The Best of Pinky and the Brain

Cartoon television has been steadily dropping in quality for the last decade, even to the point that Saturday mornings aren't even filled with them anymore (the horror!). Then again, TV cartoons hit a peak for all audiences in the mid to late '90s, providing us with storyline-based anime, characters in space, superheroes, and the best of all: adult shows disguised as kid cartoons.

Pinky and the Brain was one of these shows, and it still garners high rating across the internet to this day. The title characters are two genetically altered lab mice: Brain, whose experiments granted him supreme intelligence, and Pinky, whose IQ was normally on par with a golf tee on a good day. They started out at part of the lineup on Animaniacs, and eventually grew to be so popular that they earned their own TV series in 1995, which ran for 4 seasons, and even had a spinoff of Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain, incorporating Tiny Toons character Elmyra.

The premise of this show is simple: they want to take over the world. Shenanigans always ensue, and Brain never gets to be ruler of the world; or, in some cases, not for long. These episodes varied from being full half hour length, to being an episode made up of at least 2 shorts. The show also featured some big name guest stars as well: James Belushi, Jeffrey Tambor, LeVar Burton, Dick Clark, and others who will be named on the list below.

Also featuring one of the best cartoon theme songs EVER.

While a fantastically funny and clever show, Pinky and the Brain did feature a flaw that I once mentioned in a previous blog: the target audience wasn't always specific. Star Trek: The Animated Series had a similar problem, as it appeared to be a children's show, but dealt with themes such as politics and science that younger audiences wouldn't understand; but to label it as an adult show like Futurama would also be misleading. Nonetheless, it featured terrific voice acting by Maurice LaMarche and Rob Paulson (he was well established in Hollywood before the movie Fight Club came out), quirky dialogue, and cleverly disguised adult humor that only Kids WB could get away with.

The majority of these episodes were well done, and it was difficult to pick out only 10 that stood out. I have listed my picks below, as well as a few honorable and notable mentions. Also, if you have never seen this show: spoiler alert!

Top Ten Pinky and the Brain Episodes

#10: Brain Acres (Season 3, episode 18)

The plot: Brain is able to bring life to a carrot, whom Pinky strikes up an immediate friendship with and names Maurice. When Maurice refuses to become an attack carrot in favor of being a sheep herder, Brain concocts a plan to create a fertilizer for vegetables that will cause massive growth, and use the same method he used on Maurice to create an army of giant vegetables to conquer the world. They move to the country to farm these vegetables and face opposition from their neighbors who think they're out to win the county fair vegetable contest.
Plot is foiled by: massive heat that causes the giant vegetables, and Maurice, to wither.
What makes it stand out: the many tributes it manages to fit into 22 minutes, and the adorableness of Maurice.
Episode spoofs/Pays homage to: Frankenstein, Young Frankenstein, Green Acres, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Babe, Terminator 2
Special guest stars: Mark Hamill (Jimmy Joe Jr.), Nicholle Tom (Supermarket lady)

#9: Brain Drained (Season 3, episode 17)

(Clip includes episode 16: Mice Don't Dance)

The plot: Brain realizes he hasn't been able to come up with an original idea to take over the world in a while and decides to get some outside help. He and Pinky put out an ad in the newspaper for TV writers to come up with ideas, but rounds up people who suggest he try various methods of subliminal messaging (which he has done countless times), act out their ideas in crazy puppets, suggest they become rock gods called "Braindude and Pinkosaur," change the entire premise to be a kids show called "Pinky-Winky and Brainy-Wainy," or just ramble off incoherent dialogue.
Plot is foiled by: lack of creative thought.
What makes it stand out: it shows how imaginative writing and creative stories really do require a lot talent, and those without the talent are really just whack-a-doodles.
Special guest stars: Michael McKean (Ponytail), Peter Scolari (Weird Guy)

#8: Brain's Song (Season 2, episode 8)

