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ABC Weekend Specials: Bad Cat Rant
Reviewed: 09/12/2026
Well, This Is More Like It!
Well everyone, I'm finally going to do something I am interested in doing. With Peppa Pig going AI and Hey Duggee pretty much done as a show after Roly dug a giant hole in the garden and got cancelled (no, not really; I'm still reviewing that show), I'm kind of bored. I've decided to do something that is more of a trainwreck and I have not seen a lot of reviews on: animated weekend specials of the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's. Welcome to the Rant Shack partners, it's time for you all to be held to account like the Disney Afternoon shows would be if copyright wasn't a bigger asshole than Rev. Ash(hole) Taylor. Anyhow, these weekend specials were basically OVA's being put on television because the quality level was television level dependent on a certain year or so. I don't think I need to explain any further than that. It is what it is: a job to keep viewers watching while the emergency continues. Otherwise, on their own, mostly just stuff. Maybe when I start seeing these with a critical eye, I might change my mind about this, but that means it might be worse. We'll see. Okay, so my rules for this will be that the specials will be animated, or animated combined with live action. Ironically, I have already ranted on one of those ABC Weekend Specials already: The Adventures Of Teddy Ruxpin. The special that used costumes combined with live action. It was just there to suck, and the animated series in Canada was much better, animation production problems aside. My next choice here will be a lot more of an ink & paint special as it is going to be my third Ruby-Spears production which came long before a certain blue dweeb made the airwaves. Mega Man, everyone. Anyhow, the plot of "Bad Cat", which was released on ABC in 1984, is as follows: A cat known as Bad Cat does stuff to prove that toughness doesn't equal class, which in this world in 2026, class would be toughness. I'm all set to rip this episode asunder. How does it fare? Let's rant on shall we...?
Bad Cat is written by Mark Evanier and Sharman Di'Vono. The story editor is Michael Chain. Mark you should know as he was basically one of the bigger writers in the animation industry during the 1970's-1990's. Sharman Di'Vono wrote several episodes of Ducktales 1987 that I previous reviewed. Michael Chain was a 1980's writer and did some acting on the side. Villa Alerge was his debut in 1973 and he would go on to write episodes for animated series such as She-Ra, Punky Brewster, Chuck Norris: Karate Kommandos, Rambo: The Animated Series, Dink, The Little Dinosaur, Police Academy: The Series and Off The Wall. The Guilt was his most recent credit in 1996. He also cameoed in The Twilight Zone, The Dark At The Top Of The Stairs, Lifepod, Diff'rent Strokes, Transformers 1986 as Red Alert and Power Glide and was an announcer for the Chain Comedy Hour in 2015, fouding the "Mice" Improv comedy group. The animation production house is unknown.
Opening Moment #1: The opening features still pictures of all the scenes in the special with voice credits. I'm going to ignore the scenes because they are clearly not 1:1 with the previous scenes as per "The Incredible Detectives". They were intended for padding and it make the animated series seem better when they really are not. I hope you have your Lady & The Tramp jokes handy, because this special cribs from that movie. The voice credits are as follows:
[1.] Bad Cat is voiced by Bart Braverman, who debuted in Cell 2455, Death Row as young boy Whit, which means he started as a child actor. Then he did little of note, mostly cameos and bit roles until 1977 on Magic Mongo as Ace (which was part of the Krofft Supershow). He appeared in Vega$ as Bobby 'Binzer' Borso in 1978-1981. More movies and cameos later he would be Dr. Brandari in Mowgli: The New Adventures Of The Jungle Book in 1998. This special is one of the few voice acting roles he ever done (Fangface and Plastic Man were the other two shows). Shut Eye in 2016/2017 was his most recent credit as Josip. Mouser is voiced by the late Marvin Kaplan who died in 2016. He wrote a few episodes of shows like the 1960's edition of The Addams Family, the 1960's edition of The Cosby Show (UGH!), Maude, The New Addams Family in 1999, and a few others. He produced Watch Out For Slick and Lookin' Up. He debuted in 1949 on Adam's Rib and did mostly cameos for movies and television. until Meet Millie as Alfred Prinzmetal in 1952-1955. His first known voice role was Choo Choo in Top Cat in 1961 and later in the remake in 1988. Looking Up as Vic Greely was his final credit. This will not be his first rodeo on these ABC Weekend Specials either, although I will not be reviewing Arthur The Kid since it is live-action.
