Rocko's Modern Life: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
ClueBot NG (talk | contribs) m Reverting possible vandalism by 50.99.136.158 to version by Fat&Happy. False positive? Report it. Thanks, ClueBot NG. (913366) (Bot) |
No edit summary Tag: blanking |
||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
| website = http://www.joemurraystudio.com |
| website = http://www.joemurraystudio.com |
||
}} |
}} |
||
the story of the finale of 101 Lucas Saylor's features the adventure of Paul Lama and Julio Lee retuning home with a retuning home adventure song of the tune of the ending of Blue Eyes by Elton John. and they returned home and sees the adventures of an [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] wallaby named [[Rocko]], said to the puppies of Paul Lama Julio Lee and Rocko the anthropomorphic wallaby said 101 and Lucas Saylor's where did they all come from Wow is there adventure!!! where did they all come from said Rocko he anthropomorphic wallaby and The Stepmother Mr. McKnight said |
|||
NOT FOR TOO LONG WKIPEDIA I AM CLOSING YOUR ACCOUNT!!!!! |
|||
'''''Rocko's Modern Life''''' is an [[animated series]] created by [[Joe Murray (animator)|Joe Murray]]. The show aired for four seasons between 1993 and 1996 on [[Nickelodeon]]. ''Rocko's Modern Life'' is based around the [[surreal humour|surreal]], [[Parody|parodic]] adventures of an [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] wallaby named [[Rocko]], and his life in the city of O-Town. Originally from Australia, the show explores his American life as well as the lives of his friends: the gluttonous steer [[Heffer Wolfe|Heffer]], the neurotic turtle [[Filburt]], and Rocko's faithful dingodog, [[Spunky]]. The show is laden with adult humor, including [[double entendre]]s, [[innuendo]]s, and [[satirical]] social commentary. |
|||
Joe Murray initially created the title character for an unpublished comic book series in the late 1980s, and later reluctantly pitched the series to Nickelodeon, who was looking for edgier cartoonists for their new [[Nicktoons]] block. The network gave the staff of the program a large amount of creative freedom, the writers targeting both children and adults. The show's animation's stylistically features crooked architecture. In addition, Murray picked a large amount of newcomer voice actors, such as [[Tom Kenny]] and [[Carlos Alazraqui]], who have in recent years gone on to become very popular. The show was the fourth Nicktoon to premiere. |
|||
Produced by [[Games Animation]] and Joe Murray Productions, the show premiered on September 18, 1993 and ended on November 24, 1996. After the show's completion, much of the staff regrouped to work on ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'', created by producer [[Stephen Hillenburg]]. ''Rocko's Modern Life'' generally received positive reviews during its original broadcast run and in recent years has seen renewed praise for sophisticated and subversive humor. The series also has over time developed a devoted following of fans, making many commentators deem it a [[Cult following|cult television show]]. |
|||
==History== |
|||
Originally, the character appeared in an unpublished comic book titled ''Travis''. Murray tried selling the comic book in the late 1980s, between illustrating jobs, and did not find success in getting it into production. Many other characters appeared in various sketchbooks. He described the early 1990s animation atmosphere as "ripe for this kind of project. We took some chances that would be hard to do in these crappy times (the 1990s)".<ref name="MurrayRockoHome"> |
|||
"[http://web.archive.org/web/20110206001351/http://www.joemurraystudio.com/tv/rocko.shtml Rocko's Modern Life]," ''[[Joe Murray (animator)|Joe Murray]] Studio'' |
|||
</ref> Murray wanted funding for his independent film ''My Dog Zero'', so he wanted Nickelodeon to pre-buy television rights for the series. He presented a pencil test to [[Nickelodeon (TV network)|Nickelodeon]], which afterward became interested in buying and financing the show. Murray had never worked in television before.<ref name="harrington"/> The industry was coming out of a "[[Animation in the United States in the television era#Commercialization and counterculture|rough period]]" and Murray wanted to "shake things up a bit."<ref name="awn"/> |
|||
[[Linda Simensky]], then in charge of animation development in Nickelodeon, described the [[Nicktoons]] lineup and concept to Murray. He originally felt skepticism towards the concept of creating a Nicktoon as he disliked television cartoons. Simensky told him that Nicktoons differed from other cartoons. He then told her that he believed that ''My Dog Zero'' would not work as a cartoon. He then researched Nickelodeon at the library and found that Nickelodeon's "attitude was different than regular TV."<ref name="TrainorMurray"/> The cable network providers were "making their own rules": for example, Murray stated that he "didn't write for children," which the executives were fine with.<ref name="podcast"/> Murray was unsure at first, but was inspired by independent animation around him, such as Animation Celebration and [[MTV]]'s ''[[Liquid Television]]'', and gave the network a shot.<ref name="podcast"/> At the time, Nickelodeon was selling itself as a network based as much around edge as around kids’ entertainment. It aimed to appeal to college students and parents as much as children.<ref name="theavclub"/> |
|||
Murray developed the Rocko character after visiting a zoo in the [[San Francisco Bay Area|Bay Area]] and coming across a wallaby that seemed to be oblivious to the chaos around him.<ref name="awn"/> Murray combed through his sketchbooks, developed the ''Rocko's Modern Life'' concept, and submitted it to Nickelodeon, believing that the concept would likely be rejected. Murray felt they would not like the pilot, and he would just collect his sum and begin funding his next independent film.<ref name="podcast"/> According to Murray, around three or four months later he had "forgotten about" the concept and was working on ''My Dog Zero'' when Simensky informed him that Nickelodeon wanted a pilot episode. Murray said that he was glad that he would get funding for ''My Dog Zero''.<ref name="TrainorMurray"> |
|||
"[http://www.title14.com/rocko/contributors/murray.html Lisa (Kiczuk) Trainor interviews Joe Murray, creator of Rocko's Modern Life]," ''The Rocko's Modern Life FAQ''</ref> On his website he describes ''My Dog Zero'' as "that film that Linda Simensky saw which led me to Rocko."<ref> |
|||
"[http://web.archive.org/web/20100309032237/http://www.joemurraystudio.com/indie/indie.shtml Independent Filmwork]," ''[[Joe Murray (animator)|Joe Murray]] Studio'' |
|||
</ref> "Sucker for the Suck-O-Matic" was originally written as the pilot; the executives decided that [[Heffer Wolfe]], one of the characters, would be "a little too weird for test audiences." Murray, instead of removing Heffer from "Sucker for the Suck-O-Matic," decided to write "Trash-O-Madness" as the pilot episode.<ref name="TrainorMurray"/> |
|||
In the original series pilot, Rocko was colored yellow. His color was changed when a toy merchandising company informed Nick they were interested in marketing dolls but did not want to market Rocko because "They already had a yellow character." Murray changed Rocko's color to beige, and after the pilot aired, the company opted out of producing toys for the series. When the series was in development prior to the release of the first episode, the series had the title ''The Rocko Show''.<ref name="Sumares"> |
|||
"[http://www.title14.com/rocko/unknowns/ A Bit of Trivia From Paul Sumares]," ''The Rocko's Modern Life FAQ'' |
|||
</ref> |
|||
In 1992, two months prior to the production of season 1 of ''Rocko's Modern Life'', Murray's first wife committed suicide.<ref> |
|||
[http://web.archive.org/web/20080629041444/http://joemurraystudio.com/blog/?p=135 June 16, 2008]." ''Joe Murray Studio''. |
|||
</ref> Murray had often blamed his wife's suicide on the show being picked up. He said "It was always an awful connection because I look at Rocko as such a positive in my life."<ref name="Oct172010">"[http://joemurraystudio.com/blog/?p=2482 October 17, 2010]." Joe Murray Studio. Retrieved on October 26, 2010. "I often directly blamed my wife’s suicide in 1992 on Rocko getting picked up ( it happened as we were preparing to start production of the series.)"</ref> Murray felt that he had emotional and physical "unresolved issues" when he moved to [[Los Angeles]]. He describes the experience as like participating in "marathon with my [[trousers|pants]] around my [[ankles]]." Murray initially believed that he would create one season, move back to the [[San Francisco Bay Area]], and "clean up the loose ends I had left hanging." Murray said that he felt surprised when Nickelodeon approved new seasons;<ref name="TrainorMurray"/> Nickelodeon renewed the series for its second season in December 1993.<ref name="Brandweek"> |
|||
Warner, Fara. "Nick Rock(o)s Liscencing Boat." ''[[Brandweek]]''. Volume 35, Issue 5. January 31, 1994. |
|||
</ref> |
|||