The plot: Brain plots to emotionally manipulate the world by hijacking the TV airwaves and presenting a special movie live so depressing that everyone who watches it will be too melancholy to function, allowing him to take over the world. He first tries being just the director and casting a big name actor in the role of Brain Piccadilly alongside actor Meadowlark Lemon, but due to lack of interest he and Pinky fill in the respective roles.
Plot is foiled by: Brain's poor choice of doing stunts onscreen, causing him to have random uncontrollable tremors, rendering him comedic rather than depressing.
What makes it stand out: the oh-so-wrongness of spoofing the film Brian's Song, based on the biography of Chicago Bears player Brian Piccolo and his friendship with fellow player Gale Sayers before Brian is forced to retire from football due to cancer. In another oh-so-wrong moment, Brain shows Pinky a movie clip spoofing Mufasa's death in The Lion King (20 years later and it's still too soon!). Despite all this wrongness, it's incredibly funny. It also features one of the best adult jokes pointed at actress Demi Moore, when Brain remarks: "If I dress up like Robert Redford and offer her a million dollars, will she go away?"
Special guest star: Dave Coulier (Forrest Gump)

#7: The Melancholy Brain (Season 3, episode 38)

(Clip includes episode 37: Brainie the Poo. Skip that episode and read why further down)

The plot: Brain is in the household of Shakespeare's Hamlet, where he connives with Pinky to set the entire royal household against each other so he can rise to power over Denmark. Brain winds up taking on the role of Hamlet's father and one of the actors in Hamlet's play about King Claudius murdering his brother, and tries to manipulate Queen Gertrude in to taking sides against both her husband and son. Hamlet learns of his treachery and challenges Brain to a duel, causing Brain to sink into a Nick-Bottom-as-Pyramus-type death scene. It turns out the whole thing is a rehearsal for the play itself.
Plot is foiled by: the play's director, who thinks that Shakespeare's play is fine, but the mice have to go.
What makes it stand out: while clearly spoofing the infamous Shakespeare play and making it a little more understandable for non-Shakespeare buffs, it also acts as an homage, and shows LaMarche's talent for reading Shakespearean dialogue.
Special guest stars: Cary Elwes (Hamlet), Olivia Hussey (Gertrude), John Rhys-Davies (William Shakespeare)

#6: TV or Not TV (Season 1, episode 10)

The plot: Brain uses the smiles of celebrities by taking their pictures from magazines to create a set of dentures that hypnotizes anyone who looks at him to "adore [him] for no good reason." He is foiled at first by network exec Kilmer who wears sunglasses when he meets Brain, who is meeting with him to pitch an idea for a sitcom. Kilmer thinks he's funny nonetheless, but tells him he needs to be marketable and established before being a TV star. Brain then rises to stardom minus the dentures as an insult comic, notable for his use of the word "repugnant" to describe people; all the while evading a wannabe comedy duo called Marlon and Shawn who think that Brain and Pinky are trying to steal their show spot.
Plot is foiled by: a hypnotist who, in order to cure Kilmer from a freak pain, randomly picks the word "repugnant" out of the dictionary to cure Kilmer's pain, which also causes it to return if the word said again. Brain winds up getting fired from his act causing too much pain to the exec, while his dentures are procured by Marlon, who puts them in his own mouth (which magically fit), thus securing the time slot for his show about lab mice who want to take over the world.
What makes it stand out: Marlon's willingness to literally stick his foot in his mouth, and the hypnotist causing deep sleep just by waving a Kenny G album in front of Kilmer's face. It also makes a clever spoof of the show itself with presenting a clip of Marlon and Shawn's new TV show: Gimpy and Cortex.
Episode pays homage to: insult comics such as Don Rickles and Groucho Marx.
Special guest stars: David Alan Grier (Marlon), Sam McMurray (Shawn)

#5: Tokyo Grows (Season 1, episode 3)

