He's the greatest. He's fantastic. Wherever there is danger he'll be there.
April 20, 2010 5:35 AM Subscribe
Danger Mouse was a British animated series that ran from 1981 to 1992. It chronicled the exploits of our hero, the titular eyepatched mouse, and his faithful assistant Penfold ("Codename: The Jigsaw, because when faced with a problem he falls to pieces."), as they fought the evil Baron Silas Greenback (a frog).
The whole series is available relatively cheap on DVD; here are selected episodes for your viewing pleasure:
The whole series is available relatively cheap on DVD; here are selected episodes for your viewing pleasure:
- Rogue Robots (the first episode after the unaired pilot)
- Remote Controlled Chaos
- Who Stole the Bagpipes?
- Ice Station Camel
- The Dream Machine
- Die Laughing
- Quark! Quark!
- Custard Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
- The Clock Strikes Back
- Tut, Tut, It's Not Pharaoh
There was something wonderfully eerie about the always empty streets of London they'd drive their car around
posted by dng at 5:41 AM on April 20, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by dng at 5:41 AM on April 20, 2010 [4 favorites]
COR!
posted by absalom at 5:49 AM on April 20, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by absalom at 5:49 AM on April 20, 2010 [3 favorites]
Man, when this played on Nickelodeon when I was a kid... it was so awesome. I don't know why. He's a mouse! That's a secret agent! And he lives in a sweet thing inside of a... thing! I don't even know what that red thing is! But it's awesome! And British! The only thing rarer than a Danger Mouse sighting growing up was Bananaman.
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 5:55 AM on April 20, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 5:55 AM on April 20, 2010 [5 favorites]
Yeah, it took me forever growing up to realize that thing he lived in was a mailbox. It wasn't until I was in India, and I saw a mailman collecting the mail from one in the town of Shimla, did I make the connection. Hey! Look! That mailman is getting mail from that Danger Mouse thing!
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 5:57 AM on April 20, 2010 [8 favorites]
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 5:57 AM on April 20, 2010 [8 favorites]
but the real question is what the hell was greenback's pet? a fuzzy worm or something?
posted by russm at 5:58 AM on April 20, 2010
posted by russm at 5:58 AM on April 20, 2010
ummm... wasn't greenback actually a toad?
Si Baroni.
posted by lucien_reeve at 5:59 AM on April 20, 2010 [12 favorites]
Si Baroni.
posted by lucien_reeve at 5:59 AM on April 20, 2010 [12 favorites]
Man, when this played on Nickelodeon when I was a kid... it was so awesome. I don't know why. He's a mouse! That's a secret agent! And he lives in a sweet thing inside of a... thing! I don't even know what that red thing is! But it's awesome! And British! The only thing rarer than a Danger Mouse sighting growing up was Bananaman.
In fairness, Bananaman was pretty terrible.
posted by Pope Guilty at 5:59 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
In fairness, Bananaman was pretty terrible.
posted by Pope Guilty at 5:59 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
Carpet-Rug. Rug-Wool. Wool-Sheep. Sheep-Wolf. Wolf-Pack-Pack-Case-Case-Trunk-Trunk-Elephant! And it's worked before!
posted by cashman at 6:02 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by cashman at 6:02 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
Heh, I was just telling the SO about DM last week.
We had the entire thing, on /beta/.
Gods, I love custard.
posted by clvrmnky at 6:02 AM on April 20, 2010
We had the entire thing, on /beta/.
Gods, I love custard.
posted by clvrmnky at 6:02 AM on April 20, 2010
One of the things that stuck with me all these years was an episode where DM visits Texas. The cowboy they encounter only utters the twanging of a jaw harp.
posted by Fleebnork at 6:06 AM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Fleebnork at 6:06 AM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
Danger Mouse is also being turned into a stage show.
Quite how it'll come out I have no idea.
posted by edd at 6:10 AM on April 20, 2010
Quite how it'll come out I have no idea.
posted by edd at 6:10 AM on April 20, 2010
Danger Mouse was the first TV show I ever watched on cable. I remember my parents calling me downstairs on that rainy day when it was first installed.
David Jason, the voice of Danger Mouse, has also been the voice of Mr. Toad from Wind in the Willows and Rincewind in The Colour of Magic. He got his start doing kid's TV way back in the 60s with Do Not Adjust Your Set, a little show also staring Eric Idle, Michael Palin, and Terry Jones before that trio went off to do something else (did that work out for them?).
Best of all, Jason was Inspector Frost, who I place just behind Morse in the British Irascible Detective Scale.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:17 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
David Jason, the voice of Danger Mouse, has also been the voice of Mr. Toad from Wind in the Willows and Rincewind in The Colour of Magic. He got his start doing kid's TV way back in the 60s with Do Not Adjust Your Set, a little show also staring Eric Idle, Michael Palin, and Terry Jones before that trio went off to do something else (did that work out for them?).
Best of all, Jason was Inspector Frost, who I place just behind Morse in the British Irascible Detective Scale.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:17 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
Greenback's pet was a caterpillar, I think.
