Rugrats Episodes From 1991

This page lists all episodes from 1991, which consists of 13 episodes in all. The animation is a little rougher than in later seasons. Also, during the course of 1991, Many of the Rugrats main characters are introduced.

Listing Format:

Episode Number (consectuive counting), Episode Number (by season), Title


0 -- Tommy Pickles and The Great White Thing (Unaired Pilot)
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
n/a 0 n/a n/a n/a

Video Release Date: 8/7/2001 (on Volume 1 of Decade In Diapers)

Writers: Ben Herndon, Paul Germain

Director: Peter Chung
Click here for full transcript.

(Left: Title card from Tommy Pickles and the Great White Thing; © 1990 Viacom. Please note the first version of the Rugrats logo, which is quite different than the more familiar version. Special thanks to Don Del Grande.)

The original pilot episode of Rugrats, which, to this day, has not been seen on Nickelodeon. This episode got the Nick execs sold on the series, which eventually became Nick's top rated show. According to Paul Germain's interview with Billy D'Augustine, the 6 1/2 minute pilot was produced between 1989 and 1990 (that's right; the Rugrats are actually 12 years old, as of 2001). The animation style is much different from the series itself, even different from the first season.

In the pilot, Tommy snuck into the bathroom, and was intrigued by the toilet, which he calls "The Great White Thing". Before he got very close to it, however, Grandpa picked him up and carried him to the playpen. There, Tommy tells Phil & Lil that he'll be going back. Meanwhile, Stu and Didi had a couple of friends over for dinner.

Later, Stu & Didi put Tommy to bed in his crib. Tommy escapes using what would become the old screwdriver-as-crib-opener trick. Tommy proceeds to the bathroom, where he makes a big mess in there, especially when it comes to toilet paper and the toilet plunger. Tommy leaves the bathroom, and enters the living room on Spike's back, with plunger in hand. After they get by Grandpa's side, Grandpa gets up to use the toilet during a chicken commercial on TV, only to find out that the bathroom's in shambles. As Stu and Didi panic, Tommy switches the TV channel to a rock & roll program, and grooves to the music.

After positive results with Nick execs and with a test audience, Nick ordered the first 13 episodes of Rugrats. And, as they say, the rest is history.

Notes:

1. Tommy, Phil, Lil, Spike, Grandpa, Stu and Didi are featured in this pilot. The voices are the same as the TV series, except that Tami Holbrook was the voice of Tommy -- E.G. Daily would not come on board until the series starts. Also, Grandpa's character was named as "Stu Pickles, Sr.", though he'll later be called "Grandpa", and later, "Grandpa Lou". Conversely, Stu was listed as "Stu Pickles, Jr."

2. In the pilot, Tommy wears an orange shirt. He won't begin to wear his trademark blue shirt until Barbecue Story.

3. Peter Chung also animated and directed the Rugrats introduction you see at the start of every show (the one used for all episodes produced through 2000). But most of all, he went on to create the futuristic anti-heroine, Aeon Flux, for MTV.

4. In the pilot, Stu, talking to his dinner guests, mentions that it would be a couple of months until Tommy starts talking. Of course, since the series started, he never talked to the grown-ups.

5. A segment from this pilot was actually used in a station-ID for Nick (still seen to this day): using the TV scene, the Nick logo pops up on the TV screen as Tommy turns on the TV.

6. Apart from the false TV Guide listing in the 8/10/1991 edition (as well as many newspaper TV listings), there were actually plans to televise this episode in another format. In 1992, Klasky-Csupo had plans to expand this episode to the standard 11 minutes and place it in normal rotation on Nick in 1993. However, due to unknown reasons, this episode never made it to TV. For more details, click here.

7. Apart from exhibitions at animation festivals and conventions, this episode was never seen by the public until August 2001, when it appeared on volume 1 of the Decade In Diapers video, which was released as part of Rugrats' 10th anniversary on Nick.

8. Tommy's famous Star Ball was also seen for the first time in this series. According to "Helvetica Gold", the Star Ball was originally designed by Pixar (the Toy Story people) for their short, Luxo, Jr.. The ball also appeared in Toy Story in a scene where Buzz Lightyear (voice of Tim Allen) bounces off of it after leaping from a bedpost.

9. It should also be noted that in the pilot and Tommy's First Birthday, the ball makes a jingley sound when rolled, but in all other appearances, including its next appearance in Barbecue Story, the ball is silent.

(Special thanks to Jeremy Rogers, "Helvetica Gold" and Don Del Grande)

1 -- Tommy's First Birthday
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
1 1 1 1 RTS101

Original Air Date: August 11, 1991

Writers: Paul Germain, Craig Bartlett

Director: Howard E. Baker

Stu and Didi strive to make Tommy's first birthday a memorable one. They did, but under the wrong circumstances. Meanwhile, Tommy wants to eat dog food so he can be just like Spike, eventually selling the other Rugrats on the idea.

Famous Quotes:

1. (The first words said on Rugrats:)

Good morning, Champ. -- Stu (to Tommy)

2. (Tommy pulls on Didi's earrings:)

Mommy's ears are not a toy, Tommy. -- Didi

3. (Stu forecasts the prospects of the Hoverama, as he will do for almost all of his inventions (first time said on "Rugrats"):)

I'm telling you, Deed; it's gonna put Pickles Toys on the map! -- Stu

4. (The Pickles got their puppet show from "Birthdays Magazine", which they rated #1:)

Do we want to be remembered as the family that settled for less? -- Stu

5. (Lipschitz suggested that play-acting is best for feeding a baby:)

Lipschitz knows best, Stu. -- Didi

6. (Dog food commercial seen by Tommy:)

Huskie's Choice, makes your dog run faster and jump higher. So good, makes you wish you were a dog. -- "Huskie's Choice" pitchman (a cowboy)

7. (The DeVilles & Chuckie are introduced:)

The twins are a load, but today we got the ol' Chuckster. (in a lower tone) Why don't we pen these pups? -- Betty

8. (The first time we hear the Rugrats talk:)

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.

9. (Chuckie isn't thrilled about eating dog food:)

I don't know; maybe this isn't such a good idea. -- Chuckie

(This is the first time this phrase is mentioned on Rugrats.)

10. (Chuckie dislikes the concept of eating dog food and becoming a dog (The first part also the first time in "Rugrats"):)

Maybe this isn't such a good idea. Dog's don't have it so good. -- Chuckie

11. (After seeing Didi's carrot cake:)

That is one hefty hunk of health food. -- Betty

12. (Didi laments about not being like one of those mothers on TV:)

Didi: I'm not gonna live up to those mothers on TV.

Betty: C'mon, Deed, TV's TV; we're real.

13. (after Stu unveiled the Hoverama:)

Tommy's not old enough for that gizmo; heck, I'm not even old enough for it! -- Grandpa

14. (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!

Notes:

1. This is the first TELEVISED episode.

2. Many of the principal characters made their TV debut on this episode -- Those that appeared in the pilot (Tommy, Phil & Lil, Grandpa, Spike, Stu and Didi), as well as those that appeared in this episode for the very first time (Chuckie, Angelica, Drew, Betty, Howard, Boris and Minka).

3. This is one of ONLY 6 episodes  in which the title splash card, used to introduce each segment with its accompanying music, is seen only ONCE; the other is below, as well as Vacation, The Turkey Who Went To Dinner, Runaway Reptar & No Place Like Home.

4. Stu & Didi's address is revealed on the invoice for the puppet stuff -- 1258 N. Highland. For 11 years (1988 to Summer 1999), this was the address of Klasky-Csupo, the producers of Rugrats. These days, Klasky-Csupo still uses the mural-laden building for their sound operations.

