The Morphin Show is a 1996 animated TV series that aired on ABC. The show was based on The Morphin franchise created by Alfonso "Fonz" Garcia. The show was originally made for an adult audience and aired on a primetime slot on Saturday nights was made to compete with Saturday Night Live. It is a spinoff of the original "The Morphins" series that ran from 1991-1992 (which also aired on ABC).
Plot[]
Austin, Lily, Duke and Lucy Morphin are tasked by Michael Eisner to clean up the Disney Vault. After seeing how much space and discarded cartoons are in there, they get the idea to produce and air a show into Toontown. After secretly building a secret area in the vault for the show and for toons to watch it live (invite only), recruiting some of their friends and auditioning some new toons, the show begins production and becomes a hit amongst the toons work at the Disney studio and in Toontown. The show, however, has some challenges. The four toons have to deal with greedy businessman William H. Dirtbag (who owns the station that the show airs on in Toontown and basically owns the show), being blackmailed by a ghost named Spook-a-Boo from telling Michael Eisner about the show (since Eisner is unaware), and the general problems of Showbiz and threats that could lead the show getting cancelled.
Cast[]
Austin Morphin (voiced by Alfonso Garcia), a bug like toon and the show's main host. Austin is of four sibling bug like toons known as "The Morphin's" and is the 2nd oldest of them. Austin is really smart at toon history, knowledge of science, is an inventor, wields a cartoon mallet and has a large appetite and will eat almost everything (except cheeseburgers). His attire is a blue (later purple) Hawaiian shirt and googles on his head.
Duke Morphin (voiced by James Garcia), a bug like toon who serves as the cameraman. Duke is also one of the four Morphin's and is the 3rd oldest. He is very passionate about sports and music. His attire is a blue shirt.
Lily Morphin (voiced by Alision Garcia), a bug like toon who is the show's manager. Lily is also one of the four Morphin's and is the oldest. She is a huge fan of Disney Princesses (such as Ariel) and is skilled at playing the Marimba. Her attire is a pink shirt with blonde hair and a pink ribbon.
Lucy Morphin (voiced by Marry Garcia), a bug like toon who is the show's doorperson. Lucy is also one of the four Morphin's and is the youngest. She can be a bit of a brat when things don't go her way and is known to not take her job seriously. Her attire is a blue dress with black hair and a blue hat.
Tiny (voiced by Rob Paulsen), a small, tiny bug like toon who is the Morphin's cousin. Tiny doesn't have a job and mainly appears backstage and switches between backstage or as a guest. Tiny best friends with Meow. The two's cartoons from their series began being shown starting with the 2nd season.
Meow (voiced by Pat Fraley in the 1st season and Keith Furgerson for the rest of the series, and vocal effects by Frank Welker), a cat toon who is Tiny's best friend. He like Tiny, doesn't have a job and switches between backstage or as a guest. The two's cartoons from their series began being shown starting with the 2nd season.
Morphini (voiced by Tom Kenny), a magician bug like toon who serves as recurring act for the show. His schtick is that he tries to do a magic trick but fails when in reality he is really skilled at magic. His first name is unknown. He was voiced by Hamilton Camp in the original series.
Abby Morphini (voiced by Tress MacNeille), Morphini's younger sister who acts like his assistant.
Characters introduced in season 2[]
Arnold (voiced by Fred Tatasciore), the main antagonist from Tiny & Meowthra. He is a recurring guest rather than a cast member,
Brattina (voiced by B.J. Ward), Arnold's girlfriend from Tiny & Meowthra. She is a recurring guest rather than a cast member.
The Superdogs (Max, Oliver, Speedhound, and Blitz Collie), the four superpowered dogs from Tiny & Meowthra who serve as the shows security guards.
