Moxy
- This article is about the TV series. For the character, see Moxy Moto. You may also be looking for the Ben 10 theme song performer, see Mz. Moxy.
| Moxy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Network | Cartoon Network |
| Production company | Colossal Pictures |
| Distributor | Turner Entertainment |
| Original release | December 5, 1993—May 25, 1996 |
| Run time | 60 minutes[Note 1] 30 minutes |
| Starring | Bobcat Goldthwait Penn Jillette Chris Rock |
| Producer(s) | Margo de la Cruz Ann Brilz |
| Writer(s) | Alec Berg Jeff Schaffer Scott Sedita Jonathan Groff Tim Boxiel Bobcat Goldthwait Penn Jillette Matt Maiellaro Matt Harrigan |
| Director(s) | George Evelyn Tim Boxiel |
| Second title card | |
 The Moxy Pirate Show title card. | |
| Third title card | |
 The Moxy Show title card. | |
| Fourth title card | |
 The Moxy & Flea Show title card. | |
Moxy is an American CGI/2D animated anthology comedy television series. It was produced by Colossal Pictures for Cartoon Network, airing from 1993 to 1996. It has aired under three different titles in a constant attempt to find itself and its audience, with the titles being The Moxy Pirate Show, The Moxy Show, and The Moxy & Flea Show.
Moxy, a not too bright janitor at Cartoon Network, broadcasts a pirate station from a closet, showcasing all his favourite cartoons made by Hanna-Barbera, Warner Bros., and MGM. He was quickly joined by a level-headed flea sidekick, simply known as Flea.
Production
Development
Executive Vice President of Cartoon Network, Betty Cohen, said that the network wanted a live host that that could fill the time between cartoons by performing schtick and reading fan mail, as well as be live so that it could appear at cable conventions and special programming events, but being the Cartoon Network, the network knew it had to have a cartoon host.[1] To this end, the network reached out to San Francisco-based computer animation studio Colossal Pictures,[1][2] who had previously collaborated with Cohen on station identity for other channels.[2]
With a computer generated image of Moxy, wired to the movement of motion capture performer John Stevenson,[3] Moxy would be superimposed on a miniaturized set.[4]
Casting
Bobcat Goldthwait was cast as the voice of Moxy, who would record in a studio with Stevenson reacting to Goldthwait's voice. Goldthwait would provide raunchy ad-lib in rehearsals while well-behaved live.[2]
Music
For The Moxy & Flea Show, the music was composed and designed by David Wayne Powers, written by Ben Friedman, and performed by the Cigar Store Indians.
Episodes
There are around 13 episodes of The Moxy Pirate Show, 10 episodes of The Moxy Show, and one episode of The Moxy & Flea Show.
The Moxy Pirate Show
| Episode | Original air date |
|---|---|
| 1x01 | December 5, 1993 |
| 1x02 | December 12, 1993 |
The Moxy Show
| Episode | Original air date |
|---|---|
| 1x01 | November 6, 1994 |
The Moxy & Flea Show
| Episode | Original air date |
|---|---|
1x01
|
December 25, 1995 |
Shorts
There were also 14 interstitials. In the build up to The Moxy Show, there was also "Moxy's Pick."
Specials
| Episode | Original air date |
|---|---|
| 1 | November 26, 1993 |
| 2 | 1995 |
Release
Premiere dates of countries are in order of release:
- United States: December 5, 1993 at 8 pm on Cartoon Network
- United Kingdom and Ireland:
Cast
- Bobcat Goldthwait as Moxy Moto
- Penn Jillette (The Moxy Show) and Chris Rock (The Moxy & Flea Show) as Flea
Promotion
Photos
Videos
Behind the scenes: {{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsgVoluqGfs}}
Critical reception
Upon reviewing the series premiere, Lee Winfrey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, was highly critical calling it "overhyped" and "disappointing" for Moxy's less than five minute debut, believing that the creators were so impressed by the technology that made him that they failed to give him any distinctive charm or presence, with Winfrey himself not being impressed by them doing the complete opposite with Moxy. Winfrey also speculated that if the network hoped to achieve widespread industry respect it would have to take the "next step" with something "impressively original," a "step that the pratfalling Moxy has so far failed to execute."[3]
Legacy
In late 2000, Cartoon Network.com released a webcomic called Whatever Happened to Moxy?, in which his origin and final whereabouts were revealed.
In 2018, Moxy had a non-speaking cameo in the OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes episode "Crossover Nexus," a special event that centered around old and current Cartoon Network-created characters being pulled into the Cartoon Network City world based on the era of bumpers during the mid-2000s.
Footnotes
- ↑ The Moxy Pirate Show ran for 60 minutes.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 (1993). The Making of Moxy, Cartoon Network.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 (May 24, 2016). "And Now, It's Time for Brad deGraf". Retrieved June 18, 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Winfrey, Lee (December 11, 1993). "Hannah fills a tall order in HBO's 'Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
- ↑ Gill, Suzanne (December 5, 1993). "Cartoon Network's Moxy shows chutzpah". The Daily-News Journal. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
