Yet Another "Powerpuff Girls" Batch of Episode Comments

[Anthonynotes]

Rented another tape of PPG episodes, "Monkey See, Doggie Do", which leaves the only tape at the store unseen by me being "Birthday Bash" (which was rented out). Episodes on the tape include: "Monkey See, Doggie Do", "Telephonies", "Mommy Fearest", "Mime For a Change", and "Bare Facts". No extras were included on the tape. Box art: Mojo holding the Anubis Head while looking sinister, as Buttercup stares in awe/caution (and Bubbles/Blossom charge ahead at him).

My two cents:
"Monkey See, Doggie Do": Fairly amusing episode... as to the comments I read in previous discussions on how Mojo managed to change back to "normal" given the episode's ending, perhaps the Anubis Head's curse only has a temporary (vs. permanent) effect on non-human lifeforms (or the transformation effect that resulted it it being accidentially shattered only would last for a short period of time?)?

"Telephonies": Probably the most amusing episode on the tape (besides "Mommy Fearest"). Liked the various crank calls (including the "$10 million dollars" one), and the reactions of the various characters to being attacked by the Girls was funny (especially Mojo's....who was apparently just reading the newspaper and listening to music [though you'd think a supervillain would have a sound system more up-to-date than a 20's-era Victrola]). And apparently the bug-eyed Gang Green Gang guy can imitate voices. One more comment: I presume that "Him" lives in some alternate dimension somewhere, leaving me to presume that the Girls might have the power of dimensional travel under their own power (a power that Superman had in the old comics---not sure how they explained he did it, though [IIRC, it involved using his superspeed to fly at or near light-speed in order to set up some sort of molecular "vibrations" or somesuch that'd allow him to transverse dimensional barriers]...). Either that, or some device of the Professor's....or something to just ignore and move on.....

"Mommy Fearest": Also one of the most amusing episodes on the tape....not sure what else to say about it, though....

"Mime For a Change": Probably the least amusing one on the tape; cute song, though (which makes me wonder if that was the reason the episode was written for). And to add to other comments on this one I'd read, I suppose the girls figured the clown/mime deserved punishment over, um, creating a public disturbance, I guess (along with a "hit first, ask questions later" habit of theirs---see: the guy who dressed up as a monster in "Jewel of the Aisle", and/or that the girls didn't know his actions/powers were caused by an accident, I guess....).

"Bare Facts": Pretty amusing,done in a way similar to PatB's "the Pinky POV". Liked the Girls' descriptions of the stories told according to their respective personalities...

And, um, that's it. I await comments/corrections of errors I made/etc. (which I'm sure there'll be plenty)....

-B.

[DR. BELCH]

Brainatra:
[T]he reactions of the various characters to being attacked by the Girls was funny (especially Mojo's....who was apparently just reading the newspaper and listening to music [though you'd think a supervillain would have a sound system more up-to-date than a 20's-era Victrola]).

Perhaps it belonged to his father the captain (though how a chimpanzee gains an admiralty in the navy is beyond me).
MOJO: Foo-oooo-ooo-oo-o-oolish human! Do you not realize that retro-kitsch is very en vogue these days? Why, to own a piece of early twentieth-century recording equipment and wax disks to play on it--in mint condition, mind you!-- in this acursed age of CD's, stereo systems, and Napster would make any music lover or collector a god on earth!

And apparently the bug-eyed Gang Green Gang guy can imitate voices.

And make girly eyes while doing it, which is even more scary. In another short, a Joe Friday-esque truant officer sends the Gangreens to shcool, where they end up in the Girls' class. Grubber stands up straight and speaks perfect English while introducing himself to the students.

I presume that "Him" lives in some alternate dimension somewhere, leaving me to presume that the Girls might have the power of dimensional travel....

I figured it was the old "subterranean hideout" standby (cf. "those turtle fellows with the bandanas"), and the Girls don't sweat, even though temperatures down there are well into three-digit levels. Stands to reason Him, a devil, would live underground, as that's where Hell is presumed to be (though I've always thought it was less a fiery sulfur pit and more a city much like Newark)

"Mommy Fearest": Also one of the most amusing episodes on the tape....not sure what else to say about it, though....

I'd say it's a miracle the Girls don't suffer some psychological damage considering they almost had Sedusa for a mommy (next to that writing Mother's Day cards to a beaker doesn't seen too bad)...and that Mojo is their greatest nemesis and half-brother....