5. Paul Germain is the co-creator of Rugrats, with Klasky-Csupo.

6. Craig Bartlett is also the creator of another Nicktoon, Hey, Arnold.

7. When the Rugrats finally eat Spike's dog food, look at Phil (upper right corner); when they spit out the dog food, notice that Phil did not spit any out, but licked his lips instead, before announcing that he liked it.

8. Stu's first invention seen on Rugrats: the "Hoverama", a toy that floats on air, using 3 fans on the bottom to make it float and 3 in the back "to turn the thing" (according to Stu).

9. Captioning Note: After Stu mentioned to everyone that the Hoverama wouldn't work due to the lack of batteries in the remote, Boris utters something in his foreign language. In the captions, it said "[speaking Polish]", though keep in mind that Boris & Minka's actual nationality, Russia, won't be known until the Chanukah episode. For an interesting story on Boris & Minka's nationality, see the news page.

10. Captioning Error: In the "Little Red Riding Hood" puppet show, Stu played the title role, while Drew played the Big Bad Wolf. However, the captions credited the wolf to Stu.

11. Animation Error: In this episode, Angelica was wearing the special party dress. But near the end, while the Rugrats act like dogs, Angelica was wearing her normal dress, not originally introduced until the next episode.

2 -- Barbecue Story
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
2A 2A 2A 2 RTS102A

Alternate Title: "Bar-B-Q" (used in Nick's & YTV's episode guides)

Writers: Steve Viksen, Joe Ansolabehere

Director: Norton Virgien

 Tommy has received his favorite toy in the whole wide world -- a ball. Angelica, always looking to spoil the babies' fun, takes the ball and tosses it into the next yard, resulting in the babies risking life and limb looking for it.

Famous Quotes:

1. (After Angelica threw the ball into the next yard (2 "yards" away, to exact), Tommy announces that he'll get that ball:)

A baby's gotta do what a baby's gotta do. -- Tommy

2. (After the Rugrats are in the next yard (the one right next door to the Pickles' place), Chuckie thought it wasn't a good idea:)

Aw, c'mon. Don't be a baby. -- Tommy

(This is the first time this phrase is mentioned on Rugrats.)

3. (After Tommy, Phil & Lil rescue Chuckie from the old, rotted tree stump:)

Tommy: Are you okay, Chuckie?

Chuckie (angry): Am I okay? Am I okay?

4. (Phil & Lil said this mantra repeatedly while Tommy gets the ball, which is in a yard with a mean, growling bull dog. Said very quickly:)

Please don't eat Tommy. Please don't eat Tommy. Please don't eat Tommy. -- Phil & Lil

5. (At the end, Stu accidentally destroys his burgers, though he gave one to Spike anyway:)

Here you go, boy. Burnt to a crisp, just as you like them. -- Stu

Notes:

1. Steve Viksen is also not only a story editor and writer for Hey Arnold, he's also the voice of Oskar, the lazy, Russian boarding house tenant on that series.

2. The title card and intro music is much shorter than usual; about 1/3 the normal time.

3. This is the first episode in which we see Tommy and Angelica in their normal clothes.

4. First appearance of Chazz; you can find him mingling with the other guests near the start of this episode.

5. It's also revealed in this episode that Grandpa gave Tommy the Star Ball; it made its first appearance in the pilot, and in Tommy's First Birthday.

Waiter, There's A Baby In My Soup (untitled)
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
2B 2B 2B 3 RTS102B

Writers: Craig Bartlett, Paul Germain

Director: Norton Virgien

Stu and Didi ended up taking Tommy to an important dinner at Chez Ennui with Mr. Mucklehoney (president of Mucklehoney Industries, a toy company), since Tiffany the babysitter (via telephone) and Grandpa have different plans (the babysitter's OTHER goldfish died and Grandpa was going bowling with a friend of his, Louise). Tommy, however, has plans of his own.

Famous Quotes:

1. (Shortly after they ordered their meals:)

I'm so hungry, I could eat a hog, head first! -- Mr. Mucklehoney

2. (After Stu's "Googly-Specs" incident (see "notes" below):)

I wish I could pay you just to make me laugh! -- Mr. Mucklehoney

Notes:

1. Until recently, this episode had NO title card or intro music; after the first commercial, this segment starts right out with the writers' credits, looking from inside the toilet. However, in Summer 1997, the title card and intro music was added.

2. The "Ennui" in "Chez Ennui" is French for "boredom".

3. Inventions Stu presented to Mr. Mucklehoney (that we see), but not meeting his approval:
Stu's Invention: What It Does: Mr. Mucklehoney's Reaction:
Helioptertron This "Transformer"-type robot changes into a car; after it rolls around a bit, its head propels off in a helicopter-style fashion (it has a propeller on its head). Mucklehoney Industries already have 2 just like it, but they go in reverse.
(unknown) (Not seen, as we are under the table with Tommy; we hear a cranking and whirring noise until it broke down) More laughter.
Ball Walkers (Also unknown, as we are still under the table with Tommy) It's been done years ago.
Googly-Specs Those "Slinky"-type specs with the googly eyes at the end of the springs, only that the eyes fly off. Mr. Mucklehoney ducked as one of the eyes flies into a man's wine glass. He later made a remark about laughter and money (see "Famous Quotes" above).
Alice Alfalfa-Sprout A doll with edible hair (like those Chia Pets) Mr. Mucklehoney's first project for Stu after Stu was hired; named coined by Stu

3 -- At The Movies
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
3A 3A 3A 4 RTS103A

Writers: Craig Bartlett, Paul Germain

(1992 book version adapted by Catherine Daly)

Director: Dan Thompson

Tommy wants to see Reptar, but the parents took him, and the other Rugrats, to the Westside Octoplex to see The Land Without Smiles (starring the Dummi Bears) instead. The Rugrats left Dummi Bears to go look for Reptar (showing at the same theater),  leaving a path of destruction behind them.

Famous Quotes:

1. ("Reptar" ad on TV (approximate):)

Just when you thought it was safe to go to New York! Here comes Reptar! He's big! He's Green! Nothing stands in his way! He's Reptar! And this time, he means business! (talking twice as fast, at a lower tone; same info appears in text on TV over Reptar) Rated "MGR", Minor Guidance Recommended. Now playing at theaters everywhere including the Westside Octoplex. -- voiceover in commercial

2. (When the title "The Land Without Smiles" appeared on the screen:)

"Land Without Brains" is more like it! -- Grandpa

3. (When the Rugrats wander into a theater showing a romance film:)

I don't like kissing movies; nothing ever happens. -- Lil

4. (During "Land Without Smiles")

Shawna (on film): Make sure the kids get the valentines, Sticky Bear. I'm not gonna make it.

Grandpa (in audience): I'm not gonna make it, either.

Didi: Shh!

Grandpa: I'm gonna get some candy; I'd rather rot my teeth than rot my brain.

5. (In the parking lot, a couple of movie-goers were dissatisfied with the movie experience at the Octoplex, due to the "Rugrats":)

Male Movie-Goer: Just when you know the man's a ghost, the picture turns black!

Female Movie-Goer: Worst theater I've ever been to.

Male Movie-Goer: You're telling me! The popcorn tastes like soda pop!

Notes:

1. First appearances of Reptar and the Dummi Bears.

2. Reptar is rated "MGR" -- Minor Guidance Recommended. By the way, when the Motion Picture Association of America first established a rating system in 1968, those are the letters used in rating movies -- G (General Audiences), M (Mature) & R (Restricted), plus the infamous X (Adults Only). The ratings we know today are G, PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17.

3. Before the film started, keep an eye on Tommy's head when he talks to the other Rugrats. Notice that the spots on the head disappear, then reappear, then disappear again.

4. 2 more animation goofs, both regarding the intro to "Land Without Smiles":

   a. When an arrow is shot down for a "sad little boy in Texas", it ended up in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico.

   b. Also note the shape of the United States; when the bears are shooting arrows at it, the map included Baja California, which is part of Mexico, not the U.S. When we return to the map after the princess announced that the list was stolen (when the film title is announced), Baja is gone.

