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The Time Bandit Re-Rant

Reviewed: 11/30/2010
Additional Commentary: 11/03/2021

The Only Thing This Episode Stole Was Ken Koonce and David Weimer's Creditability.

Original Airdate: 11/23/1990 (Syndication), Episode #38 (TaleSpin Volume 2, Disc 2), Episode #11 (Production Order).

The Time Bandit Notes
The Time Bandit Transcript

Well; we have reached the brick wall in many people's minds concerning this series (After 40 episodes re-ranted I should note. (2016 Gregory Weagle Says: And in this case, this is the sixty second episode I have transcribed and had the commentary added.)) since about fourteen months before this; an episode of Ducktales called Allowance Day aired. In that episode; the nephews screw with the calender to get their payday and then all hell breaks loose. It was written by Ken Koonce and David Weimers. Then fourteen months later; we see Time Bandit and this time it's Baloo who is doing the exact same thing to get payday with Rebecca. In fact; the finish is ominously similar to Allowance Day's. This basically destroyed Ken Koonce and David Weimers creditability so much that they never really recovered from the redo plotline. (Both careers in DTVA were basically sunk in terms of writing shortly after this episode aired, although their story editing careers continued for another four or five episodes of this series afterwards. Ken returned to DTVA in time for 101 Dalmatians: The Series and David returned earlier with Jungle Cubs and Legend of Tarzan, but both as a duo was basically dead and done. Strangely enough; the self-plagerism was the least of this episodes' problems. Most writers will not get fined or fired for stealing their own plotlines. In fact as 2010 me mentions below as examples, this happens all the time regardless of the era or place. However; you are more likely to get demoted for writing a 1950 Daisy Duck-equse plotline which is what happened here.) I found Time Bandit to be better than Allowance Day simply because I couldn't see the nephews stoop to that low (Well on Scrooge anyway. Donald on the other hand...). This was more fitted towards Baloo's abilities. (That's perfectly fair.) Plus; I found the climax and finish to be more fitting due to the Thembrians being involved and thus the payoff was much better overall. (Yes, but there's one major problem with it...Anyhow; the plot of this episode is: Baloo tries a scam to change the calender to Saturday to get payday early, but screws it up so much that even Thembria believes it! And of course; Baloo forgets that Friday is a work day and is supposed to deliver stuff to Myopia and Thembria. Dumbass rodeo ensues with Thembria as somehow Rebecca (yeah; the innocent person in this whole thing) is found guilty and sentenced to the firing squad. Can you see the problem with this or do I have to spell it out for you.)

It's so easy to concede with some people that this episode made TaleSpin jump the shark on the context that they repeated a plot line; but really, Ducktales has been doing that long before TaleSpin was released (Horse Scents anyone? That was a Top Cat plotline by the way...) and no one batted a eye when Old Man & The SeaDuck was a repeat plot line from another Ducktales episode or even Bearly Alive which is another Ducktales episode (Scrooge's Last Adventure; although Bearly Alive aired first.). Or The Incredible Shrinking Molly with Ducktales and Gummi Bear episodes? I think the horse is way out of the barn at this point. The important issue is: Is this episode better than the original Allowance Day (Which is also basically a Carl Bark's story converted to television.)? (That is the gist of it. Every television show on planet Earth takes elements from other shows and uses them. (2020 Gregory Weagle Says: Look at Ducktales 2017, it's basically a love letter to the early DTVA shows. The world itself is basically TaleSpin's circa 2017.) Writers have stolen from themselves all the time. I think this outrage stems from their (defective) mantra that they want orginality so badly. Even though they could solve that problem by simply getting into the industry and pitching their own idea. Of course, if they do that; then they expose themselves to the most likely situtation that what they created is not original to begin with. It might be different; but different doesn't equal original. Spongebob SquarePants is still a slice of life show with comedy. It's Flintstones with the buddy system. Different, but not original. I think Mr. Enter has yet to figure that out; but once he does, he's going to eat his own words. Anyhow; I think this is still better than Allowance Day story-wise; but one major aspect of the booking was completely wrong and it made it look problematic.) Let's rant on shall we...?!

This episode is written and story edited by Ken Koonce & David Weimers. (Another thing of note is that this was episode #11 on the animation paper; which is the earliest episode despite not airing almost 27 episodes later. Geez; I wonder why?) The animation is done by Walt Disney Animation France S.A as it's first solo episode with additional services provided by (but uncredited) Pacific Rim Animation Productions. (2020 Gregory Weagle Says: According to Tim Val Hal, every Walt Disney Animation France episode was touched by Walt Disney Animation UK by various degrees during the animation process.) The supplemental is up and running already as you are reading this and should be the final one for animation studios. I still have the Nelevana and sound team supplemental to work on and the sound teams will probably be done after Gruel & Unusual Punishment or after the prep work is done for the final episodes of the series. (Pacific Rim's coloring and finishing left a lot to be desired; although this episode's editing also left a lot to be desired. Watch the jump cuts in this episode; they might give you the whiplash effect.)

We begin this one at that island in the South Seas, Louie's as Baloo, Louie and Kit are at the island bar talking about tomorrow tonight because it's the first annual Carman Merengue Night (Carmen Merengue is a circus performer in the Spanish American fictional series The Youngest Doll in 1991) and admission is only five dollars. It's basically a party complete with all the fruit you can stuff on your fuzzy head. Louie juggles some fruit as Baloo is giddy as it sounds like coconuts to him and wants in. Kit is pissed off of that and blows him off because Baloo is broke spending on Tortuga Turtle Tossing. If there was a UN in TaleSpin; Tortuga would be facing sanctions right about now. (Tortuga is Spanish for turtle; but Kit was referring to the Island of Tortuga, which is a Caribbean island that forms part of Haiti, off the northwest coast of Hispaniola. It constitutes the commune of Île de la Tortue in the Port-de-Paix arrondissement of the Nord-Ouest Department of Haiti.) Baloo decides to hatch a Krackpotkin plan twenty-eight seconds in as he'll do the sweet talk routine to get an advance on his pay. No problem according to Baloo as he not only sets the record for hatching a Krackpotkin plan; his fails just six seconds later as we see Kit leaning against the docks playing a yo-yo and Rebecca blows the whole deal off calling him coconuts. HAHA! Baloo is backed out of the office and Rebecca slams the door as Kit sarcastically calls this no problem at all. Then we do a nasty jump cut as Kit and Baloo are walking on the docks which look like a bad conveyer belt. That's logic break number one for the episode barely forty-five seconds in. (This episode looks sloppy from an editing point of view. There is a post-production producer in the credits of this episode and that usually means massive retakes. I shudder to think what the first run syndication version of this episode was like and not just from an animation point of view either...) Kit proclaims that Baloo can kiss Louie's party goodbye and Baloo doesn't sell because Baloo never misses a party. Maybe you should have thought of that before doing something completely inanthromane. Yes; that word is completely made up, but whatever. (Infurryane would have been funnier and more fitting 2010 me; but that works too.)

