Hong Kong Phooey
Encyclopedia
Hong Kong Phooey is a 16-episode (31 shorts) Hanna-Barbera
animated series that first aired on ABC
Saturday morning from to . The main character, Hong Kong Phooey, is a superhero
who uses Chinese martial arts
to fight crime. Hong Kong Phooey is the secret
alter ego
of Penrod "Penry" Pooch, a "mild-mannered" police station janitor
. Hong Kong Phooey/Penry Pooch is also an anthropomorphic dog in a world populated mainly by normal humans.
Like many Saturday morning animated series of the era, Hong Kong Phooey contained a laugh track
.
Despite the theme song, Hong Kong Phooey is a classic screw-up, and often fails to save the city only to be saved by his sidekick pet cat, Spot. In a few rare circumstances, Hong Kong Phooey actually does save the city, but usually as an unintended side effect of his intended attack going horribly wrong. Hong Kong Phooey is a respected superhero who always gets full credit for Spot’s success.
A running gag
is that Hong Kong Phooey is such a respected hero that when his incompetence causes him to crash into, harm, or otherwise inconvenience a civilian, the passerby feels honored as opposed to annoyed or embarrassed, such as when he drove the Phooeymobile through wet cement, splattering the workers, who responded that it was an honor to have a whole day's work ruined by "the great Hong Kong Phooey."
. Sergeant Flint was voiced by Joe E. Ross
, best known as Officer Gunther Toody in the early '60s television series Car 54, Where Are You?
. As Flint, Ross revived Toody's famous "Oooh! Oooh!" exclamation. Sergeant Flint was very similar both in voice and appearance to Botch, assistant zoo-keeper at the Wonderland Zoo on Help! It's the Hair Bear Bunch
.
In the episode "Comedy Cowboys", several new cartoon characters (Honcho, The Mystery Maverick, and Posse Impossible) appeared and helped to clear Hong Kong Phooey of a crime he did not commit. This episode was a pilot
for the characters, and Posse Impossible later appeared in their own continuing segment on The CB Bears Show
.
and was sung by Scatman Crothers
.
A cover of the show’s theme song, performed by Sublime
, is included on the 1995 tribute album
Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits, produced by Ralph Sall
for MCA Records
.
released the complete series on 2-disc DVD in Region 1.
The series is also available in the UK as a Region 2 2-disc set, and 2 separate volumes.
Although the episodes are listed in airing order, there is a slight error on the disc one/volume one menu and cover. Mirror Mirror, On the Wall/Great Movie Mystery is placed BEFORE The Gumdrop Kid/Professor Presto, thus causing a mix-up with the selection on the menu.
, as a member of the Scooby Doobies.
Hong Kong Phooey faces off against and easily defeats evil anthropomorphic animals: a trio of rabbits, what appears to be a crane, and a reptilianoid. At the end he morphs back to Penry with a smile and sparkle in his eye.
had been hired to pen a Hong Kong Phooey film. Alex Zamm
is set to direct and Broderick Johnson
, Andrew Kosove
, Brett Ratner
, and Jay Stern are producing. Alcon Entertainment
will back the film. It was announced August 10, 2011, that Eddie Murphy
will be voicing Penry/Hong Kong Phooey in the film.
song "Nothing Came Out" mentions Hong Kong Phooey among other cartoons: "I want you to watch cartoons with me. He-Man
, Voltron
and Hong-Kong-Phooey".
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
animated series that first aired on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
Saturday morning from to . The main character, Hong Kong Phooey, is a superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
who uses Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
to fight crime. Hong Kong Phooey is the secret
Secret identity
A secret identity is an element of fiction wherein a character develops a separate persona , while keeping their true identity hidden. The character also may wear a disguise...
alter ego
Alter ego
An alter ego is a second self, which is believe to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists...
of Penrod "Penry" Pooch, a "mild-mannered" police station janitor
Janitor
A janitor or custodian is a professional who takes care of buildings, such as hospitals and schools. Janitors are responsible primarily for cleaning, and often some maintenance and security...
. Hong Kong Phooey/Penry Pooch is also an anthropomorphic dog in a world populated mainly by normal humans.
Like many Saturday morning animated series of the era, Hong Kong Phooey contained a laugh track
Laugh track
A laugh track is a separate soundtrack invented by Charles "Charley" Douglass, with the artificial sound of audience laughter, made to be inserted into television programming of comedy shows and sitcoms.The term "laugh track" does not apply to the genuine audience laughter on shows that shoot in...
.
