Figuring Out "Take Elmyra, Please"

[Mr. Horse]

Out of all the episodes in the Tiny Toons canon, none have fascinated me more than the Season 2 closer "Take Elmyra, Please". It's not an episode bound to show up on most fans' "favorite" or "best of" lists - but I always felt it's an underrated comic gem of an episode - easily, in this user's humble opinion - the funniest Elmyra was on the show, just the right amount of "annoying" to make her endearing to the audience, but annoying to the on-screen characters (helps that the two kidnappers make for fine foils to the madness that is that red-haired ditz).

But it's the very reason this episode exists - in that it was one of two half-hours (the other, of course, being the vastly inferior "Grandma's Dead") produced as pilots for an attempt to get Elmyra and her previously unseen family her own spinoff - that contributes to my endless fascination for it. While I'm grateful that the "Duff Duo" managed to air as part of TTA proper in some form, and in pretty much their original form (minus the pasted on and redubbed Buster and Babs intro on TEP) - some days I've found myself wondering about what the "original" cut of that initial take on what the vision of Elmyra having her own show was to be like, when it was edited together as a standalone half-hour to get TV executives a taste of what the series woulda' been like had it been greenlit for full production. Ergo - here for your perusal are my speculations on how the pilot cut might've transpired - and anything confirming my suspicions, like script pages, boards, etc. is of course greatly appreciated!!

- Knowing how pilots are with usually including some sort of a main title sequence, I imagine there was some sort of a unique main title/theme song that introduced Elmyra and set up the premise of her having her own show (with a verse for the new family members). A model sheet has surfaced in recent years for the infant member of the Duff family ("Brick"), and while that name was never used onscreen - I wouldn't be surprised if it was mentioned in this theme song. Musically, I'd wager it was some variation on Elmyra's leitmotif on the "Tiny Toons" series and elsewhere ("Animal Fair") with custom lyrics as opposed to a fully original tune (if that melody being heard over the opening credits of "Grandma's Dead" in a fresh, jazzed up arrangement is any indicator).

I do wonder if the series title we've seen attributed to these pilots, "Elmyra's Family", would've even been used in these hypothetical intros. It's pretty clear to me that this was some sort of a temporary title until something more catchy was decided on (even if it was just something like "Meet the Duffs" or "The Elmyra Show").

- While I really have no idea if Elmyra's "let the show begin!" end tag was in the original cut or an addition made specifically for the episode, I have a suspicion the stock "opening credits" cue heard in the broadcast edit of the episode was included to replace an original cue recorded specifically for the episode (and possibly thrown in there in order to have a longer cue that could begin during the Elmyra end tag). Both of the two other TT episodes produced as "backdoor pilots" have opening credit cues recorded specifically for the episode, so I wouldn't be surprised if TEP has such a cue that's been unheard for years.

- The body of the episode would've been more or less the same (unlike "The Return of Batduck", which has a glaring cut at one point made when it was repackaged for TTA), but naturally the Buster and Babs intro reused from "K-Acme TV" would've been absent, segueing immediately from the opening credits to the establishing shots of Hidden Terrace.

-If it had any closing credits, my theory is that, keeping in mind the usual formula of the 90s WB shows having their closing credits shown over a painting (or in the case of Animaniacs, two), the credits were superimposed over the establishing shot of the Duff house at the beginning of the episode. Whether the "Hey Kids! Did You Spot Waldo?" gag credit was ported over from here to the TTA edit or not is up for question.

Like I said - this is all pure speculation and I've seen nothing in my Internet travels confirming or denying any of this - but I like to think this is a pretty logical theory on how one of the most underrated of all TTA episode was originally meant to go before it was edited a bit to be worked into Season 2 of Tiny Toons. Hope you enjoy!

 

[Peter Paltridge]

Out of all the episodes in the Tiny Toons canon, none have fascinated me more than the Season 2 closer "Take Elmyra, Please". It's not an episode bound to show up on most fans' "favorite" or "best of" lists

That's what you think! It was on mine!

The Best And Worst Of Tiny Toons

- The body of the episode would've been more or less the same (unlike "The Return of Batduck", which has a glaring cut at one point made when it was repackaged for TTA),

I obtained a recording of the first airing, when it was "The Plucky Duck Show," and that glaring cut is in that version too. It was always there.

 

[AllenJ]

On the subject of this episode, back when Tiny Toons was on Hulu I remember their copy of this episode had some extra background music not in the DVD version (one specific example was when Duncan tries to tell his parents Elmyra's been kidnapped). I've also seen foreign dubs of the episode with the same extra background music. Not sure if that means anything, but just thought I'd mention it.

 

[Classic Speedy]

On the subject of this episode, back when Tiny Toons was on Hulu I remember their copy of this episode had some extra background music not in the DVD version (one specific example was when Duncan tries to tell his parents Elmyra's been kidnapped). I've also seen foreign dubs of the episode with the same extra background music. Not sure if that means anything, but just thought I'd mention it.

Is it unique music or recycled from previous TTA episodes (like how foreign dubs of Looney Tunes are made of patchwork snippets from other shorts)?

 

[AllenJ]

Is it unique music or recycled from previous TTA episodes (like how foreign dubs of Looney Tunes are made of patchwork snippets from other shorts)?

Not sure honestly. I didn't recognize it as being from any other episodes, but I also don't have every TTA score memorized. (Interestingly, I checked the Spanish audio track on the DVD and none of the extra music was there)

 

[Mr. Horse]

On the subject of this episode, back when Tiny Toons was on Hulu I remember their copy of this episode had some extra background music not in the DVD version (one specific example was when Duncan tries to tell his parents Elmyra's been kidnapped). I've also seen foreign dubs of the episode with the same extra background music. Not sure if that means anything, but just thought I'd mention it.

