Underdog @ The Cartoon Scrapbook

Prod. Notes:

October 1964 - September 1966, NBC

September 1966 - September 1968, CBS

September 1968 - September 1970, NBC

September 1972 - September 1973, NBC

Leonardo Television

Cast:

Underdog/Shoeshine Boy ....................................................... Wally Cox

Sweet Polly Purebred .................................................. Norma McMillan

Simon Bar Sinister .................................................................. Allen Swift

Cad ................................................................................................ Allen Swift

Narrator ................................................................................. George Irving

Synopsis:

Leonardo Productions, the creators of Tennessee Tuxedo, had their biggest success with the adventures of a super-powered pooch named Underdog, who was a parody of the Superman character. In his secret identity, Underdog posed as mild-mannered, spectacle wearing Shoeshine Boy. When villains threatened, Shoeshine Boy would slip into the nearest telephone booth (which was inevitably destroyed by his transformation) and emerge as a caped and costumed champion of justice.

Like his human counterpart, Underdog was not infallible. While he didn't have to contend with Kryptonite, occasionally his powers would fade, causing him all kinds of trouble. In these instances Underdog was forced to take a revitalizing "Energy Vitamin Pill," which he kept in a secret compartment of his ring for just such an emergency.

Pleas for help usually came from Shoeshine Boy's romantic interest, ace TTV television news reporter Sweet Polly Purebred, the cartoon's most frequent canine-in-distress. Whenever she needed her hero’s assistance, Polly would break out into song: “Oh where, oh where has my Underdog gone? Oh where, oh where can he be?” Unfortunately for Shoeshine Boy, Polly's admiration for Underdog did not extend to his humble secret identity.

A colorful array of villains seemed to follow the hapless Polly wherever she went. Recurring baddies included mob boss Riff Raff (a wolf in a pinstriped suit), and Simon Bar Sinister, an evil scientist who once created a Big Dipper Machine to steal the world's water supply. He then enslaved the citizens and made them do as "Simon Says" just to get a drink.

For some reason, Underdog only spoke in rhymed couplets, but luckily, this need to recite a verse of poetry before every battle didn’t seem to slow him down. His most recognized line was the catchy, "There's no need to fear, Underdog is here!"

The majority of Underdog cartoons were divided into four-part serial episodes. They aired as the main segments on The Underdog Show, along with reruns of The Hunter and The World of Commander McBragg (both from Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales). In 1966, the show switched networks and replaced the two backup segments with new episodes of Go Go Gophers and Klondike Kat.

Episodes:

Safe Waif

March Of The Monsters

Go Snow, Part 1

Go Snow, Part 2

Go Snow, Part 3

Go Snow, Part 4

Zot, Part 1

Zot, Part 2

Zot, Part 3

Zot, Part 4

The Great Gold Robbery, Part 1

The Great Gold Robbery, Part 2

The Great Gold Robbery, Part 3

The Great Gold Robbery, Part 4

Fearo, Part 1

Fearo, Part 2

Fearo, Part 3

Fearo, Part 4

Shrinking Water, Part 1

Shrinking Water, Part 2

Shrinking Water, Part 3

Shrinking Water, Part 4

The Bubble Heads, Part 1

The Bubble Heads, Part 2

The Bubble Heads, Part 3

The Bubble Heads, Part 4

From Hopeless To Helpless, Part 1

From Hopeless To Helpless, Part 2

From Hopeless To Helpless, Part 3

From Hopeless To Helpless, Part 4

Simon Says

Tricky Trap By Tap Tap

The Wicked Witch Of Pickyoon, Part 1

The Wicked Witch Of Pickyoon, Part 2

The Wicked Witch Of Pickyoon, Part 3

The Wicked Witch Of Pickyoon, Part 4

Weathering The Storm, Part 1

Weathering The Storm, Part 2

Weathering The Storm, Part 3

Weathering The Storm, Part 4

The Gold Bricks, Part 1

The Gold Bricks, Part 2

The Gold Bricks, Part 3

The Gold Bricks, Part 4

Pain Strikes Underdog, Part 1

Pain Strikes Underdog, Part 2

Pain Strikes Underdog, Part 3

Pain Strikes Underdog, Part 4

The Molemen, Part 1

The Molemen, Part 2

The Molemen, Part 3

The Molemen, Part 4

The Flying Sorcerers, Part 1

The Flying Sorcerers, Part 2

The Flying Sorcerers, Part 3

The Flying Sorcerers, Part 4

The Forget-Me-Not, Part 1

The Forget-Me-Not, Part 2

The Forget-Me-Not, Part 3

The Forget-Me-Not, Part 4

Gorilla Warfare, Part 1

Gorilla Warfare, Part 2

Gorilla Warfare, Part 3

Gorilla Warfare, Part 4

Simon Says "No Thanksgiving", Part 1

Simon Says "No Thanksgiving", Part 2

Simon Says "No Thanksgiving", Part 3

Simon Says "No Thanksgiving", Part 4

The Silver Thieves, Part 1

The Silver Thieves, Part 2

The Silver Thieves, Part 3

The Silver Thieves, Part 4

Raffaffville, Part 1

Raffaffville, Part 2

Raffaffville, Part 3

Raffaffville, Part 4

The Tickle Feather Machine, Part 1

The Tickle Feather Machine, Part 2

The Tickle Feather Machine, Part 3

The Tickle Feather Machine, Part 4

Underdog vs. Overcat, Part 1

Underdog vs. Overcat, Part 2

Underdog vs. Overcat, Part 3

Underdog vs. Overcat, Part 4

The Big Dipper, Part 1

The Big Dipper, Part 2

The Big Dipper, Part 3

The Big Dipper, Part 4

Just In Case, Part 1

Just In Case, Part 2

Just In Case, Part 3

Just In Case, Part 4

The Marblehead, Part 1

The Marblehead, Part 2

The Marblehead, Part 3

The Marblehead, Part 4

Simon Says "Be My Valentine", Part 1

Simon Says "Be My Valentine", Part 2

Simon Says "Be My Valentine", Part 3

Simon Says "Be My Valentine", Part 4

Round And Round, Part 1

Round And Round, Part 2

Round And Round, Part 3

Round And Round, Part 4

A New Villain, Part 1

A New Villain, Part 2

A New Villain, Part 3

A New Villain, Part 4

Batty Man, Part 1

Batty Man, Part 2

Batty Man, Part 3

Batty Man, Part 4

Vacuum Gun, Part 1

Vacuum Gun, Part 2

Vacuum Gun, Part 3

Vacuum Gun, Part 4

Opening Lyrics:

"There's no need to fear! Underdog is here!

When criminals in this world appear

And break the laws that they should fear

And frighten all who see or hear

The cry goes up both far and near

For Underdog! Underdog! Underdog! Underdog!

Speed of lightning, roar of thunder

Fighting all who rob or plunder

Underdog. Underdog!

When in this world the headlines read

Of those whose hearts are filled with greed

Who rob and steal from those who need

To right this wrong with blinding speed

Goes Underdog! Underdog! Underdog! Underdog!

Speed of lightning, roar of thunder

Fighting all who rob or plunder

Underdog. Underdog!"