That being said, I had a homemade Danger Mouse shirt made for me by my older brother's artsy friend when I was 10.
posted by josher71 at 6:17 AM on April 20, 2010
That being said, I had a homemade Danger Mouse shirt made for me by my older brother's artsy friend when I was 10.
posted by josher71 at 6:17 AM on April 20, 2010
Danger Mouse was another great example of how wonderful British kids TV was when all the adults were still doing drugs. I mean... the world being taken over by psychotic washing machines? You can't tell me that was an invention of someone sober...
The red thing, is a post box SmileyChewtrain.
I can't check the videos from work, but didn't DM live outside Sherlock Holmes' house?
posted by sodium lights the horizon at 6:20 AM on April 20, 2010
The red thing, is a post box SmileyChewtrain.
I can't check the videos from work, but didn't DM live outside Sherlock Holmes' house?
posted by sodium lights the horizon at 6:20 AM on April 20, 2010
If I had more time, I'd knock up the companion Count Duckula post.
posted by Leon at 6:21 AM on April 20, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by Leon at 6:21 AM on April 20, 2010 [5 favorites]
This is great! Although it was even better when I was 16 and stoned out of my gourd.
posted by JeffK at 6:23 AM on April 20, 2010
posted by JeffK at 6:23 AM on April 20, 2010
By the way, did anyone else have one of these DM knitted toys?
My grandmother made me two of them. The first one's head always lolled around like he'd been in a horrific accident, so the second one had a 'spine' made from a bundle of lolly sticks. I think the second one is still at my grandparents place...
posted by sodium lights the horizon at 6:26 AM on April 20, 2010
My grandmother made me two of them. The first one's head always lolled around like he'd been in a horrific accident, so the second one had a 'spine' made from a bundle of lolly sticks. I think the second one is still at my grandparents place...
posted by sodium lights the horizon at 6:26 AM on April 20, 2010
Yikes. That's some heavy-duty rotoscoping in the first episode.
posted by schmod at 6:29 AM on April 20, 2010
posted by schmod at 6:29 AM on April 20, 2010
Good grief, Penfold!
Channel-surfing past some Inspector Frost made me do a double-take when Morse said "Good... heavens" and I was convinced it was going to be "Good grief!". Had no idea until then that David Jason had done the DM voice. Loved that show madly as a kid.
posted by harriet vane at 6:46 AM on April 20, 2010
Channel-surfing past some Inspector Frost made me do a double-take when Morse said "Good... heavens" and I was convinced it was going to be "Good grief!". Had no idea until then that David Jason had done the DM voice. Loved that show madly as a kid.
posted by harriet vane at 6:46 AM on April 20, 2010
Every now and again, I still say "Good show old chap!" just like Danger Mouse's boss.
posted by cinemafiend at 7:02 AM on April 20, 2010
posted by cinemafiend at 7:02 AM on April 20, 2010
Holy smokes PLEASE tell me that someone is able to find scans of that DM knit pattern for the toy / sweater. Please MeFi, you're my only hope..
posted by FatherDagon at 7:04 AM on April 20, 2010
posted by FatherDagon at 7:04 AM on April 20, 2010
I can't check the videos from work, but didn't DM live outside Sherlock Holmes' house?
posted by sodium lights the horizon
I remember a joke where Penfold complained about a jealous Dr. Watson throwing rocks at their home, or something like that...
posted by COBRA! at 7:05 AM on April 20, 2010
posted by sodium lights the horizon
I remember a joke where Penfold complained about a jealous Dr. Watson throwing rocks at their home, or something like that...
posted by COBRA! at 7:05 AM on April 20, 2010
Ah, Danger Mouse. I loved the Danger Mouse/Count Duckula block on Nickelodeon when I was a kid.
posted by adamdschneider at 7:08 AM on April 20, 2010
posted by adamdschneider at 7:08 AM on April 20, 2010
Bananaman. Count Duckula post.
Please no. They're all bad, Danger Mouse included.
posted by tellurian at 7:11 AM on April 20, 2010
Please no. They're all bad, Danger Mouse included.
posted by tellurian at 7:11 AM on April 20, 2010
I mean... the world being taken over by psychotic washing machines? You can't tell me that was an invention of someone sober...
Duuuuuuuude. Did you ever see the There's No Place Like Springfield episode of G.I. Joe? You know, where Shipwreck is walking around, and then he sees someone he knows, and then they fucking melt in front of him!?!? And then he wakes up on a table, and walks out of the room, and tells someone about this crazy dream he had where people melt in front of him, and then that person fucking melts in front of him!?!?
Holy shit. I remember watching that before catching the bus to school, and not totally understanding what the fuck I just saw.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 7:17 AM on April 20, 2010 [6 favorites]
Duuuuuuuude. Did you ever see the There's No Place Like Springfield episode of G.I. Joe? You know, where Shipwreck is walking around, and then he sees someone he knows, and then they fucking melt in front of him!?!? And then he wakes up on a table, and walks out of the room, and tells someone about this crazy dream he had where people melt in front of him, and then that person fucking melts in front of him!?!?
