# Get Fuzzy = Garfield Redux?! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 4, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713 "2005-04-04T18:52:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Illinois\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Illinois\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illinois_Boy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/1 "2005-04-04T18:52:55Z")
Is Get Fuzzy really Garfield recast in a parallel (i.e. funnier) universe? The shocking similarities are too, well, similar to be mere coincidence. Look at the evidence and decide for yourself!! :dubious: Bucky Katt = Garfield : the wisecracking feline star of the strip Rob Wilco = Jon Arbuckle : the generally decent, but undeniably dorky “owner” Satchel = Odie : the dimwitted but lovable canine compadre Smacky = Pooky : stuffed companion to feline hero Monkeys = Lasagna : object of lust for feline hero 10 bonus points to the first to “discover” this missing link- Fungo the Ferret = ?? : nemesis to the feline hero Disclaimer: I don’t really think Get Fuzzy is ripping off Garfield. It just struck me, you know? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/2 "2005-04-04T18:57:31Z")
For the “feline foil” (band name!), are you referring to Nermal? ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/3 "2005-04-04T19:05:01Z")
I started reading your post, and it like went all Belgium on me. I hate that. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/4 "2005-04-04T19:25:09Z")
The notable differences are: Rob is certainly a geek, but Jon is an utter, complete loser. Garfield is sarcastic and intelligent; Bucky is stupid and psychotic. Garfield is a protagonist; Bucky is an antagonist. Odie has no personality at all; Satchel does. Odie is just happy all the time. Satchel experiences a wide range of emotions. (Does Odie even have thought bubbles at all?) I don’t think it’s coincidence that the strips are similar - dogs are natural sycophants, and cats are naturally self-centered. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/5 "2005-04-04T19:33:43Z")
Not that I buy it but Fungo = Nermal? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/6 "2005-04-04T19:41:43Z")
Fungo = The Stupid Dog next door, of course. Who I always thought was Snoopy, as Snoopy had ‘crazy cat next door’ jokes. Neither the stupid dog or crazy cat were ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/7 "2005-04-04T19:47:27Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > The notable differences are: > > Rob is certainly a geek, but Jon is an utter, complete loser. > > Garfield is sarcastic and intelligent; Bucky is stupid and psychotic. > > Garfield is a protagonist; Bucky is an antagonist. > > Odie has no personality at all; Satchel does. Odie is just happy all the time. Satchel experiences a wide range of emotions. (Does Odie even have thought bubbles at all?) Get Fuzzy is Bizzarro Garfield. ---
**Author:** ![Illinois\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Illinois\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illinois_Boy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/8 "2005-04-04T19:49:27Z")
I actually have no idea who the Garfield counterpart is for Fungo; so I had no right offering 10 bonus points. My apologies. I had forgotten completely about Nermal, and I guess that sort of works. I think it would be hilarious if Rob were to challenge Bucky why he so desperately wants to eat a monkey, with a resulting punchline from Bucky (or better yet, Satchel) that “monkeys taste like lasagna”. I reject that theory that Garfield is the cat next door to Snoopy. I believe we know that cat’s name to be World War III. Also, that cat has been portayed as a physical match for Snoopy and Peppermint Patty, and I just don’t the Big Fat G in that role. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/9 "2005-04-04T20:04:40Z")
I always figured that the ‘cat next door’ is Snoopy’s perspective of the cat next door, not the actual cat next door. Garfield can talk a good game when he wants… Remember the early strips with the mouthful of fangs? But there’s never a sustained fight, just posturing and it ends. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/10 "2005-04-04T20:24:20Z")
> [@Illinois\_Boy](#): > > I think it would be hilarious if Rob were to challenge Bucky why he so desperately wants to eat a monkey, with a resulting punchline from Bucky (or better yet, Satchel) that “monkeys taste like lasagna” That sorta happened. Bucky asked what fish ate, and Rob told him bugs. Here’s the rest of the paraphrased conversation(if you have the _Get Fuzzy_ collection, it’s in there): Rob: What did you think they ate? Bucky: I dunno, monkeys or something. Rob: Monkeys? Bucky: You mean to tell me that you can look at a monkey and not get hungry? Rob: Yes, I can honestly say that I don’t want to eat a monkey. Bucky: [Something about humans being pink], and hey…they ain’t MY cousins. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/11 "2005-04-04T20:30:52Z")
