Gadget Boy & Heather
Encyclopedia
Gadget Boy & Heather is an animated television series from DiC Entertainment
. The series debuted in 1995 in first-run syndication in the United States and on M6
in France.
This series is about "Gadget Boy", a bionic kid-detective with a personality similar to that of Inspector Gadget
. He was conceived as a bionic "child" with the personality of a "perfect adult detective" (although as with the aforementioned Inspector Gadget, he is anything but). Just as maladroit as the original Inspector Gadget, Gadget Boy was usually bailed out of situations by the more practical Heather, though he was also helped greatly by his myriad high-tech gadgets and extendable arms and legs. Gadget Boy's bionic implants were installed by Switzerland-based inventor Myron Dabble (Maurice LaMarche) who has an unrequited crush on Heather. Gadget Boy and Heather receive their assignments from Italy-based Chief Stromboli (Maurice LaMarche), who, much like Chief Quimby, is a frequent, long-suffering victim of Gadget Boy's bungling. Gadget Boy is assisted by the resourceful agent Heather (Tara Charandoff
), a very tall equivalent of sorts to Penny (the difference being that Heather is in her late teens or early 20's). He is also assisted by a robotic dog named G-9 (Maurice LaMarche), who serves as the "Brain" of this series, which shows through his morphing capabilities to get the gang out of the stickiest situations.
The main villain of this series, instead of Dr. Claw, is the mask-wearing six-armed villainess Spydra (Louise Vallance
) who is accompanied by Boris, a frequently abused, wisecracking, sarcastic vulture with a Russian accent, along with her henchmen Mulch and his twin brother Houmous, all played by Maurice LaMarche
.
The main title theme song was written and performed by Mike Piccirillo
. Musical underscore composers were Mike Piccirillo
and Jean-Michel Guirao.
, an Inspector Gadget spin off, aired on The History Channel, and airs on This is for Kids
on This TV
until September 23, 2011.
At times Spydra's fails to use or change time to her liking during the series.
until 2009 and on Boomerang channel. In the United States, reruns were shown on Toon Disney
, between 1998 and 2001. Until September 23, 2011, in the United States, the series airs on the This TV
network. From 1998 to 2000, the series was broadcast in Canada on Family.
Gadget Boy also made an appearance (of sorts) on Inspector Gadget's Field Trip
in an episode where he fell into the Fountain of Youth
.
DiC Entertainment
DIC Entertainment was an international film and television production company. In addition to animated television shows such as Ulysses 31 , Inspector Gadget , The Littles , The Real Ghostbusters , Captain Planet and the Planeteers , and the first two seasons of the English adaptation of...
. The series debuted in 1995 in first-run syndication in the United States and on M6
Métropole 6
M6, also known as Metropole television, is the most profitable private national French TV channel and the third most watched television network in the French-speaking world...
in France.
This series is about "Gadget Boy", a bionic kid-detective with a personality similar to that of Inspector Gadget
Inspector Gadget
Inspector Gadget is an animated television series that revolves around the adventures of a clumsy, simple-witted cyborg detective named Inspector Gadget – a human being with various bionic gadgets built into his body. Gadget's arch-nemesis is Dr...
. He was conceived as a bionic "child" with the personality of a "perfect adult detective" (although as with the aforementioned Inspector Gadget, he is anything but). Just as maladroit as the original Inspector Gadget, Gadget Boy was usually bailed out of situations by the more practical Heather, though he was also helped greatly by his myriad high-tech gadgets and extendable arms and legs. Gadget Boy's bionic implants were installed by Switzerland-based inventor Myron Dabble (Maurice LaMarche) who has an unrequited crush on Heather. Gadget Boy and Heather receive their assignments from Italy-based Chief Stromboli (Maurice LaMarche), who, much like Chief Quimby, is a frequent, long-suffering victim of Gadget Boy's bungling. Gadget Boy is assisted by the resourceful agent Heather (Tara Charandoff
Tara Strong
Tara Lyn Strong is a Canadian actress, voice-over artist, singer, who is best known for her voice work in cartoons.-Early life and career:...