Kit proclaims that Rebecca says no and "no means no" to Kit. Baloo counters claiming that Kit should learn that no sometimes means yes. Seriously folks; Baloo basically used the same logic rapists used in defense of their crimes against women. (Here's the first sign of Mark Lungo's argument being totally justified on this episode's sexism. Why this line was not redubbed to something a lot less obvious is a mystery to me. At least this line can be changed to something else. Later on after Rebecca is found guilty of crimes she never committed; there's no way to paint an enlightened face on that execution scene.) See to Baloo; it means you cut corners, beg a favor and beat the system. In other words; use the Kit Cloudkicker manipulation skills he used on Rebecca in Captains Outrageous. See; this is why Kit could never successfully be Baloo's conscience: Baloo is simply using Kit's morality system to his advantage. However; as I said in the previous Time Bandit rant: That would have sounded great if it wasn't Pop-A-Bear saying it because Baloo is not an effective rebel anyway. Besides; Kit THE MIRACLE WORKER already beat the system a long time ago. Otherwise he wouldn't be with Higher...For...Hire; he would pretty much be either dead or suffering on the streets still. (That's pretty much it. Outside of one bad line and a jump cut, this is basically a redo of Allowance Day.) We head to a radio station called K-CAPE as Sheryl Bernstein's voice beckons as she ends the music of Roseberry Clooney with her smash hit: "These Tears Aren't For You; I'm Just Peelin' Onions." HAHA! We head to the radio room as we see the hippo woman from A Star Is Torn/Time Waits For No Bear. So Broadcast Sally has been in three episodes already; and one voiced by Jodi Carlisle. So she's the Mrs. _Featherbee_ of TaleSpin. AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! She throws a record away as Kit watches in awe while Baloo is in Gruffi pose mode telling Kit to watch a pro at work. (Yeah; watch Baloo try to control this woman and basically fall right into her trap. Maybe next time Pop-A-Bear; you do a favor for her and get it over with instead of asking for favors and not expecting her to return the favor.)

She powders her nose and notices Baloo realizing why he is here. Baloo is bashful on that response and Sally proclaims that he asked for a favor last Monday. Baloo then asks besides then and it's the Wednesday before that; then Tueday before that. HAHA! (And Baloo expected this woman to fall over heels for him. Idiot!) Three favors in about a week and it's Thursday by the way according to the timeline; Friday is the party and Saturday is payday I should point out. Oh; and there was a big favor two weeks ago on Thursday. Baloo rips the calender page and his favor is that he wants Sally to do a Saturday show on Friday morning. Wow; Baloo's connections to the press are sillier than the Anti-Chirst. POW! OUCH! Ummmm... I really screwed up in the previous rant because Baloo's request is to make Friday into Saturday so he can get pay from Rebecca so he could go to Louie's party on Friday. Problem still is that Louie would probably think that it's Saturday too unless Baloo told Louie his plan to begin with. So there's logic break number two; it's not nearly as big as I thought it was. In fact; it's a minor quibble at best now. (In fact; Ken and David got this perfectly right. And why shouldn't they? They are basically ripping off their own Ducktales story. Again; the major problem with this episode is not knocking off Ducktales, it's these writers treatment of Rebecca in this episode that basically got them buried from DTVA for a long while.). Anyhow; Sally decides to finally ask the one thing: What's in it for her? Baloo is hot under the collar and starts off with her doing his laundry. Oh TAG Pop-A-Bear! (Evidence #2 of Mark Lungo's argument of sexism by the writers.) Sally gleefully tells him to think again. (And that evidence is thrown out the window. Good for Sally too.) Baloo then offers to do her laundry and Sally gleefully no sells. Baloo offers to give her a plane ride and she starts warming up to it and Baloo asks about a date and Sally finally agrees to that one. HAHA! (2020 Gregory Weagle Says: This is worse language than 2010 me said, but calling Baloo a slut here is not inaccurate.) Pop-A-Bear is now Sally's bitch! HAHA! (Bad language, valid point there 2010 me!) Kit gleefully answers THAT one for me. (Yeah; a pro of beating his own system of sexism.)

We go to Rebecca's apartment AFTER HAPPY HOUR (After dark) as we see Baloo and Kit practice the fine art of not being seen in Rebecca's apartment! Baloo explains that they must change the calenders in Rebecca's apartment to Saturday so he can get payday. Baloo uses the screwdriver (Not Scott Steiner's awesome finisher, sadly...) on the middle of the door as Kit doesn't like this at all. Baloo blows him off calling him a spoilsport. Baloo's got a point son; you are a master manuiplator, Kit. See Captains Outrageous and A Star Is Torn. Baloo's just trying to show off. Baloo calls it a joke as the door opens and they sneak inside and change the calenders to Saturday the 7^th. Baloo does the same to Rebecca's bedroom as Rebecca dozes off. At least they are keeping the dates the same here. Baloo and Kit walk out as Baloo puts down the slighty altered newspaper of doom and puts it on the welcome mat for a finishing touch. I'm sure this is all ripped off of Allowance Day; so I'm not going to bother mocking it. Sadly; Kit did nothing other than sneak and feel bad about being in this whole plan. (Kit talked a lot; but at least he did something great during the finish.) So it's morning as we see Rebecca in her light blue gown, she looks around and sees that the calenders are changed to Saturday. Nice touch for the alarm clock key to turn which would have been better if the alarm clock actually ring unless it was the background music doing it which wouldn't be above the sound people ala Bad Reflection On You part one. Oh; and we get logic break number three as her light blue gown has turned white (WHAT?!) and then it turns blue again when Rebecca looks at the alarm clock. Oh god; it's Cleaness Is Next to Badliness all over again. (Actually; Rebecca is demonstrating that she can outdo Caron Izumi's "changes color when wet" clothes routine. Or Pacific Rim's coloring skills suck. Either way; bad!) She seemly doesn't buy it (like she's dumb enough to fall for it?) as the gown turns white again when Rebecca slips into her purple robe and looks around some more. The dates are changed to Saturday of course. Rebecca opens the door (which is unlocked) and reads the slightly altered newspaper of doom.

She looks confused as she returns to the radio and turns it on. Boardcast Sally is on the air and she claims that it is Saturday; making comments on how fast Friday went. We then see Rebecca drinking tea and having breakfest on the table as Molly is nowhere in sight. I guess she's still sleeping in her room. Personally; I think Rebecca is seeing through all of this and knows that it is Friday. Another logic break: When Sally says: I need jet-lag pills and Rebecca suddenly has the LIGHT BULB OF BLOODY CLAIRTY on that; her purple robe turns red. This basically shows why Pacific Rim Animation should never have been doing ink and paint because that scene kept everything intact except for Rebecca's dress. (And this isn't even a Tama Pro episode since they were the team who animated Chargeman Ken back in 1974. Well done, Pacific Rim; well done. Anyhow; she was pondering this over so she pretty much figured out that it was Friday and someone was screwing with her. That's the thing she didn't know. Yet.) We return to Higher...For...Hire as Baloo is resting in the hammock (as per in his contract) and Kit is still playing with the yo-yo. Baloo thinks that his plan has worked and he'll get paid early. Rebecca appears and Baloo acts all slick and cool as Rebecca asks him what day it is. Baloo claims that it is Saturday and a good one too. Rebecca is unsure which is an indication that she doesn't buy Baloo's answer one bit. Nice spot: The Yo-Yo bonks Kit right in the right cheek right on the cue when Baloo calls her out on screwing with his payday. I smell a WRAITH OF BECKEY commencing as Rebecca decides to sell Baloo's answer anyway and we cut into the office of Higher...For...Hire (That's jump cut #2 for the episode.) as Baloo awaits for his payment as Rebecca goes to the wall safe to get the money. Okay, why doesn't she do this when Baloo isn't in clear sight of her picking the combination lock so he cannot pick the combination lock and steal the money? Rebecca gives Baloo the money and Baloo tries to leave the office. However; Rebecca asks if the telescope delivery to Myopia was done yesterday. Baloo believe that was supposed to be done on Friday and in his mind it would be next Friday.

