Cow and Chicken
| Cow and Chicken | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by | David Feiss |
| Network | Cartoon Network |
| Production company | Cartoon Network Studios |
| Distributor | Warner Bros. Television Distribution |
| Original release | July 15, 1997—July 24, 1999 |
| Run time | 22 minutes |
| Starring | Charlie Adler Dee Bradley Baker Candi Milo Howard Morris Dan Castellaneta |
| Executive producer(s) | Sherry Gunther Larry Huber |
| Producer(s) | Davis Doi Vincent Davis Louis J. Cuck Selma Gladney Debby Hindman |
| Music composition | Guy Moon |
| Writer(s) | David Feiss Bill Burnett Michael Ryan |
| Director(s) | David Feiss Kris Zimmerman (voices) |
| Animation director(s) | Scott Morse Deane Taylor |
Cow and Chicken is an American animated slapstick comedy television series created by David Feiss. It was produced by Cartoon Network Studios[Note 1] for Cartoon Network. It ran from 1997 to 1999, airing 52 episodes that spanned four seasons.
The show follows an adolescent cow and chicken named Cow and Chicken, who live together as siblings with two human parents (whose upper halves are never shown). They also attend school and deal with all sorts of misadventures, many of which involve with the two dealing with the Red Guy. It is also accompanied with another segment, I Am Weasel, which centers on a successful weasel named I.M. Weasel, and whose escapades are being watched by an idiotic and arrogant baboon named I.R. Baboon.
Production
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Development
David Feiss brought the series to life after creating a bedtime story for his then six-year-old daughter. The morning after, he remembered it and turned it into a 25-page children's book. When Hanna-Barbera called him for their 52-episode What a Cartoon! idea, he pitched them Cow and Chicken. They started off as life-long friends with a romantic interest, but they were changed to siblings. The parents and the Red Guy were also added; Feiss saw the Red Guy as the key to the show, "adding that extra element of chaos."[1]
Casting
A hundred people auditioned for the different parts, with Charlie Adler auditioning separately for Cow, Chicken, and the Red Guy. There was a "little pushback" from Cartoon Network who believed that each character should be played by a different actor, but Feiss reminded them of Mel Blanc.[1]
Aftermath
"Buffalo Gals" was banned after being aired once because of the inclusion of a female biker group implied to be lesbians using sexual innuendos. In reruns, it was replaced with "Orthodontic Police."
Segments
- Cow and Chicken
- I Am Weasel
Music
The theme song and score were composed by Guy Moon. The opening theme featured lyrics written by David Feiss. Bodie Chandler was the director of music production.
Theme song lyrics
Chicken: Mama had a chicken.
Cow: and Mama had a cow.
Both: Dad was proud, he didn't care how.
Cow: Cow!
Chicken: Chicken!
Both: Cow and Chicken!
Episodes
Cast
- Charlie Adler as Cow, Chicken, and the Red Guy
- Candi Milo as Mom
- Dee Bradley Baker as Dad
- Howard Morris as Flem
- Dan Castellaneta as Earl
Legacy
When the series ended, its secondary segment, I Am Weasel, was spun off into its own full-fledged TV series in 1999.
Talks between Cartoon Network and Feiss about him writing a movie were discussed at one point, with Feiss developing an outline with Michael Ryan. The unfinished movie would have seen Cow and Chicken traveling and looking for something.[1]
In "Once Upon a Toon," a segment of the Mad episode "Taking Nemo/Once Upon a Toon," Cow and Chicken have lost their memories and think they're actually animals. They join Henry Swan in restoring all the classic cartoons' memories.
In the Ben 10: Omniverse episode "Store 23," alien versions of Cow and Chicken are waiting in line at Mr. Smoothy's, leaving after no one is at the register. Charlie Alder reprises both characters.
In the OK KO Let's Be Heroes! crossover "Crossover Nexus," Chicken is one of Cartoon Network characters turned into stone. Later in the climax, Cow (in her Super Cow guise) is one of the characters Ben Tennyson (from Ben 10) transforms into.
Red Guy makes a cameo in the Jellystone! episode "Vote Raspberry."
Merchandise
Home media
On September 12, 2007, the Australian DVD manufacturer Madman Entertainment released Cow and Chicken: Season 1. According to their listing, this was volume 1 out of 4. On February 10, 2010, Madman followed this with Cow and Chicken: Season 2.
Reading material
While Cow and Chicken didn't have its own specialized comic, it was featured as a spotlight in selected issues of Cartoon Network Presents (1997-1999), Cartoon Network Starring (1999-2000), Cartoon Cartoons (2001-2004), and Cartoon Network Block Party! (2004-2005).
Toys
In 1999, the Taco Bell restaurant chain included four collectible toys of Cow and Chicken to in their kid's meals.
In 2021, Funko released Funko Pops of Cow (only as Supercow) and Chicken.
Footnotes
- ↑ Cartoon Network Studios was a division of Hanna-Barbera Cartoons.