After season 3 he decided to hand the project to [[Stephen Hillenburg]], who performed most work for season 4; Murray continued to manage the cartoon.<ref name="TrainorMurray"/> He said that he would completely leave the production after season 4. He said also that he encouraged the network to continue production, but Nickelodeon eventually decided to cancel the series. He described all fifty-two episodes as "top notch", and in his view the quality of a television show may decline as production continues "when you are dealing with volume."<ref name="TrainorMurray"/> On his website he said that, "In some ways it succeeded and in some ways failed. All I know it developed its own flavor and an equally original legion of fans."<ref name="MurrayRockoHome"/> In a 1997 interview Murray said that he at times wondered if he could re-start the series; he feels the task would be difficult.<ref name="TrainorMurray"/> |
|||
==Production== |
|||
{{quote box |width=30em | bgcolor=transparent |align=right |quote=I think what set the [1990's] apart was the fact that the climate was ripe for people taking chances and doing different things. Both Nick and [[Cartoon Network]] were able to invest on people who had nothing to lose. Of course, the result of that was that there was a big explosion in the scene. There were big successes—like that [[SpongeBob SquarePants (character)|yellow sponge]] that popped up in a big way—and with that success came another era where people aren’t apt to take as many chances because the stakes are too high.|salign=right|source=—Series creator [[Joe Murray (animator)|Joe Murray]] in 2011, on being a part of the creative animation scene in the early 1990s.<ref name="awn">{{cite web |url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/people/joe-murray-looks-back-at-rockos-modern-life/|title=Joe Murray Looks Back at ''Rocko's Modern Life''|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=Ramin Zahed|publisher=''[[Animation Magazine]]''|date=July 12, 2011}}</ref>}} |
|||
The show was jointly produced between [[Games Animation]] and Joe Murray Productions. Since Nickelodeon did not have an animation studio, that had to contract out to other studios. After incidents with ''[[The Ren & Stimpy Show]]'' creator [[John Kricfalusi]], Nickelodeon began to not trust its creators as much and began to form its own studio - Games Animation.<ref name="podcast"/> However, Murray recalls that they were still able to get a lot done independently. Murray has likened the independence to that of "Termite Terrace" ([[Warner Bros. Cartoons]]) from the 1930s. As Nickelodeon began to have more and more success with its animation cartoons, Murray said the "Termite Terrace" mentality was not working as much.<ref name="podcast"/> Producer Mary Harrington made the move from New York City to Los Angeles to set up Games Animation, in order to produce ''Rocko's Modern Life''. The crew first began production on the show in January 1993.<ref name="harrington">{{harvnb|Neuwirth|2003|p=252}}</ref> ''Rocko's Modern Life'' was Nickelodeon's first in-house animated production.<ref name="harrington"/> |
|||
Murray's Joe Murray Productions and [[Games Animation]] rented office space on [[Ventura Boulevard]] in the [[Studio City, Los Angeles, California|Studio City]] neighborhood of the [[San Fernando Valley]] region of [[Los Angeles]], [[California]].<ref> |
|||
"[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PBPB&p_theme=pbpb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF863BDBA876E0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Animators Feel Free With `Rocko']." ''[[The Palm Beach Post]]'' |
|||
</ref> The production moved to a different office building on Vineland Avenue in Studio City. Executives did not share space with the creative team.<ref name="October242008"> |
|||
"[http://joemurraystudio.com/home/characters-2/ October 24, 2008]." ''Joe Murray Studio''. Retrieved October 24, 2008.</ref><ref name="Where"> |
|||
"[http://web.archive.org/web/20100523061318/http://www.joemurraystudio.com/tv/rocko_factoid5.shtml Where Rocko the series was produced]," ''[[Joe Murray (animator)|Joe Murray]] Studio'' |
|||
</ref> Murray rented a floor in the [[Writers Guild of America, West]] building, although the team of Rocko was not a part of the union, which the staff found ironic.<ref name="podcast">{{cite podcast|url=http://talltalefeatures.com/2011/07/09/episode-124-joe-murray/|title=Episode 124 - Joe Murray |website=talltalefeatures.com |publisher=Tall Tale Radio |host=Tom Racine |date=July 9, 2011 |accessdate=July 19, 2011 }}</ref> [[Sunwoo]], and later [[Rough Draft Studios]], assembled the animation.<ref name="FurnissRoughDraft"> |
|||
[[Maureen Furniss|Furniss, Maureen]]. ''Art in Motion: Animation Aesthetics''. ''[[Indiana University Press]]''. [http://books.google.com/books?id=aQ4mrirF5nkC&pg=PA66&dq=Rocko%27s+Modern+Life&lr=&sig=7NiWtolL90TNGYyoU3eXilMAZyI 66]. |
|||
</ref> According to Murray, as ''Rocko's Modern Life'' was his first television series, he did not know about the atmosphere of typical animation studios. Murray said that he opted to operate his studio in a similar manner to the operation of his [[Saratoga, California|Saratoga]], [[California]] studio, which he describes as "Very relaxed."<ref name="TrainorMurray"/> His cadre included many veterans who, according to him, described the experience as "the most fun they had ever had!" He, saying that the atmosphere was "not my doing," credited his team members for collectively contributing.<ref name="TrainorMurray"/> Murray described the daily atmosphere at the studio as "very loose," adding that the rules permitted all staff members to use the paging system to make announcements. He stated that one visitor compared the environment of the production studio to "[[preschool]] without supervision."<ref name="October242008"/><ref name="Where"/> Murray stated that 70 people in the United States and over 200 people in [[South Korea]] animated the series.<ref name="TrainorMurray"/> |
|||
Rick Bentley of the ''[[Ventura County Star]]'' said that it was unusual for a cartoon creator to select a wallaby as a main character. Bentley also stated that the Rocko universe was influenced by "everything from [[Looney Tunes]] to [[underground comics]]."<ref name="Bentley">Bentley, Rick. "[http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/14/rocko-the-wallaby-as-145modern-as-ever/ Rocko the wallaby as 'Modern' as ever]." ''[[Ventura County Star]]''. July 14, 2011. Retrieved on July 17, 2011.</ref> The staff of the show were fans of outrageous comedy, both animated and not animated. Tom Kenny cited ''Looney Tunes'' and ''[[Second City Television|SCTV]]'' as influences for the show, and also stated "I'm sure if you asked Joe Murray or Mr. Lawrence or any of those guys, especially in terms of animation, the weirdest cartoons would of course be our favorites—those weird ‘30s [[Fleischer Studios|Fleischer brothers]] ''[[Betty Boop]]'' cartoons and stuff like that."<ref name="tv.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/rockos-modern-life-is-finally-out-on-dvd-we-chat-with-the-voice-of-heffer-about-the-classic-90s-series/story/26091.html|title=''Rocko's Modern Life'' Is Finally Out on DVD; We Chat with the Voice of Heffer About the Classic '90s Series|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=Louis Peitzman|publisher=[[TV.com]]|date=June 20, 2011}}</ref> |
|||
Murray produced the pilot episode, "Trash-O-Madness", at his studio in Saratoga; he animated half of the episode, and the production occurred entirely in the United States, with animation in Saratoga and processing in [[San Francisco]].<ref> |
|||
"[http://web.archive.org/web/20100523061442/http://www.joemurraystudio.com/tv/rocko_factoid4.shtml How the Pilot was produced]," ''Joe Murray Studio'' |
|||
</ref> While directing during recording sessions, Murray preferred to be on the stage with the actors instead of "behind glass" in a control room, which he describes as "the norm" while making animated series.<ref name="RockoArchivesMurray"> |
|||
"[http://web.archive.org/web/20100513025535/http://www.joemurraystudio.com/tv/rocko_archives.shtml Rocko's Modern Life Archives]," ''[[Joe Murray (animator)|Joe Murray]] Studio'' |
|||
</ref> He believes that, due to his lack of experience with children, ''Rocko's Modern Life'' "skewed kind of older."<ref name="CNMurrayInterview"> |
|||
"[http://web.archive.org/web/20080131191907/http://turnerinfo.turner.com/presskititem.aspx?P=CARTOON&CID01=98376fcf-3e6c-44a0-aae0-9e41e16079ef&CID02=a97e4cd3-7a0b-4b0c-b126-1a03a9c9ca06 Q & A with Joe Murray]," ''[[Cartoon Network (United States)|Cartoon Network]] Pressroom'' |
|||
</ref> Murray noted, "There's a lot of big kids out there. People went to see '[[Roger Rabbit]]' and saw all these characters they'd grown up with and said, 'Yeah, why don't they have something like that anymore?'"<ref> |
|||
Zimmerman, Kevin. "Not just for uglys anymore." ''[[Daily Variety]]''. March 23, 1995. |
|||
</ref> When he began producing ''Rocko'', he says that his experience in independent films initially led him to attempt to micromanage many details in the production. He said that the approach, when used for production of television shows, was "driving me crazy." This led him to allow for other team members to manage aspects of the ''Rocko's Modern Life'' production.<ref name="CNMurrayInterview"/> Director and later creative director Stephen Hillenburg met Murray at an animation film festival where he was showing his three short films. Murray hired Hillenburg as a director on the series, making Hillenburg's first job in the animation business as a director.<ref>{{cite book|last=Neuwirth |first=Allen|title=Makin' Toons: Inside the Most Popular Animated TV Shows and Movies|year=2003|publisher=Allworth Press|location=New York City|isbn=978-1581152692|page=50}}</ref> |
|||
