Categories > Cartoons > Animaniacs
The Warners are asked to do a public service announcement message on their show like nearly every other show in their 90s.
0Unrated
-Summer 1998, sometime before the new season of Animaniacs is to be filmed-
Wakko and Dot sat on the deck of the water tower, eating ice cream they bought from the ice cream truck.
“Where’s Yakko?” Dot asked. “He ought to know he’s tempting fate by letting you buy his ice cream for him.”
Wakko finished eating his and Yakko’s ice cream. “What do you mean he’s tempting fate?”
Dot looked at Wakko. “Because you- you ate his ice cream already?!”
Wakko nodded slowly.
“We just bought it two minutes ago.” Dot said. She shrugged. “Eh, it doesn’t concern me.”
Yakko finally climbed back up the water tower. “Unbelievable.”
“Not really.” Dot said. “I’m only surprised Wakko hasn’t eaten the ice cream truck yet.”
Yakko looked at Wakko, who offered him a half eaten ice cream wrapper. “I lost my appetite anyway.” He said. “You won’t believe what the studio asked us to do.”
“They asked us to ignore the censors?” Wakko asked excitedly. “That’ll be fun.”
“No, we have to do a public service announcement.” Yakko replied. He sat down beside Wakko. “Something about us being better role models.”
Dot handed her empty ice cream wrapper to Wakko, who quickly ate it. “The wheel of morality wasn’t enough?”
“Guess not, they also said they realized we were being sarcastic.” Yakko said.
“So what should we do a public service announcement for?” Dot asked.
Yakko pulled book out of his pants pocket. “Well, let’s see.” He replied. “Okay… basic safety tips.”
“Nah, if people are too stupid to not know you’re not supposed to walk when the light is green, that’s on them.” Wakko said, waving his hand dismissively.
“Red, you’re supposed to stop on red.” Yakko replied.
Wakko nodded. “Oh.”
“Harassment?” Dot asked.
Yakko looked up.“Kinda hypocritical, ain’t it, folks?”
“Who are you talking to?” Wakko asked. “There’s no cameras.”
“Not if you quit the ‘hello, nurse’ bit.” Dot replied.
“Pass.” Wakko and Yakko replied.
Yakko flipped the page. “Protecting the environment?”
“Doesn’t that blue hedgehog from the other network do that already?” Wakko asked.
“Him and that superhero guy.” Yakko replied. “So that’s out. If we gotta do this, I wanna do something different.”
“How about an anti-drug PSA?” Wakko asked.
“That’s more overdone than environmental PSAs.” Yakko replied.
“Well, what if we make a sarcastic PSA about all the issues?” Wakko asked.
Yakko hopped up. “Brilliant idea, Wakko.” He replied. “I’m glad you thought of it.”
“We’ve done sarcastic moral acknowledgements before.” Dot said.
Wakko smiled. “And I loved how Mystery Science Theater handles PSAs.”
Yakko threw the book as far as he could. “Oh, forget it.” He said. He started climbing down the tower. “I’m gonna tell the executives we’re not doing it. What are they gonna do? Cancel us?”
*
Yakko, Wakko, and Dot sat in their water tower, eating a gallon of ice cream each while in their pajamas.
“So now we know they can cancel our show if we don’t play by the rules.” Yakko said. “But, hey, we’re gonna be paid royalties.”
“Until they stop showing reruns.” Dot added.
Yakko sighed. “Yeah, sorry, sibs.”
“It’s fine.” Wakko said. “Maybe my letter writing campaign will bring our show back.”
*
-years later-
“Well, it took twenty years to be back in production, but here we are.” Yakko said. “So… is this a lesson in perseverance?”
Wakko nodded.
“Hey, the contracts they want us to sign says absolutely no ‘hello, nurse’ jokes or related material.” Dot said, looking over the contract.
“That’s it, I’m out.” Yakko replied.
“Me too.” Wakko said.
“But you’ll be paid an extra two grand.” Dot said.
“We’ll take it.” Yakko and Wakko replied.
Yakko looked at the camera. “So… the lesson is everyone has a price and will sell out for it.”
“The camera isn’t even on.” Dot said.
Yakko shrugged. “It’s a habit.”
“Ooh, catering is here.” Wakko said, running for the craft services table.
Yakko and Dot signed their contracts.
“I’ll sign Wakko’s name on mine since I’m sure he ate his.” Yakko said. “Alright, better order take out and read our scripts since Wakko just ate the table.”
Wakko had indeed eaten the entire table, catering and all, and was now asleep.