The plot: taking place in Tokyo, Brain uses an enlarging ray on both himself and Pinky, who dresses up in a costume of "Gollyzilla" to become Pinkzilla to cause destruction and spread hysteria among the population. Brain then plans to swoop in as "Brainodo" and defeat Gollyzilla, thus taking over Japan and then the world. But before Pinky can get to Brain, the real Gollyzilla rises from the ocean and begins attacking the city.
Plot is foiled by: Raymond Burr, who is randomly enlarged as well, followed by mass enlargements all across the city, causing the buildings and inhabitants to grow to enormous proportions, rendering Brain, Pinky, Gollyzilla and Raymond Burr the size of lab rats.
What makes it stand out: seriously? Raymond Burr. Not to mention the uneven English dubbing over Japanese dialogue.
Episode spoofs/Pays homage to: Raymond Burr, Japanese films, monster movies

#4: All You Need is Narf (Season 3, episode 9)

The plot: Brain plans to use sandlewood in lava lamps to entrance the human race before covering them in goo that will render them unable to move. The only place to get sandlewood is in India, where the Maharishi accepts it as a form of payment, but he's out to meditate for 3 months. Pinky winds up giving sage advise to disappointed pilgrims, who then elevate him to "Mousarishi" to take over, and he rises to rival the Maharishi's status. When the British band, The Feebles, reserve the Mousarishi for 3 months, jeopardizing Brain's plan, he allows uber-annoying visitor Yoyo Nono to visit in hopes she will drive the band members away. Instead, she hooks up with Jim Lemmon and causes the band to break up.
Plot is foiled by: Yoyo Nono. Brain still has enough sandlewood for his plot to succeed after Pinky is blamed for the Yoyo/Jim relationship that breaks up the Feebles, but she steals it from them and turns it into "artwork."
What makes it stand out: the clever way they poke fun at the John Lennon/Yoko Ono relationship.

#3: Brainwashed (Season 4, episodes 1-3)

The plot: this 3-part episode has Brain refusing to submit to pop culture's obsession with the popular song/dance craze, the "Schmeerskahoven" by Swedish pop group BAAB, and his doing so causes him and Pinky to be captured by a clown, then brainwashed and banished to "the Land of Hats." Pinky is able retain his memory and to helps jog Brain's memory, and when they escape, Brain takes with them a floppy disk with information on a diabolical plot to use the Schmeerskahoven to make the human race stupider; but the disk is booby trapped and causes Acme Labs to explode.
Brain suspects his arch-nemesis, Snowball, is responsible, but Snowball is in reality imprisoned by the doctors he hired to research the Schmeerskahoven. Brain decides to put their past differences behind him and they work together to seek out Dr. Mordough, the man responsible for their genetic splicing, who they suspect is the mastermind behind the Schmeerskahoven.
They arrive at his private island guarded by Snowball's gone-feral lawyers, only to find that Dr. Mordough is also a victim of the song at the hands of his kitty, Precious. She also went through the same gene-splicing machine that changed Brain, Snowball and Pinky, and now has enormous intellect with a head to match, and blames humanity for her not being pretty anymore. She explains she will enact her revenge on humanity by adding a final verse to the Schmeerskahoven, which will cause the population of the world to think like cats.
Plot is foiled by: Brain and Pinky; they shrink themselves down to a microscopic level and hide in presidential aide Bobby Bob's eardrum, who spills hot coffee on the members of BAAB so they can't sing the final verse; then they give him new lyrics to sing in BAAB's place that reverses the effects of the Schmeerskahoven.
What makes it stand out: though in 3 separate parts, each part is strong and intelligent, keeping the viewers guessing as to what's really going on and how everything will resolve in the end. It also resolves Snowball's storyline, who doesn't escape the gene-splicer and is returned to normal hamster status. And, let's face it, the Schmeerskahoven is a spoof of the Macerana, and that song totally dumbed down the human race for a while when it was on the radio waves.
Episode spoofs/Pays homage to: The Prisoner, Innerspace, Silence of the Lambs, The Island of Dr. Moreau
Special guest stars: Tom Bodet (himself), Roddy McDowell (Snowball), Nora Dunn (Precious)

#2: Brinky (Season 2, episode 15)

