Zuckerman's Famous Pig

"Zuckerman's Famous Pig" is the victorious ultimate song of "Charlotte's Web" the 1973 Hanna Barbera animated musical. It is sung by everyone present at the county fair and exemplifies that Wilbur the Pig's life is safe.

The film was released by Paramount Pictures. The song was covered by the Brady Kids among performers.

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The morning the ribbons are to be given out at the fair, Charlotte finishes her "Magnum Opus" her egg sack. One last time she has written a message in her web so that Wilbur's life may be saved. Like a banner "Humble" is spun in her web for all to see. Unfortunately Avery sees that "Uncle", the big fat pig in the next pen to Wilbur, who isn't very smart, or good looking, has won the Blue Ribbon already. Just as the Arabels and the Zuckermans get upset, a band comes declaring them to come up to the grandstand with their "Famous Pig". Mrs. Zuckerman is worried about her hair, but everyone else is worried about showing off Wilbur. As Charlotte says, it's Wilbur's day. He is sung to by an a cappella quartet about his fame.

Wilbur gets awarded a bronze medal engraved with his name. Mr. Zuckerman then declares, if he has anything to do with it, Wilbur is "going to live to a ripe old age". Charlotte keeps her promise to Wilbur. Wilbur was her dearest friend, and gave her life a greater meaning. He gave her the gift of friendship, and she gave him the gift of life.

Barbershop Quartet

The Sherman Brothers utilized a barbershop quartet styling of the song in keeping with the music of the time and place they were writing about. They similarly incorporated a "bq" arrangement for their song "That's What Friends Are For" for the 1967 Disney musical adaptation of "The Jungle Book". In 1982 the Shermans' song for the Imagination Pavilion at Epcot Center entitled, "Makin' Memories" also featured a barbershop quartet vocalization.

Trivia

*"The Brady Bunch Phonographic Album" features three Sherman Brothers songs including "River Song" from "Tom Sawyer", "Zuckerman's Famous Pig" and the title song from "Charlotte's Web".
*A person in Madison, Wisconsin, in approximately the period 1985-1992, drove around town in a late 1960's Chevy pickup truck, very dilapidated, and ugly, flat black with no pickup bed, and with "Zuckerman's Famous Pig" painted (hand-lettered) on the front, and a pig ornament on the hood, reminiscent of the Mack Bulldog. On the rear bumper was the phrase "That's some pig!"
*The Swedish comedian duo Magnus & Brasse made a cover of this song in Swedish in the 70's for their show Varning för barn. The song was called Svordomsvisan (The curse word song). The song told the people in Sweden how to yell at someone.

Literary Sources

* Sherman, Robert B. "". Santa Clarita: Camphor Tree Publishers, 1998.