This primetime television special finds Bugs as a diet doctor who is running his own practice after only six months of medical school. The upcoming Thanksgiving holiday creates a renewed emphasis on food management, with Bugs treating such diverse patients as Porky Pig (who is put on a carrot diet), Millicent the Slobbovian Rabbit (who has problems with food management and her love life), and an excessively nervous Sylvester.
“Bugs Bunny’s Thanksgiving Diet” includes two mostly complete classic shorts (“Rabbit Every Monday” and “Bedevilled Rabbit”) and sliced-and-diced scenes from several Road Runner and Tweety-Sylvester cartoons. None of these vintage productions have anything to do with Thanksgiving, but they’re so funny that it doesn’t matter.
The classic works are bridged together by sloppy new animation directed by David Detiege. Fortunately, some clever writing helps make this shine. There are some amusing sight gags (including twin stock market charts marked “Dow Jones” and “Dow Freleng”) and an unexpected shout out to the then-current disco craze. Bugs also enjoys a rare chance to share the company of a sexy female rabbit, in this case an unnamed patient who shows up at the very end of the special. Her appearance cues a titillated Bugs to close the show by breaking the fourth wall in a playfully sly manner.