For the bluesman, see Super Chikan
Super Chicken is a segment that ran on the animated television series George of the Jungle. It was produced by Jay Ward and Bill Scott, who earlier had created the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons. It debuted September 9, 1967 on ABC.
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Super Chicken (voiced by Bill Scott with a wavering parody of a Boston Brahmin accent) and his lion sidekick Fred who wore a sweatshirt with a backwards "F" on the front (voiced by Paul Frees with an exaggerated working class New York accent), would usually begin their adventures with the battlecry that went something like: "Quick, Fred, to the 'Super Coupe,'" which was an egg-shaped air vehicle in which Super Chicken and Fred would fly to the rescue of innocent victims of crime.
Super Chicken's secret identity was well-to-do Henry Cabot Henhouse III (whose name was a play on Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.); Fred acted as his butler/servant, etc. When danger reared its ugly head, he would take his "Super Sauce" (often from a martini glass) and don his "Super Suit," which consisted of a plumed cavalier's hat, cape, Wellington boots, mask and a sword.
The first pilot featured an all-star comedy cast, including Bill Dana with Don Knotts as the voice of Super Chicken. The project was shelved and eventually recast.
The cartoon had several running gags, including:
The original concept for Super Chicken differed from the later 17 episodes.
Super Chicken's mild-mannered identity was named Hunt Strongbird, Jr, and his voice was more 'smarmy' in nature. The Supercoupe did not resemble an egg, but appeared to be a wooden chicken coop with a glass canopy, airplane wings and a jet engine. Also absent was the need for Super Sauce to institute the change into Super Chicken.
Super Chicken's Sidekick Fred was relatively untouched, except that instead of sneakers, he wore black boots.
Lyrics to the famous theme song are as follows:
When you find yourself in danger,
When you're threatened by a stranger,
When it looks like you will take a lickin', (cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck)
There is someone waiting who
Will hurry up and rescue you,
just call- for Super Chicken! (cluck, awk!)
Fred, if you're afraid, you'll have to overlook it,
Besides you knew the job was dangerous when you took it! (cluck, awk!)
He will drink his super sauce
And throw the bad guys for a loss
And he will bring them in, alive and kickin' (cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck)
There is one thing you should learn
When there is no one else to turn to
Call- for Super Chicken! (cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck)
Call...for Super Chicken! (cluck, awk!)
In 1969, Gold Key Comics published two issues of a George of the Jungle comic book. Each issue contained a story featuring Super Chicken. The artist and writer of the stories was not credited.
In an episode of Darkwing Duck, Darkwing references a line from the Super Chicken series. When approaching a dangerous target, Darkwing tells his sidekick, "It's like the chicken said, Launchpad, I knew the job was dangerous when I took it."
During the January 27th, 2003 episode of Loveline, host Drew Pinsky revealed that as a child he had participated in the test marketing of the show. This followed a rendition of the theme song by guest Emma Caulfield and cohost Adam Carolla. He said "it looked retarded to me", and "I was like eight years old and they marketed that and [...] George of the Jungle and another -- it seemed to me more bizarre -- it's about "time" kind of thing: a guy gets frozen and comes back to life".
Jerry Seinfeld referenced Super Chicken in a "Bee Movie TV Junior", in which he recites the Super Chicken theme song.
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