Blill Clinton / Income Tax?

[MattieShoe]

Was there a clear reason why the "Bill Clinton" verse in the Animaniacs intro was changed by the third season? Was it Network pressure, or did it just feel dated to the producers?

 

[Collie]

Probably just because it was dated, plus they may have anticipated reruns extending after Clinton's presidency.

 

[wakkowarner]

Probably just because it was dated, plus they may have anticipated reruns extending after Clinton's presidency.

Yeah,like that'll ever happen. *sigh*

 

[BigLouMan20]

I can't remember where I read it, but it was due to the scandal the verse was changed.

 

[Goldstar!]

I'm with Collie on this one; the change was probably made to keep the show from becoming dated in syndication. It would be like making a joke about Barrack Obama now. Tiny Toons did a 30 minute episode titled "Washningtoon" in which George Bush Sr. and Dan Quayle were caricatured. Sure, it was funny when Bush Sr. was in office, but it would seem horribly dated if viewed today.

Earthworm Jim:TAS did a funny joke about that very thing in one of the episodes from season 2. Jim and Peter Puppy are at the White House meeting with the President.
Jim: Hey, you don't look like the President!
President: I'm a generic president used to keep these shows from becoming dated.

 

[cavgurl]

I recently rediscovered the show (I didn't watch it much when it was airing) and I didn't know about the change until I saw it on the AMLF. I guess I agree with those who have said it was done so the show would not seem dated if it was syndicated later. Although, there are many references to Bill and Hilary Clinton in P&tB's spinoff series which remained intact even when it was reran. Please explain that.

 

[dth1971]

The second season of 4 Animaniacs episodes in Fall 1994 had the "Bill Clinton plays the sax" line replaced with the line "We get wisecracks by the sacks".

 

[trance2009]

Yeah, in the main theme it could get dated, but WB cartoons since the 30s poked fun at political figures of the time, so being dated was never really a huge thing with that studio.

 

[historywiz]

Bill Clinton/Income Tax?

Perhaps the line was changed to keep the into fresh. Many TV shows change the the opening every season or two.

 

[Silverstar]

I recently rediscovered the show (I didn't watch it much when it was airing) and I didn't know about the change until I saw it on the AMLF. I guess I agree with those who have said it was done so the show would not seem dated if it was syndicated later. Although, there are many references to Bill and Hilary Clinton in P&tB's spinoff series which remained intact even when it was reran. Please explain that.

Taking out one piece of a cartoon intro is one thing, taking out references and characters which could alter the course of the story is another. Of course, the best way to avoid dating your show is to simply not make a bunch of references and allusions to now. Today's topical reference is tomorrow's dated reference.

Perhaps the line was changed to keep the into fresh. Many TV shows change the the opening every season or two.

That could also be a reason.

The second season of 4 Animaniacs episodes in Fall 1994 had the "Bill Clinton plays the sax" line replaced with the line "We get wisecracks by the sacks".

Is that what they were saying? I never understood what was being sung there in those episodes. It always sounded like they were saying "We've got horse nips by the sacks" to me. Also, it seemed to be a last-minute replacement, since no original animation was used; instead, the producers inserted a bit of animation from "Taming of the Screwy" and re-dubbed the vocals. When it was changed again to "We pay lots of income tax", at least that time original animation was made for it.

 

[dth1971]

Is that what they were saying? I never understood what was being sung there in those episodes. It always sounded like they were saying "We've got horse nips by the sacks" to me. Also, it seemed to be a last-minute replacement, since no original animation was used; instead, the producers inserted a bit of animation from "Taming of the Screwy" and re-dubbed the vocals. When it was changed again to "We pay lots of income tax", at least that time original animation was made for it.

Also for Season 3 on, the line regarding Pinky and the Brain was replaced by "Meet Ralph and Dr. Scratchnsniff, say hi to Hello Nurse" since Pinky and the Brain got their own series at that time.

 

[EJLD4Ever]

Yeah, in the main theme it could get dated, but WB cartoons since the 30s poked fun at political figures of the time, so being dated was never really a huge thing with that studio.

Well, in the theartrical days, given the tight two-month theatrical distribution and circulation schedules, the producers generally assumed that each cartoon would never have a shelf life beyond maybe two showings per venue. At that time, they had NO IDEA that home video would be invented or that television would rerun the cartoons for all eternity.

That's why there wasn't a concern that maybe this joke will date.

 

[Peter Paltridge]

This question was asked at Animania IV, and I believe the response was "Bill Clinton jokes are old hat." It was 1995, though...kind of premature to say that.

I'm with Collie on this one; the change was probably made to keep the show from becoming dated in syndication. It would be like making a joke about Barrack Obama now. Tiny Toons did a 30 minute episode titled "Washningtoon" in which George Bush Sr. and Dan Quayle were caricatured. Sure, it was funny when Bush Sr. was in office, but it would seem horribly dated if viewed today.

Earthworm Jim:TAS did a funny joke about that very thing in one of the episodes from season 2. Jim and Peter Puppy are at the White House meeting with the President.
Jim: Hey, you don't look like the President!
President: I'm a generic president used to keep these shows from becoming dated.

It's ironic because due to an unexplained delay, "Washingtoon" didn't air on Election Day like it was supposed to, but a day after, when everybody knew Clinton would be the next president.

Also, the EWJ gag reveals the flaw with "generic" presidents. He's obviously not the President, he's a white guy. You never know what'll happen.

 

[Tom Ruegger]

simple explanation

We weren't sure Bill Clinton was going to win re-election in 1996, so we wanted to have a back-up lyric ready, just in case.

As it turned out, Bill won again, so we probably didn't need to make the adjustment.

 

[cavgurl]

^Thanks for explaining that!