), a very tall equivalent of sorts to Penny (the difference being that Heather is in her late teens or early 20's). He is also assisted by a robotic dog named G-9 (Maurice LaMarche), who serves as the "Brain" of this series, which shows through his morphing capabilities to get the gang out of the stickiest situations.
The main villain of this series, instead of Dr. Claw, is the mask-wearing six-armed villainess Spydra (Louise Vallance
Louise Vallance
Stevie Vallance, born Stephanie Louise Vallance on September 8, 1958 and also known as Louise Vallance, is a Canadian television actor, voice actor, stage performer, voice director and singer...
) who is accompanied by Boris, a frequently abused, wisecracking, sarcastic vulture with a Russian accent, along with her henchmen Mulch and his twin brother Houmous, all played by Maurice LaMarche
Maurice LaMarche
Maurice LaMarche is an Emmy Award winning Canadian-American voice actor and former stand up comedian. He is best known for his voicework in Futurama as Kif Kroker, as Egon Spengler in The Real Ghostbusters, Verminous Skumm and Duke Nukem in Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Big Bob Pataki in Hey...
.
The main title theme song was written and performed by Mike Piccirillo
Mike Piccirillo
Mike Piccirillo is a music producer, songwriter, and musician who began working professionally in the Los Angeles music business in 1976. In conjunction with production partner George Tobin, and subsequently Gary Goetzman, Piccirillo co-produced 31 albums between 1976 and 1992...
. Musical underscore composers were Mike Piccirillo
Mike Piccirillo
Mike Piccirillo is a music producer, songwriter, and musician who began working professionally in the Los Angeles music business in 1976. In conjunction with production partner George Tobin, and subsequently Gary Goetzman, Piccirillo co-produced 31 albums between 1976 and 1992...
and Jean-Michel Guirao.
Heroes
- Gadget Boy: Gadget Boy, voiced by Don AdamsDon AdamsDon Adams was an American actor, comedian and director. In his five decades on television, he was best known as Maxwell Smart in the television situation comedy Get Smart , which he also sometimes directed and wrote. Adams won three consecutive Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Smart...
and later Maurice LaMarcheMaurice LaMarcheMaurice LaMarche is an Emmy Award winning Canadian-American voice actor and former stand up comedian. He is best known for his voicework in Futurama as Kif Kroker, as Egon Spengler in The Real Ghostbusters, Verminous Skumm and Duke Nukem in Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Big Bob Pataki in Hey...
, is a bionic police detective working for InterpolInterpolInterpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
in New York City. He is equipped by his dog, G-9, and assisted by Agent Heather. He was conceived as a bionic "child" with the personality of a "perfect adult detective" (although as with the aforementioned Inspector Gadget, he is anything but). Like Inspector Gadget, Gadget Boy is equipped with gadgets in his body and is as clumsy as Gadget, but will use the gadgets to get himself out of sticky situations. The bionic implants were installed by the inventor Myron Dabble. Agent Heather bails Gadget Boy out of danger, though he was also helped greatly by his myriad high-tech gadgets and extendable arms and legs. However, Gadget Boy is usually seen with Agent Heather and G9, unlike Gadget, who in the original series, will usually inform Penny and Brain once he receives his assignment that the mission is too dangerous and that he will be going on the mission alone, and usually be convinced that a disguised Brain is a M.A.D. agent. Gadget Boy and G-9 appear to switch between being fully robotic to being half robotic in different episodes. In #10, "Gadget Boy and the Uncommon Cold", it is revealed that Gadget Boy is half robot and thus catches the cold while G-9 does not. However, in #20, "Boy Power of Babble", Gadget Boy is unaffected by the "babblizer ray" because he is half robot with a mechanical brain, whereas G-9 is completely robotic. Don Adams voices Gadget Boy, similar to being the original voice of Inspector Gadget. Gadget Boy commonly says "Bowsers!", similar to Inspector Gadget's catchphrase, "Wowsers!". - Agent Heather: Agent Heather, voiced by Tara CharandoffTara StrongTara Lyn Strong is a Canadian actress, voice-over artist, singer, who is best known for her voice work in cartoons.-Early life and career:...
