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This Pun for Hire/Star Truck/Go Fish/Multiplication Song is the 77th episode of the original Animaniacs. It originally aired on November 4, 1995.

Theme Song

Open1

Last line

Yakko, Wakko and Dot: Novacainey...

This Pun for Hire

Animation by Akom Film Production

77-1-ThisPunForHire

Plot

The Warners do a film noir parody, taking every cliché and killing them with many bad puns. They are recruited by Hello Nurse to find Dr. Scratchansniff and a statue.

Crew

Songs

  • "Bette's Songs"

Trivia

  • On Nickelodeon, after Minerva demands the Warners give her the bird, Dot's reply "We can't, this is a family show" was shortened to "We can't.ł
  • When Yakko asks, "Tell me your story, sister", Dot replies with the opening lines of the Cher song "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves."
  • A running gag in this cartoon is when Hello Nurse says something right, the Warners celebrate her being correct a la You Bet Your Life.
  • Another running gag is when Yakko refers to "her", Bette Midler would come out of a door.
  • Freakazoid, from the show of the same name, makes a cameo appearance in this cartoon.
  • At the end of the cartoon, Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen make cameo appearances. Yakko says they are, "The stuff that DreamWorks are made of." This is not only a reference to the then newly-formed movie studio of DreamWorks, but also to the ending of The Maltese Falcon.
  • Ralph keeps saying "By Gad, sir", which is one of Kasper Gutman's lines in The Maltese Falcon.
  • The statue is a plastered version of Squit.
  • Hello Nurse says she claims the statue "in the name of Gulf+Western". Gulf+Western was renamed as Paramount Communications in 1989. Paramount Communications was purchased by Viacom in 1994, around the time the episode was written.
  • Yakko accepts Hello Nurse's case on the condition that she does not put the show in the same time slot as 60 Minutes, because "we'll get creamed". Around this time, Pinky and the Brain was on The WB's Sunday night primetime schedule at 7/6c; around the same time as the highly-rated CBS newsmagazine, which hurt the show's ratings.

Quotes

Yakko: Tell us, where did you last see your boss?
Hello Nurse: In the Mambo Room at the Tropicombo Club. A band was playing Latin dance music. I was with the doctor, he mumbled something. The band had a big dumb guy playing drums and everyone was dancing under a pole, then the doctor vanished.
Yakko: Now, lemme get this straight: He muttered some mumbo-jumbo during the Combo Samba in the Mambo at the Tropicombo. Then there was a jumbo dumbo playing the limbo on the bongos and then he was gone?
Hello Nurse: That is absolutely correct!
Yakko: Tell her what she's won!!!
Wakko: Another date with me!
Hello Nurse: How come I always get the booby prize?
Dot: I'm not touchin' that one!
Hello Nurse: Can you help me?
Yakko: Of course we'll help you, but only if you do us one favor.
Hello Nurse: What would that be?
Yakko: Never put us on against 60 Minutes, we'll get creamed!
Hello Nurse: I claim this statue in the name of Gulf+Western!
Minerva: I claim this statue in the name of Rupert Murdoch!
Ralph: Duh, by gad, sir, I claim it in the name of Matsushimi- err, Matsushudi- duuh... uh, for Seagrams!
Yakko: Ah, I've got it! The mink is workin' for Fox, the pair o' legs is workin' for Paramount, and the guy who needs rehearsal is workin' for Universal!
Dot: Thank you, Dr. Seuss.

Star Truck

Animation by Akom

77-2-StarTruck

Plot

The Warners find themselves on the ship from their favorite TV show in this Star Trek parody, and end-up helping the crew in a battle.

Crew

Trivia

  • This episode's title is a play on both Star Trek and the word starstruck - which means to be fascinated or greatly impressed by famous people, especially those connected with the entertainment industry. Fitting for this cartoon, as the Warners are starstruck with the cast of Star Truck.
  • On the ship, there are restrooms for men, women, and Xenomorphs from the Alien franchise.
  • A running-gag throughout this cartoon is Squaty's fluctuating weight, which makes fun of James Doohan's own changing weight later into his career.
  • When the Warners first arrive in the ship, they shout out “We’re here!” in a reference to the 1982 horror film Poltergeist.
  • When the Warners first meet Captain Kork, a parody of Captain Kirk, on the ship's bridge, they reference the plots of actual Star Trek stories: "The City on the Edge of Forever," "Spock's Brain," the three episodes featuring Harry Mudd, and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
  • Dr. McBones's line "They're in bed, Jim!" is a send-up of Dr. Bones McCoy's recurring line "He's dead, Jim!"
  • Spork performs a "Vorgon Mind Meld" on Wakko, a parody of the Vulcan Mind Meld technique featured in many installments of the Star Trek franchise.
  • Squatty's donut obsession and progressive weight gain over the course of the episode references actor James Doohan's progressive weight gain over the course of his career portraying "Scotty" in the Star Trek franchise. Doohan was originally fit and trim during the original series, but became progressively heavyset in his old age as the films continued. Doohan also began maintaining a mustache late in his career, which Squatty references with a donut-frosting mustache at the episode's end.
  • Yakko points out Ricardo Montalbán "and his big plastic chest" when Korn, a parody of the Trek villain Khan, appears on screen. When Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was released, rumors spread that Montalban wore a prosthetic chest but the film's director assured that this wasn't true.
  • Yakko accidentally sits on a Tribble, a small, furry Star Trek creature, a reference to Kirk sitting on a Tribble in the episode "The Trouble With Tribbles".
  • When Captain Kork promises not to sue the Warners, he holds up a tub of "Prom-iss" margarine. William Shatner made commercials for Promise Margarine in the mid-1970s.
  • When talking to a now-overweight Squatty, Dot references Jenny Craig inc, a nutrition and weight-loss management company founded in 1983, but went defunct in 2023.
  • Pinky and the Brain make a cameo near the end of this segment.

