Heathcliff - Nick Knacks Episode

[@DoctorStrangelet]

"But even B- television can have a lot of history behind it" is as good a summation of this series's philosophy as any

[@pattyofurniture694]

Until he gets to the bangers...we're getting closer. Also the double dare ep was pretty epic

[@christopherb501]

@@pattyofurniture694 Gods I hope the next few don't take as long. I wanna get past the 80s already!

[@xxthatsnotmexx]

@Stephen Qualio no it wasn't. A Nicktoon is something created by nickelodeon, nickelodeon did not make TMNT.

[@brutalboy1000]

Heathcliff, the Hydrox to Garfield's Oreo.

[@KaiserBeamz]

Some of these clips you can definitely see TMS's work. They look almost indiscernible from a TV anime around the same time. In fact, I think the philosophy around animating Cleo was "what if Lum was a cat?"

[@mavrick45]

god bless TMS

[@Poever]

They even have similar eyes

[@c.bretmiller6148]

Wait a minute... what if Lum WAS a cat?!? Aw, crap... Now, I'm a furry! Son of a &!‡¢#.

[@sumisusan1517]

Considering that Urusei Yatsura was such a insanely popular franchise in its day, I wouldn’t doubt it

[@ChocoMingo]

Literally the week after Heathcliff stopped airing on Nick in 1993, Rocko's Modern Life premiered. Both of those shows were pretty huge influences for people to become furries. For the furry fandom, Heathcliff walked so Rocko could run.

[@Justin-Hill-1987]

Mel Blanc passed away while the production of "Jetsons: The Movie" was going on in 1989. He recorded a few lines for Mr. Spacely before his death. George O'Hanlon, Sr. was recording a few lines for George Jetson, before he also passed away. The movie was finished with voice actor Jeff Bergman taking over as George Jetson and Mr. Spacely. The film itself was delayed from 1989 to 1990, with the Nintendo-themed film, "The Wizard," starring Fred Savage and Beau Bridges, being released in its place...

[@LikaLaruku]

Never thought about how Spacely kinda sounds like Yosemite Sam.

[@gatorboymike]

Younger me had a hell of a time trying to explain to my Mom that Heathcliff and Garfield weren't the same thing.

[@ajplays3679]

My Mom struggled to tell the difference between Spongebob and The Simpsons.

[@stephenholloway6893]

Both versions had a all star voice cast. Frank Welker, Don Messick, Henry Corden, June Foray, Russi Taylor and Paul Winchell was part on the Ruby Spears version. Besides Mel of course

[@Okiedog1]

"Oh. I'm a furry." *just dies laughing* The face that inspired a thousand furries!

[@TheGrandMac]

Highly appreciate the use of the Garfield Kart soundtrack throughout this episode.

[@daelen.cclark]

I didn’t think much for the Heathcliff stuff until the comic that said “children love the meat cowboy”.

[@caa1000]

"I've come from a long line of baaaad pussycats!" Childhood completed! Good job!

[@andrejg4136]

I remember seeing that specific line used in local tv bumpers for the syndicated run. Man I kinda do miss the whole syndicated cartoon block on the over-the-air station, though on-demand is so so SO much more convenient as an adult with a variable work schedule.

[@Musicradio77Network]

I also remembered the show when it was first shown on WPIX-TV (channel 11) in NYC back in 1985 and 1986 before Nickelodeon picked up in 1988 while channel 11 was still running this show. It was first shown in weekday afternoon blocks, and then moved to mornings where it remained off and on until the early 1990’s.

[@MikeEZ]

I remember Heathcliff becoming so popular.. that Garfield said, "No! I'm the other orange cat.." 🤣🤣🤣

[@superleviathan]

a 1993-era recording of Heathcliff has surfaced recently. It's weird seeing the show with the bumpers used at the time.

[@davidginyard2308]

The Reason that Season 2 has 21 episodes Is That Mel Blanc got a little sick but season one was God

[@ZeroRed78]

Great summary. I hadn't thought of Heathcliff in a long time before seeing this vid pop up. Remember I watched it as a kid but couldn't tell you any real details. But I did immediately start singing that intro song.

[@kevynonvideo1643]

Rudely edits out the "OhhhhhooooooooOhhhh"s from the theme song for time, as if I wasn't enjoying myself singing along

[@poetrycomix5831]

It's a shame that this cartoon existed several decades before Garbage Ape.

[@CosmicSponge2004]

Tbf, I have no idea what an animated version of modern heathcliff would even be like

[@kewl0210]

This was great. It made me want to walk around town with a helmet that says "Pop Arena" on it.