, is an Interpol agent and the aide to Gadget Boy. She is a more resourceful agent and is the equivalent of Penny in Inspector Gadget, except Agent Heather is much taller than Penny and appears to be in her early 20's, and is the love interest of the inventor Myron Dabble. Agent Heather has red hair and wears a green jacket, blue trousers, white shirt and blue shoes. Her name is Estelle in the French version. It is revealed in Gadget Boy and the Wee Folk that her Blood Line is Irish. - G-9: G-9, voiced by Maurice LaMarcheMaurice LaMarcheMaurice LaMarche is an Emmy Award winning Canadian-American voice actor and former stand up comedian. He is best known for his voicework in Futurama as Kif Kroker, as Egon Spengler in The Real Ghostbusters, Verminous Skumm and Duke Nukem in Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Big Bob Pataki in Hey...
, is Gadget Boy's robotic dog, similar to Brain in Inspector Gadget. He can morph into anything and assists Gadget Boy to get him and his gang out of the stickiest situations. Gadget Boy and G-9 appear to switch between being fully robotic to being half robotic in different episodes. Although G-9 is a robot dog, in #20, "Boy Power of Babble", G-9 is revealed to be half robot when he is affected by the "babblizer ray", enabling him the ability to speak in an old English, intelligent accent. Unlike Brain, G-9 is usually seen with Gadget Boy, and Gadget Boy does not mistake him for being an enemy agent, as opposed to when the original Inspector Gadget will usually, on the case, mistake Brain appearing incognito for being a M.A.D. agent.
Villains
- Spydra: Spydra, voiced by Louise VallanceLouise VallanceStevie Vallance, born Stephanie Louise Vallance on September 8, 1958 and also known as Louise Vallance, is a Canadian television actor, voice actor, stage performer, voice director and singer...
, is the main villain of Gadget Boy & Heather. Spydra wears a pink mask and has six arms, speaks in a loud voice, and is almost the female version of Dr. ClawDoctor ClawDr. Claw is a partially seen character who is the main villain in the animated television series Inspector Gadget and the films that followed...
. Her primary goals are to bring down Gadget Boy and commit grand crimes of all kinds. Usually, Spydra is seen in her lair, much like Dr. Claw is seen at his computer terminal, either in his castle or on the M.A.D.mobile, but does not run a large scale criminal organization similar to M.A.D. Also, Spydra's whole body can be seen, unlike Dr. Claw in the original series, where only his arms are seen and he is hiding behind a chair, and Spydra can get out of her chair. Spydra is named for resembling a spiderSpiderSpiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
, sporting six arms and keeping her face hidden under a mask. She occasionally takes her mask off to use one of her main powers: the ability to petrify anyone who sees her real face. Of course, the unmasking is always done off-screen or is obscured. Her pet is the vulture Boris, and she is usually abusive towards Boris, often using alliterationAlliterationIn language, alliteration refers to the repetition of a particular sound in the first syllables of Three or more words or phrases. Alliteration has historically developed largely through poetry, in which it more narrowly refers to the repetition of a consonant in any syllables that, according to...
s to insult Boris. Spydra's minions are the twin brothers Mulch and Hummus, the only recurring minions in the series, as opposed to the different recurring unnamed M.A.D. agents in Inspector Gadget (and sometimes a supervillain who will have a name and appear once, which is less apparent in the second season of the series). Her name is Arachna in the French version. - Boris: Boris, voiced by Maurice LaMarcheMaurice LaMarcheMaurice LaMarche is an Emmy Award winning Canadian-American voice actor and former stand up comedian. He is best known for his voicework in Futurama as Kif Kroker, as Egon Spengler in The Real Ghostbusters, Verminous Skumm and Duke Nukem in Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Big Bob Pataki in Hey...
