The Pinky and the Brain Reunion Special is the 5th episode of the 4th season of the Pinky and the Brain spin-off series, and the 63rd episode overall. It originally aired on September 25, 1998.
The Pinky and the Brain Reunion Special[]
Animation by Wang
Plot[]
Live from the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California; it's The Pinky and the Brain Reunion Special!
Utilizing cleverly-edited home movies, computer imaging, discarded footage from the director's cut of Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, and paid-actors; Brain has creates one of his most ambitious plans to date: a fake reunion specially for himself and Pinky's fictitious careers! He plans for a large enough audience to watch and then become brainwashed by his hypobeam. Various "clips" from the duo's supposed careers are shown during the show, along with interviews with various guests about the duo's careers. Meanwhile, Brain struggles to securing the popular dance-troupe River Stomp, whose flight is running late.
Crew[]
- Written By Gordon Bressack and Jed Spingarn.
- Directed By Charles Visser
Songs[]
Trivia[]
- This episode spoofs reunion specials for older television series (such as Mary Tyler Moore: The 20th Anniversary Show). Brain lists several fictitious specials to show what his plan was inspired by.
- The structure of this episode is similar to that of "The Warners' 65th Anniversary Special" from Animaniacs.
- Mr. Director even makes an appearance in an interview (this time, he is not injured in a comical cartoon fashion).
- Yakko Warner can also be seen on a portrait in Brian and Pinkus' office.
- Archival footage from both this show and Animaniacs briefly appears during this episode's title card. There are also various references to past episodes throughout the episode (including cardboard cutouts of the mice in episode-specific disguises). These disguises are:
- The "Canadian Elves" from "A Pinky and the Brain Christmas"
- The Greek costumes (Pinkus and Brain) from "Hercules Unwound"
- Generals Maltese and Jones from "Plan Brain From Outer Space")
- Mr. and Mrs. Feldman from "My Feldmans, My Friends"
- Hippy and Dippy from this very episode
- "Riverstomp" itself is a mixture of two theatrical acts - "Riverdance" (traditional Irish music and dance), and "Stomp" (urban, percussive dancing using the body and ordinary objects to create a rhythm).
- Brian and Pinkus are modeled after Tom Minton and Eddie Fitzgerald, who are the inspirations behind The Brain and Pinky.
- A portrait of Mad magazine mascot Alfred E. Neuman can be seen in Brian and Pinkus' office.
- Leonard Sheldon is a parody of American comic Sheldon Leonard.
- Mr. Director's Jerry Lewis-roots are alluded to when he mentions "the thing" that he had with Dean Martin.
- This cartoon's interpretation of Moses is a caricature of Charlton Heston's portrayal of him in the 1956 film The Ten Commandments.
- One of the plans shown during the fake TV clips involves Brain's desires to erase 18 minutes of tape from US president Richard Nixon's recorded conversation.
- According to Brain, the Blossom TV series doesn't exist within the Animaniacs universe and was merely the creation of a fabricated television reunion special.
- Pinky and Brain stowing away aboard the Exxon Valdez references oil tanker heading towards its 1989 oil spill.
- The Pinky et Brainini segment spoofs the films of Italian film director Federico Fellini.
- During the "bloopers" scene, the director on the clapboard is listed as "Visser" - a nod to series and episode director Charles Visser.
- The "Pardon My Contractual Dispute" "finale" segment and the song "What a Big Schlep to Tucumcari" spoof the series finale of The Mary Tyler Moore Show- "The Last Show," which ended with the cast singing the song "It's a Long Way to Tipperary." Brain even ends the segment by shutting off the lights and closing the door to Acme Labs, much like Mary does when leaving WJM-TV.
- Steve Allen sings the ending chorus at the very end of the episode, and after the iris closes, Larry appears saying, "I'm the one called Larry!"
Goofs[]
- Perhaps a slip-up on Brain's part: The supposed series finale of Pinky and the Brain's fake television series aired in 1983. However, one of the "episodes" shown references the Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker ordered on August 1, 1984; long after the supposed finale aired.
Cast[]
| Voice Actors: | Character(s): |
| Rob Paulsen | Pinky, Additional Voices |
| Maurice LaMarche | The Brain, Additional Voices |
| Jeff Bennett | Leonard Sheldon, Moses |
| Paul Rugg | Mr. Director |
| Billy West | Earl Wendell... And Larry |
| Ed McMahon | Himself |
| Gavin MacLeod | Himself |
| Steve Allen | Himself |
| Dr. Joyce Brothers | Herself |
| Dick Clark | Himself |