Recap / The Nostalgia Critic S 1 E 2

Released: April 8, 2008

Special: Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue (April 21, 1990)

Tagline: The Nostalgia Critic takes a look at an anti-drug cartoon special from 1990, titled Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue.

This review contains examples of:

• Actor Allusion: After being disappointed by a one-liner from Smoke, the Critic dubs a speech from Patton into Smoke's dialogue, since both characters were played by George C. Scott.
• Alternative Character Interpretationinvoked: At the end of the review:
  Critic: ...You know what the Irony is? I think most of these cartoon characters were on drugs LONG before this special came out. I mean look at 'em: Garfield's always hungry, Pooh's happy as hell, Daffy's hyped up on speed, and Michelangelo... well listen to him! (footage of Michelangelo saying, "Your brain must be like really messed up.") I even think our beloved president smoked a doobie before he came out. I mean look at him! (footage of George H.W. Bush staring at Barbara as she speaks) He's looking at Barbara's head like it's a giant cheeseburger.
• Anviliciousinvoked: The Critic gets annoyed at all the characters pounding in the anti-drug message:
  Critic: So, okay, what exactly are these cartoon characters trying to tell us?
  Baby Kermit: There's nothing cool about a fool on drugs!
  Critic: Eh, fair enough, I guess. So the next time—
  Bugs Bunny: What's up, doc, is your life, if you don't cut it out!
  Critic: Okay.
  Michaelangelo: You're excellent just the way you are!
  Critic: Got it.
  Alf: We don't always see things the way they are.
  Critic: Okay, I—
  Huey, Duey, and Louie: Just believe in yourself!
  Critic: Well—
  Miss Piggy: We care about you!
  Critic: Well, maybe—
  Bugs Bunny: Everyone's got problems, kid.
  Critic: Yeah—
  Huey: Why don't you just say "no"?
  Critic: Got it.
  Bugs Bunny: You gotta believe in yourself!
  Critic: Will you shut up?!
  Miss Piggy: Listen to us!
  Critic: Yeah, I heard you.
  Alf: You use, you LOSE!
  Critic: OKAY!!! GOD!!! You know, I thought this would be really cool, but you know what? This really blows! All my cartoon characters are fuckin' narcs! I mean, for crying out loud, how many times do you have to hammer this shit in?!
• Clueless Aesop:
  Critic: So what message are kids supposed to take from this special? That if they smoke weed, all their favorite cartoon characters would appear? Yeah, that's a top notch moral right there.
• Driven to Suicide: During the "Million Zillion Wonderful Ways to Say No" musical number.
• Escalating Punchline:
  Critic: Corey thinks about telling her father, but he's too busy being an alcoholic... and gay... and the Brawny man.
• "Jump Off a Bridge" Rebuttal: The Critic's response to a clip from the special:
  Bugs Bunny: If everyone was jumping off a cliff, would you go too?
  Critic: Maybe after seeing this shit!
• The Stinger: After the "The End" screen, the video concludes with Simon saying "marijuana," in somewhat of a precursor to the Channel Awesome Vanity Plates that would appear later on in the series.
• This Explains So Much: "If the Looney Tunes know what drugs are, then that...just explains TOO GODDAMN MUCH!"
• This Is Gonna Suck:
  • When the special opens with a speech from then-President George H. W. Bush:
    Critic: (excited) Oh my God, George Bush is starting this thing off!
    (Beat)
    Critic: (less excited) Oh my God... George Bush is starting this thing off. That can't be good.
  • When the Critic finally reveals the core premise of the special:
  Critic: All our favorite cartoon characters that we grew up with are coming together to talk to us about... drugs. (pause) This is going to be a long half-hour.
• Took a Level in Jerkass: Discussed:
  Critic: I was surprised at how cruel some of these characters are. I mean look, they lock people in burning buildings, run them over with a roller coaster, blow 'em up, drown them... Even Winnie the Pooh gets his ass handed to him.