We are back to writing about Garfield, everyone's favorite lasagna eating cat, and another TV special. Since this is how this blog rolls, we aren't doing them in order and already did the last special , now it's time for the 2nd special "Garfield on the Town". "Garfield on the Town" has a "Peanuts" connection (this happens alot) with Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez were producers for it though you won't get any Peanuts character style this time. Of course Phil Roman directed it. It was originally aired on CBS on October 28th 1983. It won a prime time Emmy in 1984 beating "A Disney Christmas Gift", "It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown", and "The Smurfic games". Being the first ,but not last Garfield special to win an Emmy. Alright let's start.
Garfield doesn't want to get out of bed and walk on the cold floor (we are all like Garfield) , then Garfield and we get a theme song by Lou Rawls. Odie and Garfield mess up the house and Jon scolds them and especially points out Garfield saying that the cat is being hyperactive. So, Vet time. (eek) Garfield accidentally falls out of the car and Jon apparently doesn't notice. (He's a bright bulb) Garfield walks around town (roll credits?) and gets told by lady cats to buzz off. Meanwhile, Jon calls the pet hospital to see if Garfield ended up there after all.
Garfield wonders the back alleys and runs into a cat with a gold tooth (I don't know) and they start a cat rumble ( I think , it's more West Side Story cat rumbling). He thinks he won but then there are more alley cats. (more Alley cats in the alley, I'm surprised) Garfield runs while the horde of cats chase him and he finds an old run down building to run inside. Then he meets a cat, that turns out to be his mother.
awww/ Copyright Jim Davis
It's the next morning and his mother tells him that used to be a kitchen of the Italian restaurant where he grew up. The special gives us a back story into how Garfield likes lasagna and other Italian food which is a nice touch. His mother shows him his family or cousins. They are "mousers", cats who eat mice which Garfield doesn't like personally. Anyway, those Alley cats from earlier show up and his family decide to fight the gang of cats and an old fashioned rumble starts and they win! His family decides he should go home because he's not suited to this life and he bids his mother a farewell.
awww 2 / Copyright Jim Davis
Just by timing somehow, Garfield finds Jon driving by and chases the car then Odie notices and everyone is reunited.
Another fun fact: This special was the only Garfield special co-written by Lorenzo Music (the voice of Garfield) the other writer being "Garfield" creator , Jim Davis.
It's simple special but one with a lot of heart , I can see why it won an Emmy. It has touching moments between Garfield and his mother and the end with Garfield, Jon, and Odie. The music in the special is wonderful with the final song enough to bring some tears. I think it's fine special and can see why it's a Garfield classic. Give this one a watch.
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