[2.] Diedra is voiced by Judy Strangis. Judy started in 1957 with Dragoon Wells Massacre as Susan, then did nothing of note outside of cameos until 1974 voicing Rota Ree in Wheelie And The Chopper Bunch, and Room 222 as Helen Loomis from 1969-1974. She was Judy in Electra Woman & Dyna Girl (which was part of the Krofft Supershow). She also voiced Pauline in the Donkey Kong series and then finished up with Batman: The Animated Series in 1994. She also wrote Little Miss Perfect for the CBS Schoolbreak Special, and I might review those as well. Bobby Ellerbee voiced Vernon Turner. Bobby's resume: Not much to note outside of In The Beginning in 1978 as Jerome Rockefeller, Rickety Rocket as Cosmo in 1979/1980, and additional voices for Plastic Man. Confessions: Two Faces of Evil as Brown is the final known credit in 1994 and Great Performances in 1971 is his debut. Didi Conn voices Dimples. Didi started in Genesis II in 1973 in an uncredited role. She voiced Raggedy Ann in Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure in 1977 and was Helen in The Practice in 1976-1977. She voiced Cupcake in The Fonz & The Happy Days Gang in 1980/1981 and was Frenchie in both Grease films. She played the role of Stacy Jones in Shining Time Station, and her recent credits are Best Medicine as Geneva and Elsbeth as Bev Corman in 2026. Riff is voiced by Jon "Bowzer" Bauman. Jon's credits: Grease in 1972 as Johnny Casino and Sha Na Na as Bowzer. Mostly nothing of note otherwise, even in animation. He was The Smooze in the My Little Pony movie from 1986 and later My Little Pony Tales in 1992. Was Iggy in Jetsons Meet The Flintstones. Made a few cameos in DTVA series Bonkers and his final known credit is Animaniacs as Tom Dover. Also wrote Golden Age Of Rock'n'Roll in 1982. Steve Spears voiced Steve Harrison in an obvious self-insert. Outside of Blitz in Trollkins and Jace from Space Stars in 1981, nothing of note. Amy Tunick provided additional voices and outside of this special, Alvin & The Chipmunks as an additional voice for 13 episodes and being a coordinating assistant in 1984 are her only credits.
[3.] Jim Harrison is voiced by Alan Young, Frank Welker voiced Champ, Tress MacNeille voiced Nitty and Hal Smith voiced Gordan. Those are the ones who did voices on TaleSpin I should note.
We begin this one in a suburban community in Anytown, USA as the art style now goes from Hanna Barbara 1960's to Garfield during the 1980's. We pan over to a house as a family is moving in and we watch a scene where the kids and dad are moving a couch. Of course, the woman in a red shirt and jeans does not help equalize the other side of the couch and the dad wearing tan pants and a green sweater with orange hair and glasses hurts his back. Dad proclaims that they are hiring a moving company next time, because of course he is. We cannot have tension between the husband and wife now, can't we?! Then again, the cats are the main event anyway as Mom has two cat cages and one of them is labelled "Bad Cat". Who names their cat "Bad Cat"? Answer: Someone who abuses cats and projects themselves, that's who. The cages open to reveal FOUR cats, even though only two cats should fit in each cage. They look like Heathcliff cats mixed with Garfield art style, and might have been rejected designs for Care Bears for all I know. The red cat is clearly the big Garfield one of the family, his name is Norton (I think IMDB mistakes him for Norton) and the yellow medium build cat is Nitty. The pink cat with a yellow bowtie on her head is Dimples and the blue cat is obviously the Bad Cat. The four cats all go into the house as we cut to a tree featuring two more cats. The purple cat with the binoculars and hat is Burton and the orange cat with the green winter hat is Champ. Suddenly, three more cats show up on the front shot. I was going to invoke Suzy Sheep's name, but the angle of the last shot made sense, so it's not a written in by teleport spot. One of them is a dark orange big cat with a blue baseball cap named Riff and the cyan blue female cat with the golden collar and looks like Gentle Heart from Care Bear in terms of face is Dierare. The brown cat with the pink hat is clearly Mouser. I think IMDB couldn't make out the picture of the characters names which is posted on the database when they wrote the credits entries. Champ Cat is much meaner than Champ Bear from Care Bears I should note, and has no sports gimmick. There is a grey bulldog in the picture for the names. I put 2:1 odds that he'll bite a human on the leg, because this is a Ruby-Spears production.