Murray designed the logo of the series. He said that, after his design drifted from the original design, Nickelodeon informed Murray of how it intended the logo to look like. Murray also designed the covers of the comic book, the VHS releases, and the recent DVD releases.<ref>"[http://joemurraystudio.com/860/december-8-2012/ December 8, 2011]." Joe Murray Studio. Retrieved on December 16, 2011.</ref> |
|||
===Writing style=== |
|||
The writers aimed to create stories that they describe as "strong" and "funny." The writers, including [[George Maestri]] and [[Martin Olson]], often presented ideas to Murray while eating [[hamburgers]] at Rocky's, a restaurant formerly located on Lankershim in the [[North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California|North Hollywood]] section of the San Fernando Valley. He took his team members on "writing trips" to places such as Rocky's, the [[LaBrea Tar Pits]], and the wilderness. If he liked the story premises, the writers produced full outlines from the premises. Outlines approved by both him and Nickelodeon became ''Rocko's Modern Life'' episodes. Maestri describes some stories as originating from "real life" and some originating from "thin air."<ref> |
|||
"[http://www.title14.com/rocko/contributors/maestri.html Lisa (Kiczuk) Trainor interviews George Maestri, story writer for Rocko's Modern Life]," ''The Rocko's Modern Life FAQ'' |
|||
</ref><ref> |
|||
"[http://www.title14.com/rocko/contributors/martin.html Lisa (Kiczuk) Trainor interviews Martin Olson, writer for Rocko's Modern Life]," ''The Rocko's Modern Life FAQ'' |
|||
</ref> Murray stated that each episode of ''Rocko's Modern Life'' stemmed from the personal experiences of himself and/or one or more of the directors or writers.<ref name="TrainorMurray"/> He said that he did not intend to use formulaic writing seen in other cartoons; he desired content that "broke new ground" and "did things that rode the edge," and that could be described as "unexpected." He did not hire writers who had previous experience with writing cartoons, instead hiring writers who worked outside of animation, including improv actors and comic artists. He said that story concepts that "ever smacked close to some formula idea that we had all seen before" received rejection.<ref name="WackyRockoDesignProcess"> |
|||
"[http://joemurraystudio.com/blog/?p=223#comments August 15, 2008 Excerpt from my new book “Crafting A Cartoon”; From a chapter on “Story”.]." ''Joe Murray Studio''. Retrieved August 18, 2008.</ref> |
|||
Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, a storyboard writer, says that writers of ''Rocko's Modern Life'' targeted children and adults. He cites ''[[Rocky and Bullwinkle]]'' as an example of another series that contains references indecipherable by children and understood by adults. Aiming for a similar goal, Marsh described the process as "a hard job." According to him, when censors questioned proposed material, sometimes the team disagreed with the opinions of the censors and sometimes the team agreed with the rationale of the censors. He says that "many people" told him that the team "succeeded in this endevour" {{Sic}} and that "many parents I know really enjoyed watching the show with their kids for just this reason."<ref name="Marsh"> |
|||
"[http://www.title14.com/rocko/contributors/interview.html Dan Abrams' interview with Jeff "Swampy" Marsh]," ''The Rocko's Modern Life FAQ'' |
|||
</ref> John Pacenti said the series "seems very much aimed at adults" "for a children's' cartoon."<ref> |
|||
"[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB04E82739E0935&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Nickelodeon's `Rocko' Revels In Dysfunction]." ''[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]'' |
|||
</ref> Marsh believes that the material written by [[Doug Lawrence]] stands as an example of a "unique sense of humor." For instance, Marsh credits Lawrence with the "[[pineapple]] references" adding that Lawrence believed that pineapples seemed humorous.<ref name="Marsh"/> The staff drew upon ''Looney Tunes'' and the [[Fleischer Studios|Fleischer cartoons]] to appeal to wide demographic: having a certain adult sensibility but also enjoyed by kids.<ref name="tv.com"/> |
|||
===Animation style=== |
|||
''Rocko's Modern Life'' has been described as similar to that of the output of Warner Bros Cartoons in the Golden Age: a visually driven show heavy on humor, sight gags, and good animation. Instead of a finished script, the animators usually received a three-page outline, requiring them to come up with a majority of the gags and dialogue. The animation team appreciated this approach, with storyboard artist Jeff Myers, formerly of ''[[The Simpsons]]'', quoted as saying "The script [at ''The Simpsons''] was carved in stone. Here it's […] more of a challenge and a lot more fun when we're given a rough outline."<ref name="lewiston">{{cite web |url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/04/rockos_modern_life_coming_to_d.html|title=Cartoon creators relax the rules|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=Christopher Gessel|publisher=''[[Lewiston, Idaho|Lewiston Morning Tribune]]''|date=September 11, 1993}}</ref> Murray's animation lacked parallel lines and featured crooked architecture similar to various [[Chuck Jones]] cartoons. In an interview he stated that his design style contributed to the show's "Wonky bent feel."<ref name="TrainorMurray"/> Jean Prescott of ''[[The Sun Herald]]'' described the series as "squash-and-stretch."<ref> |
|||
Prescott, Jean. "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BX&s_site=sunherald&p_multi=BX&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB624033690585A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Rocko and the Gang Take On Pollution]." ''[[The Sun Herald]]''. Page M28. April 19, 1996. |
|||
</ref> A 1993 ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' article described the series' setting as having a "reality that is 'squashed and stretched' into a twisted version of real life."<ref> |
|||
"[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1154116 Cartoon choices to animate the mornings]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. September 18, 1993. |
|||
</ref> The background staff hand-painted backgrounds with Dr. Martin Dyes,<ref name="RockoArchivesMurray"/> while each episode title card consisted of an original painting.<ref name="RockoArchivesMurray"/> [[Linda Simensky]] said that she asked the creators of ''Rocko's Modern Life'' about why the women in the series were drawn to be "top-heavy," the creators told her that they believed that drawing women "the traditional way" was easier. Simensky described the creators as "talented guys" who formed "a boy's club" and added that "we pushed them to be funny, but a lot of their women are [[stereotypical]]."<ref> |
|||
[[Maureen Furniss|Furniss, Maureen]]. ''Art in Motion: Animation Aesthetics''. ''[[Indiana University Press]]''. [http://books.google.com/books?id=aQ4mrirF5nkC&pg=RA2-PA240&dq=Rocko+cartoon&lr=&sig=yBazOcnam1xNXnEQ2jcpLYaBubI 240]. |
|||
</ref> |
|||
===Music=== |
|||
There are 3 versions of the ''Rocko's Modern Life'' theme song. The first and original version can be heard playing throughout season one and was composed by [[Pat Irwin]], who also composed the series' background music. The second version of the theme song was a slightly remixed version of the first and was only used during episodes 8 and 9 of season one. One of the changes included high pitched voices added to the chorus. The third version of the theme song was performed by [[Kate Pierson]] and [[Fred Schneider]] from [[The B-52s]]. They performed the ''Rocko's Modern Life'' theme song from Season 2 onwards. |
|||
At first Murray wanted Paul Sumares to perform the theme song since Sumares created most of the music found in ''My Dog Zero.'' Murray wanted the same style in ''My Dog Zero'' exhibited in ''Rocko's Modern Life''. Nickelodeon wanted a person with more experience.<ref name="Sumares"/> According to Sumares, believing for the request to be a long shot, Murray asked for [[Danny Elfman]] and felt stunned when Nickelodeon decided to honor his request by asking Elfman to perform.<ref name="Sumares"/> According to Murray, Elfman, his first choice, was booked. Therefore he chose the B-52's, his second choice.<ref name="Sumares"/> According to Sumares Murray decided to use the B-52's instead of Elfman. Murray states that the difference between the stories "could just be a recollection conflict, because Paul is a brilliant amazing guy."<ref name="Sumares"/> Murray also sought [[Alan Silvestri]]. According to Sumares Viacom did not want to use Silvestri as the organization wanted a band "slightly older kids could identify with."<ref name="Sumares"/> |
|||
Pat Irwin, a veteran of many bands, including the New York-based instrumental group the Raybeats, and, a side gig, the B-52s, spent five years as a music director on the series. Leading a six-piece combo, Irwin brought together musicians such as trombonist Art Baron and drummer Kevin Norton.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Goldmark |first1=Daniel |last2=Taylor |first2=Yuval|title=The Cartoon Music Book|year=2002|publisher=Chicago Review Press|location=Chicago|isbn=978-1556524738|page=206}}</ref> |
|||
==Plot== |
|||
{{Main|List of Rocko's Modern Life episodes}} |
|||
{{Refimprove section|date=December 2008}} |
|||
