Recap / Tiny Toon Adventures S 3 E 9 Two Tone Town

The ninth episode of the third season of Tiny Toon Adventures, and the eighty-seventh episode overall.

The episode begins with Warner Bros. advertising an upcoming television show, ACME Oop!, and prompting cartoons stars to audition. Buster watches the commercial from outside a TV store, when Babs catches up with him, reminding him he promised to take her to the cinema in Two-Tone Town. Buster tells Babs that maybe they should skip the movie and audition for ACME Oop! instead. Babs reminds Buster that they have their own show, Tiny Toon Adventures, but Buster tells Babs that he is worried that Tiny Toons might get cancelled someday, and they may end up becoming has-beens forced to get jobs at Toonywood Squares. Babs assures Buster that their jobs are safe, and as a big star, he should believe in himself. Plucky overhears and swings in, dressed as "Hudson Duck", the star of the new movie he's going to pitch to the Warner Bros. studio. Plucky is determined that his new movie will surpass even ACME Oop! in popularity. After he leaves, Buster and Babs laugh hysterically, and Buster tells Babs that she's right and their careers are safe. He decides that they will see the movie with her after all.

The two rabbits go to Two-Tone Town, a town shown entirely in black and white, where the movie theater is showing The Big Buzz of 1932. Foxy is working at the theater's box office as Buster buys the tickets. Babs even does her spin-change routine for Foxy.

The two rabbits see The Big Buzz of 1932, starring Foxy, Roxy, Goopy Geer, and Big Bee. In the movie, Foxy, Roxy, and Goopy perform for an audience at a nightclub, and end up attracting a swarm of bees, including Big Bee. Buster and Babs laugh hysterically at the movie and applaud.

After the movie ends, Foxy cleans up the theater, and Babs compliments his performance in the movie. Foxy tells Buster and Babs that it's great to be recognized by "Hues", and tells them that "Hues" are what Two-Tones call characters with color. Buster asks Foxy when his next cartoon will come up, but Foxy tells him that he's a Two-tone, and Two-tones haven't had any work since color cartoons became popular, so he gave it up. Babs finds this hard to believe, but Foxy tells her and Buster that the last time he and Roxy worked together was years ago, on Toonywood Squares. Foxy then sees The Man From ACME, a debt collector trying to get Big Bee to sell his buzz to him. He and the two rabbits run towards The Man From ACME, but are too late. The Man From Acme gives a now-buzzless Big Bee a jar of honey and walks away. Foxy explains to the two rabbits that the Two-Tones have had to sell their sound effects and music to The Man From ACME just to make ends meet. Babs finds this sad, and Foxy tells her that even sadder is Goopy trying to play his piano.

As Foxy takes Buster and Babs to Goopy, Roxy hangs up her laundry. Goopy has played his piano for so long, that he can play it with his ears. Realizing that the Two-Tones still have a lot of talent left in them, Babs tells Buster that the Two-Tones should audition for Acme Oop!. Just then, The Man From Acme arrives, amazed that the Two-Tones are still alive. Babs assures him that the Two-Tones are not just alive, they're big stars. In fact, they have an audition today at the Warner Bros. Studio for Acme Oop!. Foxy, Roxy, Goopy, and Big Bee are all confused, but Buster goes along with Babs' plan and tells The Man From Acme that they do. The Man From ACME tries to buy Goopy's piano, and Goopy, realizing that even Two-Tones have to eat, and he has nothing else left to sell, is about to sell his piano, when Babs barges in. She tells The Man From ACME that she'll hop on his head if he tries to buy Goopy's piano. The Man From ACME Leaves, but not before mocking the Two-Tones good luck on their audition. Babs promises the Two-Tones that she will stop at nothing to ensure they have a successful audition. Buster awards Babs with an Emmy for her speech, and Babs says, "Eat your heart out, Susan Lucci!" as the screen irises out, ending the first act.

In the second act, Babs tells the Two-Tones that, in preparation for their audition, she will be their acting coach. Buster then spin-changes himself as Robin Hood, and tells the Two-Tones that he will return to ACME Acres, where he will beg, borrow, and if he has to, steal new music and sound effects for them. Goopy then asks Babs how Buster was able to do his spin-change routine. Babs demonstrates it to Goopy by spin-changing herself as Mae West, then spin-changing back into her normal attire. Goopy tries to do the same, but ends up just stripping himself of his clothes, much to Babs' horror. As Goopy spin-changes back into his clothes, Babs tells him to just skip the spin-change for now and instead update their act for modern audiences, much like she did for Tiny Toon Adventures. She then does her "Do you like my ears better up or down?" routine for them. Roxy doesn't get the routine, but Foxy tries it. Goopy tries spin-changing again, only to end up with his pants on his head, his hat on his right hand, his bow tie on his left hand, and his shirt on his legs. Babs starts to worry that the Two-Tones might not ace their audition.

