Garfield & Friends...best animated show of the late 80s/early 90s?

This is sure to be a controversial statement...but I think Garfield and Friends may have been the best animated program of the late 80s and the early 90s.

It was consistently entertaining, children and adults enjoyed it, and it even had good messages (like in Banana Nose, where it teaches not to judge people on physical appearance). It was in syndication for years and even released on DVD.

Now, most people agree that it was GOOD...but not the best during that time frame. I, however, think it may very well have been the best.

Anyone agree?
 
I don't know if was *the* best of the 80's, but it was definately up there.

I think Garfield in the mainstream media (movies, t.v.) died with Lorenzo Music. He was the iconic voice of Garfield and no one- not even Bill Murray- could come close to his interpretation of our favorite fat cat.
 
For a cartoon based on a comic strip, you wouldn't expect much. But Garfield and Friends was one of the most smartly-written cartoons of that time, I think. We need more shows like that.
 
Yeah, I think it was one of the best shows of its time. It even surpassed the original comic strips at times (by the standards of the strip today, it definitely has). How involved was Jim Davis in the show?
 
It was usually the highlight of my Saturday mornings. It was very funny and written very well. It surpassed the Garfield specials in my opinion.
 
Loved it. I don't know if I'd call it THE best but it was very smartly written.

If you can believe it, Mark Evanier wrote every single episode (except for the few co-written by Sharman DiVono). There was a period in the middle when he was writing every ep for this AND the Grimmy show, and the quality didn't suffer. Crazy talent in that head of his.

And I'm not just saying that because he might be lurking around here right now.
 
Garfield & Friends was unquestionably one of the best animated programs of the late 80's and early 90's on CBS. I also liked the U.S. Acres cartoons. Sadly, two of the program's voice-over talent are now gone, namely Lorenzo Music(Garfield) and Howard Morris(Roy the duck). I know the program has been off the air for 14 years, but still, without Lorenzo Music to voice Garfield, the character just isn't the same, and I really liked Howard Morris as Roy from U.S. Acres. That had to be one of Morris' best roles for the latter part of his life.
 
To me, it would be the best of that time until Animaniacs premiered--although Garfield & Friends was a timeless classicfrom start to finish.

My favorite episodes involved the wacky, fourth-wall breaking humor. Episodes like "Mistakes Will Happen" are simply amazing.
 
:sweat:The duck's name was Wade,Roy was the rooster....

I liked Garfield and Friends alot as a kid,and still do now...I got a couple of the volumes of the series at Target last year,and really enjoy watching them....The show is extremely funny,and in an "all ages" way,not just for kids...I'm not sure if I'd consider it the best cartoon of the late 80's/early '90's,but definately the best Saturday morning cartoon...
 
In the time before the world was introduced to Sonic SatAM, Garfield and Friends was the highlight of my Saturdays.

What's the final verdict on US Acres? OK to admit you liked it now or no?
 
Besides for the Garfield Christmas and Halloween specials, the Garfield and Friends show was my favorite take on this special character, and while I wouldn't call it the best animated program of the late 80's and early 90's, I would definatly call it a classic and well worthy of the fan appreciation is recieved and still recieves to this day. I have 2 volumes on DVD and plan on getting the rest or however many others come or have come out since I bought these two, it's definatly an awesome show.
 
I would'nt say Garfield & Friends is the BEST show of the late 80's/Early 90's (I believe the Simpsons is) but I do think It was the Best childrens show of its time. it had smooth Fluent animation and a nice Intro. It was way better than the Comic strip ;)
 
Agree for the theme song, mainly the first 2 ones, "Friends are there" used for the 1988-89, 1989-90 seasons and "come on it with Garfield and Friends" used in the 1990-91, 1991-92 seasons, however the last one used in the 1994-95 was less good.

Garfield & Friends arrived at the right timing, the Smurfs had beginned to ran off of steam by the time Garfield arrived on Sat AM.
 
Better than you'd expect, definitely.

I haven't seen it since the late 90's, but I remember Jon's character being kind of a klutz. It would have been funnier if they had just made him pathetic/buttmonkey-ish.
 
Agreed, "Garfield and Friends" is a classic, actually one of my most favorite cartoon shows of all-time. I own all five volume sets on DVD, and I am glad I do.

Looneytunes/Disneytoons
 
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