The plot follows the life of a [[wallaby]], [[Rocko]], who has immigrated to America from Australia. In America, he is faced with various problems and challenges involving his pals who try to teach him what it means to be a good friend. |
|||
Many of the locations in the television show ''Rocko's Modern Life'' have the letter "O" for example O-Town and Conglom-O. When asked about the use of "O" in his show Murray said, |
|||
{{quote|I always got a big kick out of the businesses that were 'House-O-Paint', or 'Ton-O-Noodles', because their names seemed to homogenize what they sold, and strip the products of true individuality and stress volume ... and we all know, the American dream is volume! So what better company to create volume than 'Conglom-O', and since a majority of the town worked at Conglom-O, it should be called 'O' Town. I also wanted the town to be 'anytown' USA, and I used to love sports players with a big ZERO on their back. It was funny to me.<ref name="TrainorMurray"/>}} |
|||
The plot locations included the following: |
|||
* O-Town is the town in which Rocko lives, apparently located near the Great Lakes. |
|||
* Chokey Chicken is a favorite restaurant/hang-out place for Rocko, [[Heffer Wolfe|Heffer]], and [[Filburt]]. At some point during the fourth season the restaurant was renamed "Chewy Chicken" due to the former name referring to a euphemism for [[masturbation]] (i.e., "choking the chicken"), though earlier episodes continued to air with the "Chokey Chicken" name. It's a parody of [[KFC]]. |
|||
* Conglom-O Corporation is the biggest company in town; it even runs City Hall. Mr. Dupette, who has very peculiar ways to see if the employees are fit to work there, manages Conglom-O. Conglom-O does not seem to have a specific purpose or product—it is a giant company that manufactures many products. Conglom-O's slogan is always shown beneath its name. The slogan is "We own you," revealing in a later musical episode that they own everything in O-Town. When Ed Bighead was shown to work at Conglom-O in 1961, the slogan stated "We Will Own You" (alluding to the future of [[megacorporation]]s). The illustration that appears with the logo and on top of the official Conglom-O Corp. skyscraper is a [[martini glass]] with the [[earth]] in place of an [[olive]]. |
|||
* [[Hell|Heck]] is where "bad people" go when they die. Run by Peaches, it is where Heffer is doomed to eternal suffering. |
|||
* Holl-o-Wood is a town that resembles the [[Hollywood]] section of [[Los Angeles]], [[California]]. |
|||
* Kind of a Lot O' Comics is a [[comic book]] store where Rocko works. His boss, Mr. Smitty, is a cruel toad who only concentrates on selling comics. Rocko, however, is very nice and giving. For example, when a customer sneezed all over a comic, Rocko gave him a fresh copy and did not charge him for the previous comic. |
|||
==Characters== |
|||
{{Main|List of Rocko's Modern Life characters}} |
|||
All the characters in the ''Rocko's Modern Life'' series are animals. There is a wide range of species, and the vast majority of them are also mentally unstable. Murray said that he matched personalities of his characters to the various animals in the series to form a "social [[caricature]]".<ref name="CNMurrayInterview"/> [[Rocko]], the protagonist, is a wallaby who encounters various dilemmas and situations regarding otherwise mundane aspects of life. His best friend [[Heffer Wolfe]] is fat and enthusiastic cow, while [[Filburt]] the turtle often feels uncomfortable or disturbed. |
|||
* [[Carlos Alazraqui]] as the voice of Rocko, Spunky, Leon Chameleon, Squirmy The Ringworm and Granny Rocko. |
|||
* [[Tom Kenny]] as the voice of [[Heffer Wolfe]], Chuck Chameleon, Mr. Smitty, Really Really Big Man, Bloatman "Bloaty" Tick, Peaches, Heffbert Turtle, Rocko's singing voice, Filbert's singing voice, and various males |
|||
* [[Doug Lawrence|Mr. Lawrence]] as the voice of [[Filburt Turtle]], Shellbert Turtle, and Peter Wolfe |
|||
* [[Linda Wallem]] as the voice of Dr. Paula Hutchison, Mrs. Virginia Wolfe, Grandma Wolfe, Cindy Wolfe, Tammy the Pig, Missy Turtle, Karen Chicken, Winifred Wolfe, Judge, Nurse Tammy Mouse, Miss Pancreas, Claudette, Elkie, Queen Marie Antoinette, and various females |
|||
* [[Charlie Adler]] as the voice of [[Ed Bighead]], [[Bev Bighead]], Gladys The Hippo Lady, Mr. George Wolfe, Grandpa Wolfe, Mr. Dupette, Mr. and Mrs. Fathead and various males |
|||
* [[Joe Murray (animator)|Joe Murray]] as the voice of himself and Ralph Bighead |
|||
<!--No need to list other characters - see above --> |
|||
==Crew== |
|||
<div style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;"> |
|||
Murray selected several newcomer voice actors for the roles.<ref name="Bentley"/> |
|||
* [[Joe Murray (animator)|Joe Murray]]: creator, executive producer, writer, story editor (Seasons 1–3) |
|||
* [[Andy Houts]]: project coordinator |
|||
* [[Stephen Hillenburg]]: producer, storyboard director, writer, creative director |
|||
* [[Derek Drymon]]: storyboard artist, writer |
|||
* [[Doug Lawrence]]: storyboard director, writer |
|||
* [[Dan Povenmire]]: storyboard director, writer |
|||
* [[Jeff "Swampy" Marsh|Swampy Marsh]]: storyboard director, writer |
|||
* [[Timothy Berglund]] (aka Timothy Björklund): storyboard director, writer |
|||
* [[Martin Olson]]: writer |
|||
* [[George Maestri]]: writer |
|||
* Kevin Stalker: writer |
|||
* [[Gary Conrad]] and [[Merriwether Williams]]: writer |
|||
* [[Vince Calandra]]: writer |
|||
* [[Tim Hill]]: story editor (on Season 4 only) |
|||
* [[Mark O'Hare]]: storyboard artist |
|||
* [[Steven E. Gordon]]: storyboard artist |
|||
* Robert Hughes: animation director |
|||
* Antoine Guilbaud: storyboard artist |
|||
* [[Tom Yasumi]]: animation timer, animation director |
|||
* [[Danny Antonucci]]: storyboard artist |
|||
* Jeff Myers: storyboard director |
|||
* Kevin O' Brien: storyboard artist |
|||
* Joe Suggs: storyboard artist |
|||
* [[Conrad Vernon]]: storyboard artist |
|||
* Bert Ring: storyboard artist |
|||
* Nathan Clark: animation timer |
|||
* [[Alan Smart]]: animation director |
|||
* George Chilatas: animation director |
|||
* Nick Jennings: storyboard artist |
|||
* [[Pete Michels]]: animation director |
|||
* [[Chris Savino]]: animation artist |
|||
* [[Howy Parkins]]: animation director |
|||
* Roger Chiassen: writer/storyboard director |
|||
* Robert McNally Scull: writer/storyboard artist |
|||
* [[Pat Irwin]]: music composer |
|||
===Writers=== |
|||
* [[Tim Hill]]: 36 episodes, 1994–1996 |
|||
* [[Martin Olson]]: 33 episodes, 1993–1996 |
|||
* [[George Maestri]]: 32 episodes, 1993–1996 |
|||
* [[Stephen Hillenburg]]: 27 episodes, 1993–1996 |
|||
* [[Mark O'Hare]]: 25 episodes, 1993–1996 |
|||
* [[Robert McNally-Scull]]: 24 episodes, 1993–1996 |
|||
* [[Joe Murray (animator)|Joe Murray]]: 23 episodes, 1993–1995 |
|||
* [[Jeff "Swampy" Marsh]]: 23 episodes, 1993–1996 |
|||
* [[Jeff Meyer (writer)|Jeff Meyer]]: 22 episodes, 1993–1996 |
|||
* [[Dan Povenmire]]: 22 episodes, 1993–1996 |
|||
* [[Doug Lawrence]]: 20 episodes, 1993–1995 |
|||
* [[Timothy Berglund]]: 18 episodes, 1993–1995 |
|||
* [[Vince Calandra]]: 13 episodes, 1993–1994 |
|||
* [[Derek Drymon]]: 7 episodes, 1996 |
|||
* [[Rob Porter]]: 7 episodes, 1996 |
|||
* [[John McIntyre (cartoonist)|John McIntyre]]: 6 episodes, 1996 |
|||
* [[Roger Chiasson]]: 4 episodes, 1993 |
|||
* [[Nick Jennings]]: 4 episodes, 1993 |
|||
* [[Kevin O'brian]]: 3 episodes, 1993 |
|||
* [[Ron Hauge]]: 3 episodes, 1993 |
|||
* [[Don Spencer]]: 3 episodes, 1993 |
|||
* [[Conrad Vernon]]: 2 episodes, 1993 |
|||
* [[Carlos Alazraqui]]: 2 episodes, 1994–1995 |
|||
* [[Nichole Poinski]]: 1 episode, 1993 |
|||
* [[Raymond Johnson]]: 1 episode, 1993 |
|||
* [[Joe D. Suggs]]: 1 episode, 1993 |
|||
* [[Andy Houts]]: 1 episodes, 1993 |
|||
* [[Veronica Alicino]]: 1 episode, 1996 |
|||
* [[Antoine Guilbaud]]: 1 episode, 1996 |
|||
</div> |
|||
==Reception== |
|||
Murray said that the cartoon "resonated" with people because the scenarios depicted in the cartoon involving "the neurosis, the daily chores of everyday life" were based on Murray's own experiences "breaking out into the world" after leaving school.<ref> |
|||
"[http://joemurraystudio.com/blog/?p=1072 June 3, 2009]." Joe Murray Studio Blog. Retrieved on June 5, 2009. |
|||
</ref> The show was first debuted in a preview on September 18, 1993, and officially premiered the following morning, to join Nickelodeon's Sunday morning animation block.<ref name="newsday">{{cite web |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/103138532.html?dids=103138532:103138532&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+12%2C+1993&author=By+Diane+Werts.+STAFF+WRITER&pub=Newsday+(Combined+editions)&desc=FALL+PREVIEW+Cornucopia+of+Cable&pqatl=google|title=Fall Preview: Cornucopia of Cable|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=Diane Werts|publisher=''[[Newsday]]''|date=September 12, 1993}}</ref> On September 18, the series' first night of airing, ''Rocko's Modern Life'' received a 3.0 in ratings. By January 31, 1994 the series' audience grew by 65%.<ref name="Brandweek"/> ''Rocko's Modern Life'', was at the time the network's highest-rated cartoon launch ever.<ref name="billboard">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=wgsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA80&dq=Rocko's+Modern+Life&hl=en&ei=VfYnTvOmFqjjiAKYhOWUBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDsQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=Rocko's%20Modern%20Life&f=false|title=Kid Vid, Old and New|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=Catherine Cella|publisher=''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''|date=February 18, 1995}}</ref> There was a brief period in 1993 when the network received numerous complaints from members of a religious group that ''Ren & Stimpy'' and ''Rocko's Modern Life'' were too adult-oriented to be shown to kids on Sunday mornings. They wanted the shows moved to a different time slot. The network was polite but did not make the programming change.<ref>{{cite book|last=Cohen |first=Karl F.|title=Forbidden Animation: Censored Cartoons And Blacklisted Animators in America|year=1998|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|isbn=978-1581152692|page=152}}</ref> |
