Looney TV: Pinky & The Brain (1995)

Could two genetically altered mice succeed in taking control of the world without driving each other crazy? Of course not, since one of them's already nuttier than two cans of cashews (and about as sharp as a dull razor).

Pinky & The Brain was the 3rd collaboration between Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, spun off from Animaniacs in 1995. The series lasted three seasons. Well, actually, four, but the last season was a failure because some genius at WB decided to add Elmyra Duff (Tiny Toon Adventures) to the mix for a weekly series. You know how oil & water don't mix? Neither did Elmyra and those mice.

Pinky (Rob Paulsen, who's also part of the vocal group behind the theme song) is dumber than a bag of hammers, but eager to help Brain (Maurice LaMarche, doing a Orson Welles mimic) with his nightly schemes of world domination, which ultimately fail. The series was popular enough, such that, on The New Batman Adventures, Batman (Kevin Conroy) & Batgirl (Tara Strong, who had replaced Melissa Gilbert by that point) recited the familiar opening scene, with Batgirl speaking Brain's line. That was funny all by itself, and a cheesy means of cross-promotion for Kids' WB! at the time.

Anyway, here's "Around the World in 80 Narfs", a parody of a certain Jules Verne novel.......



Rating: B.

Saturday Morning's Forgotten Heroes: Peter Potamus vs. a giant (Fe Fi Fo Fun, 1964)

Peter Potamus and his sidekick, So-So, run afoul of an angry giant who thinks Peter is Jack, as in, Jack & The Beanstalk, the result of Peter & So-So looking for land to escape a lightning storm, in "Fe Fi Fo Fun". Could a giant stand up to Peter's Hippo Hurricane Holler? Well, let's find out.......



Nearly 40 years later, Peter was reduced to a one-joke supporting character on Harvey Birdman, Attorney-at-Law. Maxmercury reminds us what that joke is........



Such disrespect makes it impossible for WB to utilize Peter as he was meant to be, especially with his 50th anniversary next year. Maybe teaming him with Scooby-Doo in something other than a fever dream might help.........

Rating: B.

Saturday Morning's Forgotten Heroes: Birdman meets Birdgirl (1967)

Birdman seemingly meets his match when a mad scientist gives a young woman mechanical wings (similar to the ones worn by Birdboy) and a strength formula to create Birdgirl. YouCantHoldMeDown uploaded this adventure:



Birdgirl, from the sound of it, was voiced by Virginia Eiler (Gravity Girl). 25 years later, [adult swim] brought her back on Harvey Birdman, Attorney-at-Law, recast as the daughter of Phil Ken Sebben (Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report). Here is Judy Ken Sebben, aka Birdgirl, trying to help Peter Potamus with an exercise.



If that was an attempt at making Birdgirl seem remotely relevant, it didn't work.

The Birdman episode merits a B.

Tooniversary: Pixie & Dixie and Mr.Jinks (1958)

Pixie & Dixie and Mr. Jinks was a backup feature on The Huckleberry Hound Show, as well as a variant on the Tom & Jerry series that Bill Hanna & Joe Barbera created nearly 20 years earlier for MGM. Only in this case, there are two mice who try to act civily with Jinks, only to be chased. Occasionally, the trio will team together against a common enemy.

However, when Jinks gets a little out of hand, then Pixie & Dixie need some help, and in this case, it comes from "Judo Jack":



Too bad Jinks never starred in a solo story.

Rating: B-.

Saturday Morning's Forgotten Heroes: The Galaxy Trio visits a "sleeping planet" (1967)

YouCantHoldMeDown presents an exciting Galaxy Trio adventure that should keep you on the edge of your seat, unless you want to settle down on "The Sleeping Planet":



Rating: B.

Looney TV: Hare Brush (1955)

For once, Elmer Fudd gets the best of Bugs Bunny. How? By going nuts, that's how. Scope out "Hare Brush", from 1955.



Sounds like Elmer's making with a tax dodge and sticking Bugs with the rap. Oh, the irony.

Rating: A.

Animated World of DC Comics: Uncle Mxyzptlk (?) (1984)

An accidental dose of red kryptonite turns Superman (Danny Dark) into a child, leaving him prey for Mr. Mxyzptlk (Frank Welker) in this short feature from Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show. Blame this one on writer Kimmer McDonald for giving the Wonder Twins amnesia regarding the various colored variations of kryptonite, six years after they'd first been acquainted with Red K.



I wouldn't have minded at all if Jayna got to quote Oliver Hardy's oft-used catchphrase. She could've told brother Zan, "Here's another fine mess you've gotten us into.". Or it could've gone the other way around.

Rating: B-.