Tommy's First Birthday

"Tommy's First Birthday"

"Tommy's First Birthday" is the first official episode of the animated television series Rugrats. It originally aired on the television network Nickelodeon on August 11, 1991, during the series' first season. In the episode, Didi and Stu give Tommy a special first birthday, but he just wants Spike's dog food. So he tells the others about the dog food commercial and makes a plan to get it.

"Tommy's First Birthday" was written by series co-creator Paul Germain and directed by Howard Baker. The episode officially introduced all the main characters and Chuckie and Angelica (since they do not appear in the pilot episode, Tommy Pickles and the Great White Thing). This episode marks the only time Tommy wears a red shirt and overalls, although Angelica appears in her party dress for more episodes.

Plot

On the morning of Tommy Pickles' first birthday, he sees a commercial for dog food and decides that he wants to eat it, believing it will turn him into a dog. Meanwhile, his mother Didi is panicking over having the perfect party for Tommy. This includes a puppet show (to which th stage and puppets are booked, but not the puppeteers), a carrot cake (much to Grandpa Boris' displeasure, hoping it would be a chocolate cake), and a really elaborate invention from Tommy's dad, Stu (the Hoverama). After convincing the other Rugrats to eat dog food, Tommy discovers that Spike has eaten all of it. But when he spots another can on top of the shelf, he attempts to get it with Angelica and Chuckie's help. However, all he ends up doing is destroying his kitchen and ruining the Hoverama. Soon, all the adults are complaining about various items, when Grandpa opens a can of dog food for Spike. The Rugrats finally eat it, but all but Phil spit it out. Then, thinking they are dogs, they start walking around on all fours (hands and legs) and barking. This breaks the adults out of arguing and watching them in awe, and the episode ends with Grandpa Lou taking a picture of the party, which ends up in the Pickles Family Album.

Characters

This episode introduces many of the main and recurring characters that would be prominent throughout the series. Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, Lil and Angelica are introduced, along with Stu and Didi Pickles, Grandpa Lou, Grandparents Boris and Minka, Betty and Howard Deville, Drew Pickles and Spike.

Reception

"Tommy's First Birthday" was originally broadcast on the television network Nickelodeon on August 11, 1991. It was not paired with another episode, because it is a 23-minute episode. Later in the show's run most of the bumpers used to promote the cartoon was Tommy in his overalls (examples: "Coming up next..." and "Nickelodeon: The only network for you").