Hong Kong Phooey

As a child growing up watching the likes of HKP and other Hanna Barbera classics (yes they were) I cannot remember ever getting bored of them. They were simply animated perhaps but as a kid did I ever stop and think, "hhhmm I think the animation is a bit cheap looking" - NO I DIDN'T and the reason - because I was a child and it was good fun, with funny scripts and characters. OK so they're not as funny perhaps when you watch them again as a 30 something year old (or whatever) but don't forget they were made for kids after all. I look forward to showing the likes of Hong Kong Phooey to my son when he grows up a bit along with a few other classics thrown in for good measure.

Though Hanna-Barbera Productions went into "trends" in their Saturday morning shows (they were everywhere on NBC or ABC, CBS was mostly Filmation's playground), this superhero Kung Fu beagle was one of the exceptions.

I discovered this "Kung Fu" addict on Laff-A-Lympics, another HB classic where our superhero beagle was part of the "Scooby-Doobies". And French- dubbed (from Paris) here on the TVA Network in the 80s.

Story is a bit like "the sidekick who never gets credits for the hero's goofs". Police station janitor (and naive) Penry Pooch overhears many police complains from phone receptionist Rosemary, and despite the rants of Sergeant Flint, gets into grab from the help of his sidekick cat Spot and gets into the Phooey Mobile (which changes shape with the sound of the gong) to get all the criminals and crooks.

Most of the time, the hero reads a book of "Hong Kong book of Kung Fu" in front of the bandits, however, most of the time, it is Spot which saves the day, but the masked beagle takes credit, to the poor cat's dismay...

At the time, many Hanna-Barbera had shows which missed the mark with all the trends shown (in my book, the best HB shows in the 70s were this one, Scooby Doo, Super Friends, Laff-A-Lympics, Dynomutt, Speed Buggy, and Captain Caveman) and the 50s-60s punch and originality were fading away. Hong Kong Phooey reminded me a bit of Quick Draw McGraw, but on the Kung Fu style...

To watch mostly for its wackiness...

Hong Kong Phooey is classic oldie humor, like Huckleberry Hound and Snagglepuss. I watched it when I was little, and I still think it is funny. I have yet to meet a kid who thought it was racist or acted that way because of it; in my opinion, it is a whole lot better influence than the current violent Anime shows. Not that you have to respect characters for a show to be worthwhile, but I have far more respect for Hong Kong Phooey and the gang than I do for people who post comments about drugs and lacing others' drinks with toxic substances on a site about a movie that young adults watch. No one expects cartoons to be classic dramatic works of art. Hong Kong Phooey is a light-hearted comedy that is safe for kids to watch and funny for adults, too. Lighten up and just enjoy it!

Penrod Pooch leads a secret life as Hong Kong Phooey a Kung Fu crime fighter. His faithful sidekick Spot the cat usually solved the crimes, but that was only a part of the charm. Rosemary the Telephone operator had a mad crush on the hero never realizing that Penry was the one and only Hong Kong Phooey..

Too bad the show only lasted 16 episodes. Hong Kong Phooey is not totally helpless... He caught the guys in Car Theves, and caught the Cat burglar in Grandma Goody. He would have had the claw if Spot hadn't used the claw to block Phooey from really getting the claw. He would have had the Giggler too if Spot did not kick open the Jack in the Box to grab him just seconds before Phooey lands in the very spot where the giggler stood...

Scatman Coruthers was great as Phooey! As was Joe E Ross as the Gruff Sgt Flint. I hope the series gets the DVD treatment... I miss this show. It planted the seeds for the love of the Martial arts. Hong Kong Phooey had a cool car too! Classic show!

The appeal of Hong Kong Phooey can be summed by one name, Scatman Crothers. One of the most talented individuals ever hired by Hanna Barbera to do voice overs. He pretty much carried this cartoon during it's scant 16 episode run. Quirky one liners and his constant talking to the audience seperated Hong Kong Phooey from the rest. Hanna Barbera ruled the seventies TV cartoon market. IF Cartoon Network would get off the anime band wagon(FAT CHANCE)they would have time to show some American classics such as this. Great Theme Song.