''Underdog'' is an American Saturday morning animated television series that ran from October 3, 1964, to March 4, 1967 starting on the

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

network until 1966, with the rest of the run on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

, under the primary sponsorship of General Mills, for a run of 62 episodes. It is one of the early Saturday morning cartoons. The show continued in syndication until 1973. Underdog, Shoeshine Boy's heroic alter ego, appears whenever love interest Sweet Polly Purebred is being victimized by such villains as Simon Bar Sinister or Riff Raff. Underdog nearly always speaks in

rhyming A rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds (usually, the exact same phonemes) in the final stressed syllables and any following syllables of two or more words. Most often, this kind of perfect rhyming is consciously used for a musical or aesthetic ...

couplets, as in "There's no need to fear, Underdog is here!" His voice was supplied by

Wally Cox Wallace Maynard Cox (December 6, 1924 – February 15, 1973) was an American actor. He began his career as a standup comedian and then became the title character of the popular early U.S. television series ''Mister Peepers'' from 1952 to 19 ...

History

In 1959, handling the General Mills account as an account executive with the Dancer Fitzgerald Sample advertising agency in New York,

W. Watts Biggers William Watts "Buck" Biggers (June 2, 1927 – February 10, 2013) was an American novelist and co-creator of the long-running animated television series ''Underdog''. Early life Born in Avondale Estates, Georgia, Biggers went to Avondale High wh ...

teamed with Chet Stover, Treadwell D. Covington, and artist Joe Harris in the creation of television cartoon shows to sell breakfast cereals for General Mills. The shows introduced such characters as King Leonardo,

Tennessee Tuxedo Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...

, and Underdog. Biggers and Stover contributed both scripts and songs to the series. When ''Underdog'' became a success, Biggers and his partners left Dancer Fitzgerald Sample to form their own company,

Total Television Total Television was an American animation studio founded in 1959 by Buck Biggers, Chester "Chet" Stover,p.478 Erickson,Hal ''Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 through 2003'' McFarland & Co., 2005 Joe Harris, and Trea ...

, with animation produced at Gamma Studios in Mexico. In 1969, Total Television folded when General Mills dropped out as the primary sponsor, but continued to retain the rights to the series until 1995 and TV distribution rights, through

NBCUniversal Television Distribution NBCUniversal Syndication Studios (a.k.a. NUSS), formerly known as NBCUniversal Television Distribution (a.k.a. NUTD), Universal Domestic Television, Studios USA Television Distribution and MCA TV, is the television syndication division of NBCUniv ...

, to the present day.

Abroad and in syndication

The syndicated version of ''The Underdog Show'' consists of 62 half-hour episodes. The supporting segments differ from the show's original network run. The first 26 syndicated episodes feature ''

'' as a supporting segment. (''Tennessee Tuxedo'' originally aired as a separate show and also has its own syndicated adaptation.) Thereafter, for most of the balance of the package, the middle segments include ''

Go Go Gophers ''Go Go Gophers'' is an animated series set in the Old West that appears as a 4-5 minute long segment within 48 episodes of the ''Underdog'' TV series. It was then spun off as a separate series on CBS that aired from September 14, 1968 to Septembe ...

'' and ''

Klondike Kat ''Klondike Kat'' was a cartoon produced by Total Television and originally aired as part of '' The Beagles'' on CBS-TV in 1966, and later found in the U.S. syndicated ''Underdog'' and '' Tennessee Tuxedo'' cartoon series, in between episodes as an a ...

'' for three consecutive half-hours and ''Tennessee Tuxedo'' in the fourth. ''

Commander McBragg Commander McBragg is a cartoon character who appeared in short segments (usually 90 seconds) produced by Total Television Productions and animated by Gamma Productions. These segments first appeared in 1963 on the animated series ''Tennessee Tuxedo ...

'' is featured in the majority of episodes, replaced by three segments of ''The Sing-A-Long Family'' (in shows one-three, 28–30, and 55–57). The final two syndicated ''Underdog'' half-hours feature two one-shot cartoons that were originally part of an unsold pilot for a projected 1966 series, ''The Champion'' (''Cauliflower Cabbie'' and ''Gene Hattree''), with ''Commander McBragg'' appearing in show 61 and ''Go Go Gophers'' in show 62. The syndicated series, as shown in the United States, is a potpourri of segments from previously aired versions of the show. Prior to a 1994 remaster, each episode included a "teaser" at the top of the show, asking viewers to stay tuned for a clip from "today's four-part story." (This originates from a 1969–1973 NBC Saturday morning rerun version of the show.) However, never more than two parts of the ''Underdog'' stories were ever shown in any half-hour program. Prints of such would either be followed by a closing and credits or no credits at all. The closing (which showed the first portion of a variation of the ''Underdog'' theme showing a giant terrorizing the city with George S. Irving, the series narrator, saying, "Looks like this is the end! But don't miss our next Underdog Show!" in place of the theme music) followed by the end credits (re-edited from the cast credits for ''Underdog'' and ''Tennessee Tuxedo''), originated from a 1965 repackaged syndicated series, ''Cartoon Cut-Ups,'' which originally featured Underdog, Tennessee Tuxedo, and Commander McBragg. For many years starting with NBC's last run in the mid-1970s, all references to Underdog swallowing his Super Energy Pill were censored, most likely out of fear that kids would see medication that looked like the Underdog pills (red with a white "U" on them) and swallow them. Two instances that did not actually show Underdog swallowing the pills remained in the show. In one, he drops pills into water supplies; in the other, his ring is damaged and he explains that it is where he keeps the pill—but the part where he actually swallows it was still deleted. Most stories had multiple parts, but the first four were stand-alones: * "Safe Waif", the pilot, featured a rescue from a bank vault, but no villain. Underdog is shown causing major destruction while trying to help people. * "March of the Monsters", the first appearance of Sweet Polly Purebred, has giant robots running amok. * "Simon Says" is the first appearance of Simon Bar Sinister. "Simon says HOLD IT!" is the maniacal refrain, as Bar Sinister uses a weird camera to turn his victims into full-sized, two-dimensional photographs. * "Tricky Trap by Tap Tap" is the epilogue to the multi-part story "From Hopeless to Helpless" featuring Riff Raff. Reruns of the show aired on

