Duckman
Duckman | |
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Also known as | Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man |
Genre | Adult animation Animated sitcom |
Created by | Everett Peck |
Based on | Duckman by Everett Peck |
Developed by |
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Directed by |
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Starring | |
Composers |
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Country of origin | United States |
No. of seasons | 4 |
No. of episodes | 70 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producers |
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Running time | 22–23 minutes |
Production companies |
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Original release | |
Network | USA Network |
Release | March 5, 1994 September 6, 1997 | –
Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man, commonly known simply as Duckman, is an American animated sitcom created and developed by Everett Peck, based on characters he created in his 1990 one-shot comic book published by Dark Horse Comics. Duckman aired on the USA Network from March 5, 1994, through September 6, 1997, for 4 season and 70 episodes. It follows Eric Tiberius Duckman (voiced by Jason Alexander), a private detective who lives with his family.
After airing in syndication, the series gained a cult following.[1] Spin-off media include volume DVDs released from 2008 to 2009, a comic book collection released by Topps between 1994 and 1996, a Complete Series DVD set released in 2018, and a video game entitled Duckman: The Graphic Adventures of a Private Dick for Microsoft Windows. The series was listed among IGN's "Top 100 Best Animated TV Shows" in 2009 and received three nominations at the Primetime Emmy Awards.
Plot
In a universe where humans and anthropomorphic animals coexist, the series centers on Eric
Main characters include Cornfed (voiced by Gregg Berger), a pig who is Duckman's Joe Friday–esque business partner and best friend; Ajax (voiced by Dweezil Zappa), Duckman's eldest, slow-witted teenage son; Charles (voiced by Dana Hill and later Pat Musick) and Mambo (voiced by E. G. Daily), Duckman's genius conjoined twins whose heads share a body; Bernice (voiced by Nancy Travis), the identical twin of Duckman's presumed-dead wife Beatrice, a fanatical fitness buff who hates Duckman with a passion; and Grandma-ma (voiced by Travis), Duckman's comatose, immensely flatulent mother-in-law.
Recurring characters include Agnes Delrooney (voiced by
In the final episode, four couples (Dr. Stein/Dana Reynard, Duckman/Honey, King Chicken/Bernice, Cornfed/Beverly) get married – the last three in a joint ceremony. The kids, Fluffy and Uranus, and a number of characters from previous episodes are in attendance. As the ceremonies draw to a close, Beatrice (Duckman's supposedly deceased wife) appears and shocks the entire crowd. When Duckman asks how she can still be alive, Beatrice indicates Cornfed always knew. Cornfed says, "I can explain." The show then ends with "To be continued...?" superimposed on the screen. In regards to this cliffhanger, Duckman writer Michael Markowitz offered the following shortly after the series came to an end: "We never formally planned Part II... and I'll never tell what I personally had in mind. I'm hoping to leave it to my heirs, for the inevitable day when Duckman is revived by future generations."[3] On August 13, 2015, Markowitz posted on his Twitter page in response to a question from a fan about the cliffhanger, "Was then (& now) an #XFiles fan (bride in ep was Dana Reynard, a Mulder-Scully hint) so involved gov't coverup of aliens".[4]
Production
The series consists of 70 episodes that aired on Saturday nights from 1994 to 1997 on the
Episodes
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
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First aired | Last aired | |||
1 | 13 | March 5, 1994 | June 11, 1994 | |
2 | 9 | March 11, 1995 | May 8, 1995 | |
3 | 20 | January 6, 1996 | July 6, 1996 | |
4 | 28 | January 4, 1997 | September 6, 1997 |
Merchandise
Comic books
Between 1994 and 1996 various comic books were published by Topps based on the TV series.[7] These were largely written and drawn by others, including Jay Lynch, Scott Shaw! and Craig Yoe. Topps also reprinted Peck's original 1990 Duckman comic.
Home media
In January 2008,
With the DVD releases, many episodes were edited to remove copyrighted music because of royalty issues, and as a result they differ somewhat from the aired TV episodes though Everett Peck was involved in the process of the DVD releases and he felt the most important music was preserved.[11]
The Complete Series DVD was released on February 6, 2018.[12]
Title | Season(s) | Episode count | Release date |
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Volume 1: The Complete First and Second Seasons | 1 and 2 | 22 | September 16, 2008 |
This three-disc release contained the entire first two seasons. | |||
Volume 2: The Complete Third and Fourth Seasons | 3 and 4 | 48 | January 6, 2009 |
This seven-disc release contained the entire final two seasons. | |||
The Complete Series | 1–4 | 70 | February 6, 2018 |
This ten-disc release contained the entire series. | |||
Video game
In May 1997, a
Reception
The show was critically acclaimed.[14][15][16] In January 2009, IGN listed Duckman as the 48th best in the Top 100 Best Animated TV Shows.[17]
Episodes "T.V. or Not to Be", "Noir Gang", and "Duckman and Cornfed in 'Haunted Society Plumbers'" were nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program in 1994, 1996, and 1997, respectively.[18]
See also
References
- ^ Kurland, Daniel (March 8, 2019). "Duckman: We Need Him Now More Than Ever". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ Zupan, Michael (September 22, 2008). "Duckman - Seasons One & Two". DVD Talk. Archived from the original on August 20, 2010. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
- ^ "To Be DIScontinued! - The Hall of Unresolved TV Cliffhangers: 1996-2000". Members.tripod.com. September 21, 1998. Archived from the original on March 23, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
- ^ @markowitz (August 13, 2015). "@Kennnnnny ...Was then ( & now) #XFiles fan (bride in ep was Dana Reynard, a Mulder-Scully hint) so involved gov't coverup of aliens" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- Business Week. Archived from the originalon December 7, 2010. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- ^ "ASCAP ACE - Search Results". Archived from the original on May 23, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
- ^ "Everett Peck". Lambiek.net. Archived from the original on July 3, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ Lambert, David (January 5, 2008). "Duckman DVD news: Plans Announced for Duckman". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
- ^ Lambert, David (May 28, 2008). "Duckman DVD News: Announcement for Duckman - Seasons 1 and 2". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
- ^ Lambert, David (September 14, 2008). "Duckman DVD News: Update About Duckman - Seasons 3 & 4". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
- ^ Mulrooney, Martin (November 18, 2009). "Interview – In Conversation with Everett Peck, Animator, Cartoonist and Creator of Duckman". AlternativeMagazineOnline.co.uk. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
- ^ Lambert, David (November 13, 2017). "Duckman - 'The Complete Series' on DVD from CBS/Paramount: Date and Package Art Look for All 4 Seasons to Come Together in One Set in Early February". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
- ^ "E3: The City of Angels Hosts One Hell of a Show - Duckman" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 84. EGM Media, LLC. July 1996. p. 67.
System: PlayStation, Release date: 1st Qtr, '97
- ^ O'Connor, John J. (March 9, 1996). "Television Review - 'Madison County' Spoof from a Cartoon Duck". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 13, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
- ^ Hiltbrand, David. "Picks and Pans Review: Duckman". People. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2015 – via People.com.
- ^ Winistorfer, Andrew (January 18, 2009). "Duckman: Seasons Three and Four". PopMatters.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
- ^ "Top 100 Animated Series". IGN. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
- Emmys.com. Archivedfrom the original on November 17, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
External links
- USA Network site at the Wayback Machine (archived June 14, 1997)
- Comedy Central site at the Wayback Machine (archived November 9, 2000)
- Official Website at the Wayback Machine (archived December 27, 1996)
- Markstein, Donald D. "Duckman". Toonopedia. (Archived 2016-05-05 at WebCite)
- Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man at IMDb