Go Fish

Animation by Wang Film Production

77-3-GoFish

Plot

Wakko plays Go Fish with himself, but becomes a sore loser when he accuses himself of cheating.

Crew

Trivia

  • At one point, Dot says about Wakko, "Ward, I'm worried about the Beaver." This is a reference to the television show, Leave It to Beaver.

Randy Beaman

Randy

Animation by StarToons

Plot

Colin talks about the time Randy Beaman faked his own death with ketchup.

Multiplication

Animation by Akom

77-4-Multiplication

Plot

In Miss Flamiel's class, Yakko sings about multiplying 47 by 83.

Crew

Songs

Trivia

  • When Yakko sings "It's fun and it's easy, just buy a calculator and you can multiply too" the multiplication is solved completely, even though he had only done the first part. When he starts explaining the second part, it's displayed correctly again.

Production Notes

  • One cartoon was scrapped from this episode: Dot's song "Dear Mister Gingrich." It was recorded to a piano arrangement; but never storyboarded, animated or orchestrated.[1]

Cast

Voice Actors: Character(s):
Rob Paulsen Yakko Warner, Dr. Scratchansniff, Pinky, Mr. Squadoo
Jess Harnell Wakko Warner
Tress MacNeille Dot Warner, Hello Nurse, Miss Flamiel, Bette Midler, Uhura
Maurice LaMarche The Brain, Captain Kork, Mr. Spork, McBones
Paul Rugg Freakazoid
Frank Welker Ralph T. Guard, Steven Spielberg, Squaty, Korn
Julie Brown Minerva Mink
Colin Wells Colin