Nickelodeon Nickelodeon (often shortened to Nick) is an American pay television channel which launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children. It is run by Paramount Global through its networks division's Kids and Family Group. It ...

from 1992 to 1994, Cartoon Network from 1996 to 1999, and on

Boomerang A boomerang () is a thrown tool, typically constructed with aerofoil sections and designed to spin about an axis perpendicular to the direction of its flight. A returning boomerang is designed to return to the thrower, while a non-returning ...

from 2002 to 2007. However during its broadcasting on Cartoon Network and Boomerang, two notable episodes, "The Molemen" and "A New Villain", were not included on the channels’ schedule due to depicted dangerous elements subjected within the segments. In 1995, Biggers, Stover, Covington, and Harris (with General Mills) negotiated a sale of their creations to ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock (streaming service), Peacock. ...

'' producer

Lorne Michaels Lorne Michaels (born Lorne David Lipowitz; November 17, 1944) is a Canadian-American producer, screenwriter, and comedian. He is best known for creating and producing ''Saturday Night Live'' (1975–1980, 1985–present) and producing the '' La ...

Broadway Video Broadway Video is an American multimedia entertainment studio founded by Lorne Michaels, creator of the sketch comedy TV series ''Saturday Night Live'' and producer of other television programs and movies. Broadway Video also held the rights to ...

, who later sold the rights to Golden Books. When

Classic Media Classic Media, LLC, doing business as DreamWorks Classics, is an American entertainment company owned by DreamWorks Animation, which is a subsidiary of Universal Pictures and a division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. It was founded as Classic Media ...

took over Golden Books, it acquired the underlying rights to ''Underdog.'' In 2012, Classic Media was sold to DreamWorks Animation, and ultimately became the property of the series' current owners,

Universal Television Universal Television LLC (abbreviated as UTV) is an American television production company that is a subsidiary of Universal Studio Group, a division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. It serves as the network television production arm of NBC; a prede ...

. ''

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corpora ...

'' ranked ''Underdog'' as number 23 on its "50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time" list, IGN ranked it as number 74 on its Best 100 Animated Series list.

Characters

Underdog was an anthropomorphic

dog The dog (''Canis familiaris'' or ''Canis lupus familiaris'') is a domesticated descendant of the wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it is derived from the extinct Pleistocene wolf, and the modern wolf is the dog's nearest living relative. Do ...

superhero. The premise was that "humble and lovable" Shoeshine Boy was in truth the superhero Underdog. George S. Irving narrated and comedy actor

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 superpowers were activated. Underdog almost always spoke in rhyme: :"When Polly's in trouble (''or'' When help is needed), I am not slow, :It's hip-hip-hip and ''AWAY I GO!''" Underdog's most frequent saying when he appeared was: :"There's no need to fear— :''Underdog'' is here!" The majority of episodes used a common template as the final scene. A crowd of people looking up into the sky would say, "Look in the sky!" "It's a plane!" "It's a bird!" After this, a woman wearing glasses would exclaim, "It's a frog!" Another onlooker would respond, "A frog?" To this, Underdog replied with these words: :"Not plane, nor bird, nor even frog, :It's just little old me ...'' t this point, Underdog would crash into something, then sheepishly finish''"Heh-heh-heh. Underdog." Underdog usually caused

collateral damage Collateral damage is any death, injury, or other damage inflicted that is an incidental result of an activity. Originally coined by military operations, it is now also used in non-military contexts. Since the development of precision guided ...

. Whenever someone complained about the damage, Underdog replied: :"I am a hero who never fails; :I cannot be bothered with such details." The villains almost always managed to menace Sweet Polly Purebred (voiced by

Norma MacMillan Norma MacMillan (September 15, 1921 – March 16, 2001) was a Canadian actress, best known for voicing numerous characters in animation and claymation, including Casper the Friendly Ghost on '' The New Casper Cartoon Show'', Gumby on '' The ...

), an anthropomorphic canine TV reporter, as part of their nefarious schemes; she was a helpless damsel in distress most of the time and had a habit of singing, "Oh, where, oh, where has my Underdog gone? Oh, where, oh, where can he be?" She would sing this to the music of the song " Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone" whenever in jeopardy. Recurring villains included: * Simon Bar Sinister, voiced by

Allen Swift Ira Stadlen (January 16, 1924 – April 18, 2010), known professionally as Allen Swift, was an American voice actor, best known for voicing cartoon characters Simon Bar Sinister and Riff-Raff on the ''Underdog'' cartoon show. He took his pro ...

