Yakkity Yak

Infobox Television
show_name = Yakkity Yak


caption = Yakkity Yak logo
format = Animated series
Comedy
runtime = 22 minutes approximately
creator = Mark Gravas
starring = Lee Tockar
Andrea Libman
Ian James Corlett
Brian Drummond
Michael Daingerfield
Pam Hyatt
Jason Schombing
country = Australia/Canada
network = Nickelodeon
Nicktoons Network
Teletoon
studios = Kapow Pictures
Studio B
first_aired = January 9, 2002
last_aired = January 11, 2004
num_episodes = 52
imdb_id = 0350468
tv_com_id = 22773

"Yakkity Yak" is a television program that ran on Nickelodeon from November 9 to December 12, 2003. Yakkity Yak was cancelled on December 11 with 52 episodes, due to a generally low fanbase. Although it was added to the Nicktoons Network schedule for a few years, it was removed from the rotation on March 2, 2007. The show was known for its extreme lack of reality, and featured a style of animation which broke with past Nickelodeon tradition. The show features an anthropomorphic yak named Yakkity who wants to make it to stardom by becoming a comedian. Along the way, he has adventures with his two best friends Keo (an actual anthropomorphic pineapple) and Lemony.

Theme song

A song from 1958 named "Yakety Yak" by The Coasters is used. Children (Alexander Teh etc) sing parts of the updated version of the song.

Characters

Yakkity Yak

Yakkity is a student at Onion Falls High. He is a class clown and undervalued mascot for all of Onion Falls' sporting teams, including the Basketball team. Yakkity got the job because his grandfather was mascot when the football team won the state championship in 1925. Much to Yakkity’s dislike, it’s the football team, not the mascot, who gets all the glory (even though they haven't won since 1925). Yakkity now lives with his Granny and her boarder Professor Crazyhair.His closest friends are Keo (who lives next door) and Lemony. Yakkity and Keo’s relationship is a strong buddy relationship that is ever-evolving and has its difficulties but ultimately these are two best friends who need each other. Yakkity needs Keo as he’s grounded – Keo needs Yakkity as he needs to be pushed.

He has his dream of comedic fame. Yakkity has his outlet through small gigs landed by the Trilo Entertainment Agency. From kids birthday parties to ‘Yakstravaganza’s, Yakkity is keen for experience. Even when encouraged by Trilo to fill in for Fairy Yakkity, which entails him dressing up as a ‘female fairy’, Yakkity takes it in his stride as he knows part of a comedian’s repertoire is a keen sense of character and be able to make laughs from impersonation.

Yakkity Yak is voiced by Lee Tockar.

Keo

Keo is Yakkity’s best pal and biggest fan. He lives next door to Yakkity with his father, henceforth known only as ‘Keo’s Dad’ who Keo has to look after quite a bit.

Although they have their problems as any budding teenager and his Father could have, Keo loves his Dad; although as we see in ‘Pineapple Upside Down Dead Cake’, he wishes he could be a little less bossy and see his view at times. His mother might be a human due to the fact that he is a human with a pineapple for a head.

Keo is voiced by Brian Drummond in a way of Joey Camen.

Granny Yak

Granny Yak is (as her name would suggest) Yakkity’s Granny. She takes care of Yakkity and in many ways is his mother, father and big brother all rolled into one. While she is a good sounding board in a parental way, she also has some of Yakkity’s impulsive genes.

Granny Yak is voiced by Pam Hyatt.

Lemony

Lemony is the third member in Yakkity’s gang of sorts. She’s in the same classes as Yakkity and Keo and has been friends with the two since primary school. While down-to-earth and resourceful, she has quite a fantastical imagination as we see in ‘Pineapple Upside Dead Cake’. Lemony prefers aliens to dating magazines, octopuses to puppies and is tune with anything fantastical - like Fairy Wanda and her disco.

Lemony is voiced by Andrea Libman

Mr. Highpants

The town's leading vendor of candy and all things sugared, Mr. Highpants’ store is also a party venue, such as in ‘Fairy Yakkity’. Highpants is one of the first openly gay characters in mainstream animation. Highpants is quite fastidious in appearance and is proud of his store which has won the civic ‘Best Business Award’ since his family created the award.

A town 'Mr. Fix it', Highpants volunteers and/or runs many other smaller businesses - such as the volunteer fire brigade, Neighbourhood watch and he also moonlights as the town's dentist. While popular, he’s the towns gossip - if you want to spread a rumour in Onion Falls, go see Mr. Highpants. He's good friends with Keo's Dad and always a helping hand with advice for Yakkity and Keo.

Mr Highpants has a hi-tech home, a parrot and a monkey called Mr Littlepants. His first name is Reginald.

