Histeria!

Histeria!
Format Animated series
Created by Tom Ruegger
Voices of Frank Welker
Tress MacNeille
Jeff Bennett
Laraine Newman
Luke Ruegger
Cody Ruegger
Nathan Ruegger
Maurice LaMarche
Billy West
Cree Summer
Paul Rugg
Rob Paulsen
Theme music composer Richard Stone
John Philip Sousa
Composer(s) Richard Stone
Steve Bernstein
Julie Bernstein
Tim Kelly
Gordon Goodwin
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes 52
Production
Running time 30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel Kids' WB
Original run September 12, 1998 (1998-09-12) – March 31, 2000 (2000-03-31)

Histeria! is a 1998 American animated series created by Tom Ruegger and produced by Warner Bros. Animation. Unlike other animated series produced by Warner Bros. in the 1990s, Histeria! stood out as the most explicit edutainment program in order to meet FCC requirements for educational/informational content for children.[1][2]

Histeria! was featured on the Kids' WB from 1998 to 2000. Kids WB continued to air reruns until August 30, 2001. It was to be WB's most ambitious project since Animaniacs. Like the aforementioned, there were 65 episodes that were originally going to be made, but due to being $10 million over budget, only 52 episodes were completed before production of the series was being canceled in November 1998. More recently, the show was featured on In2TV, first from March to July 2006, and then returning in October of that year. In January 2009, all of the episodes were taken off the site. No DVD set has yet been announced.

Histeria! may have been influenced by 1978 French TV series Il était une fois l'homme (Once Upon a Time... Man). The French series featured the familiar series cast reappears as the contemporary figures of every historical time. Another possible influence is the 1988 miniseries This is America, Charlie Brown, which featured the cast of Peanuts interspersed within various events in American history.

Histeria! has since became a cult favorite, gaining a modest fandom; fan-creations can be found on the Internet and at fansites.

Contents

Summary

Like other animated series produced at the time by the Warner Bros. animation, Histeria! derived most of humor from its slapstick comedy and satire, with the distinction of combining historical figures and events. Episodes would commonly feature a large cast of children and typecast adults in comedic skits and song parodies, e.g. the cause of the of the American Civil War sung to the tune of the Brady bunch theme.

Characters

The hosts

The Kid Chorus

Others

Most of the real-life historical figures in Histeria were portrayed as caricatures of real-life celebrities from the modern era. The intent was to make analogies to contemporary individuals in terms of personalities and attitudes. These include appearances of Napoleon voiced by Jeff Bennett, Attila the Hun, Benjamin Franklin voiced by Billy West. Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, both voiced by Maurice LaMarche. Nostradamus, voiced by Paul Rugg, later by Tom Kenny often predicts the future for the cast and predicts the next segment.

Episodes

Season 1 (1998-1999)

