Go Go Gophers
Encyclopedia
Go Go Gophers is a western/comedy animated series that originally appeared on the Underdog series from 1966 to 1968 before being briefly spun off as a separate series on CBS
in 1968 and 1969. It was apparently created as a parody of F Troop
, a western/comedy series that aired from 1965-1967.
west. There the commandant of a local United States Army
fort, one Colonel Kit Coyote (voiced by Kenny Delmar
) and his Sergeant
Okey Homa (voiced by Sandy Becker
) who is rarely called by his name. They make attempts to secure the town of Gopher Gulch by wiping out the last two surviving Gopher Indians (depicted as upright, personified gophers): Ruffled Feathers (also voiced by Becker) and Running Board (voiced by George S. Irving
). However, the Gophers prove to be very clever and always manage to foil Coyote's plans.
Usually Ruffled Feathers would be the Gopher who would devise the plan to waylay the U.S. Army. The plan was communicated to Running Board in supposed Indian language. Running Board would smile and get excited as the plan was revealed to him and utter one of two catch-phrases: "Whoopee Doopee! We have fun!!" or "Whoopee Doopee! You-um genius!!". The uttering of the catch-phrase signaled a scene transition to the Gophers building of the trap to foil Colonel Kit Coyote and his men.
Some episodes would feature General Nuisance (voiced by George S. Irving
), Colonel Kit Coyote and Sergeant Oakey Homa's superior who would often assign them important missions. Usually when Colonel Kit Coyote and Sergeant Oakey Homa end up botching up the important mission thanks to the Gophers' interference, General Nuisance would often have Kit and Oakey thrown into the Guard House.
Sergeant Oakey Homa would often be the one to close out every episode as a way of "breaking the fourth wall" when talking to the viewers.
The character voices were patterned after celebrities; Kit Coyote was strongly influenced by Theodore Roosevelt
, while the Sergeant had a voice much like John Wayne
's. Running Board spoke a stereotypical heavily accented English
while Ruffled Feathers spoke in what sounded like babbling
.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
in 1968 and 1969. It was apparently created as a parody of F Troop
F Troop
F Troop is a satirical American television sitcom that originally aired for two seasons on ABC-TV. It debuted in the United States on September 14, 1965 and concluded its run on April 6, 1967 with a total of 65 episodes. The first season of 34 episodes was filmed in black-and-white, but the show...
, a western/comedy series that aired from 1965-1967.
History
The series is set in the late nineteenth century in the AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
west. There the commandant of a local United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
fort, one Colonel Kit Coyote (voiced by Kenny Delmar
Kenny Delmar
Kenneth Howard "Kenny" Delmar was an American actor active in radio, films, and animation.-Radio:...
) and his Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
Okey Homa (voiced by Sandy Becker
Sandy Becker
George Sanford Becker , who was known professionally as Sandy Becker, was a television announcer, actor, and comedian who hosted several popular children's programs in New York City...
) who is rarely called by his name. They make attempts to secure the town of Gopher Gulch by wiping out the last two surviving Gopher Indians (depicted as upright, personified gophers): Ruffled Feathers (also voiced by Becker) and Running Board (voiced by George S. Irving
George S. Irving
George S. Irving is an American actor, known primarily for his character roles on Broadway. Born George Irving Shelasky in Springfield, Massachusetts, he made his debut in the original 1943 production of Oklahoma!, only to be drafted days later to serve in World War II...
). However, the Gophers prove to be very clever and always manage to foil Coyote's plans.
Usually Ruffled Feathers would be the Gopher who would devise the plan to waylay the U.S. Army. The plan was communicated to Running Board in supposed Indian language. Running Board would smile and get excited as the plan was revealed to him and utter one of two catch-phrases: "Whoopee Doopee! We have fun!!" or "Whoopee Doopee! You-um genius!!". The uttering of the catch-phrase signaled a scene transition to the Gophers building of the trap to foil Colonel Kit Coyote and his men.
Some episodes would feature General Nuisance (voiced by George S. Irving
George S. Irving
George S. Irving is an American actor, known primarily for his character roles on Broadway. Born George Irving Shelasky in Springfield, Massachusetts, he made his debut in the original 1943 production of Oklahoma!, only to be drafted days later to serve in World War II...
), Colonel Kit Coyote and Sergeant Oakey Homa's superior who would often assign them important missions. Usually when Colonel Kit Coyote and Sergeant Oakey Homa end up botching up the important mission thanks to the Gophers' interference, General Nuisance would often have Kit and Oakey thrown into the Guard House.
Sergeant Oakey Homa would often be the one to close out every episode as a way of "breaking the fourth wall" when talking to the viewers.
The character voices were patterned after celebrities; Kit Coyote was strongly influenced by Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
, while the Sergeant had a voice much like John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
's. Running Board spoke a stereotypical heavily accented English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
while Ruffled Feathers spoke in what sounded like babbling
Babbling
Babbling is a stage in child development and a state in language acquisition, during which an infant appears to be experimenting with uttering sounds of language, but not yet producing any recognizable words...
.