Herman's Head
Encyclopedia
Herman's Head is an American sitcom that aired on the Fox
network from 1991
to 1994
. The series stars William Ragsdale
as the titular character, Herman Brooks.
"-style dramatization of his thought processes.
. As they were intended to be one-dimensional, they often were lacking in other areas of their character, which led to frequent squabbles. The characters would act in unison when Herman's body is affected, such as having to sneeze, or crying out in pain after being punched in the stomach. They might also team up and form factions. The concept of inner conflict within a person is a common psychological concept; it is explored in Sigmund Freud
's concepts of Ego, Superego and Id, and Eric Berne
's transactional analysis
.
Herman's "head" characters existed in a large attic room filled with toys, a lit Christmas tree, a rose-covered bower, theater seats, neon signs, pennants and memorabilia from Ohio State University
, old furniture, and numerous file cabinets (with labels like "Memories", "Fantasies" and "Sexual Past"). They watch "films" of past events and enact possible scenarios for what might happen in Herman's various life situations, occasionally venturing into Hammer Films horror movie territory or (in the case of Animal) pornographic film.
Dave Madden
provided voiceover narration of the show's concept during the first season's opening title sequence.
and was canceled after three seasons.
In the final episode of the series, Herman is hit by a car and spends the episode lying in a hospital room near death. His co-workers speak of remembering Herman as they first met him, and we see each of the selves filling in for the emotion the friend first saw Herman displaying. Meanwhile, William Ragsdale appears as a head character, Herman's "Spirit". He announces his determination to keep the group alive, declaring "I'll be all that's left after Herman Brooks is gone." Animal immediately moans, "Oh my God, you're our student loan
!"
and Yeardley Smith
are cast members of The Simpsons
, which debuted on Fox two seasons earlier. One episode had Yeardley Smith's character, Louise, after hanging up the telephone, asked her colleague across the room, "Herman, I don't sound like that Lisa Simpson
, do I?" The Simpsons also referenced Herman's Head when Lisa (voiced by Smith) is asked what she is laughing at in the episode "Duffless
"; she replies that she has just remembered "A joke I saw on Herman's Head". In an episode years later, when Marge Simpson
asks him to sign a petition, Comic Book Guy
(voiced by Azaria) explains that he only signs petitions to bring back television shows, exclaiming "America needs the wisdom of Herman's Head now more than ever." Further, Lisa is revealed to have a Herman's Head-like Chorus of her own, seen when she's processing feelings of jealousy over Marge's publishing a novel. When asked about Herman's Head on a Simpsons commentary, Azaria said people were discussing shows that actors would rather forget, stating that he "always had that. I didn't love Herman's Head, really."
-hosted Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
.
in the UK between 1993 and 1994, on channel STS
in Russia between 1996 and 1997, ICTV
in Ukraine, and M-Net
in South Africa
.
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
network from 1991
1991 in television
For the American TV schedule, see: 1991-92 United States network television schedule.The year 1991 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1991.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
to 1994
1994 in television
The year 1994 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1994.For the American TV schedule, see: 1994-95 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-Miniseries:...
. The series stars William Ragsdale
William Ragsdale
Robert William Ragsdale is an American actor.-Life and career:Ragsdale was born in El Dorado, Arkansas. He attended Hendrix College, where he appeared in plays with Sling Blade actress and fellow Arkansan Natalie Canerday....
as the titular character, Herman Brooks.
Synopsis
Research assistant Herman Brooks works in the fact-checking department of a major magazine publisher, Waterton Publishing. His decisions and actions are dramatized with a "Greek chorusGreek chorus
A Greek chorus is a homogenous, non-individualised group of performers in the plays of classical Greece, who comment with a collective voice on the dramatic action....
"-style dramatization of his thought processes.
The psyche
The four characters acting out Herman's emotions each represented a different aspect of his personality, or psychePsyche (psychology)
The word psyche has a long history of use in psychology and philosophy, dating back to ancient times, and has been one of the fundamental concepts for understanding human nature from a scientific point of view. The English word soul is sometimes used synonymously, especially in older...
. As they were intended to be one-dimensional, they often were lacking in other areas of their character, which led to frequent squabbles. The characters would act in unison when Herman's body is affected, such as having to sneeze, or crying out in pain after being punched in the stomach. They might also team up and form factions. The concept of inner conflict within a person is a common psychological concept; it is explored in Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
's concepts of Ego, Superego and Id, and Eric Berne
Eric Berne
Eric Berne was a Canadian-born psychiatrist best known as the creator of transactional analysis and the author of Games People Play.-Background and education:...
's transactional analysis
Transactional analysis
Transactional analysis, commonly known as TA to its adherents, is an integrative approach to the theory of psychology and psychotherapy. It is described as integrative because it has elements of psychoanalytic, humanist and cognitive approaches...
.