Burton's full name is Burton Turna, which sounds like a pun for tuna. Okay, then. Burton has eyes for Dimples or Nitty, I don't know and I'm creeped out because he's doing the twirl the mustache like a villain spot with his whiskers. The cat neighbours are out for either blood or girls, neither one is a good thing. Champ is pointing because Bad Cat comes out. They seem to know him more than they should be. Let's see how they explain this, if they actually do. I betcha they won't. Champ is boxing leaves because Bad Cat causes trouble. Why do they have his grudge against Bad Cat? Is it the name that triggers this?! Mouser tells Riff not to worry about this because Riff's tougher than Bad Cat, you see. Okay, so the story is that the neighbour hood cats thin Bad Cat is a badass tough cat and Riff is going to challenge him to a fight. Dierare already has eyes for Bad Cat because he's cute, which is codeword for that he's a wimp; but he's classy and I love him. Betcha Bad Cat is a wimp all along and it's Norton who is the badass. Riff is already telling her to stop looking at other guys, and his accent makes it sounds like other gods. Which makes more sense than it should. Okay, we head into the living room and every living room should have a mirror which you want to project youself. I discover that the boy with the orange shirt is Steve Harrison as the girl called him Steven. Steven is combing his hair for a while as the girl is watching on from the couch. Pan over to the bigger mirror as Bad Cat is combing his own hair with his paw. Norton and Nitty are watching on as Norton asks why is he getting fancy. Maybe he believes in wellness and healthy because having class is more important than toxic masculinity. Oh, and Dimples does the first written in by teleport spot less than three minutes in, complete with Gruffi pose. She might as well change her name to Suzy. Dimples claims that Bad Cat is prowling the neighbourhood and Norton is not allowing any of that crap because Bad Cat is bad news, you see. Bad Cat wants to make new friends, and I believe him. It's the "friends" being them that is the problem, you see. Steven and the girl walk in, grab Bad Cat and try to put this cheap gold plated collar on him. Bad Cat wants no part of this collar. How can anyone not notice this cat?! His fur color is so unique that this just makes the human kids look cruel.
Apparently, they moved to be closer to Mr. Harrison's grocery store since they mention that it has an address. I'm going to take a wild guess that Mr. Harrison's name is Jim. Bad Cat assures them that he'll stay out of trouble and then walks out to the front step and the other cats in the tree are already scheming to get Bad Cat in trouble. Riff basically proclaims that he is going to teach Bad Cat a lesson in marking terrority, like a good little Christian cat and we go to black barely 3 1/2 minutes in. We then return to Bad Cat throwing out trash from a trash can somewhere near what I would call a construction site with a wooden fence. Bad Cat concludes that the trash is so dull that it's a dull neighbourhood, that was funny at least. He also has trouble dealing from the collar of doom because the medallion on said collar is catching on stuff and causing pain to his throat. He takes the collar off and somehow this collar acts like there is a trashcan lid. SUZY SHEEP~?! Anyhow, literally one second later, here comes the Riffraff Squad of Pain...and Dierare. Burton introduces Champ as "The Champ". Sadly, Riff is not called Riffraff and Riff jumps down to do the staredown of doom with Bad Cat and Bad Cat merely yawns. This is beneath him and Riff claims that Mouser's words are falling on deaf ears. You don't say?! With a name called "Bad Cat", I would be respecting him a lot more than anyone on this show would. Riff calls Bad Cat an ugly cat. If he was ugly, Bad Cat wouldn't be classy. His middle name might as well be Ass. Bad Cat proclaims that he will have to give away his mirror and I don't know why, but that was also funny. Even the heels are laughing at Riff for this, so yeah. Riff is pissed off and the heels have to stop laughing at the most spazzed out eye contact violence you ever saw. This is already better than The Incredible Detectives, because Bad Cat is actually being classy here. He doesn't want to fight, and Riff is such an asshole that he's getting schooled here. Riff calls Bad Cat out and offers a game to prove his toughness. Bad Cat accepts the terms and basically tells Riff to name the stipulation. The game is "mouse catching at 20 paces", because BS&P isn't going to allow a boxing match here. Geez, the mouse is like "What the hell is wrong with you, Standards & Practices?!".