, is a mad scientist with a voice reminiscent of Lionel Barrymore. He is the wickedest man in the world and has an assistant named Cad Lackey. A

bar sinister In heraldry, a bend is a band or strap running from the upper dexter (the bearer's right side and the viewer's left) corner of the shield to the lower sinister (the bearer's left side, and the viewer's right). Authorities differ as to how muc ...

is a diagonal line, running from top right to bottom left on medieval family coats of arms, a symbol that indicates the person is a bastard by birth; this was an inside joke typical of animation writing at the time. * Riff Raff, also voiced by Allen Swift, is an anthropomorphic

wolf The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the gray wolf or grey wolf, is a large canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, and gray wolves, as popularly un ...

gangster A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Most gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from '' mob'' and the suffix '' -ster''. Gangs provide a level of organization and ...

based on noted actor George Raft. His right-hand man is Mooch, while other gang members (seen in one episode each) include Sandy the Safecracker, Spinny Wheels (who drives the gang's getaway car), Dinah Mite (the underworld's greatest bomb tosser), Nails the Carpenter, Needles the Tailor, Smitty the Blacksmith, and the Witch Doctor. Other villains included The Electric Eel (a.k.a. Slippery Eel), Battyman, Tap Tap the Chisler (an evil look-alike of Underdog who does not speak in rhyme), and Overcat. Underdog also regularly faced enemies from alien worlds, such as the Marbleheads from the planet Granite, the Magnet Men of the Magnet Planet, the aliens from the planet Zot, and the Flying Sorcerers of the Saucer Planet. The majority of the ''Underdog'' adventures were presented in the form of four-part serial episodes. Other cartoons, including ''

'' and '' The Hunter'', filled the middle segments. A 1969–1973 NBC run featured all four parts of an ''Underdog'' storyline in one half-hour show. The series was first syndicated in the U.S. in the mid-1960s under the title ''Cartoon Cut-Ups,'' which presented two ''Underdog'' segments along with '' Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales'' and ''

The World of Commander McBragg Commander McBragg is a cartoon character who appeared in short segments (usually 90 seconds) produced by Total Television Productions and animated by Gamma Productions. These segments first appeared in 1963 on the animated series ''Tennessee Tuxedo ...

.'' This package was revised in the 1970s under the ''Underdog Show'' title, now including all 124 ''Underdog'' segments and featuring ''Tennessee Tuxedo,'' ''Commander McBragg,'' ''Go Go Gophers,'' and ''

'' in various episodes. A syndicated package prepared for distribution outside the United States (which also aired on the Boomerang cable network) usually featured two brief ''Underdog'' episodes in a single show along with a wider variety of other Total TV cartoon shorts which appeared between such segments: ''Go Go Gophers,'' '' The King and Odie'', ''Klondike Kat,'' ''Tennessee Tuxedo,'' ''The Hunter,'' ''

Tooter Turtle ''Tooter Turtle'' is a cartoon about a turtle that first appeared on TV in 1960, as a segment of the ''King Leonardo and His Short Subjects'' program. "Tooter Turtle" debuted on NBC, on Saturday, October 15, 1960, and ran for 39 original episodes t ...

'', and ''Commander McBragg.'' On these interstitial cartoons, Tennessee Tuxedo, a penguin, was accompanied by two friends, slow-witted walrus Chumley and Professor Phineas J. Whoopie, "the Man With All The Answers". Tennessee Tuxedo was voiced by

Don Adams Donald James Yarmy (April 13, 1923 – September 25, 2005), known professionally as Don Adams, was an American actor. In his five decades on television, he was best known as Maxwell Smart (Agent 86) in the television situation comedy '' G ...

of ''

Get Smart ''Get Smart'' is an American comedy television series parodying the secret agent genre that had become widely popular in the first half of the 1960s, with the release of the ''James Bond'' films. It was created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, an ...

'' (and later ''

Inspector Gadget ''Inspector Gadget'' is a media franchise that began in 1983 with the DIC Entertainment animated television series '' Inspector Gadget''. Since the original series, there have been many spin-offs based on the show, including additional animated ...

'') fame; the knowledgeable Professor Phineas J. Whoopee was voiced by Larry Storch of ''

F Troop ''F Troop'' is a satirical American television sitcom Western about U.S. soldiers and Native Americans in the Wild West during the 1860s that originally aired for two seasons on ABC. It debuted in the United States on September 14, 1965, and ...

'' fame.