Holy shit. I remember watching that before catching the bus to school, and not totally understanding what the fuck I just saw.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 7:17 AM on April 20, 2010 [6 favorites]
/420
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 7:17 AM on April 20, 2010
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 7:17 AM on April 20, 2010
I dropped a class in college to accommodate a time change in the Danger Mouse broadcast.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 7:36 AM on April 20, 2010 [9 favorites]
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 7:36 AM on April 20, 2010 [9 favorites]
It may be worth mentioning that the show that in the US we know as Secret Agent was called Danger Man in the UK, and Danger Mouse's title was inspired by this. Also: It's a much cooler title than Secret Agent.
posted by Astro Zombie at 7:37 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Astro Zombie at 7:37 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
Wait… Hang on:
posted by tellurian at 7:44 AM on April 20, 2010
"Cosgrove Hall temporarily suspended programme making in 1982 to prepare for the Eurovision Song Contest being held in Harrogate. Despite assembling a crack team of Chorlton based musicians eager to meet host Jan Leeming, we didn’t make it to the final"What! Find it.
posted by tellurian at 7:44 AM on April 20, 2010
Pope Guilty: Agreed about Bananaman.
Dangermouse, however, was/is great. The best episode I remember is the one where the evil genius of the week has destroyed all the world's music. The big problem that poses for Dangermouse and Penfold is that their adventures usually take place to incidental music, so in order to remedy the situation they need some source of music to go off world-saving to. Fortunately Colonel K's lads have foreseen the possibility of this happening, so they have a special tape saved in a lead-lined box of emergency incidental music to give to DM so he can get the job done.
That, all by itself, is awesome. But better yet, he gives the tape to Penfold to play on a tape recorder so he can go forth and do their daring deeds. But the tape is actually filled with completely random music, and the success of whatever DM's doing goes along with whatever happens on the tape. They're soaring through their air in their flying car accompanied by jaunty 20s music and things are proceeding well (although their car backfires a lot) until the music suddenly stops, and so does the car frozen in midair. In a panic, Penfold searches for the next piece of music on the tape and finds: a funeral dirge. DM: "Oh, very appropriate." The car plummets to the ground....
The episode is especially notable for the cast singing the closing theme song a cappella, with the announcer stating beforehand that he wants us all to know that he is in no way reponsible for what follows.
posted by JHarris at 7:50 AM on April 20, 2010 [8 favorites]
Dangermouse, however, was/is great. The best episode I remember is the one where the evil genius of the week has destroyed all the world's music. The big problem that poses for Dangermouse and Penfold is that their adventures usually take place to incidental music, so in order to remedy the situation they need some source of music to go off world-saving to. Fortunately Colonel K's lads have foreseen the possibility of this happening, so they have a special tape saved in a lead-lined box of emergency incidental music to give to DM so he can get the job done.
That, all by itself, is awesome. But better yet, he gives the tape to Penfold to play on a tape recorder so he can go forth and do their daring deeds. But the tape is actually filled with completely random music, and the success of whatever DM's doing goes along with whatever happens on the tape. They're soaring through their air in their flying car accompanied by jaunty 20s music and things are proceeding well (although their car backfires a lot) until the music suddenly stops, and so does the car frozen in midair. In a panic, Penfold searches for the next piece of music on the tape and finds: a funeral dirge. DM: "Oh, very appropriate." The car plummets to the ground....
The episode is especially notable for the cast singing the closing theme song a cappella, with the announcer stating beforehand that he wants us all to know that he is in no way reponsible for what follows.
posted by JHarris at 7:50 AM on April 20, 2010 [8 favorites]
I used to sing the Hari Krishna song to the Danger Mouse theme.
posted by Rarebit Fiend at 7:56 AM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Rarebit Fiend at 7:56 AM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
Oh my, Dangermouse was and remains complete genius.
My favourite ever piece of dialogue from the show:
Penfold: Ah, good morning, milkman. I'm just going to do my exercises.
El Loco (The Mexican Milkman): Ah, si, you run, eh? You swim, you jump...
Penfold: No, I lift the milk bottles.
El Loco (The Mexican Milkman): Guantanamera, gringo!
Penfold: No thanks, but we want some on Saturday.
El Loco (The Mexican Milkman): If Saturday ever comes, eh?
Penfold: Ehm... pardon?
El Loco (The Mexican Milkman): No importan. Hasta la vista!
Penfold: No, just my pajamas
I loved it as a child too, but watching it now I realise that 90% of the jokes would have gone straight over my head at that age.
posted by jonnyploy at 8:09 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
My favourite ever piece of dialogue from the show:
Penfold: Ah, good morning, milkman. I'm just going to do my exercises.
El Loco (The Mexican Milkman): Ah, si, you run, eh? You swim, you jump...
Penfold: No, I lift the milk bottles.
