Garfield in the Rough is the third half hour animated special based on the Garfield comic strip. It features the voice and music talent common in Garfield animated specials including Lorenzo Music (the voice of Garfield) and Lou Rawls (provides the songs). The special premiered on October 26, 1984 and won an Emmy for outstanding animated program. George Wendt guest stars as one of the forest rangers.

Contents 1 Storyline 2 Trivia 3 Songs in Garfield in the Rough 4 Awards 5 Quotes adapted from the strips

[edit] Storyline

Garfield is living in a boring, black in white world, claiming that all the color has gone out of his life. He is excited to learn that Jon wants to take him and Odie on vacation, where he imagines himself in places such as Acapulco, Honolulu and Venice, only to be disappointed to find out that they're just going camping. It takes a while for Garfield and Odie to adjust to the great outdoors and to Jon's banjo playing. Garfield eventually eats all of the food Jon packed, of course. However, there is news of a panther that escaped from a zoo lurking in the very woods they are in. Right after this news on the radio, the announcer says: "We now return to our regular broadcast of fun music." It then plays very depressing music. After John claims that they are safe, and they sing a song, they go to bed. After they go into their tent, a distance away, the panther comes out and quietly growls. The next day, Garfield takes a hike and starts to appreciate the beauty of nature, until he meets two forest animals named Dicky Beaver and Billy Bunny who warn Garfield about the escaped panther, claiming it has already attacked forest animals. The forest rangers are hunting for the panther, and attempt to warn Jon to evacuate, but he is away from the campsite when they arrive so they leave a note. This proves unfortunate as a gust of wind blows the message into a recently extinguished campfire, where it burns up. Garfield returns to the campsite and tries to warn Jon of the danger but Jon insists that there is nothing to worry about, until the escaped panther enters their campsite. Garfield runs up a tree while Jon and Odie hide in the car, which the predator manages to break into by smashing through a window. In a dramatic scene, Garfield comes to the rescue when he leaps from the trees and takes on the panther, clawing at its head and neck. Garfield is in serious danger until the park rangers enter the campsite and subdue the beast with a tranquilizer dart. Jon then says he feels they have had enough adventure and recommends they break camp and return to civilization, much to Garfield's joy.

[edit] Trivia

The radio announcement warns that the escaped panther has been sighted in the Lake Wobegon area and for all people to steer clear. Jon's geography skills are off, as he says that Lake Wobegon is miles away. Garfield and Odie later pass a sign which says "Lake Wobegon", indicating they are much closer to the danger area than Jon thought. (The fictional "Lake Wobegon" is best known for its use in the long-running radio series A Prairie Home Companion, making its reference an apparent breaking of the fifth wall.)

In the comic adaptation Billy Bunny and Dicky Beaver played bigger parts and just before they leave, Garfield tells them of the panther's capture.

Also in the comic adaptation at the end Jon hears scratching at the door and tells Garfield to answer it. Garfield claims he is no longer afraid of anything and says he'll take care of it. He peers out into the dark and sees a pair of glowing eyes. After Garfield screams and faints, a little black kitten walks into the house.

[edit] Songs in Garfield in the Rough

• "Get Me Some 'R and 'R" performed by Lou Rawls
• "When I'm Out in the Rough" performed by Lorenzo Music and Thom Huge
• "Camping is My Life" performed by Thom Huge
• "The Music of Nature" performed by Desirée Goyette
• "Run-Run" performed by Thom Huge and Desirée Goyette

This special is available on the Garfield: Travel Adventures DVD.

[edit] Awards

• 1985 Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program

[edit] Quotes adapted from the strips

• Garfield: Ho hum.
• Garfield: Have you ever had a day when you feel like you've eaten it all?
  • Originally from March 25, 1979

v • d • e Garfield by Jim Davis Characters Garfield · Jon Arbuckle · Odie  · List of characters in Garfield Television Here Comes Garfield · Garfield on the Town · Garfield in the Rough · Garfield's Halloween Adventure · Garfield in Paradise · Garfield Goes Hollywood · A Garfield Christmas · Happy Birthday, Garfield · Garfield: His 9 Lives · Garfield and Friends (Episodes) · Garfield's Babes and Bullets · Garfield's Thanksgiving · Garfield's Feline Fantasies · Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue · Garfield Gets a Life · The Garfield Show Video games Garfield · Garfield: Big Fat Hairy Deal · Garfield: Winter's Tail · Garfield: A Week of Garfield · Garfield Labyrinth · Garfield: Caught in the Act · Garfield's Mad About Cats · Garfield: The Search for Pooky · Garfield and His Nine Lives · Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties · Garfield's Nightmare · Garfield Gets Real · Garfield's Fun Fest Films and DVDs Garfield as Himself · Garfield's Holiday Celebrations · Garfield's Travel Adventures · Garfield's Fantasies · Garfield Cat Tales · Garfield: The Movie · Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties · Garfield Gets Real · Garfield's Fun Fest · Garfield's Pet Force Stage Garfield Live Books Garfield At Large: His First Book · Garfield Gains Weight: His Second Book · Pet Force · Garfield's Judgment Day  · Garfield at 25: In Dog Years I'd Be Dead Other U.S. Acres · Gnorm Gnat · Mr. Potato Head · Comic strip switcheroo · Klopman diamond · Garfield Minus Garfield  · Am I Cool or What?  · Paws, Inc.  · Professor Garfield