Synopsis
The series stars Hong Kong Phooey, the “number one super guy” who travels about the city in his “Phooeymobile” fighting crime with the aid of his manual, The Hong Kong Book Of Kung Fu. The stories begin at the police headquarters, where Hong Kong Phooey's alter ego, Penry, works as a mild-mannered janitor under the glare of Sergeant Flint ("Sarge"). Also at the police station is Rosemary, the telephone operator, who has a crush on Hong Kong Phooey. After Rosemary gets a call and explains the crime, Penry runs into a filing cabinet and (always getting stuck) transforms himself into Hong Kong Phooey.Despite the theme song, Hong Kong Phooey is a classic screw-up, and often fails to save the city only to be saved by his sidekick pet cat, Spot. In a few rare circumstances, Hong Kong Phooey actually does save the city, but usually as an unintended side effect of his intended attack going horribly wrong. Hong Kong Phooey is a respected superhero who always gets full credit for Spot’s success.
A running gag
Running gag
A running gag, or running joke, is a literary device that takes the form of an amusing joke or a comical reference and appears repeatedly throughout a work of literature or other form of storytelling....
is that Hong Kong Phooey is such a respected hero that when his incompetence causes him to crash into, harm, or otherwise inconvenience a civilian, the passerby feels honored as opposed to annoyed or embarrassed, such as when he drove the Phooeymobile through wet cement, splattering the workers, who responded that it was an honor to have a whole day's work ruined by "the great Hong Kong Phooey."
Details
Hong Kong Phooey was voiced by Scatman CrothersScatman Crothers
Benjamin Sherman "Scatman" Crothers was an American actor, singer, dancer and musician known for his work as Louie the Garbage Man on the TV show Chico and the Man, and as Dick Hallorann in The Shining in 1980...
. Sergeant Flint was voiced by Joe E. Ross
Joe E. Ross
Joe E. Ross was an American actor known for his trademark "Ooh! Ooh!" exclamation, which he used in many of his roles. He starred in such TV sitcoms as The Phil Silvers Show and Car 54, Where Are You?.-Career:...
, best known as Officer Gunther Toody in the early '60s television series Car 54, Where Are You?
Car 54, Where Are You?
Car 54, Where Are You? is an American sitcom that ran on NBC from 1961 to 1963. Episodes had various directors, the most recognized being Al De Caprio. Stanley Prager and Nat Hiken also directed several episodes. Most of its filming was on location in The Bronx, and at Biograph...
. As Flint, Ross revived Toody's famous "Oooh! Oooh!" exclamation. Sergeant Flint was very similar both in voice and appearance to Botch, assistant zoo-keeper at the Wonderland Zoo on Help! It's the Hair Bear Bunch
Help! It's the Hair Bear Bunch
Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch! is a Saturday morning cartoon, produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions in 1971 for CBS.-Production:The show was developed under the name The Yo Yo Bears, a title which many sources inaccurately list as its name in syndication. The show never went into syndication...
.
In the episode "Comedy Cowboys", several new cartoon characters (Honcho, The Mystery Maverick, and Posse Impossible) appeared and helped to clear Hong Kong Phooey of a crime he did not commit. This episode was a pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
for the characters, and Posse Impossible later appeared in their own continuing segment on The CB Bears Show
CB Bears
CB Bears was a 60-minute Saturday morning cartoon program block produced by Hanna-Barbera which aired on NBC from September 10 to December 3, 1977...
.
Theme song
The show’s theme song, entitled "Hong Kong Phooey", was written by Chester Stover, Watts Biggers, Treadwell Covington, and Joseph HarrisJoseph Harris
Joseph Vikram "Joe" Harris is an Indian-born Canadian cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-hand off-break bowler....
and was sung by Scatman Crothers
Scatman Crothers
Benjamin Sherman "Scatman" Crothers was an American actor, singer, dancer and musician known for his work as Louie the Garbage Man on the TV show Chico and the Man, and as Dick Hallorann in The Shining in 1980...
.
A cover of the show’s theme song, performed by Sublime
Sublime (band)
Sublime was an American ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band's line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell , Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh . Michael "Miguel" Happoldt also contributed on a few Sublime songs, such as "New Thrash." Lou Dog, Nowell's...
, is included on the 1995 tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits, produced by Ralph Sall
Ralph Sall
Ralph Sall is a record producer, music supervisor, composer, songwriter, and screenwriter. He is the president of Bulletproof Entertainment, a company involved in several facets of the entertainment industry, including film, television, comic books and graphic novels, music, internet and live...
for MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
.