El Loco (The Mexican Milkman): Guantanamera, gringo!
Penfold: No thanks, but we want some on Saturday.
El Loco (The Mexican Milkman): If Saturday ever comes, eh?
Penfold: Ehm... pardon?
El Loco (The Mexican Milkman): No importan. Hasta la vista!
Penfold: No, just my pajamas
I loved it as a child too, but watching it now I realise that 90% of the jokes would have gone straight over my head at that age.
posted by jonnyploy at 8:09 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
Dangermouse rocks. The only thing that used to bug me was that he didn't have a tail. Also, now with the recent return of the Dr, I suddenly have the urge to see a Dangermouse/Doctor Who crossover. Brit TV is so much win.
posted by The otter lady at 8:10 AM on April 20, 2010
posted by The otter lady at 8:10 AM on April 20, 2010
The scene that has stayed with me the longest is the one where Danger Mouse is doing his lifting-weights-with-one-finger routine and Penfold questions the utility of that particular exercise and of the need for finger-strength generally. DM, of course, cannot come up with an answer.
posted by snottydick at 8:10 AM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by snottydick at 8:10 AM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
We have the first DVD, and while the animation itself is so sadly low-budget*, the jokes are still good. I watched it on Nickelodeon myself, and it was always mind-bending because no one else I knew had ever heard of it, and so it was like my little secret.
Even more awesome, my 4-year-old son loves it. Bodes well for his future introduction to Monty Python and Doctor Who. Anglophilic geekification is a go.
*I can't help noticing how many times the dialogue takes place with DM's or Penfold's mouths hidden behind the windshield, or with their heads turned away.
posted by emjaybee at 8:15 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
Even more awesome, my 4-year-old son loves it. Bodes well for his future introduction to Monty Python and Doctor Who. Anglophilic geekification is a go.
*I can't help noticing how many times the dialogue takes place with DM's or Penfold's mouths hidden behind the windshield, or with their heads turned away.
posted by emjaybee at 8:15 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
Wow! I loved Danger Mouse when I was a little'un. Watching an episode now, I see it has one of those racist crows from the Kia Ora ads in it...
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 8:17 AM on April 20, 2010
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 8:17 AM on April 20, 2010
When I watched this as a little kid, I thought the British were so weird. The only British I knew coming from Dangermouse, Benny Hill and Mr. Bentley from The Jeffersons.
posted by jabberjaw at 8:18 AM on April 20, 2010
posted by jabberjaw at 8:18 AM on April 20, 2010
Oh man, I got into my first trouble ever in kindergarten after saying "Crumbs!" at the top of my voice when I spilled my juice. Memories. I would love to see these shows again just so I can get the jokes I missed twenty-five years ago.
posted by infinitewindow at 8:18 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by infinitewindow at 8:18 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
El Loco (The Mexican Milkman): No importan. Hasta la vista!
Penfold: No, just my pajamas
Dammit, I don't get it.
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:19 AM on April 20, 2010
Penfold: No, just my pajamas
Dammit, I don't get it.
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:19 AM on April 20, 2010
so so good (though I always quite liked Mighty Mouse too) - the kia-ora crows and duckula before he got his own series. "Si Barone" was quite the playground catchphrase, but I see from Wikipedia that it didn't make it across the Atlantic:
"In the original British version, he spoke with an Italian accent; to avoid offending Italian-Americans, this was changed to a Cockney accent for U.S. distribution (i.e., Nickelodeon) and all references to his surname were removed as well, although the Italian word "Barone" was retained. "
posted by patricio at 8:27 AM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
"In the original British version, he spoke with an Italian accent; to avoid offending Italian-Americans, this was changed to a Cockney accent for U.S. distribution (i.e., Nickelodeon) and all references to his surname were removed as well, although the Italian word "Barone" was retained. "
posted by patricio at 8:27 AM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
This is the show that taught me the word "boffin".
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 8:28 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 8:28 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
Oh no, they removed the Cockney Stiletto from all the current releases? I grew up with the Cockney on Nickelodeon, and even if it's more authentic the Italian doesn't seem right.
posted by scrowdid at 8:44 AM on April 20, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by scrowdid at 8:44 AM on April 20, 2010 [3 favorites]
I believe that Simon Pegg and Nick Frost were pitching a Danger Mouse film a while ago, with Pegg to play DM, Frost as Penfold. They got nixed on the grounds that the American market doesn't know about Danger Mouse.
posted by Mocata at 8:51 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Mocata at 8:51 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
JHarris : The episode is especially notable for the cast singing the closing theme song a cappella, with the announcer stating beforehand that he wants us all to know that he is in no way reponsible for what follows.
found it! Oh god the pain. The sweet pain... "BANG!"
posted by sodium lights the horizon at 9:02 AM on April 20, 2010 [3 favorites]
found it! Oh god the pain. The sweet pain... "BANG!"
posted by sodium lights the horizon at 9:02 AM on April 20, 2010 [3 favorites]
Dangermouse was prophetic, as we entered the potty part of the universe quite some time ago.
posted by Leth at 9:09 AM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Leth at 9:09 AM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
Ooh, ooh. Does anyone remember another Cosgrove Hall gem called Victor and Hugo?
