Just Shoot Me! – “A Divorce to Remember”

Jul 4, 2023

Original Air Date: September 21, 1999

Directed by: Pamela Fryman

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: Dennis (David Spade) tries to hide his geekish hobbies from Adrienne (Rebecca Romijn) while Maya (Laura San Giacomo) and Elliot (Enrico Colantoni) go through the steps to get a divorce after accidentally being married in a cult group ceremony.

Cat Burglars (Scene Stealers): Dennis receives an invitation for his white Persian cat Spartacus to compete for the top prize at a prestigious cat show. When he finds out that Adrienne considers cat show contestants to be losers, he lies about going to a rugby match. At the cat show, several competitors are shown, including a Snowshoe and a blue shorthair.

Just Shoot Me! - A Divorce to Remember - snowshow cat and blue shorthair at cat show

Dennis finishes blow drying Spartacus’ fur and then picks him up to take him to the judging ring.

Just Shoot Me! - A Divorce to Remember - Dennis David Spade blow drying and combing his longhair white Persian cat Spartacus
Just Shoot Me! - A Divorce to Remember - Dennis David Spade picking up his longhair white Persian cat Spartacus

Another hopeful contestant holds an orange tabby.

Just Shoot Me! - A Divorce to Remember - man holding ginger tabby cat for cat show judge

Dennis makes eyes at the judge.

Just Shoot Me! - A Divorce to Remember - Dennis David Spade holding up his longhair white Persian cat Spartacus and making eyes at the judge

A quick shot shows Dennis parading Spartacus through a ring in the style of a dog show.

Just Shoot Me! - A Divorce to Remember - Dennis David Spade running through ring with his longhair white Persian cat Spartacus
Just Shoot Me! - A Divorce to Remember - Dennis David Spade running with his longhair white Persian cat Spartacus on leash through show ring animated gif

At the final judging, Dennis and the woman with the blue shorthair (Stasi Glenn) make faces at each other. Dennis eyes her angrily.

Just Shoot Me! - A Divorce to Remember - Dennis David Spade with his longhair white Persian cat Spartacus in cat show ring with woman Stasi Glenn and blue shorthair
Just Shoot Me! - A Divorce to Remember - Dennis David Spade looking angry with his longhair white Persian cat Spartacus and blue shorthair in foreground
Just Shoot Me! - A Divorce to Remember - Dennis David Spade with his longhair white Persian cat Spartacus making faces at woman Stasi Glenn with her blue shorthair animated gif

Dennis is shocked when the woman wins a blue ribbon . . .

Just Shoot Me! - A Divorce to Remember - Dennis David Spade holding his longhair white Persian cat Spartacus
Just Shoot Me! - A Divorce to Remember - woman Stasi Glenn looking happy with blue shorthair cat

. . . but is thrilled when Spartacus wins the top prize trophy. He throws his cat into the judge’s arms so he can parade around with the loving cup.

Just Shoot Me! - A Divorce to Remember - Dennis David Spade receiving trophy with his longhair white Persian cat Spartacus as woman Stasi Glenn watches with blue shorthair
Just Shoot Me! - A Divorce to Remember - Dennis David Spade passing with his longhair white Persian cat Spartacus to judge as woman Stasi Glenn watches with blue shorthair
Just Shoot Me! - A Divorce to Remember - Dennis David Spade holding trophy with judge holding his longhair white Persian cat Spartacus and woman Stasi Glenn with blue shorthair

We’re not sure if Spartacus was ever mentioned or appeared on the show before this, but he was the focus of another episode titled When Nina Met Elliot’s Mother later in the same season, albeit he remained unseen. Dennis brings Spartacus to the office where the cat, hidden inside his carrier, is considered a terror and even scratches Dennis’ nose. After Dennis lets Spartacus loose in Jack’s (George Segal) office, Jack and Maya accidentally run him over with a remote car and tank trying to herd him back into his carrier. The cat is only ever represented by a stuffed cat, which is a good thing since at the end of the episode he catches fire.

Final Mewsings: Usually sitcom pets are forgotten after their single episodes . . . and maybe that’s for the best!

Many thanks to Stevie Holcomb and Laurie Morrison for letting us know about the cats in this episode.

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