References

List of Animaniacs (Original Series) episodes
Season 1
De-Zanitized / The Monkey Song / Nighty-Night ToonYakko's World / Cookies for Einstein / Win BigH.M.S. Yakko / Slappy Goes Walnuts / Yakko's UniverseHooked on a Ceiling / Film Projector Transition / Goodfeathers: The BeginningTaming of the ScrewyFlipper Parody / Temporary Insanity / Operation: Lollipop / What are We?Piano Rag / When Rita Met RuntThe Warners' Lot Song / The Big Candy Store / Bumbie's MomWally Llama / Where Rodents DareKing YakkoNo Pain, No Painting / Les MiseranimalsGarage Sale of the Century / Fortunes / West Side PigeonsHello Nice Warners / La Behemoth / Little Old Slappy From PasadenaLa La Law / Cat on a Hot Steel BeamSpace-Probed / Battle for the PlanetChalkboard Bungle / Hurray for Slappy / The Great Wakkorotti: The Master & His MusicRoll Over, Beethoven / The Cat and the FiddlePavlov's Mice / Chicken Boo-Ryshnikov / Nothing But the ToothMeatballs or Consequences / A Moving ExperienceHearts of Twilight / The BoidsThe Flame / Wakko's America / Davy Omelette / Four Score and Seven Migraines AgoGuardin' the Garden / Plane PalsBe Careful What You Eat / Session 1 / Up the Crazy River / Session 2 / Ta Da DumpYakko's World of Baldness / Opportunity Knox / Wings Take HeartHercule Yakko / Home on De-Nile / A Midsummer Night's DreamTestimonials / Babblin' Bijou / Potty Emergency / Sir YaksalotYou Risk Your Life / I Got Yer Can / Jockey for PositionMoby or Not Moby / Mesozoic Mindy / The Good, the Boo, and the UglyDraculee, Draculaa / Phranken-RuntHot, Bothered and Bedeviled / Moon Over Minerva / Skullhead BoneyhandsO Silly Mio / Puttin' on the Blitz / The Great Wakkorotti: The Summer ConcertChairman of the Bored / Planets Song / Astro-ButtonsCartoons in Wakko's Body 1 / Noah's Lark / Cartoons in Wakko's Body 2 / The Big Kiss / Cartoons in Wakko's Body 3 / Hiccup / Cartoons in Wakko's Body ConclusionClown and Out / Bubba Bo Bob BrainVery Special Opening / Animaniacs Stew / In the Garden of Mindy / Pinky and the Cat / We've Been Mixing Up the Scripts / No Place Like Homeless / Katie Ka-Boo / We Found This Old Computer / Dottie the Squirrel / Baghdad CaféCritical Condition / The Three Muska-WarnersDough Dough Boys / Boot Camping / General Boo-RegardSpellboundSmitten with Kittens / Alas Poor Skullhead / White GlovesCasablanca Opening / Fair Game / The Slapper / Puppet RulersButtermilk, It Makes a Body Bitter / Broadcast Nuisance / Raging BirdAnimator's Alley / HollywoodchuckOf Nice and Men / What a Dump! / Survey LadiesUseless Facts / The Senses Song / The World Can Wait / Kiki's Kitten / • Mary Tyler Dot Song / Windsor Hassle / ...And Justice for SlappyTurkey Jerky / Wild Blue YonderVideo Review / When Mice Ruled the EarthMobster Mash / Lake Titicaca / IcebreakersVery Special Opening / A Christmas Plotz / Little Drummer WarnersSlippin' on the Ice / 'Twas the Day Before Christmas / Jingle Boo / The Great Wakkorotti: The Holiday Concert / Toy Shop Terror / Yakko's UniverseBranimaniacs / The Warners and the Beanstalk / Frontier SlappyUps and Downs / The Brave Little Trailer / Yes, AlwaysDrive-Insane / Girlfeathers / I'm CuteBrain Meets Brawn / Meet MinervaGold Rush / A Gift of Gold / Dot's Quiet TimeSchnitzelbank / The Helpinki Formula / Les Boutons et le Ballon / Kung BooOf Course You Know, This Means Warners / Up a Tree / Wakko's GizmoOh, Oh, Ethel / Inkblot Test / Meet John Brain / Smell Ya LaterRagamuffins / Woodstock SlappyKaraoke Dokie / Cranial Crusader / The Chicken Who Loved MeBaloney & Kids / Super Buttons / Katie Ka-Boom: The Driving LessonScare Happy Slappy / Witch One / MacBethWith Three, You Get Eggroll / Mermaid Mindy / Katie Ka-Boom: Call WaitingLookit the Fuzzy Heads / No Face Like HomeMy Father the Tuna / The Warners' 65th Anniversary Special
Season 2
Take My Siblings, Please / The Mindy 500 / Morning MalaiseWe're No Pigeons / Whistle-Stop Mindy / Katie Ka-Boom: The Broken DateMiami Mama-Mia / Pigeon on the Roof / CooI'm Mad / Bad Mood Bobby / Katie Ka-Boom: The Blemish / Fake
Season 3
Super Strong Warner Siblings / Nutcracker Slappy / Wakko's New Gookie / A Quake, a Quake!Variety Speak / Three Tenors and You're Out / BingoPreviously on Animaniacs / Deduces Wild / Rest in Pieces / U.N. MeA Hard Day's Warners / Gimme a Break / Please Please Please Get a Life FoundationThe Tiger Prince / All The Words in the English Language (Part 1) / The Kid in the Lid / All The Words in the English Language (Part 2) / Method to Her Madness / All The Words in the English Language (Part 3)The Presidents Song / Don't Tread on Us / The Flame ReturnsGimme the Works / Buttons in Ows / Hercules UnwoundThis Pun for Hire / Star Truck / Go Fish / Multiplication (song)The Sound of Warners / Yabba Dabba BooMy Mother the Squirrel / The Party / Oh! Say Can You See / The Twelve Days of ChristmasDot's Entertainment / The Girl with the Googily Goop / Gunga Dot2001 Parody 1 / Soccer Coach Slappy 2001 Parody 2 / Belly Button Blues / Our Final Space Cartoon, We Promise / Valuable LessonWakko's 2-Note Song / Panama Canal / Hello Nurse / The Ballad of Magellan / The Return of the Great Wakkorotti / The Big Wrap Party Tonight
Season 4
One Flew Over the Cuckoo ClockCutie and the Beast / Boo Happens / Noel / Cold EndingAnimani-rats /• Jokahontas / Boids on the Hood / Mighty Wakko at the BatA Very Very Very Very Special Show / Night of the Living Buttons / Soda JerkFrom Burbank with Love / Anchors A-Warners / When You're TravelingParody Commercials / Papers for Pappa / Amazing Gladiators / Pinky and the RalphTen Short Films About Wakko Warner / No Time for Love / The Boo NetworkPitter Patter of Little Feet / Mindy in Wonderland / Ralph's Wedding
Season 5
Moosage in a Bottle / Back in Style / Bones in the BodyIt / Dot - The Macadamia Nut / Bully for SkippyCute First (Ask Questions Later) / Acquaintances / Here Comes Atilla / Boo WonderMagic Time / The Brain's Apprentice
Hooray for North Hollywood: (Part 1Part 2)
The Carpool / The Sunshine SquirrelsThe Christmas Tree / Punchline (Part 1) / Prom Night / Punchline (Part 2)
The Ultimate Animaniacs Super Special:
(Birds on a Wire / The Scoring Session / Transition: Very Special Opening / The Animaniacs Suite)
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