Episode 79: My Mother the Squirrel/The Party/Oh Say Can You See?/The Twelve Days of Christmas Song

My Mother the Squirrel/The Party/Oh Say Can You See?/The Twelve Days of Christmas Song is the 79th episode of the original Animaniacs. It originally aired on January 27, 1996 (See below).

Every segment in this episode was animated by Wang Film Production.

Theme Song

Last line

Yakko: "Presidential campaign-y..."

My Mother the Squirrel

Plot

Little Blue Bird from the cartoon "Wild Blue Yonder" returns, only this time, he mistakes Slappy for his mother.

Crew

• Written by Tom Ruegger
• Directed by Charles Visser

Trivia

• Wakko makes a cameo while Skippy utters Yakko's catchphrase "Goodnight everybody!" at some point in this segment.
• The title is a parody of the 1960's sitcom My Mother the Car.
• This episode is based off of are you my mother by P. D. Eastman.

The Party

Plot

The Warners invite everyone they know for a fancy party, including Thaddeus Plotz, who is under the impression that Steven Spielberg will be there.

Crew

• Written by Paul Rugg
• Directed by Charles Visser

Trivia

• This segment originally aired as part of The WB's New Year's Eve Bash on December 31, 1995.
• The episode title shares the same name as the episode title in three shows: Robot and Monster, The Amazing World of Gumball, and That's So Raven (albeit pluralized).
• Dr. Scratchansniff is shown having a psychiatric meeting with Willie Slackmer, a parody of actor William Shatner from Karaoke-Dokie. Slackmer describes his issues getting along with his co-stars, something Shatner was infamous for during his time on the original Star Trek series.
• Paul Rugg makes a cameo in a visual gag. Plotz reminds the Warners he told them not to sneak up on him, to which Yakko replies: "Yeah, but you never told the writers." The scene then cuts to Rugg explaining what the audience just saw to the other writer and they both howl with laughter.
• Plotz's date to the party is comedienne Jo Anne Worley, best known for her work on the sketch comedy series Rowan and Martin's Laugh-Inn (1968-1973).
• While trying to find a date for the party, Plotz attempts to ask out actress and model Connie Sellecca (who is married to John Tesh), singer Minnie Riperton (who passed away in 1979), tennis player Evonne Goolagong and convicted criminal Lynette "Squeakie" Fromme.
• Steven Puttner, the fictional Animaniacs fan from the segment "Please Please Please Get A Life Foundation" is who the guest of honor turns out to be.
• A running gag in this cartoon is for the guests to say hi to Christopher Walken, who terrifies them. A similar gag would later be used in the Pinky and the Brain cartoon "The Megalomaniacal Adventures of Brainie the Poo" as well as an episode of Histeria!.
• The song Wakko belches is Las Chiapanecas.

Oh Say Can You See?

Plot

The Flame returns to witness Francis Scott Key write the poem "Defence of Fort McHenry," which would later be known as the lyrics to the American national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".

Crew

• Written by Nicholas Hollander
• Directed by Charles Visser

Trivia

• Final The Flame short.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Plot

Little Blue Bird performs at the Hollywood Bowl with the Animaniacs orchestra to sing his own spin on the classic Christmas carol.

Crew

• Adapted by Tom Ruegger
• Directed by Charles Visser

Songs

• "Twelve Days Of Christmas (Blue Bird Edition)"

Trivia

• This cartoon was inspired by a Christmas carol that Cody Ruegger learned from school and performed for his father, Tom. He loved it so much that he worked it into this episode.^[1]

Production Notes

• As noted above, "The Party" originally aired as part of The WB's New Year's Eve Bash on December 31, 1995.
  • The other cartoons in this episode originally aired on January 27, 1996 under episode "H1" of the show's hour long blocks (with "The Party" intact as well), and was combined with "Slappy Goes Walnuts, "H.M.S. Yakko," "Flipper Parody," and "Babblin' Bijou." The standard half-hour format would begin running later in 1996.
• This is the only episode where all three of Tom Ruegger's sons provide their voices. Nathan, of course, voices Skippy; Luke voices the Flame; and Cody voices Little Blue Bird.

Cast

Stinger

Yakko, Wakko & Dot: AAAHHH!! NEWT GINGRICH IS RIGHT BEHIND YOU!!!!! AAAHHH!! Just kidding. [laugh]

Trivia

• This stinger is a redubbed version of the "Horrible Bug on Your Shoulder" stinger.
• This stinger also references Newt Gingrich, a conservative political figure and the subject of a deleted musical episode called "Dear Mister Gingrich"

References