Doug
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Originating with an unpublished book Doug Got a New Pair of Shoes by artist and series creator Jim Jinkins and writer Joe Aaron, the animated series Doug emerged on the Nickelodeon TV channel from 1991 to 1994, where it remained until being picked up by Disney Channel/ABC from 1996 to 1999.
The series takes place in the fictitious town of Bluffington (where Doug and his family had moved from Bloatsburg) and deals with the life and imagination of title character, grade-schooler and diarist Doug Funnie, his dog Porkchop, and good friends Skeeter Valentine and Patti Mayonnaise.
Doug's older sister, Judy, is a constant source of conflict. She is a dramatic actor (arguably a beatnik) who always wears a purple beret and sunglasses.
A theme in the series is Doug's alternate comic book personality, Quailman. He has a belt worn around his head, and briefs over his pants, but is otherwise identical to Doug. Skeeter has an analogous character named the Silver Skeeter, (a parody of Marvel's Silver Surfer).
Doug's imagination as he reacts to various situations in his life helps to provide premises for the stories, ala Walter Mitty. One episode dealing with a visit to his dentist, for example, contains homages to Goldfinger and Marathon Man.
Notable in the series' character design is the frequent use of unusual names and skin colors. Doug is of standard Caucasian tone, where-as Skeeter is blue, Patti is orange, and bad boy Roger Klotz is green.
Episodes: 166 Episodes (68 half-hour episodes, 98 fifteen minute episodes, and 1 full-length movie)
In the series opener, we find young Douglas Yancey Funnie and his family (Phil, Theda and sister Judy), having just moved away from their former residence in Bloatsburg, coming to a new town called Bluffington. There he meets Skeeter, Patti, Roger and Beebe, and his new life in a new town begins! Sometimes, Doug imgaines himself as a superhero named Quailman to help him out with situations and decisions.
Even though Nickelodeon stopped production of Doug in 1994, the original episodes have run in repeats on the cable channel ever since then.
In February 1996, Disney Enterprises bought Jumbo Pictures, Inc., and ordered new episodes of "Doug" to be produced (re-named "Brand Spanking New! Doug" and then later "Disney's Doug"). The new episodes brought a new baby sister for Doug as well as a change in age to 12 1/2 years old. It also brought a new haircut for Patti, more money for Roger, Connie lost weight, and much more including a change of clothes for everyone (not to mention a brand new middle school). These episodes aired on ABC's "One Saturday Morning" cartoon block from September 1996 to September 9, 2000. In 1999, after 65 additional episodes (and a feature-length movie), "Disney's Doug" went out of production. "Doug" also spawned merchandise such as clothes, toys and a number of books. During the course of the show, "Doug" was nominated for 4 Daytime Emmy Awards. It can still be found on Toon Disney and NickToons TV.
Characters
- Doug Funnie: performed by Billy West from 1991 to 1994, and Thomas McHugh from 1996 to 1999
- Judy Funnie: Doug's beatnik/wanna-be thespian/ performance artist sister
- Cleopatra Dirtbike Funnie:, Doug's baby sister, born on the Disney show
- Mr. Phil Funnie: Doug's dad
- Mrs. Theda Funnie: Doug's mom
- Porkchop: Doug's canine companion
- Skeeter Valentine: Doug's best friend
- Roger Klotz: Doug's rival, typical wrong side of the tracks bully.
- Ms. Wingo: Doug's elementary school teacher
- Mr. Bud Dink: Doug's spend-thrify neighbor, whom Doug oftens turns to for advice.
- Mrs. Tippy Dink: his wife, and later Mayor of Bluffington
- Stinky: Roger's spoiled feline companion
- Bee Bee Bluff: a spoiled rich friend of Patti's
- Mr. Bluff: the richest man in town, father of Bee Bee, and descendant of the town founder.
- Robert "Bob" White: the mayor, who later gets tossed out of office and becomes the high school principal
- Willy White: the ex-mayor's son and member of Roger's gang.
- Al and Moo Sleech: genius, yet socially inept twin brothers, father runs a bakery, have a dog named "Cosmos"
- Mr. Bone: the elementary school vice-principal, later promoted to the same job at the high school, spoke with a Don Knotts-esque voice
- The Beets: a Beatlesque rock-and-roll band that later break up and go solo in the Disney version.
- Mr. Butt-savage: the never-seen elementary school principal
- Boomer: Member of Roger's gang.
- Ned Coffey: member of Roger's gang
- Larry: Leader of a group of audio-visual nerds
- Skunky Beaumont: often mentioned in the Nick version, didn't really appear till the Disney version, where he is protrayed as a Jeff Spicolli-esque "dude".
- Chalkie Stutibaker: school pretty boy/ jock
- Connie Binge: Sweet, naive fat girl in Nick version, obnoxius Courtney Love-esque singer/somgwriter in Disney version
The original "Doug" ran for four seasons, with only 13 episodes each on Nickelodeon. The series was then bought by Disney, and several new seasons, featuring Doug and friends as high-schoolers, was shown on ABC's One Saturday Morning under the title "Brand Spanking New Doug."
Doug episodes are usually in the form of two, 15-minute shorts, rather than one, long 30 minute show. Overall, 166 episodes were produced.
In 1999, A full-length animated film was released, entitled "Doug's 1st Movie."
