Today, I'm going to review an old show that I caught a few episodes of growing up back in the 90s.
I remember watching it at a babysitter's house before school. Most of the time we were out the door before the end of the show.
Much like the Sing me a story song with Belle, it's Disney in flavor, but not as lazy as taking clips from movies and cartoons and dubbing them over. (And I promise, there's no gingerbread porn here.)
There's actually some humor in the show that is funny, even for adults.
To start, This show has been recommended by the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education association.
So it has that going for it.
The show begins in typical 90s fashion of a midi theme with our Heroine Alice walking into her room after school. She's complaining to her cat Dina about a bully at school that keeps taking her desserts. The cat reacts appropriately.(I mean, for a cat)
I quit taking advice from my cats years ago... Except for tax stuff. They're into that.
Needing time to think about her problem, Alice steps through the mirror and whisks off to wonderland.
Fun fact: The actress that played alice grew up to play Morgan Brody from CSI
The intro to this show has more effort put into it than sing me a story. Most of it is green screen, shows the cast of characters and has an upbeat song that is a little catchy. Okay, Enough with that. Let's get to the show.
We're introduced to a mysterious bard strumming a guitar singing about the March Hare. Who is this bard?
Willie Friggin' Nelson!
I normally don't like country music at all, but I make exceptions for the classics. Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson are Awesome. (I also like Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton too. but don't tell anyone.)
When I was a radio DJ in college I wanted to do an interview with him after he put on a concert at our college but I had learned that someone took blinding photos of him during the concert. I later learned those photos were taken by my sister.
Back to the show, the Mad Hatter is wondering where the March hare is because he's never missed a tea party. Hare shows up saying he's leaving town. But why? A bully from his High school is coming to visit wonderland!
A bully that pied him repeatedly.
Alice and the Hatter tell Hare to stand up to the bully. This point gets made again by Willie who comes strumming along.
For what it's worth, I think WIllie Nelson is the only celebrity musician appropriate for this show.
The Hatter, Alice and the Hare recruit Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum for their posse to stand up to the bully.
Unfortunately this leads to a musical number about being true friends. When Hare explains to the group that even in a group, the bully is too strong. When the group finds out about this, they split, leaving Hare alone with Willie Nelson.
I... I've got nothing.
Hare runs off and talks to the white rabbit and the Queen of hearts.
Okay, this show DID have good makeup and costumes.
There, the White rabbit tells Hare to bring the Queen with him as an authority figure. The Queen initially agrees but then backs out when she figures it will be a full time job defending the Hare.
TIME FOR ANOTHER MOMENT WITH WILLIE!
As these go on, they're shorter and Willie keeps looking like "When will this end?"
I mean, the way I see it, He was going through financial trouble at the time and if Disney wants to hire you, are you going to say no?
Hare runs off and debates whether or not he should leave town. He talks to the caterpillar who reads him a story.
Just a caterpillar reading a book to a Hare. Nothing to see here, folks.
The caterpillar tells the story of a bully fish that leaves his pond only to be bullied by bigger fish. The fish returns to his pond to never be a bully again. (This segment was actually nicely animated!)
Fire my agent...
We finally get to the moment of truth. NOON. The bully steps off the train. Who is this bully that has everyone in a tizzy? Why it's...
Gilbert Gottfried!
He actually plays this part well. Another song is sung, this time by Gottfried (A true bullying move) Willie shows up again, sings a line and walks offstage.
Gilbert makes the best "Is that Willie Nelson?" look ever.
At long last, we come to the showdown between the Hare and the Bully. The bully intimidates the hare by quickly pulling combs out of his outfit and combing his hair. (Just watch it. I don't feel like clipping stuff together.)
The Hare and the bully have a standoff and the Hare gets a pie away from the bully but decides not to pie him because that would make him a bully and "Two wrongs don't make a right." But that doesn't matter because the Queen and everyone else has Hare's back.
So, the group pies Gottfried, and he runs off exclaiming he hates lemon meringue (Wouldn't that burn like hell if it got in your eyes???)
We're treated to another awkward musical number... And then the biggest travesty occurs...
Willie is pied, but he smiles it off, so no harm no foul? Anyways. Alice comes back through the mirror to her world, Tells her cat that she's going to stand up to the bully and the credits roll.
THE END.
So, there you have it. another weird show spun off from Disney that (supposedly) is used for teaching. The costumes look cool, the humor is funny at times (even for adults).
Well, that's all for now. I'm waiting for the spring thaw to happen. See ya next time.
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