Rebecca blows it off and then delivers the WRAITH OF BECKEY because those telescopes were supposed to be delivered on this Friday for the arrivial of Cleanser's Comet. UH OH! Baloo's Krackpotkin plan is dying faster than the quality of Allowance Day was. Also Baloo was supposed to deliver chinchilla earmuffs to Thembria on Friday as well and that is enough for Rebecca to dock Baloo's pay. HAHA! Rebecca wasn't fooled for one second on THAT one. (By the way; here's some animal cruelity from the writers: Chinchillas are crepuscular rodents, slightly larger and more robust than ground squirrels. They are native to the Andes mountains in South America and live in colonies called "herds" at high elevations up to 4,270 m (14,000 ft). Historically, chinchillas lived in an area that included parts of Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, and Chile, but today colonies in the wild are known only in Chile.[3] Along with their relatives, viscachas, they make up the family Chinchillidae. The chinchilla (whose name literally means "little chincha") is named after the Chincha people of the Andes, who once wore its dense, velvet-like fur.[4] By the end of the 19th century, chinchillas had become quite rare due to hunting for their ultra-soft fur.[5] Most chinchillas currently used by the fur industry for clothing and other accessories are farm-raised.[6] Chinchillas are currently listed as a critically endangered species by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to a severe population loss approximated at a 90% global population loss over the last 15 years. The severe population decline has been caused by chinchilla hunting by humans.[1][7] Until 1996, Chinchillas were listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. By 2006 they were listed as Threatened, and in 2011 they became Critically Endangered.[1]) Rebecca truly is the smartest woman in TaleSpin. Baloo decides to finally confess that he was pulling a prank on Rebecca. Now do you see why I often cite Baloo for crank calling Rebecca? Rebecca calls it the lamest, lousist excuse ever (That's overkill Rebecca. You had me at lousy. And Disney Captions didn't like the word lame either.).

Rebecca decides to join Baloo in order to deliver the cargo -- which is two days late but really isn't -- just to make sure Baloo doesn't trick them into buying Baloo's crank calling because Baloo will make more excuses. (That would prove to be the stupidest decision from Rebecca in this series because the Thembrians were buying Baloo's crank calling hook, line and sinker. Plus; it only gave Koonce/Weimers a "great" idea to be different from Allowance Day that basically hurt their careers for a long while to come.) Rebecca decides to buy this as Saturday anyway, which makes no sense logic wise; but it doesn't matter anyway. (That annoyed me because Rebecca already figured this out and why would she believe Baloo that it's Saturday, when BALOO's the one who lied? That makes no sense.) Kit smiles while playing with the yo-yo with a cute face that says: "I told you so!" See Pop-A-Bear; Kit only beats the system when the system is corrupt! Not because the system itself is bad. That's the difference between Kit's rebelling and Baloo's rebelling while pointing out why Kit's is a lot more effective. Phineas & Ferb needs to learn that lesson quick before his fans figure that one out and turn on him and his show. Now you would think that the episode would end there; but since Thembria is mentioned, the answer is not on your life! (This all took place in a span of five minutes and there were seven scenes in total. The next two scenes on their own is five minutes long and features nothing but the Thembrians being Thembrians.) We head to the Thembria Capital with the High Marhsall statue in the square made of solid gold which is totally out of place for this city. And it's probably intentional too. We pan over to the capital building as we head inside an office where we get an FPS shot of who we think is Colonel Spigot stamping papers with F's on it and he must be doing term papers. (Actually; it's Sergeant Dunder stamping papers since we have to start with a short joke on Spigot using the camera to hammer the point home. Although; Dunder being a Thembrian teacher would be many buys. What is the over/under on the number of times he was flogged for teaching Thembrian history the wrong way? Or even breathing wrong for that matter?). Spigot wants Dunder watching the rader screen and Dunder sells it as we see that it's him grading school papers. HAHA!

Oh come on guys! Why else would you use the letter F to stamp on? We then see the shadow coming out as THE ULTIMATE SHORT JOKE is back after getting his ass saved in the Slush Parade of Boom Boom Fraud. (Wow; and you accuse DTVA of this nonsense? For shame 2010 me!) He checks his watch and runs up the iron stairs of cabinets to find that there is a radio on top. He twists the knob and the radio does nothing...AND THE ROCK SAYS NOTHING! (Fine Thembrian craftsmanship; the predigree of ribbings from Usland.) Spigot shakes the radio and then brings it out and demands answers on who broke the radio. Dunder asks why if Broadcast Sally is on. Spigot blows him off because if you watch that swine of Cape Suzette and not listen to wholesome state programs: YOU CAN BE SHOT! Yeah; I should have just copied and pasted that from my previous rant on this episode; but I don't feel like recycling every line from my previous rants anyway. Just the stuff that hasn't changed one bit since the last time I saw it. (Well; that's one reason why you do it; although it made 2010 me look like an idiot during the All's Whale That Ends Whale re-rant.) Dunder basically says it all much to Spigot's fluster and turns the knob on the radio and we hear Broadcast Sally again. Wow; shaking the radio DOES work in Thembria! How about that?! (Not as funny as Caron bumping the radio on the way out of her room in Chargeman Ken; but it is close.) Anyhow; Sally states that they just listened to (the listeners -- Spigot and Dunder --; not us, of course) Chester Grizzly's latest platter (It's slang for a phonographic record by the way.): "My Love Crash-Landed on The Runway To Your Heart". I'm surprised that no one considered a singing musical airplane episode yet where Baloo and Chester get into bi-planes and do a singing duet in the air. It's not like Disney isn't above musicals anyway; so why didn't anyone from Disney bother to do one? Add Roseberry Clooney and show her singing while in tears peeling onions in the bi-plane. It's stupid; but funny stupid at least and I would laugh at it over Benzo Gasolinni's antics in Top Duck. (Probably because Edmund Gilbert is not a good singer; and DTVA was trying to get away from musicals or in TaleSpin's case, they didn't care; even though that kind of musical would be funny to watch.)

Anyway; Sally proclaims that it's Saturday and Spigot is SHOCKED and APPALLED as he asks Dunder what they were stamping on the papers. Dunder claims that it's F for Friday. Okay; that would be a good reason not to call them term papers. Also, a clever way to date stamp documents too. Sa would be Saturday, Su would be Sunday, Tu would be Tuesday and Th would be Thursday. The rest explain themselves of course. Spigot asks why he's stamping Friday on them; and Dunder explains that yesterday is Thursday, of course. When Dunder is the smartest guy in Thembria; you know you are hosed as a nation. Then again; Flight School showed how smart Dunder really is and showed that he had heart too. (Yup.) Dunder thinks it's a mistake and Spigot blows it off because it's a plot by the capitalist swine of Cape Suzette. (I just love how Dunder is the only one who uses Occam's Razor in this country while Spigot goes all Alex Jones on us. The funny thing is: Spigot's theory is more believable than Dunder's. This is no mistake; this is a scam by a member of Cape Suzette swine. Only it's not designed to screw Thembria. It's designed to screw Rebecca out of money.) I should point out that originally; Cape Suzette was supposed to be part of Usland and Thembria was a pun on "Us Vs. Them". Come to think of it; Usland is still part of canon but never used in the series to the best of my knowledge. Needless to say; don't expect the new Disney to try anything like that anytime soon because can you imagine the outrage if they tried creating a anthro version of the Muslims? It cannot lead to anything good and having Muslim characters as good guys with Usland would not make it better. It might even make it worse. (Oh, I don't know. I think it's the oldest story in the book since the play is Us against Them, which is the whole part of Thembria and Usland's relationship. As for Muslim characters; it would be better to have them as babyfaces with Usland, but Usland is seen as TaleSpin's America and America's reputation isn't good against the rest of the world, even in the best of times; so that could be a problem. Making Usland heels and the Muslims babyfaces might work; but it is only going to incite bigots and I don't trust bigots to be docile in anyway.)

