The Looney Tunes Show Explained
The Looney Tunes Show is an American animated sitcom produced by Warner Bros. Animation, and aired on Cartoon Network for two seasons from May 3, 2011, to November 2, 2013. The series featured characters from the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies theatrical cartoon shorts in a sitcom format with Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, who live a surburban life together within a neighborhood of fellow cartoon neighbors, dealing with various issues in their own way.[1] Many episodes also include a musical short under the Merrie Melodies name, and the first season also includes computer-animated shorts involving new antics between Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.
The series received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the visual style and voice acting, but criticized its writing, lack of ambition, and departures from the source material.[2] [3]
Premise
The Looney Tunes Show revolves around the lives of Bugs Bunny, who owns a surburban home after inventing carrot peelers that pay him royalties, and Daffy Duck, who is Bugs' roommate, as they deal with different issues and problems that they encounter, some of the time caused by Daffy's rather bad lifestyle. The pair reside within a neighbourhood inhabited by a number of notable Looney Tunes characters including Yosemite Sam, Granny, Gossamer, and Speedy Gonzales, with both Bugs and Daffy having girlfriends in the form of Lola Bunny and Tina Russo, and a regular friendship with Porky Pig. Other Looney Tunes characters, like Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, and Sylvester and Tweety, have less prominent roles but still partake in stories in their own way.
Unlike other Looney Tunes productions, the series focused less on slapstick and fewer visual gags, in favor of sitcom elements including love triangles, employment and rooming.[4] Episodes often contained at least two stories featuring Bugs and Daffy, and sometimes led by others in the show.
Alongside the main plots of the episode, the story would often include a Merrie Melodies – a two-to-four-minute music videos showcasing classic characters singing brand new original songs. For the first season only, the show also included new computer-animated shorts involving Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, and a new spate of antics between them.
Episodes
See main article: List of The Looney Tunes Show episodes.
Characters
Main
- Bugs Bunny (voiced by Jeff Bergman) – lives a life of upper-middle-class suburban leisure, based on income from a popular Carrot Peeler that he invented; instead of an underground borrow from the theatrical shorts, Bugs lives in a well-appointed house, drives a compact car, and provides room and board for Daffy Duck. Bugs spends his time watching sports or sitcoms on TV, hanging out with his friends and neighbors, and dating Lola Bunny.
- Daffy Duck (voiced by Jeff Bergman) – is the best friend of Bugs Bunny. Unlike Bugs, Daffy is an incompetent, loudmouth, unproductive moocher and an ungrateful user that has no way of earning money and relies on Bugs for food and shelter. He also has a high maintenance streak as he demands far more from his friends than he deserves and takes high advantage of gullible Porky, his other "best friend".
- Porky Pig (voiced by Bob Bergen) – is Bugs and Daffy's second best friend. Despite being bright and bookish, Porky has an innocent, naïve quality that Daffy frequently uses to his advantage, tricking Porky into parting with large sums of money or accompanying him in bizarre schemes. Porky originally worked a boring office job as an accountant, but got fired following Bugs' example. Porky started his own catering company afterwards. In "Dear John", Porky was shown to have served on the city council. Towards the end of the series, Porky starts a relationship with Petunia in the end of the Season 2 episode "Here Comes The Pig". In "Best Friends Redux", Daffy meets Porky's young self and ensures that Porky becomes good friends with Bugs and Rodney in their cabin, finally showing Porky an act of kindness.
- Speedy Gonzales (voiced by Fred Armisen) – is an extremely fast Mexican mouse who lives with Bugs and Daffy as their "mouse in the wall" and runs a pizza parlor called Pizzarriba. Speedy is one of the brighter, more level-headed characters as he is not afraid to speak his mind (even standing up to Bugs at times, despite living rent free in a mouse hole in Bugs house) and has occasionally shown to act as Daffy's conscience.
- Yosemite Sam (voiced by Maurice LaMarche) – a quick-tempered cowboy who is one of Bugs and Daffy's neighbors. Sam claims to be a liar, a thief and a cheat, amongst other things, like in the original cartoons, albeit the show portrays him as far less ruthless and more moral and mild-mannered with a heart of gold. His full name was revealed as Samuel Rosenbaum.
