People Are Bunny 1959

Daffy Duck is thoroughly entertained while watching a TV show, specifically an episode of “The QTTV Sportsman Hour,” which features the energetic and somewhat comedic host, voiced by Mel Blanc. During the broadcast, the host humorously in a manner reminiscent of Frank Nelson, offers a reward of $1,000.00 to the first viewer who can bring a rabbit to Station QTTV. Excited by the prospect, Daffy becomes extremely determined to catch a rabbit, intending to impress the TV show. He first tries to persuade Bugs Bunny to come along by offering him show tickets, but Bugs quickly becomes suspicious of Daffy’s ulterior motives and refuses to participate. Not easily discouraged, Daffy then threatens Bugs with a gun, telling him to comply or face being shot.

At the station, Daffy has Bugs at gunpoint, but their plans take a humorous turn when they observe a parade of prizes rolling out of a studio—these include a car, a boat, a fur coat, a refrigerator, and even the coveted “Key to Fort Knox”—highlighting the show’s exaggerated and humorous style. The duo then notices that people are entering a show titled People Are Phoney, starring Art Lamplighter, which is another goofy segment of the TV network. Driven by dollar signs and greed, Daffy quickly locks Bugs inside a telephone booth and rushes into the studio to audition as a contestant.

Meanwhile, Bugs manages to get a call in the booth from an announcer who offers him a chance to win a jackpot by correctly answering a question. Bugs responds adeptly, answering the math question and collecting the jackpot, which simply slides out of the coin return. When asked how he knew the answer so fast, Bugs witty replies, “One thing we rabbits know how to do is multiply,” showcasing his clever sense of humor.

Back on the studio, Daffy appears as a contestant on People Are Phoney and is assigned the task of helping a little old lady cross the street on camera. Things quickly go awry when the lady aggressively hits Daffy with her umbrella, clearly not needing any help and showing her no-nonsense attitude. In the chaos, Daffy is run over by a speeding truck and then a motorcycle, which leads to the host, Art Lamplighter, humorously announcing to the audience that Daffy “did not quite make it,” illustrating the show’s silly tone with the phrase “People Are Phoney.”

A rage-filled Daffy returns to the telephone booth, where Bugs is tallying the jackpot. Bugs claims he received a call while in the booth that Daffy doubts, but Bugs insists another call could come any moment. To prove his point, Bugs mimics a ringing phone, convincing Daffy to push him aside and grab the “receiver,” which Daffy dramatically turns into a stick of dynamite. When he pulls the trigger, it explodes comically as Bugs walks away nonchalantly, shrugging and muttering, “So I let him have it.”

Later, Daffy looks for Bugs and inquires with a studio usher—who is actually Bugs in disguise—about the whereabouts of the rabbit. Bugs points him to a door, but Daffy ends up entering a show called Were You There?—a satirical rendition of You Are There—which reenacts the “Indian Massacre at Burton’s Bend.” Daffy emerges with his head scalped by Native Americans, grumbling, “All right, where’s the wise guy?” and attempting to slap his scalp back onto his head.

The climax ensues when Bugs, disguised as a producer, tricks Daffy into donning a rabbit costume, claiming he is wanted for a Costume Party—a playful nod to the real Masquerade Party. The plot thickens as Daffy is sent to the QTTV Sportsman Hour, the very show he initially aimed to appear on with Bugs in tow. Daffy protests, asserting that he is a duck, not a rabbit, but the host humorously declares, “It is now duck season,” leading to a chaotic scene where hunters shoot at Daffy. Bugs dismisses the situation with a shrug, remarking, “Eh, they always shoot blanks on TV,” to which Daffy, with his beak riddled with bullet holes, mutters in frustration, “‘Blanks,’ he says.” Daffy then offers the hunters a handful of buckshot from his mouth, exclaiming, “Have a handful of blanks! Sheesh!” as the chaos concludes.

This animated adventure is a showcase of classic Looney Tunes humor—full of slapstick comedy, clever wordplay, and hilarious disguises—where Daffy’s relentless and often misguided schemes ultimately lead to comic mishaps, with Bugs Bunny always managing to stay one step ahead.