Scene changer ensues and we head to Jack's Junkyard (It's UNCENSORED BABEE~! No, it's not!) as it's 5-on-1 advantage heels, although Diedrare might be a secret babyface to tip the scale at 4-on-2 advantage heels. Mouser explains the rules of engagement, which is fitting because he has mouse in his name, har har. One mouse returned to the outside of the junkyard first wins the game. It's all very simple. Oh wait, it is; so the Scott Hudson joke doesn't work here. Diedrare turns babyface because she doesn't need proof that Bad Cat is a badass. Riff is so pissed off, he might raff the riff in Bad Cat for stealing his girlfriend, if you know what I mean. Scene change to inside the junkyard as a brown mouse is trying to spring a mouse trap to grab a block of cheese. Bad Cat is in the background searching for a mouse and he finds the mouse. He uses a horseshoe magnet to snag the mouse trap with the mouse. Riff notices, runs in, grabs the mousetrap, the mouse bails and lands onto Bad Cat's hand. Riff springs the trap in the first violent spot allowed by BS&P, and the mouse and Bad Cat look at each other. Now, I betcha Bad Cat shows the mouse to the group to prove that he won and then lets the mouse go because he proved his point. I check the video...Damn, I'm almost good because that is Bad Cat's plan. The mouse pleads for mercy and Bad Cat says "I'm just going to show and tell you". Awesome! I like Bad Cat actually. However, Bad Cat tries to bail stage left right in front of a doghouse with a giant grey bulldog because of course, Riff and Mouser are evil heels who must CHEAT TO WIN~! Mouser bangs a spoon with a metal soup can and wakes up the bulldog. Bulldog notices Bad Cat and the chase is on. Diedrare notices this right away, so she's onto Riff's cheating antics. Considering that the other two heels and Diedrare saw the mouse, Bad Cat should win this. Of course, I betcha Riff wins this through nefarious means. Burton's cringe response is so contrived that the voice actor clearly went into business for himself, and it is funnier than if the voice actor actually act. Then we get SUZY SHEEP~ moment #2: A horseshoe pipe is teleported in, and the bulldog somehow squishes into the pipe and then deflects the other way. The pipe has so flexiable, it might as well have TARDIS powers. That was funny.
The bulldog lands on Riff and Mouser and we get the FCC FRIENDLY CLOUDDUST FIGHT OF DEATH, and a really detailed one too. Bad Cat walks out and wins, so I'm glad I'm wrong and Bad Cat won virtually clean as a whistle. Yes, the mouse is allowed to escape and Bad Cat acts like a heel in the process to make it sound like he's tough. Riff and Mouser manage to escape somehow as bulldog chases them outside of the junkyard and that is that. Sadly, no one got bit in the leg. The heels are impressed and turn babyface right there as Diedrare wants Bad Cat to walk her home and Bad Cat claims that he's new around here. Diedrare decide to role reverse and she and Bad Cat leave. SUZY SHEEP~ moment #3 shows Riff and Mouser up a power pole by the bulldog. That would have been better if the power pole was like a mile away instead of literally twenty feet away. Mouser is trying to say Riff is tough after the fact that they got scared by a freaking bulldog! Riff and Mouser walk on the power lines and somehow don't electrocute themselves. Riff hates being shown up like this and has a Krackpotkin Plan. Stay tuned. We head outside the red roof house of Bad Cat's residence as Diedrare and Bad Cat are at the door already. Diedrare offers Bad Cat a chance to go to the Italian Resturant of Cats because the heels show up there. Funny since these fancy resturants serve alcohol anyway, so it's little different than a bar. Diedrare nuzzles Bad Cat's fur and Bad Cat is aroused by this. Diedrare leaves and Bad Cat checks his collar to realize that he took it off. Now Bad Cat has trouble, even though he has no one but himself to blame for this. Bad Cat decides to look for it tomorrow and then goes in and I will bash Ruby-Spears for this: The attempt at night and darkness was horrible here because I didn't see the point of Norton turning on the lights. Norton has had enough of Bad Cat's tactics and antics, so he's forcing Bad Cat to work with him at Jim's grocery store as punishing for staying out too late. I discover that Norton is Bad Cat's dad, so technically, Bad Cat is a teenager or young adult. Personally, I would be more pissed off by Bad Cat taking off the collar though. Bad Cat's protests are so not serious to me. Yeah, the special has hit a low point, which I expected since this is a Ruby-Spears production I am reviewing. I still love Bad Cat the character though.