[Anthonynotes]

Re: Mojo's Father: He's a captain? Which episode reveals this?

Re: Mojo's choice in recording equipment: Either that or he spent all his money on his lab equipment/his sinister schemes/the constant remodeling expenses that must result from fights with the Powerpuff Girls...still, with boom boxes going for $50 for a decent model these days... :-)

Re: Him's lair: I suppose Sharklady/someone else can give some input on this....though the "underground lair" is *such* a villain cliche ;-)

One more thing of note: given the girls' reactions to the idea of a "talking dog" in "Doggie Do", wonder what the story is with that Talking Dog character seen occasionally...

-B.

[Sharklady]

> Re: Mojo's Father: He's a captain? Which episode reveals this? <

That came up in 'A Very Special Blossom'; an episode that took place largely on Father's Day. There's a scene where Mojo, having just finished building a model ship (that's his hobby), looks over to a painting of his dad in a sea-captain's uniform, and wishes him "Happy Father's Day!" (BTW: the painting included the Captain's birth and death dates, so we should refer to him in the past tense.)

> Re: Him's lair: I suppose Sharklady/someone else can give some input on this.... <

You've probably noticed that PPG includes deliberately inconsistant background art. We've seen Him in Infernal settings - at the start of 'Beat Alls', for example- but also in subterranium lairs, so he apparently has more than one hang-out. He'd need to use his lower-temperature digs for working out to an aerobics tape, 'cause in the other place his VCR would melt.

Re: Talking Dog- I don't recall any ep offering any explaination for him. But there is a theory about his descendants: he may be the founding father of the talking-dog pack in 'Samurai Jack.'

Re: 'Telephonies'; that's one of my most-favored episodes. Not least of all, because it closes with such an amusing variation on the 'pulsating hearts' graphic.

Re: 'Mime For a Change'; it's a common view in the PPG fandom that Rainbow got a raw deal in that ep- it's not like he asked to have that bleach dumped on him. A couple very talented guys went so far as to post an online-comic-book sequel to it; 'Clowning Glory', which you can read here:

http://pokeyoaksfanfic.com/ClowningGlory/

Oh; and did I mention it's a PPG/ B:TAS crossover?
*Very* nice renderings of Joker and Harley...

[Anthonynotes]

>>Re: Mojo's Father: He's a captain? Which episode reveals this? <

>That came up in 'A Very Special Blossom'; an episode that took place largely on Father's Day. There's a scene where Mojo, having just finished building a model ship (that's his hobby), looks over to a painting of his dad in a sea-captain's uniform, and wishes him "Happy Father's Day!" (BTW: the painting included the Captain's birth and death dates, so we should refer to him in the past tense.)
<

Ah, I see....very well, then. (Still wonder why Mojo didn't just buy (or steal, in his case) a boom box or something like I did last year for $50 at K-Mart, instead of relying on that Victrola...given the amount of classical music on CD these days and all... :-)

>> Re: Him's lair: I suppose Sharklady/someone else can give some input on this.... <

>>You've probably noticed that PPG includes deliberately inconsistant background art. We've seen Him in Infernal settings - at the start of 'Beat Alls', for example- but also in subterranium lairs, so he apparently has more than one hang-out. He'd need to use his lower-temperature digs for working out to an aerobics tape, 'cause in the other place his VCR would melt.
<

Actually, I notice the PPG show has minimalistic/limited-animated background art, but I digress ;-) Having more than one hangout makes sense, I suppose...

>>Re: Talking Dog- I don't recall any ep offering any explaination for him. But there is a theory about his descendants: he may be the founding father of the talking-dog pack in 'Samurai Jack.'

OK...

>>Re: 'Telephonies'; that's one of my most-favored episodes. Not least of all, because it closes with such an amusing variation on the 'pulsating hearts' graphic.

The look on Mojo Jojo was amusing (as well as seeing him go to town on the G.G. Gang with Fuzzy and Him....too bad they didn't throw in the Princess, or they could've united the "Bad Four" :-)

>>Re: 'Mime For a Change'; it's a common view in the PPG fandom that Rainbow got a raw deal in that ep- it's not like he asked to have that bleach dumped on him. A couple very talented guys went so far as to post an online-comic-book sequel to it; 'Clowning Glory', which you can read here:


http://pokeyoaksfanfic.com/ClowningGlory/

Oh; and did I mention it's a PPG/ B:TAS crossover?
*Very* nice renderings of Joker and Harley... <<

Nice enough artwork (better than I could probably draw the Joker/Harley at any case)...

