Pumping Irony is the second part of the second episode of the series Heathcliff and Dingbat. This is based on Heathcliff, rather than Dingbat. It is followed by third part of the episode: It's a Snow Job for a Creep.
Synopsis[]
Heathcliff attempts to enter the national cat show, after his feline girlfriend, Jodi calls up their date.
Plot[]
The episode begins with Heathcliff lifting weights. When he notices having lifted five hundred times, he drops the weight as it falls through the concrete. Heathcliff looks at himself in the mirror, flexing his muscles and showing his variety of poses of biceps. At one moment, he admits being ready with his date with a lady cat named Jodi. He looks himself in the glass reflecting his very face, then he states he can't blame her for seeing him as attractive. Heathcliff spots a limousine, which turns out to have Jodi inside as the passenger, as the limo stops at traffic lights. Jodi tells him that she has to call up their date, she tells him she'll have to explain to him later. The limousine moves fast, leaving dirt from the engine on Heathcliff. The protagonist is believing that he has been rejected.
Later on, Heathcliff reviews on his social life by reading a magazine called "Singles Mews" on a roof. At one moment, he notices elite events of the International Feline Fair & Cat Show with the reigning queen being Kitty Catalina, he decides that he wants to enter the show. The scenery changes and Heathcliff is on the roof where the billboard sign is at. Heathcliff checks the female cats through the window. He spots female cats named Prissy Pussy, Eartha Kitty, and Sara Faucet. When Heathcliff heads to the feline entrance, his path is crossed by the security guard who stops him and tosses Heathcliff to a dumpster. Heathcliff emerges confused from his landing point, when the lid of dumpster falls on his head.
Heathcliff performs a few attempts to breaking inside. Those include:
- using a canon to get inside in building. The security guard quickly gets a cannon of his own to fetch Heathcliff. The cat lands inside the second cannon and get launched away into the city.
- digging an underground tunnel with the guard using a vacuum to suck Heathcliff inside the container.
- when the guard says that "No one can't get in without papers, Heathcliff shows the guard the newspaper and want to know how to get in the show, the guard then says "All you need is money, poll, and a pedigree, as he throws him to a mailbox. At this stage, Heathcliff realizes he hasn't been using his "superior mental agility".
Later on, people are entering the contest with their cats as contestants to the cat show. Two ones appear - #2 and #4 . Each of them has to show papers the the Security Guard. Heathcliff asks the #9 contestant, a white she-cat to trade places with him by giving her a fresh fish. She willingly agrees for the trade and runs for it, so they can switch places. The Security guard lets the lady with Heathcliff inside. Heathcliff briefly makes a face a the guard as the enter in as the guard noticed.
The Judges are checking the contestant #5, called Eartha Kitty. The next in the queue are: #7 Sara Faucet, #8 Prissy Pussycat, #9 being Heathcliff, and last but not least, #10 Kitty Catalina. Heathcliff admits that attending cat shows could be a start of a new career, for he is fond of just lying around being admired and pampered. Heathcliff decides to talk to one of fellow feline contestants. He asks Kitty Catalina "How do you feel about to be perfectly flow by nature?" Catalina replies with "Don't you know?". Heathcliff tries to asks out Catalina to a date, she notifies him that the judges are coming, Heathcliff impresses the judges by flexing his muscles he had shown earlier in the episode, only this time with each flex Heathcliff's body instantly becomes incredibly muscular, his physique pumped up and defined with champion muscles, biceps triceps pecs and abs. The muscle flexing gets Catalina's attention and impresses her. Heathcliff has made the judges clap their hands and wins the affections of Kitty Catalina.
She asks Heathcliff if he is still open for date. Heathcliff accepts, then Jodi grabs her rival Kitty Catalina by the neck and a fight erupts. Jodi beats Catalina and defeats her. As Catalina is uncurious, Jodi explains to Heathcliff that she was chosen "Honorary Queen" of the show and that was the reason why she couldn't make it for their date, The Judges then announce the winner of "Mr. Macho Muscle Champion" being... #9 Heathcliff, as the audience cheer as Jodi is proud of him. Heathcliff does an encore of his muscle flexing, this time with Jodi present. Jodi swoons then he brings him for a kiss as Heathcliff tells the audience "If you mind we will like to be alone" as he and Jodi are heard kissing, as the screen fades.
Characters[]
- Heathcliff
- Jodi
- Kitty Catalina
- Female Cat Contestants
- Prissy Pussy
- Eartha Kitty
- Sara Faucet
- Security Guard
- Cat Owners
Trivia[]
- This episode is inspired by Heathcliff comics that involve him in a "Cat Show" such as comic strip in November 20, 1974 ot March 26, 1976.
- The title is similar to the Heathcliff & the Catillac Cats episode Heathcliff Pumps Iron. Both cartoons share the concept of Heathcliff flexing muscles.
- This is the first of Jodi's two appearances in the series.
- One of the female cat contestants resembles one of Sonja's friends.
- In a scene where Heathcliff is using a canon to get in the cat show, he is seen wearing a white crash helmet as seen in modern comics.
- One of the few episodes where the closing theme of a episode is cut off.
