A small list, but a notable one. These are the shows turning
Remember that one day when you could wake up without an alarm? When you would get your favorite bowl of cereal and sit between the hours of 8 and 12? This is a blog dedicated to the greatest time of our childhood: Saturday mornings. The television programs you watched, the memories attached to them, and maybe introducing you to something you didn't realize existed. Updated every weekend.
Showing posts with label Underdog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Underdog. Show all posts
July 27, 2024
February 17, 2024
SATURDAY MORNING LOVE
It's February, and love is in the air--especially on Saturday morning! In honor of Valentine's Day, we figured we showcase a selection of romances you could find in our first even installment of
He was a ruthless businessman that took many illegal
and underhanded methods to get what he wanted. She was one of the facilitators
of those illegal methods until their business relationship became a personal
one. Even bad guys need love, too—let’s hear it for David Xanatos and Fox!
She is a neurodivergent teenager from the Human Realm who
wanted nothing more than to live in a fantasy world like her favorite witch
character. She actually lived in that fantasy world and was two kinds of
witches until meeting her favorite human left her as only the magical kind.
Let’s show some Lumity love for Luz Noceda and Amity Blight!
She is a chaotic magical princess from another dimension.
He’s a “misunderstood bad boy” who likes to keep things organized and
controlled. Opposites sure attracted, because here is Starco: Star Butterfly and Marco
Diaz!
He was your average nerd until a freak computer accident
turned him into a chaotic lunatic. She is his classmate, and while she can’t
stand the before she certainly has no problem with the after. Big hugbees for
Freakazoid and Steff!
She is the only female of legal age in the entire village
(even though she was technically created a short time ago through magic).
They’re a village full of similarly handsome young men eager to woo her with
their particular name-represented skills. Give a Smurfy welcome to Smurfette
and the Smurfs!
He’s a rough and tumble sailing man with an affinity for
leafy greens. She’s a fickle damsel in distress who usually ends up regretting
running away with another man. Toot your pipes for Popeye and Olive Oyl!
He’s an oblivious scientist with a strong interest in
spores, molds, fungus and ghosts. She’s a no-nonsense resident of Queens who
would go to great lengths to get him to notice her. Who ya gonna call? Dr. Egon
Spengler and Janine Melnitz!
She is a wealthy socialite with a little black book bigger
than most phone books (kids, ask your parents). She is the sweet and loving
girl next door with an impressive list of talents and skills. He is the klutzy
average teenager who tries (and fails) to juggle relationships with both of
them. Give it up for the eternal triangle of Veronica Lodge, Betty Cooper and
Archie Andrews!
He is the king of Atlantis and friend to all sea life. She was
the queen from a similar alternate dimension until she was usurped and
banished. All hail King Aquaman and Queen Mera of Atlantis!
He is the embodiment of vengeance that protects the streets
of Gotham by night. She is the feline-themed thief who managed to steal his
heart. Here is a truly dynamic duo: Batman and Catwoman!
He is the tree-slamming king of the jungle. She is his mate, whose name he can never seem to remember (too many falls out of their treehouse, probably). Let’s hear it for the mighty George of the Jungle and fella—er, Ursula!
He is a mighty warrior dedicated to keeping evil technology
at bay. She is his loyal wife, trusted partner, and mother to their son.
Welcome the out of this world couple of Zandor and Tara!
He is a world-renowned superhero when not doing his day job
of being a mild-mannered reporter. She’s a hard-hitting journalist who happily
puts herself into danger just to get the story. All the way from Metropolis
it’s Superman and Lois Lane!
He was a nerd whose life was changed when he was bitten by a
spider. She’s a fun-loving model/actress that apparently has a thing for
arachnids. Let’s give an amazingly sensational welcome to the spectacular
Spider-Man and Mary Jane Watson!
He’s a shiftless layabout that spends all day playing with
swords and trains. She’s a femme fatale who loves to tend to her lethal garden
of man-eating plants. They’re creepy. They’re kooky. They’re Gomez and Morticia
Addams!
She’s a modern Stone Age teenaged girl. He’s her
super-strong life-long best friend, bandmate and next door neighbor. Together,
they’re Pebbles Flintstone and Bamm-Bamm Rubble!
