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Why Pick Mikey?
- Of all the Ninja Turtles, why use the one who most resembles a stoner (laid back attitude, constant appetite) instead of Leonardo, who is the most responsible of the team? "Because he's more popular", of course, but that ignores why he was popular.
- Perhaps to combat claims that he was a stoner, not that it worked.
- Maybe as an in-joke to the people who think Mikey's a stoner? Presumably those people are already old enough to know to say "no" to drugs. The kids who are supposed to be learning from the show probably wouldn't associate those "symptoms" with drug use.
- Maybe he's trying to get over his stoner days? This is a kind of recovery. Or the whole thing is his hallucination.
- He isn't a stoner in-universe. The question is why he was chosen to be in the special when he acts like one.
- Community service.
- Yeah, the rest of the turtles were off fighting Shredder.
- He's actually more of a surfer than a stoner. Back then stoners weren't as omnipresent in popular culture, so it might be a case of Harsher in Hindsight.
- Any of the other Turtles would arguably be a better choice. Hell, you could probably make a case for Krang.
- Leonardo: Responsible, mature, natural leader. Could point out that no one on drugs could handle the intense training he had to endure to become awesome, and that Michael should be a better role model to his younger sibling.
- Donatello: Intelligent and scientifically minded. Could explain the biological effects of drugs, and how the brief euphoria is not worth the long term damage Michael is doing to his body.
- Raphael: Rebellious bad boy. Could tell Michael that being a cool guy who rejects authority doesn't mean one has to be a lawbreaker, and that forging one's own path includes not bending to peer pressure.
- Michelangelo: Thinks THC is a pizza topping.
- Despite the above troper's apparent fixation on drug use, Michaelangelo has never in any incarnation of the mythology ever been a drug user. His archetype is "surfer" or "valley dude" and every one of the TMNT are known for their love of pizza. When Raphael is presented as a better role model, credibility begins to get strained.
Garfield's Voice
- Has it ever been confirmed that Jim Davis was opposed to Garfield's appearance here, especially since they got the approval of the syndicate and tapped Lorenzo Music to do his voice? I would think that at this late stage of the internet's existence, people wouldn't be so credulous as to cite Wikipedia and iMDB "factoids" as gospel without a proper source.
- The syndicate was able to approve of Garfield because they own the Garfield cartoon. However, since the character of Garfield himself was created by, and owned by Jim Davis (remember, Garfield was and still is a daily comic strip), this is how he got upset and threatened to sue if it was ever rerun. I'd sure like to know how the Special got a VHS release though.
- The syndicate owned both the Garfield comic and cartoon at the time. Jim Davis bought the rights to Garfield back in 1994.
- Rights issues don't seem to be as complicated for VHS (or weren't in the 90's), as there were a bunch of shows and movies with VHS releases that have yet to get DVD releases, despite much fan request.
- Mark Evanier, head writer of Garfield & Friends debunked the rumor about Jim Davis suing the producers of this special.
- The syndicate was able to approve of Garfield because they own the Garfield cartoon. However, since the character of Garfield himself was created by, and owned by Jim Davis (remember, Garfield was and still is a daily comic strip), this is how he got upset and threatened to sue if it was ever rerun. I'd sure like to know how the Special got a VHS release though.
Literal Scaredy Cat
- What's with Garfield's responding to ALF's threat by saluting ALF and pretty much obeying his orders? ALF may have eaten all the cats he wanted on Melmac, but Garfield isn't the type to easily kowtow to threats. Especially from a screw-up like Alf. Seriously, watch ALF. If Jim Davis had been upset about Garfield's portrayal, this would have been the place.
An Eye for an Eye and a Poster for a Lamp and Clock
- Most of the characters start out as various objects in Corey's room, and then at the end they all become a poster. So does she just... not have a lamp or an alarm clock anymore?
Where are the Bad Guys?
- Why did the producers not show any of the villains like Shredder or Gargamel smoking a marijuana joint or a crack pipe? Having a villain using drugs could've really driven home that Drugs Are Bad. Instead, They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot.
- Even as villains they are still animated characters from shows aimed to children and drug use is too much of a taboo for that. Besides children sometimes like the villain so they can follow the example and the idea is that nor even one child goes into drugs.
- Even Evil Has Standards.
- In addition, villains like Shredder and Gargamel are hard to come by. Michael's friends are the kind of people we see and meet in real life.
Blunderful Ways to Say No
- As catchy as the "Many Ways to Say No" song is, if drug dealers were as pushy as the special makes them out to be, wouldn't several of the suggestions to say no actually make things worse?
- Such as, "those drugs are so boring." So, if he was offering you marijuana, wouldn't that encourage him to pull out something like heroin instead?
- Not to mention "I only like natural highs." Marijuana is bad, but being a thrill junkie is okay?
- At least some thrill junkies do exercise.