|||
Initial reviews of ''Rocko's Modern Life'' were positive. ''[[The Miami Herald]]'' ran an article about series that were "rais[ing] the standards for children's programming," singling out ''Rocko's Modern Life'' as "definitely worth a look."<ref name="miamiherald">{{cite web |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4CE5129AEE122&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Look Out, Ren: ''Rocko'' is Hopping Our Way|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=|publisher=''[[The Miami Herald]]''|date=September 17, 1993}}</ref> Jennifer Mangan of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' likened the series to ''[[The Simpsons]]'', noting the show as another example of [[adult animation]] that is "not for kids."<ref name="chicagotribune">{{cite web |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24266418.html?dids=24266418:24266418&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+03,+1993&author=Jennifer+Mangan.+Special+to+the+Tribune.&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=`MODERN+LIFE'+NOT+MEANT+FOR+KIDS&pqatl=google|title=''Modern Life'' Not Meant for Kids|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=Jennifer Mangan|publisher=''[[Chicago Tribune]]''|date=November 3, 1993}}</ref> ''[[Newsday]]'' highlighted the show's "twisted sight gags.<ref name="newsday"/> Ted Drozdowski of ''[[The Boston Phoenix]]'' stated in the "Eye pleasers" article that he enjoyed ''Rocko's Modern Life'' because of "jovial excitement," "good-hearted outrage," "humanity," and "pushy animated characterizations."<ref> |
|||
"[http://thephoenix.com/archive/tv/97/05/TEN_REASONS.html Eye pleasers]," ''[[The Boston Phoenix]]''. May 8–15, 1997. Retrieved on March 1, 2009. |
|||
</ref> However, not all reviews were positive. Ken Tucker of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' described the series as "a witless rip-off of ''[[Ren & Stimpy]]'': [[mucus]] jokes without the redeeming surrealism or contempt for authority."<ref name="KenTurnerEntertainmentWeekly">Tucker, Ken. "[http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,302711,00.html Turn the Beat 'Around]." ''[[Entertainment Weekly]].'' June 17, 1994. Issue 227. 40. 2p, 5c. |
|||
</ref> Charles Solomon of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' called the series "rock bottom" and a "tasteless attempt to capture the ''Ren & Stimpy'' audience," mostly expressing displeasure at the crass humor.<ref name="latimes">{{cite web |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/60384454.html?dids=60384454:60384454&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+18%2C+1993&author=CHARLES+SOLOMON&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=TV+REVIEWS+New+Cartoon+Series+Mostly+Copycats&pqatl=google|title=New Cartoon Series Mostly Copycats|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=Charles Solomon|publisher=''[[Los Angeles Times]]''|date=September 18, 1993}}</ref> |
|||
''Common Sense Media'' reviewer Andrea Graham, whose review is posted on [[Go.com]], describes Rocko's Modern Life as "somewhat edgy" and gave the series four out of five stars. Graham also warned parents to watch for "[[innuendos]]."<ref> |
|||
"[http://family.go.com/entertainment/article-csm-80290-television-review--rocko-s-modern-life-t/ TV Review: Rocko's Modern Life]," ''Common Sense Media'' on [[Go.com]]</ref> |
|||
===Awards=== |
|||
Timothy J. Borquez, Patrick Foley, Michael Giesler, Michael A. Gollorn, William B. Griggs, Tom Jeager, Gregory LaPlante, Timothy Mertens, and Kenneth Young of ''Rocko's Modern Life'' received a 1993 [[Daytime Emmy Award]] for "Outstanding Film Sound Editing."<ref> |
|||
''Chase's Annual Events'' (1995). Published 1994. ISBN 0-8092-3634-6. [http://books.google.com/books?id=_-5OAAAAMAAJ&q=Rocko's+Modern+Life&dq=Rocko's+Modern+Life&pgis=1 515]. |
|||
</ref> |
|||
[[George Maestri]] was nominated for a [[CableACE Award]] for his ''Rocko's Modern Life'' writing.<ref> |
|||
"[http://www.peachpit.com/authors/bio.aspx?a=d8dc09dc-d7c3-4e83-b0f0-f01e1af54d77&rll=1 George Maestri]." ''Peachpit Press''. Retrieved on March 1, 2009. |
|||
</ref><ref> |
|||
[[George Maestri|Maestri, George]]. "[http://art.ju.edu/billhill/teach/cma/walk.pdf Learning to Walk]." ''[[Jacksonville University]]''. April 1997. Retrieved on March 1, 2009. |
|||
</ref> |
|||
The series won an [[Environmental Media Awards|Environmental Media Award]] in 1996 for the episode "Zanzibar!".<ref> |
|||
"[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/16444859.html?dids=16444859:16444859&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Oct+15%2C+1996&author=ART+BERMAN&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Arts+and+entertainment+reports+from+The+Times%2C+national+and+international+news+services+and+the+nation%27s+press.&pqatl=google Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation's press.]." ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. October 15, 1996. Retrieved June 20, 2008.</ref> The award was accepted by the episode's writers, [[Dan Povenmire]] and [[Jeff "Swampy" Marsh]], future creators of the hit Disney animated series,"''[[Phineas and Ferb]]''" .<ref> |
|||
{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0693933/awards|title=Dan Povenmire awards|work=[[Internet Movie Database]]|accessdate=July 1, 2009}} |
|||
</ref> |
|||
==Broadcast history== |
|||
''Rocko's Modern Life'' aired on [[Nickelodeon (TV network)|Nickelodeon]] from 1993 until 2004. The show was briefly syndicated to local stations by Nickelodeon during 1995 and 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugratonline.com/time9095.htm |title=The Rugrats Timeline - 1990 to 1995 |publisher=Rugratonline.com |date=1994-06-18 |accessdate=2011-08-23}}</ref> |
|||
In the summer of 2006, ''Rocko's Modern Life'' came back to [[Nickelodeon (United States)|Nickelodeon]] as part of the [[Nick Rewind]] block. Reruns of ''Rocko's Modern Life'' currently air on [[Nicktoons Network|Nicktoons TV]] and Nick Canada. In New Zealand ''Rocko's Modern Life'' is still aired on Nickelodeon and has been in the past by both [[TV2 (New Zealand)|TV2]] and [[TV3 (New Zealand)|TV3]]. |
|||
[[MTV]] picked up ''Rocko's Modern Life'' from sister station Nickelodeon in early 1994 in an attempt to lure ''[[Beavis and Butt-head]]'' viewers.<ref name="KenTurnerEntertainmentWeekly"/> In [[Malaysia]] ''Rocko's Modern Life'' aired in ''[[MetroVision]]'' around 1997.<ref> |
|||
Proctor, Melanie. "TV bonanza for children." ''[[New Straits Times]]''. May 29, 1996. Arts Section, Page 3. |
|||
</ref> |
|||
In the early 2000s (decade) Nickelodeon Japan marketed the show along with ''[[The Ren and Stimpy Show]]''.<ref> |
|||
"[http://web.archive.org/web/20031214022409/www.nickjapan.com/nick_tvshow/ren_rocko.html Ren and Stimpy and Rocko's Modern Life]" as of December 14, 2003. ''[[Nickelodeon Japan]]''. Retrieved on March 1, 2009. |
|||
</ref> |
|||
In Australia, it was shown on Nickelodeon in the late 1990s and there have been reruns of episodes late at night throughout the years. The show was also shown on ABC Kids during the early 2000s (decade).<ref>"[http://web.archive.org/web/20100120124614/http://www.abc.net.au/abckids/shows/prog136.htm Rocko's Modern Life]." ''ABC Kids''. Retrieved October 4, 2008. |
|||
</ref> It was also shown on [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] channel ICTV: [http://ictv.ua/ether/40607/ Rocko's Modern Life on ICTV]. ''Rocko's Modern Life'' was one of the seminal premieres on [[Nickelodeon (Canada)|Nickelodeon Canada]], the network's Canadian extension launched in November 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2204|title=Nickelodeon Canada Ready for Launch|accessdate=July 18, 2011 |author=Aaron H. Bynum|publisher=Animation Insider|date=September 30, 2009}}</ref> |
|||
''Rocko's Modern Life'' aired as a part of [[The '90s Are All That]] on [[TeenNick]] from September 5, 2011-September 23, 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/19/arts/television/teennicks-90s-nostalgia-fest.html?_r=1|title=The Good Ol’ Days of 20 Years Ago|accessdate=July 19, 2011 |author=Brian Stelter|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|date=July 18, 2011}}</ref> |
|||
==Legacy== |
|||
The fourth Nicktoon to debut, ''Rocko’s'' boasts a sizable cult fan-base to this day.<ref name="theavclub"/> Tom Kenny cited ''Rocko's Modern Life'' as vital in him learning how to do voiceover for animation. He recalled that seeing Charlie Adler have a two-way conversation with himself as the Bigheads without any edits was "dazzling."<ref name="tv.com"/> It was a very early job for [[Mr. Lawrence]]. |
|||
