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Hong Kong Phooey

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Hong Kong Phooey
File:Hongkongphooey.jpg
Title Card for Hong Kong Phooey
GenreComedy
Created byHanna-Barbera
Directed byWilliam Hanna
Joseph Barbera
StarringHong Kong Phooey
Voices ofScatman Crothers
Joe E. Ross
Kathy Gori
Don Messick
Sean B. Pasternak
Theme music composerHoyt Curtin
Country of origin United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes16 (31 Sub-episodes)
Production
ProducersWilliam Hanna
Joseph Barbera
Iwao Takamoto
Running time30 Minutes (Approx.)
Production companyHanna-Barbera Productions
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseSeptember 7, 1974 (1974-09-07) –
September 4, 1976 (1976-09-04)
Related
Laff-A-Lympics
CB Bears

Hong Kong Phooey is a 16-episode (31 shorts) Hanna-Barbera animated series that first aired on ABC Saturday morning from September 7, 1974 (1974-09-07) to September 4, 1976 (1976-09-04). The star, Hong Kong Phooey, is the secret alter ego of Penrod Pooch, or Penry (sometimes mispronounced "Henry")[1], a "mild-mannered" police station janitor. Although Penry/Phooey appears to be the only anthropomorphic dog in the entire city where the series is set, no one ever connects his two identities.

Synopsis

The series stars Hong Kong Phooey, the “number one super guy” who travels about the city in his “Phooeymobile”, fighting crime with the aid of his manual, The Hong Kong Book Of Kung Fu.[2] The stories begin at the police headquarters, where Hong Kong Phooey's alter ego, Penry, works as a mild-mannered janitor under the glare of Sergeant Flint ("Sarge"). Also at the police station is Rosemary, the telephone operator, who has a crush on Hong Kong Phooey. After Rosemary gets a call and explains the crime, Penry runs into a filing cabinet and (always getting stuck) transforms himself into Hong Kong Phooey.

Despite the theme song, Hong Kong Phooey is a classic screw-up, and often fails to save the city only to be saved by his sidekick cat, Spot (who's striped, naturally). Hong Kong Phooey is a respected superhero who always gets full credit for Spot’s success.

A running gag is that Hong Kong Phooey is such a respected hero that when his incompetence caused him to crash into, harm, or otherwise inconvenience a civilian, the passerby declares what an honor it was to have so interacted with "the great Hong Kong Phooey." For example, he drives the Phooeymobile through some wet cement, splattering the workers, who say that it was an honor to have a whole day's work ruined by "the great Hong Kong Phooey."

Details

Hong Kong Phooey was voiced by Scatman Crothers. Sergeant Flint was voiced by Joe E. Ross, best known as Officer Gunther Toody in the early 60's TV series Car 54, Where Are You?. As Flint, Ross revived Toody's famous "Oooh! Oooh!" exclamation. Sergeant Flint was very similar both in voice and appearance to Botch, assistant zoo-keeper at the Wonderland Zoo on Help! It's the Hair Bear Bunch.

Like many Hanna-Barbera shows from this era, Hong Kong Phooey was originally broadcast with a laugh track. In the episode "Comedy Cowboys," several new cartoon characters (Honcho, The Mysterious Maverick, and Posse Impossible) appeared and helped to clear Hong Kong of a crime he didn't commit. Posse Impossible found their way onto The CB Bears Show.

Theme song

The show’s theme song, titled Hong Kong Phooey, was written by Chester Stover, Watts Biggers, Treadwell Covington, and Joseph Harris. The song was sung by Scatman Crothers.

"Hong Kong Phooey, number one super guy.
Hong Kong Phooey, quicker than the human eye.
He's got style, a groovy style,
and a car that just won't stop.
When the going gets rough, he's super-tough,
with a Hong Kong Phooey chop (Yah!)
Hong Kong Phooey, number one super guy.
Hong Kong Phooey, quicker than the human eye.
Hong Kong Phooey... Fan-riffic! (gong!)"[3]

A cover of the show’s theme song, performed by Sublime, is included on the 1995 tribute album Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits, produced by Ralph Sall for MCA Records.