- Angel represents his sensitivity. As the only female character in his brain, Angel also represented his feminine side, or in Jungian terms the animaAnima (Jung)The anima and animus, in Carl Jung's school of analytical psychology, are the two primary anthropomorphic archetypes of the unconscious mind, as opposed to both the theriomorphic and inferior-function of the shadow archetypes, as well as the abstract symbol sets that formulate the archetype of the...
, and sometimes used this fact to manipulate the male characters. - Animal represents his lustLustLust is an emotional force that is directly associated with the thinking or fantasizing about one's desire, usually in a sexual way.-Etymology:The word lust is phonetically similar to the ancient Roman lustrum, which literally meant "purification"...
or hunger. He was an archetypal frat boyFraternities and sororitiesFraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
. In one episode where Herman's personalities are assessing a sleazy man (Ken Hudson Campbell in a dual role) dating Louise, Animal sticks up for him, probably because this man looks and acts exactly like him. - Wimp represents Herman's anxietyAnxietyAnxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
. He is a paranoidParanoiaParanoia [] is a thought process believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs, or beliefs of conspiracy concerning a perceived threat towards oneself...
hypochondriac. But since he always expects the worst, he is often the best prepared to handle crises when the others could not decide. - Genius represents his intellectIntellectIntellect is a term used in studies of the human mind, and refers to the ability of the mind to come to correct conclusions about what is true or real, and about how to solve problems...
and logic and often clashes with the Angel's naïvete and Animal's stupidity. At times he can get overworked; as in one episode where Herman makes a ridiculous decision, Genius' face is blackened by soot and he exclaims "I think I blew a fuse!". - Jealousy (Bobcat GoldthwaitBobcat GoldthwaitRobert Francis "Bobcat" Goldthwait is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and film and television director. He is commonly known for his energetic, ravenous stage personality, his dark, acerbic black comedy, and his gruff but high-pitched voice.- Early life :Goldthwait was born in Syracuse,...
) only appears once, when Herman and his sister find themselves in competition for a job. He causes so much confusion and chaos that the original four selves throw him out the door, followed by a hand grenadeHand grenadeA hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
.
Herman's "head" characters existed in a large attic room filled with toys, a lit Christmas tree, a rose-covered bower, theater seats, neon signs, pennants and memorabilia from Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, old furniture, and numerous file cabinets (with labels like "Memories", "Fantasies" and "Sexual Past"). They watch "films" of past events and enact possible scenarios for what might happen in Herman's various life situations, occasionally venturing into Hammer Films horror movie territory or (in the case of Animal) pornographic film.
Friends, co-workers and bosses
Much of the show's action is situated at the Waterton research department, where professional and personal situations alike seem to cross Herman's path on a daily basis. Herman also has a studio apartment located downtown, which, in a first season episode, is indicated as being a somewhat lengthy subway ride from the Waterton offices.Dave Madden
Dave Madden
Dave Madden is a Canadian-born American actor. He was born in Sarnia, Ontario, but was raised in Terre Haute, Indiana. His most famous role came in the 1970s sitcom The Partridge Family in which he played the group's manager, Reuben Kincaid.- Career :Madden first gained notice as a milk-drinking,...
provided voiceover narration of the show's concept during the first season's opening title sequence.
Cast
- William RagsdaleWilliam RagsdaleRobert William Ragsdale is an American actor.-Life and career:Ragsdale was born in El Dorado, Arkansas. He attended Hendrix College, where he appeared in plays with Sling Blade actress and fellow Arkansan Natalie Canerday....
- Herman Brooks - Hank AzariaHank AzariaHenry Albert "Hank" Azaria is an American film, television and stage actor, director, voice actor, and comedian. He is noted for being one of the principal voice actors on the animated television series The Simpsons , on which he performs the voices of Moe Szyslak, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Chief...
- Jay Nichols - Jane SibbettJane SibbettJane Moore Sibbett is an American actress and producer. Her most notable roles include Heddy on the Fox television series Herman's Head, and as Ross Geller's ex-wife, Carol Willick, on the American TV sitcom Friends....
- Heddy Thompson - Yeardley SmithYeardley SmithYeardley Smith is a French-born American actress, voice actress, writer and painter. She is best known for her long-running role as Lisa Simpson on the animated television series The Simpsons....
- Louise Fitzer - Jason BernardJason BernardJason Bernard was an American actor who starred in movies and on television.-Career:Bernard was born in Chicago, Illinois...
- Mr. Paul Bracken - Molly HaganMolly Hagan-Youth:Hagan was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of Mary Elizabeth and John Robert Hagan. She was raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana.-Career:She featured in the series Herman's Head which ran on Fox from 1991 to 1994...
- Angel - Ken Hudson CampbellKen Hudson CampbellKen Hudson Campbell is an American television and voice actor.Campbell played "Animal" on the experimental Fox TV series Herman's Head, as well as Buckman in the movie Down Periscope. He appeared in the Seinfeld episode "The Seven", where he played Ken, the husband of Susan's first cousin, Carrie...
