This is the first Team Rocket based episode of the series. This episode reveals how Meowth learned how to talk and why he join Team Rocket.
Team Rocket uses the song version of their motto again.
Meowzy's owner's license plate is 052 NYA. Meowth is Pokemon number 52 in the Pokedex and its Japanese name is Nyarth.
Cleavon Schpielbunk who directed the movie from the previous episode makes a brief appearance in this episode.
In the scene where Meowth is learning to read, you hear Meowth singing a calm song in the background. The music for this song is actually from one of the closing credits of the original Japanese Pokémon cartoon that featured a song from Meowth.
If all he did to learn how to talk was eavesdrop on speech classes and read books, and if all that took place in California, where'd Meowth pick up the New York accent?
Jessie: You know us as Team Rocket and we fight for what is wrong. James: We're tired of our motto, so we thought we'd try a song! Jessie: Jessie. James: James. Meowth: Team Rocket to da rescue!!
Meowth: Hey! She sells seashells! Meowth: (Narrating) I didn't know what seashells were, but I was finally talking! So I got myself a picture book and tried to figure out the alphabet. Meowth: R is for rah-rah rocket! Meowth: (Narrating) If that hadn't been the first word I understood… Jessie: T is for prepare for trouble! James: And D is for make it double! (Meowth appears with Jessie and James) Meowth: I might not have joined the illustrious Team Rocket!
Meowth: Go West, young Meowth! Go west to Hollywood, the place where there was ice cream and fried chicken waiting just for me!
Meowth: (Singing) Under the evening sky with the moon high up above! I learned to speak human, cause this cat's got puppy love! I'll stand on two legs! Hold my head up high! And she'll want me. Wait and see! I'll write poetry and recite it myself! For Meowzy!
Meowth: My story's a bittersweet one, like a cheap chocolate bar! The first thing I remember was being alone; no family, no friends, no home! My stomach was empty, and so was my heart.
(After the Meowsy goes to the Persian's side after Meowth defeated him) James: After what Meowth did for her… Jessie: …She's sticking with the Persian? Meowzy: Nya nya nya nya nya. Meowth: She says the Persian took her in and helped her when she was down and out and it wouldn't be right to leave for me. Meowzy: Nya nya… Meowth: Anyway… Meowzy: Nya nya nya, nya. Meowth: AAHHHH! James: Huh? Jessie: What'd she say? Meowth: She'd never want to be with me 'cause I'm still just a walkin', talkin', freak Meowth! Jessie: Maybe so… James: …But at least he's… Jessie & James: Our freak.
Jessie: We may be mean and nasty, but we'd never turn our backs on a teammate in trouble. James: Unless we were exposed to any actual danger.
Team Rocket: Looks like Team Rocket's dancing off again! Ash: That was scary.
This episode was published in the book Pokémon Volume 5 "Team Rocket Blasts Off".
This episode was on the 4th GBA video
Who's That Pokémon: Onix
This episode's original title was "Hollywood Heartbreak", and it is labeled as this on Pokémon.com and the DVD releases.
Ash's mom is dressed like Marilyn Monroe in one scene.
Title Pun: Go West Young Man The title is a play on Horace Greely's phrase "Go West, Young Man".
Delia: Oh, I'm getting swept up in all this excitement, aren't you? While saying this line, Delia is in a pose made popular by the 1955 Marilyn Monroe movie "The Seven Year Itch"
User Score: 24125
User Score: 858
User Score: 1706
User Score: 1675
User Score: 792
User Score: 692
User Score: 498
User Score: 190
User Score: 149
User Score: 130