, is Spydra's pet vulture. Boris is frequently abused by Spydra, and is wisecracking and sarcastic. He speaks in a Russian accent. Boris differs from M.A.D. Cat in that M.A.D. Cat is a foil to Dr. Claw, in which he will either be petted or pounded on, whereas Boris is only abused in many ways by Spydra, such as being insulted, thrown, or, in extreme cases, petrified by Spydra. - Mulch and Hummus: Mulch and Hummus, both voiced by Maurice LaMarcheMaurice LaMarcheMaurice LaMarche is an Emmy Award winning Canadian-American voice actor and former stand up comedian. He is best known for his voicework in Futurama as Kif Kroker, as Egon Spengler in The Real Ghostbusters, Verminous Skumm and Duke Nukem in Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Big Bob Pataki in Hey...
, are twin brothers and the criminal henchmen to Spydra. Spydra sends out Mulch and Hummus to do her dirty work. The design of Mulch and Hummus is somewhat like the recurring M.A.D. agents in the original Inspector Gadget series. Unlike this, however, Mulch and Hummus are the only henchmen to Spydra, as opposed to the large number of M.A.D. agents working for Dr. Claw.
Other characters
- Myron Dabble: Myron Dabble, voiced by Maurice LaMarcheMaurice LaMarcheMaurice LaMarche is an Emmy Award winning Canadian-American voice actor and former stand up comedian. He is best known for his voicework in Futurama as Kif Kroker, as Egon Spengler in The Real Ghostbusters, Verminous Skumm and Duke Nukem in Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Big Bob Pataki in Hey...
, is an inventor from Switzerland working for Interpol. He is the man who equipped Gadget Boy with his gadgets. Myron Dabble wears glasses and has an unrequited crush on Agent Heather. - Chief Stromboli: Chief Stromboli, voiced by Maurice LaMarcheMaurice LaMarcheMaurice LaMarche is an Emmy Award winning Canadian-American voice actor and former stand up comedian. He is best known for his voicework in Futurama as Kif Kroker, as Egon Spengler in The Real Ghostbusters, Verminous Skumm and Duke Nukem in Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Big Bob Pataki in Hey...
, is the chief of Interpol. He is Italian and speaks in an Italian accent. Chief Stromboli has white hair and a white mustache and gives Gadget Boy and Heather their assignments. Like Chief Quimby in Inspector Gadget, Chief Stromboli is a frequent, long-suffering victim of Gadget Boy's bungling. Assignments are printed on a long sheet of paper, often coming out of his tie, compared to the self destructing paper on which Inspector Gadget will receive his messages, and don't blow up in his face. - Miss Denise: Miss Denise, voiced by María Conchita AlonsoMaria Conchita AlonsoMaría Conchita Alonso , better known as María Conchita, is a Venezuelan Grammy Award-nominated singer and actress.- Early life :...
, is Gadget Boy's school teacher.
Gadget Boy's Adventures in History
In 1997, Gadget Boy appeared in Gadget Boy's Adventures in History, a special educational series. In this series, the young detective has to stop the evil Spydra across time. This version, like Inspector Gadget's Field TripInspector Gadget's Field Trip
Inspector Gadget's Field Trip is a spin-off incarnation of Inspector Gadget, produced by DiC Entertainment, and aired on The History Channel from 1996 to 1998, with over 26 episodes with live-action sequences produced. Don Adams returned as the voice of Inspector Gadget. It currently airs in reruns...
, an Inspector Gadget spin off, aired on The History Channel, and airs on This is for Kids
Cookie Jar Toons
Cookie Jar Toons is a daily children's programming block on the This TV digital broadcast network. The block is programmed by Toronto based Cookie Jar Entertainment...
on This TV
This TV
This TV is a United States general entertainment television network, with a large emphasis in its programming on movies....
until September 23, 2011.
At times Spydra's fails to use or change time to her liking during the series.