- Animal - Rick Lawless - Wimp
- Peter MacKenziePeter MackenziePeter MacKenzie is an American actor. His first major role was on Herman's Head. He is a character actor. He also played "Mr. Firestein" in the season 3 episode of The Drew Carey Show titled "The Sex Drug", as Mimi Bobeck's counsel in her sex harassment case against Nigel Wick, and co-starred in...
- Genius - Edward WinterEdward WinterEdward Dean Winter was an American actor, perhaps most well known for his role as military intelligence officer Colonel Flagg on the television series M*A*S*H.-Early career:...
- Mr. Crawford
Reception and cancellation
The show suffered from poor ratingsNielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
and was canceled after three seasons.
In the final episode of the series, Herman is hit by a car and spends the episode lying in a hospital room near death. His co-workers speak of remembering Herman as they first met him, and we see each of the selves filling in for the emotion the friend first saw Herman displaying. Meanwhile, William Ragsdale appears as a head character, Herman's "Spirit". He announces his determination to keep the group alive, declaring "I'll be all that's left after Herman Brooks is gone." Animal immediately moans, "Oh my God, you're our student loan
Student loan
A student loan is designed to help students pay for university tuition, books, and living expenses. It may differ from other types of loans in that the interest rate may be substantially lower and the repayment schedule may be deferred while the student is still in education...
!"
The Simpsons impact
Both Hank AzariaHank Azaria
Henry Albert "Hank" Azaria is an American film, television and stage actor, director, voice actor, and comedian. He is noted for being one of the principal voice actors on the animated television series The Simpsons , on which he performs the voices of Moe Szyslak, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Chief...
and Yeardley Smith
Yeardley Smith
Yeardley Smith is a French-born American actress, voice actress, writer and painter. She is best known for her long-running role as Lisa Simpson on the animated television series The Simpsons....
are cast members of The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, which debuted on Fox two seasons earlier. One episode had Yeardley Smith's character, Louise, after hanging up the telephone, asked her colleague across the room, "Herman, I don't sound like that Lisa Simpson
Lisa Simpson
Lisa Marie Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons. She is the middle child of the Simpson family. Voiced by Yeardley Smith, Lisa first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Cartoonist Matt Groening...
, do I?" The Simpsons also referenced Herman's Head when Lisa (voiced by Smith) is asked what she is laughing at in the episode "Duffless
Duffless
"Duffless" is the sixteenth episode of The Simpsons fourth season and originally aired on the Fox network on February 18, 1993. After getting arrested for drunk driving, Homer tries to remain sober, at Marge's request. Meanwhile, Lisa attempts to prove that Bart is dumber than a hamster after he...
"; she replies that she has just remembered "A joke I saw on Herman's Head". In an episode years later, when Marge Simpson
Marge Simpson
Marjorie "Marge" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the eponymous family. She is voiced by actress Julie Kavner and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
asks him to sign a petition, Comic Book Guy
Comic Book Guy
Comic Book Guy is a recurring fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Hank Azaria, and first appeared in the second-season episode "Three Men and a Comic Book", which originally aired on May 9, 1991. He is the proprietor of a comic book store, The...
(voiced by Azaria) explains that he only signs petitions to bring back television shows, exclaiming "America needs the wisdom of Herman's Head now more than ever." Further, Lisa is revealed to have a Herman's Head-like Chorus of her own, seen when she's processing feelings of jealousy over Marge's publishing a novel. When asked about Herman's Head on a Simpsons commentary, Azaria said people were discussing shows that actors would rather forget, stating that he "always had that. I didn't love Herman's Head, really."
Participation in television history
During the November 17, 1991 broadcast of Herman's Head, the very first commercial advertisement for condoms aired in the United States. This landmark occurrence, along with the involvement of the series, was later developed as a question over a decade later on the Meredith VieiraMeredith Vieira
Meredith Louise Vieira is an American journalist, television personality, and game show host. She is best known for her roles as the original moderator of the ABC talk program The View and co-host of the long-running NBC News morning news program, Today...
-hosted Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is a television game show which offers large cash prizes for correctly answering a series of multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty. The format is owned and licensed by Sony Pictures Television International. The maximum cash prize is one million pounds...
.
International airings
The show was also shown on Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
in the UK between 1993 and 1994, on channel STS
STS
-Science, medicine, meteorology and technology:*Science and technology studies*Superior temporal sulcus*Socio-technical systems*Severe tropical storm*Scanning tunneling spectroscopy, a spectroscopy technique based on Scanning Tunneling Microscopy...
in Russia between 1996 and 1997, ICTV
ICTV (Ukraine)
ICTV is a privately-held TV channel in Ukraine. Its coverage area allows it to be received by 56.6 % of the Ukrainian population, making the channel the fourth in the nation in terms of coverage , and third by the viewers' ratings.The channel is owned by...
in Ukraine, and M-Net
M-Net
M-Net is a subscription-funded television channel in South Africa, established in 1986 by Naspers....
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.