Episodes

;Episode 301 * Underdog #1 ''(Episode 1: Safe Waif)'' (pilot cartoon; no on-screen title shown) * Tennessee Tuxedo #2 ''(The Rain Makers)'' (902, 972) * The Sing-A-Long Family #1 ''(Picnic)'' (''Sing-A-Long Family'' cartoon titles are unofficial and do not appear on screen) (also appears in syndicated shows #328, 355) * Underdog #2 ''(Episode 2: The March Of The Monsters)'' ;Episode 302 * Underdog #3 ''(Episode 3: Simon Says)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #4 ''(Telephone Terrors or Dial M For Mayhem)'' (904, 974) * The Sing-A-Long Family #2 ''(Skating)'' (also appears in syndicated shows #329, 356) * Underdog #32 ''(Episode 4: Tricky Trap By Tap Tap)'' (Note: ''Tricky Trap By Tap Tap'' is the epilogue of the four-episode serial ''From Hopeless To Helpless'', which is featured later in the series in shows #315 and #316.) ;Episode 303 * Underdog #4 ''(Go Snow: Episode 1)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #5 ''(Giant Clam)'' (not ''The Giant Clam Caper'') (905, 975) * The Sing-A-Long Family #3 ''(Fair)'' (also appears in syndicated shows #330, 357) * Underdog #5 ''(Go Snow: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 304 * Underdog #6 ''(Go Snow: Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #6 ''(Tick Tock)'' (906, 976) * Commander McBragg #4 ''(The North Pole)'' * Underdog #7 ''(Go Snow: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 305 * Underdog #8 ''(Zot: Episode 1)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #7 ''(Scuttled Sculptor)'' (907, 977) * Commander McBragg #5 ''(Khyber Pass)'' * Underdog #9 ''(Zot: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 306 * Underdog #10 ''(Zot: Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #8 ''(Snap That Picture!)'' (908, 978) * Commander McBragg #6 ''(Ace Of Aces)'' * Underdog #11 ''(Zot: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 307 * Underdog #12 ''(The Great Gold Robbery: Episode 1)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #9 ''(Zoo's News)'' (909, 979) * Commander McBragg #7 ''(Niagara Falls)'' * Underdog #13 ''(The Great Gold Robbery: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 308 * Underdog #14 ''(The Great Gold Robbery: Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #10 ''(Aztec Antics)'' (910, 980) * Commander McBragg #8 ''(Dodge City Dodge)'' * Underdog #15 ''(The Great Gold Robbery: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 309 * Underdog #16 ''(Fearo: Episode 1)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #11 ''(Coal Minors)'' (not ''Coat Minors'') (911, 981) * Commander McBragg #9 ''(Football By Tex Hex)'' * Underdog #17 ''(Fearo: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 310 * Underdog #18 ''(Fearo: Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #12 ''(Hot Air Heroes)'' (912, 982) * Commander McBragg #10 ''(Rabelasia)'' * Underdog #19 ''(Fearo: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 311 * Underdog #20 ''(The Big Shrink: Episode 1)'' (not ''Shrinking Water'') * Tennessee Tuxedo #13 ''(Irrigation Irritation)'' (913, 983) * Commander McBragg #11 ''(Okefenokee Swamp)'' * Underdog #21 ''(The Big Shrink: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 312 * Underdog #22 ''(The Big Shrink: Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #14 ''(TV Testers)'' (914, 984) * Commander McBragg #12 ''(The Flying Machine)'' * Underdog #23 ''(The Big Shrink: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 313 * Underdog #24 ''(The Bubbleheads: Episode 1)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #15 ''(By The Plight Of The Moon)'' (915, 985) * Commander McBragg #13 ''(The Giant Elephant)'' * Underdog #25 ''(The Bubbleheads: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 314 * Underdog #26 ''(The Bubbleheads: Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #17 ''(Bridge Builders)'' (917, 987) * Commander McBragg #14 ''(The Great Bird)'' (not ''The Giant Bird'') * Underdog #27 ''(The Bubbleheads: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 315 * Underdog #28 ''(From Hopeless To Helpless: Episode 1)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #16 ''(Lever Levity)'' (916, 986) * Commander McBragg #15 ''("Chicago" Mobster)'' * Underdog #29 ''(From Hopeless To Helpless: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 316 * Underdog #30 ''(From Hopeless To Helpless: Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #18 ''(Howl, Howl, The Gang's All Here)'' (918, 988) * Commander McBragg #16 ''(The Monster Bear)'' * Underdog #31 ''(From Hopeless To Helpless: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 317 * Underdog #33 ''(The Witch Of Pickyoon: Episode 1)'' (not ''The Wicked Witch Of Pickyoon'') * Tennessee Tuxedo #19 ''(Sail Ho!)'' (not ''Sail On, Sail On'') (919, 989) * Commander McBragg #17 ''(The Kangaroo)'' * Underdog #34 ''(The Witch Of Pickyoon: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 318 * Underdog #35 ''(The Witch Of Pickyoon: Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #20 ''(Tell-Tale Telegraph)'' (920, 990) * Commander McBragg #18 ''(The Giant Mosquito)'' * Underdog #36 ''(The Witch Of Pickyoon: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 319 * Underdog #37 ''(Weathering The Storm: Episode 1)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #21 ''(Rocket Ruckus)'' (921, 991) * Commander McBragg #19 ''(The Black Knight)'' * Underdog #38 ''(Weathering The Storm: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 320 * Underdog #39 ''(Weathering The Storm: Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #22 ''(All Steamed Up)'' (not ''Getting Steamed Up'') (922, 992) * Commander McBragg #20 ''(The Flying Pond)'' * Underdog #40 ''(Weathering The Storm: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 321 * Underdog #41 ''(The Gold Bricks: Episode 1)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #23 ''(Tale Of A Tiger)'' (923, 