"Of Mouse And Man" is the second episode of the Pinky and the Brain spin-off series and the first episode to air Sunday nights at primetime. It originally aired on September 10th, 1995.
Of Mouse And Man[]
Animation by Akom
Plot[]
In order to gain money for his latest plan, Brain becomes an employee at an insurance insurance company (re-re-insurance), and then fakes an on-the-job accident so he can sue the company.
Crew[]
- Written By Peter Hastings
- Directed By Audu Paden
Trivia[]
- The title is a parody of the book Of Mice And Men.
- This is the first episode to air Sunday nights during The WB's primetime block.
- Being an episode in a primetime block, this episode is notably more mature than the typical Animaniacs-fare. For instance, Beetle Fiero hands Brain a rather large stack of papers that are labeled as being the company's policy form on sexual harassment.
- When responding to Pinky's "pondering" inquiry, Brain scoffs that Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud would've had a field day analyzing Pinky. Ironically, Freud would later analyze Brain himself in the episode "Leggo My Ego."
- The trial of O. J. Simpson is spoofed during the climactic trial of Brain V. Fiero & Co. The judge is a caricature of the real trial's judge Lance Ito, and Pinky mentions that Brain's trial wasn't being broadcast on Court TV (the channel that aired the actual O.J trial).
- This episode marks the first appearance of a Christopher Walken caricature voiced by Jeff Bennett. He serves as a lawyer representing Fiero and Co.. The caricature would go on to become a recurring role in the series (usually in villainous roles) and would culminate in being used for Wally Faust, antagonist on Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain.
- Brain's human suit from "Win Big" returns. This time, both Pinky and Brain get to operate it.
- Bobby, Squit, and Pesto make silent cameos outside the court right before Brain's trial perched on a statue. Not counting the Warners' hands appearing in archive footage from the intro or background character designs, the Goodfeathers are the first Animaniacs characters besides the mice themselves to make an appearance in the spin-off series.
- Much of the courtroom set design and background characters are re-used from the Animaniacs cartoon "La La Law."
Goofs[]
- Wang Film Productions Co., Ltd. is erroneously credited as animating the episode instead of Akom.
- On iTunes, this episode's aspect ratio is slightly cropped and scrunched.
Gallery[]
Pinky and the Brain- Primetime Premiere on The WB
Primetime premiere promo for this episode on The WB
Cast[]
| Voice Actors: | Character(s): |
| Rob Paulsen | Pinky, Additional Voices |
| Maurice LaMarche | The Brain, Additional Voices |
| Jim Belushi (as James Belushi) | Additional Voices |
| Jeff Bennett | Howie, Locke, Christopher Walken, Judge, Doctor |
| Jim Cummings | Punk |
| Gail Matthius | Gina |
| Jeffrey Tambor | Beetle Fiero |
References[]
Special thanks to Brian Norman's "Bunches of References Accumulated In a Nutshell" (B.R.A.I.N) reference guide for aiding in documenting this episode's references.