Many members of the ''Rocko's Modern Life'' staff have, in recent years, gone on to become incredibly successful. Stephen Hillenburg later went on to pitch a new series to Nickelodeon in 1998, regarding which Murray said "If it goes well, it'll be a blessing to us all."<ref name="TrainorMurray"/> The network bought the pitch and ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'' premiered the following year, becoming an enormous popular, critical and financial success. Hillenburg stated that he "learned a great deal about writing and producing animation for TV" from his time on ''Rocko's Modern Life'' and noted that "a lot of people came off of ''Rocko'' that work on ''SpongeBob''." Tom Kenny, who voiced Heffer Wolfe, performs the voice of the title character, SpongeBob.<ref name="harvard">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2004/11/19/sponge-creator-talks-bob-whats-the/?print=1|title=''Sponge'' Creator Talks Bob|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=Alexandra B. Moss|publisher=''[[The Harvard Crimson]]''|date=November 19, 2004}}</ref> Two writers for the series, [[Dan Povenmire]] and [[Jeff "Swampy" Marsh]], went on to create ''[[Phineas and Ferb]]'' for the [[Disney Channel]]; the show became a ratings success and received numerous award nominations.<ref name="victoria">{{cite web |url=http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2009/apr/06/bc-tv-phineasferbfr-_-entertainment-1250-words/?entertainment|title=Ex-writers for ''Rocko's Modern Life'' return to TV with ''Phineas and Ferb''|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=Rick Bentley|publisher=''[[The Victoria Advocate]]''|date=April 6, 2009}}</ref> When Murray returned with a new animated series, ''[[Camp Lazlo]]'', in 2005, much of the former staff of ''Rocko's Modern Life'' joined him.<ref name="CNMurrayInterview"/> Murray stated that "We always kept in touch and they told me to look them up if I ever did another project," adding that the crew already knew his sensibilities and an extra decade worth of experience. Carlos Alazraqui, who played Rocko, also ended up playing the main character of Lazlo.<ref name="CNMurrayInterview"/> [[Derek Drymon]] and Nick Jennings, both part of the staff, went on to be responsible for the tone and visual looks of a lot of very successful animated series that came later.<ref name="tv.com"/> |
|||
In recent years, the show has seen renewed acclaim. Brahna Siegelberg of ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'' said that the aspect that was most compelling was that the show had "a really poignant critique of the materialist demands of American life." She added that she "realized that ''Rocko'' was really a show about how to navigate the adult world; one that could be appreciated by kids for its slapstick humor and absurdity, but had even more to say to young adults—like me."<ref>Siegelberg, Brahna, "[http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2011/07/01/revisiting_rocko_s_modern_life_through_shout_factory_s_season_on.html "Rocko's Modern Life": A Really Funny Kid’s Cartoon about Capitalism]." ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]''. Friday July 1, 2011. Retrieved on July 18, 2011.</ref> [[IGN]] called the show a prime example of the "sophisticated, intelligent brand of children's programming" during Nickelodeon's golden age.<ref name="ign">{{cite web |url=http://dvd.ign.com/articles/116/1160386p1.html|title=''Rocko's Modern Life'' Unfolds|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=David McCutcheon|publisher=IGN|date=April 7, 2011}}</ref> ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' also called the show "one of the best series" from that era, praising the show's "impressive commitment to expressive character acting, well-drawn sight gags, and cartoony jokes that play with the form’s slapstick strengths."<ref name="theavclub">{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/rockos-modern-life-season-one,58490/|title=''Rocko's Modern Life'': Season One|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=Todd VanDerWerff|publisher=''[[The A.V. Club]]''|date=July 6, 2011}}</ref> ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' compared the series' humor, in retrospect, to that of ''[[Office Space]]'' (1999) and praised the subversive, anti-corporate stories.<ref name="nymag">{{cite web |url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/04/rockos_modern_life_coming_to_d.html|title=''Rocko's Modern Life'' Coming to DVD|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=|publisher=''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]''|date=April 8, 2011}}</ref> |
|||
==Censorship== |
|||
''Rocko's Modern Life'' has been noted for its racy humor.<ref name="dvdreview"/> Adults made up more than one-fifth of the audience for the show during its run.<ref name="king">{{cite web |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sun_sentinel/access/14714450.html?dids=14714450:14714450&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+29%2C+1997&author=SCOTT+MOORE+The+Washington+Post&pub=South+Florida+Sun+-+Sentinel&desc=CARTOON+KINGDOM+TV+EXECUTIVES+SEE+ANOTHER+ANIMATION+REVIVAL+IN+THE+EARLY+SUCCESS+OF+FOX'S+KING+OF+THE+HILL.&pqatl=google|title=Cartoon Kingdom|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=Scott Moore|publisher=''Sun Sentinel''|date=March 29, 1997}}</ref> The series contained numerous adult innuendos, such as Rocko's brief stint as a telephone operator: the instructions on the wall behind him helpfully remind all employees to "Be Hot, Be Naughty, and Be Courteous" while he flatly repeats "Oh baby" into the receiver.<ref name="cracked">{{cite web |url=http://www.cracked.com/article_18672_the-6-creepiest-things-ever-slipped-into-childrens-cartoons_p2.html|title=The 6 Creepiest Things Ever Slipped Into Children's Cartoons|accessdate=July 20, 2011|author=Anthony Scibelli|publisher=''[[Cracked (magazine)|Cracked]]''|date=August 6, 2010}}</ref> Joe Murray noted that the season one segment "Leap Frogs" received "some complaints from some parents," leading to Nickelodeon banning the episode from air for the rest of the show's run.<ref name="behindthecharacters">{{cite video| people = Joe Murray | title =Rocko's Modern Life: Season Two Special Features: Behind the Characters with Joe Murray - The Bigheads | medium = DVD| publisher = Shout! Factory | date = 2012 }}</ref> In "The Good, the Bad and the Wallaby", Heffer encounters a milking machine and finds pleasure, although only his reactions are shown onscreen.<ref name="verbicide">{{cite web |url=http://www.verbicidemagazine.com/2011/04/25/top-six-adult-jokes-hidden-in-childrens-cartoons/|title=Top Six Adult Jokes Hidden in Children’s Cartoons|accessdate=July 20, 2011|author=Jackson Ellis|publisher=''[[Verbicide Magazine]]''|date=April 25, 2011}}</ref> According to writer/director Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, the scene was originally supposed to have hearts appearing in Heffer's eyes at the climactic moment. Sure it wasn't going to make it, they described the scene to Nickelodeon censors anyway: "We described the scene, and then waited for the axe to fall, but all they said was 'can you change the hearts to stars?', we said sure, and it went in." The scene, as well as a scene showing Heffer's break-up with the machine, were later removed.<ref name="censoredrocko">{{cite web |url=http://my.ohio.voyager.net/~otown/censored.htm|title=Censored Rocko!|accessdate=July 20, 2011|author=|publisher=|date=December 3, 1997}}</ref> |
|||
There were at least two occurrences of immediate censorship of the series. The original broadcast of the segment "Road Rash" featured a scene in which Rocko and Heffer stop at a seedy motel (the "No-Tell Motel") advertising "hourly rates" and ask the oriental-horse desk clerk for a room, who implies the two will be engaging in intercourse: "All night? [whistles] Wheeeooo! Okay."<ref name="verbicide"/><ref name="censoredrocko"/> The first airing of "Hut Sut Raw" included a scene in which Rocko is picking berries; upon picking one lower on the bush, a bear rushes out whimpering and grasping his crotch.<ref name="cracked"/> Both scenes were edited by Nickelodeon after their first broadcasts and are the only instances of censorship on the season two DVD, released in 2012. In addition, the restaurant named "Chokey Chicken" (a term for masturbation) was renamed "Chewy Chicken" for the series' fourth season.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web |url=http://www.verbicidemagazine.com/2011/04/25/top-six-adult-jokes-hidden-in-childrens-cartoons/|title=Top Six Adult Jokes Hidden in Children’s Cartoons|accessdate=July 20, 2011|author=|publisher=''Verbicide'' Magazine|date=April 25, 2011}}</ref> As the series entered reruns after cancellation, more scenes were cut. The entire episode "Leap Frogs", in which Bev Bighead attempts to seduce Rocko, was skipped.<ref name="censoredrocko"/> |
|||
When Shout! Factory announced a retail release for the series' first season, there were concerns on whether Nickelodeon would allow Shout! to release the series complete with some of the racier humor that the network eventually cut out for reruns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Rockos-Modern-Life-Season-1-Box-Art/15126 |title=Rocko's Modern Life DVD news: Box Art for Rocko's Modern Life - Season 1 |publisher=TVShowsOnDVD.com |date= |accessdate=2011-08-23}}</ref> During production, Shout! Factory only received materials from sources that were edited for broadcast.<ref name="dvdreview"/> In the end, both scenes from "The Good, the Bad and the Wallaby" appeared censored.<ref name="dvdreview">{{cite web |url=http://www.screenjunkies.com/tv/review-tv/dvd-review-rockos-modern-life/|title=DVD Review: ''Rocko's Modern Life''|accessdate=July 20, 2011|author=Joseph Gibson|publisher=ScreenJunkies|date=June 17, 2011}}</ref><ref name="dvdtalk"/> |