993) * Commander McBragg #21 ''(The Old Ninety-Two)'' * Underdog #42 ''(The Gold Bricks: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 322 * Underdog #43 ''(The Gold Bricks: Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #24 ''(Dog Daze)'' (Sequel to ''Tennessee Tuxedo'' #18/''Howl, Howl, The Gang's All Here'') (924, 994) * Commander McBragg #22 ''(Our Man In Manhattan)'' (not ''Secret Agent In New York'') * Underdog #44 ''(The Gold Bricks: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 323 * Underdog #45 ''(The Magnet Men: Episode 1)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #25 ''(Brushing Off A Toothache)'' (925, 995) * Commander McBragg #23 ''(Oyster Island)'' * Underdog #46 ''(The Magnet Men: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 324 * Underdog #47 ''(The Magnet Men: Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #26 ''(Funny Honey)'' (926, 996) * Commander McBragg #24 ''(The Steam Car)'' * Underdog #48 ''(The Magnet Men: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 325 * Underdog #49 ''(The Phoney Booths: Episode 1)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #1 ''(Mixed-Up Mechanics)'' (901, 971) * Commander McBragg #25 ''(Swimming The Atlantic)'' * Underdog #50 ''(The Phoney Booths: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 326 * Underdog #51 ''(The Phoney Booths: Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #3 ''(The Lamplighters)'' (903, 973) * Commander McBragg #26 ''(Fort Apache)'' * Underdog #52 ''(The Phoney Booths: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 327 * Underdog #53 ''(Pain Strikes Underdog: Episode 1)'' * Go Go Gophers #1 ''(Moon Zoom)'' * Klondike Kat #1 ''(Honor At Steak)'' * Commander McBragg #27 ''(The Flying Trapeze)'' * Underdog #54 ''(Pain Strikes Underdog: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 328 * Underdog #55 ''(Pain Strikes Underdog: Episode 3)'' * Go Go Gophers #2 ''(Trojan Totem)'' * Klondike Kat #2 ''(Secret Weapon)'' * The Sing-A-Long Family #1 ''(Picnic)'' (also appears in syndicated shows #301, 355) * Underdog #56 ''(Pain Strikes Underdog: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 329 * Underdog #57 ''(The Molemen: Episode 1)'' * Go Go Gophers #3 ''(Introducing General Nuisance)'' * Klondike Kat #3 ''(The Big Fromage)'' * The Sing-A-Long Family #2 ''(Skating)'' (also appears in syndicated shows #302, 356) * Underdog #58 ''(The Molemen: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 330 * Underdog #59 ''(The Molemen: Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #27 ''(The Treasure Of Jack The Joker)'' (not ''The Treasure Of Jack And The Joker'') (927, 997) * The Sing-A-Long Family #3 ''(Fair)'' (also appears in syndicated shows #303, 357) * Underdog #60 ''(The Molemen: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 331 * Underdog #61 ''(The Flying Sorcerers: Episode 1)'' (not ''The Flying Sorceress'') * Go Go Gophers #4 ''(Gatling Gophers)'' * Klondike Kat #4 ''(Hard To Guard)'' * Commander Mc Bragg #31 ''(Mystifying McBragg)'' * Underdog #62 ''(The Flying Sorcerers: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 332 * Underdog #63 ''(The Flying Sorcerers: Episode 3)'' * Go Go Gophers #5 ''(The Cleveland Indians)'' * Klondike Kat #5 ''(The Candy Mine)'' * Commander Mc Bragg #32 ''(Mammouth Cavern)'' * Underdog #64 ''(The Flying Sorcerers: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 333 * Underdog #65 ''(The Forget-Me-Net: Episode 1)'' * Go Go Gophers #6 ''(Medicine Men)'' * Klondike Kat #6 ''(Rotten To The Core)'' * Commander Mc Bragg #33 ''(The Astronaut)'' (also appears in syndicated show #358) * Underdog #66 ''(The Forget-Me-Net: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 334 * Underdog #67 ''(The Forget-Me-Net: Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #28 ''(Wreck Of A Record)'' (928, 998) * Commander Mc Bragg #34 ''(Dam Break)'' (also appears in syndicated show #359) * Underdog #68 ''(The Forget-Me-Net: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 335 * Underdog #69 ''(Whistler's Father: Episode 1)'' (not ''Guerilla Warfare'') * Go Go Gophers #7 ''(Mesa Mess)'' * Klondike Kat #7 ''(The Trap Baiting)'' (not ''Baiting The Trap'') * Commander Mc Bragg #35 ''(The Eclipse)'' (also appears in syndicated show #360) * Underdog #70 ''(Whistler's Father: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 336 * Underdog #71 ''(Whistler's Father: Episode 3)'' * Go Go Gophers #8 ''(Termite Terror)'' (not ''Termite Trainers'') * Klondike Kat #8 ''(Gravy Train)'' * Commander Mc Bragg #36 ''(Ship Of The Desert)'' (also appears in syndicated show #361) * Underdog #72 ''(Whistler's Father: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 337 * Underdog #73 ''(Simon Says "No Thanksgiving": Episode 1)'' * Go Go Gophers #9 ''(Who's A Dummy)'' * Klondike Kat #9 ''(Cream Puff Buff)'' * Commander Mc Bragg #37 ''(Egypt)'' * Underdog #74 ''(Simon Says "No Thanksgiving": Episode 2)'' ;Episode 338 * Underdog #75 ''(Simon Says "No Thanksgiving": Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #29 ''(Miner Forty-Niner)'' (929, 999) * Commander Mc Bragg #38 ''(The Singing Cowboy)'' * Underdog #76 ''(Simon Says "No Thanksgiving": Episode 4)'' ;Episode 339 * Underdog #77 ''(The Silver Thieves: Episode 1)'' * Go Go Gophers #10 ''(Tapping The Telegraph)'' * Klondike Kat #10 ''(Plane Food)'' * Commander Mc Bragg #39 ''(The Lumberjack)'' * Underdog #78 ''(The Silver Thieves: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 340 * Underdog #79 ''(The Silver Thieves: Episode 3)'' * Go Go Gophers #11 ''(Bold As Gold)'' * Klondike Kat #11 ''(Banana Skinned)'' * Commander Mc Bragg #40 ''(The Bronco Buster)'' * Underdog #80 ''(The Silver Thieves: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 341 * Underdog #81 ''(Riffraffville: Episode 1)'' * Go Go Gophers #12 ''(Up In The Air)'' * Klondike Kat #12 ''(Up A Tree)'' * Commander Mc Bragg #41 ''(Echo