THUNDEROUSLY DREADFUL cat and dog cartoon double-header from Ruby-Spears, those renegade mostly rotten Hanna-Barbera knock-off exiles (see also BISKITTS, THE NEW SCHMOO, THE PUPPY’S NEW ADVENTURES and most other early 80s cartoon crud). Heathcliff was an alley cat…with attitude! Marmaduke was a dog…with emotions! Debut effort actually called Heathcliff and Dingbat, the supporting feature being “Dingbat and the Creeps”, which the Beeb wisely binned (although they didn’t bother editing the closing credits, hence meaningless pictures of a vampire dog, a thing with a pumpkin for a head, and a skeleton pretending to be a standard lamp). Marmaduke made his entrance the following year to universal derision. Theme song performed by SCATMAN “AXE-IN-RIBS CARETAKER IN THE SHINING” CROTHERS who, several years earlier, had been the voice of HONG KONG PHOOEY. Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse, along came HEATHCLIFF, CATS AND CO, with supporting feature boasting even more manky moggies including one who wore FAME-style legwarmers. Because it was the 80s.
Lee James Turnock
May 25, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Garfield was bad enough, but a pompous rip-off of Garfield was just asking for trouble.
Richardpd
November 4, 2023 at 11:57 am
I’ve got the feeling Heathcliff pre-dates Garfield, but I’m happy to be corrected.
Marmaduke is one of those syndicated comic strips that’s been around for decades in the USA & built up a cult following, but hardly known over here apart from this cartoon & that bizarre film a few years back.
I wonder how many Furries were inspired by Clio & her leg warmers or Princess Romy from Around The World With Willy Fogg?