I've noticed quite a bit of scenes in this episode don't have any background music. I kinda like these scenes without the BGM, but I do wonder if the foreign/Hulu version is the true "complete" version of the episode as packaged for TTA that was all set for airing on FOX - but the edit that's pretty much complete and finished - but without the extra background music was mistakenly the one that became the "default" master somehow. Sort of a reverse version of the Season 1 episodes where the pre-retake version was the one that aired overseas.

It could be, too, that when reviewing the episode with the full score edited in it was decided certain scenes were better off without those extra cues, so out they went.

 

[Mr. Horse]

That's what you think! It was on mine!

The Best And Worst Of Tiny Toons

I obtained a recording of the first airing, when it was "The Plucky Duck Show," and that glaring cut is in that version too. It was always there.

Haha, YES! It's nice to see another 90s WB enthusiast who sees the same "appeal" I see in this particular half-hour of TTA. In the context of being presented as an episode of Tiny Toons, it's a pretty fun "just for a change" detour into a day in the life of one of its ensemble players (plus her pet cat) and her family. But when I think of it as a standalone pilot with no attachment to TTA beyond sharing a few of its principle characters - to me, at least, you can see that glimmer of potential somebody, whether it be Speilberg or an executive at FOX Kids saw in the little redhead beyond just her being a girl who loves to squeeze little "fuzzy wuzzies" - had she been given the chance to be a star in her own right, and not playing stooge to a couple of talking lab mice bent on global domination. This episode hit upon a winning formula with her, had it been decided 65 half hours of this were to be made - without repeating too many points from the OP, I like how the writers of the episode decided on zeroing in on other ways of making Elmyra funny without resorting to overusing the "hug you and squeeze" you business, specfically her being naive and ditzy. It helps that much of her dialogue is actually pretty cute or witty and the "cutsey wutsey" baby talk associated with the character is barely used aside from a couple times she uses those terms when talking to Furrball.

Of course - I'm forever grateful we live in the reality where the creatives involved in those 90s WB series decided on making "Animaniacs" their next project over the Elmyra series, speaking as a huge fan of Yakko, Wakko, Dot, Slappy, and the two lab mice. But there's a part of me that wonders "what might've been" had they done more with this series concept - much more than I can say with Zalgar and his insatiable craving for brains. I dread it would've been more like "Grandma's Dead" than "Take Elmyra, Please", which just lacks the madcap energy and overall sense of "fun" the latter has on all fronts in favor of presenting itself as a more "realistic" sitcom that could've worked in live action without too much in the way of "cartoony" visuals or gags - but if they stuck to what makes TEP work to me, it's possible there could've been some pretty enjoyable half hours set in this world. At least, I'd love someday get the chance to get the opportunity to see the series pitch for this to see what the creative team had planned had this been greenlit. It would have been rather fun to see how this world would've been expanded upon, and what fun character interactions we'd get out from the family.

 

[Peter Paltridge]

It could be, too, that when reviewing the episode with the full score edited in it was decided certain scenes were better off without those extra cues, so out they went.

The silent parts feel right to me. The scene where Duncan tries to interrupt the family is SUPPOSED to be silent; you recall he gets interrupted with a loud musical parade. It wouldn't hit as hard if we were already listening to something else.

 

[Mr. Horse]

Bumping this thread to dump some other thoughts I've been wondering about in regards to TEP and GD, plus the "Elmyra's Family" spinoff in general. One of these days I'll work up the nerve to ask Ruegger or somebody about these (although if anyone here is in contact with anyone who would've worked on these pilots who might be able to provide answers, it's appreciated), but in the interim, here's more ramblings from me:

1. It might be worth finding out if more TTA characters than Elmyra herself, Furrball and Byron were to eventually be ported over to this series. Montana Max in particular I'm wondering about - he already had that pre-existing dynamic with Elmyra on the original series, and would've been a natural to work into this new series, but I'm curious if they were going to have a different character for her to lavish her unrequited affections on (like Rudy on the "Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain" series).

2. I wonder if there might be some regular TTA episodes that may or may not have been condensed, reworked versions of narratives initially developed for this series, but ultimately used on the normal TTA series when it was clear this wasn't going to become a full series. "Can't Buy Me Love" is a candidate for me considering it's a bit more "grounded" than other TTA eps and is a bit light on cartoony visual gags and besides a cameo from Calamity, has no other TTA characters besides Elmyra and Furrball (maybe the "Furrball running away from Elmyra and winding up in the pound" plot point in "Flea for Your Life" as well?).

 

[Peter Paltridge]

1. It might be worth finding out if more TTA characters than Elmyra herself, Furrball and Byron were to eventually be ported over to this series. Montana Max in particular I'm wondering about - he already had that pre-existing dynamic with Elmyra on the original series, and would've been a natural to work into this new series, but I'm curious if they were going to have a different character for her to lavish her unrequited affections on (like Rudy on the "Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain" series).

I really doubt it, for this reason: Elmyra is shown at a completely different school in "Grandma's Dead," not Acme Looniversity. That feels like a deliberate step to ground "Elmyra's Family" in its own world.

 

[cheril59]

I really doubt it, for this reason: Elmyra is shown at a completely different school in "Grandma's Dead," not Acme Looniversity. That feels like a deliberate step to ground "Elmyra's Family" in its own world.

I would think that Elmyra, being 13 years old, may have been held back some grades seeing she's at a different school. I still prefer her being at Acme Loo though, even if it were in the spinoff with Pinky and the Brain. And I don't know who Elmyra would prefer to go out with, Monty or Rudy. And either Vanity or Shirley could offer some ideas to get her man.