Episode #19: A Lad in a Lamp
Rating: **½
AD: 10/3/89
D: ? (John Kimball, Bob Zamboni, I'm assuming)
SEd: ? (again, Bryce Malek, I'm assuming)
W: Eric Lewald
RSC: Fat Cat, Mepps, Mole, Wart
Voices: Corey Burton - Rug salesman
Peter Cullen - Monterey Jack, undercover cop, policeman
Jim Cummings - crook, one-eyed pelican, genie
Notes:
Obligatory "genie in magic lamp" episode stands or falls according to
one's opinion of the peculiarly original voicing of Fat Cat by Cummings.
Like JC was being tickle-tortured as he read the role; FC timorous, trembling,
flighty, on the verge of hysteria over the fate of his quest for the lamp
-- makes his evil all the more ominous (sans usual polish & gentility).
FC "loses it" with both Rangers and his goons (exacerbated by incredibly
stupid -- even for them -- actions of his gang). If you prefer the
flighty FC, the episode is a delight; if not, merely endurable.
"Ranger toys": unusual self-referencing merchandise parody. More
sharp because toys actually help RR.
"I wish none of this had ever happened": || DuckTales "Master
of the Djinni".
[Interesting implications in this "undo it all" ending - It means that references to this episode's specific events would be completely nonsensical in any piece of fanfiction (unless that 'fic took place during the episode itself). Fortunately, this quirk doesn't yet seem to have tripped up any 'fics that I've read. - Winston]
Monty's greed for cheese heavily emphasized -- also the fact that it
helps the RR get in trouble.
Genie a lot like the genie in "Master": "modernized" in attitude sans
losing connection to popular stereotype of genies.
[Mepps' "I wish for Ranger toys" line is probably the most recited phrase
from the show by Rangerphiles, in spirit if not in letter. -- MP]