- Lola Bunny (voiced by Kristen Wiig) – is Bugs Bunny's obsessive girlfriend, who has a habit of speaking rapidly, whether anyone else is listening or not. When they first meet, Bugs falls in love with her, but after learning how crazy and ditsy Lola is, Bugs loses interest and often tries to escape her company. Lola develops a huge obsession with Bugs Bunny that Daffy initially finds creepy, however in later episodes Daffy and Lola become friends as neither one is very bright.
- Tina Russo (voiced by Jennifer Esposito in Season 1, Annie Mumolo in Season 2) – is a new character original to the show. She is a yellow duck and Daffy's girlfriend. Tina works at a copy store called "Copy Place". Tina is another straight character of the show, with a no-nonsense personality. sol Mallard in the Laff Riot pilot.[5]
Recurring
- Tasmanian Devil/Taz/Poochie (voiced by Jim Cummings) – is a Tasmanian devil who is Bugs' pet. In this show, Taz is portrayed as walking on four legs like a real Tasmanian devil and his eyes are bloodshot red (later turned back to yellow after Bugs uses a taming trick he learned from Speedy Gonzales). Initially, Bugs believed Taz to be a dog and kept him as a house pet named Poochie much to Daffy's discomfort. Eventually, Bugs learned the truth and tried to return him to his home in Tasmania only to find out that Taz would rather live with him. When Taz is not causing trouble for Daffy, Taz has occasionally tried to eat Sylvester. In the episode "Ridiculous Journey", Taz spoke for the first time in the series and had bonded with Sylvester and Tweety while they evaded Blacque Jacques Shellacque.
- Mac (voiced by Rob Paulsen) and Tosh (voiced by Jess Harnell) – are two goofy gophers who run an antique store. They are shown to hate being away from each other.
- Pete Puma (voiced by John Kassir) – is a dimwitted puma who is one of Daffy Duck's friends and does various jobs around town.
- Marvin the Martian (voiced by Eric Bauza) – is a Martian who is one of Daffy Duck's friends.
- Witch Lezah (voiced by Roz Ryan) – is a witch who is Gossamer's mother and lives next door to Bugs Bunny. She is often annoyed by Daffy Duck's antics. Witch Lezah is also a hypnotherapist by trade. The character is based on Witch Hazel, with 'Lezah' being 'Hazel' spelled backwards.
- Gossamer (voiced by Kwesi Boakye) – is a large orange furry monster who is Witch Lezah's son. In stark contrast to previous characterizations, Gossamer is portrayed as a timid and kind-hearted young boy with a voice to match.
- Emma "Granny" Webster (voiced by June Foray at her regular age, Stephanie Courtney as a young adult) – is a practical and old fashioned 90-year-old lady who is one of Bugs Bunny's neighbors. Granny is revealed to have been a spy for the Allies in World War II. In "The Grand Old Duck of York", it is revealed that Granny also teaches piano lessons. This series marks the final time Foray provided the voice of Granny before her death in 2017.
- Sylvester (voiced by Jeff Bergman) – is Granny's Tuxedo cat who is always trying to devour Tweety, but always fails when Granny catches him and spanks him hard enough to spit Tweety out.
- Tweety (voiced by Jeff Bergman) – is Granny's cute Yellow canary who is frequently targeted by Sylvester. Tweety is revealed to have also been a spy for the Allies in World War II during Granny's youth.
- Foghorn Leghorn (voiced by Jeff Bergman) – is a rich and gullible rooster who has worked under various jobs. Foghorn and Daffy get on very well, and are often involved in various schemes. He is a successful entrepreneur who never gets angry with Daffy and forgives him immediately, as he considers Daffy a son to him.
- Pepé Le Pew (voiced by René Auberjonois in season one, Jeff Bergman in season two) – is a French striped skunk. He's the local Casanova. In the episode "Members Only", he works as a wedding planner when he planned Bugs and Lola's wedding at the country club.
