Duckman

{{Infobox television

| alt_name = Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man

| image = Duckman logo.jpg

| genre = Animated sitcom

| runtime = 22–23 minutes

| creator = Everett Peck

| based_on = {{Based on|Duckman|Everett Peck}}

| developer = {{Plainlist|

Jeff Reno
Ron Osborn
Gábor Csupó
Arlene Klasky
Everett Peck

}}

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

Everett Peck
Jeff Reno
Ron Osborn
Arlene Klasky
Gábor Csupó
David Misch {{small|(1997)}}

}}

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Sherry Gunther {{small|(1994–1995)}}
Michael Markowitz {{small|(1995–1996)}}
Margot Pipkin {{small|(1995–1997)}}
Mitch Watson {{small|(1997)}}
Gene Laufenberg {{small|(1997)}}

}}

| director = {{Plainlist|

Peter Avanzino
John Eng
Jeff McGrath
Raymie Muzquiz

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| composer = {{Plainlist|

Scott Wilk
Todd Yvega

}}

| country = United States

| company = {{Plainlist|

Klasky Csupo
Reno & Osborn Productions
Paramount Television

}}

| network = USA Network

| first_aired = {{start date|1994|3|5}}

| last_aired = {{end date|1997|9|6}}

| num_seasons = 4

| num_episodes = 70

| list_episodes = List of Duckman episodes

}}

Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man, commonly known simply as Duckman, is an American adult animated sitcom created and developed by Everett Peck, based on the characters he created in his 1990 one-shot comic book published by Dark Horse Comics. Duckman aired on the USA Network from March 5, 1994, through September 6, 1997, for 4 seasons and 70 episodes. It follows Eric Tiberius Duckman (voiced by Jason Alexander), a private detective who lives with his family.

After airing in syndication, the series gained a cult following.{{Cite web |last=Kurland |first=Daniel |date=March 8, 2019 |title=Duckman: We Need Him Now More Than Ever |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/duckman-we-need-him-now-more-than-ever/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Den of Geek |archive-date=October 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002231122/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/duckman-we-need-him-now-more-than-ever/ |url-status=live }} Spin-off media include volume DVDs released from 2008 to 2009, a comic book collection released by Topps between 1994 and 1996, a Complete Series DVD set released in 2018, and a video game entitled Duckman: The Graphic Adventures of a Private Dick for Microsoft Windows. The series was listed among IGN{{'}}s "Top 100 Best Animated TV Shows" in 2009 and received three nominations at the Primetime Emmy Awards.

Plot

File:Duckman characters.png

In a universe where humans and anthropomorphic animals coexist, the series centers on Eric Tiberius Duckman (voiced by Jason Alexander),{{Cite web |last=Zupan |first=Michael |date=September 22, 2008 |title=Duckman - Seasons One & Two |url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/34784/duckman-seasons-one-two/ |access-date=August 22, 2010 |website=DVD Talk |archive-date=August 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820131327/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/34784/duckman-seasons-one-two/ |url-status=live }} a widowed, lewd, self-hating, egocentric anthropomorphic duck who lives with his family in Los Angeles (as mentioned in the episode "Bev Takes a Holiday") and works as a private detective. The tagline of the show, seen in the opening credits, is "Private Dick/Family Man".

Main characters include Cornfed (voiced by Gregg Berger), a pig who is Duckman's Joe Friday–esque business partner and best friend; Ajax (voiced by Dweezil Zappa), Duckman's eldest, slow-witted teenage son; Charles (voiced by Dana Hill and later Pat Musick) and Mambo (voiced by E. G. Daily), Duckman's genius conjoined twins whose heads share a body; Bernice (voiced by Nancy Travis), the identical twin of Duckman's presumed-dead wife Beatrice, a fanatical fitness buff who hates Duckman with a passion; and Grandma-ma (voiced by Travis), Duckman's comatose, immensely flatulent mother-in-law.

