80-27
"THE KITTEN SITTERS"
Tom and Jerry are left at home in the care of Spike, the family watchdog, who
tries to keep order in the house. But when Tom and Jerry take in a litter of
six abandoned kittens and try to keep them hidden, chaos is the result. Spike
finds one kitten and puts it outside, thinking his troubles are over. When
he finds another one, though, he wonders if he has gone crazy. It seems as if
the pet bird, the fish and even the coo-coo clock are saying "meow." Spike decides
to split before he totally cracks up, when, at last
he discovers all six kittens
hiding in his doghouse. Relieved to find himself
sane after all, Spike welcomes
the new kittens.
TRIVIA & NOTES:
- "The Kitten Sitters," to a great extent, was inspired by the classic MGM T&J short Puppy Tale (1954).
- The goldfish tank and canary cage Tom crashes into after slipping on a rug while chasing Jerry
are references to the classic shorts Jerry And The Goldfish (1951) and The Flying Cat (1952).
- The presence of the cuckoo clock here is a homage to one used as a tool in 1942's Dog Trouble, which marked the debut of Spike (first called Butch).
- Another New Tom & Jerry cartoon bearing a title using the word "Kitten" is "The Police Kitten" (#80-28).
80-21
"TERMITES PLUS TWO"
LOST EPISODE
While Tom & Jerry rock in their rocking chairs reading their morning paper, Professor Fixit's
Weekly Household Tip on the radio warns of the termite season, and their
home must be treated for termites before any damage. Just then, actual termites
start attacking Tom and Jerry's house, first gnawing away their rocking
chairs as they sit in them. A magnifying glass reveals the termites as a
motorcycle gang with rotary saw blades for wheels as they take off in a cloud
of sawdust. Tom and Jerry try everything to get rid of the termites--DDT spray, a platter of a log topped
with whipped
cream and a cherry, a super vacuum cleaner, and even an anteater!--but all
their efforts fail. Finally they hop into their station wagon to escape while their
house crumbles behind them (giving new meaning to the term "eaten out of house and
home"!), but even the car disintegrates. They ride away on the car's steering wheel,
with the termite horde still in
a hot pursuit.
TRIVIA & NOTES:
- "Termites Plus Two" is delightfully reminiscent of termite-themed theatrical cartoons of the past, such as The Housing Problem (TerryToons, 1946),
Termites From Mars, with Woody Woodpecker (1952), and Insect To
Injury, featuring Popeye (1956).
- This is one of many occasions which see T&J driving in a vehicle; they are seen in a
hotrod in episode #80-26, "The Sorcerer's Apprentices," and a convertible
in #80-36, "Triple Trouble." Also, they are seen in a police car in #80-28, "The Police Kitten," a tractor in #80-39,
"Son Of Gopher Broke," a vet's ambulance in #80-23, "The Hypochondriac Lion," and a Catcar in #80-29, "Two Stars Are Born."
- The scene in "Termites Plus Two" of Tom & Jerry running on a log is based on the first scene in the
syndicated opening credits.
- Professor Fixit's (voiced by John Stephenson) Weekly Household Tip is heard on the radio. It parallels numerous classic MGM T&J cartoons which made use
of radio programs, including Fraidy Cat (1942), The Zoot Cat (1944) and The Missing Mouse (1953).
- Tom actually jumps into Jerry's arms in one scene!