The plot: Brain creates a cloning machine and inserts a sample of his DNA to create a clone of himself and eventually create a clone army, only to discover that one of Pinky's toenail clippings have contaminated the sample, thus creating a hybrid of the two lab mice, making them essentially two dads. The clone, named "Roman Numeral One," or "Romy," as Pinky calls him, has high intellect but little common sense, and runs away from home when Brain's demands for him to be a dictatorial pawn cause him to rebel. While Romy starts to make a life of his own, Pinky and Brain resort to daytime talk shows to bring him home.
Plot is foiled by: Romy's human girlfriend, Bunny, who encourages him to join her on the road to follow the Grateful Dead.
What makes it stand out: first of all, the topic of two dads successfully having a baby together, and so many adult themes and jokes that you'll wonder how the writers got away with airing this episode for kids.
Episode spoofs/Pays homage to: daytime talk shows.
The disappointment: Romy was never heard from or mentioned again. It would have been nice to see him make at least one other appearance.

#1: Star Warners (Season 4, episode 9)

The plot: Princess Angelina Contessa Louisa Francesca Banana Fanna Bo Besca Leia Oragami the Third hides the plans of the Mega Star, built and run by Girth Plotz, in her droid/mini-fridge, R2-Brain2, who escapes with his droid sidekick, 3-Pinky-O. Realizing the importance of these plans, Brain2 plans to take over the Mega Star, and thus, the known universe. Along the way, they encounter Wak Skylicker, Slappy Wanna-Nappy, Yak Soho, Cherbooba, and Skipoda to run through a spoof of all three original Star Wars films. Other familiar faces who make appearances include Freakazoid, 2 Monstars from Space Jam, and Marvin the Martian, along with some of Animaniacs' popular recurring characters and random film and sci-fi movies.
Plot is foiled by: Wak Skylicker, who uses "The Face," during Brain2's universally broadcast takeover speech, causing Brain2 and the entire universe to break into hysterical laughter, thus foiling Girth Plotz's and Brain2's domination plans.
What makes it stand out: although this episode could technically be an Animaniacs episode, it brilliantly spoofs the entire Star Wars franchise (years before Family Guy) in only 22 minutes, and gives the series a fabulous send off as the show wraps up.
Special guest star: Ben Stein (Pip Pumphandle)


Top Five Pinky and the Brain Episodes from Animaniacs

#5: Jockey for Position (Season 1, Episode 27)

(YouTube charges $1.99 to view episode. Couldn't find a free version) 

The plot: In order to raise money for his latest scheme, Brain tricks a jockey into believing he won a million dollars and takes his place riding "Daddy's Little Angel" in the Kentucky Derby.
Plot is foiled by: Pharfignewton, another horse in the race who falls for Pinky. When Pinky finds himself thrown from Brain's horse he ends up at the finish line, about to be trampled by the lead horses, until Pharfignewton steamrolls past everyone to save his life.
What makes it stand out: the irresistible plot twist of Pinky naming Pharfignewton his girlfriend, and this relationship is even mentioned in the episode "The World Can Wait," and referenced in pictures appearing in several episodes of Pinky and the Brain, including "The Third Mouse."

#4: When Mice Ruled the Earth (Season 1, Episode 47)

(YouTube charges $1.99 to view episode. Couldn't find a free version) 

The plot: Brain takes over H.G. Wells' time machine and takes Pinky back in time to caveman days to give their ancient ancestors technology that will cause them to dominate over mankind. His first two attempts only make life for prehistoric mice worse, but in his third attempt, Pinky shows mice how to create fire. The prehistoric mice are also influenced by another aspect of Pinky's persona: "narf!"
Plot is foiled by: the "narf." Because Pinky was the one who taught the mice how to make fire, they emulated his personality as they evolved as the dominant species. Pinky and Brain return to the present to find they are normal sizes, but the inhabitants all look, act, and talk like Pinky! Brain then takes the time machine back to prevent them from changing history.
What makes it stand out: first of all, this is the first episode ever featuring a Brain plot that actually succeeds. The final dialogue also wraps up the episode perfectly, when Pinky states how easy it would be for Brain to rule a world populated with mice like him. His response: "Yes, Pinky, but who would want to?"

