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Pets or Meat: The Return To Flint, released in 1992, is a short 23-minute sequel to Roger & Me. It apparently aired only once on the PBS show P.O.V., but was also part of a three-short film feature called Two Mikes Don’t Make a Wright. The film included a shorts by Steven Wright and Mike Leigh. Since it was never released on VHS or DVD, any surviving video of Pets Or Meat is extremely rare.
Surprisingly the short does not appear on the Roger & Me DVD, which was released in 2002 after Moore’s Oscar win for Bowling for Columbine. There could be some licensing or clearance issues preventing its release.
Featuring many of the “stars” from Roger & Me, including the Bunny Lady (Rhonda Britton), the Amway Lady (Janet Rauch), Deputy Fred Ross and The Tourism Guy (Steve Wilson), also make significant appearances. The film shows the events after Roger & Me was an international sensation. Moore appears on Letterman; The Tonight Show (with Jay Leno guest hosting); and CNN’s Crossfire with Pat Buchanan. Clips from Entertainment Tonight and Siskel & Ebert show just how much Moore was on his way to becoming a media sensation.
Shot on a consumer video camera, the movie has a look and feel that would evolve into TV Nation, which won the Emmy for Outstanding Informational Series in 1995. It was renamed The Awful Truth which is available on DVD and a must-see.
As you watch the film you’ll see many scenes which provided ideas which became Bowling for Columbine and Captialism: A Love Story. All of Moore’s movies have a running thread of the working class vs. the wealthy, and Pets or Meat does not disappoint.
We were able to obtain a copy of this rare short film many years ago. Although its a low-quality VHS copy, it is watchable. Enjoy.