The Brothers Grunt
Encyclopedia
The Brothers Grunt is an animated TV series that aired from August 15, 1994
to February 20, 1995
on MTV. The series was created by Danny Antonucci
(later of Ed, Edd n Eddy
fame).
. Their main food staple is cheese
; nevertheless they are able to eat other meals (at least potatoes: see episode #23, Not My Potato). Their single parent is a giant, mute aquatic individual, called Primus Gruntus Maximus, to whom they are born as embryos inside skin warts, much in the way of the Surinam Toad
(see Pipa pipa). They live in a monastery
in an alternate universe
. A group is formed, composed of most of the survivors of their species, in a quest to bring back one of their kind, Perry, who has abandoned his involuntary position of "Chosen One" (leader of their order) and is now living the "high life" among human beings (who seem to deal with the bizarre nature of the grunts by ignoring them and pretending everything is normal). The style and quality of animation resembled that of The Ren & Stimpy Show.
, Tony (Bennett)
, Dean (Martin)
, Bing (Crosby)
, Sammy (Davis Jr.)
, and Perry (Como)
all voiced by Doug Parker
.
The characters that would become The Brothers Grunt were first seen in one of MTV's numerous 30-second promos. This particular promo consisted of close-up shots of the at-the-time-unnamed character's faces who seemed to be straining to do something (veins in their heads would bulge, the characters would squint and grunt) until the scene cut to the MTV logo landing in a pool of sludge followed by a satisfied "Ahhhhh" (suggesting that the characters were suffering from constipation
and the MTV
logo was the 'turd' as it were). It is unclear when this promo aired if the storyline and characters for The Brothers Grunt had been developed already or if it had been developed into its own show after the success of the promo, in the wake of Beavis and Butt-head
.
, he wanted to leave International Rocketship Ltd. and start his own animation company. The result was a.k.a. Cartoon, which began on April 1, 1994. The studio began as a way to locate his work for The Brothers Grunt after an MTV executive liked his MTV ad so much he asked him to turn it into a television series.
for a few months when The Brothers Grunt began; that re-runs of Beavis and Butt-head stopped airing made the situation even worse. MTV wanted to have more animated TV series after their success with Liquid Television
and Beavis and Butt-head. They seized the opportunity to hire Danny Antonucci, while Mike Judge
, creator of Beavis and Butt-head, had to put it on hiatus. MTV decided the shows would overlap each other, so when The Brothers Grunt was on hiatus they would air more Beavis and Butt-head, and when Beavis and Butt-head was on hiatus they would air more The Brothers Grunt. (Indeed, in episode #19 Close Encounters of the Grunt Kind, Beavis and Butt-head make a cameo appearance aboard a flying saucer, where they have been rounded up with other bizarre creatures). MTV's plan of having the shows overlap each other was MTV's original strategy for both shows.
(More episodes, unknown order)
1994 in television
The year 1994 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1994.For the American TV schedule, see: 1994-95 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-Miniseries:...
to February 20, 1995
1995 in television
The year 1995 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1995.For the American TV schedule, see: 1995-96 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
on MTV. The series was created by Danny Antonucci
Danny Antonucci
Daniel Edward "Danny" Antonucci is an animator,director producer and screenwriter best known for his 1999 animated series Ed, Edd n Eddy, which has ended its run, but airs on Cartoon Network every weekday at 2:30 and 3:00pm EST...
(later of Ed, Edd n Eddy
Ed, Edd n Eddy
Ed, Edd n Eddy is an original animated television series created by Danny Antonucci and produced by Canadian-based a.k.a. Cartoon. It premiered on Cartoon Network on January 4, 1999. Ed, Edd n Eddy was one of Cartoon Network's longest running and most successful franchises and the longest-running...
fame).
Premise
The series centered around an ensemble cast of pale, rubbery humanoids distantly related to human beings, all of them ostensibly male, wandering around in their underpantsUnderpants
-Boxer shorts:Boxer shorts, or simply boxers, have an elasticated waistband that is at or near the wearer's waist, while the leg sections are fairly loose and extend to the mid-thigh. There is usually a fly, either with or without buttons...
