Long Live Underdog

Cartoons come and go, though some have lasted beyond the generation of children they were created for. I grew up loving the Looney Toons – Bugs Bunny, Woody Woodpecker, Pork Pig, Daffy Duck, etc. They had attitude, color, and wit. But they have been pushed aside today by cartoons that use special effects, superheroes, or educational themes. No longer do just a few networks dictate our viewing fare. There are now hundreds of options available to kids.

When I was a little boy growing up in Brooklyn, I loved watching the exploits of the heroic Underdog, a cartoon about a crime-fighting dog who always seemed to rescue one person, his love, Sweet Polly Purebred. The show debuted in 1964 and I started watching before the last original episode aired in 1973.

The flying canine was my favorite when I was five or six-years-old, more than Bugs Bunny, The Flintstones, Tom & Jerry, Mighty Mouse, Yogi Bear, and other contemporaries. I watched all 124 episodes – multiple times.

“There is no reason to fear, Underdog is here,” was one of my favorite lines.

The co-creator of the classic series, William W. Biggers, just passed away at age 85. I had not thought about the series in years and yet upon reflection I realize how influential the show was on developing my attitude towards seeking justice. He may have been fictional but I shared many real moments with him.

Now I hope to share a few such moments with my kids, 8 and 5. I just ordered the series on DVD for less than $40. I am not the type to own a series or even buy many DVDs of movies, but if I was to treasure one thing from my childhood’s early days, it would be Underdog.

I cannot wait to get it and see how my children react to the 50-year-old animation and story lines. Will it seem lame and outdated or will it resonate with them as it did with me?

I know one thing: I will get to see my beloved Underdog again and that it will be worth the purchase price to touch an old memory. He is back to save the day.

Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer, the nation’s largest book promoter. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog 2013 ©