Black Dynamite (TV series) explained

Developer:	Carl Jones^[1]
Narrated:	Byron Keith Minns
Theme Music Composer:	Adrian Younge
Country:	United States
Num Seasons:	2
Num Episodes:	20
Editor:	Felipe Salazar
Runtime:	11 minutes (pilot only) 22 minutes
Channel:	Adult Swim Video
Channel2:	Adult Swim

Black Dynamite is an American adult animated blaxploitation comedy television series developed by Carl Jones for the Cartoon Network late-night programming block Adult Swim. It is based on the 2009 film of same name, although the series follows an alternate continuity. Michael Jai White, Byron Keith Minns, Tommy Davidson and Kym Whitley reprise their film roles as Black Dynamite, Bullhorn, Cream Corn and Honeybee, respectively. Cedric Yarbrough also reprises his film role as the Western-style pimp Chocolate Giddy-Up, along with Jimmy Walker Jr. as the restaurant owner Roscoe and Arsenio Hall as fellow pimp Tasty Freeze.

Black Dynamite was announced shortly after the release of the original film.^[2] Its 10-minute pilot was released on Adult Swim Video on August 8, 2011 before premiering on the channel block on July 15, 2012.^[3] ^[4] The series ended January 10, 2015 with a total of 2 seasons containing 10 episodes each.

Premise

The show, set in the 1970s, is predominantly a parody of and tribute to blaxploitation cinema. The show continues the story of Black Dynamite, Bullhorn, Cream Corn, and Honey Bee as they engage in dangerous and over-the-top misadventures sometimes involving celebrities such as Michael Jackson, O. J. Simpson, Bill Cosby, Sidney Poitier, Richard Pryor, Don Cornelius, Dick Clark, Spike Lee, Mr. T, Orphan Arnold, James Brown, Isaac Hayes, Bob Marley, Bo Derek, Rick James, Elvis Presley, Fred Rogers, John Wayne Gacy, J. Edgar Hoover, and many others, as well as Black Dynamite's recurring nemesis, President Richard Nixon, who was also the main villain from the film. The show makes references to the original Black Dynamite film, such as Fiendish Dr. Wu as the leader of a group of ninjas; the show is set before the events of the movie, as some characters from the film who were killed off are alive in the series (notably Bullhorn and Cream Corn). This is reinforced in one episode, where Cream Corn predicts his own future manner of death while in a helicopter.

Voice cast

Main cast

Michael Jai White as Black Dynamite, Jim Kelly
Byron Keith Minns as Bullhorn, Lionhorn, Rudy Ray Moore, Singer, Tuskegee Airman
Kym Whitley as Honeybee, Tinbee, Old Lady
Tommy Davidson as Cream Corn, Scarehorn, The Boss Man, Red Light

Additional voices

Carlos Alazraqui as Helicopter Pilot
Tichina Arnold as Tinbee's Singing Voice
Erykah Badu as Fatback Taffy, Fat Hoe Crow, Rita Marley, Wolf
Eric Bauza as The Fiendish Dr. Wu, Chinatown Assassin, R.A.C.I.S.T., Sidney Poitier, Dick Clark, Newscaster, Child, Reporter
Liz Benoit as Foxxy Mama
Tae Brooks as Michael Jackson
Corey Burton as Dennis Flynn, Fred Rogers, Phil Drummond
Chance the Rapper as Bob Marley
Michael Colyar as Sweet Butter
Affion Crockett as Joe Jackson
DeRay Davis as Ninja, Isaac Layes, Ringo Mandingo
John DiMaggio as Rip Tayles, Female Cop, J. Edgar Hoover, Rump Rangers Human Horse, Various Gay People
Godfrey as Al Sharpton
David Alan Grier as The Doctor
Eddie Griffin as Richard Pryor, Paul Mooney
Arsenio Hall as Tasty Freeze
Samuel L. Jackson as Captain Quinton
Carl Jones as Frank the John, Crenshaw Pete, Puppet Minion, Shark Victim, Stuey Fig Newton, Announcer, The Mayor of Beach City, Teacher, Laughing Prisoner, James Brown, Thick James
Orlando Jones as Basehead, Flying Junkie, Stuey's Brother
Rochelle Jordan as Cindy Breakspeare
Sean Kingston as Dexter, Saint
Jonathan Kite as Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, James Bonds (Sean Connery and Roger Moore), News Reporter, Elvis Presley
Phil LaMarr as Muhammad Ali
Lil' Mo as Offscreen Nurse, Horse Carriage Woman, Teacher, Rondell's Mom
Luenell as Moms Mabley
Mel B as Connie Lingus
Hugh Moore as Pimp
Charlie Murphy as Another Cat Named Rallo, Another Slave Cat Named Rallo
Tim Blake Nelson as Chief Humphrey Magillahorn, The Wicked Bitch of the West Side, Donald Sterling, Television Executive, Cracker Cop, Adult Film Director
Georgette Perna as Kids
Clifton Powell as Crenshaw the Slime, Daddy Dynamite
Donnell Rawlings as A Cat Named Rallo, A Slave Cat Named Rallo
Christopher "Kid" Reid as John the John, Sun Tzu, Black Leprechaun, Jamaica Labour Party Member
Kevin Michael Richardson as Melvin Van Peebles, Don Cornelius, Bill Cosby, Fred Berry
Eddie Rouse as Spike Lee
J. B. Smoove as That Frog Kurtis, That Bastard Kurtis
Snoop Dogg as Leroy Van Nuys
Aries Spears as Mr. T, O. J. Simpson
Cree Summer as Li'l Orphan Willis
Tiffany Thomas as Li'l Orphan Dudley
Greg Travis as Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard
Tyler, the Creator as Broto
Waka Flocka Flame as Waka Blocka Blaow
Jason Walden as Dennis Flynn
Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins as Pam Grier, Reverse Strip Club Owner
Billy West as MASA Scientist
Denzel Whitaker as Donald the Accountant, Jermaine Jackson
Dennis L. A. White as Arnold's Stomach
Gary Anthony Williams as George Washington Carver III, Radio DJ, Reporter, Howard Cosell
Debra Wilson as Amazon Moon Bitch Leader, Lil' Orphan Penny, Eartha K.I.T.T., Euphoria, Li'l Orphan Arnold, Li'l Orphan Rodney King, Li'l Rodney Munchkins, Givinya Morehead, Child Services Lady, Hotel Employee, Hoe Crows
Cedric Yarbrough as Chocolate Giddy-Up

Episodes

Pilot (2011)

The pilot episode features only an eleven-minute run time and was released on Adult Swim Video on August 8, 2011, and made its television debut over a year later on September 2, 2012.

Season 2 (2014–15)

Notes and References

News: Adult Swim Picks up Black Dynamite Animated Series. Joey. Paur. GeekTyrant. April 6, 2011. July 20, 2019.
Web site: Paine . Jake . 2010-02-14 . Black Dynamite Releases To DVD, Announces Adult Swim Series . 2023-06-28 . HipHopDX . en.
News: Arceneaux. Michael. Black Dynamite Trailer Released. 28 April 2012. BET. Jul 22, 2011.
News: Hurray! 'Black Dynamite' coming to Adult Swim. Kansas City Star. Apr 6, 2011.