Villains[]
William H. Dirtbag (voiced by Michael Bell), the series main antagonist. Dirtbag is a tabby cat toon who is the owner of Toontown's biggest company, D-Bag Enterprises (renamed to Dirtbag Enterprises for the 2nd season), which owns and operates restaurants, stores, theme parks, playgrounds, hotels, beaches, pet stores, malls, and television stations. The network TTV (Toontown Television) is what airs the show in Toontown. Despite the money the show makes him, Dirtbag hates the show and will stop at nothing to get it cancelled in some way (whether it be inflating the bills for the show, purposely sabotaging production, or outright kidnapping of the staff).
Dipstick (voiced by Pat Fraley), a Doberman who is William H. Dirtbag's yes-man.
Hannah and Annabell (voiced by Victoria Jackson and Mellisa Joan Hart), are William H. Dirtbag's two spoiled teen daughters.
Spook-a-Boo (or simply Spooky) (voiced by Jim Cummings), A ghost toon who haunts the Disney vault. Spooky was once a living toon whose cartoons were so awful and unfunny that he was publicly dipped in front of a live audience. Spooky often blackmails the show's crew by forcing them to play his dog Muttster's cartoons so he won't tell Michael Eisner.
Muttster (voiced by Frank Welker), A ghost dog toon who is Spook-a-Boo's pet dog and like him haunts the Disney vault. Muttster is a Jack Russel mix of some short (and it's hinted that he is part Schnauzer). Muttster can be understood by a few characters but can't be understood by a few (like Spooky). Muttster has the ability to shapeshift.
Constance LeWoofishire (voiced by Tim Curry), A warlock dog who was the main antagonist of the original series. He mainly appeared as a guest villain every season. He was voiced by Vincent Price in the original series.
Fury Tiger (voiced by John Stephenson), a businessman who was introduced in the final season. Fury is William's business rival who owns the company Fur 'n corporated (parody of Paws, Inc.). Fury was once a famous toon celebrity, known for his ability to spin (similar to the Tasmanian Devil from Looney Tunes) and he still regularly does that to get around. Compared to Dirtbag, Fury is more friendly, but still sinister. His goal is to acquire the show from Dirtbag.
Segments[]
The series had a total of 9 recurring sketches, Toonbusters, Afterlife in the Underworld, It's Rufus, Dog Detectives, Rubella and Brutella, Time Wheel, Morphini's Magic Madcap Madhouse, Toontales, and Toon Tunes while the revival added reruns of the Tiny and Meow, and the Max and the Superdogs cartoons from Tiny & Meowthra.
Toonbusters[]
Austin, Lily, Duke, Lucy, and Bonkers D. Bobcat (and later Max) run a small detective agency called the Toonbusters Society. They solve paranormal mysteries and sometimes actual crimes. Spook-a-Boo's dog, Muttster severed as the main antagonist of the cartoons.
Afterlife in the Underworld[]
Retired and dead canine superstar Frederick "Fred" Menudo Muttington lives in the afterlife in the Underworld with his mate, a poodle named Polly. The two have 12 puppies (later 14 in the final season). Fred's father, Harold Muttington, owns the Muttington Mall, which is one of the most popular hangout spots, Polly's adopted older brother, Tommy is friends with warlock dog named Joel, and Fred and Polly (initially illegally), owned a large tiger.
Cast[]
Frederick "Fred" Menudo Muttington (voiced Daran Norris), A dead Silver German Shephard who was once a canine star in the 80s and early 90s. Fred grew up in streets of NYC as a stray. He and his mate Polly have 12 puppies.
Polly Muttington (voiced by Kath Soucie), A poodle who Fred has known since they were teens (although unlike Fred she had a home). Polly initially was uninterested in Fred, but the two fell in love and have been together even after they died.
Joel LeWoofishire (voiced by Greg Berg), A warlock Jack Russel who is the son of LeWoofishire. Joel is 700 years old (in human years). He is very laid back and mellow and has a southern accent.
Tommy (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson), A strong muscular Great Dane-Basset Hound mix who is Polly's adopted brother. Despite his large size, he is a gentle giant.