Then again; TaleSpin to some people will always be considered a disgrace to the Jungle Book and to Walt Disney. Even to the point that one person wants Pixar to handle the entire Disney brand in the future. Never mind that (a) Pixar doesn't do anything related to the Disney brand other than supply them with original movies Disney refuses to do themselves because they are a demographics company , (b) Disney did a Jungle Book sequel that was very close to the orginal Jungle Book minus good animation, Baloo not sounding like Phil Harris, (c) No Louie due to legal trouble with the Prima Estate and (d) Too many pop culture reference and it was considered EVEN worse than TaleSpin ever was despite having some modest success in cinema. They also did Jungle Cubs; but no one cared about that one either. Ironically; Baloo as a pilot was the best thing Disney ever did and that's why Baloo's stock died because the parody was actually better than the original movie/book; and therefore everyone thought Kipling was an absolute joke of a writer -- which is certainly not true -- but customers talk and a giant weighs as they say; so there you go. (Yeah; pretty much.) Back to the rant after being completely off-track as Spigot walks out because he's going to show those "Creeps Suzette" they have nothing to fear but Spigot himself. Riiiiigggggghhhhhttttt. (Considering Baloo; calling it "Creeps Suzette" is more accurate than we would want to give credit for.) Spigot runs with the sound effects as we only see the fortress of doom from outside on the pan shot. Ah; the pitfalls of television animation as we see a door open and Spigot run in. The High Marshal is having a haircut on a barbar chair that looks like it was a prop stolen from that Bugs Bunny episode where Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny do a parody musical/chase with barbar chairs, scissors and the funny hair spots. One of my favorite Bugs Bunny shorts I might add as the High Marshall's aide is doing the cutting on the tall ass stool (NOT THAT ONE!). The High Marshal calls him Faucet of course as Spigot corrects him. So High Marshal accuses him of contradicting the state and if you contradict the state: YOU CAN BE SHOT! Spigot decides that he'll change his name at once as the barbar chair comes down. (Considering that everyone calls him something related to indoor plumbing; I think that name changing has already been taken care of. Wink! Wink! Nudge! Nudge!)

Nice selling by the aide by the way down. Sadly; Pacific Rim Animation slighty screws up the aide's kisser when he comes down from the stool. See; Colonel Spigot is here to recommend they declare war on Cape Suzette and the High Marshall gives him the stink eye in response as the aide is trying to cut the eye brows on the High Marshal's head but it looks like he's going to cut the High Marshal's ear off. High Marshall counters by raising the barbar chair up as Spigot wants to declare war because they changed the date to Saturday, you see. It's people's payday (Except at Higher...For...Hire of course because payday is Saturday for them...) and the day of Cleanser's Comet. The High Marshal is mad as Spigot proclaims that if they take a day; they'll then take a week and it's war BABEE! High Marshall doesn't care about war because he's only mad that he didn't think of it first so he'll just declare today Saturday too. HAHA! He even backhands his aide for good measure and it's a good on-screen shot too. (Yeah; even the High Marshall thinks wars suck. Besides; a war of changing dates on a whim is much funnier for him anyway. Who says Thembrians have no sense of humor?) Spigot is SHOCKED and APPALLED as he wonders about Cleanser's Comet because if the people see it; then they will know it's Friday. High Marshall counters by claiming that it's been overcast for three years and no one will see it in Thembria of course. Spigot asks about payday; and High Marshall counters that it's their fault for not showing up. Spigot asks if they protest and High Marshall proclaims that if you protest your lack of pay in Thembria: It's all Colonel Spigot's fault. HAHA! (Of course; it's never the head of state's fault! Gotta protect that reputation of being infallable, you know.) Spigot naturally salutes like an idiot and runs out remembering to let High Marshall and his aide do a whirlwind spot in the chair to annoy me. I'm actually liking this episode without the context of Allowance Day and despite the fact that Pacific Rim Animation keeps screwing up the coloring of this episode. (Actually; outside of some really bad coloring mistakes and some dumb dialogue, this redo plotline is already much better than Allowance Day. However; once the trial is over, it will get worse.)

Oh; and the aide's teeth are showing indicating that during the spot; he kissed the High Marshall. Also, since this is a country without liberty; if you have a homosexual relationship with the High Marshall: HE WILL BE SHOT! The aide; not the High Marshall, of course. (2020 Gregory Weagle Says: Wow, you described Russia accurately there 2010 me! This is probably why no one will touch this country with a ten million mile pole if TaleSpin ever gets rebooted.) We repeat the FPS shot of Dunder stamping F's on the term papers as Spigot proclaims that today is Saturday and this is all Dunder's fault. HAHA! Dunder's response: He knew that it would be his fault. HAHA! (Ah Dunder; you always make it easy for me to laugh at you for your sadism. Xiamou would be proud of you.) Spigot orders Dunder to prepare the paperwork and he'll make the announcement. Spigot plops into a chair with a microphone intercom and we get this really charming message from Colonel Spigot:

Colonel Spigot: Attention all Thembrians. This is Colonel Spigot. Prehaps you heard of me. {We see an shot of the intercom speakers outside with broken windows everywhere. We get moaning outside on the far shot with the Thembrian castaway, a black cat and some chicken that someone probably milked near the Storsky. Oh; I get the pun. HAR! HAR!} Today is officially Saturday...{We pan northwest to the long still animation lineup of Thembrians.} Anyone who disagrees will be sent to prison. Anyone who complains will do hard labor. Anyone who sneers will be shot. Have a nice day. {The still Thembrians moan on cue of course.}

Geez; that doesn't sound like Thembria; that sounds like North Koera to me. We head back to the office as Colonel Spigot turns his chair around as Dunder proclaims that there is an unindentified whatsit flying on the screen. I didn't know Snowzos existed in TaleSpin? (That was my first thought when I first heard this line and it's still funny as hell.) Oh wait; It's just the SeaDuck as Spigot waltzs over to the transmitter in front of the radar screen. I see Dunder has been eating his carrots lately. (Well; you know what they say: If you don't eat your veggies in Thembria: YOU CAN BE SHOT! Indeed.) Spigot wants the SeaDuck to halt as we cut to the SeaDuck flying above the clouds and inside the cockpit. Baloo is on the transmitter. Kit's in the navigational seat doing his insecure pose while smiling. Colonel Spigot cuts his usual promo and Baloo of course cannot recollect. HAHA! You fans know he's being sarcastic here?! (Yeah; apparently they cannot sense voice infliction and think that Baloo is stupid instead of acting stupid just to get Spigot's goat. By the way; this is the second episode featuring the Thembrians according to the animation paper, even though at least three episodes have aired featuring the Thembrians before this. I wonder why this episode was delayed. Maybe the first draft of this episode was far worse than the finished product...) Spigot blows it off and demands that Baloo states his purpose. We go to the outside sky shot of the SeaDuck flying as Baloo explains that he was supposed to be delivering a crate of chinchilla earmuffs to Thembria. Dunder shows the memo as Spigot blows them off because the delivery is supposed to be Friday. Baloo tells him that today is Friday and Spigot blows him off because it's Saturday see. Never underestimate a Thembria in being duped by Cape Suzette swine. The two yell like little kids into the microphones for a bit before Rebecca yells enough of this. Oh come on Miss Cunningham; seeing Baloo and Spigot sell anger is funny as Rebecca wants Baloo to give up on this. (By giving up; she means fly into Thembria. Which is dumb, of course!) Spigot demands that they return to Cape Suzette at once and apply for a Saturday passport. (Which is a reasonable thing to say; except this is Thembria and I betcha it will take months for that in spite of their court system being the exact opposite in terms of time.)