[@Rmlohner]

My big memory of this show is that Heathcliff and Riffraff look just barely similar enough that I was always confused about whether they were actually supposed to be the same guy, and one was a disguise he was putting on for some reason.

[@jwilliams7554]

Interesting theory, especially since you never saw them together

[@psychospacecadet]

I just thought that was the old Heathcliff and Riffraff was his modern version, but they did that with quite a few characters like Speed Racer somewhere about that time. And we all know how the 80s cartoons loved their character with the super secret alter ego, so yeah and thanks for the sanity check because they were so similar!!! Thanks

[@doryna_sira]

Either that, or they were related in some way. Like they were brothers separated at birth or something. Then again, that's a lot of complicated drama for a 1980's cat cartoon...

[@Juichi]

I never really understood this either. Got confusion within the show, but also confusion with Garfield (which cleared quickly since both had distinct personalities). Although I thought there was an episode or two that suggested the Cadillac Cats didn't mess with Heathcliff and there might be some slight animosity that Heathcliff was the strongest, but not a part of their crew/gang.

[@caseyw1286]

I was born in 86 so I have vague memories of this show from when it stopped airing in 93. Glad to see a channel like this and all the work that is being done on this project. A nostalgia trip for those shows I remember, and a cool history lesson on those that came before my time.

[@Jamessmith-xk3fh]

Heathcliff and Garfield were two shows I never missed as a kid on Saturday morning CBS and especially when Pee Wees Playhouse was part of the line up

[@WindowshadeCure]

An interesting fact about that canceled CGI movie is that Heathcliff was going to be voiced by Frank Welkerin it - besides the fact that he's pretty much our generations Mel Blanc, he was also doing the voice of Garfield at the time

[@Elementa2006]

I can confirm that Cleo was one of my childhood crushes when I watched the show as a kid.

[@andrejg4136]

I was too young to see Cleo that way when I first saw Heathcliff on TV, but watching it again, the animators were having a little bit too much fun with Miss Cleo (not that I'm complaining).

[@jaggerguth4391]

But Hey! Are you a Furry Lover?

[@LikaLaruku]

What about Cali Brigs from SWAT Kats?

[@Elementa2006]

@@LikaLaruku her too, though that was much later

[@water.77]

16:16 this LOOKS visually so much better than the DIC show

[@julesrules7297]

I'm a Garfield woman, personally, but.. Heathcliff's music is a bop.

[@Lynn17]

When I was a teenager I was surprised furry fandom was a thing. Now looking back at all the good-looking, charismatic cartoon animals kids of the 80s and 90s grew up with, I shouldn't have been. DiC loved its PSAs. One of my teenage anime memories is Sailor Says. I watched Heathcliff fairly regularly as a kid, wasn't a big fave (I'm a Garfield girl) but it was kinda fun. I actually remember both The Catillac Cats and the Marmaduke episodes and being confused that two Heathcliff cartoons existed. I didn't know about the comics and I only found out about Dingbat recently!

[@andrejg4136]

The furry fandom as we'd recognize it has its roots in the late 70s, but it really took the internet to gird it and allow amateurs and hobbyists to get into it en masse, without needing to find a pre-existing scene. Like I've been a part of it to some extent since the late 90s and watching the progression of how people act within, without, and all along the fringes has been absolutely fascinating.

[@nicholascavanaugh8805]

A chill, comfortable voice talking about a comfortable childhood classic! This was a great video on the history of Heathcliff. I can't believe I forgot about Dingbat, despite remembering Marmaduke.

[@Justin-Hill-1987]

The 1984 DiC version of Heathcliff is even more '80s than the 1980 Ruby-Spears version of Heathcliff...

[@XJCherokeeBear]

I Remember Watching This on The Family Channel in 1994-96.

[@jeffemerson60]

Heathcliff is one of those weird shows where I was not born when it was airing at all, but remember seeing episodes on DIC compilation DVDs or VHS tapes that captured Saturday morning cartoons all the time. Also, the theme song is an earworm and even though this is my first time hearing someone talk about Heathcliff in at the very least 5 years, I still know every note of this song.

[@adamluce1901]

I saw it airing till about 1999

[@ajplays3679]

I was introduced to Heathcliff on KZbin 😅

[@LikaLaruku]

I liked Heathcliff a LOT more than Garfield, which I only watched for Orson & the other barn animals.

[@williamcrowe2576]

My favorite episode was when Heathcliff stepped into the wrestling ring with Boom Boom Pussini.

