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THE INSTITUTE OF CANINE CARTOON COMEDY RESEARCH HOME PAGE
PROFESSOR C. SPOT-RUNN , DEAN OF SUPERHERO RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
PROFESSOR D. CLAUDE FELINE, ASSISTANT DEAN
Updated November 15, 2003
We here at the ICCCR have been assigned to study these Road Rover and Spydog phenomenon. I assigned two graduate assistants to search the Internet for all possible information on these groups. After all the data were collated, they were sent for a nice, quiet rest.
We are not here to determine who are the number one super guys, because the Institute feels that both groups are full of go, go dog people. Not to be rude, but I'll have to cut this introduction short. We've got some work to do now. But before I go, let me say that some of the information presented here is meant to be taken seriously and some isn't. I'll let you be the judge of that.
In all seriousness, though, the object of this page is to provoke serious thought and discussion on all of the loose ends left after the first seasons of these two shows. If I can get one person to go back and experience these shows, again or for a first time, this will have been well worth the effort.
GENERAL :
The most basic, obvious question is: Why no Boston terriers? I mean, they are one of the few native American pure breeds and rank in the top twenty in AKC registration. My guess is that the idea was to have Bostons be the leaders, love interests, scientists,and generally all-around heroic dogs, but when it was pitched to the network execs, it rolled through their legs and out the door. (Before anyone gets upset, let me note that I am a lifelong fan of the Red Sox.)
Is Muzzle considered American or German? Why isn't Frank a "wiener dog"? Ah, the vagaries of the German language. Muzzle is a Rottweiler. The breed is named after the small town of Rottweil in southwestern Germany. The term "wiener dog" refers to a dog from Vienna (Wien in German). Frank isn't Austrian, therefore he is NOT a wiener dog. A Dachshund is a "badger hound".
Who names dogs? Is it a dog's parents or their human owners, or both? Do dogs have two names?
How do dogs from non-English speaking nations learn to speak the language? Every time I hear one of these characters, I have the image of a canine Berlitz school in my head.
What company underwrites the insurance on Road Rover and Spydog equipment? How have they avoided bankruptcy?
If I, as a human being, were to receive a dog license in my name, wouldn't I be legally a Spydog? And wouldn't this also enter my name in the sweepstakes to be a Road Rover?
Why do the vast majority of characters on both shows wear red collars?
ROAD ROVERS
*NEW* The September 6, 1997 airing of "A Day In The Life" was supposed to have featured new footage to replace the omitted "Russian Names" song. However, The Warner Brothers Network did not air this footage; their stated reason for doing so was the coverage of Princess Diana's funeral. This raises two questions:
1. Since the WB could not possibly have known about Diana's death beforehand, it stands to reason that the new footage was added to this episode but never aired. This footage had to have been ready to air and then pulled at the last minute, which leads to Question #2
2. Could said new footage have included some mention of Princess Diana that the WB felt would inflame its audience? Remember, both Prince Charles and Princess Diana had already appeared, albeit briefly, in "A Hair Of The Dog That Bit You." Also, after Diana's death, footage from the "Freakazoid!" episodes depicting the Princess were omitted from reruns on the Cartoon Network for some time.
*NEW* In the December 1996 edition of Entertainment Law Digest (www.entlawdigest.com), there is a brief archived story regarding the lawsuit Blumenfeld v. Warner Brothers. In this lawsuit, Mr. Bruce Blumenfeld claimed that the Warner Brothers show "Road Rovers" was based on a idea that he had independently developed which he called "Wing Puppies". I have found no other mention of this lawsuit or its outcome anywhere online. Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Why don't Road Rover fans ask the Cartoon Network to show an uncut version of "A Day In The Life"? While it isn't a new episode, many late comers to the show have never seen the episode as its creators intended and, as I would hope, the ratings for 1:00 AM some weekday morning would be through the roof. This would also be a perfect fit for their "Adult Swim" programming schedule, now more than ever considering the recent airing of a "Family Guy" episode that was not aired by Fox for its religious overtones.
Road Rover Exile's father's name is Mikhail. Consider: His full name is Exilo Mikhailovich Sanhusky. As the song says, if you take the father's name and add an -ovich to it, subtracting the -ovich leaves you with the father's name. A rough English translation would be, "Exilo Sanhusky, son of Mikhail". If Exile would happen to have a sister, the patronym would be Mikhailovka, or daughter of Mikhail.
I forget the name of it, but in one episode of the "Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries", there is a statue of Hunter in the background. (I think it's the one set in Carmel, CA but don't hold me to that.)
If Hunter is part Labrador retriever, wouldn't that make him French Canadian? I've seen several people refer to him as such, both on the Internet and while watching the show. If you have never seen the second episode of the show, this topic is never discussed again, but Hunter is a mutt.
The Russian flag and the Union Jack at the beginning of the first several episodes of "Road Rovers" are miscolored.
What happened to the guy that appeared with General Parvo in "Let's Hit The Road"? He helps the Groomer load the transdogmifier into the truck and then is never seen again.
Speaking of "A Day In The Life", when Hunter leaves the group saying he'll be right back, what does Colleen mean by hearing that story before?
In Great Britain, Doberman pinschers are simply Dobermans. No wonder Colleen is confused. (Pinscher, by the way, is German for terrier.)
Hot Springs, New Mexico changed its name in the 50's to reflect a popular game show of the times, "Truth or Consequences". How does Road Rover, New Mexico sound to anybody?
Blitz is German for lightning. Wouldn't this be a better name for someone with super speed?
Am I seeing things or is Colleen wearing a purple shade of eyeshadow in certain episodes?
Update your mailing lists: Jamie Kellner is now chairman and CEO of Turner Broadcasting System.
Who are the dogs who show up as operatives in the episode "Dawn Of The Groomer"? What happened to them since this one apperance?
Colleen's driving skills are better than first realized if the totality of the series is taken into account. In "Storm From The Pacific", she successfully navigates the Subrover to Storm's base, in "The Dog Who Knew Too Much", it is Colleen who puts the plane into the dive that rescues Hunter, and in "Reigning Cats And Dogs", despite Hunter's protests, Colleen is driving in hot pursuit of a vehicle that is shooting back at her, a task which she performs remarkably well considering that it is only her second time behind the wheel of a car.
SPYDOGS
If the entire Spydog organization works underground, why is Angus' laboratory above ground, in a large castle?
Are wolves, hyenas, foxes, etc. affiliated in any way with the Spydogs? They are related to the dog species, after all.
With Season 2 of Spydogs in the can and being aired in other nations, what about a direct to video release in the U.S.? Fox could then gauge the feasibility of there being a Season 3,4,5,6... by the number of videos sold.
Could anyone tell me whether Spydogs is dubbed in French for the Quebecois in la belle province?
When the Spydogs faced their budget crunch, why didn't anyone get the idea to stick Frank in an ATM and charge a fee for using it?
What is the Spydog chain of command below Dog-Zero? Is there a second in command in the event he can't be reached?
Is there a central headquaters for the Spydogs or are there regional centers for the organization?
Why do certain females wear bows while others don't? Is this solely a fashion statement?
How long is the training procedure for a puppy to become a full-fledged Spydog?
As more points come to my attention, they will be added here. Any questions regarding the Institute can be sent to the same address posted at the station.
Road Rovers and related material Copryight Warner Brothers 1996-2002
Spydogs and related material Copyright Saban International 1997-2002
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