Canyon)'' * Underdog #82 ''(Riffraffville: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 342 * Underdog #83 ''(Riffraffville: Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #30 ''(Helicopter Hi-Jinks)'' (930, 1000) * Commander Mc Bragg #42 ''(Tightrope)'' * Underdog #84 ''(Riffraffville: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 343 * Underdog #85 ''(The Tickle Feather Machine: Episode 1)'' * Go Go Gophers #13 ''(The Big Banger)'' * Klondike Kat #13 ''(Pie Fly)'' * Commander Mc Bragg #43 ''(Lake Tortuga)'' * Underdog #86 ''(The Tickle Feather Machine: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 344 * Underdog #87 ''(The Tickle Feather Machine: Episode 3)'' * Go Go Gophers #14 ''(He's For The Berries)'' * Klondike Kat #14 ''(Jail Break)'' * Commander Mc Bragg #44 ''(Coney Island)'' * Underdog #88 ''(The Tickle Feather Machine: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 345 * Underdog #89 ''(Underdog Vs. Overcat: Episode 1)'' (not ''Underdog Vs. Overcoat'') * Go Go Gophers #15 ''(Swamped)'' * Klondike Kat #15 ''(Fort Frazzle Frolics)'' * Commander Mc Bragg #45 ''(Rainbow Island)'' * Underdog #90 ''(Underdog Vs. Overcat: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 346 * Underdog #91 ''(Underdog Vs. Overcat: Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #31 ''(Oil's Well)'' (931, 1001) * Commander Mc Bragg #46 ''(The Insect Collector)'' * Underdog #92 ''(Underdog Vs. Overcat: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 347 * Underdog #93 ''(The Big Dipper: Episode 1)'' * Go Go Gophers #16 ''(Tanks To The Gophers)'' * Klondike Kat #16 ''(Sticky Stuff)'' * Commander Mc Bragg #47 ''(Lost Valley)'' * Tooter Turtle #1 ''(Nusuiance/Subscribe)'' * Underdog #94 ''(The Big Dipper: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 348 * Underdog #95 ''(The Big Dipper: Episode 3)'' * Go Go Gophers #17 ''(Indian Treasure)'' * Klondike Kat #17 ''(Who's A Pill)'' * Commander Mc Bragg #48 ''(The Orient Express)'' * Underdog #96 ''(The Big Dipper: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 349 * Underdog #97 ''(Just In Case: Episode 1)'' * Go Go Gophers #18 ''(The Carriage Trade)'' (not ''The Horseless Carriage Trade'') * Klondike Kat #18 ''(Getting The Air)'' * Commander Mc Bragg #1 ''(Over The Falls)'' * Underdog #98 ''(Just In Case: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 350 * Underdog #99 ''(Just In Case: Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #32 ''(Parachuting Pickle)'' (932, 1002) * Commander Mc Bragg #2 ''(Fish Story)'' * Underdog #100 ''(Just In Case: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 351 * Underdog #101 ''(The Marble Heads: Episode 1)'' * Go Go Gophers #19 ''(Honey Fun)'' * Klondike Kat #19 ''(If I'd-A Known You Was Comin‘)'' * Commander Mc Bragg #3 ''(The Himalayas)'' * Underdog #102 ''(The Marble Heads: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 352 * Underdog #103 ''(The Marble Heads: Episode 3)'' * Go Go Gophers #20 ''(The Colonel Cleans Up)'' * Klondike Kat #20 ''(The Big Race)'' * Commander Mc Bragg #28 ''(Around The World)'' * Underdog #104 ''(The Marble Heads: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 353 * Underdog #105 ''(Simon Says "Be My Valentine": Episode 1)'' * Go Go Gophers #21 ''(The Raw Recruits)'' * Klondike Kat #21 ''(Date On The Desert)'' * Commander Mc Bragg #29 ''(Indianapolis Speedway)'' * Underdog #106 ''(Simon Says "Be My Valentine": Episode 2)'' ;Episode 354 * Underdog #107 ''(Simon Says "Be My Valentine": Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #33 ''(Wish Wash)'' (933, 1003) * Commander Mc Bragg #30 ''(The Rhino Charge)'' * Underdog #108 ''(Simon Says "Be My Valentine": Episode 4)'' ;Episode 355 * Underdog #109 ''(Round And Round: Episode 1)'' * Go Go Gophers #22 ''(Tenshun!)'' * Klondike Kat #22 ''(Klondike Goes To Town)'' * The Sing-A-Long Family #1 ''(Picnic)'' (also appears in syndicated shows #301, 328) * Underdog #110 ''(Round And Round: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 356 * Underdog #111 ''(Round And Round: Episode 3)'' * Go Go Gophers #23 ''(Cuckoo Combat)'' * Klondike Kat #23 ''(Motorcycle Mountie)'' * The Sing-A-Long Family #2 ''(Skating)'' (also appears in syndicated shows #302, 329) * Underdog #112 ''(Round And Round: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 357 * Underdog #113 ''(A New Villain: Episode 1)'' * Go Go Gophers #24 ''(Kitchen Capers)'' * Klondike Kat #24 ''(Island In The Sky)'' * The Sing-A-Long Family #3 ''(Fair)'' (also appears in syndicated shows #303, 330) * Underdog #114 ''(A New Villain: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 358 * Underdog #115 ''(A New Villain: Episode 3)'' * Tennessee Tuxedo #34 ''(Telescope Detectives)'' (934, 1004) * Commander McBragg #33 ''(The Astronaut)'' (also appears in syndicated show #333) * Underdog #116 ''(A New Villain: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 359 * Underdog #117 ''(Batty-Man: Episode 1)'' * Go Go Gophers #25 ''(The Great White Stallion)'' * Klondike Kat #25 ''(The Island Hideout)'' * Commander McBragg #34 ''(Dam Break)'' (also appears in syndicated show #334) * Underdog #118 ''(Batty-Man: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 360 * Underdog #119 ''(Batty-Man: Episode 3)'' * Go Go Gophers #26 ''(Blankety-Blank Blanket)'' * Klondike Kat #26 ''(The Kat Napper)'' * Commander McBragg #35 ''(The Eclipse)'' (also appears in syndicated show #335) * Underdog #120 ''(Batty-Man: Episode 4)'' ;Episode 361 * Underdog #121 ''(The Vacuum Gun: Episode 1)'' * Cauliflower Cabbie ''(Introducing The Champion!)'' * Commander McBragg #36 ''(Ship Of The Desert)'' (also appears in syndicated show #336) * Underdog #122 ''(The Vacuum Gun: Episode 2)'' ;Episode 362 * Underdog #123 ''(The Vacuum Gun: Episode 3)'' * Gene Hattree ''(The Trap)'' * Go Go Gophers #27 ''(The Ironclad)'' (not ''The Unsinkable Iron Clad'') * Underdog #124 ''(The Vacuum Gun: Episode 4)''