And yeah, the clown did seem to get a bit of a raw deal...(shrug) maybe the Girls were watching "Cops" reruns on FOX and got some bizarre, short-lived, FOX-like idea of how the law should be enforced? :-)

-B.

[don Jaime]

"Mime For a Change" is yet another Beatles take-off; the plot is roughly the same as the movie Yellow Submarine. "Him" also owes a debt to YS, in that his violent mood swings are based on those of the chief Blue Meanie. Jim, the birthday kid, is a PPG staffer. And Rainbow got a very raw deal. The guy that drew that fan comic, Chris Cook, now pencils official PPG comics. He did the work for the current issue.

Talking Dog's origin is not explained, as is Him's residence or scope of powers. In the first two seasons, Him was pure head game and didn't get beat up, ever (except in the opening credits). That changed with "Beat-Alls," where he's just another bad guy. There's also some argument among fans as to whether or not he's Satan, and how Mojo changed back from being a dog. Mojo's captain dad is also a mystery, since he declared Professor Utonium his father in "Mr. Mojo's Rising."

And the Victrola? Not everything on vinyl has migrated to silicon yet. I wish Rhino would release my old Smothers Brothers albums on CD, but that appears to be a no-go.

[Anthonynotes]

>>"Mime For a Change" is yet another Beatles take-off; the plot is roughly the same as the movie Yellow Submarine. "Him" also owes a debt to YS, in that his violent mood swings are based on those of the chief Blue Meanie. Jim, the birthday kid, is a PPG staffer. And Rainbow got a very raw deal. The guy that drew that fan comic, Chris Cook, now pencils official PPG comics. He did the work for the current issue.
<<<

I see.... (never sat through all of "Yellow Submarine"; got a bit bored by it and shut it off halfway through, though I do recall the Blue Meanies).

And yes, Rainbow got a raw deal....though I suppose the potential of getting a raw deal at the hands of law enforcement officials isn't unrealistic :-\

>>>
Talking Dog's origin is not explained, as is Him's residence or scope of powers. In the first two seasons, Him was pure head game and didn't get beat up, ever (except in the opening credits). That changed with "Beat-Alls," where he's just another bad guy. There's also some argument among fans as to whether or not he's Satan, and how Mojo changed back from being a dog. Mojo's captain dad is also a mystery, since he declared Professor Utonium his father in "Mr. Mojo's Rising."
<<<

Maybe Utonium was referred to by Mojo as his father in the non-biological/"like a father" sense?


>>>>
And the Victrola? Not everything on vinyl has migrated to silicon yet. I wish Rhino would release my old Smothers Brothers albums on CD, but that appears to be a no-go. <<<

Very well, then....

-B.
Thinking of the "Brothers Brothers" sketches on "In Living Color"...

[Sharklady]

> Maybe Utonium was referred to by Mojo as his father in the non-biological/"like a father" sense? <

Well, obviously Mojo didn't mean it in the biological sense- the Prof isn't a chimpanzee.

But Utonium is Mojo's creator. The same experiment that produced the PPGs also made Mojo what *he* is- in that sense, the Prof is 'Father' to all four of them. So in a way they're siblings, which makes the interactions between Mojo and the Girls all the more interesting. I think it explains why the Utoniums have occasionally been more trusting of the chimp than was safe- maybe on some level, they wish their prodigal son/ brother would come home.

In fact, if you'll pardon the plug, I've written a rather long fanfic on just that theme. If you've got the time, you can read it here:

http://www.pokeyoaksfanfic.com/Brother.htm

[don Jaime]

What Sharklady said.

Originally posted by Brainatra
I see.... (never sat through all of "Yellow Submarine"; got a bit bored by it and shut it off halfway through, though I do recall the Blue Meanies).

I never have either. It's just that the life is sucked out of everything by nastyness and music restores it. I have seen A Hard Day's Night (great), Help! (so-so), and Magical Mystery Tour (boring).

[Anthonynotes]

Re: Mojo's two fathers: Perhaps it's also similar to Superman honoring both his foster parents, the Kents, and his Kryptonian parents Jor-El and Lara, in his life, even if he's closer to the Kents (having been raised by them)?

Already read the story....interesting....

