The character of Ed Grimley had been around in all his neurotic glory for many years before Martin Short lent his voice to an animated incarnation. The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley debuted on NBC's Saturday morning lineup in 1988 and featured many of the actors that had appeared in Ed Grimley skits. Martin Short had created the character for the comedy skit show SCTV and had reprised the role when he joined the ranks of Saturday Night Live.

Ed was a quirky bachelor who kept a goldfish, Moby, and a pet rat, Nelson. He was fascinated by pop culture and harbored a serious man crush for Wheel of Fortune host, Pat Sajak. Living through life in a hyperkinetic rush, Ed liked to play the triange, though 'playing' is a bit of a misnomer: he simply put on a music recording and dinged his triangle once at a poignant moment during the piece. He then proceeded to dance around his appartment, vigorously and with much bounce. Other characters inhabited Ed's world, like his boss, Mr. Freebus, and Miss Malone, his ditzy neighbor. Jonathan Winters provided the voice of the volatile Mr. Freebus and Catherine O'Hara voiced Miss Malone, the character she had originally played on SCTV. There were more SCTV alumni that appeared in the cartoon, like Andrea Martin as Mrs. Freebus and Joe Flaherty as the live-action Count Floyd, a TV host.

The cartoon was similar to Pee-wee's Playhouse in its wacky brand of humor but it wasn't as successful. It only lasted one season, then found a healthy afterlife in Comedy Central reruns.