> [@lee](#): > > I started reading your post, and it like went all Belgium on me. I hate that. What kind of an adjective is Belgium? Is that like “Elderich” or “Cyclopeon”? ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/12 "2005-04-04T21:37:43Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > What kind of an adjective is Belgium? Is that like “Elderich” or “Cyclopeon”? - Bucky the Cat and Rob the Human, from Get Fuzzy: The Dog Is Not A Toy (House Rule #4) by Darby Conley > [@](#): > > Bucky: “So I’m watching TV last night and it’s getting really Belgium, so I’m looking for the remote to-” > Rob: “Hold on, it was what?” > Bucky: “Belgium…The program was getting really Belgium…Anyway, so I’m looking for the remote and-” > Rob: “I don’t think that word means what you think it means.” > Bucky: “I’m trying to tell you a story! You’re really starting to disinfect me!” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/13 "2005-04-04T22:13:18Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > Garfield is sarcastic and intelligent; Bucky is stupid and psychotic. Nice summary, except Garfield’s defining characteristics are laziness and gluttony. Your description of Bucky is on the money, though. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/14 "2005-04-04T22:18:59Z")
> [@lee](#): > > I started reading your post, and it like went all **Belgium** on me. I hate that. Watch your language! This isn’t **The Pit** , and even so, _that_ word is over the top. 😃 Get Fuzzy is, IMHO, far wittier and more insightful into the human/pet relationship than Garfield ever was. People complained about the Garfield movie, but hey, says I, look at the source material. What did you expect? Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/15 "2005-04-04T23:50:36Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#): > > Watch your language! This isn’t **The Pit** , and even so, _that_ word is over the top. > > 😃 Aaugh!! I came here to post that. Sigh, I suppose I can let **HPL** in on the joke. Its from the third book in the late Douglas Adams’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series. Long story short: on other planets the word “Belgium” is a curse so vile that it is restricted to artsy movies. Make sense? No? Good. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/16 "2005-04-05T00:29:56Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > Its from the third book in the late Douglas Adams’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series. Long story short: on other planets the word “Belgium” is a curse so vile that it is restricted to artsy movies. Make sense? No? Good. “There is also, or was, one planet where they didn’t know what it meant, the stupid turlingdromes.” – The Guide Stranger ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/17 "2005-04-05T00:34:03Z")
bucky got a garfield book as a christmas present once. he swore it was an biography. ---
**Author:** ![pasunejen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@pasunejen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pasunejen)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/18 "2005-04-05T02:30:53Z")
I think the Get Fuzzy equivalent of Nermal is probably Tubby Huggs rather than Fungo. And while I see the similarities between the two, Get Fuzzy feels a lot more developed. And is also just funnier. Bucky’s psychosis and Satchel’s cute (and, importantly, verbalized) muddledness really make things, and they all share the spotlight about equally. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/19 "2005-04-05T02:51:36Z")
> [@lee](#): > > - Bucky the Cat and Rob the Human, from Get Fuzzy: The Dog Is Not A Toy (House Rule #4) by Darby Conley I had forgotten about that. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713/20 "2005-04-05T04:30:13Z")
> [@pasunejen](#): > > I think the Get Fuzzy equivalent of Nermal is probably Tubby Huggs rather than Fungo. _ **Chubby** _ Huggs. Boy, he’s an annoying one. If I were Bucky, I’d spork that sucker before he could get his filthy paws around me. > [@pasunejen](#): > > Bucky’s psychosis and Satchel’s cute (and, importantly, verbalized) muddledness really make things, and they all share the spotlight about equally. What I enjoy about Get Fuzzy is that the animals actually act like animals (except for the talking bit, of course.) Bucky has the twisted, psycho mannerisms one might expect from a particularly neurotic cat. Satchel is just dopey, as you’d expect a char-pei to be, but occasionally he comes back with a zinger or an attitude. Garfield, on the other hand, is just a fat, lazy couch potato, and Odie…no personality there, whatsoever. John was too much of a drip to take seriously. Rob Wilco, however, is just the sort of schlub that lives across the hall and can never seem to keep his hair brushed, and yet has enough passion to stay up all night watching rugby. It’s just a much better developed (not to mention better drawn–one of the best, actually) comic. Stranger [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-fuzzy-garfield-redux/297713.md?page=2)