[@davidginyard2308]

MyFavorite Heathcliff Cartoons Are: The Great Pussini Heathcliff’s Middle Name May The Best Cat Win An Officer and an Alley Cat The Catfather Boom Boom Pussini Cat Food For Thought

[@davidginyard2308]

My 8 Favorite Catillac Cats Cartoons are Soccer Anyone A Better Mousetrap Who’s Got The Chocolate Carnival Capers Wishful Thinking Much Ado About Bedding House of The Future Hector Spector

[@davidginyard2308]

Boom boom Pussini is one of my favorite cartoons and also had sonja

[@davidginyard2308]

I also love Boom Boom Pussini, Heathcliff’s Middle Name, Cat food For Thought and The Great Pussini

[@TheMaestroso]

That poker strip with the owl amused me way more than I expected

[@codeblack423]

I love these nick knacks they are so Wholesome and make me feel warm inside

[@TrvisXXIII]

That chuck lorre clip really made me smile

[@stvojay]

Basic cartoon but I still loved it. Had a Heathcliff piggy bank as a kid

[@jedd.0322]

Your channel is one of the best on this site. thank you

[@Bigoukun]

Fun fact: the Heathcliff comics were a total unknown in France. And while the cartoon was very popular there , the name Heathcliff is STILL unkown there, because they know the cartoon as "Les Entrechats", (there is a pun with the French word for cat, "chat", in that tittle) while the cat himself was renamed Isidor. (Heathcliff is too hard to say for French people, especially French kids.)

[@nathanblevins158]

You know what funny…this cat was voice by Mel Blank and of course Frank walker. Both two legends voice actors voice this cat.

[@PinkieLopBun]

I love this show’s theme song.

[@TheEman590]

It's a fun theme song. Very hummable

[@newstarcadefan]

Right on! If you're having a down day, then listen to this, or the theme from the Adventures of the Little Koala.

[@JaimeValladares00]

It's pure 80's 👌

[@1sdani]

Reminds me of A Pup Named Scooby Doo's theme.

[@Erykthebat]

but he cut out the the best part 'woooooa aaaah ooooow woooah ah aoooo wa a ooooooooooh" in a 50s dooo op style .

[@bullmonty764]

Does it say something about Heathcliff that when I clicked on this video, I *immediately* looked for comments from those who were hot for Cleo? In any case, I definitely got what I was looking for

[@PressingRewind]

Thanks for using my Saturday Morning Rewind interview on the video. I'm honored. Great video.

[@zorrobuenaonda440]

Really excited for Count Duckula, it's a cult classic in latin american thanks to a great dub that took liberties adapting the british humor with pretty memorable results

[@JetstreamGW]

"... Thundarr the Barbarian is *surprisingly* good." It *is.* It's the best of those four shows, certainly.

[@christopherb501]

So weird...I finally caught Quinton Reviews's retrospective on Heathcliff the other day, despite it being out for most of a year...and one day later, you put this out. ...timing!

[@EmperorSeth]

I can't believe you actually referenced the Robot Chicken sketch on this video. That was great.

[@alanrobledo1573]

It's surprising that the author of If you give a mouse a cookie and the creator of the Big Bang Theory worked on a cartoon.

[@JerryD9000]

Ohhh nice. Thank you for this. I've been waiting for ANYONE to do a deep dive on this. I'm glad YOU did.

[@ShyRanger]

Literally found you about a week ago, and I just caught up with the Looney Tunes episode just now and as soon as I finish it, you post this literally a minute ago. That's awesome!

[@christopherb501]

Be sure to check his backlogs for his Animorphs and Doctor Who (novels) retrospectives.

[@newstarcadefan]

@@christopherb501 oh and let's not forget about the Goosebumps series either.

[@christopherb501]

@@newstarcadefan Just thought I'd bring up the less noticeable material, as well as the stuff our dear channel runner is obviously more passionate about.

[@davidginyard2308]

The Japanese Animation Studio who did The First Season of Heathcliff made it a Great Show

[@Justin-Hill-1987]

The Heathcliff theme song sounds like a 1980s pop song...

[@dootuss83]

Another excellent episode. And Count Duckula is up next! Been looking forward to that one for a long time.

[@willcarroll3712]

I love how in an episode about Heathcliff, the background music is from The Garfield Show

[@apbuitron]

Wonderful job as always, I have no memory of this show so the rundown was great! Thank you so much!

[@MaliceInCandyland]

Heathcliff & Dingbat makes sense to me. I've always associated orange cats with Halloween, being orange and all.

[@Cieje3]

When this was on TV in my early years, I was asked by another random kid: "Who would win in a fight between Garfield and Heathcliff?"... Who the HECK is HEATHCLIFF? ... After watching a week's worth of episodes, he asked me again and I said. "They'd probably never meet. They're too different of personalities anyways." ... I enjoyed being a buzzkill back then.