Robert Muttington (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker), Fred's younger brother.
Harold Muttington (voiced by John Stephenson), Fred and Robert's father and is the owner of the Muttington Mall. His voiced is based on Jimmy Durante.
Reggie (voiced by Greg Burson in season 1 and Joe Alaskey in the revival), A cat who runs an arcade in the mall.
Charles and Leonard (voiced by Jeff Bergman and Tom Kenny), Two mice who live in the arcade
Hoopster (voiced by Frank Welker), A wolf who runs the mall's food court.
Karmen (voiced by Jim Cummings), A punky wolf who along with his gang, are Hoopster's proteges.
Chino (voiced by Frank Welker), A cat who is Karmen's 2nd in command.
Lyle (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson), A mastiff who is Karmen's 3rd in command and usually takes orders from Chino.
Francis (voiced by Alfonso Garcia), A coyote who is the unofficial 4th member in Karmen's gang.
Fred and Polly's Puppies[]
- Mary (voiced by Mae Whitman), A poodle and is the oldest of the puppies who is into fashion and clothes.
- Isabella (voiced by Emily Hart), A poodle and is the 2nd oldest who likes tea parties along with Georgette.
- Georgette (voiced by Kath Soucie), A poodle and is the 3rd oldest who like Isabella likes tea parties but is also into art.
- John (voiced by Danny Cooksey), A silver German Shephard and the 4th oldest who is into sports and fitness.
- Buster (voiced by Russi Taylor), A silver German Shephard and the 5th oldest who is very daring.
- Scamp (voiced by Pamela Adlon), A mutt (silver German Shephard and Poodle mix), who is the 6th youngest and as his name implies, is a scamp.
- Kit (voiced by Cam Clarke), A silver German Shephard and is the 7th oldest. Kit is shy but is a talented singer and performer.
- Covington (voiced by Jim Cummings), Silver German Shephard and is the 8th oldest and has a British accent. He and Scamp are polar opposites and have a big sibling rivalry.
- Captain (voiced by Peter Cullen), Silver German Shephard and is the 9th oldest and has an Australian accent. Captain is very courageous and fearless and is always up for an adventure.
- Balooh (voiced by Candi Milo), A mutt and is the 10th oldest. Balooh has an interest in creativity.
- Augustus (voiced by R.J. Williams), A Poodle and is the 11th oldest. Augustus has a passion for baking but usually eats his creations.
- Gabriella (voiced by Mellisa Joan Hart), A Silver German Shephard and is the youngest. Compared to the other girls, Gabriella is a tomboy and often teams with Scamp.
It's Rufus[]
Rufus Von Honeyshuckle Berry IV lives in the Great Rock National Park. Rufus is lazy, greedy, selfish, and grumpy, compared to the other bears, who are active, selfless, and happy. Rufus' behavior is often criticized by the park ranger named Colonel Popsicle, a penguin with a sloppy lisp.
Cast[]
Rufus Von Honeyshuckle Berry IV (voiced by Jim Cummings), A bear who lives in Great Rock National Park. Unlike the other bears and animals who live there he is lazy, greedy, selfish, and grumpy.
Colonel Popsicle (voiced by Cam Clarke), The park ranger of Great Rock. He is a penguin who has a sloppy lisp.
Dog Detectives[]
4 detectives, bold and brash Hunter Shephard, hyper and silly Buddy Beagle, surfer dog and (earlier) stoner Charlie Retriever and savage and crazy Don Dalmatian, are dogs who are also detectives, but they are very incompetent and solve cases in San Fran-husky California. Despite neither of them having a clue, they always solve the mysteries.
Cast[]
Hunter Shephard (voiced by Pat Fraley), A German Shephard who is the leader. Despite that, he is the most incompetent out of all of them. He is bold, brash and bit egotistical.