- Elmer Fudd (voiced by Billy West) – his role here isn't as prominent as it was in the Looney Tunes shorts, as he only makes occasional cameo appearances in this show.
- Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner (Road Runner is voiced by Paul Julian via archive recordings, Wile E. is mute) – are shown in short computer-animated segments in season one. They also make cameos throughout the show, most notably in "Here Comes the Pig", when Bugs gets lost in the desert, he witnesses the Road Runner and Wile E.'s chases, then asks Wile E. for directions to the highway once he fails. Bugs then decides to use Wile E.'s catapult to get back.
Others
- Dr. Weisberg (voiced by Garry Marshall) – is a physician who Bugs and the other characters often visit. His appearance resembles that of Dr. I.Q. Hi from Duck Dodgers.
- Walter Bunny (voiced by John O'Hurley) – Lola Bunny's father who idolizes Bugs. He then appears when they play in the father son tennis tournament. Like most of the characters, he dislikes Daffy.
- Patricia Bunny (voiced by Grey DeLisle in season one, Wendi McLendon-Covey in season two) – is Lola Bunny's mother.
- Carol (voiced by Grey DeLisle) – is a beautiful blonde woman who is Foghorn Leghorn's assistant and limo chauffeur who tries to bring reason to Foghorn Leghorn, especially in regards to his respect and loyalty to Daffy whom she see as trouble and despises.
- Henery Hawk (voiced by Ben Falcone) – is a chickenhawk that likes to target chickens.
- Cecil Turtle (voiced by Jim Rash) – is an antagonistic turtle who formerly worked as a customer service representative at the Trans-Visitron cable company until he got fired by Daffy. Cecil became a con artist but ended up getting defeated by Bugs and Porky.
- Frank Russo (voiced by Dennis Farina) – is Tina Russo's dad.
- Slowpoke Rodriguez (voiced by Hugh Davidson) – is Speedy's cousin who is the Sheriff of Tacapulco, Mexico.
- Hugo the Abominable Snowman (voiced by John DiMaggio) – is a Yeti that lives in Alaska.
- Blacque Jacque Shellacque (voiced by Maurice LaMarche) – is a tracker who is the Canadian cousin of Yosemite Sam.
- The Three Bears (voiced by Maurice LaMarche, Grey DeLisle, and John DiMaggio) – are a family of bears consisting of Henry Bear (a short, cruel, dyspeptic father bear), Mama Bear (a deadpan mother bear), and Junior Bear (a huge, good-natured, oafish 7-year-old "child" bear). They were based on the story Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
- Beaky Buzzard (voiced by Jim Cummings) – is a buzzard that rescues anyone in the desert in a hot-air balloon.
- Petunia Pig (voiced by Katy Mixon) – is a pig that Porky develops a relationship with starting in "Here Comes the Pig".
- Rodney Rabbit (voiced by Chuck Deezy) – is a rabbit who is Bugs Bunny's old childhood best friend since summer camp.
Production
The Looney Tunes Show was originally envisioned as Looney Tunes Laff Riot, a "true-to-the-classics" show emulating the original run of Looney Tunes shorts announced in July 2009 by Warner Bros. Animation.[6] However, it was scrapped because the executives were not impressed, and it was later retooled into the sitcom-inspired The Looney Tunes Show which premiered on May 3, 2011, on Cartoon Network.[7] The show features new character designs by Ottawa-based artist Jessica Borutski which were first created for Looney Tunes Laff Riot and also later retooled for the final series.[8] The Laff Riot pilot would surface on September 4, 2020.[9]
As is standard for most modern animated sitcoms like The Simpsons and Family Guy, the series does not use a laugh track.
The animation was produced by Yearim and Rough Draft Korea, along with Toon City Animation in the first season. The Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner shorts were produced by Crew972.
Cancelation
On July 29, 2014, it was announced that the series would not be renewed for a third season.[10]
Broadcast
The Looney Tunes Show premiered in the United States on May 3, 2011, through August 31, 2014, on Cartoon Network. In Australia, the series began airing on 9Go! and Cartoon Network Australia.