Back at ACME Acres, Daffy Duck hosts the Looney Tunes orchestra in a proscenium theater, with Foghorn Leghorn on piano, Pepe Le Pew on bass, Elmer Fudd on trombone, Porky Pig on tuba, and Taz the Tasmanian Devil on cymbals. Just as Daffy is about to begin, Buster asks him if he would give his music to those who are in need. Daffy tells him, "No, quiet!", forcing Buster to steal the music from the Looney Tunes as they play their instruments. Daffy sees this and tries to stop Buster, but to no avail. The audience applauds, and Buster sets off with the stolen music.

Next, Buster tries to get some sound effects from Yosemite Sam's House of FX. Unfortunately, Yosemite Sam is not willing to give out his sound effects for free, and kicks Buster out of his shop. Buster then spin-changes into a dress to seduce Sam into giving him the sound effects he needs. He then tricks Sam into climbing a ladder to get him a raspberry sound effect, then tricks him into thinking his store is being robbed. He shakes Sam down from the ladder, and after Sam falls, Buster leaves, leaving his dress and a note thanking Sam for the free sound effects behind.

Meanwhile, Babs and the Two-Tones are waiting at the casting office for the Warner Bros. Studio. Babs asks the Two-Tones if they're sure they don't want to wait for Buster to return, but Foxy assures Babs that they're ready to audition, as they have their ears on their heads, and not on their butts. Goopy then tells Foxy that that isn't the way Babs' quote goes, as they're supposed to sing and tie up their ears in knots. Foxy disagrees, telling Goopy that they're supposed to be flipping on their ears and be funny with their butts. He asks Roxy if she agrees, but she still doesn't understand the routine. Babs breaks Foxy and Goopy up, and tells them to forget the routine. She then tells them to just be themselves, and have fun. She assures them that Warner Bros. Casting Executives are sweet, personable, and really care about actors. Unfortunately, Babs is instantly proven wrong when the first one says she hates her life.

In the third act, Buster, who is disguised as Robin Hood again, swings his way back to the Warner Bros. studio, hoping he isn't late for the Two-Tones' audition. As he swings back, Babs disguises herself as Babs Silverman of the William Don'tIgnoreUs agency to introduce the Two-Tones to the Warner Bros. Casting Executives. Without even giving them a chance, the First Executive tells the Two-Tones she's seen enough, much to Babs' shock. The First Executive then tells the Two-Tones that they may not be bright or dazzling, but they are very well-drawn, and even though they maybe funny, they do have to consider merchandising potential. The Second Executive brings up stuffed toys as an example, and the Third Executive brings up breakfast cereal and canned pasta byproduct with imitation cheese as another example. The First Executive tells the Two-Tones that she and the other Executives don't see the Two-Tones as marketable action figures. As the Two-Tones leave, Foxy tells Babs that he was right, and that there's no work for Two-Tones in the modern age. He then tells her he'd see her in the movies, except The Man From Acme will probably buy those out as well. Babs then tells the Executives that Foxy, Roxy, Goopy, and Big Bee are all stars, and they just dismissed classic Warner Bros. cartoon stars without giving them a chance to see what they can really do. The First Executive tells Babs that she's made her decision, and wants to see Plucky's new movie, Hudson Duck. After Babs leaves, Plucky runs in to show the Warner Bros. Casting Cxecutives his movie, Hudson Duck. In his movie, Plucky performs a musical number, and although Plucky laughs at it, the Warner Bros. Casting Executives are not amused.