|||
==Home Releases/DVD Releases== |
|||
Fans have requested that Nickelodeon produce a [[DVD]] collection of the series for years. Murray has often got e-mails from fans, and his top question was "When will ''Rocko'' be on DVD?"<ref name="podcast"/> Prior to the official DVD releases, Murray stated that he had not heard of any plans for a DVD release and that there are several illegal DVD releases of the series sold on [[eBay]]. He commented, "But at least someone is trying to give Rocko fans what they want. Because Nickelodeon sure isn't doing it."<ref> |
|||
"[http://web.archive.org/web/20080113233738/http://www.joemurraystudio.com/bio/answers.shtml Answers to Frequently Asked Questions]," ''[[Joe Murray (animator)|Joe Murray]] Studios'' (January 2008 archive) |
|||
</ref> Murray worked with his legal team to regain the rights, so that an official DVD can be released.<ref> |
|||
{{cite web|url=http://joemurraystudio.com/blog/?p=165|title=Joe Murray's Journal entry for July 17, 2008|publisher=Joe Murray Studios}} |
|||
</ref> |
|||
The first home video release of the series in the United States was in February 1995, when selected episodes were released on [[VHS]] by [[Sony Wonder]].<ref> |
|||
"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-16707048.html New video releases for children.(Originated from Knight-Ridder Newspapers)]." ''Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service'' |
|||
</ref> Sony Wonder used ''Rocko's Modern Life'', alongside releases from ''Ren & Stimpy'' and ''[[Are You Afraid of the Dark?]]'', as "leading brands" in order for the company to break into the market.<ref name="sonywonder">{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/16/arts/home-video-751195.html|title=Home Video|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=Peter M. Nichols|publisher=''The New York Times''|date=June 16, 1995}}</ref> [[Paramount Home Entertainment]] later re-released the tapes in 1997 and 1998.<ref name="paramountvhs">{{cite web |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4EA8704D68E64&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Rocko's Video Rolls In Its Obscurity|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=Doug Wagner|publisher=''Rocky Mountain News''|date=February 6, 1998}}</ref><ref name="paramountvhs1">{{cite web |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ADHB&p_theme=adhb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED0289547E1BB11&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=''Rugrats'' Rolls Out 5 Cartoons On Video|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=Jeff Tuckman|publisher=''Daily Herald''|date=February 19, 1998}}</ref> |
|||
In July 2008, ''Rocko's Modern Life'' was added to the [[iTunes Store]] as a part of the "[[Nickelodeon Rewind|Nick Rewind]]" collection, in four "Best of" volumes.<ref name="b&c">{{cite web |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/114797-Nickelodeon_Adding_Classics_to_iTunes.php|title=Nickelodeon Adding Classics to iTunes|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=Alex Weprin|publisher=''[[Broadcasting & Cable]]''|date=July 29, 2008}}</ref> Eventually, in August 2008, Nickelodeon joined forces with [[CreateSpace]], part of the [[Amazon.com]] Inc. group of companies, to make a number of animated and live-action shows available on DVD, many for the first time. The DVDs were published via CreateSpace DVD on Demand, a service that manufactures discs as soon as customers order them on Amazon.com. ''Rocko's Modern Life'' was available in two "Best of" collections, released September 5, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Site-News-Nickelodeon-Amazon-CreateSpace/10375 |title=Amazon and Nickelodeon/Paramount Strike Deal for Burn-on-Demand Titles |accessdate=August 24, 2008 |work=David Lambert |publisher= |date=August 21, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="am">{{cite web |url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/home_entertainment/nick-amazon-strike-dvd-deal/|title=Nick, Amazon Strike DVD Deal|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=Ryan Ball|publisher=''[[Animation Magazine]]''|date=August 25, 2008}}</ref> |
|||
All four seasons are available in streaming format on [[Netflix]]. |
|||
In March 2011, Shout Factory announced that they were going to release Season 1 in an official box set on June 21, 2011. The two-disc set received relatively positive reviews, only receiving criticism for video quality and the lack of bonus features.<ref name="dvdtalk">{{cite web |url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/48573/rockos-modern-life-season-1/|title=''Rocko's Modern Life'': Season One|accessdate=July 19, 2011|author=Randy Miller III|publisher=[[DVDTalk]]|date=June 26, 2011}}</ref> According to Joe Muarry's website, he has struck a deal with Shout! Factory to create the artwork for the Season 2 set and special features are still pending.<ref>[http://joemurraystudio.com/ Joe Murray Studio | The creator/producer of Rocko's Modern Life on Nickelodeon and Camp Lazlo on Cartoon Network. Creative storyteller, artist, author, speaker and teacher<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Season 2 was released in a 2 disc set on February 7, 2012.<ref>[http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Rockos-Modern-Life-Season-2/16173 Rocko's Modern Life DVD news: Announcement for Rocko's Modern Life - Season 2 | TVShowsOnDVD.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
|||
{| class="wikitable" |
|||
!Shout Factory Releases!! style="text-align:center;"| Release Date!!Discs!!| Episodes |
|||
|- |
|||
|Season 1||June 21, 2011||align="center"|2||align="center"|13 |
|||
|- |
|||
|Season 2||February 7, 2012||align="center"|2||align="center"|13 |
|||
|- |
|||
|Season 3||August 21, 2012||align="center"|2||align="center"|13 |
|||
|- |
|||
|Season 4||January, 2013||align="center"|2||align="center"|13 |
|||
|} |
|||
{| class="wikitable" style="float: center; " |
|||
|- |
|||
!DVD name!! style="text-align:center;"| Release date!!Discs!![[List of Rocko's Modern Life episodes|Episodes]]!!Cover art |
|||
|- |
|||
| Best of...<br/>Volume 1 || November 16, 2008 || style="text-align:center;"|2 || |
|||
;Disc 1 |
|||
:Episode 1a – "Carnival Knowledge" (June 12, 1993) |
|||
:Episode 1b – "Sand In The Navel" (June 12, 1993) |
|||
:Episode 2a – "A Sucker for the Suck-O-Matic" (July 1, 1993) |
|||
:Episode 2b – "Canned" (July 1, 1993) |
|||
:Episode 3a – "Rocko's Happy Sack" (July 16, 1993) |
|||
:Episode 3b – "Flu-in-u-enza" (July 16, 1993) |
|||
;Disc 2</u> |
|||
:Episode 4a – "Who's For Dinner" (August 20, 1993) |
|||
:Episode 4b – "Love Spanked" (August 20, 1993) |
|||
:Episode 5a – "Clean Lovin" (August 21, 1993) |
|||
:Episode 5b – "Unbalanced Load" (August 21, 1993) |
|||
: Episode 6a – "Leap Frogs" (September 22, 1993) |
|||
: Episode 6b – "Bedfellows" (September 22, 1993) |
|||
|<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:51YSdphdOfL SS500 .jpg|150px]] --> |
|||
|- |
|||
| Best of...<br/>Volume 2 || December 12, 2008 || style="text-align:center;"|2 || |
|||
;Disc 1 |
|||
: Episode 7a – "No Pain, No Gain" (March 2, 1993) |
|||
: Episode 7b – "Who Gives A Buck?" (March 2, 1993) |
|||
: Episode 8a – "Jet Scream" (February 12, 1993) |
|||
: Episode 8b – "Dirty Dog" (February 12, 1993) |
|||
: Episode 9a – "Keeping Up with the Bigheads" (March 6, 1993) |
|||
: Episode 9b – "Skid Marks" (March 6, 1993) |
|||
;Disc 2 |
|||
: Episode 10a – "The Good, The Bad, and the Wallaby" (October 23, 1993) |
|||
: Episode 10b – "Trash-O-Madness" (April 22, 1993) |
|||
: Episode 11a – "Power Trip" (May 1, 1993) |
|||
: Episode 11b – "To Heck and Back" (May 1, 1993) |
|||
: Episode 12a – "Spitballs" (November 23, 1993) |
|||
: Episode 12b – "Popcorn Pandemonium" (November 23, 1993) |
|||
: Episode 13a – "Cabin Fever" (December 31, 1993) |
|||
: Episode 13b – "Rinse And Spit" (December 31, 1993) |
|||
|<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:61GbkDiPH4L SS500 .jpg|150px]] --> |
|||
|- |
|||
| Best of...<br/>Volume 3 || October 24, 2009 || style="text-align:center;"|2 || |
|||
;Disc 1 |
|||
: Episode 14a – "Hair Licked" (March 2, 1994) |
|||
: Episode 14b – "The Lounge Singer" (March 2, 1994) |
|||
: Episode 15a – "She's the Toad" (March 23, 1994) |
|||
: Episode 15b – "Boob Tubed" (March 23, 1994) |
|||
: Episode 16a – "Commuted Sentence" (April 21, 1994) |
|||
;Disc 2 |
|||
: Episode 16b – "Hut Sut Raw" (April 21, 1994) |
|||
: Episode 17a – "Kiss Me I'm Foreign" (April 21, 1994) |
|||
: Episode 18 – "Cruisin' (Parts 1-2)" (May 2, 1994) |
|||
: Episode 19a – "Born to Spawn" (July 6, 1994) |
|||
: Episode 19b – "Uniform Behavior" (July 6, 1994) |
|||
: Episode 20a-20b – "Gutter Balls" (August 24, 1994) |
|||
| |
|||
|} |
|||
==Marvel Comics series== |
|||
During [[Tom DeFalco]]'s Editor-in-Chief career, [[Marvel Comics]] produced a seven-issue [[comic book]] series based on the television series.<ref> |
|||
"[http://books.google.com/books?id=YfFeHAAACAAJ&dq=Rocko%27s+Modern+Life Rocko's Modern Life]" Information, ''[[Google Books]]'' |
|||
</ref> Marvel published the series from June 1994 to December 1994 with monthly releases. |
|||