Superpowers

When he is not Underdog, he is ''incognito'' as Shoeshine Boy. Like Superman, when trouble calls, he hurriedly dresses in a phone booth (which would inexplicably explode upon his conversion). On occasion, to replenish his powers, he would take an "Underdog Energy Vitamin Pill". This pill was first introduced in episode 9. He keeps one of these pills inside a special ring he wears at all times. (Before taking one, he would often utter the words: "The secret compartment of my ring I fill / With an Underdog Energy Vitamin Pill.") Several episodes, starting with ''RiffRaffville'', show Underdog without his ring and being powerless, since he must take another pill as his super powers begin to fail ("Without my Energy Vitamin Pill / I grow weaker and weaker and weaker still.") and, as a result, he can die; but of course, this being a children's cartoon show, no one actually kills him, even when he is at their mercy. He tells everyone who will listen this secret of his super powers. When the series was syndicated in the 1980s and 1990s, the scenes of him taking his energy pill were edited out. In the recent release ''Underdog: The Ultimate Collection'', the word "Energy" was replaced with "Vitamin". Underdog is shown to have incredible superhuman powers. However, the number and scope of his superpowers are inconsistent from episode to episode, being subject not only to the conventions of superhero comics, but also to the conventions of humorous cartoons. In one episode, he easily moved planets, safely butting against them with his rear end. In another episode, his Super Energy Pill, diluted billions of times when added to a city's water system, was capable of giving normal humans who drank the water enough strength to easily bend thick steel bars. Among his many powers shown on the show are: super strength, super speed, supersonic flight, physical invulnerability, X-ray vision, super breath, cosmic vision, atomic breath, atomizing eyes, heat vision, ultrasonic hearing, a supersonic high-pitch hi-fi voice and a great calculating brain.

Other media

Books and comics

* Underdog has also appeared in one Little Golden Book, ''Underdog and the Disappearing Ice Cream'' in 1975. *

Charlton Comics Charlton Comics was an American comic book publishing company that existed from 1945 to 1986, having begun under a different name: T.W.O. Charles Company, in 1940. It was based in Derby, Connecticut. The comic-book line was a division of Charlton ...

produced a

comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...

that ran 10 issues from July 1970 to January 1972, mainly adapting stories from the cartoon. *

Gold Key Comics Gold Key Comics was originally an imprint of American company Western Publishing, created for comic books distributed to newsstands. Also known as Whitman Comics, Gold Key operated this way from 1962 to 1984. Currently, Gold Key Comics is owned b ...

produced a comic book that ran 23 issues from March 1975 to February 1979. Unlike the Charlton run, these featured original stories. * Spotlight Comics did three issues in 1987. *

Harvey Comics Harvey Comics (also known as Harvey World Famous Comics, Harvey Publications, Harvey Comics Entertainment, Harvey Hits, Harvey Illustrated Humor, and Harvey Picture Magazines) was an American comic book publisher, founded in New York City by A ...

did a one-shot in 1993, and a five-issue series from November 1993 to July 1994. These issues reprinted comics from the Charlton Comics run. * American Mythology Comics produced a comic book that ran four issues from September 2017 to September 2018. It was followed by a ''Halloween ComicFest'' one-shot in 2019 and ''Underdog in Space'' which ran for one issue in 2020. ''Underdog: 1975'' reprinted comics from the Gold Key Comics run.

Theme song

The show is also remembered for its title song, "Underdog," which was arranged and produced by Robert Weitz, with lyrics by Chester Stover,

, Treadwell Covington, and Joseph Harris.CD liner notes: '' Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits'', 1995 MCA Records Several notable covers of the theme song have been made. The original song was sung by Robert Ragaini. He explained, "As a struggling singer in New York, I'd gotten a job singing a theme song for a newly proposed TV cartoon series named 'Underdog." I went to the studio, I think "O.D.O." on West 54th Street, sang as part of the backup group (ah-ooo, ah-ooo), then quickly sang the theme song over the track and left. I remember how pleased I was that I'd taken that mouthful of words and made them understandable. Oh yes, they paid me 50 dollars. No contract - I wasn't yet a member of SAG - and I was thrilled to get it. Until I heard it again, year after year. By then I'd become a successful jingle singer and I knew what I should have been making. When it came out as the music track of a Reebok commercial I filed a claim with the Screen Actors Guild, but of course I had no documentation. A friend did give me an Underdog T-shirt. I wore it once, but when a man I passed on West 14th Street started singing the song, I retired it." * The Butthole Surfers released a version included on the 1995

tribute album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century as individual 78 rpm records c ...

'' Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits'', produced by

Ralph Sall Ralph Sall is an American record producer, music supervisor, composer, songwriter and screenwriter. He is the president of Bulletproof Entertainment, a company involved in several facets of the entertainment industry, including film, television ...

for

MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group. Pre-history MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 w ...

. *

Ted Kooshian Ted Kooshian (born October 8, 1961) is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer who has performed with Aretha Franklin, Chuck Berry, Marvin Hamlisch, Edgar Winter, Sarah Brightman, Il Divo, and Blood, Sweat, and Tears. Kooshian has ...

's Standard Orbit Quartet included the song on their 2009 CD ''Underdog, And Other Stories...'' * An extended '' a cappella'' version was done by

The Blanks The Blanks are an American a cappella group. They were recurring guests on the TV series '' Scrubs'' under various names such as Ted's Band and The Worthless Peons. They have released two albums: '' Riding the Wave'' and ''Worth The Weight.'' ...

on the TV program '' Scrubs'' during the episode titled "My Hero". They later recorded it on their 2004 album '' Riding the Wave''. * The hip hop producer and

Wu-Tang Clan Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop group formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its original members include RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa. Close aff ...

member RZA sampled the show's theme song in the group's 1993 song titled "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuttin To F' Wit," released on their debut album ''

Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) ''Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)'' is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released on November 9, 1993, by Loud Records. Recording sessions took place during late 1992 to early 1993 at Firehouse Studio in New York Ci ...

''. * The ''Underdog'' theme also was used in a commercial for the

Reebok Reebok International Limited () is an American fitness footwear and clothing manufacturer that is a part of Authentic Brands Group. It was established in England in 1958 as a companion company to J.W. Foster and Sons, a sporting goods company ...

ZQuick shoes in 2014.

VHS releases

In 1990, generic company UAV Corp. released Underdog in separate episodes, which went out-of-print in 1995. On June 14, 1996, Sony Wonder released ''Underdog'' on VHS in region 1 in a four-volume collection. These sets were reissued on the same format on September 12, 2000, as each set, especially the DVD versions, included a coupon for the Underdog lithograph by the series’ creator, Joe Harris.

DVD releases

Sony Wonder released ''Underdog'' Collector’s Edition DVD on September 12, 2000, and again on August 6, 2002, which these releases were discontinued in the mid 2000s. On July 24, 2007,

released ''Underdog'' on DVD in region 1 in a three-volume collection, following a previous three-volume set released in the late 1990s. Each volume features six digitally remastered and uncut, original broadcast episodes, each featuring two ''Underdog'' segments alongside additional cartoons from the Total TV library. On February 21, 2012, Shout! Factory (under license from Classic Media) released a 9-disc Complete Series set containing new bonus material, including commentaries. According to Shout! Factory, "they're rebuilding the shows to their original television airing as best as they can".

Film adaptation

In 2005, ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' reported that a live-action ''Underdog'' motion picture was in development. As announced, the story introduces "a diminutive hound named Shoeshine hogets superpowers after a lab accident. When he's adopted by a 15-year-old boy, the two form a bond around the shared knowledge that Shoeshine is really Underdog." Actor

Peter Dinklage Peter Hayden Dinklage (; born June 11, 1969) is an American film, television and stage actor. He received international recognition for portraying Tyrion Lannister on the HBO television series ''Game of Thrones'' (2011–2019), for which he ...

was cast to play Simon Bar Sinister, while Alex Neuberger was cast to play Underdog's human companion, Jack Unger. The movie started filming in

Providence, Rhode Island Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts ...

, in March 2006 and was released on August 3, 2007. The film was distributed by

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, formerly known as Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. until 2007, is an American film distribution studio within the Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution division of The Walt Disney Company. It ha ...

. Shoeshine/Underdog, voiced by Jason Lee, was played by a golden beagle named Leo sporting a red sweater and a blue cape. The film got mostly negative reviews, despite grossing $65.3 million worldwide.

Radio

In 1999, Biggers created a new episode of ''Underdog'' as a half-hour radio show narrated by veteran Boston newsman Tom Ellis with new original music composed by Biggers. Radio stations were asked to participate in Biggers' Victory Over Violence organization by airing the adventure in which the evil Simon Bar Sinister develops a Switchpitch baseball to turn positive people negative. His attempt to become king of Boston is foiled by Underdog (played by Biggers) and Sweet Polly Purebred (portrayed by Nancy Purbeck).

International broadcast

References

External links

''Underdog''
at Don Markstein's Toonopedia
Archived
from the original on September 1, 2015. * * {{Children's programming on NBC in the 1970s 1960s American animated television series 1960s American comic science fiction television series 1970s American animated television series 1970s American comic science fiction television series 1964 American television series debuts 1973 American television series endings American children's animated action television series American children's animated adventure television series American children's animated comic science fiction television series American children's animated superhero television series Animated television series about dogs Parody superheroes NBC original programming CBS original programming General Mills Gold Key Comics titles Charlton Comics titles Harvey Comics titles Superhero comics Adventure comics Children's comics Humor comics Total Television Dog superheroes Television shows adapted into comics Television series by Universal Television DreamWorks Classics Television shows about drugs American superhero comedy television series English-language television shows