Recurring characters include Agnes Delrooney (voiced by Brian Doyle-Murray), Grandma-ma's doppelgänger who kidnaps her and poses as her until near the end of the final season; Fluffy and Uranus (voiced by Musick), Duckman's two obsessively politically correct Care Bear–esque pink and blue teddy bear office assistants; George Herbert Walker "King" Chicken (voiced by Tim Curry), a supervillain who schemes to ruin Duckman's life as retribution for ruining his high school tenure; Beverly (voiced by Travis), Beatrice and Bernice's long-lost sister; and Gecko, Duckman's pet dog (which he had stolen and renamed).

In the final episode, four couples (Dr. Stein/Dana Reynard, Duckman/Honey, King Chicken/Bernice, Cornfed/Beverly) get married – the last three in a joint ceremony. The kids, Fluffy and Uranus, and a number of characters from previous episodes are in attendance. As the ceremonies draw to a close, Beatrice (Duckman's supposedly deceased wife) appears and shocks the entire crowd. When Duckman asks how she can still be alive, Beatrice indicates Cornfed always knew. Cornfed says, "I can explain." The show then ends with "To be continued...?" superimposed on the screen. In regards to this cliffhanger, Duckman writer Michael Markowitz offered the following shortly after the series came to an end: "We never formally planned Part II... and I'll never tell what I personally had in mind. I'm hoping to leave it to my heirs, for the inevitable day when Duckman is revived by future generations."{{Cite web |date=September 21, 1998 |title=To Be DIScontinued! - The Hall of Unresolved TV Cliffhangers: 1996-2000 |url=http://members.tripod.com/rover_wow/clif9600.htm |access-date=2015-03-07 |publisher=Members.tripod.com |archive-date=March 23, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090323093115/http://members.tripod.com/rover_wow/clif9600.htm |url-status=live }} On August 13, 2015, Markowitz posted on his Twitter page in response to a question from a fan about the cliffhanger, "Was then (& now) an #XFiles fan (bride in ep was Dana Reynard, a Mulder-Scully hint) so involved gov't coverup of aliens".{{Cite tweet |number=631917449089146880 |user=markowitz |title=@Kennnnnny ...Was then ( & now) #XFiles fan (bride in ep was Dana Reynard, a Mulder-Scully hint) so involved gov't coverup of aliens |date=August 13, 2015}}

Production

The series consists of 70 episodes that aired on Saturday nights from 1994 to 1997 on the USA Network. It later reran on Comedy Central from 2000 to 2006. In Spain, it aired on Canal+ in the 1990s and on Cartoon Network from 2000 to 2001 through a nightly block aimed at adults, vaguely as a pre-beta to Adult Swim, both times alongside The Critic. In the United Kingdom, it aired on Sky 1 and BBC Two, and in Canada, it is a former program on MTV2 and Teletoon. The initial showrunners were Peck, Reno and Osborn, and the show was produced in association with Paramount Network Television. Klasky Csupo animated and produced the show; around the same time, they were also producing Aaahh!!! Real Monsters on Nickelodeon.{{Cite news |last=Byrnes |first=Nanette |date=October 16, 1995 |title=The Rugrats' Real Mom and Dad |publisher=Business Week |location=Hollywood |url=http://www.businessweek.com/archives/1995/b3446111.arc.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=August 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101207095808/http://www.businessweek.com/archives/1995/b3446111.arc.htm |archive-date=December 7, 2010 |df=mdy}} In later years, the show running duties went to David Misch and Michael Markowitz. Creator and executive producer Everett Peck was with the show for its entire run. Producer Gene Laufenberg was with the show for most of its run. Scott Wilk and Todd Yvega created original music for the series, including the theme.{{Cite web |title=ASCAP ACE - Search Results |url=http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=DUCKMAN&search_in=t&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&pagenum=1&start=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523060627/http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=DUCKMAN&search_in=t&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&pagenum=1&start=1 |archive-date=May 23, 2011 |access-date=2008-01-14 |df=mdy-all}} The first season also featured music from Frank Zappa's published catalog (Zappa died several months prior to this series' premiere).