[[Nickelodeon]] approached Marvel, asking the company to produce comic book series for ''Rocko's Modern Life'' and ''[[Ren and Stimpy]]''. Marvel purchased the license for Rocko from Nickelodeon. The staff created the comics, and Susan Luposniak, a Nickelodeon employee,<ref name="LetterToEditor3"> |
|||
"That's Life," ''Rocko's Modern Life''. [[Marvel Comics]]. Volume 1, Issue 3. |
|||
</ref> examined the comics before they were released.<ref name="LetterstoEditor4"> |
|||
"That's Life," ''Rocko's Modern Life''. [[Marvel Comics]]. Volume 1, Issue 4. |
|||
</ref> Joe Murray said in a December 2, 2008 blog entry that he drew some of the pages in the comic book series.<ref> |
|||
"[http://web.archive.org/web/20090330000746/http://joemurraystudio.com/blog/?p=671 December 2, 2008]." ''Joe Murray Studio''. Retrieved December 4, 2008.</ref> |
|||
The comics contain stories not seen in the television show. In addition, the comic book series omits some television show characters and places, while some original places and characters appear in the comics. [[John Lewandowski|John "Lewie" Lewandowski]] wrote all of the stories except for one; [[Joey Cavalieri]] wrote "Beaten by a Club," the second story of Issue #4. |
|||
Troy Little, a resident of [[Monroe, Oregon]], wrote to Marvel requesting that the title for the comic's [[comic book letter column|letters column]] should be "That's Life." In Issue 3, published in August 1994, the editors decided to use the title for the comic's "Letters to the Editor" section.<ref name="LetterToEditor3"/><ref name="LetterstoEditor4"/> In Issue 5, published in October 1994, the editors stated that they still received suggestions for the title for the comic even though the editors had decided on using "That's Life" by Issue 3.<ref> |
|||
"That's Life," ''Rocko's Modern Life''. [[Marvel Comics]]. Volume 1, Issue 5. |
|||
</ref> |
|||
==Merchandise== |
|||
By January 31, 1994 Nickelodeon received ten "licensing partners" for merchandise for the series.<ref name="Brandweek"/> [[Hardee's]] distributed ''Rocko'' toys.<ref> |
|||
"[http://www.retrojunk.com/details_commercial/4917/ Nickelodeon at Hardees]." Hosted by ''RetroJunk''. |
|||
</ref> [[Viacom New Media]] released one game based on the show, ''[[Rocko's Modern Life: Spunky's Dangerous Day]]'', in the United States for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]. In addition, ''[[Nickelodeon 3-D Movie Maker]]'' features various characters from the show. Rocko also appeared in the game ''[[Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots]]''. Nick.com created two free online games featuring Rocko, using [[SWF|Shockwave Flash]] (which requires the Shockwave [[Plug-in (computing)|plugin]]).<ref> |
|||
{{cite web|url=http://www.nick.com/games/puzzle-games/rocko_match.jhtml|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090311044207/http://www.nick.com/games/puzzle-games/rocko_match.jhtml|archivedate=2009-03-11|title=Nick Games - Rocko's Modern Life: Match Master|publisher=www.nick.com|accessdate=2008-11-02}} |
|||
</ref><ref> |
|||
{{cite web|url=http://www.nick.com/games/puzzle-games/rocko_slider.jhtml|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090311044225/http://www.nick.com/games/puzzle-games/rocko_slider.jhtml|archivedate=2009-03-11|title=Nick Games - Rocko's Modern Life: Slider|publisher=www.nick.com|accessdate=2008-11-02}} |
|||
</ref> |
|||
Hot Topic has been selling Rocko's Modern Life merchandise such as t-shirts, wrist bands, key chains and other items as part of their Nick Classic line. Rocko and Filburt later appeared in [[Nicktoons MLB|Nicktoons MLB 3D]]. |
|||
==Nickelodeon's website safety guide== |
|||
In the late 1990s and early-to-mid 2000s (decade)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nick.com/inits/safety/ |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19991007070042/http://nick.com/inits/safety/ |archivedate=1999-10-07 |title=A Byte-Size Online Safety Guide |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=1999-10-07 |accessdate=2010-06-02}}</ref><ref> |
|||
"[http://web.archive.org/web/20050403155027/www.nick.com/blab/safety/index.jhtml A Byte-Size Online Safety Guide]" as of April 3, 2005, ''[[Nickelodeon]]''</ref> Nickelodeon used ''Rocko's Modern Life'' characters in several short comics collected under the title "A Byte-Size Online Safety Guide" explaining [[netiquette]], [[internet security]], and internet safety to readers of Nick.com. |
|||
==See also== |
|||
{{Portal|Nickelodeon|Television|Animation}} |
|||
{{Wikipedia books|1=Rocko's Modern Life|3=Nicktoons|5=Nickelodeon}} |
|||
* [[Camp Lazlo]] |
|||
* [[Phineas and Ferb]] |
|||
* [[SpongeBob SquarePants]] |
|||
{{-}} |
|||
==References== |
|||
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}} |
|||
==External links== |
|||
{{wikiquote}} |
|||
* [http://www.nickelodeon.com.au/toonroom/xtoonroomrml.php Rocko at Nickelodeon Australia website] |
|||
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20051106122840/http://nick.co.uk/nicktoons/shows/rocko/index.aspx Rocko at Nickelodeon UK website] (Archive) |
|||
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20060425130011/www.nick.co.uk/nicktoons/shows/rocko/index.aspx Rocko at Nicktoons UK website] (Archive) |
|||
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20041117155740/www.nicksplat.com/Tvshows/Showsinfo/Nicktoons/Rockos_modern_life/ Archive of Nickelodeon Southeast Asia Rocko's Modern Life website] (Archive) |
|||
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20090328153840/http://www.nick.de/index.php?id=102 Rockos Modernes Leben] (Germany) |
|||
* {{imdb title|0106115}} |
|||
* {{tv.com|3361|Rocko's Modern Life}} |
|||
* {{Bcdb|path=cartoons/Other_Studios/G/Games_Animation/Rocko_s_Modern_Life/index.html|title=Rocko's Modern Life}} |
|||
* ''[http://www.title14.com/rocko/ Rocko's Modern Life FAQ] - Includes interviews with "Rocko" creator, and production staff |
|||
* "[http://web.archive.org/web/20070208123640/www.nick.com/all_nick/tv_supersites/display_show.jhtml?show_id=roc Rocko's Modern Life]" (Archive) at Nick.com |
|||
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=VqaAnj88gKYC&pg=PT218&dq=Rocko%27s+Modern+Life&sig=hGnOkJ77LUl1Cj0M7xa35_O2gVc#PPT218,M1 Image of Rocko crew in one photograph] |
|||
* [http://joemurraystudio.com/blog/ Joe Murray's Blog] |
|||
{{Rocko's Modern Life}} |
|||
{{Nicktoons}} |
|||
{{SNICK/TEENick}} |
|||
{{SpongeBob SquarePants}} |
|||
[[Category:Rocko's Modern Life| ]] |
|||
[[Category:1990s American animated television series]] |
|||
[[Category:1990s American television series]] |
|||
[[Category:1990s Nickelodeon shows]] |
|||
[[Category:1993 American television series debuts]] |
|||
[[Category:1997 television series endings]] |
|||
[[Category:American children's television series]] |
|||
[[Category:Animated sitcoms]] |
|||
[[Category:Satirical television programmes]] |
|||
[[Category:Comics based on television series]] |
|||
[[Category:Comics featuring anthropomorphic characters]] |
|||
[[Category:Marvel Comics titles]] |
|||
[[Category:MTV cartoons]] |
|||
[[Category:Nickelodeon shows]] |
|||
[[Category:Nicktoons]] |
|||
[[Category:Television programs featuring anthropomorphic characters]] |
|||
[[Category:Television series by CBS Paramount Television]] |
|||
[[Category:Fictional marsupials]] |
|||
[[Category:Article Feedback 5]] |
|||
[[de:Rockos modernes Leben]] |
|||
[[es:La vida moderna de Rocko]] |
|||
[[fr:Rocko's Modern Life]] |
|||
[[gl:A vida moderna de Rocko]] |
|||
[[is:Rocko's Modern Life]] |
|||
[[it:La vita moderna di Rocko]] |
|||
[[he:החיים המודרניים של רוקו]] |
|||
[[hu:Rocko]] |
|||
[[nl:Rocko's Modern Life]] |
|||
[[ja:ロッコーのモダンライフ]] |
|||
[[pl:Rocko i jego świat]] |
|||
[[pt:Rocko's Modern Life]] |
|||
[[ru:Новая жизнь Рокко]] |
|||
[[simple:Rocko's Modern Life]] |
|||
[[fi:Rocko's Modern Life]] |
|||
[[sv:Rockos moderna liv]] |
|||
[[tr:Rocko's Modern Life]] |
|||
[[uk:Сучасне Роккове життя]] |
|||
Revision as of 02:10, 29 February 2012
| Rocko's Modern Life | |
|---|---|
| File:Rocko title card.jpg | |
| Genre | Sitcom, Slapstick, surreal, satire |
| Created by | Joe Murray |
| Developed by | Nickelodeon |
| Directed by | Joe Murray Timothy Björklund Roger Chiasson Stephen Hillenburg Mr. Lawrence Jeff "Swampy" Marsh (full list below) |
| Creative director | Stephen Hillenburg |
| Starring | Carlos Alazraqui |
| Voices of | Tom Kenny Mr. Lawrence Charlie Adler Linda Wallem |
| Theme music composer | Sarah Frost |
| Opening theme | "Rocko's Modern Life" by the B-52's |
| Composer | Pat Irwin |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 52 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Joe Murray Vanessa Coffey Mary Harrington |
| Producer | Joe Murray |
| Running time | 23-25 minutes (11-12 per episode) (approx.) |
| Production companies | Joe Murray Productions Nickelodeon Productions Games Animation, Inc. |
| Original release | |
| Network | Nickelodeon |
| Release | September 18, 1993 – November 24, 1996 |
| Related | |
| SpongeBob SquarePants Camp Lazlo | |
the story of the finale of 101 Lucas Saylor's features the adventure of Paul Lama and Julio Lee retuning home with a retuning home adventure song of the tune of the ending of Blue Eyes by Elton John. and they returned home and sees the adventures of an anthropomorphic wallaby named Rocko, said to the puppies of Paul Lama Julio Lee and Rocko the anthropomorphic wallaby said 101 and Lucas Saylor's where did they all come from Wow is there adventure!!! where did they all come from said Rocko he anthropomorphic wallaby and The Stepmother Mr. McKnight said NOT FOR TOO LONG WKIPEDIA I AM CLOSING YOUR ACCOUNT!!!!!