Babs and the Two-Tones sadly leave the WB studio, and meet up with The Man From ACME, who asks how the Two-Tones' audition went. He then re-attempts to buy Goopy's piano, even going as far as to throw in another extra dollar. Babs, Foxy, and Roxy are all ready to give up, but Goopy refuses to sell The Man From ACME his piano, much to their shock. Goopy tells The Man From ACME that he may starve, if he sold his piano, it means he really gave up, and he's no quitter. The Man From ACME tells Goopy that he's nothing but a has-been, but just as Goopy is about to fight him, Buster swings in with the stolen music and sound effects. He swings right into The Man From ACME, hurling him into the sun. Babs then reprimands Buster for arriving too late, as the audition is over and the Two-Tones are still out of a job. Buster apologizes, and shows Babs and the Two-Tones that he at least brought the stolen music and sound effects. He puts the stolen music into Goopy's piano, causing it to play by itself. He then brings Big Bee his buzz, causing him to buzz again. As the Warner Bros. Casting Executives continue watching Hudson Duck, they overhear the music, Big Bee's Buzz, and Buster, Babs, and the Two-Tones' laughter, and turn their attention to it.

Foxy thanks Buster and Babs for helping him and his friends, when a Pig Toon and a Bird Toon come across them, telling them to get out of their way, or they'll have them arrested for sidewalk obstruction. Goopy spin-changes again, and Babs is worried that things will go wrong again, but Goopy has successfully spin-changed into a police officer, and Babs praises him for it. Foxy tells Goopy that the Pig Toon and the Bird Toon are in the way of their piano, causing the Pig Toon to stutter, "But, but...". Foxy, now having understood the routine, points out the Pig Toon's butt and ears. The people around them laugh, and the Warner Bros. Executives run out, having changed their minds and deciding to give the Two-Tones lead parts on Acme Oop! after all. The First Executive even goes as far as to say that the Two-Tones are better than Tiny Toons, much to Buster's shock. Babs tries to assure Buster that it can't be true, but the First Executive decides to market a Goopy Geer doll that does the spin-change routine with the pull of a string. She even replaces the Tiny Toon Adventures time slot with that of ACME Oop!. Plucky, not wanting to be left out of a job, paints himself black and white.

ACME Oop!' begins, starring Foxy, Roxy, Goopy Geer, Big Bee, and Plucky. Buster and Babs watch from outside the TV store, and Buster scolds Babs for assuring him that Tiny Toons won't be cancelled in favor of ACME Oop!, and then helping the Two-Tones get lead parts. Now the two rabbits are out of a job, but Babs has a solution. She takes Buster to Has-Been Studios, where, just as Buster predicted, the two rabbits make weekly appearances on Toonywood Squares. The host of Toonywood Squares assures the viewers that cartoon characters never die, and Buster and Babs tell them, ''We just do game shows!" as the screen irises out, ending the episode.

This episode provides examples of:

• Affectionate Parody:
  • Toonywood Squares is a parody of Hollywood Squares.
  • Plucky's movie idea, Hudson Duck is a parody of Hudson Hawk.
• Bittersweet Ending: This episode ends with the Two-Tones getting lead parts on ACME Oop! when they were previously all down on their luck... and Tiny Toons getting cancelled, leaving Buster and Babs (and presumably every other Tiny Toon except Plucky) out of a job.
• Body Paint: When ACME Oop! replaces Tiny Toons in its time slot, Plucky paints himself black and white to get a part on ACME Oop! so he's not left out of a job.
• Book Ends: This episode begins and ends with Buster and Babs looking through a Storefront Television Display.
• Brick Joke: At the beginning of this episode, Buster worries that when Tiny Toon Adventures gets cancelled, he and Babs will become has-beens forced to get jobs at Toonywood Squares. Guess how the episode ends.
• Call-Back: Toonywood Squares, a parody of Hollywood Squares previously seen in "ACME Cable TV", re-appears in this episode.
• Creative Closing Credits: The ending credits and stinger for this episode are shot in black-and-white with yellow lettering.
• Credits Gag: Quote of the day - "Do you like our butts and ears better up or down?"
• A Day in the Limelight: This episode is a tribute to the original Warner Bros. cartoon stars, Foxy, Roxy, and Goopy Geer, all of whom are obscure Warner Bros. characters who appeared in some of the earliest Merrie Melodies cartoons, and had been stuck in cartoon limbo for decades by that point. Initially, Roxy was not named in her appearances and was given that name for this episode.
• Deliberately Monochrome: Two-Tone Town and the Two-Tones are all colored in black and white. Near the end of this episode, Plucky paints himself black and white to get a part on ACME Oop!.
• Disguised in Drag: Taking a cue from his mentor, Bugs Bunny, Buster disguises himself as a woman to seduce Yosemite Sam into giving him the sound effects he needs. The fake female voice Charlie Adler gives Buster is the same one he'd later use for Cow, as well as a few other characters.
• Evil Debt Collector: The Man from ACME, who forces the Two-Tones to sell him their music and sound effects just to make ends meet.
• Feed It a Bomb: In the commercial for ACME Oop!, a scene resembling that of ''Devil May Hare" has Taz eating a stick of dynamite, which explodes in his stomach.
• Gilligan Cut: At the end of the second act, Babs assures the Two-Tones that the Warner Bros. Casting Executives are sweet, personable, and really care about actors. Cut to the First Executive saying she hates her life.
• Gone Horribly Right: Buster and Babs do everything they can to ensure that Foxy, Roxy, and Goopy Geer make a successful comeback. Unfortunately, the old toons' newfound popularity surpasses that of Tiny Toon Adventures, leaving Buster and Babs (and presumably every other Tiny Toon except Plucky) out of a job.
• Hurl It into the Sun: How The Man From Acme meets his demise.
• Instant Costume Change: Buster does this to change costumes into Robin Hood and a lady to get music and sound effects from the Looney Tunes cast. Babs also attempts to teach this to Goopy Geer, who doesn't quite get the hang of it at first, but eventually gets it right near the end of this episode.
• Marilyn Maneuver: Roxy. In one scene in The Big Buzz of 1932, her skirt gets blown up briefly when a swarm of bees fly between her legs.
• Needs More Love: In-universe example; Buster and Babs try to revitalize the careers of some of Warner Bros.' oldest characters, Foxy, Roxy, and Goopy Geer.
• Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Near the end of the episode, Buster scolds Babs for assuring him that Tiny Toon Adventures won't be cancelled in favor of ACME Oop!, and then helping the Two-Tones get lead parts.
• Properly Paranoid: At the beginning of this episode, when Warner Bros. holds auditions for ACME Oop!, Buster is worried it will replace Tiny Toon Adventures in its time slot, cancelling it and forcing him and Babs to get jobs at Toonywood Squares. At the end of the episode, what he said turns out to be true when he and Babs help obscure Warner Bros. stars Foxy, Roxy, Goopy Geer, and Big Bee get lead parts on the new show when they previously were all down on their luck.
• Rouge Angles of Satin: Big Bee is credited as "Big Lee" in the closing credits.
• Self-Deprecation: The executives reject the Two-Tone characters because they can’t be merchandised for stuffed toys, action figures, cereal or as they describe, “canned pasta byproduct with imitation cheese“. All of these were actual products that featured the Tiny Toons gang at the time of airing.
• Shout-Out:
  • In a commercial for ACME Oop! at the beginning of the episode, clips resembling scenes from Robin Hood Daffy, one of the Foghorn Leghorn cartoons, Devil May Hare, and one of the Speedy Gonzales cartoons can be seen.
  • Babs does an imitation of Mae West. When demonstrating how to spin-change, she sings a song in the vein of "Getting to Know You" from Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I.
• Spit Take: Done between a disguised Buster and Yosemite Sam when the former tricks the latter into bringing him a raspberry sound effect just to climb up a latter he later shakes him down from.
• Storefront Television Display: This episode uses this at both its beginning and end. In the beginning, Buster and Babs are seen looking at the storefront televisions when Warner Bros. announces auditions for its next animated series, ACME Oop!. Buster considers auditioning because he's worried that ACME Oop! will replace Tiny Toons in its time slot, resulting in Tiny Toons getting cancelled and he and Babs having to get jobs as has-beens on Toonywood Squares. At the end of the episode, Buster and Babs are looking at the storefront televisions when they find out that what Buster said earlier had become true when Babs helped the Two-Tones get lead parts on ACME Oop!.
• Sword Fight: When Buster steals music from the Looney Tunes orchestra, he and Daffy Duck battle each other this way, using a musical note and a baton, respectively.
• Trouser Space: After Foxy finishes cleaning up the theater, he puts a broom in his pants.
• Variations on a Theme Song: Near the end of the episode, the Two-Tones sing about their new show and their home town to the tune of the Tiny Toon Adventures theme song.
• Wearing It All Wrong: During one of Goopy's botched attempts to spin-change, he ends up with his pants on his head, his hat on his right hand, his bow tie on his left hand, and his shirt on his legs.
• White Gloves: In The Big Buzz of 1932, as Goopy tries to play the piano, he takes his hands out of his gloves so he can swat Big Bee while his gloves continue to play the piano.