Sub par plots, but brilliant wordplay and parodies of the french language. Ah nostalgia.
posted by prufrock at 9:18 AM on April 20, 2010
Sub par plots, but brilliant wordplay and parodies of the french language. Ah nostalgia.
posted by prufrock at 9:18 AM on April 20, 2010
I still remember a gag from "The Dream Machine" where Greenback traps our heroes inside a Dream Machine that makes whatever Penfold says come true. It's supposed to "help you out", says Greenback. "Help us out?" DM replies. "Help you out... of your minds!" Then, later, DM says they need a big fan to help blow away an obstacle, so Penfold conjures up The Danger Mouse Fan Club in response. Wow, I loved that show as a kid.
posted by Servo5678 at 9:18 AM on April 20, 2010
posted by Servo5678 at 9:18 AM on April 20, 2010
And it was only much later that I found out that Hugo was a straight copy of Bluebottle from the Goon Show.
posted by prufrock at 9:19 AM on April 20, 2010
posted by prufrock at 9:19 AM on April 20, 2010
Penfeld, shush.
posted by azpenguin at 9:29 AM on April 20, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by azpenguin at 9:29 AM on April 20, 2010 [5 favorites]
My favorite DM quote (as I've said before)...
Col. K: (paraphrasing here) The photographs came out... overexplained or something.
DM: Exposed, sir.
Col. K: Oh am I? I do beg your pardon!
posted by schoolgirl report at 9:34 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
Col. K: (paraphrasing here) The photographs came out... overexplained or something.
DM: Exposed, sir.
Col. K: Oh am I? I do beg your pardon!
posted by schoolgirl report at 9:34 AM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
Arrrr, he's a bad 'un, by gum!
(or words to that effect, from the episode where DM & Penfold travel to the center of the earth)
LOVE Danger Mouse! As a kid, without drawing talent, I mused about holding a piece of paper up to the screen to whip off quick tracings of him, in order to make a tee-shirt. I knew it wasn't a practical solution, but... it was YEARS before the internet caught up with my needs.
Never made that tee shirt.
Yet.
posted by IAmBroom at 10:56 AM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
(or words to that effect, from the episode where DM & Penfold travel to the center of the earth)
LOVE Danger Mouse! As a kid, without drawing talent, I mused about holding a piece of paper up to the screen to whip off quick tracings of him, in order to make a tee-shirt. I knew it wasn't a practical solution, but... it was YEARS before the internet caught up with my needs.
Never made that tee shirt.
Yet.
posted by IAmBroom at 10:56 AM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
Danger Mouse was another great example of how wonderful British kids TV was when all the adults were still doing drugs
The "oh they must all have been doing drugs" line being used to explain any imagination or wit is the most depressingly reductive thing possible.
posted by dng at 11:02 AM on April 20, 2010 [15 favorites]
The "oh they must all have been doing drugs" line being used to explain any imagination or wit is the most depressingly reductive thing possible.
posted by dng at 11:02 AM on April 20, 2010 [15 favorites]
I was taught to surf by one of the animators of Danger Mouse!
posted by djgh at 11:14 AM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by djgh at 11:14 AM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
Cor! Just what I needed -- more time wasters.
DangerMouse is a bit of a icon at ChezR. My computer is called Penfold. :) (MrR's used to be Chief, but that was a couple of motherboards ago.) DaughterR watched DM when she was little. I just may have to pick up the DVDs.
posted by jlkr at 11:15 AM on April 20, 2010
DangerMouse is a bit of a icon at ChezR. My computer is called Penfold. :) (MrR's used to be Chief, but that was a couple of motherboards ago.) DaughterR watched DM when she was little. I just may have to pick up the DVDs.
posted by jlkr at 11:15 AM on April 20, 2010
I grew up around the corner from Cosgrove Hall. I'd walk past the studio when I went to the swimming pool. So, naturally, I grew up loving Danger Mouse as a local hero. These days, I play if for my little neice whenever she comes over. Seeing her love DM as much as I did is great.
posted by Dreadnought at 11:17 AM on April 20, 2010
posted by Dreadnought at 11:17 AM on April 20, 2010
The "oh they must all have been doing drugs" line being used to explain any imagination or wit is the most depressingly reductive thing possible.
SECONDED
posted by JHarris at 11:46 AM on April 20, 2010 [6 favorites]
SECONDED
posted by JHarris at 11:46 AM on April 20, 2010 [6 favorites]
Hah, B-nAH-nah Man.
Hadn't seen that in years.
I do remember being a kid and watching Danger Mouse on Thames Television and wondering why we couldn't get it back home.
I had no idea it eventually showed up on Nickelodeon.
posted by madajb at 12:27 PM on April 20, 2010
Hadn't seen that in years.
I do remember being a kid and watching Danger Mouse on Thames Television and wondering why we couldn't get it back home.