[@wraithgames]

Heck yeah! I was really looking forward and you certainly didn't disappoint!

[@ShyRanger]

Holy shit! Wordsworth reminds me so much of Crackotage from the Cheat Commandos, or I guess it's the other way around.

[@davidginyard2308]

I’m a Heathcliff fan and I love Boom Boom Pussini

[@ethansloan]

Dude, your channel is so good. Here's hoping the algorithm blesses you with the millions of subscribers you deserve.

[@christopherb501]

It took until )last year_ (I think? maybe 2019?) to even finally hit 10K. I don't understand people at all.

[@loganlabach4227]

My stepmom watched this show a lot I thought they were the catillac cats?

[@aestroai8012]

I missed the bell notification. Another great episode. I LOVED this show as a kid. Loved it! Especially Catillac Cats & Co! I would even skip the Heathcliff segments sometimes. The music still sticks in my head today. Thanks for some insight on this old school fav.

[@MorriganAtwood]

I remember not a single episode of this show but I do remember I would still tune in because I liked the theme song that much.

[@vgtrp]

I guess you can add a K to the end of the Dic name to emphasize what the company was like under Hayward. It would also explain why for every good show they did 5 or 6 bad ones. Anyway, I watched Heathcliff whenever it was on, and enjoyed most of it.Hopefully with Legendary getting the film on TV rights, we'll see what the future holds with the franchise.

[@t.w.mackay11]

Thanks for introducing me to Saturday Morning Rewind! Great video, as usual

[@kevinalford]

I was literally going to comment "What happened? Are you OK PA?" like 30 minutes ago. Thanks for the new episode!

[@kevinalford]

I think I was that kid with Cleo, btw. Just unlocking that memory now. Thanks PA.

[@LewisZwarteLeeuwUS]

The person that sung the 1984 theme is Noam Kaniel from Tel Aviv, Israel. Also I assume Mel Blanc aka "Man with a million voices" did Heathcliff's voice until his passing in 1989. Thanks for the awesome childhood, Mr. Blanc! 😁

[@smasherjosh5000]

It was Mel Blanc as Heathcliff

[@LewisZwarteLeeuwUS]

@@smasherjosh5000 I more than likely heard that on this video. My mind was in another place. Call me Captain Obvious 🤣🤣

[@davidginyard2308]

Heathcliff 1984 is one of my favorites since I was 10 in 2001 I rented on video

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Wordsworth, the first LGBTQ character in a mainstream animated TV show !

[@CannotFindServerSA]

hearing the theme song to this cartoon awoke memories in me i didn't even know existed

[@hmm5564]

great video! I wanna check the show out now

[@garrettnewell]

Favorite Heathclift quote "it's a Wednesday."

[@MatthewPrower]

all this crazy heathcliff stuff and i just noticed the nick knacks logo is red

[@ovinophile]

Somehow it never occurred to me as a kid that Heathcliff basically had Bugs Bunny’s voice. Maybe I just assumed all smart aleck talking animals sounded the same. Oh, and yes, I was definitely attracted to Cleo on some level.

[@evanswart480]

Lol the writers list is just insane. Chuck Lorre?

[@nicksullivan4994]

I hope You’ll do Jim Henson’s Muppet Babies, Tiny Toon Adventures and You’re on Nickelodeon Charlie Brown too!❤️📺🎶

[@ducksoup80]

I have a VHS tape, titled Heathcliff and Marmaduke I used to watch when I was a kid.

[@allthingskate1420]

I loved heathcliff!

[@kcthesledgestoryteller]

I myself always preferred the Ruby-Speers. The animation may not have been as fluid as DIC’s, but for me the fast pace worked better for the setup. But the key thing was that it fit better in the spirit of the comic’s “quick gag” approach, whereas I always the DIC cartoon always stretched the plot to the point where it stopped feeling like a Heathcliff cartoon - just me.

[@SeiferA2001]

*jams out to opening* *hears it cut shorter for time* Aw man...

[@newstarcadefan]

Ah yes, one of the three (yes count 'em three) versions of Heathcliff. The first (i remember) was Heathcliff and Dingbat, and the 2nd (also my favorite) Heathcliff and Marmaduke. As for this version, I loved it, because just the theme song is so feel good and catchy. If you want an episode where the rare time Sonya was un-ladylike was Tammy the Terrible.

[@twilightman2816]

15:55 He does mention "Heathcliff and Dingbat", but he does omit "Heathcliff and Marmaduke". "The hot-dog cat and the pussycat hound" kzbin.info/www/bejne/en-8pp2tfNiYqqs You give them all this technology at their hands, and yet, they still fail to use it wisely enough.