5. Closed-Captioning Note: Near the beginning of this episode, there are 2 instances where Tommy says "Reptar", but his parents translate it as something different (Stu translated it as "Rip-roar"; Didi as something else). Here, the captions for Tommy's "Reptar" is given as "[Garbled]", while his parents' translations are captioned word-for-word, destroying the joke value of this scene for those that need captions to enjoy Rugrats.

Slumber Party
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
3B 3B 3B 5 RTS103B

Writer: Jeffrey Townsend

Director: Dan Thompson

Angelica stays over with Tommy, but her desire for an open window left Tommy feeling ill.

Famous Quotes:

1. (Stu asks Drew about his wife:)

Stu: So, how's the wife?

Drew: You know Charlotte; work, work, work.

2. (Drew has an "innovative" idea:)

Drew: Recycled toilet tissue.

Didi: Wow!

Stu: Recycled toilet tissue? Tough idea, I imagine.

3. (mentioned twice when Tommy asks "What's a slumber party?":)

If you have to ask, you'll never know. -- Angelica

4. (After Tommy was sent to bed due to his illness, Angelica spills her dinner (burger and fries) on purpose onto the floor, which Spike eats the spilled food off of it:)

Oops! And it was so yummy, too! -- Angelica

5. (After Didi put Tommy in his crib for the night:)

Looks like you're gonna get an early start on your slumber party. -- Didi

6. (While checking on Tommy, Grandpa starts another one of his "15 miles" stories:)

Grandpa: In my day, we had to walk...

Drew (in a bored tone): How many miles, Pop?

Grandpa: 15 miles to school in the snow, with no shoes.

7. (Stu and Didi sing a lullaby; not knowing one off-hand, they think one up spontaneously:)

Stu: It's your bedtime, champ.

Didi: Umm... Let's turn out the lamp.

Stu: You'll feel better tomorrow.

Didi: But this song you can borrow.

Stu (whispering, to Didi): Nice, Didi.

Didi (whispering, to Stu): Thanks.

Stu (back to Tommy): If your cheeks are so red,

Didi: and there's heat in your head,

Stu: then we'll call the doctor.

Didi: His name's Herman Schachter.

Stu: 'Cause you're our little boy.

Didi: You're our pride and joy.

Stu: And we think you're the best.

Didi: So goodnight; get some rest.

8. (the morning after Tommy threw up on Angelica:)

I've never seen anyone barf like that; wow! -- Angelica

Notes:

1. Charlotte, Drew's wife, is first mentioned in this episode (see above).

2. In the lullaby Stu and Didi sang to Tommy (see above), we know Tommy's pediatrician's name -- Dr. Herman Schachter. However, we don't get to meet him personally until The Shot.

3. Near the start of this episode, take a close look at the clock on the wall in Tommy's room; notice that it has no hands.

4. Listen closely to Tommy when he sucks on his baby bottle. Does that sound familiar to you? This is the same sucking sound used for Maggie's sucking on The Simpsons. Both sucking sounds are by Gabor Csupo, who was (to a degree) the voice of Maggie (before Elizabeth Taylor) on The Simpsons when Klasky-Csupo animated them from 1987 to 1992.

5. Closed-Captioning Note: Dr. Schachter's name is spelled "Shokter".

6. During Tommy's hallucination scene, the following look like the characters on his mobile, which was spinning around above his crib (the mobile's characters in plain print; Rugrats characters in italics):

Moon (Didi)

Purple Cloud (Stu)

Cupid (Angelica)

Star (Drew)

Airplane (Grandpa)

7. Another animation error: look at Tommy's mouth when he yawns after his hallucination. Note that he has a full set of teeth. Keep in mind that he only has ONE tooth, which we'll find out in Grandpa's Teeth.

4 -- Baby Commercial
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
4A 4A 4A 6 RTS104A

Writers: Steve Viksen, Joe Ansolabehere

Director: Howard E. Baker

Betty talks about her trials and tribulations regarding placing Phil and Lil in a diaper commercial, in which the twins rather ad-lib than stick with the script.

Famous Quotes:

1. (Slogan for "Tighties" diapers:)

Tighties -- The Heavenly Diaper.

2. (When Betty wanted to talk to the ad execs (they're conducting business at the time):)

They can't hear you, Mrs. DeVille -- they're advertising executives. -- Bob, Jonathan Witt's (the producer) assistant

3. (Jonathan enters the studio, finishing a joke to his co-workers:)

Whatever you do, don't sell that poodle! -- Jonathan

4. (As Jonathan looks at, and praises, his pyramid of diaper boxes:)

Lil: He must've love diapers.

Phil: He probably hasn't been potty-trained, yet.

Notes:

1. The ad execs for this commercial are the ad agency of "Snow, Steele, and Trickum". We'll see these execs again in Momma Trauma.

2. Animation Error: When Mr. Witt enters the studio, after his joke (quote #3), please note that Phil and Lil are wearing their normal clothes. Prior to this, and for the remainder of their studio appearance, they were wearing pajamas.

3. Near the end of the studio bit, the ad execs look at the playback of the commercial shoot. The ad was filmed on film, but the ad men see it instantaneously on a TV. In the film industry, many movie cameras have a small video camera attached to it so the scene can be shot on videotape, in addition to film. This way, the director can look at the scene right away without waiting for the film to develop. This method of filming was developed in the 1960's by actor/comedian (and now Muscular Dystrophy Association chairman) Jerry Lewis.

Little Dude
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
4B 4B 4B 7 RTS104B

Writer: M. S. Freeman

Director: Howard E. Baker

Didi took Tommy to her workplace -- the local high school, for use as a visual aid. He rather roam around campus, getting admireship from a biker in the long run.

Famous Quotes:

1. (While Grandpa was practicing his golf, Didi asks where Tommy is. Tommy is with Grandpa, playing his caddy.)

Didi: Pop! Do you know where Tommy is?

Grandpa (sternly): Tommy who?

2. (Didi plans to take Tommy to school:)

Didi: I'm taking Tommy as ... a learning aid.

Grandpa: You mean an experiment! These kids are nothing but monkeys to you!

3. (Didi introduces Tommy to the class:)

This... is a baby. -- Didi

4. (Didi invites the students to change Tommy's diaper. Before "Rocko" (Ramone, the biker, not the wallaby) changed it, other students walked passed Tommy, but never had the courage to change it, including Larry & Steve. Commenting about the "stuff" in the diaper:)

Wow! That's one bodacious load! -- Steve

5. (Didi thanks Ramone for changing Tommy's diaper:)

Didi: Thanks, class! (to Ramone) And thank you, Ramone.

Ramone: Don't mention it, Mrs. P. I got a brother his age, so I'm used to it.

Note:

It is revealed that Didi is a home-ec teacher at Eucaipah High School, though such a fact is mentioned only 3 times; it's mentioned again in Game Show Didi and Stu Gets A Job.

5 -- Beauty Contest
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
5A 5A 5A 8 RTS105A

Alternate Title: "Little Miss Lovely" (listed in Telemundo's web site)

Writer: Everett Peck (based on Arlene Klasky's story)

Director: Norton Virgien

Having desire for the Kingfisher 9000 (a top-of-the-line sports boat), Stu and Grandpa enter Tommy in a beauty contest by placing him in girl's clothes and a wig, and naming him "Tonya". Their main competitor -- Angelica.

Famous Quotes:

1. (Angelica threatens Tommy at the contest, not realizing that he is Tommy:)

Next to me, you're the cutest girl in the show! -- Angelica

2. (Drew coaches Angelica on her routine:)

Move and smile; move and smile. -- Drew

3. (Angelica's version of "My Country 'Tis Of Thee" (patriotic song sung to tune of "God Save The Queen"):)

My country, tears of thee

Sweet land of lizzardy

A bee I seen.

