Super Chicken
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Super Chicken is a segment that ran on the animated television series George of the Jungle. It was produced by Jay Ward and Bill Scott, who earlier had created the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons.
Super Chicken (voiced by Bill Scott) and his dimwitted lion sidekick Fred who wore a sweatshirt with a backwards "F" on the front, and had an exaggerated New York Jewish accent, would usually begin their adventures with the battlecry that went something like: "Quick, Fred, to the "Super Coupe", which was an egg-shaped air vehicle in which Super Chicken and Fred would fly to the rescue of innocent victims of crime.
His secret identity was well-to-do Henry Cabot Henhouse III; Fred acted as his butler/servant, etc. But when danger reared its ugly head, he would take his "Super Sauce" (often from a martini glass) and don his "Super Suit," which consisted of a plumed cavalier's hat, cape, Wellington boots, mask and a sword.
An early pilot featured an all-star comedy cast, including Bill Dana with Don Knotts as the voice of Super Chicken. The project was shelved and eventually recast.
The cartoon had several running gags, including:
- Henry would have a violent reaction moments after drinking the "Super Sauce," nearly always stopping in mid-sentence to cluck loudly as the reaction hit him.
- Fred would often ask Super Chicken why he didn't use his "super-vision", to which Super Chicken would respond with something to the effect of "If I had any supervision, do you think I'd be running around dressed like this?"
- In the course of a plan to defeat the bad guys, Super Chicken would suggest something dangerous for Fred's part, which Fred would be reluctant to carry out. When Fred voiced his reluctance, Super Chicken always reminded him, "You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred!" A later superhero fowl, Darkwing Duck, paid homage to Super Chicken[citation needed] by using the catchphrase in the series pilot. The phrase has also lived on as a common response to complaints in a number of fields such as experimental aviation.[citation needed]
Another similarity between Super Chicken and Darkwing Duck is that, while both heroes have secret identities, their sidekicks (Fred and Launchpad McQuack, respectively) do not, instead dressing and behaving identically whether fighting crime or living as "civilians."
During the January 27th, 2003 episode of Loveline, host Drew Pinsky revealed that as a child he had participated in the test marketing of the show. This followed a rendition of the theme song by guest Emma Caulfield and cohost Adam Carolla. He said "it looked retarded to me", and "I was like eight years old and they marketed that and [...] George of the Jungle and another -- it seemed to me more bizarre -- it's about "time" kind of thing: a guy gets frozen and comes back to life".
Jerry Seinfeld referenced Super Chicken in a "Bee Movie TV Junior", in which he recites the Super Chicken theme song.
[edit] Episode list
There were 17 six-minute episodes:
- One of Our States Is Missing
- Super Chicken vs. the Zipper
- Rotten Hood
- The Oyster
- The Elephant Spreader
- Merlin Brando
- Wild Ralph Hiccup
- The Geezer
- Salvador Rag Dolly
- The Easter Bunny
- The Noodle
- The Fat Man
- Briggs Bad Wolf
- The Laundry Man
- The Muscle
- Dr. Gizmo
- The Wild Hair
[edit] Theme song
Lyrics to the famous theme song are as follows:
- The Super Chicken Theme Lyrics
When you find yourself in danger,
When you're threatened by a stranger,
When it looks like you will take a lickin', (cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck)
There is someone waiting,
Who will hurry up and rescue you,
just Call…for Super Chicken! (cluck, awk!)
Fred, if you're afraid you'll have to overlook it,
Besides you knew the job was dang'rous when you took it (cluck, awk!)
He will drink his super sauce
And throw the bad guys for a loss
And he will bring them in alive and kickin' (cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck)
There is one thing you should learn
When there is no one else to turn to
Call…for Super Chicken! (cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck)
Call…for Super Chicken! (cluck, awk!)