No. Title Airdate Summary
1 Inventors Hall of Fame September 14, 1998 (1998-09-14) Wraparounds: The hall of fame presents Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, J. Robert Oppenheimer and Thomas Crapper.
  • Alexander Graham Bell is introduced to the modern telephone system.
  • With Loud Kiddington's help, Thomas Edison gets an idea of inventing a light bulb.
  • J. Robert Oppenheimer and Toast discuss the Manhattan Project: An Atomic Bomb.
  • Alexander goes crazy about the modern telephone system and seeks Thomas Watson's help.
  • Mr. Smarty Pants introduces the engineer of flushing toilets Thomas Crapper.
2 The U.S. Civil War - Part I September 15, 1998 (1998-09-15) Abe Lincoln provides a monologue, and gives a Histeria version of the Gettysburg Address. The Histeria gang also listens in to the Hits of the 1860s and The Emancipation Proclamation Hoedown.
3 The Attack of the Vikings September 16, 1998 (1998-09-16) The gang sings about being a Viking, play see it/don't see it, and Meet the Vikings with Bill Straitman.
4 The Wild West September 17, 1998 (1998-09-17) The Histeria gang presents The Billy the Kid show, sings about the gold rush, meets the Earps, and learns about the Pony Express
5 The American Revolution - Part I September 18, 1998 (1998-09-18) The gang listens to George Washington give his monologue, visits Molly Pitcher, and attends the Showdown at York.
6 The Know-It-Alls September 21, 1998 (1998-09-21) The gang meets Nostradamus, and René Descartes, while discussing the Chicken or the Egg?
7 The Renaissance September 22, 1998 (1998-09-22) The gang meets Leonardo Da Vinci, see masterpieces of the Renaissance, and explore the book formerly known as "The Prince".
8 The U.S. Civil War - Part II September 23, 1998 (1998-09-23) The gang dives back into the Civil War and sings about it, darns the torpedoes, and visit Abe's Tall and Geeky Shop.
9 Really Oldies But Goodies September 24, 1998 (1998-09-24) Its a musical trip to Egypt as the gang sings about mummies, slaving on the pyramids, and sees the Epypt musical "Cats".
10 The American Revolution - Part II September 25, 1998 (1998-09-25) Histeria takes another look at the American Revolution as the gang listen's to George Washington sing a duet with his wife, attend the Boston Tea Party, and see Midnight Line.
11 A Blast in the Past September 26, 1998 (1998-09-26) The gang visits the Vomitorium, listen to the Big Fat Twin Babies sing, and meet Romulus and Remus.
12 China September 28, 1998 (1998-09-28) The gang takes a pop quiz and joins the Confucius Group again.
13 Tribute to Tyrants September 30, 1998 (1998-09-30) The gang meets Attila the Hun and hears more from Miss Information
14 The Montezuma Show October 2, 1998 (1998-10-02) The gang visits the Sacrificial Well, stops in on The Order of the Eagle, and browse the Inca Shopping Network.
15 Great Heroes of France October 6, 1998 (1998-10-06) The gang meets Joan of Arc, sing the Invasion song, and Purchase Louisiana.
16 The Terrible Tudors October 8, 1998 (1998-10-08) The gang plays Name Thy Cure, and tell the tale of the Tudors.
17 The Wheel of History October 9, 1998 (1998-10-09) The gang spins the Wheel of History and visits four places in history.
18 When Time Collides October 10, 1998 (1998-10-10) The gang looks at the United Nations and honors another Great Women in History.
19 Around the World in a Daze October 12, 1998 (1998-10-12) The gang explores explorers exploring the world. Columbus and Magellan.
20 Histeria Satellite TV October 16, 1998 (1998-10-16) Tune in to Histeria! Satellite TV for looks at various points in history.
21 General Sherman's Campsite October 17, 1998 (1998-10-17) The gang pays a visit to General Sherman's Campsite to learn more about Civil War times.
22 Return to Rome October 23, 1998 (1998-10-23) The gang takes a day and looks at how Rome was built and sings about it of course.
23 The Russian Revolution October 24, 1998 (1998-10-24) The gang takes a look at Stalin and the Soviets.
24 Inventors October 30, 1998 (1998-10-30) The gang once again digs into the Inventors Hall of Fame to honor Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson among others.
25 Megalomaniacs October 31, 1998 (1998-10-31) The gang takes a look at some of the big bad guys of history.

Note: Two versions of this episode exist: a sketch about Custer's Last Stand — in which the kids mistakenly believe he is running a custard stand — replaced a sketch depicting the Spanish Inquisition as a game show called "Convert or Die", hosted by Tomás de Torquemada after a complaint from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, who claimed the sketch "[taught] children to reject Catholicism". It has since been restored on In2TV.