Scene change to the Central Recreation Center AFTER HAPPY HOUR (after dark) as apparently, it's abandoned and Riff and Mouser are ransacking the place for no reason. Even Mouser is confused by this and so am I. Then we discover that they are ransacking the place in order to frame Bad Cat by planting his collar as evidence. Keep in mind that Bad Cat lost his collar in the trash can while the heels were watching him. This makes sense. Riff and Mouser are inking foot prints on the desk. Okay, here's the problem with this: footprints are as unique as fingerprints. All you have to do is ink Bad Cat's footprints and compare them to the footprints on the desk. They will not match and thus the collar is proven to be planted. Plus, Bad Cat has an alibi for the night of the vandalism. Bad Cat should be cleared just on that. 2:1 odds they don't do this because we have to make Bad Cat look like a classless criminal, even though he is clearly not. And damn it to hell if I'm not right as the black mustache janitor in blue shows up and finds the collar. He proclaims that Bad Cat is in a lot of trouble and by the way; in the next scene, we get the Wizard World moment as Jim's Grocery Store is changed to Harrison's Grocery Store and when we head to the store, it's called Harrison's Market. Sigh. We head inside as a woman in yellow is complaining about the price of lettuce to Mr. Harrison in his market gear at the checkout counter. Some things never change no matter who has access to the levers of power. In comes Bad Cat chasing a mouse into the stock room while the woman screams and complains about the mouse. Pfft, whatever. Then we get the destroy the place off-screen spot, which perfectly sets up the framing of Bad Cat nicely because here comes the BAD EPISODE POLICE~! Except this special isn't bad. Not great or anything, but not bad. The grey haired mustache officer has Bad Cat's collar I should note. Norton puts a stop to all this nonsense and boots the mouse out, because you don't chase the mice inside the store. By the way, there was crashing off-screen, but when you go inside, there is zero mess. Way to kill the framing there, Ruby-Spears! Dimples hops in to inform Norton and Bad Cat that the neighbourhood has noticed how Bad Cat showed up Riff. By the way, the Italian Resturant is now called the Spaghetti Resturant, which is better as a name. Jim Harrison comes in from behind and grabs Bad Cat, because he lived up to his name in a really bad way. The police identified him as Norton calls him his son despite being Jim's cat and that ends the segment nearly ten minutes in. Hey, a decent special for a change.
After the commercial break; we head back to the house AFTER HAPPY HOUR as the family is in the living room as the kids are believing that Bad Cat is innocent, Jim thinks the collar proves he's gulity and the Mom doesn't give an opinion either way because she doesn't talk. I discover that Nitty is in fact Bad Cat's mother as Bad Cat explains that he took off the collar. Now, if he said that it was in the trash can, he might have gotten some sympathy from at least Nitty, but he didn't, so it just makes him even more guilty. Steven comes in and grabs Bad Cat as he is going to be locked in a room for his crimes, which Norton calls Bad Cat a bad convict. Scene change to outside near a window as Bad Cat is plastered onto the window inside the locked room. There is a conveniently placed wooden vine grower that can clearly be used as a ladder. Jump cut into the hallway with Nitty and Norton with Dimples as Norton wonders where they went wrong. Ummm, calling him "Bad Cat" is a starting point to be sure. Dimples goes to the top of the stairs and overhears Jim and Steven arguing over the future of Bad Cat. Steven just wants to pay the damages and move on, but Jim wants to give away Bad Cat and Dimples is shocked and appalled. Considering how much Norton sees Bad Cat as a nusiance and Bad Cat was better off on the streets with Dierare, giving away Bad Cat or running away is a blessing in disguise. I realize that this isn't what was intended, but the storyline proves otherwise. Dimples runs away and out into the street as we head to the Spaghetti Resturant underneath the Italian Resturant. The I is for humans and the S is for cats and mice. Then we get the most chipmunkish singing I have ever heard, even Chip and Dale would have thought they have overdone it. Even Fred Figglehorn would have been appalled. By the way, this is where the artwork literally falls apart as Bad Cat is somehow a waiter and Dimples is with some suit wearing cat at one of the tables. WHAT?! Worse, Diedrare is with one cat on the far shot and then is with Burton and Champ. SUZY SHEEP~?! Burton and Champ are trying to eat pasta, Dierare is sulking and not caring because she has eyes for Bad Cat, who is beyond bad. In comes Riff and Mouse from the top of the cargo dock entrance to the pasta shop as Burton and Champ somehow made their pasta teleport out. SUZY SHEEP~?! Wow, the animation continuity has fallen apart in the last minute or so.