[@twilightman2816]

18:22 Never mind, he mentions Marmaduke. I don't know why he calls it the same cartoon, but now, a second season.

[@agerard6297]

The Ruby Spears Heathcliff was more accurate to the comic strip designs. Mel Blanc also voiced Spike in those cartoons. A few years later, Blanc, probably in lesser health, limited to just Heathcliff, which was probably his last original character.

[@ShadowWingTronix]

@@agerard6297 Iggy is probably the most noticeable to me when it comes to altered character designs in Heathcliff. Ruby Spears' version looked like the comics while DIC went with original designs for the humans and the animals just close enough to be recognized.

[@seanpatmac27]

Count Duckula for October this is going to be good

[@davidfraher1292]

Heathcliff was wayyy too underrated

[@good03boy]

Can't wait for Count Duckula and then The Kids Choice Awards to close out 1988 Nickelodeon.

[@agerard6297]

Last year, I celebrated the 40th Anniversary of those 4 ABC Saturday Morning cartoons.

[@thesylphwind6816]

Never knew this was only 2 seasons. As a kid I just kinda was aware it was on. Never my favorite nick show but would enjoy watching it if it was on.

[@mr.tomraypaz6085]

I remember when Heathcliff was Nickelodeon. Also I remember when it made it’s rounds on Fox Family years later.

[@sonofhades57]

I read the comics back in the day in collections, but I wasn't aware there was a cartoon adaptation. Neato!

[@MazinGo-1972]

As a kid this was my only exposure to Heathcliff and yes the TMS episodes stuck in my mind the most.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

I knew he was a comic strip but wasn't in my local paper so I only saw him in the out-of-town Detroit ones.

[@urzaz]

Junkyard Cat Wordsworth pretty clearly inspired Crackotage, the rhyming Cheat Commando, for the Homestar Runner fans in the audience.

[@CosmicSponge2004]

There was this weird short lived channel LightTV that aired Heatcliff in their sunday cartoon lineup back in 2019. Just a month after I had discovered it om youtube. Strange memory

[@antonmassopust568]

You're very thorough and that was really great especially like your episode about you can't do that on television but this was great I used to watch this cartoon every morning had awesome theme song and lots of talent like you mentioned it watch it all the time my grandmother when it was in syndication yes I watch them Nickelodeon too

[@raulzavala9061]

Mel Blanc just used his Bugs Bunny voice but more nasaly it seems for Heathcliff.

[@EvaFull]

One of my TOP 5 Most Anticipated Nick Knacks. Can’t wait to get some free time to finally dig into the episode. UPDATE: The perfect 👍 ending teaser for a one two punch just like when both shows aired on Nickelodeon. Hopefully you can find one of those commercials to use. I used to love watching that block everyday after Elementary School.

[@XJCherokeeBear]

One of Mine is Nickelodeon GUTS.

[@EvaFull]

@@XJCherokeeBear Have been watching Nickelodeon since the Danger Mouse days. So this has been an awesome journey through my childhood & so many forgotten shows.

[@COMPFUNK2]

19:05 - Uh…what was he doing there?

[@ZakWolf]

Heh, yeah, the startup of K.K. DiC Asia was pretty much the beginning of DiC's "Do It Cheap" reputation. The same thing happened with the second season of "Inspector Gadget"...

[@ZakWolf]

@@TVkingOmega The second season did have some nicely-animated episodes, but there were also some fairly sloppy-looking ones as well.

[@mightyfilm]

The Godfather parody episode had some of the most beautiful looking scenic animation I've ever seen on a TV cartoon show. Something straight out of a high quality, bigger budget anime. It's by far one of my favorite episodes, not just of that season, but the series itself. They really put a lot of detail into that one. I love the sequence where some of the Mob family ransacks the Japanese restaurant to make it an Italian place. Shame that most of the rest of that season didn't have that same look, or were as creative with their parodies.

[@mightyfilm]

@@TVkingOmega Season 2 is such a weirdly mixed bag. I think the elderly villains retirement home arc (if you can call it an arc) was the best the season had to offer. But that particular episode is probably one of my favorites of the whole series.

[@visionaryventures12]

I have always loved that theme song.

[@VicHD]

15:14 you can sense the jealousy in this comic. lol

[@nicholaifugate]

I don't think I've thought of this cartoon in over 30 years, but as soon as the theme started playing I remembered the show and even some characters voices and names. I do remember as a kid of 7 or 8 when this started that, to me, this was the "less than" Garfield who I was obsessed with.