It's a Sunday morning in August and it's 1991, the cable network Nickelodeon had something planned that day. The network finished its morning rerun of Inspector Gadget and at 10AM eastern they premiered their first own cartoon, which they would dub as Nicktoons, called Doug. This would be the start of what were their first 3 original nicktoons. Nick had gotten into original programming, meaning they were making programming for themselves and not doing reruns or buying shows from somewhere else.
It was pretty wild that in 1991 they , a cable network, were doing this. It's even more wild they were going to do it three times in the same day, that Sunday I can see the logic of launching them on a Sunday. The networks held a spot on Saturdays and Nickelodeon wasn't ready for that; they would defeat the networks their own way. The shows would also re-air the week and even that Sunday night on Nick at Nite for the non-heathens who went to church. (We're going to remove that line right, right?)
At 10:30AM eastern, they aired their 2nd Nicktoon, and that would be Rugrats. Each original Nicktoon sets a stone of what Nickelodeon was trying to do. Doug wasn't the kind of show ABC, NBC( who was about to exit) , CBS, or even FOX were looking for. It's about an average boy and the stories aren't him in space, there's no aliens, he's not in a band that solves mysteries, and his dog might be a little more sentient than a real dog, but the dog doesn't talk. It was slice-of-life story telling with interesting characters that were less average than Doug, but still somewhat a grounded show. It would eventually inspire the idea of having more cartoons like this, but it wasn't something notable before this. Ren and Stimpy , the 3rd cartoon of that day, would be the show that feels the closest to retro cartoons and one starring talking animals. It also feels the most Nickelodeon of the shows introduced here. It's not a show that would have made to NBC (who was leaving at the time), CBS, and ABC. FOX probably would have maybe? They didn't.
That brings us to Rugrats , This show's premise on paper is about babies and toddlers who can talk to each other, and they get into adventures. The adventures, at least at first, weren't that big. It took the idea of small things to us and made them bigger. The mall is just a mall, but to them it's an entire wild place to do something for a quest. This is also a show other networks wouldn't have touched. Yes, they did do series where your favorite characters that you know and love were either kids or baby-fied. (That's a word I think) There's Tom and Jerry Kids , The Flintstones Kids , A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (which is actually great and only in this list as an example), The Muppet Babies which is sadly not about Kermit and Ms. Piggy raising their young family together. There was Baby Looney Tunes , which came out after all these other things, and Toddler Terminator which is not real ,and I made it up. The concept of babies doing anything in a main role at all, probably the closest before this was Fantastic Max (from 1988). That show had a talking baby but also had that baby doing real adventures and sci-fi stuff. This was different.
Rugrats is my favorite of the first three and my favorite Nicktoon overall. Of the big first three, it was the longest lasting of the first three. Doug gets 2nd place because Disney. It's also one of the longest Nicktoons, though very surpassed by Mr. SpongeBob Squarepants. The idea this show got big probably surprised everyone, even Nickelodeon. Oh yeah, the title of this post. I am going to look at the very first episode of Rugrats, to see the spark of what became a big giant series.
The very first episode (besides the short pilot that was the pitch for this show to Nick) is called "Tommy's First Birthday" . It was written by Paul Germain (one of three creators) & Craig Bartlett. Starting with the intro and theme song. The theme song and the music for the series was by Mark Mothersbaugh from Devo. Yes, now whip it good. The theme song is simple but effective. It's distinct from other shows and has sounds that aren't normally in things. So if someone was in a different room and heard the shows switch and this theme song , it says "Rugrats" is on. It uses computer sampling The intro's imagery does a great job at showing what this show is like without a word. Grandpa Lou is sleeping, the kids are doing random things around the house, causing a stir, and chaos and then Tommy's parents come home and Tommy goes to them and the rest of the characters are there looking cute and like nothing happened.
The episode is called Tommy's first birthday, and it's Tommy's first birthday. (Oooh now it makes sense) There's a bold choice to make a show that will have episodes be two eleven minute segment have the first episode be a whole 22 minute affair. That must have been a risk to do, but it's good Nickelodeon liked it. Since this is the first episode and the first one to air on TV to present the world, characters and etc, we get to see how things will be working out. Stu and Didi, Tommy's parents, are introduced well. Stu is really happy about his present for Tommy and he made it himself. He's so focused on it and proud. He does help Didi but he stops paying attention as she has to deal with Tommy pulling her earrings. She uses a book to help figure how to feed Tommy. They also have a list of birthday activities including safety protocols. Grandpa Lou, Stu's father and Tommy's grandfather, is introduced. He thinks they are trying too hard for something Tommy won't remember. Tommy is focused on the dog food ad on TV and looks at the dog eating dog food.
They made the dog food look good for effect/ Copyright Paramount
It's actually kind of interesting that the show didn't go straight into the babies' stuff, we get moments with the adults and Tommy hasn't even said a word. We do see he's smarter than the average one-year-old by taking a screwdriver ,taped under his high chair, getting down and going to Spike's dog bowl. Grandpa Lou grabs him before he can actually eat the stuff. Other adults and babies are showing up here. We get Betty and Howard, a married couple from next door, and their twins Phil and Lil. You cajn see how Betty is the more outspoken and take charge person, while her husband is a little more demure. He's holding the twins. Chuckie, who interestingly doesn't come with any of his parents hut with the Devillis, is the character walking on his on own feet, and he's clutching Howard's leg and keeping most of himself hidden, before being mentioned by Betty where he changes positions. It's a good way to show what his character is like.
