Synopsis of Saturday Morning Show

With arguably the most famous laugh of any cartoon character in history (“ha-ha-Ha-HA-ha”), Woody Woodpecker pecked his way into our lives through a 1940 Andy Panda theatrical short entitled Knock Knock. Woody continued to appear in short films throughout the 40’s and 50’s, and in 1957, the Kellogg's company packaged these theatrical works into the syndicated package The Woody Woodpecker Show.

Woody Woodpecker was the brainchild of Walter Lantz, whose wife, Grace Stafford, gave a high-pitched, Lucille Ball-like voice to the redheaded bird. In the show’s early days, Lantz would host the show from his office, demonstrating how cartoons were made by showing the viewers at home such essentials as painting cels and drawing storyboards. Woody, an obnoxious mischief-maker, would usually star in the shorts, occasionally taking a backseat to his friends Andy Panda, Wally Walrus, Gabby Gator, Buzzy Buzzard, Oswald the Rabbit, and Arctic penguin Chilly Willy.

Woody was by far the most politically incorrect and audacious character of his time. In an era when cartoons were trying to promote a positive message or somehow prove educational, Woody was breaking taboos left and right. The early theatrical shorts were chock full of sexual innuendo, tobacco use, and rampant alcohol consumption. One episode even showed a hotel bill with a charge for “Cocaine” (all of which were later edited out before hitting the airwaves). While other cartoons were trying to do the right thing, Woody was joking, fighting, stealing, and antagonizing.

Another difference between our fine feathered friend and other animated icons is that he didn’t always come out on top. Sometimes he’d dig himself too deep into a hole to get out. Perhaps “if Woody had gone to the police, this never would have happened,” but then we wouldn’t have had so much fun watching him try.

After a three year run from 1957-60, The Woody Woodpecker Show was not seen on network television again until the fall of 1970, when it made its Saturday morning debut. Although his physical appearance was slightly altered and updated, Woody was as big a troublemaker as ever. The immortal show has lived on in syndication ever since leaving network TV in 1977.

In 1999, a brand new Woody Woodpecker Show debuted on the Fox Kids schedule. Woody, Buzzy Buzzard (who, taking a page from "Rick" Schroeder, now went by "Buzz"), Wally Walrus, Chilly Willy, and Willy's bear pal Smedley were joined by newcomers Winnie Woodpecker, Knothead, Splinter, Dapper Denver Dooley, and Mrs. Meany.

Release History

10/3/57 - 9/3/77 ABC/NBC

TV Sub Categories

animated

TV Studio

Walter Lantz

Television Cast

Woody Woodpecker Grace Stafford
Chilly Willy Daws Butler
Unknown June Foray
Unknown Walter Tetley
Unknown Paul Frees

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