Recap / Animaniacs Episode 6

Airdate: September 20, 1993

Flipper Parody: The Warners sing a parody of the Flipper theme song

Opening Line: "Cock-A-Mamy"- Yakko, Wakko, and Dot

Temporary Insanity: With his secretary sick, Mr. Plotz tries to call a temp agency, but ends up hiring the Warners by mistake. He allows them to help, and Hilarity Ensues.

Operation Lollipop: When Mindy wanders away chasing her wayward lollipop, Buttons puts himself through the thresher trying to protect her.

What Are We?: During one session, Dr. Scratchensniff tries to figure out what the Warners are, and they run through the list of animals in song.

Tropes found in Temporary Insanity:

• Bait-and-Switch: When Plotz called Dot to take a letter, Dot appears to be writing what Plotz is saying. When he's done he asked Dot to repeat what she wrote:
  Dot: Oh I'm sorry, were you saying something?
  [Plotz grabbed the pad to see that Dot was drawing herself with Mel Gibson.]
• Blowing a Raspberry: Wakko makes a gookie for the first time to taunt his siblings when Plotz calls him into his office.
• Cheek Copy: Wakko does this, but it comes out as an x-ray of his body.
• Literal-Minded: When asked to file some papers, Dot takes out a gigantic nail file and begins shredding papers.
• Look Behind You: When the phone rings for the last time, Wakko tells his siblings "Look, a big fat fanny!", then locks the door while they're looking so he can finally answer it.
• Lust Object: Dot lusting over Mel Gibson.
  Dot: I'm gonna marry that man.
• Mid-Battle Tea Break:
  Plotz; HOLD IT!!!
  Yakko: Time out!
  Plotz: How long must this insanity last?
  Dot: 'Til one of us answers the phone.
  Plotz: I didn't know that.
  Yakko: Time in!
• My God, What Have I Done?: Plotz' reaction when he realizes he called the Warners to help out in his office
• Rage Breaking Point: When all three Warners prove totally inept at taking a memo, Plotz hits his.
• Running Gag: The Warners' racing to answer the phone, with Wakko never getting a chance.
• Shout-Out: Yakko does the "air-typing" routine from the Jerry Lewis film Whos Minding The Store.
  • Plotz's office has portraits of Batman, Buster Bunny, Hamton J. Pig, and Elmyra.
  • The Warners own a Bugs Bunny phone.
• Sneeze of Doom: At the beginning, the sick secretary's sneezes blast her desk, and then Mr. Plotz, across the room.
• Sustained Misunderstanding: When Plotz asks Wakko to write a letter.
  Mr. Plotz: I want you to take a letter.
  Wakko: Where do you want me to take it?
  Mr. Plotz: No, no, I mean I want you to write a letter!
  Wakko: Okay. "Dear Santa: I have been ever so good this year. I would like a new mallet and a shiny new anvil."
  Mr. Plotz: No, no, no, no! The letter is for me, for me!
  Wakko: But I don't know what you want for Christmas.
• Toilet Humor: Wakko swallows Plotz's paperweight. Plotz demands it back.
  Wakko: Okay, but you'll have to wait a while.
  Yakko: Mwah! Goodnight, everybody!

Tropes found in Operation Lollipop:

• Bittersweet Ending: Mindy is brought back home safely, but Buttons still gets in trouble with Mindy's Mom, as when she sees him surrounded by letters from the mail bag he used as a parachute, she thinks he bothered the mailman against her wishes.
• The Cameo: At the airport, the Warners are still being pursued by Ralph. Dot actually greets the viewers by saying, "Hiya, folks!"
• Chasing a Butterfly: When her lollipop gets stuck to a mail truck, Mindy escapes from her house to try to get it back, with Buttons having to chase her down.
• Denied Food as Punishment: When Mindy's Mom finds Buttons surrounded by letters from the mail bag he used as a parachute, she thinks he disobeyed her and bothered the mailman, telling him that she won't give him a treat.
• Dogs Love Fire Hydrants: While chasing the mail truck carrying Mindy, he stop to sniff at a hydrant but resumes his chase.
• Improvised Parachute: When Buttons and Mindy are on an airplane, Mindy's lollipop falls out of the open door. When Mindy tries to grab it, Buttons grabs her by the seat of her pants, then holds onto a mail bag so she can pull her back up. When the mail bag slips out the door, he uses it as a parachute so he and Mindy can safely descend in their backyard. This gets him in trouble with Mindy's Mom, as she thinks he bothered the mailman against her wishes.
• Sewer Gator: Buttons gets attacked by one while searching the sewer for Mindy.

Tropes found in What Are We?:

• Affectionate Parody: Musically, this was Randy Rogel's tribute to Stephen Sondheim. I mean, that opening verse "Maybe we are dogs / Cute little dogs / With ears" is pretty much a Sondheim hallmark.
• Cartoon Creature: The Warners sing a song speculating about what species they actually are. In the end, they conclude that they are "cute".
  Scratchansniff: I'm sorry I asked.
• Pun:
  Yakko: A dinosaur might be some fun.
  Scratchansniff: But zen you'd be extinct.
• Hypno Fool: Averted. Scratchensniff tries hypnotism on the Warners, but it doesn't work.
• Smelly Skunk: One line in the song depicts Dot as a skunk.
  Dot: Hey, maybe I'm a skunk.
  Dr. Scratchensniff: Oh boy, you really stink!

Closing Tower Gag: Dot: "I can't think of the ending of this show." Yakko: "I can't think of anything else!"