Episode guide
| Episode Number | Title/Production Number | Airdate | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| HKP-1 | Car Thieves (prod. #74–1 Act 1) / Zoo Story (prod. #74–1 Act 2) | September 7, 1974 | |
| HKP-2 | Iron Head the Robot (prod. #74–2 Act 1) / Cotton Pickin' Pocket Picker (prod. #74–2 Act 2) | September 14, 1974 | |
| HKP-3 | Grandma Goody (Cat Burglar) (prod. #74–3 Act 1) / Candle Power (prod. #74–3 Act 2) | September 21, 1974 | |
| HKP-4 | The Penthouse Burglaries (prod. #74–4 Act 1) / Batty Bank Mob (prod. #74–4 Act 2) | September 28, 1974 | |
| HKP-5 | The Voltage Villain (prod. #74–5 Act 1) / The Giggler (prod. #74–5 Act 2) | October 5, 1974 | |
| HKP-6 | The Gumdrop Kid (prod. #74–6 Act 1) / Professor Presto (The Malevolent Magician) (prod. #74–6 Act 2) | October 12, 1974 | |
| HKP-7 | TV or Not TV (prod. #74–7 Act 1) / Stop Horsing Around (prod. #74–7 Act 2) | October 19, 1974 | |
| HKP-8 | Mirror, Mirror on the Wall (prod. #74–8 Act 1) / Great Movie Mystery (prod. #74–8 Act 2) | October 26, 1974 | |
| HKP-9 | The Claw (prod. #74–9 Act 1) / Hong Kong Phooey vs. Hong Kong Phooey (prod. #74–9 Act 2) | November 2, 1974 | |
| HKP-10 | The Abominable Snowman (prod. #74–10 Act 1) / Professor Crosshatch (prod. #74–10 Act 2) | November 9, 1974 | |
| HKP-11 | Goldfisher (prod. #74–11 Act 1) / Green Thumb (prod. #74–11 Act 2) | November 16, 1974 | |
| HKP-12 | From Bad to Verse (Rotten Rhymer) (prod. #74–12 Act 1) / Kong and the Counterfeiters (prod. #74–12 Act 2) | November 23, 1974 | |
| HKP-13 | The Great Choo Choo Robbery (prod. #74–13 Act 1) / Patty Cake, Patty Cake, Bakery Man (prod. #74–13 Act 2) | November 30, 1974 | |
| HKP-14 | Mr. Tornado (prod. #74–14 Act 1) / The Little Crook Who Wasn't There (prod. #74–14 Act 2) | December 7, 1974 | |
| HKP-15 | Dr. Disguiso (prod. #74–15 Act 1) / The Incredible Mr. Shrink (prod. #74–15 Act 2) | December 14, 1974 | |
| HKP-16 | Comedy Cowboys (prod. #74–16) | December 21, 1974 |
DVD release
On August 15, 2006, Warner Home VideoWarner Home Video
Warner Home Video is the home video unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., itself part of Time Warner. It was founded in 1978 as WCI Home Video . The company launched in the United States with twenty films on VHS and Betamax videocassettes in late 1979...
released the complete series on 2-disc DVD in Region 1.
| DVD Name | Ep # | Release date | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong Phooey- The Complete Series | 16 | August 15, 2006 | Hong Kong Phooey- volume 1
|
The series is also available in the UK as a Region 2 2-disc set, and 2 separate volumes.
Although the episodes are listed in airing order, there is a slight error on the disc one/volume one menu and cover. Mirror Mirror, On the Wall/Great Movie Mystery is placed BEFORE The Gumdrop Kid/Professor Presto, thus causing a mix-up with the selection on the menu.
Voices
- Scatman CrothersScatman CrothersBenjamin Sherman "Scatman" Crothers was an American actor, singer, dancer and musician known for his work as Louie the Garbage Man on the TV show Chico and the Man, and as Dick Hallorann in The Shining in 1980...
– Hong Kong Phooey/Penrod "Penry" Pooch - Kathy GoriKathy GoriKathy Gori is an American voice actress, radio personality and screenwriter.-Biography:She was born in San Francisco, California....
– Rosemary - Joe E. RossJoe E. RossJoe E. Ross was an American actor known for his trademark "Ooh! Ooh!" exclamation, which he used in many of his roles. He starred in such TV sitcoms as The Phil Silvers Show and Car 54, Where Are You?.-Career:...
– Sergeant Flint - Don MessickDon MessickDonald Earl "Don" Messick was an American voice actor best known for his work for Hanna-Barbera. Perhaps his most well-known voice creations include Scooby-Doo, Papa Smurf, and Dr. Benton Quest....