Land all my father buys,

Land of my chillin' pies, (at this point, judges give her high marks)

For every mountain's eyes (line obscured when Grandpa & Stu went off to get Tommy)

Let freedom ring! -- Angelica

(At end, the "ring" caused feedback in the microphone and broke Drew's glasses. Also, the judges changed their marks to lower scores.)

Notes:

1. This episode is written by Everett Peck, best known as creator of the USA Network animated series, Duckman, also a Klasky-Csupo production. A year before this episode, in 1990, Duckman made its first public debut -- as a comic book by Peck, published by Dark Horse (it has since been reprinted by Topps, which published 10 new isssues of Duckman (7 regular issues (with #7 being the reprint of the Dark Horse one-shot) and a 3-issue mini-series)). The Duckman TV series premiered on USA in 1994; on 1/2/2000, repeats of Duckman moved to Comedy Central.

2. Animation error department (I): The morning of the contest, Didi stops Grandpa, Tommy and Stu before they leave, to ask them where they're going (they told her that they're going fishing). As Didi sees them, she was wearing her earrings. However, as we see her, she wasn't wearing those.

3. Animation errors (II): After Grandpa applies makeup on Tommy, we see him backstage with another contestant. However, the picture was kind of jittery. This is not the network or cable system; it's probably a post-production error.

4. As for what to tell Didi if they won the Kingfisher 9000: they've won it in a crossword puzzle contest.

5. The "doorbell" in Stu's workshop is only half as fast as it was in Tommy's First Birthday.

6. We'll hear more about the Kingfisher 9000 in Party Animals.

Baseball
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
5B 5B 5B 9 RTS105B

Alternate Titles: "Tommy At Bat" (used on the box of the British version of the "Tommy Troubles" video; also listed in Telemundo's web site); "Stadium Seats" (used on the Viewmaster reel of this episode)

Writer: M.S. Freeman

Director: Norton Virgien

Using tickets Grandpa had won in a radio contest, Stu and Grandpa take Tommy to the Grizzlies' baseball game, where they play the Boston Bombers. Tommy, however, was more interested in his balloon than the ballgame. Tommy's balloon hunt helped make a very spectacular catch for Grizzlies player Bucky Majors.

Famous Quotes:

1. (The question that Grandpa answered to win the baseball tickets:)

Which ball player had the most homers on the first Tuesday in April for all of eternity? -- Bucky Majors (the answer)

2. (Didi reads the note Grandpa has left:)

Went to the ball game; home for dinner.

Love, Grandpa, Tommy, and Stu.

P.S.: The game's on Channel 2; look for us. -- Didi (from Grandpa's note)

3. (Headline on newspaper at end of episode, celebrating Bucky Majors' spectacular catch of Tommy:)

Bucky Bags Baby

Notes:

1. In Britain, this episode is titled "Tommy At Bat".

2. Note the name of Tommy's toy boat floating in the tub at the beginning; it's named "S.S. Minnow", named after the yacht that brought the castaways to Gilligan's Island.

3. In this episode (and again in No Bones About It), Grandpa listens to KOLD ("music for the old and the old-at-heart"). In actuality, KOLD is the calls for a CBS affiliate  (channel 13) in Tucson, Arizona.

4. The telephone number for KOLD's contest line: 555-KOLD (555-5653).

5. Prior to the 9th inning, the radio announcer says "We'll be back for the 9th inning after a word from our sponsor." When he made that announcement, the announcer was on a public PA system at the stadium; I think it's kind of unusual for the stadium  itself to go to a commercial during the game.

6. There is actually a professional team named the Grizzlies, but its an NBA basketball team named the Vancouver (B.C., Canada) Grizzlies.

7. Final score in the Bombers-Grizzlies game: 1-0; Grizzlies scored once during the first inning. The score is also displayed in smaller print on the newspaper at the end of the episode (see quote #3).

8. When Didi turns on the TV, note the antenna hookup; it's mainly nothing but an antenna made of coat hangers. Keep in mind that Stu and Didi have a satellite dish (according to those aerial shots of their home). Also keep in mind that this is the only TV in the house (according to Angelica Breaks A Leg, in the 4th season).

6 -- Ruthless Tommy
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
6A 6A 6A 10 RTS106A

Writer: Ron Birnbach

Director: Dan Thompson

Being mistaken for the son of millionaire Ronald Thump, Tommy was kidnapped by some thugs, Bob & Mike, in which it was actually more trouble than it was worth.

Famous Quotes:

1. (Didi goes shopping, and leaves Tommy in Grandpa's care. Tommy decides to take a nap:)

Take a nap and keep us both out of trouble. -- Grandpa

2. (At the kidnappers' hideout, Tommy climbs on the vacuum to get his toy ball. Previously, he tossed precious gems into the toilet. They decide who'll fish them out. Bob said that one of his hands has a cut on it, and is reluctant to place them in the toilet bowl:)

These hands are more than my life, they're my death if I put them in there! -- Bob

Notes:

1. The title card for this episode was displayed almost immediately after the show's opening sequence ends; the creators' credits did not completely fade out when we cut to the title card.

2. Notice that one of the thieves (the large, fat one) was smoking a cigarette. The thief was smoking that same cigarette throughout the duration of this episode, even after both thieves were sprayed with dirt from the vacuum and even after they jumped out the window while catching Tommy. That thief's smoking habit must be a very difficult one to break.

Moose Country
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
6B 6B 6B 11 RTS106B

Writer: Jeffrey Townsend

Director: Dan Thompson

After hearing Grandpa's mythical story about a moose, the Rugrats go look for one.

Famous Quotes:

1. (Stu is planting new trees in the backyard. Grandpa "remembered" how nature looked like:)

You call that mudhole "nature"? -- Grandpa

2. (Grandpa criticizes Stu's new tree's:)

In my day we dealt with nothing smaller than a mighty redwood! -- Grandpa

3. (Grandpa babysits the Rugrats while Stu gets more fertilizer:)

Somebody's got to teach these kids the difference between a forest and a philodendron! -- Grandpa

4. (Tommy eats a worm, which the Rugrats think is "chocolate spaghetti":)

It may not actually taste like chocolate spaghetti, but it dances all the way down. -- Tommy

Notes:

1. There are some animation errors in this episode. First, look at Chuckie's shirt. To begin with, the planet on his shirt is usually yellow with red rings around it. During most of this episode, the planet was red with yellow rings. However, the planet turned yellow with red rings when Tommy, Phil, and Lil find Chuckie in a mud hole (they unwittingly abandoned him when they continue to look for the moose). After they got him out, it turned back to red with yellow rings. Then, after they broke the spigot on the water hose, the planet was "blinking" red and yellow, then yellow and red, then red and yellow again, before sticking with a red planet with yellow rings.

2. Another flub involves Tommy and the fertilizer. Tommy's face was covered with fertilizer after the bag was dumped on him. Then, later, not only Tommy, but Phil and Lil have fertilizer on their faces as well, though we never seen those two get it on themselves. When Chuckie called for help, the three ran to the hole. While they were running, their faces were clean; when they got back to the hole, their faces were dirty again.

3. One final error involved the timer used to control the water (which we see when the spigot hit it). Please note that timer is spelled "timor" instead of "timer".

4. Closed Captioning Error: When the water hose is turned on Boris (after the timer in the Pickles' yard is turned off), he tells Minka to turn the water off. The closed-captions spelled Minka as "Menka".

5. Near the end of the episode, Grandpa's moose picture was nothing more than an old insurance calendar. The deer (which the moose picture was based on) is used for a logo for Hartford Insurance.