Rebecca then shocks me by telling Baloo to keep going anyway. Huh?! Rebecca is trying to beat Thembrians' system?! Doesn't that contradict her character?! (Yeah; it does because Rebecca has to be stupid in this episode since Ken and David cannot fanthom a smart woman it seems. Baloo should be the one wanting to fly into Thembria to get this whole thing over with while Rebecca tells him to go back and apply for the passport. Especially since she believes it's still Saturday. DUMB!) Spigot demands that they turn around as the SeaDuck goes into a figure eight loop for fun as Baloo isn't all that amused. (He basically is doing country dancing again using the SeaDuck as the dancer.) Spigot decides that he's a sore loser as he orders Dunder to call out the Air Farace...ERRRR...I mean the "Glorious People's Air Force" and have the SeaDuck shot down. Dunder claims that it cannot happen because the ammunition is on the back order. HAHA! Well; we already seen them use bath tubs and pianos so it's not like this is a BS&P decision (Never mind the Air Pirates shooting actual bullets along with Khan Industries. Don't worry; the guns will be pulled out later on. Since Feminine Air and Your Baloo's In The Mail had no guns while Last Horizons, Citizen Khan and Flying Dupes do have them, the final tally is 51 for 65 episodes in which the guns were pulled out. That's two weeks worth of special days.). Colonel Spigot ponders this as we get the front camera shot outside the cockpit with "Mode 7" cloud scrolling as Kit tells Baloo to be careful because it's bathtubs at two o'clock. Rebecca thinks Kit is crazy and we see bathtubs shooting from below. HAHA! Those wacky Thembrians; what will they think of next? (Well; the final episode of the series is Flying Dupes, so they decide to channel Jokey Smurf in that one. Only in the TaleSpin world; you can die from explosions. See Bygones with Mad Dog's "death".)

All the tubs miss though as Spigot and two Thembrian guards do weak ducking as the SeaDuck bumps on it's nosecone and lands on the snow without much further incident. Okay; that was pretty weak. Baloo opens the pilot sidedoor as Spigot welcomes Baloo to Thembria and orders the babyfaces to march. Baloo and company get out the same door as Baloo asks where. Spigot states it's to the clink (slang for prison by the way) to await trial and Rebecca isn't happy with that because it will take months before we get one. This is actually a rib on the slow crawl of America's justice system because the two Thembrian guard puts their hands on Baloo and Kit (but not Rebecca; which is silly considering what happens to her later on.) as Spigot calls it on the contrary because in Thembria, trials are swift and expedient. Because when you have a trial: YOU WILL BE SHOT! But no worries; since it will be a FAIR trial. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Man; no wonder I loved 1990 so much because this parody of the USSR is so awesome to watch. (Not as funny anymore considering what happens to Rebecca in the next act.) The babyfaces gasp in horror and that ends the segment eleven and a half minutes in. (So the first half of this act was rushed to death containing jump cuts and some bad dialogue from Baloo; while the Thembrian stuff slowed the pace down to a crawl and was very funny. Yes; the plotline has been done to death. However; considering that this practice happens a lot in television, the outrage is at best petty. Especially when everyone seems to ignore the much more problematic elephant in the room that is the main reason why people thought this was the worst episode of the series.)

After the commercial break; we head to the THEMBRIAN PEOPLE'S COURT~ as I said in the previous rant on this: "When it's on ice; you shoot it twice!" I shocked myself when I came up with that one and no one STEALS it! It makes perfect sense for Thembria too. (That promo 2010 me cut was awkward, and probably why no one stole it.) We see the babyfaces doing their death march in with the guards as the People's Court Radio Announcer announces them while they march into the courtroom. Kit is surprised that the trial is going to be boardcasted on the radio and Spigot proclaims that it will keep the Thembrians in line. It's easy to call this a logic break because of Flight of the Snowduck; but I'm guessing Kit didn't take Molly seriously at all and this is "Production Number eleven" on the order paper. (In other words; Molly nor WildCat took Kit seriously and Baloo is a moron anyway.) The announcer is Danny Mann in case you didn't notice. Also; it's for good ratings. Isn't it funny that in Usland; this is not legal despite the irony of Court Television in America?! (Apparently; Usland has a lot more dignity than the "real American" way.) Anyhow; Spigot shoves Kit into marching into the courtroom as the announcer proclaims that illegal aliens from Cape Suzette will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. HOLY CRAP?! This IS Sara Palin/Glenn Beck's dream world. I'm wondering now if Alaska Animal Lover is really Sara Palin; because if I find out that she is Alaska Animal Lover then I have lost total respect for her and her views on the new Disney considering Sara Palin's worldview and her own vanity after the election (AAL hates Sara with a passion; so the question has been answered. And hell of a moment nowadays with Donald Trump trying to be president, too.). I see Rebecca is being handled now so BS&P is out to lunch again. (Oh; it's going to get worse for her, I promise thee.) Colonel Spigot is casually walking in as the announcer reveals that Colonel Nozzle...ERRRR...Spigot is part of the Air Corps. Which is hilarious considering what I found out in the last episode of the series. Spigot is not amused by the Nozzle name of course. (I'm sure he'll be even less amused when he discovers that he has to pass a flight test in Thembria in the last episode of the series. Knife firmly inserted in back methinks.)

The babyfaces get shoved in front of the judge as Spigot waltzs in and explains that the charge is they are spies caught travelling with expired passports. Okay; that charge actually makes sense minus the spy part; but in Thembria; if you don't trump at least one charge: YOU CAN BE SHOT! In Thembria; it's the gift that keeps on trumping. (I think Donald Trump will have something to say about that. And somehow he sounds like a bigger idiot than even 2007 me! I say that because I think that episode was one of the last two episodes I ranted on at the time.) The judge asks (Jim Cummings of course; since it's the same judge from Flight of The Snowduck) for a plea and Baloo pleads innocent so the judge blows him off because it's Thembria; you are guilty until proven innocent. Wow; all those law & order guys must love Thembria right now eh?! (That was in fact funny.) Baloo then steps forward and proclaims this to be nothing but a practical joke. His excuses are becoming such a practical joke at this point that it's pretty funny. Baloo basically confesses to his crank calling and the judge no sells because he goes through the papers -- that Dunder stamped I'm sure -- and it's not Friday; it's Saturday because the state says so. So everyone is guilty as charged; but since this is a first time offense; Kit is free to go. Molly must be thinking: "Now why didn't I think of that?" (Probably because in Thembria: Kit's crime of traveling on expired passports is on par with capital murder while Molly's crime of having an imagination is on par with nuclear halocaust. Thembrians do get the orders of magnitude part. It's just that their standards of that OOM are so screwed up.) Kit does the Gruffi pose and refuses to leave without Baloo. The judge agrees and lets Baloo go. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Those wacky Thembrians; Kit didn't even have to poison the judge's mind; he's been already poisoned. (Yes folks; Kit was willing to risk being shot to death by a firing squad as long as Baloo is with him. That's not only amazing devotion to someone who saved you in Plunder and Lightning; it's also a really effective way to get the judge to free Baloo.) Rebecca thanks the judge and Baloo and Kit leave. Rebecca thinks she's safe as she triest to leave because BS&P would NEVER allow a female to be executed right? (Considering Ken/David in Bearly Alive and Jymn Magon being the censor, I put nothing past this show.) Sadly; the hand of irony strikes on her, the judge calls her "poopski" and she faces the firing squad. BS&P?! What BS&P?!

So Molly faces a thousand years in prison, and Rebecca faces a firing squad. Who says this series is enlightened?! (People who don't watch the show hard enough. It's easy to say this is the low point for Rebecca; but here's the key to this: Rebecca did violate Thembrian law with the expired passport; but that only occured because of Baloo's tampering with reality and time. Otherwise, Rebecca followed the law. However; she's being punished for it because she's the boss of the offenders and thus she must pay. All while Baloo gets away scot-free. I have zero problems with Kit being free of wrong doing because he really didn't do anything either. Thembria punishes drug lords while Americans punish first time offenders. Huh. One puts all onus on personal responsibility and the other puts all onus on top officials. Which explains why Spigot is always asked if he has been shot yet. The Thembrians are sexist without question and the writers did themselves no favors here.) Rebecca is SHOCKED and APPALLED as the two Thembrian guard haul Rebecca out of the courtroom as the judge pounds on the table and tells her to have a nice execution in Broken Russian English. (And here we go; the moment the episode stopped being so funny. I think the reason why there are charges of sexism against this episode is that this episode does the exact opposite of what Feminine Air did; which was to put Rebecca in a positive light in spite of the sexism against her. This episode doesn't. Yes; seeing Rebecca get embarrassed and look stupid has happened before in The Bigger They Are, The Louder They Oink; but at least in that episode, Rebecca fell on her own sword with her actions. Same with Your Baloo's In The Mail when she was a pushover of reverse psychology. Not here! She did nothing wrong and she's paid a price she shouldn't pay. That's the main reason why this episode ceased being funny and became sadistic. If this were written today, Kit and Rebecca go free and Baloo gets the firing squad. Why? Because that would make the Thembrians look like heels while at the same time, not make Rebecca look like a piece of meat, which is the reason why you didn't see another Koonce/Weimers episode ever again after this. Everything else about this episode was what it should be (and let's face it, the Thembrians were very funny in spite of the booking); but the victim of the Thembrian justice system was sexist and wrong.)