Why is Mouser not called Raff is a mystery to me since he and Riff are the only two real heels in this story. Champ and Burton bail as Riff and Mouser join Diedrare and Riff is trying to gaslight Diedrare into choosing Riff over Bad Cat. We head outside, and here comes Dimples running in to meet Burton and Champ despite being IN THE RESTURANT a minute earlier! Dimples tells the truth and Champ and Burton smell a riff and a raff, if you know what I mean. Yup, Burton and Champ turn babyface for good as they decide to help Dimples free Bad Cat. Burton praises Bad Cat as he is second in the smarts department to Bad Cat's #1. I think it's a draw since Bad Cat was stupid enough to take off his collar right in front of Riff earlier. We scene change back to the house as the vine grower now has vines on the sides and is now a legit wooden ladder. This is like a Adventures Of Teddy Ruxpin episode: Decent characters, decent story, bad shot continuity, good artwork, decent animation. Bad Cat is still stuck to the window glass. To make matters worse on the shot continuity, look at the ladder on the closeup shot of Champ climbing up. Sadly, Champ's climbing skills are good, but his lifting skills suck like Hennesey's lockpicking skills in The Incredible Detectives. Oh wait, they are worse because Champ loses his balance and freefalls backwards. And just to make the BS&P look even more obvious: they teleported a bag of potatoes on the ground to break Champ's fall even though the sick bump was off-screen. At least in Peppa Pig, when Peppa bumped onto the pumpkin, it was clearly show. Plus, Peppa Pig is a pre-school show. No one is pretending that they have to protect the star of the show. ABC Weekend Specials are for the big kids and no kid is stupid enough to try this bump. Just scene change when the shaking of the camera is done and avoid showing the aftermatch if you don't want to look like weaklings. Scene change to Dimples, Burton and Champ going upstairs and practicing the fine art of not being seen. Dimples whisper yelling is not helping this in any way, I should note. They found the locked room and somehow, Burton has a key for the locked door and unlocks the door after the human ladder spot with Champ. Of course, Champ's balance sucks and both he and Burton fall down as the door opens and Bad Cat comes out thanking them. Burton and Champ cement the babyface turn by calling Riff their ex-leader.
The cats all leave down the stairs very casually without a care of being caught, so Bad Cat's family has forsaken him. Anyhow, Riff and Diedrare are at an area called Pussy Cat Peak. They are watching the moon as Bad Cat wants to literally send him there. Good luck on that one, even if I know it's a figure of speech. We head to Pussy Cat Peak with a bunch of smelly cats in the moonlight. Well, 2/3's of them anyway. Diedrare is still fresh in my view. Riff is trying to woo Diedrare on the peak as Bad Cat taps him on the shoulder. Now, the problem with this is: Mouser was behind Riff on the opening shot! How did Mouser allow this to happen and not say anything?! The logic in this special is falling apart at the seams, and I'm getting annoyed right now because the story, animation and characters are really decent. I still love Bad Cat as a character though. Despite the logic breaks, I loved the next sequence: Riff claims that he hears wedding bells, a sign that he wants to merry Diedrare. Bad Cat off-screen dumps a baking pan on Riff's head and literally rings his bells with a club. I get it, concussions are not funny. But Riff deserves it for framing Bad Cat for a crime he didn't commit, so screw him! Riff does me proud by covering up the obvious logic hole by blaming Mouser first before seeing Bad Cat! Bad Cat finds about eight ways to call him a rat. I'm like: Don't be afraid to tell...Oh wait, this is 1984 Ruby-Spears BS&P, not 1990 Disney Afternoon BS&P! Bad Cat and Riff Rat go nose to nose as the accusations are going a mile a minute here! Riff challenges him to the feline challenge in which Riff beated Captain Curly, according to Riff. I betcha he's lying and this is the first annual feline challenge. Dimples asks what the challenge is and it's a race for your future life. It's under "loser leaves town" stips. Win if you can, survive if Riff lets Bad Cat. Considering that in storyline, Dimples already knows that Bad Cat is likely leaving town due to being given away due to a crime Bad Cat didn't commit, this stake is not as high as it should be. However, Bad Cat doesn't know that because Dimples didn't tell Bad Cat about it, so that makes up the lack of suspense. Bad Cat agrees to the terms, but adds the stipulation that if Bad Cat wins, Riff must confess to destroying the recreational center. I betcha Riff loses and doesn't confess.
