Garfield and Friends [Archive]

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blazecat

01-21-2009, 03:35 PM

Anyone remember this show? If you do, what did you think of it? I really don't remember much about it except that There was Garfield, Odie, John, and an annoying clown. How was this series?

All Star Blitz

01-21-2009, 04:09 PM

You've honestly never seen more than a few eps of Garfield and Friends? Seriously? What a sad childhood you must have had. (Kidding.)

I think it had all the hallmarks of a good early-90s cartoon even though it began in 1989. Subtle pop culture references (like the episode where Garfield tells how strip malls are everywhere), fourth-wall/self-referential gags (Garfield watches a whole episode, then points out the mistakes in it), plenty of in-jokes (Klopman Diamond), episodes that were outside the norm (I remember one ep that was a big poem about some king who got his weight in gold). I thought it was consistently funny even in the later seasons with the rap theme song. I especially thought that Lorenzo Music was perfect as Garfield… and oh yeah, who can forget "We're Ready to Party"?

I'm very glad to see that the whole series is on DVD, it was a big part of my childhood and I'm so happy to relive it.

DarkKnight

01-21-2009, 04:54 PM

it was an excellent show and very entertaining for anyone to watch. i have 4 of the 5 volumes on dvd.

mowub

01-21-2009, 07:03 PM

Way more entertaining than the comic, especially in the strip's present form.

rainstorm46

01-21-2009, 08:18 PM

Anyone remember this show? If you do, what did you think of it? I really don't remember much about it except that There was Garfield, Odie, John, and an annoying clown. How was this series?

I don't remember it much either but I remember the theme song of the show. I remember seeing this show on Nickelodeon back when I was a kid. But I have never been a big Garfield fan but I do think the show is ok even though I hardly remember.

hobbyfan

01-21-2009, 09:29 PM

Blackstar

01-21-2009, 10:01 PM

If Garfield ever comes to Da Boom, they'd be wise to pair him with Heathcliff for a 1 hour block.

Garfield & Friends already has aired on the Boom, but it was only on for a short time. Less than 2 months, if I'm not mistaken.

All Star Blitz

01-22-2009, 12:15 AM

The "Friends" in the title also includes Jim Davis' other strip, US Acres.

I was probably one of the only fans of this series that knew – even in the early 1990s! - that US Acres was also a strip. Our book club in 3rd grade had at least one US Acres book, which is long since discarded since it fell apart.

Tobias

01-22-2009, 04:27 AM

The "Friends" in the title also includes Jim Davis' other strip, US Acres. Gary Owens was the series' announcer (which most folks have forgotten). Aired mostly for an hour on CBS, but of course was trimmed to 30 minutes for syndication.

If Garfield ever comes to Da Boom, they'd be wise to pair him with Heathcliff for a 1 hour block.

The only bad part about the syndication packaged eps is that they cut out the 'Screaming With Binky' bits. Those were always my favorite part of the show during the original CBS run.

Brainatra

01-22-2009, 08:15 AM

Does this show still air on any local over-the-air stations in syndication? It used to air here (Milwaukee) on weekday mornings until 2005 or 2006.

-B.

tb4000

01-22-2009, 11:22 AM

In all honesty, this show was the precursor to the humor of Tiny Toons, Animaniacs, and Freakazoid, even if they did take inspiration from the Termite Terrace crew.

Tobias

01-22-2009, 02:53 PM

Does this show still air on any local over-the-air stations in syndication? It used to air here (Milwaukee) on weekday mornings until 2005 or 2006.

-B.

I believe cartoons in syndication are all but dead, unless the affiliates are desperate to fill airtime. Where I'm at, there are ZERO cartoons in syndication outside of 4Kids on CW's Saturday Morning lineup. All the E/I programming is nature shows and Saved By The Bell now.

Toony Loon

01-22-2009, 05:54 PM

The Garfield comic strip was never to my liking, but the show "Garfield and Friends" I think was actually very enjoyable. Lorenzo Music was very funny, and it was nice to see a cartoon that had original songs in almost every show (Like the Fleischer "Betty Boop" and "Popeye" cartoons). I don't know why, but I always preferred the original opening to the show ("Friends are There") to "We're Ready to Party." (Please don't hit me! ;) )

Ioz

01-22-2009, 07:52 PM

I watched this show every Saturday morning. It is probably my favorite Satuday morning cartoon ever. It started in 1988 and ran for 7 seasons. There are very few Saturday cartoons that lasted that long. I own the DVD releases of the show.

ap75021

01-23-2009, 12:22 AM

I think the comic strip translated very well to television, and Lorenzo Music was the perfect voice for Garfield's thoughts, evil thought many of them were. The Odie theme was perfect, and I was even happy with their choice for garfield's voice when Garfield: The Mopvie was put together (Bill Murray kept it in perfect character). What a lot of people who do remember the US Acres strip don't realize...is that outside the States, that strip was called Orson's Farm. We were the only country where it was named US Acres. That strip lasted (I believe) until about 1986 (maybe?), but was also done equally well for television...Wade was completely over the top (anyone who remembers the episode where Wade pulls the tag off a pillow and is totally paranoid after reading the tag knows what I mean). One of the best jobs this side of Peanuts at taking a comic strip and bringing it to Saturday morning (not to take anything away from Archie's TV Funnies). I recommend the DVDs to anyone who enjoys a very well done cartoon series.

All Star Blitz

01-23-2009, 01:08 AM

We were the only country where it was named US Acres. That strip lasted (I believe) until about 1986 (maybe?)

1986-1989.

danreyes1

01-23-2009, 11:10 AM

It was once my favourite cartoon. The show had a great sense of humour. I loved Garfields dry and sarcastic personality and the wacky situations that everyone would wind up in. I found a couple of the DVD sets in Target for a mere $7.50 each recently and jumped at the chance and loved it.

GCFyouthcamper

02-02-2009, 06:21 AM

I really don't remember much about it except that There was Garfield, Odie, John, and an annoying clown.

Interestingly enough, some words from that annoying clown make up my entire signature. Check it out below.

Anyway, All Star Blitz summed it up pretty well already. I personally prefer "Friends are There" because I didn't get to see the other song version. I loved US Acres with Orson, Roy, Wade, Booker, Shelldon, Bo, and Lanolin.

You can find the show all over Youtube. I recommend you check it out.

Silverstar

02-02-2009, 08:22 AM

I personally prefer "Friends are There" because I didn't get to see the other song version.

In all fairness, you can't really say you prefer one theme if you've never actually heard the other. One can only make an accurate preference if they've experienced both.

Anyway, Garfield & Friends was OK. The show was never a favorite of mine (partially because the strip itself has always just been so-so to me), but I could sit through it for a half-hour and not complain much.

PalmelaFC

02-02-2009, 10:56 AM