6. By the way, there is actually a delicacy called "Chocolate Spaghetti", served at some gourmet restaurants. In Italy, there may also be a pre-packaged variety of Chocolate Spaghetti, packaged in the same manner as a box of traditional uncooked spaghetti; I don't know if such a thing exists there, but I noticed this in the 1991 British film comedy, "The Pope Must Die" (in US & Canada, "The Pope Must Die(t)"), where the new Pope David I (Robbie Coltrane), observed an ad for Chocolate Spaghetti (complete with kids' faces smeared with chocolate sauce) while watching TV.

7. Historical Footnote: This episode was televised on Nick on 9/11/2001 when, at about 8:45AM ET, the first hijacked plane crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, starting a chain of events that led to 4 plane hijackings and crashes, including one into the Pentagon's West Wing, and another in the other WTC building. Soon after, both towers of the World Trade Center collapsed, killing thousands upon thousands of people inside, the deadliest terrorist attack in ALL of world history. It should also be noted that YTV in Canada also aired this episode at 8AM ET.

7 -- Grandpa's Teeth
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
7A 7A 7A 12 RTS107A

Writers: Ben Herndon, Margot Pipkin

Director: Howard E. Baker

At a picnic, Spike steals Grandpa's teeth, which led to a frantic search by Tommy and Chuckie. The war veterans are having a concert at the picnic, and Grandpa needed those teeth in order to play the trumpet properly.

Famous Quote:

(The Pickles did not want Grandpa to remove his teeth at the picnic, after an incident at last year's picnic. Drew gives him some advice:)

Why not do us all a favor and keep them in your mouth until we're home! -- Drew

Notes:

1. This is the first time we know that Tommy has a tooth; after Chuckie mentions that Grandpa got new teeth because he pulled his old ones out, he and Tommy try to pull theirs out with their hands.

2. Animation error: More errors regarding the planet on Chuckie's shirt (normally yellow with red rings). During most of this episode, the planet was red with yellow rings. While Tommy and Chuckie were looking for Spike, the planet changed from red with yellow rings to yellow with red rings after Chuckie passes a tree. Later, when Tommy and Chuckie were riding Spike back to the picnic, the planet was red wit yellow rings again. But, when the national anthem ("The Star-Spangled Banner") started, it was yellow with red rings again.

Momma Trauma
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
7B 7B 7B 13 RTS107B

Writers: Steve Viksen, Joe Ansolabehere

Director: Howard E. Baker

Didi and Stu take Tommy to Dr. Lepetomaine, a psychiatrist (who mainly says nothing more than "I see", which, at one point, angered Stu), after Tommy was found drawing on walls. Tommy ended up wandering around the office building, while Stu ended up being psychoanalysed.

Famous Quote:

(A mail boy delivers Dr. Lepetomaine's mail when he sees Natalie, the doctor's secretary:)

Mail Boy: Natalie, would you like to go on a date with me tomorrow night?

Natalie: Not for all the gold in China.

Mail Boy: How about a couple of chili dogs, 2 Cokes, and a box of Raisinets?

Natalie: What time will you pick me up?

Notes:

1. At the start of this episode, Tommy was humming "Red River Valley", while writing on walls. We'll hear this song again from Didi when Aunt Miriam pays a visit.

2. Note how Dr. Lepetomaine's name is spelled on the door; when the Pickles frst arrived at his office, it was spelled "Lepetomaine". Later, when we see Tommy race by his office on a floor cleaner, it was spelled with no "i": "Lepetomane".

3. Also regarding Dr. Lepetomaine, he was probably named after a Parisian named "Le Petomaine", who, from 1880 to 1920,  performed sounds and music by "breaking wind" (if you know what I mean). (Special thanks to Nils Hedglin)

4. The ad agency of "Snow, Steele, and Trickum" was originally seen first in Baby Commercial.

5. Didi knew about Dr. Lepetomaine from his book, "Jung For The Young" ("Jung" is pronounced "young"). This is the first time Didi sought help from an expert other than Dr. Lipschitz.

6. Regarding the above, Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) was the founder of analytical psychology, and writer of many books on the science, including "The Psychology of the Unconsious" (1916).

7. Older TV Fans: When Stu expresses himself to Dr. Lepetomaine, does it remind you of anything? Jack Riley, the voice of Stu, was also Elliot Carlin, who expresses himself almost every week to Dr. Hartley (Bob Newhart) on The Bob Newhart Show, which was on CBS from 1972 to 1978. Unlike Dr. Lepetomaine, however, Dr. Hartley says much, much more than a mere "I see".

8 -- Real Or Robots
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
8A 8A 8A 14 RTS108A

Writers: Steve Viksen, Joe Ansolabehere

Director: Norton Virgien

After seeing a Frankenstein-type horror flick, Tommy and Chuckie go see if Stu is a human or a robot. Stu, however, has a recurring sleepwalking dream, in which he's a host of a cooking show.

Famous Quotes:

1. (Stu, not having enough sleep, becomes delirious while getting ready for bed. Murmuring in a quiet voice:)

Too many wingnuts. These screws won't fit; they're too many wingnuts. -- Stu

2. (Didi warns Stu about the last time he sleepwalked:)

Last time you rearranged your sock drawer and made a 13-egg omelet on the kitchen floor. -- Didi

Notes:

1. This is the first time we see Didi without her glasses on; she takes them off before settling in for bed. Please note that her eyes were google-type, like much of the cast that does not wear glasses. Later on in the series, when she, or anyone else, take off their glasses, their eyes are nothing but dots. In the animation business, this is a stereotype of people who wear glasses; I've also seen this in The Simpsons, especially with Milhouse's eyes. Chuckie's eyes (minus glasses), however, are presented merely as dots in this episode.

2. In this episode (and again in "Special Delivery"), the title card "fades" to black, rather than "cut" to black.

3. Near the start, after Stu places Tommy & Chuckie in the crib for the first time, please note that Chuckie had no freckles. Prior to this (while they were watching TV),  and during their robot search, Chuckie had freckles.

Special Delivery
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
8B 8B 8B 15 RTS108B

Writers: Patric Verrone, Maiya Williams

Director: Norton Virgien

Stu ordered a doll from Eggbert Toys, his competitor, so he could check out their doll, "Tina Trousers",  as a comparison to the doll he's making, "Patty Pants". Thinking that Tommy is getting a new baby in a mail, he hitches a ride with the postman to the post office.

Famous Quotes:

1. (At the start, Patty Pants' first words:)

My name is Patty Pants, and I need a new diaper! -- Patty Pants

2. (Stu frets over Eggbert's "Tina Trousers":)

She walks! She talks! She wets! She even has realistic diaper rash! -- Stu

3. POINT OF NO RETURN address

(sign in the post office's dead letter department)

4. Don't hug your kids with nuclear arms!

(poster on wall behind customer service counter; in this case, the writers tend to get a little political.)

5. (Stu, already frustrated for going to the post office, finds that his "Tina Trousers" box is open, not knowing that Tommy made the mess:)

Stu: This package is a mess! Look; the box is open!

Female Postal Clerk: No charge.

6. (At the end, Grandpa discovers the "doll" that came in the mail, not realizing that Stu already has the doll and Tommy is in the doll's box:)

Look's lifelike. Even smells lifelike. If I didn't know better, I say it was Tommy.-- Grandpa

Notes:

1. We now know that this series takes place somewhere in California; its state flag in front of the post office was a tip-off.

2. One anomaly regarding the above, though, is that the license plates are yellow. California's plates are actually either yellow-on-black (plates issued in the 1960's), yellow-on-blue (1970's), or blue-on-white (since the 1980's). Please note that all 3 styles are still in use today in California.

3. We also know in this episode (and previously in "Real or Robots") that Chuckie had a mom AND a dad; Chazz's role as his father was slightly hinted in "At the Movies", but won't become evident until later. Chuckie's mom had never appeared on Rugrats.