For those who accuse Nickelodeon of the same thing: You were too busy complaining and not enough watching old Disney tapes since Nickelodeon was stealing them from Disney Television and pounding the jokes to the ground. (Bingo! Rose colored glass often lie. Depending on them just because they can be right sometimes is often a sign of weakness of the mind.) We go outside the courthouse where Baloo and Kit (complete with sad TaleSpin music) walk out as Baloo sits on the scales of justice bowl and it's clear that he is guilty as charged as the balance of the scales is off the charts. HAHA! How symbolic is that?! Kit proclaims that he's got to stop feeling sorry for himself. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Considering that Kit did the same thing in Plunder and Lightning Act III; is anyone surprised that Kit is projecting?! Kit wants to save Rebecca; and Baloo can't because the only thing he does well is beat the system as he looks like a crybaby doing it. Kit offers the best plan in the universe: Don't beat the system. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! If you didn't do that Kit; you would have been dead long ago because the system was corrupt! Besides, this is Thembria; there is NO logical system to not beat. So; this makes the whole moral promo by Kit utterly useless. (Yeah; that's the main problem with the moral: It's Thembria. The system is so beyond broken that anything they do (even if it was legal in Usland) would be considered beating the system. This moral lesson is useless; and it's not Kit's fault. It's the nature of Thembria that causes it.) Baloo decides to sell anyway and pat Kit on the head as they walk away stage left. We head into the prison hallways as we see the two Thembrian guard drag Rebecca around for a while as Rebecca's echo scream is priceless. (I have said this many times and it applies here: Sally Struthers can put over anything like a giant's deal. No matter how toxic or awful it can be.) We go into a prison cell and she is dropped gently onto her feet inside and the two guards walk out. Wow; these guys are better than most American prison systems. How ironic eh? Rebecca pleads that this is a big mistake while shedding a tear. (Yeah; this is a big mistake. A mistake that cost Ken Koonce and David Weimers a job in DTVA for a while.)

Spigot enters with Dunder and uses the goad stick to whip in the air as Dunder sells and Spigot goes up right into Rebecca's face to blow her off. I'm shocked that Disney didn't hire the late Les Lyle (The voice of the dungeon master and El Capitan in You Cannot Do That On Television.) because this would be a PERFECT ROLE for him. And I mean that in the nicest way possible. Spigot proclaims that she made a big mistake by crossing the merciless, tyrannical, imfamous yet personable Colonel Spigot. (Very personable indeed! Probably more so than Ken and David after seeing their writing on this show.) He even puts the stick underneath her throat in a nice touch before ordering Dunder to put him down. Well; it's Dunder so Spigot isn't worried of being executed himself...yet. Rebecca asks how long does she stay here and Spigot proclaims that it's only as long as the execution papers are not filled out. Rebecca sees this as a sigh of relief because it would take weeks as she looks like she knows that she's seriously FUBARED. Dunder counters that they use the short forms and Spigot thrusts the prod in his face accusing him of making a short joke at his expense. HAHA! Nice way to break the fourth wall and makes us aware that we are in on the joke too. Dunder admits that he's guilty and both he and Spigot walk out and slam the prison door as Rebecca grabs onto the bars and cries her eyes out for Baloo. Nice acting from Struthers too. (I realize that people probably hate this bawling from a woman, but she is in prison for no good reason. A grown innocent man would have done the same thing in that position. Still doesn't change how sexist Thembria is.) So we head to the air hanger as we see a airplane fly out as Baloo relates the story about the telescopes they were supposed to deliver to Myopia (which is a town/president of Clopstokia from Whistlestop Jackson, Legend) to Kit. Kit remembers that those were for Cleanser's Comet. Baloo tells him that the comet arrives on Friday so once the Thembrians see it; then everyone will know it's Friday. (This actually sounds like a fair plan to me.) Kit isn't sure because it's always cloudy in Thembria. Baloo proclaims that it won't be once he does his flying stunt on the SeaDuck once he gets it back.

We head inside and we see the damn doberman from nearly every episode of DTVA checking the parcels on the desk and sniffing. Even TaleSpin has this damn dog and he seems to be everywhere. He's like a stock character I tell ya! (Yeah; and people accuse modern cartoons of recycling characters from previous shows? For shame!) Anyhow; we see Baloo asking the Thembrian Customs Officer with his notepad and a pencil (And he is wearing the Nazi Uniform today...) about the SeaDuck. The Customs Officer remembers that and it has been permanently confiscated by the state and wait for it...wait for it...to be converted into apartments for the people. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Like I said; those wacky Thembrians! We head into the snow, Kit panics like mad as we see various airplanes already converted into condos (Baloo's words, not mine) and then we get logic break number four for the episode because Baloo then declares in the next sentence that his plane is gone despite not even spending a second looking for it. It's stuff like this that hurts this episode; and not the redo plotline everyone has been complaining about because otherwise; I'm digging it so to speak. (Yeah; the whole storyline is very good; but you have to look past the fact that Rebecca is in prison about to be shot for a crime that Baloo himself caused! That shouldn't have washed even in 1990; let alone 2016!) We head to Rebecca pacing and sniffling in her holding cell as Colonel Spigot arrives with the suitcase as Spigot has good news for Rebecca. Rebecca takes this as a sign that Baloo has freed her (You can sense the craziness in Rebecca coming out now; because this is Thembria of course.) as Spigot blows that off and opens the suitcase to reveal her choices of nooses for the execution. See; there is the fashionable seersucker sheep shank and the taffeta timber knot as Rebecca calls him a barbarian. I love real comments that aren't supposed to be real comments. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Projecting AmeriKKKa into Thembria much there Miss Cunningham?! (I concur; but the next act is straight out of North Korea it isn't funny anymore.) Then she gets the LIGHTBULB OF BLOODY CLAIRTY because she was supposed to be sent to the firing squad and Spigot proclaims that she is because when you are found guilty of being an illegal alien in Thembria: YOU ARE SHOT AND THEN HUNG! HAHA!

El Capitan From You Cannot Do That On Television: Why didn't I think of that?! I could've just hung him first before I said FIRE. {Gunshots.} That is one sneaky television show! {Falls dead.}

Spigot loves to be complete see as Rebecca can only moan and that ends the segment sixteen minutes in. Now we have come to the point that Chris Barat hates so much as he explained in his response to my Spies In Their Eyes rant in Ducktales. Needless to say; I beg to differ. (Actually; I think the main reason why the Thembrian version was not funny to them was because Chris and Mark felt that Rebecca being the victim was extremely sexist. And it's not difficult to realize why that is the case considering that Rebecca's punishment is served only because of Baloo's stupid antics. It's clear why David and Ken were falling out of favor with DTVA at this point and it hurt this series most of all because after Feminine Air came about; episodes like this were not going to wash with the audience. It's sad in a way because the rest of the writing was better than Allowance Day; but Ken and David's decision to punish the wrong person in storyline killed the episode. Arguing that the repeat plotline is an outrage only makes the critic look complict in the actual problem with this episode.)

