A Very Very Very Very Special Show/Night of the Living Buttons/Soda Jerk is the 86th episode of the original Animaniacs. It originally aired on September 21, 1996. The addition of "Night of the Living Buttons" makes this the fourth overall Halloween-related half-hour in both the series and the franchise.
In a blatant attempt to win a humanitarian award, the Warners star in this parody of "very special episodes," bringing more "educational" content to the show. However, when they lose the award, they return to being their zany selves and disregard the morals they had just preached.
This episode spoofs "very special episodes", television episodes that deal with social issues that can be seen as difficult or controversial.
Pinky and the Brain would later do a "special show" of its own- "Inherit the Wheeze," which showed the dangers of smoking and advocated against animal testing in lab research.
Akom's animation for this cartoon is notably higher-quality than their other Warners segments.
Yakko mentions getting a ride with actor and environmentalist Ed Begley Jr. is one of many ways to help the environment. Ed Begley Jr. would later go on to guest-star in the Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain cartoon "My Fair Brainy!"
Goofs
Mahatma Gandhi's last name is misspelled "Ghandi" on Dot's book cover.
When Buttons breaks the emergency glass, he becomes Michael Jackson leading the zombies in a parody of the "Thriller" video.
Michigan J. Frog from the Looney Tunes short One Froggy Evening and mascot of the WB network appears at the end. Buttons and Mindy's frightened reaction is most likely a potshot to the network. At one point, Mindy even quotes a network slogan: "Kiss the frog, baby!"
Zombified versions of the Warners and Ralph appear doing their running gag when the zombies follow Buttons into the house.
Soda Jerk
Animation by Wang
Plot
After drinking a milkshake in one gulp, Wakko gets a bad case of the hiccups, so his siblings look all around the world to help cure him.
Toby the soda shop attendant whistles Pinky and the Brain's theme as he mixes the Warners' milkshakes.
In a parody of a scene from A Clockwork Orange, Yakko and Dot drip water in Wakko's open eyes as he watches an unpleasant display - a Bob Hope comedy routine.
The scene with the flying saucer and alien robot is a parody of The Day the Earth Stood Still.