The Looney Tunes Show premiered in Africa on Boomerang Africa on May 17, 2011, in France on Boomerang France, in the UK on Boomerang UK and on different Boomerang feeds throughout Europe.
The Looney Tunes Show premiered in Canada on Teletoon on September 5, 2011.
Home media
The Looney Tunes Show has received home video releases for season 1. The season 2 episode "Super Rabbit" was released as part of the Looney Tunes: Parodies Collection on February 4, 2020.[11]
| Season | Title | Episode
count | Disc(s) | Release date |
|---|
| 1 | 3-Pack Fun: The Looney Tunes Show | 12 | 3 | May 8, 2012[12] |
| This three-disc reissue for the first three volumes contained the first twelve episodes from the first season. |
| There Goes the Neighborhood | 14 | 2 | August 7, 2012[13] |
| This two-disc release contained the final fourteen episodes from the first season. | |
The first episode was also released on
as a special feature.
Reception
Critical response
The Looney Tunes Show received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the voice acting and animation, but criticized its lack of originality and differences from previous Looney Tunes incarnations (including its redesigns and portrayals of the characters and lack of slapstick).[14]
Common Sense Media gave the series 4 out of 5 stars, saying: "Fun remake of classic toon has a more grown-up feel."[15] Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times wrote that "while it doesn’t improve on the originals […] taken on its own merits, ignoring the cognitive dissonance, the show can be pretty amusing."[16] Reviewing the first volume of season one on DVD, Wired wrote, "The Looney Tunes Show does understand what it is. It's a new series for a new generation, and it doesn't seem overly concerned with the sacred nostalgia of us oldsters. It takes strides to modernize the characters while at the same staying more or less true to their original spirit."[17]
Conversely, Brian Lowry of Variety called the first season "a disappointment," and was critical of its "short[age] on sight-gags and action […] despite the odd amusing moment," believing that it "represent[ed] a miscalculation – and a basic misunderstanding of the franchise."[18] Writing for The A.V. Club, Brandon Nowalk wrote, "The Looney Tunes Show is the most off-putting version of Looney Tunes I’ve ever seen. Instead of a universe where anything could happen, here the plots are standard sitcom tropes. […] [the show] exists happily inside the lines."[19]
Ian Lueck of Toon Zone panned the series, calling it "bland and recycled" and writing: "Parents, if you want to start your kids on something good, show them the original Looney Tunes theatrical shorts. They're better made, funnier, have more energy, and more of a personal touch than the assembly line The Looney Tunes Show."[20] In another negative review, Maxie Zeus of Toon Zone called the show "bland" and "no worse than dull," while writing: "So who thought it would be a good idea to put the Looney Tunes characters—who even in domestic settings tend to reduce the house and furniture to matchsticks—into a sitcom? Say what you will about Loonatics Unleashed, but at least it had the courage of its psychopathic convictions."[21]
Online response
In 2010, CBC News reported that upon revealing the redesigned Looney Tunes characters, some fans "lashed out by posting nasty [online] comments" directed toward animator Jessica Borutski, who was tasked with redesigning the characters for The Looney Tunes Show. Borutski admitted that "it was hard to see such hatred," but defended the redesigns, feeling that "[it is] time for a new generation to meet the characters." Cartoon historian Chris Robinson attributed the response to "a sense of ownership," arguing that "[fans] just really become attached to these things […] It's just so strongly rooted in their childhood that they're unable to separate themselves."
Awards and nominations
The Looney Tunes Show was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards.[22]
Music
Two albums compiling songs from the show have been released digitally by WaterTower Music:
- Songs from The Looney Tunes Show, Season One (2012)[25]
- Songs from The Looney Tunes Show, Season Two (2013)[26]
External links
Notes and References
- Book: Perlmutter . David . The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows . 2018 . Rowman & Littlefield . 978-1538103739 . 371–372.
- Web site: Toonzone: the looney-tunes show three critics one reaction. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120202132356/http://www.toonzone.net/news/articles/37410/the-looney-tunes-show-three-critics-one-reaction. 2012-02-02.