#3: Cranial Crusader (Season 1, episode 60)

(Episode beings at 8.43 mark)

The plot: residing in the hideout of the superhero, The Caped Opossum, Brain commandeers his ultra-techie car, "The Power Possum," and sets out as the crime-fighting Cranial Crusader with his sidekick, Pink Wonder, to locate the one super villain the Caped Opossum hasn't caught: Johnny Badnote, thus elevating him to superhero status. Pinky spends his time illustrating their adventures in the form of a comic book.
Plot is foiled by: gravity. The Caped Opossum leaves a calling card with his initials and the shadow of a possum face wherever he goes. Brain makes a calling card of his own and leaves it at the wreckage of Johnny Badnote's lair, but debris knocks over an inkwell that Brain left his calling card next to, spilling ink on the initials and shadow to make it look like the Caped Opossum's calling card.
What makes it stand out: the heavy duty spoofing of the Batman franchise, and the silly gadgets the Power Possum employs.

#2: Bubba Bo Bob Brain (Season 1, Episode 34)

(YouTube charges $1.99 to view episode. Couldn't find a free version) 

The plot: Brain creates a hypnotic message and becomes a country singer, playing the message after his hit song "King of the World" that needs to be heard over and over again until it forces the listeners to do whatever he says.
Plot is foiled by: having a name so long that Pinky can't get it right. When Brain finally gets the American public to the point that they will do "whatever he says," he accidentally tells Pinky over his microphone to forget who he is. The hypnotic message takes hold and the entire world forgets who he is.
What makes it stand out: how they hit every single stereotype the country music world has to offer right on the head. There is also a scene in which Brain meets Dolly Parton that miraculously got past the censors.

#1: Spellbound (Season 1, Episode 38)

(YouTube charges $1.99 to view episode. Couldn't find a free version) 

The plot: Brain finds the mythical wizard Merlin's spell book which happens to have a "take over the world" spell in it, but one of the primary ingredients, a red dragon's toenail clipping, is lost when Pinky accidentally drops all of them into a boiling cauldron. The two set off to find a red dragon and clip his toenail, and run into every regular character from Animaniacs, as well as Witch Hazel from Looney Tunes on their adventure.
Plot is foiled by: Pinky's lack of rhyming skills. He travels with Brain as a minstrel, but when he tries to sing their progress as Brain chants the final verses of the spell, he breaks Brain's concentration and he says ends the spell wrong, resulting in Brain turning into cheese.
What makes it stand out: this particular episode actually has a well written storyline full of adventure and laughs, and is fun all the way through. It also features several adult jokes, one of which implies that the dragon saw a naked princess.


Honorable Pinky and the Brain Mentions

The Family that Narfs Together, Poits Together (Season 3, episode 48)

Brain needs $25,000 to fund his latest scheme, and when he seems an promo on TV for "On Air with Squeege and Kathy Glee" offering a $25,000 prize for the "most wonderful family contest," Pinky convinces Brain to find his family and use them for the show. Brain manages to track down Pinky's parents (both voiced by Eric Idle) and puts them through the gene splicer to enhance their cognitive abilities, as well as Pinky's sister, who is, in reality, a wooden spool.

Snowball (Season 1, episode 13)

While preparing to send a hypnotic chain letter to the American public, Brain finds the same letter sent to him by Snowball, a genetically altered hamster and his former best friend who also wants to take over the world, but employs evil means of doing so. His first mission: convince Pinky to join him and leave Brain.

You Said a Mouseful (Season 3, episode 31)

An episode spoofing America's hacky sack craze, Brain plots to add a helium molecule to "kicky sack" shoes, in order to make people float and the earth lighter for his current plan. He and Pinky disguise themselves as Japanese buyers to be given a tour of the factory, only to be met with more tongue-twisters about the processes and machinery than you will ever seen in a single TV episode. They also have to watch out for the security guard: Peggy Babcock. (I dare you to say her name 3 times at normal speed!)