26 Hooray For Presidents November 3, 1998 (1998-11-03) The gang meets President Lincoln again and explores even more Presidents.
27 The Thomas Jefferson Program November 7, 1998 (1998-11-07) Thomas Jefferson leads the fun when the gang learns handwriting from John Hancock, and makes a flag with Betsy Ross
28 More Explorers November 13, 1998 (1998-11-13) More from the Confucius Group and learn why one should never explore without the Discoverer Card.
29 Super Writers November 21, 1998 (1998-11-21) Ernest Hemingway and Mark Twain join forces to bring writing to the world in Histeria! style!
30 History Of Flight February 6, 1999 (1999-02-06) The gang meets the Wright Brothers and parks in the No Parking Zone
31 Presidential People February 13, 1999 (1999-02-13) A heavy musical look into the lives and doings of more presidents.
32 Writers of the Purple Prose February 20, 1999 (1999-02-20) Famous writers Samuel Butler and William Shakespeare and see Marry had a Little Lamb 2000.
33 Histeria Around the World I February 27, 1999 (1999-02-27) The gang learns the complete an unabridged history of Greenland, Antarctica, and New Zealand and play Ask Me If I Care.
34 When America Was Young March 6, 1999 (1999-03-06) Daniel Boone and Benedict Arnold star in their own shows depicting the Revolutionary War and The Western Frontier.
35 Loud Kiddington's Ancient History March 13, 1999 (1999-03-13) The gang sees the First Wheel, sing about the names of the Gods, and see an Olympic Moment.
36 Super Amazing Constitutions March 20, 1999 (1999-03-20) The Constitution gets a Histeria! overhaul and the gang meets Andrew Jackson and fire when they see the whites of their eyes.
37 Better Living Through Science March 27, 1999 (1999-03-27) The gang takes The Road of Invention to see what goes up, must come down and witness great moments in medicine.
38 The Dawn of Time April 3, 1999 (1999-04-03) Histeria! takes a scientific twist and looks at the dawn of time where only the World's Oldest Women knows much about. Dinosaurs included.
39 Music April 17, 1999 (1999-04-17) Histeria! looks at music and wonder "Music to Who's Ears?" with Mozart. Plus, Big Fat Baby and twin sing a jingle.
40 World War II April 24, 1999 (1999-04-24) Histeria! introduces the Freedom League and learns why there is nothing to fear from Franklin D. Roosevelt.
41 The Teddy Roosevelt Show May 1, 1999 (1999-05-01) Histeria! meets Teddy Roosevelt and explores the canal of Doom.
42 Communuts! May 8, 1999 (1999-05-08) A twisted Histeria! look at communists including wraps from Winston Churchill and Will Rogers.
43 Americana May 15, 1999 (1999-05-15) A patriotic look at American lifestyles now and how they used to be and pay a visit to Berry Ding Live.
44 20th Century Presidents May 22, 1999 (1999-05-22) A Histeria! look at president Nixon and John F. Kennedy along with a little scandal called Watergate then Rally At The Beach with Pepper!
45 Histeria Around the World II June 5, 1999 (1999-06-05) The Great Woman World leaders therapy group and the Pastry War along with another round of Ask Me If I Care with Gandhi.
46 Histeria Goes to the Moon July 17, 1999 (1999-07-17) Its one small step for man and one giant laugh for Histeria! as they set foot on the moon with Neil Armstrong and Apollo 13.

Season 2 (1999-2000)

No. Title Airdate Overview
47 Return to China September 20, 1999 (1999-09-20) More historical sketches regarding China are shown, such as the construction of the Great Wall of China and the Cultural Revolution. Plus, Yin and Yang are presented as superheroes!
48 France September 24, 1999 (1999-09-24) The gang meets Nostradamus and a guy named Louie. Napoleon also appears (many size jokes ensue). And don't forget to take the Tennis Court Oath.
49 North America October 1, 1999 (1999-10-01) Its a wild look at North America! Stops include Canada, Klondike Acres and Mayberry. That is to say the Histeria! Mayberry.
50 Heroes of Truth & Justice January 17, 2000 (2000-01-17) Histeria! takes a march with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and boycotts Busses and attend the trial of the century witch Socrates.
51 Euro-Mania March 24, 2000 (2000-03-24) Its off to Europe to witness the Renaissance and a scrapple at the chapel with another round of "Ask Me If I Care" with Charlemagne.
52 Big Fat Baby Theatre March 31, 2000 (2000-03-31) Take a look at random moments in history through the eyes of Big Fat Baby.

Cameos and cultural references

An integral part of the program was its use of popular culture to demonstrate historical events. Among the numerous pop culture references the show used during its run:

See also

References

External links