15 replies to this topic

[AimingforYoko]

Synopsis from Wiki:

Underdog was an anthropomorphic superhero parody of Superman and similar heroes with secret identities. The premise was that "humble and lovable" Shoeshine Boy, a cartoon dog, was in truth the superhero Underdog. George S. Irving narrated, and comedy actor Wally Cox provided the voices of both Underdog and Shoeshine Boy. When villains threatened, Shoeshine Boy ducked into a telephone booth where he transformed into the caped and costumed hero, destroying the booth in the process when his super powers were activated.
Underdog's most frequent saying when he appeared was:
"There's no need to fear, Underdog is here!"

A little surprise there was no thread for the pooch 'til now. Not the favorite cartoon series of my youth by any means, but it was enjoyable. I actually preferred his offshoot cartoons: Tennessee Tuxedo, Go Go Gophers, Commander McBragg, and The Hunter. Underdog did have two of the better villian names: Simon Bar Sinister and wait for it, Overcat.
My inspiration for starting the thread is the live-action movie coming August 3rd. I don't know why they green-lit this movie, I don't sense much of a demand for it. I anticipate it will do as well as the live-action Rocky and Bullwiinkle. Anyway here's the trailer.

[Orion7]

My favorite parts of the show were Wally Cox's voice as Underdog, and of course, the wonderful theme song. The four-part a cappella version they did on Scrubs a few seasons ago was one of my favorite moments on that show.

[cjl]

When criminals in this world appear
And break the laws that they should fear
And frighten all who see or hear
The cry goes up both far and near
For Underdog! Underdog! Underdog! Underdog!

Speed of lightning, roar of thunder
Fighting all who rob or plunder

Underdog. Underdog!

When in this world the headlines read
Of those whose hearts are filled with greed
Who rob and steal from those who need
To right this wrong with blinding speed
Goes Underdog! Underdog! Underdog! Underdog!

Speed of lightning, roar of thunder
Fighting all who rob or plunder
Underdog. Underdog!

If you've never heard the theme song before, the lyrics give no clue as to how wonderfully overwrought it is.

Like aimingforyoko, loved the theme and Wally Cox, but I never loved the stories themselves. Like Courageous Cat, Underdog was so-straight-it's-bent superhero story with anthropomorphic animules. It wasn't funny. It wasn't satirical. I didn't consider it clever or cute (like Mighty Mouse). It was just...what it was. Why is there going to be a live-action movie? Wasn't the R&B disaster enough of a warning?

P.S.: Shouldn't the thread title be, "There's No Need to Fear....!"

ETA: $12 million on the opening weekend. Since they didn't bother showing the movie to critics, I bet Disney is surprised it did that well.

Edited by cjl, Aug 7, 2007 @ 8:41 AM.

[clarkins]

I liked it as a kid. I remember making sure I only watched on Tuesday, Thursday and alternate Friday's.
I hated the four part stories. I'd always skip the first two.

Like AimingForYoko, I liked the secondary shows as well and sometimes better than the Underdog eps.

[Longueuil]

I always liked Underdog 'cuz he's got a serious fupa going on.

[Slug]

Although I wasn't alive when the show originally aired, I remember watching the episodes in syndication. Although I did like the Underdog parts, like others I was more of a fan of the secondary characters such as Tennessee Tuxedo (RIP Don Adams), Touché Turtle, Klondike Kat, etc. My favorite Underdog villains were Simon Bar Sinister and Tap-Tap the Underdog look-a-like.

As for the movie, I just watched the trailer, and needless to say I wasn't impressed by it. I just don't think this would make a great live action movie, and it'll probably do as well as the R&B one, which is to say not very well at all. Or it could be a surprise hit, who knows.

[Wildkat]

The movie looks like crap-- from the times I've seen the trailer it looks like it pretty much just uses the name of a beloved old TV show.

I always liked the Underdog cartoon, though GoGo Gophers were probably my favorite, followed by Klondike Kat. My least favorite was Commander McBragg. I did enjoy when Scrubs did the entire theme song and it fitr the storyline so well. Of course I also loved the Scrubs musical episode.

[Orion7]

I had forgotten all about the GoGo Gophers, but now that you have mentioned it, I can hear that theme in my head. "Go, go gophers, watch them go, go, go."

[Wildkat]

Now we'll all be singing that theme. Hmmmm wonder if I can d/l it. :)

[sparklebunny27]

I loved Underdog when I was little. We used to play Underdog at preschool, and I was Sweet Polly Purebred, singing, "Oh where oh where has my Underdog gone?" I'm so disappointed they are making this into a (I'm guessing) tasteless, live action movie.

[JuliJBG]

I loved the original Underdog cartoons! I think it is a given that this live action movie is going to be terrible, so I am not even going to bother. But what bugs me most is that the dog they picked looks nothing like Underdog!

[Pittipat]

Target has original episodes on DVD. I didn't get a good look at them to see what all is there - looked to have at least a couple of different volumes.
My kids think the new movie looks cute but I don't think we're gonna be seeing it.

Edited by Pittipat, Aug 6, 2007 @ 2:53 PM.

[fatneck]

But what bugs me most is that the dog they picked looks nothing like Underdog!

I wish they didn't called it Underdog.

[Orion7]

Yes, they should have just called it "Superdog" or something, because he looks and sounds nothing like Underdog. It does make me want to go buy the originals at Target, though.

[espie]

Oh God, this was my very first favorite show! I was about four when it came on and I fell completely in love with it. Well, there was one thing I DIDN'T like... Sweet Polly. What a pathetic whiner she was. I thought Underdog was very gallant for always coming to her rescue, but it bugged me that she never did anything to save HERSELF, she just stood around singing "Oh where, oh where has my Underdog gone". I like to think part of the reason I grew up to be such an independent female is the "don't let this happen to you" lesson of Sweet Polly Purebred.

[RTS390]

oooooooo wah ooooooooo wah oooo oooo ooooo oo oooooooo!!!!!!!!


When I was a little kid and this cartoon first came out it instantly became my most favorite show in the whole wide world. It seemed like forever till the next new episode. My face would be glued to the TV set. I loved that stupid show. I was on youtube a while back and saw that they had a couple of episodes. So I watched them. It has been years upon years since I had even thought about this show, let alone watched it. Holy crap it was about as funky of a show as it gets. I was laughing about how much I could actually remember of it. Some of it was actually pretty clever. The theme song still rocks!!!! HA!!!! HA!!!! HA!!!!