He is the well-intentioned patriarch that manages to louse
up all the lessons he tries to teach his children. She is the wise matriarch
who comes in and picks up the pieces to ensure the lesson makes it through
intact. Welcome Papa Bear and Mama Bear!
She’s a record producer that moonlights as the biggest pop
act at her label. He’s the road manager and engineer torn between two women he
doesn’t even realize is the same one. It’s showtime for Jerrica Benton/Jem and
Rio!
He is the mightiest rodent in the world. She is his
girlfriend and, unbeknownst to her, also his secret identity’s boss. Here they
come to save the day, Mighty Mouse and Pearl Pureheart are on the way!
He is the city’s greatest rhyming hero when he’s not busy
shining shoes. She’s a reporter that often ends up needing rescuing from that
week’s villain. There’s no need to fear, Underdog and Polly Purebred are here!
She’s the sweetest, most popular girl in school and the head
cheerleader. He’s a conniving con man who would do anything to get ahead and
for his friends. Meet Bayside power couple Kelly Kapowski and Zack Morris!
He’s the captain of the wrestling team and an army brat.
She’s an enlightened feminist that thinks he’s a pig. Never has there been a
more mismatched pairing than A.C. Slater and Jesse Spano!
He’s a plumber from Brooklyn stuck in an alternate world
full of fungus. She’s a princess who can’t seem to shake a sinister lizard. Set
out some pasta for Mario and Princess Toadstool!
He runs around all night in a high-tech suit protecting
Neo-Gotham. She’s just trying to finish school and get a handle on why her
boyfriend keeps disappearing at random times. Let’s hear it for the schway
couple of Terry McGinnis and Dana Tan!
He is the terror that flaps in the night. She’s a mixed-up
spell-caster once from the wrong side of the law. Let’s get dangerous with
Darkwing Duck and Morgana MacCawber!
He is the face that launched a multibillion-dollar empire.
She’s the one who stuck by his side through thick, thin and Pegleg Pete.
They’re the ones that are friends to you and me, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse!
She is a once-powerful agent of chaos that now molds young
minds with her own school. They are a powerful Bard who hates being the center
of attention in public but led a rebellion against a corrupt regime from
within. No need for a requiem when you’ve got Eda Clawthorne and Raine
Whispers!
She is a powerful plant witch once hindered by her own
self-doubts. He was a zealot who was saved when he made the friends he didn’t
know he needed. Say hello to Huntlow: Willow Park and Hunter!
She’s a lovable nerd who’s been forced into trying new
things for the fate of the world. He’s her…not-too-bright best friend along for
the ride that she must eventually give in to her feelings for (y’know, to save
the world and stuff). E komo mai to Hailey Banks and Scott Denoga!
He is a brash and headstrong Brooklyn native that runs as
hot as his power. She’s equally brash and headstrong, but her love and loyalty
to those she cares about is as powerful as the wind. The world is in good hands
with the likes of Wheeler and Linka!
He was originally brainwashed to destroy the very people
that would become his family. She was a replacement that came into her own.
Give a morphinomical welcome to Tommy Oliver and Katherine Hillard!
He’s the chili dog-scarfing, way past cool hero of the
planet Mobius. She’s the rightful ruler and leader of the resistance movement.
Give it up for Sonic the Hedgehog and Princess Sally Acorn!
He’s the stalwart leader of the X-Men. She’s a powerful
telepath with a tendency to pass out. He’s a wild man from up north that likes
to play by his own rules. Let’s hear it for the marvelous mutant triangle of
Cyclops, Jean Grey and Wolverine.
He’s the hero of planet Mobius stranded in our world. She’s
can be a bit bossy and stubborn, but she loves her speedy acquaintance. Taking
a break from their quest to get back home, it’s Sonic the Hedgehog and Amy
Rose!
She is the cheerful best friend of a ghost dedicated to
enhappifying the world. He also enjoys enhappifying the world, but he comes
from a family of ghost hunters. Raise your turnips for Molly McGee and Ollie
Chen!
