After I watched ‘Talledega Nights’ I was a bit puzzled as to why I liked the JOHN C. REILLY portrayal of the Cal Naughton Jr. character so much, and why his voice seemed so familiar to me. It just now struck me that the voice I was remembering so fondly was that of the lovable loser, Pete Puma.
As far as foils for the great Bugs Bunny are concerned Pete Puma was my favorite. He is obviously four cents short of a nickel, but his naiveté is what makes the character so endearing. Cartoon Network was running the classic Warner Brothers’ Merrie Melodies cartoons back in the day. Between those and Nickelodeon’s ‘Ren & Stimpy Show’ I was in my own private animation Idaho[ll].
The Looney Tunes episode with Pete Puma went something like this…
Pete Puma chases a small rabbit into the warren where Bugs Bunny lives. Bugs asked the small rabbit what the problem was. The small rabbit explained his situation and who was after him. Bugs already knew it was Pete Puma giving the little rabbit agita. Bugs then sets out to teach Pete Puma a lesson. It’s one that Pete Puma will likely forget since he is a total burnout spaz.
What makes me laugh out loud is Pete Puma’s glee that he can never contain. He laughs at his own unfunny jokes and he totally wears his heart on his sleeve. I almost feel bad for him when he tells Bugs how many lumps he wants to receive. And right on cue, Bugs gives the man what he’s asking for.
Pete Puma never learns his lesson however and his mind is bent on somehow tricking the little rabbit away from the protection of Bugs Bunny. The next time the rabbits encounter Pete Puma he has disguised himself as “Mrs. Rabbit”.
Bugs Bunny isn’t one to let the opportunity for a social visit go by unrequited so out comes the tea set again for even the homely “Mrs. Rabbit”. Pete Puma has had his fill of tea though. For some reason or the other it gives him a headache.
Even coffee doesn’t seem to favor Pete Puma on this day. For the final scene Bugs Bunny and the little rabbit set Pete Puma up to get his lumps bigtime. And just like the chump that Pete Puma is he falls right into the trap.
JOHN C. REILLY is an accomplished stage and film actor, but his greatest role has been re-creating the voice of the beloved doofus Pete Puma.
Shout outs to STAN FREBERG and the great MEL BLANC.