I had no idea it eventually showed up on Nickelodeon.
posted by madajb at 12:27 PM on April 20, 2010
We didn't have Danger Mouse in NYC when I was growing up, but we did have Courageous Cat & Minute Mouse. Although they did have a frog as their nemesis.
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 12:28 PM on April 20, 2010
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 12:28 PM on April 20, 2010
This, right here, is why I think of children's TV as having gone downhill since I was a kid. Nothing can ever really climb the heights achieved by DM.
My Dangermouse Annual 1985 has along with some DM stories, some puzzles, some pages of truly awful jokes a couple of MeFi-worthy bits, like four pages on loopy Victorian gadgets (like a musical shuttlecock). Awesome even in annual form!
posted by Coobeastie at 12:37 PM on April 20, 2010
My Dangermouse Annual 1985 has along with some DM stories, some puzzles, some pages of truly awful jokes a couple of MeFi-worthy bits, like four pages on loopy Victorian gadgets (like a musical shuttlecock). Awesome even in annual form!
posted by Coobeastie at 12:37 PM on April 20, 2010
We have the DVDs and our US/UK kids enjoy them. It's aged well, the jokes are still funny enough for adults to smile at.
posted by mdoar at 12:38 PM on April 20, 2010
posted by mdoar at 12:38 PM on April 20, 2010
Don't forget Mad Manuel, the Flamenco Assassin! Olé olé olé olé! Olé olé olé olé olé olé!
I fully intend to finally produce a DM costume for Halloween this year. I'm not gonna let the fact that I'm a curvy woman be a downside. Bonus upside: costume composed of parts revonfigurable as Space Ghost.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:51 PM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
I fully intend to finally produce a DM costume for Halloween this year. I'm not gonna let the fact that I'm a curvy woman be a downside. Bonus upside: costume composed of parts revonfigurable as Space Ghost.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:51 PM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
Oh my god! Oh my god! I have not seen these since I was six years old and had an ENORMOUS crush on Dangermouse. Nostalgia!
I can't remember why I loved him so; maybe it was the British accent, or, you know, the danger.
I still have crushes on cartoon characters today--my current and longstanding one is on Abe Sapien of the BPRD (Abe from the books, not in the horrible movies). He's so amphibious and brooding. Sigh!
Seriously, thanks for this; it's great!
posted by Fui Non Sum at 1:02 PM on April 20, 2010
I can't remember why I loved him so; maybe it was the British accent, or, you know, the danger.
I still have crushes on cartoon characters today--my current and longstanding one is on Abe Sapien of the BPRD (Abe from the books, not in the horrible movies). He's so amphibious and brooding. Sigh!
Seriously, thanks for this; it's great!
posted by Fui Non Sum at 1:02 PM on April 20, 2010
I vaguely remember seeing Danger Mouse when I lived in England in the 80s. Like almost everyone else, I'm experiencing extreme nostalgia for it. I'm glad to hear it's likely to stand up if I add it to the Netflix queue.
posted by immlass at 1:12 PM on April 20, 2010
posted by immlass at 1:12 PM on April 20, 2010
When I was a kid Danger Mouse looked so cool in the commercials but was insufferable to actually try to watch an episode. Same for Count Duckula.
In what I hope to be my credit, though, I've long thought I should seek them out and give them another shot. Thanks for this post!
posted by owtytrof at 1:22 PM on April 20, 2010
In what I hope to be my credit, though, I've long thought I should seek them out and give them another shot. Thanks for this post!
posted by owtytrof at 1:22 PM on April 20, 2010
We bought some of the DVDs recently, and they've been a great investment. We've watched probably the first two seasons with (adult) friends, and the bizarre, surrealist humor holds up surprisingly well--certainly better than anything else I've revisisted from my youth.
I haven't tried it, but it's occurred to me that a Danger Mouse drinking game could be sort of fun. Penfold says crumbs? Take a shot! It might occasionally help the plot make more sense, too.
Finally, Danger Mouse being mentioned in the same breath as Bananaman is just wrong. Bananaman was awful. Danger Mouse was brilliant.
posted by MeghanC at 1:24 PM on April 20, 2010
I haven't tried it, but it's occurred to me that a Danger Mouse drinking game could be sort of fun. Penfold says crumbs? Take a shot! It might occasionally help the plot make more sense, too.
Finally, Danger Mouse being mentioned in the same breath as Bananaman is just wrong. Bananaman was awful. Danger Mouse was brilliant.
posted by MeghanC at 1:24 PM on April 20, 2010
My favorite sequence: Penfold is tied up and surrounded, about to be sacrificed by a tribe of headhunters (assuming I remember this correctly). DM appears, and Penfold cries out:
Dangermouse!
That's me.
You came!
I always do.
And now you'll save me!
I wouldn't go that far.
Buu..but..but you're the World's Greatest Secret Agent!
Yes, and you need the Magnificent Seven!
posted by bitmage at 1:34 PM on April 20, 2010
Dangermouse!
