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Ren and Stimpy are the title characters of two cartoon TV series created by Canadian animator John Kricfalusi. Ren Höek, a neurotic "asthma-hound" chihuahua, and Stimpson J. Cat, a fat simpleton cat wander around in nonsensical adventures reminiscent of the golden age of cartoons.
While a product of the children's cable network Nickelodeon, The Ren & Stimpy Show had a reputation for subversiveness. In fact, the show pushed the bounds of good taste further than any cartoon had to its day; its level of gross-out humor was only exceeded by the antics of Beavis and Butthead or The Brothers Grunt. And though sometimes seen as low-brow, the series also cleverly lampooned culture and made many viewers and studio executives uncomfortable. Nickelodeon eventually fired Kricfalusi from his own creation and systematically censored the cartoon down to little more than a remnant of its former self. Eventually, several episodes were deemed unairable and have never been broadcast by Nickelodeon again.
Recurring characters
- Ren Höek: Ren is a chihuahua who often calls Stimpy an idiot. Ren's brother, Svën Höek, is dumber than he is. Ren's name is the real name of creator John Kricfalusi's building manager. Originally voiced by Kricfalusi, later by Billy West after the Nickelodeon split.
- Stimpy: Full name is Stimpson J. Cat, Stimpy is named after an art school classmate of Kricfalusi in Canada, whose nickname was Stimpy Kadogan (Stimpy appeared in one episode as a wrestler named Killer Kadogan). Voiced by Billy West and Eric Bauza.
- George American: Originally written as George Liquor, changed at Nickelodeon's insistence. Voiced by Michael Pataki, who also voiced another demented character called The Sewer King in the animated Batman series.
- Powdered Toast Man: Idiot bumbling superhero and spokesperson for Powdered Toast. His favourite phrase is "Cling tenaciously to my buttocks!" He was voiced by Gary Owens.
- Muddy Mudskipper: A fish-like creature who hosts an afternoon kids' show.
- Haggis McHaggis: A short, bald stereotypical Scotsman. Voiced by Alan Reed.
- Mother and Father: A pair of square, white suburban parents who are only seen from the waist down.
- Abner and Ewalt: A pair of incredibly stupid hicks.
- Wilbur Cobb: A demented, decaying old man who speaks in malapropisms.
- Mr. Horse: One of the original and classic characters, with his catch phrase "No sir, I don't like it".
- Mrs. Buttloaves: An incredibly obese and homely woman.
- The Fire Chief: Has a psychotic hatred for circus midgets.
- The Guilded Yak: The figurehead of Yak Shaving Day.
Ren and Stimpy are the stereotypical odd couple. Ren is sarcastic, cynical, and anal. Stimpy is dimwitted (Ren is fond of the phrase, "Stimpy, you eedeeot!"), pleasant, and clumsy. To showcase the mismatch, consider Stimpy's favorite song, "Happy Happy Joy Joy", a silly children's tune that drives Ren to convulsions when he hears it.
According to Kricfalusi, Ren and Stimpy are gay lovers. When asked about it, "Totally," says Kricfalusi proudly. "In Ren's case, it's not completely by choice. He'd rather have a beautiful human woman if he could get away with it. Since he can't, Stimpy's easy. Stimpy's madly in love with Ren."
After his separation from Nickelodeon, Kricfalusi retained ownership of George Liquor and has used him extensively in projects by Spümcø, his animation studio. Of note: One of the conditions of retaining ownership of George Liquor was that he couldn't become "a child molester or mass murderer." Kricfalusi reportedly responded by asking how many murders he would need to commit to make him a mass murderer.
In June 2003, the show returned to U.S. television as Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon" on Viacom's Spike TV, with decidedly more adult content. The network also aired digitally remastered episodes of the original series.
A DVD set of seasons one and two of the original series was released in October 2004. Some fans were angered by the fact that the set, billed as "Ren and Stimpy Uncut," retained some of the edits. Kricfalusi said in a statement that all of the cut footage he knew about had been returned. The set included "Man's Best Friend," an episode featuring George Liquor that Nickelodeon refused to air.
Episode list
The Ren & Stimpy Show
Season 1 episodes (1991)
- Big House Blues
- Stimpy's Big Day/The Big Shot
- Robin Höek/Nurse Stimpy
- Space Madness/The Boy Who Cried Rat
- Fire Dogs/The Littlest Giant
- Marooned/Untamed World
- Black Hole/Stimpy's Invention
Season 2 episodes (1992-93)
- In the Army/Powdered Toast Man
- Ren's Toothache/Big House Blues
- Out West/Rubber Nipple Salesmen
- Svën Höek
- Mad Dog Höek/Haunted House
- Big Baby Scam/Dog Show
- Stimpy's 1st Fart (retitled "Son of Stimpy")
- A Visit to Anthony
- The Royal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen
- Monkey See, Monkey Don't/Fake Dad
- The Great Outdoors/The Cat That Laid the Golden Hairball
- Stimpy's Fan Club
Season 3 episodes (1993-94)
- To Salve and Salve Not/A Yard Too Far
- Circus Midgets/No Pants Today
- Ren's Pecs/An Abe Divided
- Stimpy's Cartoon Show
- Lair of the Lummox
- Jiminy Lummox/Bass Masters
- Ren's Retirement
- Jerry the Bellybutton Elf/Road Apples
- Hard Times for Haggis
- Road Apples/Ren's Bitter Half
Season 4 episodes (1994-95)
- Hermit Ren
- House of Next Tuesday/Eat My Cookies
- Blazing Entrails/Lumber Jerks
- Prehistoric Stimpy/Farm Hands
- Magical Singing Golden Cheeses/Hard Day's Luck
- I Love Chicken/Powdered Toast Man vs. Waffle Woman
- It's A Dog's Life/Egg Yolkeo
- Double Header/Scotsman in Space
- Pixie King/Aloha Höek
- Insomaniac Ren/My Shiny Friend
- Cheese Rush Days/Weiner Barons
- Galoot Wranglers/Ren Needs Help!
- Superstitious Stimpy/Travelogue
Season 5 episodes (1996)
- Ol' Blue Nose/Stupid Sidekick Union
- Space Dogged/Feud for Sale
- Hair of the Cat/City Hicks
- Stimpy's Pet/Ren's Brain
- Bellhops/Dog Tags
- I Was a Teenage Stimpy/Who's Stupid Now?
- School Mates/Dinner Party
- Sammy and Me/Big Flakes
- Terminal Stimpy/Pen Pals
- The Last Temptation of Ren/Reverend Jack Cheese
- A Scooter for Yaksmas
Ren & Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon
- Onward and Upward
- Ren seeks Help
- Fire Dogs/Fire Dogs 2: Part 1
- Fire Dogs 2: Part 2
- Naked Beach Frenzy (originally titled "At the Beach")
- Altruists: Part 1
- Altruists: Part 2
- Stimpy's Pregnant: Part 1
- Stimpy's Pregnant Part 2: The Blessed Event
External links
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