Episodes

Merchandise

=Comic books=

Between 1994 and 1996, various comic books were published by Topps based on the TV series.{{Cite web |title=Everett Peck |url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/p/peck_everett.htm |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Lambiek.net |archive-date=July 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703075502/https://www.lambiek.net/artists/p/peck_everett.htm |url-status=live }} These were largely written and drawn by others, including Jay Lynch, Scott Shaw! and Craig Yoe. Topps also reprinted Peck's original 1990 Duckman comic.

=Home media=

In January 2008, TVShowsOnDVD.com reported that Duckman would be coming to region 1 DVD.{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=David |date=January 5, 2008 |title=Duckman DVD news: Plans Announced for Duckman |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Duckman-DVDs-Planned/8731 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402144634/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Duckman-DVDs-Planned/8731 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |access-date=2015-03-07 |website=TVShowsOnDVD.com |df=mdy-all}} Details followed in May, when it was announced that the first release in the series would be the first two seasons, 22 combined episodes on three discs, on September 16, 2008.{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=David |date=May 28, 2008 |title=Duckman DVD News: Announcement for Duckman - Seasons 1 and 2 |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Duckman-Seasons-1-and-2/9717 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017005209/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Duckman-Seasons-1-and-2/9717 |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |access-date=2015-03-07 |website=TVShowsOnDVD.com |df=mdy-all}} The final two seasons, 48 episodes, were released on a seven-disc set on January 6, 2009.{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=David |date=September 14, 2008 |title=Duckman DVD News: Update About Duckman - Seasons 3 & 4 |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Duckman-Seasons-3-and-4/10524 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091158/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Duckman-Seasons-3-and-4/10524 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |access-date=2015-03-07 |website=TVShowsOnDVD.com |df=mdy-all}} Both DVD sets were released by CBS DVD/Paramount Home Entertainment.

With the DVD releases, many episodes were edited to remove copyrighted music because of royalty issues. As a result, they differ somewhat from the aired TV episodes. However, Everett Peck was involved in the process of the DVD releases and he felt the most important music was preserved.{{Cite web |last=Mulrooney |first=Martin |date=November 18, 2009 |title=Interview – In Conversation with Everett Peck, Animator, Cartoonist and Creator of Duckman |url=https://alternativemagazineonline.co.uk/2009/11/18/interview-in-conversation-with-everett-peck-animator-cartoonist-and-creator-of-duckman/ |access-date=February 13, 2020 |website=AlternativeMagazineOnline.co.uk |archive-date=April 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406075015/https://alternativemagazineonline.co.uk/2009/11/18/interview-in-conversation-with-everett-peck-animator-cartoonist-and-creator-of-duckman/ |url-status=live }}

The Complete Series DVD was released on February 6, 2018.{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=David |date=November 13, 2017 |title=Duckman - 'The Complete Series' on DVD from CBS/Paramount: Date and Package Art Look for All 4 Seasons to Come Together in One Set in Early February |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Duckman-The-Complete-Series/23797 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114093028/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Duckman-The-Complete-Series/23797 |archive-date=November 14, 2017 |access-date=2017-11-13 |website=TVShowsOnDVD.com |df=mdy-all}}

Title ! Season(s) ! Episode count ! Release date
class="wikitable"
colspan=4 style="background:#fdce30\|
style="text-align: center\|Volume 1: The Complete First and Second Seasons \| style="text-align: center\|1 and 2 \| style="text-align: center\|22 \| style="text-align: center\|{{Start date\|2008\|9\|16}}
colspan=4\|This three-disc release contained the entire first two seasons.
colspan=4 style="background:#F66E2A\|
colspan=4 style="background:#584522\|
style="text-align: center\|Volume 2: The Complete Third and Fourth Seasons \| style="text-align: center\|3 and 4 \| style="text-align: center\|48 \| style="text-align: center\|{{Start date\|2009\|1\|6}}
colspan=4\|This seven-disc release contained the entire final two seasons.
colspan=4 style="background:#61A1A1\|
colspan=4 style="background:#efcd2e\|
style="text-align: center\|The Complete Series \| style="text-align: center\|1–4 \| style="text-align: center\|70 \| style="text-align: center\|{{Start date\|2018\|2\|6}}
colspan=4\|This ten-disc release contained the entire series.
colspan=4 style="background:#efcd2e\|