4. As for where the babies come from: Phil says they come from the Stork; Lil says the Store; Chuckie says the hospital. Tommy didn't believe Chuckie, for he thinks that hospitals are only for sick people.

5. Also, according to Phil & Lil, their mom (Betty) was thinking of having another baby as well, though she never went through with it.

6. Please look at Tommy in the mailbag when he's on his way to the post-office; he finds an "American Baby" magazine. Looking for his baby, Tommy says, "Baby?" He opens the magazine, which has a Playboy-like centerfold. He opens the centerfold and comments, "Baby!" Remember, this is a magazine about BABIES.

7. Note how "Tina Trousers" is packaged; it's in a colorful box with a cellophane window, a type of box you see on a shelf in a toy store. The box probably wouldn't get damaged if it was placed inside a plain, corrugated box, or at least wrapped in brown shipping paper.

8. We also learn of Tommy's weight in this episode; 25.10 pounds, according to the scale at the post office, which declared Tommy "overweight".

9. We'll get to see how Stu makes "Patty Pants" in Stumakers Elves.

9 -- Candy Bar Creep Show
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
9A 9A 9A 16 RTS109A

Writers: Tom Abrams, David Howard

Director: Howard E. Baker

The Pickles set up a haunted house for the neighborhood kids on Halloween. As treats, they pass out "Reptar Bars", which contain "chocolate, and nuts, and caramel, and green stuff". The Rugrats go to the haunted house in search for them, eventually scaring Angelica and Grandpa as well.

Famous Quotes:

1. (The final lines of the "Reptar bar" jingle, as sung by Angelica:)

Reptar bar, Reptar bar, the candy bar supreme!

The candy bar that turns your tongue gre-e-en!  -- Angelica

2. (Grandpa looks back on how he went trick-or-treating:)

Back in my day, me and my brother Sparky, went trick-or-treating, but it was 15 miles to the nearest house, and we had real tricks, and real ghosts! -- Grandpa

3. (After the haunted house incident, Angelica was still scared, but she wanted her Reptar Bars back, after losing them in the haunted house:)

I want my Reptar Bar! -- Angelica

Note:

In his flashback about Halloween (quote #2), Grandpa mentioned that he had a brother, Sparky.

Monster In The Garage
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
9B 9B 9B 17 RTS109B

Writer: Peter Gaffney

(1992 book version adapted by Francis Hughes)

Director: Dan Thompson

A rat goes around knocking stuff off the shelves; Stu places the blame on Spike; the Rugrats blame it on the rat, then known merely as "The Monster". After hearing Boris' story about the "dibbick" fighting off the monster with his "klobbermeister", The Rugrats go into the garage in search of this "monster".

Famous Quotes:

1. (After the first incident, Grandpa reflects back to the days when a dog was an outdoor dog:)

In my day, our dog would stay outside, wind or shine, rain or snow! It would be 15 below and it wouldn't matter! -- Grandpa

2. (The Pickles and the DeVilles go bowling. Boris and Minka, babysitting the Rugrats, say goodbye:)

Minka: Have fun at your bowlink!

Boris: Make many spare tires!

3. (Boris tells his story, but Minka thinks the Rugrats won't get it:)

Ach! These mutnick babies don't understand a word you're saying, Mr. Storyteller! -- Minka

4. (The following day, Tommy is determined to find out what made that mess in the garage:)

Tommy: Someone, or something, is making trouble.

Phil: Someone?

Lil: Or something?

Tommy: Yep! Something...bad!

5. (When they found the rat that caused the mess, Stu was scared of it, but Grandpa was brave:)

In my day, we would find herds of elk living in our garage! -- Grandpa

Notes:

1. In this episode, the title card "fades" to black, rather than "cut" to black.

2. Peter Gaffney later went on to create (with Gabor Csupo) Real Monsters.

3. The license plate on the Pickles' car is a California plate reading "PKLS". The plate was green lettering on a yellow background, a color scheme California doesn't currently have, and probably never had. This color scheme has been brought up before in Special Delivery.

4. As in Moose Country and Grandpa's Teeth, the planet on Chuckie's shirt changes colors, from a yellow planet with red rings (normal) to a red planet with yellow rings.

10 -- Weaning Tommy
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
10A 10A 10A 18 RTS110A

Writer: Ann Hamilton

Director: Howard E. Baker

On advice from Dr. Homer, Tommy's dentist (Didi prefers calling him a "tooth fairy"), Stu and Didi wanted Tommy to start drinking from the cup, so Tommy won't have any bad teeth or cross-bites later. Tommy, however, wants to stick with the bottle instead.

Famous Quotes:

1. (Slogan on poster used by Dr. Homer to illustrate his point about Tommy weaning:)

It's never too early to start, but soon, it may be too late.

2. (Didi puts her trust in Dr. Homer:)

Dr. Homer knows about teeth; teeth are his life. -- Didi

3. (Betty is quite skeptical about Dr. Homer, as he has Tommy start weaning at an early age:)

Did you look at his dental school diploma, Deed? That guy's probably a quack. -- Betty

4. (Phil and Lil's dentist gives a different opinion, according to Betty:)

Our dentist, Doc Mulligan, says that we should not think about weaning 'till the twins are two. -- Betty

5. (So that he can have a bottle, Tommy tries to make a deal with Phil and Lil:)

Tommy: I'll trade you my stacking cups.

Phil: There's a couple of them missing.

Tommy: My Snowman book?

Lil: We read it already.

Tommy: My fire truck?

Lil: Umm...We're s'posed to be getting one for our birthday.

6. (Grandpa talks about his brother, who wasn't weaned until he was older, so he says:)

My brother was on the bottle for 15 years, and he had a mouth like a bear trap! -- Grandpa

Notes:

1. This episode is reminiscent of those AA meetings, except that they were adults, and they were liquor in those bottles, not milk; note the places where Tommy hides his milk, as well as Phil & Lil refusing to give their bottles to Tommy.

2. The Snowman book Tommy was referring to in quote #5 is a famous picture book about a living snowman befriending some kids, written and drawn by Raymond Briggs.

3. Near the start of this episode, note the clock on the wall in Tommy's room; it has no hands. It happened before in Slumber Party.

4. On 4/26/1998 at 11:30PM ET, this episode (plus Incident In Aisle 7) was the first Rugrats episode to be regularly seen on Nick-At-Nite, the part of Nick usually reserved for old, off-network reruns. This showing not only made Rugrats the first Nicktoon to be seen on Nick-At-Nite, but the first Nick program to have been seen on all 5 of Nick's programming blocks: regular Nick, Cable In The Classroom, Nick Jr., Snick & Nick-At-Nite (TV Land, a separate channel, does not count).

Incident In Aisle Seven
EPISODE
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For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
10B 10B 10B 19 RTS110B

Alternate Title: "The Supermarket" (used in Telemundo's episode guide)

Writers: Lou Greenstein, Larry Loebell

Director: Dan Thompson

Grandpa takes Tommy to the supermarket. Tommy ended up making a mess of things when he was looking for "Reptar Cereal" -- without Grandpa.

Famous Quotes:

1. (Jingle for Reptar cereal:)

They're round; they're mean; they turn milk green.

Open the mouth, and pour them out;

Reptar Cereal; the cereal you want to shout:

"Reptar!"

We want Reptar!

Reptar! -- Reptar Jingle Singers

2. (Final line in the Reptar Cereal ad:)

Reptar Cereal! The cereal with scales! Part of a complete breakfast. -- Commercial Announcer

3. (Grandpa doesn't believe in calculators:)

In my day we did all our counting with our fingers, and for bigger numbers we used our toes! -- Grandpa

4. (With Grandpa and Tommy shopping, Stu and Didi get concerned:)

Didi: I hope Grandpa comes back with anything other than 40 boxes of "Fudgy Dingaling Bars".

Stu: I hope they come back.