That's me.
You came!
I always do.
And now you'll save me!
I wouldn't go that far.
Buu..but..but you're the World's Greatest Secret Agent!
Yes, and you need the Magnificent Seven!
posted by bitmage at 1:34 PM on April 20, 2010
Greenback's caterpillar was named Nero - no one ever, [b]ever[/b] remembers that. There you go, pub quiz fans!
posted by metaxa at 1:43 PM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by metaxa at 1:43 PM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
In fairness, Bananaman was pretty terrible.
Oh my god. You know, I have a lot of respect for you, Pope Guilty, and I agree with pretty much everything you say on here, but this is where we will have to part ways. This is blasphemy.
Actually, it's weird, I remember every word of the intro to Bananaman but I don't recall a single detail about any of his segments. I guess it could very well have been crap. But it is a Beloved Childhood Memory even though I...don't remember it, so I will still have to challenge you to broadswords in a pit.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 2:41 PM on April 20, 2010
Oh my god. You know, I have a lot of respect for you, Pope Guilty, and I agree with pretty much everything you say on here, but this is where we will have to part ways. This is blasphemy.
Actually, it's weird, I remember every word of the intro to Bananaman but I don't recall a single detail about any of his segments. I guess it could very well have been crap. But it is a Beloved Childhood Memory even though I...don't remember it, so I will still have to challenge you to broadswords in a pit.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 2:41 PM on April 20, 2010
found it! Oh god the pain. The sweet pain... "BANG!"
Oh. Oh, my god. This episode is one of my all-time best memories ever. Thank you so, so much for this. You can have one of my kidneys, or any other organ you like. Just take it.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 2:48 PM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
Oh. Oh, my god. This episode is one of my all-time best memories ever. Thank you so, so much for this. You can have one of my kidneys, or any other organ you like. Just take it.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 2:48 PM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
Another Yank here who watched Danger Mouse on Nickelodeon back in the day. Anyone remember the episode where all the planets were being lined up, and they couldn't figure out why until an alien space ship showed up, and the alien ship was a giant billiards cue, and they figured out the solar system was one giant game of snooker?
The solution was everyone on the world had to jump to the left at exactly the same time.
I tell people this, and they just look at me like I'm insane.
Crumbs.
posted by gc at 2:53 PM on April 20, 2010
The solution was everyone on the world had to jump to the left at exactly the same time.
I tell people this, and they just look at me like I'm insane.
Crumbs.
posted by gc at 2:53 PM on April 20, 2010
Dangermouse trivia: Stone Roses guitarist John Squire was an artist on the series.
posted by theCroft at 2:54 PM on April 20, 2010
posted by theCroft at 2:54 PM on April 20, 2010
Of course Donnie Murdo had to change his name and his accent to make it big. People could quite happily accept a secret agent who was a mouse, but not one who was a Scot.
posted by GeckoDundee at 3:14 PM on April 20, 2010
posted by GeckoDundee at 3:14 PM on April 20, 2010
Chinese Tong rats! The Custard Mite of Glut! Oh, so many happy memories!!
"Penfold!"
"Yes, DM?"
"Shush!
posted by ninazer0 at 4:12 PM on April 20, 2010
"Penfold!"
"Yes, DM?"
"Shush!
posted by ninazer0 at 4:12 PM on April 20, 2010
Oh no, they removed the Cockney Stiletto from all the current releases? I grew up with the Cockney on Nickelodeon, and even if it's more authentic the Italian doesn't seem right.
Right, Baroni!
posted by mrgrimm at 4:35 PM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
Right, Baroni!
posted by mrgrimm at 4:35 PM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
Oh man, I have several VHS tapes filled with these when Nick was doing a marathon. Now I've gotten my kid hooked on them so we can swap jokes. If anything, Dangermouse was a gateway drug to Monty Python, Faulty Towers, etc. Thank you for such an awesome FPP!
A block of flats? A flock of bats!
posted by Wuggie Norple at 4:46 PM on April 20, 2010
A block of flats? A flock of bats!
posted by Wuggie Norple at 4:46 PM on April 20, 2010
Holy smokes PLEASE tell me that someone is able to find scans of that DM knit pattern for the toy / sweater. Please MeFi, you're my only hope..
I couldn't find a scan, but there's a copy on eBay just now...
posted by a little headband I put around my throat at 5:28 PM on April 20, 2010
I couldn't find a scan, but there's a copy on eBay just now...
posted by a little headband I put around my throat at 5:28 PM on April 20, 2010
In England the derogatory nickname "Jigsaw" has been common for football players who "go to pieces in the (penalty) box" for decades. Just sayin'.