Diedrare butts in and warns Bad Cat that Riff is the fastest cat in town. Riff is larger than Norton and you, Diedrare! Bad Cat has better leg speed already because he's lanky. He'll be more of a match against Riff. Bad Cat proclaims that a cat is gotta do, what a cat's gotta do. Riff thinks he's won already, and Mouser laughs like bad heels because they are going to CHEAT TO WIN~! The other cats are shocked and appalled by this as we head to the red roof house in the morning and then cut to the basket near the fireplace of Nitty and Norton in bed together. Well, only Nitty is sleeping as Norton is yelling at her to wake up. Then I discover that Nitty calls her Gordan, which is what IMDB named Norton, even though the production materials clearly have him as Norton. They couldn't get their voice continuity straight either. Dammit, Ruby-Spears! It's sloppiness like this that gives this company it's bad reputation! Norton asks if he was too rough on Bad Cat and Nitty says "Yes, Gordan!" Okay, so Gordan is Norton's nickname, which makes more sense; but still, dammit! Norton is having second thoughts of Bad Cat's guilt and decides to take him on a mouse chase as he walks upstairs off-screen and then runs back in a panic because Bad Cat has run away. Now, Norton and Nitty don't know that Jim Harrison, Steven Harrison's father wants to give away Bad Cat. Dimples is the only one who knows this, so the accusation of running away makes sense here. Nitty is asleep and not giving an elf. That was funny, and that voice makes it so. Now Norton is panicky because Dimples is gone, and Norton has given up. Nitty of course, doesn't give a fuck. I howled with laughter. Just making a complete fool out of Norton. Norton gives up and goes back to sleep. Scene change to a park with Bad Cat and Diedrare planning as Dimple, Champ and Burton are near the dirt road doing whatever and then to the trash can where Riff and Mouser are planning their cheat plan of doom. Basically, Riff wants to squash Bad Cat in this race. Makes sense to me since Bad Cat make him look like a geek in the mouse chase in the junkyard earlier in the special. Cut back to Diedrare and Bad Cad as Diedrare is pleading for Bad Cat not to race him, but Bad Cat has to do it to now because the "confession stip" is on the line. Never mind that Bad Cat is screwed since even if Riff confesses, he's still going to be gone from the Harrison family anyway.
Burton explains the rules that the first cat back here wins. Now, one problem: What's the map route for the race?! They never show it here. It's things like this that make 1980's cartoons look bad. The race route is the most important thing in this race since it tells the viewer where they must go in order to win the race. Here, all Bad Cat and Riff have to do is race in a big enough circle and come back. It's so stupid. This special was doing so well, too! Thankfully, we do know where the starting line is, it's at the entrance to a junkyard I bet. Also, the "start" sign is helpfully shown in red letters. Champ then does a hilarious "ready, steady, go" ever: He uses the mouse from earlier in the episode as the starting pistol and the mouse squeaks "go". That was funny. Considering Riff's size and he's in the lead, they are going to do the Tortoise and the Hare finish I betcha. Everyone except Champ cheers Bad Cat on. They race into the streets as Mouser is cheating by throwing a sewer hole lid away. Bad Cat can clearly see it as the Ruby-Spears "we must copy Hanna Barbera's running sequence 1:1 again" sequence. But, instead of going around the hole, he slides into the hole and drops into the sewer water off-screen. What an idiot?! The music sounds like Hanna Barbera's music in rock and roll form I should note. Bad Cat blows off this cheating and chases after Riff. Riff jumps, climbs up a pole and runs on top of a building's roof. Riff does a leap of faith into some wooden crates stacked up and then jumps down to ground level. He plays Jenga on one of the crates and bails. Okay, this one is better cheating because it least Bad Cat cannot avoid the cheat this time. Bad Cat's stunt form is great, I'll give him that at least. Bad Cat and the crates collapse onto Bad Cat. Bad Cat blows off Riff for cheating and gets out of the carnage. Bad Cat licks his upper right foot, so he has a foot injury to contend with. Let's see if it plays into the rest of the race. Next up is the plank removal by Mouser, but Bad Cat channels God puppeting Jesus Christ walking on water, only it's mud. Which is far more impressive because: (a.) Bad Cat didn't need invisible strings and (b.) it's mud and thus Peppa Pig can be jealous to boot! Mouser is shocked and appalled by this, I giggle. I'm guessing this is where the miracle comeback for Bad Cat starts and he wins the race.
Oh wait, Mouser is appalled because he get covered in the most slippery mud ever, most of the mud didn't even land on him. The Teddy Ruxpin feet syndrome strikes again anyway, but whatever. Riff thinks he's won and then Bad Cat overtakes him and takes the lead. Just like that. More racing, then hurdling that looked botched. Bad Cat goes through two open windows in a conveniently placed red car in the middle of the sidewalk. This is the sort of thing that makes videos in Neighbourhood Wars I should note. Riff enters the car, but the size of his body manages to somewhat flick the gear shift from P to R. The car rides backwards onto the street and Riff cannot get out of the back window, so he's stuck. Riff is yelling for help and Bad Cat has the race won. But wait, Bad Cat is full of class and a badass, so he runs towards the car to make the save for Riff before Riff gets killed, you see. This makes sense and good for Bad Cat. No matter how much I want to see Riff get his comeupperance, I don't want to see him get it be being murdered. Bad Cat is running and yelling at Riff to use the brakes, but Riff is stuck because Riff is big and stupid. The car somehow turns around, I don't know why because that makes no sense. Bad Cat runs like a human into the car, but sells his upper left paw. Explain THAT one, kids?! Bad Cat puts on the brakes, the cat spins like a Beyblade a good ten years too early and then the car stops before it can crash into the alleyway. Bad Cat puts the gear shift in park and that is that. Bad Cat puts down the windows and Riff escapes like the heel bully that he is in the lead. Bad Cat calls his graditude overwhelming! I love real comments that aren't supposed to be real comments. Bad Cat chases him as we head back to the finish line as Burton is in the tree with a pipe as a telescope and he doesn't see them. Maybe because it's not a telescope you are using, you moron! Riff is shown on the telescope shot and is in the lead, but Burton cannot find Bad Cat, but he can find his own telescope. SUZY SHEEP~?! In comes Bad Cat and Bad Cat's left paw is hurt as Riff has this one in the bag. Riff then suddenly decides "this is wrong" and simply stops at the finish line as Mouser is protesting this outrage. Riff decides to quit right there because there are limits to being rotten and he lets Bad Cat win, whose paw is now magically healed by the way. What a stupid finish this was?!