5. (Grandpa finds the "Corrugated Bran Puffs":)

"Corrugated Bran Puffs". Really tasty. Yecch! -- Grandpa

6. (Larry and Steve now work at the supermarket, yet they hate it already:)

Really, totally bogus job; maybe we should've stayed at the Octoplex. -- Larry

Note:

Note the man on the "Perpi Cola" display. Does he look like Chazz to you?

Items at the Grocery Store:

Some of the items found at the grocery store where Grandpa and Tommy were shopping:

(items on Grandpa's shopping list:)

Super Cellulose Soup

Mucilage Pasta

Bark Fiber Sausage

Corrugated Bran Puffs ("Buy One, Get One Free!") (see Quote #5)

Fudgy Ding-A-Ling Bars (Grandpa's favorite)


(some of the items seen around the store:)

Perpi Cola (see note above)

Instant Beauty Hair Spray

Whicker Products

Cheez Cheese

Nonsense Baby Powder

Live Lobster

Melon Camp Watermelon

Squeaky Clean Detergent

Suds Detergent

Pork Chips

Tighties Diapers (as seen in the Baby Commercial starring Phil & Lil)

Eat Me! (type of product not identified, though there's a candy bar in Canada called "Eat Me!")

Left Overs (type of product also not identified)

Pow Mix (type of product also not identified)

(and, of course) Reptar Cereal

11 -- Touchdown Tommy
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
11A 11A 11A 20 RTS111A

Writers: Tom Abrams, David Howard

Director: Norton Virgien
Click here for full transcript.

While Didi and Betty go shopping, Stu and the guys babysit the Rugrats while watching the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Oilers (now Tennessee Titans, see note below) duke it out on the gridiron in "Ultra Bowl XXXVII". Later, Grandpa gives Tommy a bottle of chocolate milk; Angelica, who normally thinks she's too old for baby bottles, fights Tommy over it.

Famous Quotes:

1. (Didi doesn't trust Stu watching Tommy during the Ultra Bowl:)

Didi: After kickoff, all you boys'll be thinking about is guzzling soda and eating pork rinds!

Stu: Whoa! Time out! I haven't eaten pork rinds in years!

2. (Stu introduces the "Bonko-matic Baby Bumper"  (a safety helmet) to the boys:)

Baby gets to play, Dad gets to go about his own business, and voila! No more worried moms. -- Stu

3. (Grandpa offers Angelica a baby bottle:)

Bottles are for babies, Grandpa. I'm not a baby. -- Angelica

4. (Grandpa relives the good-old days:)

Grandpa: Back in Minnesota State I was the "Galloping", uh... "Galloping"...

Drew: Geezer?

5. (Chick Hearn describes the action while the Rugrats fight over the bottle. Here's an example, with more reminiscing from Grandpa. While Angelica was holding the bottle in the air:)

Chick Hearn: The "Statue of Liberty" play! How long was it since we seen that one?

Grandpa: Not since Minnesota State, young fella!

6. (When the fight over the chocolate milk is over, Angelica had the bottle, minus the milk:)

Chick Hearn: We'll be back for more Ultra Bowl coverage after these important messages.

Angelica: It's...empty! Waaaaaaaaaah!

Notes:

1. Revealed in this episode is the fact that Grandpa used to play football for Minnesota State. Coincidentally, Minnesota State is where Hayden Fox (Craig T. Nelson) used to coach the "Screaming Eagles" on Coach (ABC, 1991-1998). Neither Nelson nor his character appeared in this episode, but the writers of Rugrats probably had Coach on their minds when writing this episode (my opinion).

2. This is Chazz's first major appearance. Please note, however, that his hair is more brown than red.

3. First appearance of Fluffy.

4. Legendary sports announcer Chick Hearn played himself in this episode; he was the legendary voice of telecasts of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team from 1961 until April 2002, when the Lakers won their 3rd consecutive NBA championship. He was also one of the most durable sports commentators, as he announced a record 3338 consecutive Lakers games between 1965 and 2001. Hearn has also coined terms commonly used in basketball today, such as "air ball" and "slam dunk". A member of the Basketball Hall Of Fame and the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, Hearn has also appeared as himself in the telefilm The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island, and on an episode of The Simpsons ("Homer Defined", where Homer saved the nuclear power plant with dumb luck; that episode debuted on 10/17/1991, around the same time as this episode). His nickname "Chick" was derived from a prank when he was an amateur basketball player; one day, he was given a box he thought contained a pair of tennis shoes, but instead, contained a chicken. Chick Hearn died at 6:30PM PT on Monday, 8/5/2002 at a hospital near Los Angeles, due to the swelling of the brain following a fall in the backyard of his residence; he was 85.

(Left: Chick Hearn, from CNN.com; © CNN.)

5. At the time this episode was produced, the Houston Oilers were still located in Houston. However, poor ticket sales and a declining fan base led to the Oilers' move to Nashville in 1997. For the first couple of seasons in Nashville, they were the Tennessee Oilers, but beginning with the 1999 season, they were renamed the Tennessee Titans.

The Trial
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
11B 11B 11B 21 RTS111B

Writer: Paul Germain

Director: Norton Virgien
Click here for full transcript.

Someone broke "Mr. Fluffles" (Angelica calls it "Mr. Fluffle-Luffles"), Tommy's clown lamp, and Angelica wants to find out who. The fingerpointing, however, eventually points back to her.

Famous Quotes:

1. (Tommy eulogizes the lamp:)

He was like a brother to me; now he's gone. Why my clown lamp? Why? He didn't do anything wrong. All he did was shine his light on stuff and smiled. -- Tommy

2. (Angelica selects the jury for the trial:)

Angelica: See these teddy bears? They're the jerky.

Phil, Lil, & Chuckie: The jury?

Angelica: Not the Jury! The jerky!

3. (Angelica administers the oath to Phil & Lil:)

Angelica: Do you swear to tell Ruth, the whole Ruth, and nothing but Ruth, so help you Bob? (Brief pause) Just say you do.

Phil & Lil: You do.

4. (Angelica gives the oath to Chuckie:)

Do you swear to tell Ruth and all that stuff? -- Angelica

5. (Angelica confesses, with a loophole (almost):)

Angelica: I'm the one who did it! And you know what? You babies can't do anything about it 'cause you can't talk! I did it! I did it! I DID IT!

Didi (overhearing everything with Betty): Angelica!

Angelica: Oops. I didn't do it! I didn't do it!

6. (Tommy sums up what happened in the end:)

I guess the persecutor's the poopetrator this time. -- Tommy

Notes:

1. We first learn of Chuckie's fear of clowns in this episode.

2. Animation Goof: When Tommy said the last lines of this episode (see quote #6, above), look closely. When he says those words, he was wearing his "Judge's Robe". When we do a panoramic shot of the room, note that he wasn't wearing a robe.

3. Captioning error: In quote #5, Didi caught Angelica, but according to the captions, it was credited instead to Betty, who was visiting Didi at the time.

12 -- Fluffy Vs. Spike
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
12A 12A 12A 22 RTS112A

Writers: Steve Viksen, Joe Ansolabehere

Director: Dan Thompson

Angelica brings Fluffy the cat to Tommy's house. Fluffy ended up making a mess of things, but prefers blaming Fluffy's crimes on Spike.

Famous Quotes:

1. (Phil & Lil envy Spike:)

Lil: Wish we had a dog like him.

Phil: Wish I was a dog like him.

2. (Tommy hates being bossed around by Angelica:)

Tommy: Why do we have to do the things you want to do?

Angelica: Umm...Because!