Sincerely
Jigs
posted by Nick Verstayne at 5:40 PM on April 20, 2010
Sincerely
Jigs
posted by Nick Verstayne at 5:40 PM on April 20, 2010
gc: I remember this episode too! It's pretty much the only thing I remember about the show other than the theme song.
posted by ErWenn at 5:50 PM on April 20, 2010
posted by ErWenn at 5:50 PM on April 20, 2010
Maybe its because I'm an eskimo.... that i love London town
posted by MrLint at 6:00 PM on April 20, 2010
posted by MrLint at 6:00 PM on April 20, 2010
"Heee-ma-globin, heee-ma-globin, in the autumn air ... "
Oh, man. There's something I haven't had stuck in my head since the '80s. Back in there now, though -
posted by fixer at 6:38 PM on April 20, 2010
Oh, man. There's something I haven't had stuck in my head since the '80s. Back in there now, though -
posted by fixer at 6:38 PM on April 20, 2010
My lifelong Anglophilia can be traced directly to watching Danger Mouse as a kid. Cor!
posted by grapesaresour at 6:45 PM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by grapesaresour at 6:45 PM on April 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
One of those 'trufacts™' that I've somehow managed to get lodged in my brain is that a lot of DMs adventures were set in the arctic/antarctic precisely because the animators couldn't afford the ink to colour in the backgrounds.
Seems highly unlikely, but I still maintain it is true
posted by JustAsItSounds at 12:22 AM on April 21, 2010
Seems highly unlikely, but I still maintain it is true
posted by JustAsItSounds at 12:22 AM on April 21, 2010
Ambrosia Voyeur: I fully intend to finally produce a DM costume for Halloween this year. I'm not gonna let the fact that I'm a curvy woman be a downside. Bonus upside: costume composed of parts revonfigurable as Space Ghost.
When I was six (or maybe seven; it's a long time ago now) my mum made me a Danger Mouse costume for Halloween. She bought the right fabrics, and sewed the whole thing together from scratch, complete with properly-proportioned ears, belt and DM badge in the correct colours, and eyepatch. It must have taken a fucking age, when I think back, but it was the best Halloween costume I've ever had. My friend Chris was dressed as Penfold – blue suit, tie, fake glasses, the works. The photos are probably gathering dust in a box at my dad's house, but never again would either of us look so fucking awesome as that Halloween.
posted by Len at 9:40 AM on April 21, 2010 [4 favorites]
When I was six (or maybe seven; it's a long time ago now) my mum made me a Danger Mouse costume for Halloween. She bought the right fabrics, and sewed the whole thing together from scratch, complete with properly-proportioned ears, belt and DM badge in the correct colours, and eyepatch. It must have taken a fucking age, when I think back, but it was the best Halloween costume I've ever had. My friend Chris was dressed as Penfold – blue suit, tie, fake glasses, the works. The photos are probably gathering dust in a box at my dad's house, but never again would either of us look so fucking awesome as that Halloween.
posted by Len at 9:40 AM on April 21, 2010 [4 favorites]
"I'msorryi'msorry, Master."
"Stop groveling, Grovel!"
Dude that about broke my four-year-old brain.
I went as a pirate for Halloween JUST so I would have an eyepatch. When the opening music would start, I'd run to my closet and grab the eyepatch leftover from the costume, and I'd wear it for the whole episode.
Now THAT'S dedication.
posted by Eideteker at 1:34 PM on April 21, 2010 [2 favorites]
"Stop groveling, Grovel!"
Dude that about broke my four-year-old brain.
I went as a pirate for Halloween JUST so I would have an eyepatch. When the opening music would start, I'd run to my closet and grab the eyepatch leftover from the costume, and I'd wear it for the whole episode.
Now THAT'S dedication.
posted by Eideteker at 1:34 PM on April 21, 2010 [2 favorites]
I was young enough that I never even recognized the show as British until years later. I guess in my head, some people just talked differently than others. It wasn't even worth noting.
posted by ErWenn at 7:36 PM on April 21, 2010
posted by ErWenn at 7:36 PM on April 21, 2010
"I'msorryi'msorry, Master."
"Stop groveling, Grovel!"
(clang!) "Sorrymaster, Imsorrymaster..."
"Get up! No! (sigh) Now, look, Grovel--"
(clang!) "Sorrymaster, Imsorrymaster..."
"Get up! When I say 'Grovel'--"
(clang!) "Sorrymaster, Imsorrymaster..."
"Get up! I don't mean, grovel--"
(clang!) "Sorrymaster, Imsorrymaster..."
"Get up! I mean, your name! Grovel!"
(clang!) "Sorrymaster, Imsorrymaster..."
"Get up!!"
posted by JHarris at 1:17 AM on April 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
"Stop groveling, Grovel!"
(clang!) "Sorrymaster, Imsorrymaster..."
"Get up! No! (sigh) Now, look, Grovel--"
(clang!) "Sorrymaster, Imsorrymaster..."
"Get up! When I say 'Grovel'--"
(clang!) "Sorrymaster, Imsorrymaster..."
"Get up! I don't mean, grovel--"
(clang!) "Sorrymaster, Imsorrymaster..."
"Get up! I mean, your name! Grovel!"
(clang!) "Sorrymaster, Imsorrymaster..."
"Get up!!"
posted by JHarris at 1:17 AM on April 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
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