Yakko and Dot sat in their director’s chairs and scrolled through their phones to order takeout.
Wakko and Dot sat on the deck of the water tower, eating ice cream they bought from the ice cream truck.
“Where’s Yakko?” Dot asked. “He ought to know he’s tempting fate by letting you buy his ice cream for him.”
Wakko finished eating his and Yakko’s ice cream. “What do you mean he’s tempting fate?”
Dot looked at Wakko. “Because you- you ate his ice cream already?!”
Wakko nodded slowly.
“We just bought it two minutes ago.” Dot said. She shrugged. “Eh, it doesn’t concern me.”
Yakko finally climbed back up the water tower. “Unbelievable.”
“Not really.” Dot said. “I’m only surprised Wakko hasn’t eaten the ice cream truck yet.”
Yakko looked at Wakko, who offered him a half eaten ice cream wrapper. “I lost my appetite anyway.” He said. “You won’t believe what the studio asked us to do.”
“They asked us to ignore the censors?” Wakko asked excitedly. “That’ll be fun.”
“No, we have to do a public service announcement.” Yakko replied. He sat down beside Wakko. “Something about us being better role models.”
Dot handed her empty ice cream wrapper to Wakko, who quickly ate it. “The wheel of morality wasn’t enough?”
“Guess not, they also said they realized we were being sarcastic.” Yakko said.
“So what should we do a public service announcement for?” Dot asked.
Yakko pulled book out of his pants pocket. “Well, let’s see.” He replied. “Okay… basic safety tips.”
“Nah, if people are too stupid to not know you’re not supposed to walk when the light is green, that’s on them.” Wakko said, waving his hand dismissively.
“Red, you’re supposed to stop on red.” Yakko replied.
Wakko nodded. “Oh.”
“Harassment?” Dot asked.
Yakko looked up.“Kinda hypocritical, ain’t it, folks?”
“Who are you talking to?” Wakko asked. “There’s no cameras.”
“Not if you quit the ‘hello, nurse’ bit.” Dot replied.
“Pass.” Wakko and Yakko replied.
Yakko flipped the page. “Protecting the environment?”
“Doesn’t that blue hedgehog from the other network do that already?” Wakko asked.
“Him and that superhero guy.” Yakko replied. “So that’s out. If we gotta do this, I wanna do something different.”
“How about an anti-drug PSA?” Wakko asked.
“That’s more overdone than environmental PSAs.” Yakko replied.
“Well, what if we make a sarcastic PSA about all the issues?” Wakko asked.
Yakko hopped up. “Brilliant idea, Wakko.” He replied. “I’m glad you thought of it.”
“We’ve done sarcastic moral acknowledgements before.” Dot said.
Wakko smiled. “And I loved how Mystery Science Theater handles PSAs.”
Yakko threw the book as far as he could. “Oh, forget it.” He said. He started climbing down the tower. “I’m gonna tell the executives we’re not doing it. What are they gonna do? Cancel us?”
*
Yakko, Wakko, and Dot sat in their water tower, eating a gallon of ice cream each while in their pajamas.
“So now we know they can cancel our show if we don’t play by the rules.” Yakko said. “But, hey, we’re gonna be paid royalties.”
“Until they stop showing reruns.” Dot added.
Yakko sighed. “Yeah, sorry, sibs.”
“It’s fine.” Wakko said. “Maybe my letter writing campaign will bring our show back.”
*
-years later-
“Well, it took twenty years to be back in production, but here we are.” Yakko said. “So… is this a lesson in perseverance?”
Wakko nodded.
“Hey, the contracts they want us to sign says absolutely no ‘hello, nurse’ jokes or related material.” Dot said, looking over the contract.
“That’s it, I’m out.” Yakko replied.
“Me too.” Wakko said.
“But you’ll be paid an extra two grand.” Dot said.
“We’ll take it.” Yakko and Wakko replied.
Yakko looked at the camera. “So… the lesson is everyone has a price and will sell out for it.”
“The camera isn’t even on.” Dot said.
Yakko shrugged. “It’s a habit.”
“Ooh, catering is here.” Wakko said, running for the craft services table.
Yakko and Dot signed their contracts.
“I’ll sign Wakko’s name on mine since I’m sure he ate his.” Yakko said. “Alright, better order take out and read our scripts since Wakko just ate the table.”
Wakko had indeed eaten the entire table, catering and all, and was now asleep.
Yakko and Dot sat in their director’s chairs and scrolled through their phones to order takeout.
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