Garfield Goes Hollywood

Title Card

Garfield Goes Hollywood is a half-hour animated television special based on the Garfield comic strip. It once again featured Lorenzo Music as the voice of Garfield. The special was first broadcast May 8, 1987 on CBS. It has been released on both VHS and DVD home video.

Storyline

Garfield and Odie believe their dance routines (as performed on the fence top at night) can not be beaten and so does Jon. They happen to be watching Pet Search (a pet's version of Star Search) when they come up with a great idea to go on the show after seeing past winners who have been performing acts. Jon is hoping to win the $1,000 prize, which Garfield is not impressed by. They perform as an Elvis style trio called "Johnny Bop and the Two-Steps" (rather reluctantly, because they did not want Jon involved in their act). Garfield believes it is embarrassing because they all have to wear kitschy Elvis-like costumes.

Despite the silly act, they win the competition (after a dog that plays five instruments simultaneously is disqualified when Odie exposes him as a man in a dog costume) which means that they can go to Hollywood and try their luck at the nationals. They hit the road to Hollywood and arrive at their fancy hotel. Garfield and Odie are concerned that their act is too mediocre to win first prize, so they destroy Jon's guitar when he is not looking. This allows Garfield and Odie to come up with a better act for the show.

Garfield and Odie compete in the finals as a tango dancing duo called "The Dancing Armandos". They are also dazzled by all the prizes being offered to the winner. Jon is now much more serious than he was at the excitement of winning the original $1,000, saying that he thinks being able to return to their old life would be the best prize of all. Garfield is focused on fame and thinks Jon has lost it. Unfortunately, their act loses to an opera singing cat. Garfield, Odie, and Jon win a boat as the second place prize.

The episode ends back home where Garfield finally admits to Jon that it was all for the best that they are home again, as they are on their boat talking about sailing to exotic locations, despite the fact that they live in a landlocked area and have to settle for sitting on it in the backyard.

Cast

• Lorenzo Music - Garfield
• Thom Huge - Jon Arbuckle
• Gregg Berger - Odie / TV Host / Bob / Grandma Fogerty
• Nino Tempo - Herbie
• Frank Welker - M.C.
• Desiree Goyette - Desiree The Classical Cat

Songs

VHS cover

• "They Love Us" performed by Lou Rawls
• "The Wizard of Love" performed by Thom Huge and Desirée Goyette
• "Hollywood Feels So Good" performed by Lou Rawls
• "Desiree's Meow Solo" performed by Desirée Goyette

Book adaptation

There are some differences between the TV special and its book adaptation:

• In both the local and national contests, a couple of the acts are changed around.
• During the National Finals, Jon is more encouraging of his pets and their ability to win the competition. This in stark contrast to the TV version, in which Jon is more humble and tries to tell Garfield that winning isn't everything.