Even good shows have their embarrassing moments....
Disney: 1989
The Disney Afternoon is in my personal opinion the greatest 2 hour animation block that was ever assembled. In it's run, it gave us such classics as Ducktales, Tale Spin, Darkwing Duck, Goof Troop, Bonkers..... Well, maybe not so much Bonkers. And one of my favorite cartoons ever, Chip 'N Dale Rescue Rangers. It's a good chance that most people here already know about it, but for those who actually forgot or literally lived under a rock, here's a brief description.
Rescue Rangers was an animated series by Disney in the late 80's and resurrected beloved antagonists to Donald Duck, Chip 'N Dale. But instead of giving Donald more stress than he already had, they were instead crime fighters, along with their friends, Monterrey Jack, Zipper Fly, and the mouse obsession of many, Gadget Hackwrench. No, seriously. I've heard many a story considering the insane lust people have for this character, even so much as wanting to have... uh... "sexual relations" with her. If you're life long obsession is to screw a mouse, you may need to be wheelbarrowed into the nuthouse. I mean, come on. you're dick would go right through her, and she'd be nothing more than a mouse condom....
Wow, I really went a bit far there.
The show was originally planned to be a Miami Vice ripoff known as Metro Mice, because lord knows that was a show that had a long lasting value. However, realizing that idea was kinda lame, they went instead for the first idea for Rescue Rangers, sans Chip 'N Dale. However, Michael Eisner wasn't impressed, at least until the idea of adding Chip 'N Dale to the mix came along, and a classic show was born, and personally one of my 10 favorite cartoons ever made.
Now, wait a sec. If it's in my top 10, why is it getting an induction? Well, for everything positive the show has done, there is one glaring negative moment that sticks out like an embarrassing thumb. A blatant act of overt racism, and a moment that since rewatching episodes of the series, remains a moment that has me shaking my head. That moment is the infamous laundromat scene from the 2nd part of the origin tale "Rescue Rangers to the Rescue".
So, to bring you up to speed before we get to the moment in question, the essential plot to the origin involved Chip 'N Dale's heroes Detective Drake, and his dog partner Plato, being framed by Aldrin Klordane, and his pet, the lovably effeminate Fat Cat (voiced by our old pal Jim Cummings). So, our heroes follow our foes into Chinatown, and to a laundromat, where Fat Cat is expected.
So? It's a laundromat in Chinatown. That's nothing to get worked up over.
Does Jim Cummings with a terrible Chinese accent tickle your fancy? And this straw hat adorned pal is the beginning of the stereotypes to come.
So Fat Cat is there because he's there to see the Siamese twins. So, as our rotund antagonist and his pals head off to do business, we see some other cats watching a fight between 2 fighting fish. Before they do business with the twins. they talk to one of her servants.
Yikes.
So, he introduces them to the famed Siamese twins.
Sadly, no.
There we go.
They both talk in unison, and sound like Tress MacNeille doing a poorly done Chinese Eartha Kitt. Or, Eartha Kitty in this case? We then learn of Fat Cat's intentions, as he wants to purchase the famed fighting fish.... Ugh, "Juice Lee". The twins believe Fat Cat will be paying with the bling around his neck, but he instead has something much better for them.... A suitcase full of dead fish. Being that they're cats, I guess I can let that one slide a bit, but really? You'll take dead fish over a priceless ruby for your famous fighting fish, that could easily get you something much more valuable?
Being horrible hagglers, they give him Juice Lee.
But as the deal looks to be a lock, they discover Chip, who's been trying to get the ruby. But before he's mince rodent meat, it's Dale to the rescue, as he takes out the twins, and her servants.
Which all look alike. What the hell?
The duo escape danger by filling a washing machine with soap, putting a stop to the baddies, and Fat Cat escapes with Juice Lee, and the story gets better after this.
But really, this moment is just.... Yeesh.
Maybe i'm being a bit over the top on this, and I can understand that a stereotype or two isn't that much to get worked up over, but this is no excuse. This really feels wrong in almost every way. And it feels like a blemish to a really good show. But that's not the only time this has happened. There was another episode in the very short third season, an episode called "Puffed Rangers". The plot was interesting, as the main villains were smuggling stolen cars, by shrinking them and putting them in cereal boxes. But this episode spurned far more controversy, as the bad guys spoke in overly stereotypical accents. Now while I can't find the original version, I did find the later redubbed episode. and Hoo Boy, you can certainly tell it was dubbed. The dialogue hardly ever syncs correctly.
And with that, we focus on this Sunday's induction, and week 3 of Stupor Zero Month, Robocop Alpha Commando. And while it doesn't have any stereotypes, It does have Robocop turning into a sled.
This one's gonna be painful.
