Sunday, October 30, 2016

Spooktober: Garfield's Halloween Adventure (aka Garfield in Disguise)(1985)

Earlier this month, we showed you a PSA featuring Garfield. I'm told that the images of Garfield and Odie were lifted from our next entry.

Garfield's Halloween Adventure, originally titled Garfield in Disguise when it first aired on CBS in 1985, has Jim Davis' orange-furred feline (Lorenzo Music) and Odie trick or treating as if they were kids. The episode also features songs performed by Music and the incomparable Lou Rawls.



Of course you know that a couple of years later, Garfield would begin a lengthy run as part of CBS' Saturday morning block. The more recent CGI-driven Garfield Show doesn't really hold a candle, and its only advantage is allowing for Garfield's lips to move.

Rating: B.

8 comments:

phairhead said...

Love love love Garfield's Halloween Adventure! It had some legit scares in it and of course "candy candy candy candy" :D

hobbyfan said...

The perfect holiday for Garfield, eh? Odie is such a tool, though.

Chris Sobieniak said...

Garfield's Halloween Adventure, originally titled Garfield in Disguise when it first aired on CBS in 1985,

Technically, it was called "Garfield's Halloween Adventure" when it first aired on CBS. It was I think in foreign/international markets were "Garfield In Disguise" was used, but it was also the title of a comic book adaptation of the special that was sold in the 80's, which featured additional moments like seen in the special like Garfield fetching a ring out of the treasure box before leaving the island. Ironically as I type this, I just noticed this image on Amazon for the book!
https://www.amazon.com/Garfields-Halloween-Adventure-Formerly-Garfield/dp/0345330455

BTW, someone apparently uploaded this on Dailymotion of the special's debut on CBS back in '85, with original commercials! Also includes the usual "Great Pumpkin" special afterwards!
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x16khdc_halloween-1985_creation

The more recent CGI-driven Garfield Show doesn't really hold a candle, and its only advantage is allowing for Garfield's lips to move.

I still like Garfield as a "thinking" character, the way he is in the comics. Giving him a tangible voice (lips) just sorta defeats the purpose and probably answered a very prolonged wish some kids have had for wanting to see him talk after all.

Odie is such a tool, though.

And yet he bothered saving Garield from drowning anyway. He could've just left him then and there and be done with the misery of being a tool!

hobbyfan said...

Kind of hard to picture Garfield "thinking" a song, though.

Chris Sobieniak said...

I suppose, still the specials worked well for me besides.

hobbyfan said...

And it was the specials that led to Garfield landing a Saturday morning berth. It took longer for the Peanuts gang to move to Saturdays, too, but they eventually did.

Chris Sobieniak said...

While that may be true, Schulz & Co. didn't really wanted to do a Saturday morning series anyway but CBS kept pestering them for one. I didn't care much for the show either since I felt they were really stretching things too thin otherwise.

hobbyfan said...

Yeah, I think The Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show lasted just 2 seasons at best. Schulz had his reasons, but you know what they say. Money talks. Loudly.