Tom and Jerry have made a name for themselves among cartoon fans everywhere. More than just a cat-and-mouse dream team, these iconic figures represent some of animation’s longest-lasting properties. Legendary creators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera brought them to life in the early ‘40s. Their cartoons became a staple of kid-friendly movie theater matinées.
Decades after the duo’s first pairing, Tom and Jerry would undergo yet another rejuvenation. 1980’s The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show represented a new generation’s introduction to the characters. While the CBS series promised a thriving era for the pair, it was far from a resounding success; the network would only air one season with a total of 15 episodes.
Viewers might be surprised to learn segments have appeared outside of the original run on both TV and online sources. Whether a long-time devotee of Tom and Jerry or just getting into their timeless antics, there are cartoons that stand above the others. Read on for a list of the funniest cartoons from The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show.
15 No Museum Peace
Tom stumbles upon a delicious fish while rummaging through garbage, but it’s not his for long as Jerry and Tuffy steal the catch. Their chase leads to a natural history museum full of priceless (and very fragile) objects. Along the way, they encounter scenes like an igloo placed among a vast frozen landscape and prehistoric figures showing off their daily lives.
Tom creates an epic mess that breaks the museum’s most valuable piece — leave it to Spike, who comes in and brings order to the chaos. The cartoon earns its place for cute references to the classic card game Go Fish.
14 A Connecticut Mouse in King Arthur's Cork
This cartoon pair takes a trip to Camelot in this medieval story. It is certainly not a new idea for animation, having cropped up in just about every famous character’s filmography.
Nevertheless, there's something fun about seeing the pair journey outside the confines of their home base. This time, Tom finds himself reading a book before being magically transported; the cartoon’s ending reveals a not-so-surprising reason for this strange occurrence.
13 Snowbrawl
Winter hijinks seem to bring out the best in Tom and Jerry. This snow-filled competition sees the cat and mouse competing for something invaluable — a spot in front of that perfectly aglow fireplace. The pair go back and forth as they try to make sure their competition is put on ice.
Tom may think he's the winner of this epic snow battle, but Jerry comes through with the assistance of a special guest, Santa. It’s an especially fun episode for seasonal viewing thanks to its Christmas theme — complete with decorations such as a hard-to-miss wreath in many shots.
12 Say What?
It’s always great to see Tom and Jerry joined by other characters. While some — like Spike and Tuffy — are well-established, others find themselves coming in for a one-time appearance. In this case, Bertram the parrot gets in on the fun.
Arriving at the home of Tom's owner, this ambitious bird quickly discovers the house cat is not enthused. Bertram finds an ally in Jerry, and they team up to get even. What follows is a funny look at what happens when unlikely allies get rid of a common problem.
11 Save That Mouse
Jerry takes advantage of a misunderstanding in this classic cartoon storyline. A relative mistakes Jerry, clearly a mouse, for a hamster, something that leads to chaotic moments. The segment’s best gag could easily be Jerry getting the best of Tom thanks to a well-placed fishbowl. Just seeing the goldfish circling Tom inspires a giggle from the most serious of viewers.
10 The Plaid Baron Strikes Again
Jerry and Spike have dreams of enjoying a day with their toy airplanes. Tom has his own dream of being far away from the pair. A chase ensues that sees the cat destroy Spike’s prized new airplane’s wing.
It’s not long before Tom is making amends for the damage with an inspired RC creation. Look for an appearance by Spike’s son, Tyke, towards the end. Remote in hand, he’s helping Dad get revenge.
9 Superstocker
Tom gets the job of a lifetime as he’s set to be a grocery store mouse catcher. He just happens to find his rival, Jerry, already decimating the place. The resulting chase even includes the pair going to the skies with the help of toy airplanes.
Tom takes his job a bit too seriously though, using a forklift to pursue Jerry. Unsurprisingly, the results of his reckless driving bring the cartoon to a daring climax that leaves nothing behind.
8 Pied Piper Puss
Tom and Jerry head to Europe to put their own spin on the legend of the Pied Piper; instead of a big city, the pair find themselves in a small village. Tom is given the assignment of luring mice with less than modern tools. Jerry is living a somewhat cheesy life, first appearing with a large wheel of cheese; he and Tuffy are causing a major disturbance for the local cheese shop owner.
Tom encounters a defiant Jerry and Tuffy who have no plans of stopping their thievery. The action bulls up to Tuffy getting control of the magic flute — what follows is a hilarious turnaround for the formerly in charge feline.
7 Cat in the Fiddle
Cartoons and classical music make a perfect match, after all, properties like Merry Melodies had success with shorts such as Bugs Bunny's What’s Opera, Doc. Tom and Jerry take another shot at classical glory with the music-themed short Cat in the Fiddle.
The rivals come across a myriad of instruments, including a violin and xylophone during the story. The audio seamlessly blends with the motif as they bounce across each to create beautiful music.
6 New Mouse in the House
Tom is always finding new ways to trap his nemesis, but this cartoon might be the most memorable. He relies on an RC mouse that appears to be Jerry’s dream girl — per usual, nothing goes according to plan. The ending relies on a tried and true method of turning the tables on Tom with hilarious results.
5 Heavy Booking
The animated pair once again leaves home to get in some light reading. Well, it may not be the reason Tom and Jerry end up in the library, but the results prove sidesplitting nonetheless. One of the best gags involves Tom balancing a stack of books on his feet, arms, hands, and head.
Look for the librarian and baby visitor who make it especially hard for them; the use of two human obstacles isn’t something viewers often get from Tom and Jerry cartoons.
4 Jerry's Country Cousin
A visitor proves to be trouble for Tom in this hilarious animated segment. Jerry gets a visit from his cousin, who just happens to look just like his host. Sadly, Tom is in for more than he bargained for from this uninvited guest. Instead, he discovers Jerry’s cousin is more than strong enough to handle him, leading to more problems for the entire house.
3 Most Wanted Cat
There are times when even the best of rivals have to team up, the cartoon Most Wanted Cat happens to be one of those moments. Tom, fed up with the constant fight against Jerry, decides to call it a day and leave. While it might seem like a good idea to Jerry, the mouse quickly learns that there are some things worse than his feline opponent.
It soon turns into a race against time as Jerry does the unthinkable and seeks out Tom. What he finds is a community of unscrupulous cats living much like humans.
2 Stage Struck
Jerry gets a chance to show off his dance moves at a special event with Spike as the host. The opportunity isn’t lost on Tom who is more than a little jealous about it all — he crashes the performance with some talents of his own. What ensues is a competition of sorts that sees who can get the most attention with decidedly mixed results.
Expect the unexpected as the twosome show off some skills that might surprise viewers, like Tom juggling while balancing on a ball. Unfortunately for Tom, the answer to who might be the best is not exactly what he anticipated.
1 Farewell, Sweet Mouse
Cartoons have a surprising way to invoke emotions beyond the standard laughs. The segment Farewell, Sweet Mouse does just that with a perfectly timed blend of heart and humor. A stormy night provides the perfect backdrop as Tom and Jerry start their nightly chase.
This time, Tom’s watery tactics along with an unreal amount of rainwater cause Jerry to be washed away. Alive and well, he watches as Tom revels in his death. Jerry’s not done with Tom, gets revenge with a sneaky disguise that provokes guilt from his feline tormentor.