. Their main food staple is cheese
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
; nevertheless they are able to eat other meals (at least potatoes: see episode #23, Not My Potato). Their single parent is a giant, mute aquatic individual, called Primus Gruntus Maximus, to whom they are born as embryos inside skin warts, much in the way of the Surinam Toad
Surinam toad
Surinam toads, also called star-fingered toads, are members of the frog genus Pipa, within the family Pipidae. They are native to northern South America...
(see Pipa pipa). They live in a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in an alternate universe
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
. A group is formed, composed of most of the survivors of their species, in a quest to bring back one of their kind, Perry, who has abandoned his involuntary position of "Chosen One" (leader of their order) and is now living the "high life" among human beings (who seem to deal with the bizarre nature of the grunts by ignoring them and pretending everything is normal). The style and quality of animation resembled that of The Ren & Stimpy Show.
Characters
The main characters were named after famous vocalists of the 1960s: Frank (Sinatra)Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Tony (Bennett)
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
, Dean (Martin)
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
, Bing (Crosby)
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
, Sammy (Davis Jr.)
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Samuel George "Sammy" Davis Jr. was an American entertainer and was also known for his impersonations of actors and other celebrities....
, and Perry (Como)
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
all voiced by Doug Parker
Doug Parker (voice actor)
Doug Parker is a Canadian voice actor and voice director.He has been doing voices in several cartoons and anime.He is probably best known for playing Terrorsaur in Beast Wars, He also played Starscream who made a cameo appearance in the show...
.
Main
- Frank
- Tony
- Bing
- Dean
- Sammy
- Perry - A Grunt that became the chosen one in the pilot episode: The Ceremony.
Major
- King Grunt - (Doug ParkerDoug Parker (voice actor)Doug Parker is a Canadian voice actor and voice director.He has been doing voices in several cartoons and anime.He is probably best known for playing Terrorsaur in Beast Wars, He also played Starscream who made a cameo appearance in the show...
) A king with the thoughts. - The Dıflash Queen - (Jennifer WilsonJennifer WilsonJennifer Wilson is an American soprano known especially for her Wagnerian opera roles. She is the daughter of Newton Wilson and Katherine Still...
) A Turkish Queen that appeared in the episode: Scrub Me Sammy. - The Giant - A floating giant.
- The Dıflash Queen's İgnam lamp - A Turkish lamp belonging to Sammy.
- The Smein - A Nazi German skunk that appeared in the episode: Hunt for Grunts.
- Krischmäßante - The Smein's best friend skunk.
- Santa Claus (or St. Nicholas or especially Kris Kringle) - An obese present bringer that appeared in the episode: The Grunts Who Came for Turkey.
The characters that would become The Brothers Grunt were first seen in one of MTV's numerous 30-second promos. This particular promo consisted of close-up shots of the at-the-time-unnamed character's faces who seemed to be straining to do something (veins in their heads would bulge, the characters would squint and grunt) until the scene cut to the MTV logo landing in a pool of sludge followed by a satisfied "Ahhhhh" (suggesting that the characters were suffering from constipation
Constipation
Constipation refers to bowel movements that are infrequent or hard to pass. Constipation is a common cause of painful defecation...
and the MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
logo was the 'turd' as it were). It is unclear when this promo aired if the storyline and characters for The Brothers Grunt had been developed already or if it had been developed into its own show after the success of the promo, in the wake of Beavis and Butt-head
Beavis and Butt-Head
Beavis and Butt-head is an American animated television series created by Mike Judge. The series originated from Frog Baseball, a 1992 short film by Judge. After seeing the short, MTV signed Judge to develop the concept. Beavis and Butt-head originally aired from March 8, 1993 to November 28, 1997...
.
