The Boy Who Cried Rat!

Plot

Down on their luck, Ren and Stimpy root through a dumpster for something to eat. They end up making do with a tin can and a sock, and are actually grateful for the meal until George Liquor runs them off. Stimpy floats the idea of getting jobs, so Ren cooks up a scam: he’ll pose as a rat while Stimpy pretends to hunt him, botching the capture over and over to squeeze money out of clients. Ren slips into the Pipe family’s house, using a beaver stashed in his compartments to gnaw a mouse hole.

The next day, Stimpy shows up at the Pipes’ door, billing himself as a professional mouse catcher. Mrs. Pipe thinks he’s cute, but Mr. Pipe is unimpressed until Ren appears dressed as Mickey Mouse. The family decides Ren is one ugly rat and pays Stimpy five dollars to nab him. Stimpy gives it his all, but Ren clobbers him with an oversized mallet and a frying pan, straight out of a Tom and Jerry cartoon.

The horrified Pipes climb onto their furniture, hoping the “rat” gets caught, completely missing the obvious trick. Ren and Stimpy hole up in the kitchen, scarfing down sandwiches made from the couple’s food. To sell the act, Ren smacks the floor with the frying pan while Stimpy smashes plates on his own head. After they’ve eaten, Ren finally lets Stimpy catch him.

As they try to leave, Mr. Pipe insists Stimpy swallow Ren to prove his skills. Inside Stimpy’s mouth, Ren suffers from his partner’s rotten teeth and terrible oral hygiene. The scheme falls apart when Ren refuses to be gulped down, tipping off the couple. Ren demands the five dollars back, but Stimpy admits he already ate the money out of hunger.

As payback, the Pipes force both of them to do chores. Midway through the episode, there’s a segment where Ren and Stimpy celebrate Yak Shaving Day, a holiday like Christmas: they hang diapers, stuff socks with coleslaw, and scan the sky for a legendary shaven yak riding a flying canoe. Shaving cream must be ready for the yak’s arrival, and lucky folks might find the shavings it leaves behind.

Production

Ordered in October 1990 for a fall 1991 premiere, this episode saw series creator John Kricfalusi closely overseeing its layout work. The animation was handled by Lacewood Productions in Ottawa, Ontario. It featured the second-ever appearance of George Liquor, shown here in a prototype design. Executive producer Vanessa Coffey, who had a strong dislike for Liquor, still permitted his cameo. A planned sequel, tentatively called "The Boy Who Cried Rat! 2," would have picked up right where Ren enters Stimpy's mouth. However, unlike the "Fire Dogs" follow-up, this sequel was never produced, not even during the Adult Party Cartoon era.