Garfield & Friends

The seventh (last) season of Garfield had some of the best episodes ever (possibly because they knew they were running out of time). One of the great characters from this season was Aloyisius Pig, a no-nonsense pig who's outragously devoted to following the rules, and his best episode was The Discount of Monte Cristo.



Orson wants to tell the story of The Count of Monte Cristo, but Aloyisius insists that it must be kept on budget. With every scene, Aloysius complains about the scenery, the actors, the costuming (with his trademark line, "That's not right!"), until finally he starts firing people left and right until the story is ruined. Much of this episode's humor comes from the truth of it, how so often people let money drive everything and are willing to sacrifice quality for cheapness. Pretty good lesson for a kids' show.



Sadly, this gem was never shown during syndication. I hope it's on the next DVD edition - the world needs to see it again!

I admit, the seventh and last season was not the best of the series, but The Discount of Monte-Cristo, a U.S. Acress episode was really awesome. I love the Aloysius presence of this episode, trying to explain that the story concept was a much budget project and explain too the rough works for animators employeed for created the show. I like especially the ending scene. Very great hahaha! If all shows was like that nowadays...

This episode shows the truth about how animation is made, but spoofs about what happens when one tries to do on the cheap.



It also shows how someone like Aloysius who not only doesn't use or want to use his own imagination, he becomes a total party-pooper to everyone else by

his continued acts to ruin the idea and the play to death with budgeting, firing, and cost-cutting.



It was mighty clever of Orson to star Aloysius

in "Robinson Crusoe", but Aloysius' own habitual cost-cutting leaves HIMSELF in a lurch when he cuts

out his own rescue ship! I *WOULD* feel sorry for

the big schlub, but he was a total pain in the rear for being such a cheapskate and a fun-stealer.



This does have a moral in this, somewhere... so I'll

make one:



"Don't let anyone nickle-and-dime your dreams to nothingness."