Super Chicken

"For the bluesman, see Super Chikan"

"Super Chicken" is a segment that ran on the animated television series "George of the Jungle". It was produced by Jay Ward and Bill Scott, who earlier had created the "Rocky and Bullwinkle" cartoons. It debuted September 9, 1967 on ABC.

eries overview

Super Chicken (voiced by Bill Scott) and his dimwitted lion sidekick Fred (voiced by Paul Frees) who wore a sweatshirt with a backwards "F" on the front, and had an exaggerated New York Jewish accent, would usually begin their adventures with the battlecry that went something like: "Quick, Fred, to the 'Super Coupe,'" which was an egg-shaped air vehicle in which Super Chicken and Fred would fly to the rescue of innocent victims of crime.

His secret identity was well-to-do Henry Cabot Henhouse III; Fred acted as his butler/servant, etc. When danger reared its ugly head, he would take his "Super Sauce" (often from a martini glass) and don his "Super Suit," which consisted of a plumed cavalier's hat, cape, Wellington boots, mask and a sword.

The first pilot featured an all-star comedy cast, including Bill Dana with Don Knotts as the voice of Super Chicken. The project was shelved and eventually recast.

The cartoon had several running gags, including:

* Henry would have a violent reaction moments after drinking the "Super Sauce," nearly always stopping in mid-sentence to cluck loudly as the reaction hit him.
* Fred would often ask Super Chicken why he didn't use his "super-vision", to which Super Chicken would respond with something to the effect of "If I had any supervision, do you think I'd be running around dressed like this?"
* In the course of a plan to defeat the bad guys, Super Chicken would suggest something dangerous for Fred's part, which Fred would be reluctant to carry out. When Fred voiced his reluctance, Super Chicken always reminded him, "You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred!"

Episode list

There were 17 six-minute episodes:

# "One of Our States Is Missing": First aired September 5, 1967.
# "Super Chicken vs. the Zipper": First aired September 12, 1967.
# "Rotten Hood": First aired September 19, 1967.
# "The Oyster": First aired September 26, 1967.
# "The Elephant Spreader": First aired October 3, 1967.
# "Merlin Brando": First aired October 10, 1967.
# "Wild Ralph Hiccup": First aired October 17, 1967.
# "The Geezer": First aired October 24, 1967.
# "Salvador Rag Dolly": First aired Octobe 31, 1967.
# "The Easter Bunny": First aired November 7, 1967.
# "The Noodle": First aired November 14, 1967.
# "The Fat Man": First aired November 21, 1967.
# "Briggs Bad Wolf": First aired November 28, 1967.
# "The Laundry Man": First aired December 6, 1967.
# "The Muscle": First aired December 12, 1967.
# "Dr. Gizmo": First aired December 19, 1967.
# "The Wild Hair": First aired December 19, 1967.

Theme song

Lyrics to the famous theme song are as follows:

;The Super Chicken Theme LyricsWhen you find yourself in danger, When you're threatened by a stranger, When it looks like you will take a lickin', "(cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck)"There is someone waiting, Who will hurry up and rescue you, just Squawk…for Super Chicken! "(cluck, awk!)"

Fred, if you're afraid, you'll have to overlook it, Besides you knew the job was dang'rous when you took it "(cluck, awk!)"

He will drink his super sauce And throw the bad guys for a loss And he will bring them in alive and kickin' "(cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck)"There is one thing you should learn When there is no one else to turn to Squawk…for Super Chicken! "(cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck)"Squawk…for Super Chicken! "(cluck, awk!)"

Appearances in other media

In 1969, Gold Key Comics published two issues of a "George of the Jungle" comic book. Each issue contained a story featuring Super Chicken. The artist and writer of the stories was not credited.

During the January 27th, 2003 episode of Loveline, host Drew Pinsky revealed that as a child he had participated in the test marketing of the show. This followed a rendition of the theme song by guest Emma Caulfield and cohost Adam Carolla. He said "it looked retarded to me", and "I was like eight years old and they marketed that and [...] George of the Jungle and another -- it seemed to me more bizarre -- it's about "time" kind of thing: a guy gets frozen and comes back to life".

Jerry Seinfeld referenced Super Chicken in a "Bee Movie TV Junior", in which he recites the Super Chicken theme song.

References

* [http://www.toonopedia.com/suprchic.htm Super Chicken at Don Markstein's Toonopedia]

External links

* [http://www.digital-sledgehammer.com/superchicken/ Dave's Un-Official Super Chicken Homepage]
* [http://www.tilda.edu-negev.gov.il/nit/job.wav You knew the job was dangerous]
* [http://www.tilda.edu-negev.gov.il/nit/super.wav The Theme Song]
* [http://www.tilda.edu-negev.gov.il/nit/charge.wav Charge]