Season 1
- Raiders of the Lost Mummies
- From Russia with Gadget Boy
- Don't Burst my Bubble
- Gadget Boy in Toyland
- Gadget Boy and the Wee Folk
- You Oughtta Be in Pictures
- All That Gadgets Is Not Glitter
- Gadget Boy and the Great Race
- Gadget Boy and the Ship of Fools
- Gadget Boy and the Uncommon Cold
- Double Double Toil and Dabble
- Gadget Boy Squadron
- My Gadget Guard
- Treasure of the Sierra Gadget
- Gadget Boy and the Dumpling Gang
- The Day the Gadget Boy Stood Still
- Monumental Mayhem
- Jurassic Spydra
- Gadget Boy's Tiniest Adventure
- Power of Babble
- Pirate of the Airwaves
- Jaws and Teeth
- Eight Hands are Quicker Than Gadget Boy
- Boris for President
- All Webbed Up, Nowhere to Go
- Vulture of the Bride
Season 2
- The Vulture Has Landed (Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA - Moon, 1969)
- The Long and Winding Wall (China, 211 BC)
- For Whom the Torch Rolls (Greece, 400 BC)
- Madame Spydra Fly (Japan, 1853)
- An Ice Age Runs Through It (Cretaceous Period)
- The Three Gadgeteers (Paris, France - 1617)
- Hot Time in Old Caves (750,000 BC)
- Bionic Blunder from Down Under (Australia, 1915)
- Some Assembly Required (Detroit, Michigan, USA - 1908)
- Gadget-Stein (Geneva, 1816)
- Ice Station Vulture (North Pole, 1909)
- Coming In on a Web and Prayer (Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, USA - 1903)
- All's Fair at the World Fair (Queens, New York, USA - 1939)
- A Whale of a Sail of a Tail (Phoenicia, 1300 BC)
- An Extinct Possibility (Rhodesia, 1955)
- A Knight to Remember (England, 1215)
- No Laughing Matter (Hollywood, California, USA - 1920)
- It's Not Easy Staying Green (1970)
- Just Fakir-Ing It (India, 1928)
- Go West Young Vulture (California, USA - 1850)
- These Are a Few of My Favourite Flying Things (Florence, Italy - 15th Century/1400s)
- Valley of the Vulture (Egypt - 1922)
- The Time Land Forgot (Mexico - 1000 AD)
- Three Brainiacs in a Fountain (Marie Curie, pasteurization inventor Louis Pasteur, and general all-around smart guy Albert Einstein)
- A Gadget Boy Christmas All Around the World (Old Befana of Italy and Martin Luther, Myra, Turkey - 325 AD, Germany - 1517 AD)
- Back to the Vulture (1950s)
Airing
The series airs regularly in the UK in the early hours of the morning on Cartoon NetworkCartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
until 2009 and on Boomerang channel. In the United States, reruns were shown on Toon Disney
Toon Disney
Toon Disney was an American cable television channel owned by The Walt Disney Company. A spinoff of Disney Channel, it mostly aired children's animated series and some live action programming. Its format had similarities to those of Cartoon Network and Nicktoons...
, between 1998 and 2001. Until September 23, 2011, in the United States, the series airs on the This TV
This TV
This TV is a United States general entertainment television network, with a large emphasis in its programming on movies....
network. From 1998 to 2000, the series was broadcast in Canada on Family.
Gadget Boy also made an appearance (of sorts) on Inspector Gadget's Field Trip
Inspector Gadget's Field Trip
Inspector Gadget's Field Trip is a spin-off incarnation of Inspector Gadget, produced by DiC Entertainment, and aired on The History Channel from 1996 to 1998, with over 26 episodes with live-action sequences produced. Don Adams returned as the voice of Inspector Gadget. It currently airs in reruns...
in an episode where he fell into the Fountain of Youth
Fountain of Youth
The Fountain of Youth is a legendary spring that reputedly restores the youth of anyone who drinks of its waters. Tales of such a fountain have been recounted across the world for thousands of years, appearing in writings by Herodotus, the Alexander romance, and the stories of Prester John...
.
Broadcast stations
USA-
- SyndicationTelevision syndicationIn broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
(1995) - NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
(1996–1998) - Toon DisneyToon DisneyToon Disney was an American cable television channel owned by The Walt Disney Company. A spinoff of Disney Channel, it mostly aired children's animated series and some live action programming. Its format had similarities to those of Cartoon Network and Nicktoons...
(1998–2001) - This TVThis TVThis TV is a United States general entertainment television network, with a large emphasis in its programming on movies....
(2010–2011)
- Syndication