After the commerical break; we head to the firing squad as it is a public excecution which will be boardcasted on the radio which would never happen in real life no matter how many times Captain Tanmeal wants it. I see the crowd is about half full (Must be exemption day in Thembria too.) Colonel Spigot leads out Rebecca tied with a rope around her neck and her hands tied behind her back. Rebecca looks down to the ground as if this is a death march. She looks like such a guilty little puppy doesn't she? SLAP! OUCH! Ummmm... (That was disgusting 2010 me.) I see the High Marshall and his trophy wife made the proceedings as this is truly a special day indeed! Rebecca looks up and sees the Big Bertha tanks and panics on this one because that's the firing squad! HAHA! Well; Colonel Spigot doesn't lie; unless HE'S GOING TO BE SHOT! Colonel Spigot leads Rebecca to the spot to stand on and put around her neck the target which is smaller than any bullet those tanks have in their arsenal. (I'm not going to dignify the entire "This Was Your Life" segment with running commentary unless noted otherwise. All I'm going to say is this: A very funny segment done on the wrong person. Again; if this was Baloo, everyone would laugh at it without any contradiction and not because it's revenge for hating women. It's because Baloo is the one who caused this episode to occur in the first place! The thing about comedy is that you are supposed to laugh at them; but not feel dirty about laughing long after the comedy is over. I feel dirty laughing at this because there is Rebecca being humiliated for really no good reason at all. Yes, Thembria's justice is laughable, but this is not all that funny anymore. So forgive me if I don't share 2010 me's response to this whole ordeal anymore.) Colonel Spigot wants her to stand there so the show can begin and Rebecca is confused as Spigot proclaims that she's on the radio again as Spigot leaves. We head to the red curtain and out pops The Thembrian People's Court Announcer with a microphone and the red book because it's time for...wait for it...This Was Your Life! BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!See; this is why the Spies In Their Eyes's version with Donald Duck sucked in my view. They even have Wii spotlights on just for the special event. See; this is the radio show that asks the question: "Was it worth it?"

Rebecca is SHOCKED and APPALLED by all this as she bawls into the microphone looking at the tanks and the crowd. Sadly; we head back to the AIRPLANE CONDOS~ as we see smoke coming out of the SeaDuck as Baloo is not amused to see it as a centerfold for Better Homes and Cockpits. Heh. That impressive visual of the SeaDuck having a chimney and smoking like a chain smoker is priceless and I mean that in the nicest way possible. We return to "This Was Your Life" as the announcer goes through his THEMBRIAN BOOK OF LIES claiming that Rebecca was born in Cape Suzette and she attended a private school. He introduces a voice from her past and we hear Sheryl Bernstein's voice in sarcasm mode as the voice proclaims that she was such an ambitious little girl and Rebecca remembers her as Miss Tuttle; who is her third grade teacher. So the announcer puts the spotlight on the curtain and claims that they even flew her to the execution just for this moment as she comes out and she's a hippo who dresses like Ilana Ruxpin. Seriously; she does. If they wanted to do a rib on her; hire Phil Baron's wife Michelle to do the voice. (And have her wear a white apron.) Anyhow; she proclaims that Rebecca was voted by her class that she was the least likely to be shot by a firing squad. HAHA! Rebecca is not amused by that one. I betcha Tuttle is lying about it too; knowing Thembria. She tsks her on that one. (Well; if you tell the truth that doesn't help the Mommyland...you guessed it.) We return to the tailsection of the SeaDuck as we see a Thembrian maid wearing a red dress, white apron and has the same hair as Mrs. Tuttle. (Indication that the Miss Tuttles on stage might be a Thembrian in disguise. It helps when half of Tuttles face is similar to the warthog colors of the Thembrians.) She has the RIC FLAIR BROOMSTICK OF DOOM as she's sweeping up the place. We then hear Baloo's voice as he proclaims that she has won and he shakes her hand. It's for the Thembria Clearinghouse Snowplow Sweepstakes. The wife is giddy and judging by her voice; it's either Joan Gerber or it's none other than that June Foray role that was uncredited yet everyone on EMUCK claims that she did a voice in TaleSpin. Maybe someone can check and make sure one way or another. (I'm still waiting for confirmation; so I'm guessing it's no and it's Sheryl Bernstein again.)

She asks what she had just won and Baloo shows her the prize which is a glorious state surplus snowplow shovel which is built right in front of the SeaDuck. Baloo takes the wife over to in front of the snow shovel and if you cannot guess what happens next; you have no business reading this rant. She's been had as Kit and Baloo jump into the SeaDuck and fly away. The woman sees it just as Baloo says goodbye to her and she is conned. Hey; if you fall for Baloo's contrived Krackpotkin plans then I say: You can be shot, hung and then burned at the stake. Kit doesn't think this is exactly on the up and up. Baloo blows him off because this is Thembria baby and they are gaining altitude. At least this was quick as the SeaDuck flies into the sky with shovel in tow. Kit can only smile on that one as we continue on with the lovely "This Was Your Life" segment as the announcer proclaims that he recently inherited a courier service from her own father which of course is a total lie. Hey; if you don't twist the truth to make the prisoner look bad in Thembria: YOU CAN BE SHOT! (2020 Gregory Weagle Says: I cannot believe anyone would buy that this is a massive logic break in the context of this show. Shake my damn head.) Actually; the original design plans for the series was to have the cargo service Higher...For...Hire be inherited by Rebecca from her father; but those plans were axed simply because that wouldn't make any sense in terms of Rebecca's character so they had Rebecca get the cargo service from Baloo's Air Service which made perfect sense and put some heat on both Baloo (for being irresponsible) and Rebecca (for stealing the cargo service instead of letting it die.). Apparently; she enslaves the workers (Which is another lie; and probably a completely stolen line from Allowance Day since that would make sense with Scrooge. Memo to dumb writers: Even kids can pick up this if they want to.) which allows Sally Struthers to sob in a really awesome fashion. This whole sequence is just too funny. Look; I like Rebecca Cunningham, but did you really expect anything LESS from Thembria?! (No, but I expected a lot more from Ken and David to not look like those writers from the 1950's Daisy Ducks era.)

This actually gives Spigot the heel heat he so badly needed. She yells at the microphone to end this and shoot her. I beg to differ; I would continue this because it's working and it puts sympathy heat on Rebecca which Donald couldn't get in Spies With Their Eyes and it makes Spigot look like a billion dollars as a heel. We head into the sky as the SeaDuck uses the snow shovel to clear the clouds away. Baloo proclaims that he could clear this one up as Kit calls it the first cloud plower. I think Gadget would have something to say about that. (Heck; Kit not giving himself enough credit as we'll see later.) Baloo proclaims that it could be the last becuase here comes the Thembrian Air Farce...ERRRR...I mean Air Force and they are shooting to kill with real bullets. HAHA! I see that the bullet order has cleared Thembrian Customs Officials. How convenient, eh?! The hanging bathtub is getting involved of course as Baloo is forced to dogfight again. Since this is Walt Disney Animation France; the bullet flashes are black as Baloo does a nosedive and the idiot Air Force follows, of course. Kit panics for Baloo to pull up; as Baloo tries; but the snow plow won't let him. HAHA! Missed that tiny little detail in that Krackpotkin plan, eh?! Baloo manages to do a hyperbole; but the SeaDuck crashes into a log house on the way up and the hanging bathtub gets caught and destroys the cloud plow. Got that?! Good; and the spots did not miss either. Because of the weight of the snowplow (And the crack coloring team of Pacific Rim Animation made the bathtub white earlier and it turns purple. I'm glad they went to Walt Disney London after this. (Why? I laughed everytime this happens in Chargeman Ken.)); the Thembrian airplane's engine dies on him and the airplane goes into a tailspin (BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!) and it crashes into all the Thembrian planes in vertical formation towards the ground as Kit calls this shower curtains for them. Would have been funny if a shower curtain was in fact involved. (Yeah; that was a dumb pun on Kit's part.) However; Baloo thinks Rebecca is dead because the cloud plow is gone and there's nothing they can do to stop the clouds from blocking out Cleanser's Comet. Kit unbuckles his safety belt and blows Baloo off because it's time to put on a happy face because the grey skies are going to clear up.