Buddy Beagle (voiced by Bill Farmer), A Beagle who is silly and looks up to Hunter.
Charlie Retriever (voiced by Casey Kasem), A Golden Retriever surfer dog who is laid back. He was initially a stoner, but this was changed when the series was revied to be implied.
Duke Dalmatian (voiced by Tom Kenny), A Dalmatian who unlike everyone else, walks on all fours. He is savage and very crazy.
Rubella and Brutella[]
Rubella, a popular mean elementary schoolgirl befriends a nerdy and ditzy girl named Brutella. Despite them being polar opposites and Brutella getting under Rubella's skin sometimes, they remain BGFF's (Best Girlfriends Forever).
Cast[]
Rubella (voiced by Gail Matthius), A popular mean 5th grader who befriends a nerd named Brutella. Rubella is your standard popular mean schoolgirl (popular, pretty and the bully of the school).
Brutella (voiced by Pamela Adlon), A nerd transfer student who becomes best friends with Rubella (who she nicknames "Ruby"). Brutella can get under Rubella's skin sometimes.
Mr. Washout (voiced by Brad Garret), Rubella and Brutella's depressed teacher.
Jimmy (voiced by Courtland Mead), A kid who is bullied by Rubella.
Time Wheel[]
A segment where a someone in the show's audience spins a wheel called "The Time Wheel". The wheel contains cartoons from the 1920s through the 1990s. Classic cartoons such as "Steamboat Willie", "Plane Crazy", "The Three Little Pigs", "Lambert the Sheepish Lion", and "The Wise Little Hen". As well as cartoons from various TV shows (such as from Raw Toonage).
Morphini's Magic Madcap Madhouse[]
Morphini showcases his house which is full of various magic trinkets. Joel from Afterlife in the Underworld initially appeared as his pet dog in the first season, but was written out of the sketch in the revival and replaced by Tiny and Meow. The cartoons typically appear near the end of the show.
ToonTales[]
Adaptions of various fairytales and Disney moves featuring the show's cast. Such as "The Mongrel King" (Lion King), "Oliver's Company" (Oliver & Company), "The Little Mermutt" (The Little Mermaid), and "Lily in Wonderland" (Alice in Wonderland).
Toon Tunes[]
A series of music videos featuring the cast. The songs range from original, parodies of pre-existing songs or just reusing the actual music video from a Disney song. The segment appears in almost every episode.
Format[]
The show ran for 46 minutes. The shows main plot took up 23 minutes, while the other 23 was filled cartoons and sketches. Sometimes, on occasion a full 22-minute cartoon would be shown, typically showed as a two-parter. In the final season of the show, the show's intro would be accompanied by a parody of an already existing cartoon (e.g. Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends).
History[]
The first season of the show was made for an adult audience. Such as William Dirtbag's company being called D-Bag Enterprises, Austin being attracted to men (practically Don Karnage from TaleSpin, which he had a poster of in his dressing room), Charlie Retriever being a stoner, and Muttster often hitting on female dogs. ABC cancelled the series after a joke about Austin apparently ejaculating on a picture of wolves. The episode was never aired on ABC or syndication. The show's run on syndication was major flop and was pulled after 1 month. Compared to ABC which often achieved okay ratings, the show's syndication run was met with low ratings (with an average 500,000 viewers compared to the 5 million on ABC). The syndication run was composed of only 6 episodes, while ABC's was made of 14 episodes. 6 episodes (including the one that got the show canceled) were left unaired. Following the success of Tiny & Meowthra, ABC re-aired 5 out of the 6 unaired episodes in June 2004 as burn off and commissioned 3 more seasons. The revival seasons was aimed at a family audience and most of the adult humor was either toned down or removed (D-Bag Enterprises was renamed to Dirtbag Enterprises, Austin being attracted to canines was toned down significantly, Charlie being stoner was changed to be implied, and Muttster hitting on dogs was removed). A total of 72 episodes were produced.