3. (Drew comes over, possibly on Stu's insistence:)

What is this new invention that you wanted to show me that coldn't wait until tomorrow? -- Drew

4. (Stu unveils the "Electro-Brewmeister 2000":)

It grinds, it steams, it even adds the cream. -- Stu

5. (Angelica introduces Spike to Fluffy:)

...And this is Spike; he's a dog. Dogs are dirty and messy, not like you. -- Angelica

6. (When Spike took revenge on Fluffy by knocking over the shelves, he made it look as if Angelica knocked them over. Angelica, however, unsuccessfully placed the blame on the babies:)

We don't want to blame others for things we did wrong. -- Didi

7. (After Drew, Angelica & Fluffy leave, Stu & Didi clean up after Fluffy's mess:)

Didi: I'll get the broom; you get the Dustbuster.

Stu: Okay, Deed, but look out for my trick knee!

Didi: Oh, Stu!

Notes:

1. Drew mentions that Fluffy is Angelica's new cat. This is Fluffy's first major appearance, but she(?) appeared before, briefly in Touchdown Tommy (above).

2. While in the Rugrats' play area, Angelica does 2 musical numbers -- a dance set to Wagner's Flight of the Valkyries (complete with Viking helmet), and her version of It's Raining, It's Pouring (with Tommy's toy screwdriver as a microphone).

3. Captioning error: during Angelica's performance of It's Raining, It's Pouring, while the Rugrats are chatting, she sung "...and couldn't get up in the morning". However, that line was captioned as "7:00 in the morning".

Reptar's Revenge
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
12B 12B 12B 23 RTS112B

Writer: Peter Gaffney

Director: Dan Thompson

The Rugrats go looking for Reptar at the Sleazola Bros. fair. This Reptar, however, is a cereal addict named Leo.

Famous Quotes:

1. (Grandpa recalls his days as a circus worker:)

Back in my day, I used to work as a carney; I worked day and night and slept with the elephants. If one of them had a bad dream, they'd roll over and squash ya! -- Grandpa

2. (Leo, the guy in the Reptar suit, is given an ultimatum by his manager:)

If I don't see 50 kids leave this carnival with 50 boxes of cereal, you'll never work in show biz again! -- Manager

3. (Angelica wants to go on the "Nauseo-Whirl"; Grandpa approves:)

Everyone has to be scared stiff one in their lives; might as well be when they're 3 years old! -- Grandpa

4. (After seeing Stu & Didi off at the Tunnel of Love):

Ah, love...It's wasted on the young, that's for sure. (to the Rugrats) Let me tell you sprats about love. (brief pause) Maybe when you get older. -- Grandpa

5. (After "Reptar" was fired after the cereal fight with Angelica and before his personal rampage):

You can't fire me! Me Reptar! -- Leo (in character as Reptar)

6. (When "Reptar" starts his rampage on the mini-golf course, everyone starts to leave:)

We better get going. With unbalanced peolple like him, this is no place for innocent children. -- Didi

Notes:

1. In this episode, it's Didi who's scared of clowns, rather than Chuckie; please note that he's smiling while the clown came up and startled Didi.

2. Also in this episode, during the "Tunnel Of Love" scene, we know of Stu's actual name -- Stewart.

3. We first hear of Reptar Cereal (the cereal the Rugrats & Leo likes) in Incident In Aisle Seven.

4. Leo, the guy in the "Reptar" suit, returns in Reptar On Ice.

13 -- Graham Canyon
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
13A 13A 13A 24 RTS113A

Writer / Director: Craig Bartlett

The Pickles experience car trouble en route to the Grand Canyon. Eddie & Ace, a couple of crooked auto mechanics working at "Twin Cactus Auto Repair", try to make a simple, cheap thing more expensive, but Angelica and Tommy inadvertantly stopped them from further damage while playing in a "canyon" of tires.

Famous Quote:

(In the end, when Tommy keeps saying "Graham Canyon" instead of "Grand Canyon":)

Cynthia, it's impossible to teach babies anything. -- Angelica

Notes:

1. First appearance of Cynthia. Craig Bartlett, who has written and directed this episode, also created Cynthia.

2. The role of Eddie was voiced by Pat Buttram, an Alabaman who's best known as Gene Autry's sidekick in his B-movie westerns in the 1940s and 1950s. Pat was also well-known as Mr. Haney on the CBS comedy Green Acres (1965-71). Since the early 1970s, he was also a voice in many animated movies and TV series, many of them from Disney, such as The Aristocats and Robin Hood. He died at the age of 78, on January 8, 1994.

3. Please note that the Pickles were taking U.S. 66 to the Grand Canyon. The legendary Route 66, stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles, was phased out by the federal government several years ago, as it was replaced by various Interstates.

4. Possible Distance Error: When the Pickles' "car trouble" developed, they were already "close" to the Grand Canyon, as they already passed "Mt. Footstool" & "The Devil's Armchair", which, according to the map, is very close to the Grand Canyon. The final distance displayed to the Grand Canyon (where they turned off onto the wrong road) was 395 miles. The first distance we see is 500 miles, which is the approximate distance between Los Angeles and the Grand Canyon. If they were following Route 66 (assuming that they started in L.A.), they should actually be in the vicinity of Barstow, CA, which is still nowhere near the Grand Canyon.

Stu-Maker's Elves
EPISODE
NUMBERS
For Year Klasky
Csupo
Nick
Episode
Nick
Story
AFRTS
13B 13B 13B 25 RTS113B

Writers: Steve Viksen, Joe Ansolabehere

Director: Craig Bartlett

Stu has received an order from Mucklehoney Industries for 15,000 "Patty Pants" dolls. However, he is having trouble with the machine. Tommy and Chuckie fixed it while fetching the "Zippo-Glider", which Chuckie accidentally tossed into the basement.

Famous Quotes:

1. (Grandpa reflects back to the days when they had more sisters than toys:)

My 15 sisters all shared the same doll; and they shared the same room, too! -- Grandpa

2. (Chuckie is unable to fly the Zippo-Glider properly:)

Maybe I'm not meant to soar with the eagles. -- Chuckie

3. (Drew doesn't believe that Stu can handle the manufacturing himself:)

Drew: Maybbe you should hire a professional to do it.

Stu: I AM a professional!

Drew: A professional dunce.

4. (While climbing down the stairs with Tommy to the basement, Chuckie gets scared:)

I need a bottle. -- Chuckie

5. (In the basement, before getting "eaten" by the folding bed, Chuckie finds a moose head on the wall:)

Hey, Moose; where's the rest of ya? (Brief Pause) Are you just gonna hang there? (Another Brief Pause) Oh, you're no fun.-- Chuckie

6. (After Stu realizes that his machine is working properly, he spreads the word to Didi:)

They call me "crazy"! "Crazy genious" is more like it! -- Stu

Notes:

1. "Patty Pants" (the doll being manufactured) was first introduced in Special Delivery. Also, Mucklehoney Industries (called "Mucklehoney Toys" in this episode) was introduced in Waiter, There's a Baby In My Soup.

There are some animation errors in this episode:

2. Near the beginning (shortly after the opening credits), and later (when Chuckie got stuck in the folding bed), you'll see some white specks floating by on the screen. This isn't your TV or the network; for some reason, the film was not properly cleaned during post-production of this episode. Keep in mind that film tends to get dirty during shipping, especially when it has to cross the Pacific (the animation for the first season was done in Hong Kong).

3. When Tommy and Chuckie was on the doll machine, they were fitted with doll clothes, including white socks and blue shoes. How the machine got socks and shoes on Chuckie is beyond knowledge, since Chuckie was already wearing yellow socks and red sneakers. It's probably impossible to wear 2 shoes on the same foot, unless the shoe on the outside is somewhat larger than the one on the inside; the shoes used for the dolls were the same size as Chuckie's shoes, if not, smaller.

4. Near the end, we see Tommy and Chuckie in doll clothes (and Chuckie in doll makeup) in the box where the dolls were kept. After Stu and Didi left the room, Tommy and Chuckie climbed out of the box, wearing their normal clothes, probably without pausing to take off the doll clothes that they were wearing.

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