- News: Ottawa animator bashed for Looney Tunes changes . CBC News.
- Web site: The Looney Tunes Show: Season 1 Volume 1 . tvshowsondvd.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110717165550/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Looney-Tunes-Season-1-Volume-1/15616 . 2011-07-17 .
- 1302076897497550848. MattyDanner. @ManiacalToast @ZakaZ96 That ain't Della, it's Marisol Mallard.. September 5, 2020.
- Web site: TAG Blog: At the 'Toon Factory of the Brothers Warner. animationguildblog.blogspot.co.uk. July 7, 2009. March 11, 2015.
- Web site: Layoffs and Hirings. November 6, 2009.
- News: Ottawa animator bashed for Looney Tunes changes. CBC News.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK2KHRIXW0w When Was the Last Time Elmer Fired His Gun? | Looney Tunes Critc Quckie (go to 17:42)
- Web site: Frantz on Twitter . March 11, 2015 . Twitter . https://web.archive.org/web/20150608094900/https://twitter.com/FrantzEdCharles/status/493806183195504641 . June 8, 2015 . dead.
- Web site: Looney Tunes DVD News.
- Web site: Amazon.com: Looney Tunes Show 3 Pack Fun S1-V1, V2, V3: Jeff Bergman, Bob Bergen, Fred Armisen, Kristin Wiig, Jennifer Esposito, Maurice LaMarche, June Foray, Jim Cummings, Billy West, Roz Ryan, John Kassir, Eric Bauza, Jess Harnell, Rob Paulsen, Rene Auberjonis, Spike Brandt, Tony Cervone, Sam Register: Movies & TV. amazon.com. May 8, 2012. March 11, 2015.
- Web site: The Looney Tunes Show: There Goes The Neighborhood . tvshowsondvd.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120324064613/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Looney-Tunes-There-Goes-The-Neighborhood/16689 . 2012-03-24 .
- Web site: REVIEW: The Looney Lunes Show. July 23, 2011.
- Web site: The Looney Tunes Show . Common Sense Media.
- Web site: Lloyd . Robert . May 3, 2011 . Bugs and Daffy get a makeover. . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240419154717/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-may-03-la-et-0503-looney-tunes-20110503-story.html . April 19, 2024 . August 14, 2024 . Los Angeles Times.
- News: Z . The Looney Tunes Show Comes to DVD . 2024-08-14 . Wired . en-US . 1059-1028.
- Web site: Lowry . Brian . 2011-05-03 . The Looney Tunes Show . 2024-08-14 . Variety . en-US.
- Web site: Nowalk . Brandon . October 2, 2012 . The Looney Tunes Show . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20191114231823/tv.avclub.com/the-looney-tunes-show-1798174412 . November 14, 2019 . August 14, 2024 . The A.V. Club.
- News: Lueck . Ian . May 3, 2011 . "The Looney Tunes Show": A Misleading Show Name . https://web.archive.org/web/20110803015047/http://www.toonzone.net/news/articles/37409/the-looney-tunes-show--a-misleading-show-name . August 3, 2011 . May 6, 2024 . Toon Zone.
- News: Zeus . Maxie . May 3, 2011 . "The Looney Tunes Show": The Merry-Go-Round Is Still Broken Down . https://web.archive.org/web/20110509025442/http://www.toonzone.net/news/articles/37407/the-looney-tunes-show-the-merry-go-round-is-still-broken-down . May 9, 2011 . May 6, 2024 . Toon Zone.
- Web site: Outstanding Voice-Over Performance – 2011. Emmys.com.
- Web site: 2011 BTVA Voice Acting Awards. 2020-10-12. Behind The Voice Actors. en-US.
- Web site: 2013 BTVA Voice Acting Awards. 2020-10-12. Behind The Voice Actors. en-US.
- Web site: Songs from the Looney Tunes Show – Season One. Amazon.
- Web site: Songs From The Looney Tunes Show – Season Two. https://web.archive.org/web/20130805105600/http://www.watertower-music.com/releases_spotlight.php?search=WTM39469_LooneyTunes2 . dead . August 5, 2013 . .