Episode guide

Episode Number Title/Production Number Airdate
HKP-1 Car Thieves (prod. #74-1 Act 1) / Zoo Story (prod. #74-1 Act 2) September 7, 1974
HKP-2 Iron Head the Robot (prod. #74-2 Act 1) / Cotton Pickin' Pocket Picker (prod. #74-2 Act 2) September 14, 1974
HKP-3 Grandma Goody (Cat Burglar) (prod. #74-3 Act 1) / Candle Power (prod. #74-3 Act 2) September 21, 1974
HKP-4 The Penthouse Burglaries (prod. #74-4 Act 1) / Batty Bank Mob (prod. #74-4 Act 2) September 28, 1974
HKP-5 The Voltage Villain (prod. #74-5 Act 1) / The Giggler (prod. #74-5 Act 2) October 5, 1974
HKP-6 The Gumdrop Kid (prod. #74-6 Act 1) / Professor Presto (The Malevolent Magician) (prod. #74-6 Act 2) October 12, 1974
HKP-7 TV or Not TV (prod. #74-7 Act 1) / Stop Horsing Around (prod. #74-7 Act 2) October 19, 1974
HKP-8 Mirror, Mirror on the Wall (prod. #74-8 Act 1) / Great Movie Mystery (prod. #74-8 Act 2) October 26, 1974
HKP-9 The Claw (prod. #74-9 Act 1) / Hong Kong Phooey vs. Hong Kong Phooey (prod. #74-9 Act 2) November 2, 1974
HKP-10 The Abominable Snowman (prod. #74-10 Act 1) / Professor Crosshatch (prod. #74-10 Act 2) November 9, 1974
HKP-11 Goldfisher (prod. #74-11 Act 1) / Green Thumb (prod. #74-11 Act 2) November 16, 1974
HKP-12 From Bad to Verse (Rotten Rhymer) (prod. #74-12 Act 1) / Kong and the Counterfeiters (prod. #74-12 Act 2) November 23, 1974
HKP-13 The Great Choo Choo Robbery (prod. #74-13 Act 1) / Patty Cake, Patty Cake, Bakery Man (prod. #74-13 Act 2) November 30, 1974
HKP-14 Mr. Tornado (prod. #74-14 Act 1) / The Little Crook Who Wasn't There (prod. #74-14 Act 2) December 7, 1974
HKP-15 Dr. Disguiso (prod. #74-15 Act 1) / The Incredible Mr. Shrink (prod. #74-15 Act 2) December 14, 1974
HKP-16 Comedy Cowboy (prod. #74-16) December 21, 1974

DVD release

On August 15, 2006, Warner Home Video released the complete series on DVD in Region 1.

DVD Name Ep # Release Date Additional Information
Hong Kong Phooey- The Complete Series 16 August 15, 2006
  • Commentary on select episodes
  • Documentary of the show from its development through its legacy. Includes production designs and never before seen original artwork as well as new interviews
  • "Hong Kong Phooey - The Batty Bank Gang: The Complete Storyboard"

Voices

Hong Kong Phooey in other languages

Other Media

With a copyright of 2001, Alan Lau in conjunction with Wildbrain.com produced a flash animation webshow cartoon which was prominently featured on CartoonNetwork.com, and can still be found there. While Penry appears identical to the original incarnation, Hong Kong Phooey is a much larger, cut, and highly competent and skilled fighter without Spot the cat.

Hong Kong Phooey faces off against and easily defeats evil anthropomophic animals; a trio of rabbits, what appears to be a crane, and a reptilianoid. At the end he morphs back to Penry with a smile and sparkle in his eye.

Film

On July 12, 2009, it was announced that David A. Goodman had been hired to pen a Hong Kong Phooey film.[4] Alex Zamm is set to direct and Broderick Johnson, Andrew Kosove, Brett Ratner, and Jay Stern are producing.[5] On July 31, 2009, it was announced that Warner Bros. will release the Hong Kong Phooey film, with co-financing from Alcon Entertainment (Johnson and Kosove's production company) and Hanna-Barbera Productions (an in-name-only unit of Warner Bros. Animation).

Music

In the Moldy Peaches song "Nothing Came Out", they reference Hong Kong Phooey. "I want you to watch cartoons with me. He-man, Voltron and Hong-Kong-Phooey".

See also

References

  1. ^ "IMDB:Hong Kong Phooey:Plot Summary". IMDb. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
  2. ^ CD liner notes: Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits, 1995 MCA Records
  3. ^ "Hong Kong Phooey". ClassicTV.com. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
  4. ^ "'Hong Kong Phooey' lands Goodman". Hollywood Reporter. July 12, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
  5. ^ "'Phooey' kicks into high gear". Variety (magazine). July 12, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-11.


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