That Smarts (Season 1, episode 4)

Brain employs an algorithm to focus on what causes his plans to fail, only to find it's Pinky. He creates a machine to make Pinky smarter, who then fixes Brain's original equations to only discover Brain himself is the cause of his failed plans.

Funny, You Don't Look Rhennish (Season 3, episode 14)

Pinky and Brain join a Rhennish (spoofing the Amish) settlement to uncover a mother lode of "sinusite," in order to induce the human race into uncontrollable sneezing. What they can't handle are barn-raises that happen every 4 hours, or that any activities that aren't part of farm work are considered to be "idleness."

The Pinky POV (Season 3, episode 49)

This episode is shot in first person format, following Pinky's usual day when Brain explains his new plan. The viewers get to see how Pinky almost never knows what Brain is talking about, and illustrates how he comes up with those random responses to Brain's trademark line: "are you pondering what I'm pondering?" Extra points go to Brain naming their band "Frog the Dry Widget." (If you don't know who they are referencing, go here)


Honorable Pinky and the Brain Animaniacs Mentions

Opportunity Knox (Season 1, Episode 24)

Pinky and Brain plot to infiltrate Fort Knox and steal all the gold bullion inside. They succeed after using a sneezing agent on all the guards in the area to incapacitate them, but fail to take a major point into consideration: how do two mice move several thousand tons of gold bullion?

Puppet Rulers (Season 1, Episode 40)

Brain's latest scheme, inspired by Albert Einstein's favorite TV show, Meany and Treacle, finds him and Pinky becoming the newest "puppet" characters of Big Ears and Noodlenoggin, taking the world by storm with their popularity and then freezing themselves for 30 years to inspire their now-adult fans to make them world leaders. The fun trivia regarding this episode (found in the special features of the DVD) is that Einstein's favorite TV show was Beany and Cecil, the TV show that was spoofed in this episode.


WTH?? Episodes from Pinky and the Brain

The Tailor and the Mice (Season 3, episode 32)

The all-singing episode tells a story about a psychotic tailor who just loves his mice so much that he practically tortures them with his affection when he forces them to dance with him. Brain has to fake being sick, then fakes his own death not once, but twice, to try and escape from the tailor, who bakes him in a pie with full intent of eating him on his first death attempt. On Brain's second attempt, the tailor wears a sleek black dress when he mourns Brain's second passing, then abducts Pinky, catches Brain trying to escape, tries to cook and eat them in rice, and chases them across the sea to Acme Labs! Also, the super annoying song gets stuck in your head.

Brainie the Poo (Season 3, episode 37)

The episode opens like a Winnie the Pooh movie in a child's bedroom with toys, but these toys of Brainie the Poo and Pinklet and creepy looking, are in the process of being surgically operated on, or sewn up to look like Frankenstein. And that's before the story begins! Not even guest star John Rhys-Davies narrating with that amazing voice of his can keep you from getting creeped out by the appearances of Jagger's plastic lips and Christopher Walken's disturbing ramblings. The ending, however, was particularly funny.


Episode I Once Used for a College Project

A Little Off the Top (Season 2, Episode 10)

I once took a religion/mythology class, and my group focused on Jewish/Hebrew religion and mythology. An assignment we had was to do a presentation on a hero, so we picked Samson and brought in the Pinky and the Brain episode where Brain is trying to find the secret to Samson's strength. We got bonus points for showing Samson's story in a comedic way.


Though the show was like any other TV show airing, it had its brilliant moments and its lacking episodes, not to mention the fact that the 3rd season dominated over the others in both quality and quantity, it still stands out as being unique and a staple of the '90s cartoon era. There have been rumors circulating for years that a Pinky and the Brain movie is in the works, which would be interesting given how much the world has changed in 20 years.

So, after all this, are you pondering what I'm pondering?

If you were going to say you think so, but why is American Idol still on the air, then you're close.

Take some time off and enjoy the adventures of Pinky and the Brain!

But first, check out this fan-made crossover spoof featuring another famous Pinkie.

(This is the closest I ever get to writing a Bronie blog)