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Rugrats

Tommy's First Birthday

Season 1, Episode 1, Aired Aug 11, 1991

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As Tommy turns one, Didi, Stu, Betty and Howard try to throw Tommy a memorable birthday party, but things don't exactly go according to plan when the puppeteers don't show up. Meanwhile, Tommy, not acknowledging that it's his birthday, sees a commercial for dog food and is determined to try some, as he has the idea that he and his friends will turn into dogs, after they've taken a bite out of the dog food. Will he be able to sneak past his parents and succeed?

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Cast & Crew

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Jack Riley

Stu Pickles
David Doyle

Grandpa
Phil Proctor

Howard DeVille
E. G. Daily

Tommy Pickles
Michael Bell

Drew Pickles
Christine Cavanaugh

Chuckie Finster

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Fan Episode Reviews (8)

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Pilot episode!

10

"Perfect"

By JPPT1974, Jun 27, 2007

This is the first episode of what would become a classic show as it focuses on Tommy Pickles first birthday. As the show is told from a baby's point of view. As also the other babies of Phil, Lil(twins), scaredy cat Chuckie, and bratty Angelica. As the show is really told from Tommy's POV as he is the "leader" of the babies.
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Tommy's first birthday party

10

"Perfect"

By yuki_megami, Feb 19, 2007

It is Tommy's first birthday and yes his first birthday party as well.Didi has plan an perfect birthday party for Tommy.What get Tommy interested in the dog food,that he saw in the comerical.That said that it could turn him into the dog.He tells the others about the dog food.So the babies tried to taste the dog food unfortunelly couldn't.Meanwhile Didi,was hoping for the puppeteer would come along with the puppet stage unfortunelly it was an no.Which got her mad and upset.

But the birthday party turn out alright.This was an great episode.moreless
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My very first review...

10

"Perfect"

By kcolvis, Sep 02, 2006

Considering this episode is indeed the very first one, and tommy isnt even a year old, Hes more than likely going to um last a long time. of course i was able to watch the rugrats in my spare time when i was a kid but... Tommy is older than me now! He should be like 15 now. Wow i want to be immortal like him cept not with the age he has.moreless
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an excellent starter to an amazing show

10

"Perfect"

By Tony58504, Jul 26, 2006

Wow I never knew Nick could ever make a show this great. Tommys first birthday was one of the really good episodes of course I love all the episodes of rugrats. Now one thing that actually made me laugh a little was that Tommy was trying to eat dog food. Also this was a great intro to stu, diddy, tommy, phil, lil, chuckie, spike, pop, and, Tommy Pickles. However the only thing I can critisize about this episode is that it doesn't come on very often so I never get to see it anymore and this is such a good episode too.moreless
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One word. Classic.

8.0

"Great"

By packymaster, Dec 18, 2005

This episode showed how good this show really is. I liked this episode very much and it was fun to watch. I saw it multiple times, and I can't stop but think of the past. This was an excellent episode that showed the rugrats personalities. This episode was well made as a pilot. This episode must have attracted many fans because for this to be the longest lasting show on Nickolodeon, it had to start somewhere.moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (8)
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- Tommy is wearing an orange shirt, he won't wear this again in the series.
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- When Tommy turns on the TV the Nickelodeon logo is visible in the corner of all channels he views.
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- Goof: There are a lot of extra shelves, and bookcases in the Pickle's kitchen, that aren't there for the rest of the series.
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- Goof: When Angelica grabs Tommy and Chuckie to take the picture her arms are extra long.
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- Goof: Towards the end of the episode right after the babies eat the dog food you see Lil lick her lips, while Phil and the rest of the babies spit it out. Yet in the following scene Phil says the dog food tasted good, while Lil and the rest of the babies didn't like it.
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- Behind Boris and Minka in the doorway is a green solid thing, not grass because it fills the whole space up!
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- Goof: When Didi opens the door for Boris and Minka, we see her right hand raised, frozen waving. Her left hand rubs the area below her chin and is easily twice as small as the right hand!
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- Goof: When the Rugrats were acting like dogs Angelica was in a suit but when they were acting like dogs Angelica was in her normal clothes
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QUOTES (9)
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- Angelica: What do you weigh now, 25 pounds?
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- Tommy: Spike already ate all of the food. Lil: But I wanted to sleep in the flowers. Angelica: And I wanted to bite the mail man.
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- (Boris tastes the carrot cake) Boris: Carrot cake? In my country we always have chocolate cake! Minka: As you can see, we're not in the old country, Mr. Chocolate Cake. Boris: For your information, Minka, Chocolate cake is international! Minka: Oh, so suddenly he's now Mr. International!
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- Stu: Good morning, Champ.
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- Didi: Mommy's ears are not a toy.
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- Stu: (as little Red Riding Hood puppet) Why grandma, what big eyes you have. Drew: (as Big Bad Wolf puppet) Why, thank you.
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- Didi: I'm not gonna live up to those mothers on TV. Betty: C'mon, Deed, TV's TV; we're real.
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- "Huskie's Choice" Pitchman (a cowboy): Huskie's Choice, he'll run faster and jump higher. So good, you'll almost wish you were a dog.
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- Tommy: Chuckie, Phil, Lil; I got just one word to say to you. Chuckie, Phil, Lil: What? Tommy: Dog food. Phil & Lil: Dog food? Tommy: Dog food.
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NOTES (3)
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- Stu & Didi's address is revealed on the recipt for the puppet -- 1258 N. Highland. For 11 years (1988 to Summer 1999), this was the address of Klasky-Csupo.
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- The Rugrats theme is based on a song Mark Mothersbaugh 1988 Japanese album, Music For Insomniacs Volume II.
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- OPENING TITLE CARD: Every episode of this show, not only the episode "Hair!", has TWO small hidden subliminal smiley faces in the opening title card. One as the title card opens and another right before the title card closes. You can see these if you play the title card in slow motion or pause it at the right exact moment. Also the flashing background behind the title card switches from shapes to patterns to camels to cats to stick human figures. You can see these clearer if you pause each scene at the exact moment.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- 2001: A Space Odyssey: When Didi and Stu are trying to feed Tommy, and they are pretending that the spoon is a space shuttle, Didi says, "Open the pod bay doors Tommy." This is a line taken from the science fiction classic, 2001: A Space Odyssey.
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