I’ll start off answering the burning question that maybe two people are asking: Yes, I did review “Doug” already. Now imagine instead I reviewed major cities. Last month I talked about Kansas City, Missouri, and this month I want to talk about Kansas City, Kansas. They have the same name and have similarities, but when it comes down to it, they’re different things.
What?
Deliberately confusing analogy aside, this time around we’re talking about “Disney’s Doug”. For those of us paying attention, we know Disney takes long running franchises and makes them different. Do you remember “Star Wars with Mice on Ice”? That was great despite being way different than the originals. (That last sentence was for people reading this in 2019 when F.A.N. publishes a book of my work after my tragic death).
So if I could quit making asides and focus, many of you are probably all like, “Dave, what could possibly be so different if the show is the same thing?” My answer would be, “Well, if you liked Doug enough to voice your concern, you should probably already know.” My real answer and first indication of change is this baby:
The baby’s name is Dirtbike. Disney ran a contest to see what the name of the new Funnie would be, and they picked that. Given their status, you’d think Disney would be good enough to just lie and pick something else. That’s what should have happened. Instead Disney wants to brand this show as its own and really went crazy with the changes. Hell, the first episode is all about Doug being sad about all the new things junior high brings and him learning to adapt and be cool with it. This is their subtle way of telling kids to suck it up. “The Honker Burger is dead and Roger’s rich you little pukes so strap in and deal.”
I was one of these kids that watched anyway. I didn’t even dislike it, but looking back it was weird to rip a lot of things out and change them just for the sake of it. I had to watch anyway because “Recess” was on afterwards. Yes I’m going to try to talk about “Recess” every week this month.
NO! TALK ABOUT ME!
You already are the only person with two reviews so calm down. If I can break the 4th wall for a moment, Doug’s voice changed when he moved to Disney Land. It could have been because of puberty, but really it was because of pay disputes with king of voices Billy West. Mr. West has since derided the Disney version because the guy who replaced him sucked. I didn’t think he did a bad job, but the voice of the red M&M has spoken. This also meant that Roger’s voice changed too. I missed Billy West, but I still hold that Fred Newman kept that ship afloat without him. The guy was Pork Chop, Skeeter, Dirtbike, Ned and Mr. Dink. Doug Preis was no slouch himself. I’ve appeased myself and the other 3 voice actor nerds so let’s move on.
First off the theme song changed. Let’s join Doug on his journey through “Doug’s Last Birthday” to see all the things Disney burned. The time lapse is 3 months between Nickelodeon end and Disney start. The first change that really hits home is the fact that fat old Connie Benge is now a hottie. I’m sorry for saying that. It’s a cartoon and she’s twelve. I should know better than to be creepy about that kind of stuff right Bronies?
Newground has provided me with a visual representation
The Honker Burger is now Chez Honk. The kids now hang out at Mr. Swirly’s. Replace burgers and fries with ice cream. I actually like that change. Also Mr. Swirly is just a fun dude. Look at him:
Another huge change is that Roger and his mother are now rich. She sold her land and trailer and made a fortune. If only real life were that easy. They now live in a mansion and Doug feels Roger’s wrath far less. Roger is by nature a criminal and douchebag so don’t think he goes all soft; he just has other fish to fry at this point.
I didn't mind his new look either.
With a “Feeny-esque” move Mr. Bone becomes Assistant Principal at the newly built Beebe Bluff Middle School. The girl goes to a school shaped like her head. Good god she’d either be popular or beaten mercilessly.
She would at least cry a lot.
Also former Mayor White ( Vote for ME!) is the principal for some reason. At least he’s no butt savage right?
“Disney’s Doug” had a pretty good three year run. This came after a good thee year run on Nick. So we’ve got a solid 6 years of production and a crappy movie on our hands. I honestly remember watching the movie on television a few years after it aired and turned it off. I’ll have to track it down and see if it holds up. “Doug” doesn’t really hold up for me that well, so the movie probably won’t either. I hate the Disney version less than most people I have heard from, but it’s a far cry from the original. It’s not “Family Guy” worse, but I’ll say it’s probably “Futurama” reboot quality. You can’t blame Tom McHugh on that one Billy.