Re: Beatles movies: I meant to go see "Hard Day's Night" at an art theater in town when it had been re-released awhile ago, but didn't get the chance to go...hmph...

-B.

[Sharklady]

> ...you'd think a supervillain would have a sound system more up-to-date than a 20's-era Victrola]). <

A possible explaination is that Mojo has a preference for antiques- he mentioned in 'Manic Mojo' that the first thing he ever stole was a Ming Dynasty vase. And in 'Criss Cross Crisis' we saw him gloating over the theft of a similar item ("Mwhahahaha! A priceless vase and I have taken it for myself without paying for it!")

On the other hand, in 'Manic Mojo' he purchased his breakfast eggs. I'd guess that he considers it beneath the dignity of a Criminal Genius to swipe such a low-priced item; only items of high value are worthy of being stolen by Mojo Jojo.

[Anthonynotes]

>> ...you'd think a supervillain would have a sound system more up-to-date than a 20's-era Victrola]). <

>A possible explaination is that Mojo has a preference for antiques- he mentioned in 'Manic Mojo' that the first thing he ever stole was a Ming Dynasty vase. And in 'Criss Cross Crisis' we saw him gloating over the theft of a similar item ("Mwhahahaha! A priceless vase and I have taken it for myself without paying for it!")

On the other hand, in 'Manic Mojo' he purchased his breakfast eggs. I'd guess that he considers it beneath the dignity of a Criminal Genius to swipe such a low-priced item; only items of high value are worthy of being stolen by Mojo Jojo. <

Perhaps so...though still, he could've had an older more up-to-date sound system....even my parents' old 70's-era record player we had as a kid (and that they moved to the basement for us to mess with) would seem a bit of an improvement sound-quality-wise (plus it played 78 RPM records :-)

Wonder what Mojo's TV would look like---one of the original mid-to-late 50's-era RCA-manufactured color TV sets? An old Philco (with the round screen and all)?

Two more comments:
My completely unfounded and pointless reasoning for the presence of the Talking Dog and George Jetson in the PPGs:

[Cut to shortly after the green light was given for the PPG series a few years ago....]

BLOSSOM: They say they'll give us our own show, on one condition....

BUTTERCUP: What's that?

BLOSSOM: That we have to include two characters....one, this talking dog. (Points to a picture of the Talking Dog)

BUBBLES: Ooooh, he's sooooo *cute*!

BUTTERCUP: A *talking dog*?! Are they for real?!

BLOSSOM: They said it'll help the show fit in with the Cartoon Network's "Scooby Doo"-oriented programming with a talking dog featured....plus future merchandising potential!

BUTTERCUP: (Flatly) *O-kaaaayyy.....*

BLOSSOM: Number *two*, we have to include---him! (Points to someone standing right behind her---namely, George Jetson)

BUBBLES: Erm....he's not as cute as the doggy.

BUTTERCUP: OK, the dog *almost* seemed to make sense, but *why* *HIM*?!?

GEORGE JETSON: Aw, come on...I need the work! Unlike the Flintstones, I never managed to get any theatrical movies, or made-for-TV movies, or Cartoon Network specials, or anything like that! All I've got going is those "Radio Shack" ads from a few years back and the pittance royalties from whenever someone *feels* like rerunning our old show! Besides, since that Orbitty guy split, we're out one rent payer....and Elroy and Judy need new braces, and Spacely hasn't given me a raise in 35 years, and----

BUTTERCUP: (Annoyed) OK, *OK*!!! You can be on the show! Just don't talk or, well, do anything....

GEORGE JETSON: Don't worry---I'll be the best extra you've ever had! Oooba-doooba!

BLOSSOM: Erm, "oooba-doooba"?

BUTTERCUP: Don't use any corny catch phrases either, OK?

BUBBLES: (Still looking at the Talking Dog picture) Oh, can we have stuffed dollies of the doggy made, huh, canwecanwecanwecanwe?

BLOSSOM: (Smirks) Well, maybe.... (looks at the picture) He *is* sort of cute... (The girls float off, talking about the Talking Dog's cuteness; George tags along, stating how close he came recently to being cast as the lead in "King Lear"....)

---

:-)

-B.

[Sharklady]

Did You Notice: A few other non-speaking celebrities have done cameos on PPG. At the start of 'Hot Air Buffoon', Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble made a brief appearence as 'barefoot bandits.' In 'Birthday Bash', one of the Girl's party guests was Princess Leia.