Kit takes his airfoil and runs to the back with Kit's theme music in play. Baloo asks why that sounds familiar. Well; it's because Kit THE MIRACLE WORKER is going to save the F'N day and not a moment too soon either. (Plus; Kit was channeling "Bye Bye Birdie" as well since that is where the quote comes from.) We see the tailsection door of the SeaDuck open and out comes Kit with tow rope and airfoil and he surfs as the black clouds are no match for Kit's awesome cloud clearing skills. The animation is spot on for this sequence as Baloo nods in approval and finally gets Kit's plan. Maybe next time; you'll let Kit draw up the plans Pop-A-Bear..right? Never mind I'm asking way too much here. (Yeah; Baloo caused all this and who saves the day? The one who told Baloo not to do it in the first place. He's supposed to be the #3 babyface of the show; although he's the reason the show got approved in the first place; thus should be the #1 babyface of the group.) So we head back to "This Was Your Life" (That should be carved on David and Ken's tombstones when they pass on. Just to remind the world how their writing damaged this show.) as the announcer proclaims that there is one last guest left and it's...wait for it....the ULTIMATE SHORT JOKE. Geez; doesn't that expose the whole thing as a facade, Colonel?! Rebecca calls him Colonel Drainpipe just to piss Colonel Spigot off when he enters through the curtain and Wii spotlights. Spigot even brought his REGAL CUTLASS (He wishes he was Don Karnage and he really shouldn't be asking for that.) as the real show finally begins because it's time to cut the You Cannot Do That On Television promo in super slow motion just to milk the whole execution thing. Sadly; they do the third jump cut of the episode as Spigot is already seen at the tanks. (Still better than seeing Wang Films do a million scene changers when Fenton and Scrooge were about to be executed, so points to this episode for that at least.); but he cuts it way too slow because the lights suddenly go red and everyone inhales and gasps. Everyone is in shock as the announcer realizes that this is Cleanser's Comet in the sky and the crowd is in awe. One of the Thembrians realizes that it's Friday and it's payday as they scatter and Rebecca is relieved as Spigot gulps in pain because when the High Marhsall's plans are exposed: YOU CAN BE SHOT!

Dunder comes over and wants to take the fall for it and naturally Spigot calls Dunder on the whole thing much to Dunder's shock. Heh. (That was in fact funny regardless of who was embarrassed here.) We then see the SeaDuck shred the curtain down (Ironically; the Iron Curtain in Germany came down around this time as well.) as Rebecca hops over to the side door, Baloo and Kit come out and Baloo unties Rebecca. Rebecca is shocked that Baloo didn't even have to beat the system as one of the chicken flies out just to screw with Rebecca's mind. Rebecca doesn't care anymore as long as she gets the hell out of this slushpit as she runs into the SeaDuck. We head to a long running sequence of the SeaDuck as it lands (Why didn't they just cut this out so they eliminated the jump cuts from earlier?) on the docks of Higher...For...Hire. Baloo claims that he is one changed bear as he gets out of the SeaDuck along with Rebecca and Kit. (Riiigggghhhtttt. Wake me up when that happens. If Ken and David aren't writing anymore after this...Oh, wait.) Baloo decides to go to Louie's to get the scoop on the party last night. However; Kit tell him to think again because here comes Boardcast Sally: Baloo's date. Boardcast Sally runs towards Baloo; ready to pounce on her date like a hyper sexual being on drugs. Baloo is really going to get it as Baloo tries to talk his way out of it with Rebecca by actually wanting to work with free overtime, but Rebecca blows it off in a sarcastic manner. (Basically; Rebecca tells him that after all the stuff Baloo put her through, he deserves a day off. This is not a fair trade, but considering what Baloo put Rebecca through; there's no way Rebecca was going to be able to top it. So she thinks this date will do it. Considering Baloo's response...sounds fair.)

Baloo's last request is rejected and Sally gets her man as she expresses mild sexual pleasures which torment Baloo. Rebecca and Kit giggle under their breathes as Baloo tells Rebecca that she owes him one. (And during this promo as Sally walks away with Baloo over her shoulder. Baloo proceeds to grab Sally's giant ass. Yes; this did in fact happen.) HAHA! Broadcast Sally is now Clamantha with a better voice and picking her spots to stalk someone. Why didn't Disney just sign Sheryl Bernstein to voice Clamantha instead?! At least then; her voice would not suck and make Oscar's responses funnier in hindsight. It's not like the new Disney hasn't already gone to the cheap mild sex jokes anyway with Mr. Baldwin admitting to having a baby already?! Sally carries (and gets carried away with) Baloo away from the docks to finally the episode at 21:16. I really DID enjoy this episode the second time around; it turns out that it was Pacific Rim Animation's coloring mistakes that did this episode in. It's better than Allowance Day by a mile; but it's still a redo plotline and has minor mistakes. (It is better than Allowance Day in terms of writing and heat; but the wrong person got booked in the humilation process and it was really sexist on the writers part. I cannot give this more than *** 1/2 (70%) in good conscience. If Baloo was the one getting it; then it's **** 1/2 without question. This kind of makes the whole plot knock offing sound petty and it completely ignores the real problem with this episode.)

Final Note: Larry Latham was post-production producer for this one. Also the credits are sped up slightly due to Walt Disney Animation France's involvement.

THE REVIEW LINE

As I mentioned in previous rants; KK/DW were a pair of great Disney writers who gave Disney Television Animation creditability during the mid to late 1980's and in my opinion saved television animation from the gutter that was Ruby-Spears and to a certain extent Hanna-Barbera. However; they didn't learn how to prevent themselves from stealing their own ideas and in the end; it ruined their careers. (Actually; the self-plagurism wasn't the problem. Their careers got ruined when they decided to do something different with the knock off plotline and never considered that it might be harmful to the audience. Something like treating otherwise innocent Rebecca like a piece of meat.) Ken Koonce's on The Cramp Twins has hurt him as a writer and it is sad to see him writing anything at this point. David Weimers has since retired and I hope that this new life will erase the previous one for his own sake. Without the context; this was a really good episode about the consequences of fooling with time to get money and the execution scene with Rebecca was a great moment. (Not anymore. The idea was awesome; but the wrong person got it.) Plus; Kit got to save the day as he only knows how. Sure; it was gimmicky; but then again Kit has rarely has a chance to be written as a savior with his airfoil. The animation was decent and Thembria was hilarious as usual with "This Was Your Life". Actually; the problems with this episode had little to do with Allowance Day and everything to do with Pacific Rim Animation's bad coloring skills which looked like Cleanliness To Badliness at times. (Yeah; because television shows and productions copy and refine elements from other shows. Orginalists want everyone to work in a vacuum and that completely disregards reality.) Overall; I really enjoyed this episode the second time around (not so much the third time around) because it was something Baloo can do which is something I couldn't see the nephews doing in Ducktales on Scrooge. Next up is the one episode in 1990 that I AM dreading which is Citizen Khan (Which is the next episode to transcribe. You know what, I totally see now why Kevin thought Citizen Khan was the best episode of the series and it might be seriously underrated by me. Something about a corrupt sheriff who hates differences can do that to anyone.), then it's Gruel and Unusual Punishment and finally the big Christmas episode Jolly Molly Christmas to end the 1990 episodes. (After that, we have another problematic episode in Last Horizons and then we end the transcripts with Flying Dupes. Time Bandit was the worst of the final four by the way; so it's only looking up from here.) So...

Thumbs in the middle for this episode and I'll see you next time.

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