He's playing defense/ Copyright Paramount
The adult interactions do make this show fun too. I like that there is this that balance of the world. The adult characters in this first episode are getting into their own business focused on making the birthday party work. Then, we finally get some baby interactions. This episode also has rare red shirt Tommy. E.G. Daily provides the voice for Tommy and it's really a great fit. I like the early gravely sound of Tommy's voice too. Like most cartoons voices do get refined and change a little. Tommy's voice does lose that tenor later on, which wasn't bad, but there is something to appreciate here. He tells the others that he wants to eat dog food. Phil and Lil are already sold on the idea. Chuckie, on the other hand, is not. This is the first set up to the show's dynamic. Tommy wants to do something that's a little adventurous, Phil and Lil are very much into the idea. Chuckie presents a different contrasting view of not wanting to do that. Back to voices, Kath Soucie got to show some vocal range in this series. She was the voice of Betty, and also the voice of both Phil and Lil. Her Phil voice is a little higher than Tommy's but still gravely. I liked how she did his voice especially when Phil needs to give a deadpan line. Her Lil voice is higher and goes what you'd feel is very girly, but you get to hear her girly voice say she wants to eat bugs and dirt. Chuckie was voiced by Christine Cavanaugh, she gives Chuckie a higher pitched boy voice than other two boys, but still lower than Lil's. Her distinct voice worked well for the character of someone who is more unsure and reserved, but still willing to voice a concern.
Chose your rugrat/ Copyright Paramount
There's someone missing, oh there she is, Angelica. Tommy's cousin. It's funny when the babies hear the name they are like uhoh, then it cuts to her riding in the back of her dad's car , being sweet wit her dad, but also trying to open the present in the back. Other elements were introduced in this episode, like Stu being an inventor and having a basement workshop. Cheryl Chase voices Angelica and has Angelica doing a great job of switching pitches. When she's talking to adults, as the only of the kid characters who can, she speaks with a sweetness , then when she's talking to the babies her voice gets a little deeper.
She looks like she got an evil awful idea to steal Christmas/ Copyright Paramount
Angelica is also interested in the dogfood idea, and easily gets into the plot. That is kind of a rarity and kind of not how the series would go so as much. The parents being so focused on hoping the birthday party goes well and kids not really caring at all or even thinking about the party is a great funny dynamic. Stu finally gets to show his present to Tommy. Tommy not caring about the presents is pretty funny. The real interesting fun part is how the adult guys saw the Walkie-Talkies and were all over that. (Those are pretty cool)
The puppet show stage and puppets have shown up, but no puppeteers. The puppet show going unhinged and the very first Stu and Drew fight in the series, is great. I also love how it goes in the direction it goes. While the adults are watching the train wreck of a puppet show, Tommy gets a chance to try some dogfood. No he doesn't because Spike ate it all. (how rude of the dog to eat dog food like that) The running gag line of Angelica wanting to bite the mailman is just funny.
Chuckie using Stu's hover thing. is able to help knock a can of dog food down. But finally, there's also some make the kitchen a little messy fun. The hover thing crashes into the cake. Didi is sad thinking the party is ruined. I'm with Grandpa Boris on the cake choice. Finally, Grandpa Lou opens a can of dog food for Spike. I like to think Spike knew the babies' plan because he just walks away. The kids eat the dog food and start acting like dogs. It makes the adults stop and take a picture.
What I love about Rugrats even well placed in the first episode. The concept in writing sounds very dull, the idea of babies wanting dogfood sounds dry and boring. The execution is fun. Tommy just watches a TV ad of a dog enjoying dogfood and he's like "Yeah, I want that!" Wants to be a dog why not? That's funny and fitting for a baby. The first birthday part of the plot, again sounds dry and dull, but it's just funny to see how much the adults put into this, while the kids don't care at all. I think a lot of people like Rugrats because of the adults. Stu and Drew getting into a fight and bringing up stuff from childhood is just great. Grandpa Lou starts off great and you just know from the start he becomes best adult character.
"Tommy's First Birthday" is a great start to what became a great series. Nickelodeon took a chance with all of the first 3 cartoons they picked up. That set up an identity for what this network wanted to do do with cartoons. Rugrats was different to shows before it. It's creative made by creative people and wasn't there to sell kids or anybody anything but a fun time. It did get big and start having stuff that one could buy, but wasn't the main goal. Like Doug , both shows find the idea of the simple and normal and show how they can be bigger and interesting.
As someone who also is a big Peanuts fan, I think my love of Rugrats kind of fits with that. They both have these characters who say things above their age, but still are in their age and have the understanding of their age. They take the simple and go big, there's imagination and humor.
Happy 35th (and more!) to Rugrats.
That's it for now, tune in next time, when we find out that eating catfood isn't fun.
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