The Binky Show

Garfield wakes up one morning hoping that it isn’t Monday (even though the previous day was Friday). He looks at the calendar and discovers that it isn’t Monday, but also that it’s Jon’s birthday. He doesn’t know what to do because he doesn’t have money to buy Jon anything, but then he sees a commercial on television about a new game show called Name That Fish. Because he is so knowledgeable about fish, he decides that he’ll win Jon a birthday present.

Garfield is soon sitting in the audience at Name That Fish (hosted by Binky the Clown), and the announcer (Gary) picks him as the contestant. After awarding Garfield a worthless prize, Binky starts by asking him a trick question about Christopher Columbus. When Garfield fails to give the right answer, he is awarded another (worthless) prize anyway. He is then asked to name a fish that Binky holds up, and he fails to do that but still receives a few more prizes.

The last portion of the game has Garfield going into a booth that slowly fills up with water and fish, and his task is to name all the fish before the water gets too high. Garfield forces himself out of the booth and runs out of the studio, trying to convince himself that this is all a dream. He runs home and finds himself sleeping in bed, which proves that it is a dream. He wakes himself up and hopes that he never sees Binky again.

The doorbell rings, and Jon answers it to find Binky standing there. After confirming that it’s Jon’s birthday, Binky has Gary inform Jon about a special birthday surprise, which includes gifts and a party intended to demean him. Garfield turns the hose on Binky, which sprays him with so much force that he lands in a wheelbarrow and then rolls down the sidewalk. Garfield then tells Jon that his getting rid of Binky is his birthday present.

[edit] Notes

Odie does not appear in this episode.
This is the second time Binky the Clown appears on the first cartoon of the season, the first was Peace and Quiet.
This is the first appearance of Gary.

[edit] Quotes

Garfield: What day is it?...What if it’s Monday?…Yeah, I know yesterday was Friday, but Mondays are tricky. It would be just like one to bump off Saturday and Sunday so it could get at me sooner.

Binky:You selected trout.Gary, please!

Gary:Yes, Binky.The name of the fish is...Walter!