– Spot
Hong Kong Phooey in other languages
- Brazilian Portuguese: Hong Kong Fu
- Spanish: Hong Kong Phooey (the title character is voiced by Rafael del Río)
- German: Hong Kong Pfui
- Japanese: ほえよ! 0011 (Hoeyo! 0011)
- Swedish: Hong Kong Phooey (also known as "Karate-Klanten" in comic version)
- French: Hong Kong Foufou
- Portuguese: Hong Kong Phooey
- Polish: Hong Kong Fu-I
- Chinese: 功夫迷 (Kung Fu Mania)
- Italy: La furia di Hong Kong (Hong Kong Fury)
- Russian: Кунг-фу Пёс (Kung Fu Dog)
Other appearances
Hong Kong Phooey later appeared as a regular character in Laff-A-LympicsLaff-A-Lympics
Laff-A-Lympics was the co-headlining segment, with Scooby-Doo, of the package Saturday morning cartoon series Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics, produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The show was a spoof of the Olympics and the ABC television series Battle of the Network Stars, which debuted one...
, as a member of the Scooby Doobies.
Other media
With a copyright of 2001, Alan Lau in conjunction with Wildbrain.com produced a flash animation webshow cartoon that was prominently featured on CartoonNetwork.com, and can still be found there. While Penry appears identical to the original incarnation, Hong Kong Phooey is a much larger, cut, and highly competent and skilled fighter without Spot the cat.Hong Kong Phooey faces off against and easily defeats evil anthropomorphic animals: a trio of rabbits, what appears to be a crane, and a reptilianoid. At the end he morphs back to Penry with a smile and sparkle in his eye.
Film
On July 12, 2009, it was announced that David A. GoodmanDavid A. Goodman
David A. Goodman is an American writer and producer and a graduate of the University of Chicago, earning an BA in 1984. He was one of the executive producers of Family Guy, beginning its fourth season, joining the show as a co-executive producer in season three...
had been hired to pen a Hong Kong Phooey film. Alex Zamm
Alex Zamm
Alex Zamm is an American film director. He has directed numerous films from 1998 to now, starting with Chairman of the Board.-Filmography:- External links :...
is set to direct and Broderick Johnson
Broderick Johnson
Broderick Johnson is an American film producer, and Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Alcon Entertainment, alongside his producing partner Andrew Kosove. He was nominated for an Academy Award for the hit film "The Blind Side."-Early life:...
, Andrew Kosove
Andrew Kosove
Andrew A. Kosove is an American film producer who was nominated for an Academy Award for the hit film "The Blind Side." Alongside his producing partner, Broderick Johnson, he is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Alcon Entertainment, the Los Angeles-based wholly independent production company that...
, Brett Ratner
Brett Ratner
Brett Ratner is an American film director, film producer and music video director. He is best known for directing the Rush Hour film series, The Family Man, Red Dragon, X-Men: The Last Stand, and Tower Heist. He was also a producer on the Fox drama series, Prison Break.- Early life :Ratner was...
, and Jay Stern are producing. Alcon Entertainment
Alcon Entertainment
Alcon Entertainment, LLC is an American film production company, founded in 1997 by film producers Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove. Since its establishment, Alcon Entertainment has developed and financed films that are ultimately distributed by Warner Bros., following a ten-year motion picture...
will back the film. It was announced August 10, 2011, that Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
will be voicing Penry/Hong Kong Phooey in the film.
Music
The Moldy PeachesThe Moldy Peaches
The Moldy Peaches was an indie group founded by Adam Green and Kimya Dawson. Leading proponents of the anti-folk scene, the band has been on hiatus since 2004...
song "Nothing Came Out" mentions Hong Kong Phooey among other cartoons: "I want you to watch cartoons with me. He-Man
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is an American animated television series produced by Filmation based on Mattel's successful toy line Masters of the Universe...
, Voltron
Voltron
Voltron is the titular super robot of an anime series that features a team of young pilots, known as the Voltron Force. The team’s individual vehicles join together to form the giant super robot, with which they defend the galaxy from evil...
and Hong-Kong-Phooey".
Literature
The short children's novel Hong Kong Phooey and The Fortune Cookie Caper by Jean Lewis, illustrated by Phil Ostapczuk, was published in 1975 by Rand McNally and Company, as well as Hong Kong Phooey and the Bird Nest Snatchers (1976).See also
- List of works produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions
- List of Hanna-Barbera characters
External links
- Big Cartoon DataBase: Hong Kong Phooey
- Hong Kong Phooey – Profile on Hong Kong Phooey
- Hong Kong Phooey - Cartoon NetworkCartoon NetworkCartoon 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....
Department of Cartoons (Archive) - Hong Kong Phooey Fanriffic Zone - Featuring an interview with Kathy Gori, voice of Rosemary the telephone operator
- InternationalHero Hong Kong Phooey tribute
- Wingnut Toons episode list
- Warner Bros. – Hong Kong Phooey on DVD – The Official Site
- Cartoon Network: Dept. of Cartoons: Hong Kong Phooey – cached copy from Internet Archives
- Cartoon Network Flash Animation