=Video game=

In May 1997, a point-and-click adventure computer game, Duckman: The Graphic Adventures of a Private Dick, was released for Microsoft Windows. In it, Duckman has become a famous detective, and a television series based on him is about to debut, but someone is pushing Duckman out of his own life and replacing him with a bigger, better, heroic Duckman. The player's goal is to help Duckman get rid of the impostor and reclaim his rightful place. A PlayStation port was planned for a release in the first quarter of 1997 but it was cancelled.{{cite magazine |title=E3: The City of Angels Hosts One Hell of a Show - Duckman |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |date=July 1996 |issue=84 |page=67 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/8/87/EGM_US_084.pdf |publisher=EGM Media, LLC |quote=System: PlayStation, Release date: 1st Qtr, '97}}

Reception

The show was critically acclaimed.{{Cite news |last=O'Connor |first=John J. |date=March 9, 1996 |title=Television Review - 'Madison County' Spoof from a Cartoon Duck |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/09/movies/television-review-madison-county-spoof-from-a-cartoon-duck.html |url-status=live |access-date=2015-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913054832/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/09/movies/television-review-madison-county-spoof-from-a-cartoon-duck.html |archive-date=September 13, 2016}}{{Cite magazine |last=Hiltbrand |first=David |title=Picks and Pans Review: Duckman |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20107655,00.html |url-status=dead |magazine=People |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402121630/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20107655,00.html |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |access-date=2015-03-07 |via=People.com}}{{Cite web |last=Winistorfer |first=Andrew |date=January 18, 2009 |title=Duckman: Seasons Three and Four |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/68899-duckman-seasons-three-and-four/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017005209/http://www.popmatters.com/review/68899-duckman-seasons-three-and-four/ |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |access-date=2015-03-07 |website=PopMatters.com}} In January 2009, IGN listed Duckman as the 48th best in the Top 100 Best Animated TV Shows.{{Cite news |title=Top 100 Animated Series |work=IGN |url=http://www.ign.com/top/animated-tv-series/48.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426015118/http://www.ign.com/top/animated-tv-series/48.html |archive-date=April 26, 2014}}

Episodes "T.V. or Not to Be", "Noir Gang", and "Haunted Society Plumbers" were nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program in 1994, 1996, and 1997, respectively.{{Cite web |title=Duckman |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/duckman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117040644/https://www.emmys.com/shows/duckman |archive-date=November 17, 2022 |access-date=2016-09-29 |website=Emmys.com}}

References

External links

{{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970614035646/http://www.usanetwork.com/content/backlot/duckman.html |date=June 14, 1997 |title=USA Network site}}
{{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001109140200/http://www.comedycentral.com/duckman/ |date=November 9, 2000 |title=Comedy Central site}}
{{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227141623/http://www.duckman.com/ |date=December 27, 1996 |title=Official Website}}
{{Toonopedia|duckman.htm}} ({{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20240527202901/https://www.webcitation.org/6hGmTZOSw?url=http://toonopedia.com/duckman.htm|date=2024-05-27}})
{{IMDb title|0108755|title=Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man}}

Category:1990s American adult animated television series

Category:1990s American animated comedy television series

Category:1990s American satirical television series

Category:Animated satirical television series

Category:1990s American sitcoms

Category:1994 American animated television series debuts

Category:1997 American television series endings

Category:American adult animated comedy television series

Category:American animated sitcoms

Category:Comics about talking animals

Category:Television series about talking animals

Category:Comics about anthropomorphic ducks