A "pop-eyed" Catfish is a member of the Riverbottom Nightmare Band in Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas. He does backing vocals for the band and swims about in his tank supplying visual accompaniment not unlike a go-go dancer. He often backs up his cohorts' ill-tempered antics by spitting water in someone's face.

For Goodspeed Opera House's stage adaptation, the role of Catfish was originated by Tyler Bunch.