The Creation Of An Icon : The Wholesome History Of Garfield 

Also Lorenzo Music is best known as Garfield. But before Garfield, his voice was known to audiences as Carlton the doorman on the Mary Tyler Moore spinoff, Rhoda. He was also a successful writer, producer, and composer. He co-created the legendary sitcom, The Bob Newhart Show, and even composed the theme song. And he wrote several episodes of Rhoda. His voice was so beautiful and unique. Nobody has been able voice Garfield anywhere close to as well as him. Because you can't replicate Lorenzo Music's voice. Unlike Mel Blanc, who created voices, Lorenzo Music never crafted a voice for Garfield. He just used his own speaking voice. Thats why all of his characters sound exactly like Garfield. But nobody has been able to replicate Lorenzo's legendary voice. His death was a major loss. And, to me, Garfield really never recovered from it. I mean, the sales would say otherwise, as the Garfield IP has never actually lost any profitability. But im talking creatively. Garfield just doesn't sound right without the legend Lorenzo Music voicing him. To me, theres 3 people who when they all joined forces, made Garfield the best he couod be. 1) Jim Davis, obviously. 2) Lorenzo Music, because he was such an amazingly talented actor, with an even more amazing voice, that Garfield such character. And is still unmatched by anybody. And 3) Mark Evanier, who wrote and ran Garfield and Friend. His writing is so incredible, and funny and clever. And it always allowed Lorenzo to shine in the role.

r/Garfield led me here. Thanks for making this!

never been jumpscared so hard as the intro to this videojjjnh

You like Superman, Batman, Highlander and Garfield. I think we might be brothers who were separated at birth!

10:04 that's a common misconception, that has played a wild game of telephone over the years. Bill Murray was asked for a magazine interview what he thought of the animated Peter Venkman, and he simply said "He sounds pike Garfield." He meant no malice by that. And he certainly wasn't trying to get Lorenzo Music fired. Bill was just simply saying that the character sounded like Garfield. Which he found humorous. But some overpaid high-powered executive read that quote, and misinterpreted it as 'Bill Murray hates the voice of Peter Venkman.' Which was the furthest thing from the truth. And Bill Murray actually apologized to Lorenzo Music for unwittingly getting him fired. Luckily Lorenzo was so happy voicing Garfield, that he didn't mind.

I remember waking up early on Saturdays running into our living room to watch Garfield and Friends! I still love that cartoon! I thought the Bill Murray movie was garbage (so did Bill Murray apparently) and while I love Chris Pratt I just can't buy him as Garfield! He would make for a good Jon Arbuckle instead!

Hey, this was a really great video!!

Lorenzo Music actually died in August 2001 not 2002.

Nuh uh

I actually have a different opinion on the 2000's Garfield movies. I love them for several reasons. The main reason being, that it allowed for Garfield and friends, and the Garfield specials to be released on DVD from 2004-2006. Which uncoincidentally also happen to be when the movies came out. And had the first Garfield movie not been a hit, its possible that the DVD releases might've stopped. Which unfortunately wasn't uncommon for DVD releases that didn't sell well. (Thats why there's so many season 1 releases of shows, and none of the other seasons released. Popular shows too, with 7, 8, 9+ seasons. They release the first season, and then abandon it if the sales are good enough. And this was in 2004, the height of DVD, when every show was getting released on DVD. Nowadays, they wont even 0ut shows out on DVD anymore unless they think they can make a profit. ) But luckily the 2004 Garfield was a huge hit, and landed a sequel. And it kept the momentum up enough for them to release all the old Garfield on DVD. So I will always be greatful for that. And like you said, the movies are fine. They are perfectly fine and palletable kids movies. Just not the best Garfield movies. However, my head-canon that makes the Garfield movie fun for me, is that I imagine it as a Garfield bio-pic. And they got a cat actor to play Garfield in the movie. And that's why he doesn't look or sound exactly like Garfield. But he looks and sounds enough like Garfield that you understand it's him. Sorta like Austin Butler in Elvis. But I still treasure the DVDs to this day.