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Dexter's Laboratory - PB&J Otter - The Simpsons 
Woody Woodpecker returns to amuse a new generationBy Helen Lee, syndicated May 16, 1999 The prankster bird with that famous laugh has been absent from television for 20 years. On May 8, Woody makes his triumphant return to television in ''The Woody Woodpecker Show,'' debuting at 11 a.m. ET on Fox Kids. ''The beak is back, and he's a bird for all ages,'' declares Louis Feola, president of Universal Family and Home Entertainment. What's the '90s version of the character like? Think Ferris Bueller. ''He's basically a slacker that likes to have fun and doesn't really want to work that hard, for food or anything else,'' Feola says. Originally created by Walter Lance, Woody first came to life in 1941 and starred in a total of 197 shorts and 350 cartoon shows over the next 38 years. In his first new series since 1979, he meets up with old adversaries Ms. Meany, Wally Walrus and Buzz Buzzard, with friends like Winnie Woodpecker, Knothead and Splinter to help him out. The new ''Woody'' show will also feature another favorite, that cool-as-a-cucumber penguin Chilly Willy, in his own separate shorts. Feola says, ''We have kept the basic DNA intact, but created a contemporary sensibility and a contemporary approach to the character. We're literally trying to make him a bird for all ages, trying to get an updated personality that has…sophistication, unpredictable humor and independence.'' One of the things they've retained: Woody's laugh. ''We try to stay true, particularly with Woody's laugh, to the old form,'' says Feola. ''Whenever you say Woody to anybody, and I've done this globally, everybody knows the laugh. It's like they feel compelled to do it. I've tried this in Europe, I've done it in Asia, I've done it to people in South America, and they all do it. It's great. It's like an international word.'' Producer Alan Zaslove says that audiences will see a character that's ''a little closer to the temperament of the late '40s -- consistently a little stronger, more positive, fun-loving character. ''He's a neat little character,'' Zazlove says. ''He's not really Bugs Bunny -- there's a little more edge to him. He's funnier, crazier even, and a lot of fun to deal with.'' Besides tweaking Woody (voiced by Billy West), producers offer '90s audiences less violence, a stronger storyline and more airtime to once minor characters to create a more repertory-like feel. Winnie Woodpecker (voiced by B.J. Ward), for example, is a ''much stronger personality and very funny,'' according to Zaslove, and she'll be a regular presence in Woody's life. Buzz Buzzard (voiced by Mark Hamill) is Woody's ''best foil.'' Also, the new ''Woody'' show gets away with less slapstick than the old cartoons. '''A lot of the humor was based on 'hurt gags,' on stream of consciousness gags that aren't exactly acceptable today,'' says Zaslove. ''Now, even if someone is going to be hit, it's usually done off stage unless it's below the neck. They're very careful about these things -- anything that can be learned (by children) we just can't put it in.'' Yes, admits Zaslove, this changes a little of the tone of the series. ''But by the same token, we have to come up with more original gags that aren't based on that kind of humor, so it's always a challenge that way.'' Upcoming episodes of ''Woody'' promise to range from the serious yet funny to completely zany. In one, Woody has an annual golf competition with his father (a short little Scotsman-like woodpecker). No matter what gimmicks or gizmos Woody tries to use, he loses. But what he really wants is for his father to appreciate him. In another, a cockroach named Chester moves into Woody's home. Woody insists that Chester get a job and pay him rent, then keeps raising the rent as Chester becomes more and more successful. ''It isn't just a series of gags anymore, it's telling a pretty good little story in seven minutes. And they're pretty solid stories as they go,'' says Zaslove. Is he worried at all that re-tooling ''Woody Woodpecker'' will turn off some old fans? ''Anytime you remake an icon, you're leaving yourself open,'' Zaslove says. ''They're almost different characters -- different styling, different gags, different ways how Wally is used and Ms. Meany is used. But all the way through (his history) Woody was never the same. If any character was not consistent, it was really Woody.'' Zaslove believes, however, that being faithful to the original isn't the important part. ''If the character comes alive, if they're believable little characters, then you have made it. Then it works.'' And a whole new generation will be doing that patented Woody Woodpecker laugh. Top of page |