Mr. Highpants is voiced by Ian James Corlett

Trilo

Mr Trilobyte or Trilo is a ‘trilobite’. A former circus performer who now runs his own Entertainment Agency, offering the likes of Yakkity, Fairy Wanda and Chuck Damage for children's parties, store openings and as in ‘And That’s The Weather’ weatherman appointments too. Hardly a perceptive businessperson, Trilo is hopeless with money, easily talked into crazy Yakkity plans (such as his ‘Yakstravaganza’ and ‘End of the Line’) and always looking for a new market or gimmick. Business isn’t great in either Onion Falls or it’s next town Griswold Junction, but Trilo manages to just stay afloat, except in ’10% Solution’ where Yakkity has to help him out. Although he is known to act disrespectfully to and take advantage of people, such as in ’10% Solution’ where he figures out that Yakkity's contract gives him 10% of everything Yakkity owns.

Mr. Trilobyte is voiced by Jason Schombing

Professor Crazyhair

Eccentric inventor/scientist with a day-job as the science teacher at Onion Falls High, Crazyhair is also a boarder at Yakkity’s house. He rents out the basement at Yakkity's house - which he doubles as a small private laboratory with a bunk bed on the side.

Yakkity and Keo are eternally curious about the smells and noises emitted from his room. The Professor is usually focused on his experiments to the exclusion of everyone else but can be a handy housemate to have if you have a scientific based problem. However, he can be quite longwinded in explanations. Crazyhair's favourite movies usually entail a tale of a misunderstood scientist according to the episode "Yak TV." He has the ability to change the color of his hair which acts as a mood ring.

Professor Crazyhair is voiced by Scott McNeil

Penelope

Due to stringent cutbacks by the Board of Education, Prof. Crazyhair is without a lab assistant. He quickly builds "Penelope" as a super-intelligent assistant, but fails to add any social skills or confidence. She has a tendency to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. She becomes a friend to Lemony. She is also a yak killer.

Penelope is voiced by Tabitha St. Germain

Rondo

High school senior, captain of the Onion Falls High football team and town hero, Rondo is Lemony’s older brother and one of Yakkity’s main antagonists. Even though their spirits are unified on the football field, Rondo and Yakkity both share a desire to be in the spotlight – Rondo as football hero, Yakkity as comedic genius and inevitably get in each others’ way.

Rondo is voiced by Ian James Corlett

Keo's father

Keo's father is an opinionated pineapple full of advice and very willing to get involved in everyone's business. While he cannot walk, if he wants to go somewhere in town, Keo (or his best pal Mr. Highpants) can carry him; he can take a taxi or get a ride with Granny. He speaks in a classic TV Dad brogue. His advice is not always the best source of information, as too often he speaks about events he has never experienced.

Keo's father is voiced by Michael Daingerfield

Wanda

Wanda is the school's young hip librarian - recently moved to Onion Falls from the city for a bit of a 'sea change', as she puts it. Behind the shy smile and stylish glasses, she has a few secrets. On the weekend she turns into a stunning fairy, the children, particularly the girls love her. At school, she certainly makes the trip to the library that much more interesting. She's seen as slightly eccentric but is very popular - she also DJs older kids parties so is pretty hip all round.

Wanda is voiced by Brenda Crichlow

Jackie Pachyderm

Jackie Pachyderm is an elephant and successful standup comedian originally from Onion Falls. He has made a number of films including "A-Pach-Alypse Now". He is Yakkity's idol.

Chuck Damage

Former wrestling champion, now turned children's entertainer, Chuck re-enacts his championship days with the magic of hand puppets. Despite his gruff looks, Chuck is very humorous and fun to watch when he's performing.

His shows are hugely popular particularly among the boys. A local celebrity with enigmatic fame to boot – no one has ever seen his face. Chuck is one of Yakkity's heroes and a would-be mentor if he had the chance, so it is devastating to Yakkity when he is responsible for injuring Chuck in ‘Regarding Chuck’. Chuck lives in a small house on the edge of a quarry and drives an old tow-truck.

Gary

Gary is Yakkity's arch-enemy. He will do anything to get his hands on Crazyhair's egg salad recipe. That is because he is ordered to do that by his superiors at an organization called F.O.E. - the Fraternal Order of Evil.

School Children

Friends with Lemony & Rondo. These are voiced by Jeff Bennett

Chappity Cap

A hat that brain washed everyone. He is voiced by Marty Grabstein

Episodes

^†Previously known as "The Yakking".

External links

* [http://www.kapowpictures.com/yy.html "Yakkity Yak" at Kapow Pictures]
* [http://web.azureusplatform.com/user/Profile.htm?sp=X&sp=l447632&sp=X&sp=1&sp=SAZHOT&sp=SALL&sp=X&sp=X&sp=S&sp=X&sp=X&sp=1&sp=0&sp=SALL VUZE.COM episodes for download for fee] <~--For "FEE", not FREE-->