Mouse wearing a cape

[Matt from Springfield]

Hello all--

This might be more appropriate for the new member questions, but I wanted to pose this question to the broadest range of FOTs as possible, including long-time listeners.

We all know that about 1 out of 3 Wurster calls involve his character pausing, astonished, that a mouse with a cape on just ran by him. But I couldn't find any posts on the forum about how that meme started. Was there one particular call several years ago? I've listened to TBS only since 2009.

I thoroughly enjoy the Best Show Gems podcasts, and first began thinking of this when I noticed that the mouse-with-a-cape "calling card" appears even in 5/6 year old episodes. So I wondering if anyone knows how that got started (which call, and better still, which episode if you remember). Thanks.

Matt from Springfield [Virginia]

[Mr. Spacely]

Which Gems have it?

[daveB from Oakland]

I noticed that the mouse-with-a-cape "calling card" appears even in 5/6 year old episodes.

For reals??? I thought it was a very recent development

[daveB from Oakland]

Wait. Hold on a second ... you'll never guess what I just saw. Never in 1000 years ...

[Mr. Spacely]

Yeah, I thought the mice in capes only started in that November '10 call from the Italian restaurant owner (the Archie Bunker's Place Blu-Ray call).

[Alex_from_the_woods]

The mice didn't always wear capes. That's a more recent development. By my count there have also been two cats and a dog spotted that were wearing capes.

[Sarah]

The becaped mice succeeded the terrible pollen problems, which only began last year, I believe.

[masterofsparks]

Yeah, I thought the mice in capes only started in that November '10 call from the Italian restaurant owner (the Archie Bunker's Place Blu-Ray call).

Is that the place that uses that great mooozarella?

[CSW]

How about the wristwatch alarms? When did they start?

[Jason from Huntsville, AL]

How about the wristwatch alarms? When did they start?

I believe it was a recent PBR call (more recent than the first mouse calll, if I recall correctly.) I believe PBR's watch was playing 'nem Hooters.

[JonFromMaplewood]

Yes, my understanding is that the pollen and the caped mice scourges were recent Newbridge developments. 

But a question for the original poster: Who is Jon Wurster?

[Paul DeLouisiana]

Yes, my understanding is that the pollen and the caped mice scourges were recent Newbridge developments. 

Yeh I think you're right. I don't think they date back past the fall. Am I wrong to think it's his go-to everytime he laughs?

[Bernard]

Yeah, I thought the mice in capes only started in that November '10 call from the Italian restaurant owner (the Archie Bunker's Place Blu-Ray call).

Is that the place that uses that great mooozarella?

I believe it is.  The mooozarella is part of the pizza served on the Blu-Ray disc, if I correctly recall.

Mmm.  Mooozarella.

[Pastor Josh]

Yes, my understanding is that the pollen and the caped mice scourges were recent Newbridge developments. 

Yeh I think you're right. I don't think they date back past the fall. Am I wrong to think it's his go-to everytime he laughs?

That's what I had assumed.  I also feel like he came up with it in the moment.

[Mr. Spacely]

I love when Wursterisms stack.  Like, a normal reference to GG "passing on" will cause him to laugh, which will then cause him to break out the "mouse in a cape just ran by," which will cause him to laugh more, which will then cause him to mention the pollen.