This Is a Life?

"This Is a Life?" is a Warner Bros. animated cartoon of the "Merrie Melodies" series, directed by Friz Freleng, written by Warren Foster, and produced by Edward Selzer, with music directed by Milt Franklyn. Originally released to theatres on July 9, 1955, it starred Mel Blanc, Arthur Q. Bryan, and June Foray, who provide the voices.

ummary

In a parody of 1952's "This is Your Life", Elmer Fudd is the host and Bugs Bunny is the guest of honor, much to the disgust of Daffy Duck. On several occasions, Granny has to whack Daffy over the head to get him to be quiet. Meanwhile, Bugs reminisces with Elmer and Yosemite Sam about their previous encounters (reviewed via footage from past Bugs Bunny cartoons "A Hare Grows in Manhattan", "Buccaneer Bunny", and "Hare Do"). Elmer and Sam plan to present Bugs with a special gift — a time bomb — in appreciation of their "friendship," but Daffy — stubbornly refusing to believe that he was "not" the guest — grabs the gift and takes the resulting explosion.

Cast

Mel Blanc as "Bugs Bunny", "Daffy Duck", "Yosemite Sam"

Arthur Q. Bryan as "Elmer Fudd"

June Foray as "Granny" (uncredited)

Censorship

*When this cartoon was shown on ABC, the following parts were edited out:
**Granny hitting Daffy with her umbrella (to keep him from ranting about not being chosen for "This is a Life?") after Daffy finds it on the ground
**Daffy shouting, "Throw him out! Throw him out!" during the show and Granny hitting Daffy with her umbrella again.
**All of the hipboard cannon blasts to Yosemite Sam's face in the clip from "Buccaneer Bunny"
**Elmer and Sam placing a bomb in the gift package before giving it to Bugs.
**Daffy returning on stage after foolishly taking the package for himself (and getting blown up by it) and growling, "You're despicable" to Bugs.
*When this cartoon aired on the syndicated version of "The Merrie Melodies Show," the only part edited was the scene from "Buccaneer Bunny" where Yosemite Sam is repeatedly blasted by cannons.

Availability

"This Is a Life?" would later be featured in the "Looney Tunes" television special "Bugs Bunny’s Mad World of Televison".