And finally, he’s an enthusiastic young frog that often bounces headfirst into trouble. She is an energetic frog that enjoys “ambushing” sprig and playfully sparring with him. Let’s hear it for Sprivy: Sprig Plantar and Ivy Sundew!
He is a 1000-year-old gargoyle who only comes out at night
and tends to tangle with evil businessmen, closed-minded thugs and mythological
figures. She’s a no-nonsense police detective that helped him get acclimated to
a new century and kick some tail. Don’t sit there like a stone, give it up for
Goliath and Elisa Maza!
He is the tree-slamming king of the jungle. She is his mate, whose name he can never seem to remember (too many falls out of their treehouse, probably). Let’s hear it for the mighty George of the Jungle and fella—er, Ursula!
And finally, he’s an enthusiastic young frog that often bounces headfirst into trouble. She is an energetic frog that enjoys “ambushing” sprig and playfully sparring with him. Let’s hear it for Sprivy: Sprig Plantar and Ivy Sundew!
February 05, 2020
SATURDAY MORNING MASTERS: ALLEN SWIFT
ALLEN SWIFT
(January 16, 1924-April 18, 2010)
Notable Roles: Howdy Doody, Phineas T. Bluster, Dilly
Tally, Inspector John J. Fadoozle, Fubadub, Mighty Mouse, Odie O. Colognie,
Itchy Brother, Tooter Turtle, Simon Bar-Sinister, Riff Raff, Electric Eel
Born Ira Stadlin, Swift began as a comedy performer in
nightclubs that took the liberty of giving him a new stage name as they didn’t
like the sound of his own. Swift decided to come up with his own and created it
from a combination of his father’s favorite humorist, Jonathan Swift, and
his own, Fred Allen. As his
career took off, his agent, Lew
Grade, got him an audition for The
Howdy Doody Show to replace all of the actors that had walked off over
a salary dispute. The show had given up trying to find suitable sound-alikes
and were settled on just getting all-new voices when Swift surprised them with
his ability of mimicry and impressions (skills he was told would hinder his
career). He became the new voice for most of the puppet characters, including
Howdy himself, as well as one of the show’s writers. He was also one of the actors
to portray Mighty
Mouse and various other characters for Terrytoons. In 1956, he
became a children’s show host himself as “Captain Allen” Swift on The
Popeye Show, which showcased classic Popeye
cartoons. His run on the show ended in 1960 due to creative differences, as
did The Howdy Doody Show due to declining ratings. Swift moved on
to several shows and shorts, including most of Total TeleVision’s
output beginning with King
Leonardo and His Short Subjects and Gene Dietch’s group of Tom and Jerry cartoons,
as well as some Broadway plays. Swift took part in a number of
advertising campaigns including voicing Frito Bandito for Fritos Corn Chips,
a talking drain for Drano, and Captain Cupcake for Hostess. His impersonation skills came
in handy once again as Archie
Bunker and Adolf
Hitler in MAD Magazine’s
vinyl recording of “Gall
in the Family Fare”. Swift’s last
credited work was providing his voice to various episodes of Cartoon Network’s Courage the Cowardly Dog.
Swift died in 2010 after a several year bout with various health issues.
Saturday Credits:
The Howdy Doody Show
Mighty Mouse Playhouse
King Leonardo and His Short Subjects
Tennessee Tuxedo and his Tales
Underdog
The Beagles
The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie
Sesame Street
July 27, 2019
April 06, 2017
JOE HARRIS DEAD AT 89
It has just been reported that illustrator, producer and composer Joe Harris died on March 26th. You can read the full story here.
Harris, while working in advertising in the 1950s, developed the Trix rabbit for General Mills as well as storyboarded and wrote the copy for the commercials. In the 1960s, he became an integral part of Total Television performing various functions, the least of which was character design, on King Leonardo and His
Short Subjects, Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales, Underdog, The Beagles and Go Go Gophers.
December 28, 2016
GEORGE S. IRVING DEAD AT 94
George S. Irving died on December 26th. You can read the full story here.
Irving was a regular in shows produced by Total Television, voicing many roles in Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales, King Leonardo and His Short Subjects, Underdog (for which he also served as the series' narrator) and Go Go Gophers.
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