And, tho I don't remember the ep, one of the monsters the Girls fought bore a striking resemblence to Gamera the Nuclear-Powered Turtle- one of the odder stars of those old Japanese monster movies. That critter is included in the background of the 'Villains' tableau, in the show's opening credits.

[don Jaime]

Ah! Did you know Gamera is friend to all children, hmmmmmm?

Originally posted by Brainatra
GEORGE JETSON: Aw, come on...I need the work! Unlike the Flintstones, I never managed to get any theatrical movies, or made-for-TV movies, or Cartoon Network specials, or anything like that! All I've got going is those "Radio Shack" ads from a few years back....

Oh, man, I'm flashing back to my Radio Shack days. Eight hours of Judy saying, "Moth-ER!"

They did get a theatrical release. It was Mel Blanc's last project released, as well as that of George's voice (whose name I can't remember).

[Anthonynotes]

>>Ah! Did you know Gamera is friend to all children, hmmmmmm?

(Thinking of MST3K here, with their Gamera references/song bit about him being "filled with turtle meat"...)

>>Oh, man, I'm flashing back to my Radio Shack days. Eight hours of Judy saying, "Moth-ER!"

Loads of fun, I'm sure (as much fun as hearing a lot of the apparently *bad* versions of Christmas carols play in my current department store job...though at least I'm spared "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" so far....).


>>They did get a theatrical release. It was Mel Blanc's last project released, as well as that of George's voice (whose name I can't remember). [/B][/QUOTE]


OOops, should've wrote "live-action movie" (dunno why I wrote that....).

-B.
GEORGE: Feh...like Fred and Barney and Princess Leia needed the cameos---they're rolling in it with all that merchandise! But does anyone want to merchandise *me*? *Nooooo*.... and that cardboard cutout display of me at "Radio Shack" doesn't count, pal!

[DR. BELCH]

don Jaime:
(The Jetsons] did get a theatrical release. It was Mel Blanc's last project released, as well as that of George's voice (whose name I can't remember).

Henry Corden, who also did Fred Flintstone after Alan Reed passed on (as well as Pa on The Hillbilly Bears, who never had a theatrical release animated or live-action, but that's another story). Tiffany, a singer who enjoyed brief popularity in the eighties, voiced Judy.

On Mojo's TV: just saw a commercial the other night with Mojo and Moko (his love interest from "Beat-Alls", which is surprising considering that her keeper said she doesn't like criminals. I guess Mojo did some slick talking and persuaded her into a second date.). He invited her over to his place to watch the new PPG CD on a very sophisticated entertainment center with widescreen TV, DVD player, and such. Not sure if he bought it, stole it, or just rented it for the evening, but it shows he knows how to give a woman (so to speak) the red carpet treatment.

On Mojo's parentage: naturally he has ape parents, and considers the Professor a surrogate father figure by extention. We know his father was a sea captain...but what of his mother? Presumably she stayed home and kept the nest (shades of Avery's "I Wanna Be A Sailor"--"No, maw, it was Catalina!")...and is Mojo an only child or does he have siblings? Something worth pondering for future FanFics....

[Sharklady]

> On Mojo's TV: just saw a commercial the other night with Mojo and Moko (his love interest from "Beat-Alls", which is surprising considering that her keeper said she doesn't like criminals. I guess Mojo did some slick talking and persuaded her into a second date.) <

I think I read an interview wherein Moko (real name Michelle) clarified that the 'Beat-Alls' ending "was just acting on a TV show, fercryinoutloud! Off-camera, me an' MJ get along fine!"

> ...is Mojo an only child or does he have siblings? <

He may have siblings, but if he was wild-born, they probably aren't close to his age. Jane Goodall's chimp-study book, "In The Shadow of Man", reports that it's quite rare for mother chimpanzees to have twins, and when they do, it's usual for one twin to die early. Apparently, taking proper care of even one baby chimp is a tall order. Probably for this reason, mothers of healthy babies usually wait until they're fully weaned, at around three years, before they have another.

If Mojo was born in captivity (as most lab chimps are these days), then it's more likely he could have siblings only a little younger or older than himself, or even a living twin. Captive-born chimps routinely have their care taken over by humans early in life, since human-accustomed primates are far easier to handle. If this happened to Mojo, he's probably never seen his siblings, or his father, & may have only vague recollection of his mother. As his human 'parent' soon rejected him, it's no wonder he turned out psychotic.

*sniff* Poor Mojo.