Have always loved episodes for anything where pop culture is poked fun at, through pastiches, parodies and caricatures namely. Looney Tunes did this amazingly more times than one can count, as did 'Animaniacs' and 'Pinky and the Brain'. So did 'Tiny Toon Adventures', both in its individual story-structured episodes and its more frequent segment-structured episodes. Of which "Acme Cable TV" is a bit of both, feeling like an individual story while having parody segments.
Which is what "Acme Cable TV" does and brilliantly. It is one of the best, funniest and cleverest episodes built around a premise where commercials etc. are parodied, as well as one of the most consistent, and among the best of the later episodes overall. Also one of the best in a while, during a period where 'Tiny Toon Adventures' were becoming more variable. Never unwatchable while not many reaching greatness. "Acme Cable TV" succeeds in every way.
"Acme Cable TV" looks great. There are some clever, expressive visuals and reactions in "Toonywoods Squares", but the most striking is how the Jay Ward-inspired "The Babsy and Buswinkle Show" is designed. Some may think, if not knowing what that particular spoof was going for, that this part looks cheap, but it was a deliberate choice as that is what is being spoofed. Evident in the inside jokes and references to limited animation.
The music is dynamic and characterful as always and the theme song has always brought a smile to my face. Something that was the case when a child and still is now. Some of the best writing of the later episodes is here in "Acme Cable TV", so razor sharp witty and clever. The pastiches and caricatures are spot on and full of nostalgia and wit. Some may think "do I need to be familiar with what is being referenced and poked fun at to understand the jokes?" My answer is that it would help, but the writing and gags are still so hilarious and beautifully timed that it is easy to laugh out loud anyway.
Inside jokes, especially in the dynamite chemistry between Buster and Babs, are affectionate, smart and a lot of fun. Some of the best lines are in the "Toonywoods Squares" spoof. The story is slight but with this much furious energy and consistently funny material that was not an issue at all. The characterisation is spot on, Buster and Babs are such compelling leads and Montana Max is also funny. The voice acting is great, with typically versatile work from Charlie Adler and Tress MacNeille in particular.
Overall, brilliant. 10/10
Which is what "Acme Cable TV" does and brilliantly. It is one of the best, funniest and cleverest episodes built around a premise where commercials etc. are parodied, as well as one of the most consistent, and among the best of the later episodes overall. Also one of the best in a while, during a period where 'Tiny Toon Adventures' were becoming more variable. Never unwatchable while not many reaching greatness. "Acme Cable TV" succeeds in every way.
"Acme Cable TV" looks great. There are some clever, expressive visuals and reactions in "Toonywoods Squares", but the most striking is how the Jay Ward-inspired "The Babsy and Buswinkle Show" is designed. Some may think, if not knowing what that particular spoof was going for, that this part looks cheap, but it was a deliberate choice as that is what is being spoofed. Evident in the inside jokes and references to limited animation.
The music is dynamic and characterful as always and the theme song has always brought a smile to my face. Something that was the case when a child and still is now. Some of the best writing of the later episodes is here in "Acme Cable TV", so razor sharp witty and clever. The pastiches and caricatures are spot on and full of nostalgia and wit. Some may think "do I need to be familiar with what is being referenced and poked fun at to understand the jokes?" My answer is that it would help, but the writing and gags are still so hilarious and beautifully timed that it is easy to laugh out loud anyway.
Inside jokes, especially in the dynamite chemistry between Buster and Babs, are affectionate, smart and a lot of fun. Some of the best lines are in the "Toonywoods Squares" spoof. The story is slight but with this much furious energy and consistently funny material that was not an issue at all. The characterisation is spot on, Buster and Babs are such compelling leads and Montana Max is also funny. The voice acting is great, with typically versatile work from Charlie Adler and Tress MacNeille in particular.
Overall, brilliant. 10/10