Network run
The show began in 1993 when the MTV ad for The Brothers Grunt aired. At the time Danny Antonucci had animated several MTV ads to find work outside of International Rocketship Ltd., who he had worked for since 1984. Although Danny enjoyed the success of Lupo The ButcherLupo the Butcher
Lupo the Butcher is a 1987 animated film directed and written by Danny Antonucci. Gary Lambeth is credited as being the ink and paint artist.-Plot:...
, he wanted to leave International Rocketship Ltd. and start his own animation company. The result was a.k.a. Cartoon, which began on April 1, 1994. The studio began as a way to locate his work for The Brothers Grunt after an MTV executive liked his MTV ad so much he asked him to turn it into a television series.
Controversy
The show consisted of 4 to 7-minute segments which were packaged into 30-minute episodes. The show, however, became a breeding ground for angry Beavis and Butt-head fans, who did not realize that Beavis and Butt-head was on hiatusHiatus (television)
In television scheduling, a hiatus refers to a break of at least several weeks in the normal schedule of a broadcast programming. It can occur during a season of a television program, or can be between television seasons .- Planned hiatus :Many times television stations will implement a hiatus...
for a few months when The Brothers Grunt began; that re-runs of Beavis and Butt-head stopped airing made the situation even worse. MTV wanted to have more animated TV series after their success with Liquid Television
Liquid Television
Liquid Television is an Emmy Award–winning 1990s animation showcase that appeared on MTV. The first season of Liquid Television also aired on BBC Two in co-production with MTV. Ultimately, MTV commissioned three seasons of the show, which was produced by Colossal Pictures...
and Beavis and Butt-head. They seized the opportunity to hire Danny Antonucci, while Mike Judge
Mike Judge
Michael Craig Judge is an American animator, film director, writer and voice actor, best known as the creator and star of the animated television series Beavis and Butt-head , King of the Hill , and The Goode Family .He also wrote, directed and in some instances produced the films Beavis and...
, creator of Beavis and Butt-head, had to put it on hiatus. MTV decided the shows would overlap each other, so when The Brothers Grunt was on hiatus they would air more Beavis and Butt-head, and when Beavis and Butt-head was on hiatus they would air more The Brothers Grunt. (Indeed, in episode #19 Close Encounters of the Grunt Kind, Beavis and Butt-head make a cameo appearance aboard a flying saucer, where they have been rounded up with other bizarre creatures). MTV's plan of having the shows overlap each other was MTV's original strategy for both shows.
Cancellation
The show received low ratings and poor reviews. It did build a small fanbase before it went off the air in August 1995.Episodes
- The Ceremony
- Make Mine a Grunt
- The New Fish
- Where Angles Fear to Grunt
- Viva Grunt Vegas
- Scrub Me Sammy
- The Detective
- If I Could Grunt to the Animals
- Paging Dr. Grunt
- Perry's Appliance Repairs
- Timmy's Best Friend
- No Quest Today
- Grunt Moments in History
- Perry Molo
- Tony and Salsa
- A Call to Grunts
- Clean Up in Aisle Grunt
- Land of the Midnight Grunt
- Close Encounters of the Grunt Kind
- The Scent of Grunts
- Eat My Grunt
- They Stole Tony's Veins
- Not My Potato
- Squeal Like a Grunt
- The Big Crapple
- Sammy in a Varicose Vein
- Grunt Fare
- To Hell with Bing
- Cream Style Tony
- The Ugly Gruntling
- 5 Card Grunt
- The Stench of Grunts
- Grunt Games
- Requiem for a Sammy
- Smells Like Dean Spirit
- Hunt for Grunts
- Friends! Romans! Grunts!
- The Wedding (series finale)
(More episodes, unknown order)
- Perry Come Home
- Bring Me the Head of Perry the Grunt
- Black Balled Grunt
- Perry's Day Off
- Tony & Lace
- The Filling of the Shorts
- Poobah Blues
External links
- The Brothers Grunt at the Big Cartoon DataBaseBig Cartoon DataBaseThe Big Cartoon DataBase is an online database of information about animated cartoons, animated feature films, animated television shows and cartoon shorts....