I would have Riff slow down to make it more dramatic and make it possible for Bad Cat to make the comeback, and not make the whole change of heart thing completely contrived and forced. Riff fakes an injury similar to Bad Cat for instance, and it would make sense since he was in the car stuck with his neck. Have a neck issue for instance. Keep also in mind: Riff's confession means nothing because Bad Cat's collar was at the scene. Only footprint impressions can clear Bad Cat's name and this show's too dumb to figure that one out. The rest of the cats don't care, they come to Bad Cat for the celebration and notice his left paw is injured. Bad Cat then goes over to Riff and Riff finally breaks down and admits that he is wrong and has a lot to learn about class. Riff takes his hat off and Bad Cat pats him on the shoulder and states that he's off to a good start. Bad Cat walks out into the sunset as Mouser is trying to convince Riff to do a rematch with Bad Cat, and Riff yells at him to shut up now! Riff feels bad and then walks off after Bad Cat, cementing his babyface turn as Mouser is the only cat who is a heel now. Mouser is confused and scratching his head, because he's a clueless heel. We head to the rec center as the janitor in the hallway hears a typewriter sound and opens the door to inside the clean office, as somehow, Riff is there on the desk with a note in his mouth and his signature on it. He not only confessed to the crime, he provided his paw print to show that he was the one who vandalized the rec center! The janitor blows off Riff's typewriting skills and this all makes sense now! Riff going the extra mile to prove he did it with the paw print on the note is nice! We head back to the living room of the red roof house as Jim Harrison is on the phone with Steven, the sister and mother watching on and there is good news. Bad Cat is totally innocent and is cleared on all charges! Bad Cat doesn't have to be given away! And the world of Bad Cat is right again, all thanks to Riff for all cats! The kids are happy, the owner of Riff is not as they will celebrate with dinner to make up to Bad Cat. Norton is weaseling his way to make it up for Bad Cat, Nitty is like "sure, Jan". Norton -- like a jerk -- says that he'll be Nitty son again if Bad Cat gets into trouble. Bad Cat proclaims that their troubles are over because he made new friends this time and Dimples joins in because it's spaghetti dinner time at the Italian Resturant! We head outside with the new cat gang as we get the football victory celebration as Bad Cat dedicates the first meatball to Riff for changing his way as we head to the Spaghetti House now. Sigh. We go into the back to end the episode at 21:19. If Ruby-Spears wasn't so sloppy, this was a great special! As it is, it is just decent enough. *** (60%).
THE REVIEW LINE
Well; I finally finished my third ABC Weekend Special and this one is actually one of the better ones I have seen so far. Let me get the obvious downsides out of the way: Ruby-Spears is one of the sloppiest animation houses in the USA. When they are great, the productions are really flawed, but decent. This was Bad Cat in a nutshell. When they are not great, it can be below average to awful. A number of Mega Man episodes proved that point. When they are good, they are average ** outings like The Incredible Detectives. Bad Cat was a great character here. He had flaws, but not enough to make me hate him. Riff was a perfectly fine heel and the other characters were perfectly acceptable. None of the show offended me in a bad way and the story itself was good. With that said, the polish was not good enough to make this a classic: The shot continuity reminded me of the Adventures Of Teddy Ruxpin (the ladder spot for Bad Cat to escape that went nowhere), the finish to the race was bad (having Riff slow down to a crawl selling an injury was a better angle if they wanted to turn Riff for good), logic breaks out of the wazoo, and Norton was a jerk. Nitty was hilarious when asleep though, and Dimples was just there. Again, there was nothing offensive and the idea was good enough. It just needed more polish, so it's a fun special that had too many flaws to be very good. So....
Thumbs in the middle for this episode and I'll see you all next time.