen.
+ Leslie Nielsen is the goofball from "The Naked Gun" movies,
among
many others
SOUND READING: Bradley Carow, Denise Whitfield, Steve Siracusa, N.Y.
+ Syracuse is a city in NY
VIDEOTAPE SUPERVISION: Jay Weinman, Scott Williams.
~~~~
THE SOUND MIX IS BY: Thomas J. Maydeck, C.A.S., Russell Brower, Pat
Rodman, 2nd
Engineer.
THE TRAIL MIX IS BY: Nabisco.
MIX COORDINATOR: Richard Freeman.
MONKEY SCREECH SFX BY: Russell Brower, Robert Hargreaves, Matt Thorne,
"Thorny"
Thornberry, Ozzy's Zany Next Door Neighbor.
+ In the old "Ozzie and Harriet" TV show, the next door neighbor
was,
indeed, "Thorny" Thornberry. (MB)
MUSIC EDITOR: Tom Lavin For Triad Music.
ADR RECORDING: Mark Keatts.
~~~~
DIALOGUE EDITORS: Mark Keatts, Nick Brooling, Bob Lacivita, Andrew I.
King,
Aaron L. King, Alan King, Martin Luther King, Chicken a la King, Old King
Cole,
Larry King Live, Don King, Don Corleone, Don Juan, Don Quixote, Don
Wilson,
Dondi, Dondi Duran Duran, Whatever Will Be, Will Be.
+ Alan King: long-time comedian (MB)
+ Martin Luther King: civil rights activist
+ Chicken A La King
+ Old King Cole: a merry old soul (nursery rhymes)
+ Larry King Live: CNN program
+ Don King: fight promoter of yesteryear
+ Don Corleone: see *The Godfather* movies (Marlon Brando)
+ Don Juan: famous lover, see Mozart's _Don Giovanni_ or perhaps
Bizet's opera *Carmen* (WHH, TK)
+ Don Quixote: see Miguel de Cervantes' book
+ Don Wilson: Announcer and cast member on the Jack Benny show
(MB)
+ Dondi: main character of a (thankfully) extinct comic strip
(MB)
VOICE RECORDING ENGINEER: Harry Andronis, Of the Chicago
Androniseseseseses,
Danny Shaw, 2nd Engineer, Casey Jones, Train Engineer.
+ Casey Jones was an engineer, who took control of a runaway
train,
saving many lives but dying himself. There is a folk song
about
him. (many)
~~~~
POST PRODUCTION FACILITY: The Post Group.
SOUND SERVICES PROVIDED BY: Monterey Post Productions.
VOICE RECORDING STUDIO: Alpha Studios.
RECORDING ADMINISTRATOR: Leslie Lamers.
VOICE OVER ASSISTANT: Erin Keeler.
AMBLIN STORY CONSULTANT: Douglas Wood, Mary Woods, Natalie Wood, James
Woods,
Ed Wood, Jr.
+ Natalie Wood: famous deceased actress, see for example
"West Side Story"
+ James Woods: actor; see, e.g., "The Onion Field" (MF)
+ Ed Wood, Jr. was the director of numerous super-bad movies such
as
PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE. (EM)
LABORATORY SERVICES: C.F.I.
LAVORATORY SERVICES: Mr. Potty Man.
~~~~
ANIMANIACS NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION PER SERVING:
with with with
8 oz. 8 oz. 8 oz.
milk cola Weed Memlo
Fat............4g..........65g.............73g.............84g
Calories.......143.........213.............475.............512
Protein........1g..........12g.............14g.............17g
Carbohydrate...17g.........15g.............17g.............39g
~~~~
KATHRYN PAGE: Kathryn Page.
EPISODE ADOPTED BY: Bette Milder.
+ In California, organizations or individuals can "adopt" a
stretch
of freeway. You agree to clear off the highway and they put up
a
big sign telling everyone who you are. A part of the 101 that
runs
very very very close to WBA has been adopted by Bette Midler.
She
also has a larger, gaudier sign than normal. (SS)
PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS: Geno DuBois, Dustin Foster, Bobbie Page, John
Morris,
Paul "Godzilla is My Friend" Trandahl.
DONORS - $10 OR MORE: Jon McClenahan, Dave Marshall, The Gimeno Family,
Nick
Hollander, Kirk Tingblad, Elizabeth Barrett Tingblad.
ORGAN DONORS: Thomas, Baldwin, Vox, Wurlitzer.
+ Musical organ manufacturers, nyuk nyuk nyuk.
~~~~
ANIMATION SERVICES PROVIDED BY: Tokyo Movie Shinsha Co., LTD.
ANIMATION DIRECTORS: Kenji Hachizaki, Keiko Oyamada.
FAVORITE LAWRENCE WELK QUOTE: "When You Have A Minute, I Want To See You
Right Now."
IF YOU'RE COUNTING. This Has Been Episode #65.
~~~~
CHICKEN BOO APPEARS COURTESY OF: Zacky Farms.
+ Zacky Farms is a well known (at least in California) producer
of
poultry products. (BD)
PROMOTIONAL FEE PAID BY: "Ouchies", The Sharp Prickly Toy You Bathe With.
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Ojai Consortium, Memlo Memorial Archives, Mary Margaret
Memlo, Curator, The Smellog Foundation, Craig T. Nelson & All His "Coach"
Co-Stars, The Pew Charitable Truss.
+ The Pew (sp?) Charitable Trust is a charitable foundation,
which
contributes heavily to public radio, among other things. (MB)
~~~~
PRODUCTION MANAGER: Barbra J. Gerard.
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: Ken Fredrich Boyer.
BEAN COUNTER: Chuck Ansel.
BEANS COUNTED: 235, Definitely, Definitely 235.
ANNOUNCER: "Hey Warners, You've Just Finished the 65th Episode of
Animaniacs.
What are You Gonna Do Now?"
WARNERS: "We're Going to Euro-Disney!"
~~~~
EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE OF PRODUCTION: Jean MacCurdy.
EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE OF PRODDING: Liza-Ann Warren.
EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE OF BAZOOKA: Tim Sarnoff.
EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE OF OVERSEAS PRODUCTION: Ken Duer.
EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE OF THE WRITERS: Barbara Simon Dierks.
~~~~
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Steven Spielberg.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
----
Yes, I am the teenage goddess of heavenly bodies and brownies. Want one?
"And that's why you're good at math." "I thought that it was genetic."
"No, it's Cheerios." (a conversation between Lari and Lari's mom)