Stairway to Stardom is an episode from the sixth season of Garfield and Friends.
Synopsis[]
Garfield reminisces about the time he was part of a comedy duo whilst waiting at a restaurant.
Plot[]
Jon, Garfield, and Odie head into a restaurant. A two hour wait is expected due to the number of customers. Following Garfield's advice, Jon tries to get a table faster by offering the receptionist money, which is initially only a dime. After the receptionist reacts with melodramatic sarcasm, Jon ends up giving him all of his money.
While waiting, Garfield and Odie check out a wall of fame for those who have eaten at the restaurant. It turns out that Binky the Clown and The Buddy Bears were dining here. After a brief moment, Garfield spots an entertainer he knew: Jackie Melman, a singer, comedian, and acrobat. Garfield proceeds to tell Odie the history of his career with Jackie.
Jackie had an act involving several stunts performed by a cat named Buddy, mostly leaping past burning circle, juggling, and leaping on a lever. The act was not popular, for it gained few audience members, and even fewer applauding. The show wound up with disgusted audience hurling vegetables and fruits at Buddy and Jackie. Eventually, Buddy elected to have left the act, being unimpressed with the performance. Jackie's attempt at continuing as a solo career was even less popular. When Jon, one of the few people to like the act, got to see the star, Jackie heard of a booking at The Ed Solomon Show. Due to Buddy's departure, Jackie managed to get Garfield to take the former cat's place.
On the set, after being introduced by Ed Solomon, Jackie prepared one of his routines - The Hoop of Doom. When Garfield refused to go with the act, Jackie tried in vain to get him to perform other routines. The audience wound up laughing at the spectacle, having thought it was a comedy act. Jackie's career took a turn for the better, resulting in him going solo once again. Garfield has not seen or heard from him since.
As Garfield finishes his story, Jon announces that the trio finally get their seats. Their waiter turns out to be none other than Jackie, who still maintains habits from his show business career. Garfield notes how the show business can be cruel.
Characters[]
- Garfield
- Jon Arbuckle
- Odie
- Jackie Melman
- Receptionist (voiced by John Byner)
- Customers
- Cactus Jake (cameo)
- Binky the Clown (cameo)
- The Buddy Bears (cameo)
- Buddy (voiced by Thom Huge)
- Audience
- Stage announcer (voiced by Gregg Berger)
- Stage hand
- Ed Solomon
Trivia[]
- Binky, Cactus Jake and The Buddy Bears are among the stars shown on the wall of fame. Garfield mentions them among those who "haven't worked in years", alluding to their inactivity on the show.
- One of the customers waiting at the restaurant resembles Mrs. Ann McPherson from "The Garfield Opera", albeit with white hair.
- The Ed Solomon Show is filmed at WBOR.
- Buddy shares facial features similar to Gabriel from "The Genuine Article".
Cultural references[]
- Stairway to Stardom is the name of two different American television series, one in New York, and another in New Jersey.
- A picture of Elvis Presley is shown on the wall of fame.
- Ed Solomon is a parody of Ed Sullivan, with The Ed Solomon Show likewise a parody of The Ed Sullivan Show.
Goofs[]
- The pictures of Binky and The Buddy Bears are miscolored.
- In the scene where Buddy is abandoning Jackie, Buddy's ears shown from en face are too small.