Action League Now! facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Action League Now! |
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| Genre | Comedy Action Slapstick |
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| Narrated by | Scott Paulsen |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
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| Production location(s) | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
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| Distributor | CBS Television Distribution |
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| Original network | Nickelodeon |
| Original release | November 25, 2001 – February 10, 2002 |
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Action League Now! is a fun and exciting series of short cartoons that first appeared on Nickelodeon. It was part of other shows like All That and KaBlam!. Later, these shorts were put together to make their own half-hour show called Action League Now!: The Series.
This show is special because of how it's made. It uses a cool animation style called "chuckimation." This is a mix of stop-motion animation and live-action shots. In chuckimation, things are often just thrown or dropped into the scene. Sometimes, objects are wiggled around to make it look like they are talking! The series follows a team of superheroes who are actually action figures, toys, and dolls. Robert Mittenthal, Will McRobb, and Albie Hecht created the show.
Most of the adventures in Action League Now! happen inside a house. You never see the person who lives there. Many of the voices for the characters were done by radio personalities from Pittsburgh.
From November 2001 to February 2002, Nickelodeon showed the Action League Now! shorts by themselves. They were combined to fill a half-hour TV slot.
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Meet the Action League Heroes
The Action League is made up of unique heroes, each with their own special traits.
Bill the Lab Guy
Bill the Lab Guy is a scientist voiced by Jim Krenn. He often makes mistakes in his experiments. You'll often hear him say things like, "There's nothing I can do," or "I was afraid of this!" Bill speaks in a calm, flat voice. He thinks he's a very serious scientist, even when his experiments go wrong. He has a teenage daughter named Quarky who helps him. Bill was created using parts from different Playskool dollhouse figures. His name is a nod to Bill Nye the Science Guy.
Hodge Podge
Hodge Podge, also voiced by Jim Krenn, used to be the Action League's accountant. But then, he had a terrible accident! He was accidentally thrown into a blender and chopped up. Bill the Lab Guy tried to rebuild him, but Hodge Podge ended up looking like a mix of random toys and household items. For example, he has a claw from a crib toy as a hand. He also has a fork attached to his chest. Hodge Podge is often more successful than the Mayor with his plans. He likes to use machines and gadgets to get his way.
The Announcer
The Announcer, voiced by Scott Paulsen, is the show's narrator. He uses lots of descriptive words and often overreacts. You'll hear him before and after commercials. Sometimes, he even talks directly to the audience, which is called "breaking the fourth wall." He has a deep, calm voice, similar to Bill the Lab Guy's. You never see the Announcer, you only hear him.
Other Villains
The Action League faces many different bad guys. These include a giant baby called "Big Baby" and a monster dog named Spotzilla. There's also a rival superhero team called the Danger Society. Other villains include a smart bald guy named Smarty Pants and a ninja from Stinky's past. Sometimes, the League's own silly mistakes cause problems!
Episodes of Action League Now!
Action League Now! had many exciting episodes. Here are some of them:
| No. | Title | Original air date | |
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| 1 | "Pilot" | March 21, 1998 | |
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| 2 | "Action League Goes to the Movies" | November 25, 2001 | |
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| 3 | "Smash Hits" | December 2, 2001 | |
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| 4 | "Science Friction" | December 9, 2001 | |
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| 5 | "Action League Rocks!" | December 16, 2001 | |
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| 6 | "Stinky Diver: Behind the Mask" | December 23, 2001 | |
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| 7 | "The Chief: Look Back in Anger" | December 30, 2001 | |
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| 8 | "I'll Melt for You" | January 6, 2002 | |
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| 9 | "Monster Mashed" | January 13, 2002 | |
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| 10 | "The Many Faces of Evil" | January 20, 2002 | |
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| 11 | "His Dishonor" | January 27, 2002 | |
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| 12 | "Naked Came the Numskull" | February 3, 2002 | |
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| 13 | "Thunder Girl: Tracking The Storm" | February 10, 2002 | |
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Special Guest Stars
Many famous people have appeared on Action League Now!. These include National Football League players like Brett Favre and John Elway. The rock band Kiss also made a guest appearance. Other musicians and actors like Harry Connick, Jr. and Robyn lent their voices to characters. Even Lou Rawls was a guest!
Episodes That Were Held Back
Some episodes of Action League Now! were not shown in the United States for a while. For example, the episode "Caged Thunder" from season 2 was held back. This was because of its themes, which were considered sensitive after certain events. The KaBlam! episode it was paired with, "I Just Don't Get It," was also held back. The "Action League Now: The Series" episode "Thunder Girl: Tracking the Storm," which included "Caged Thunder," was also held back after it first aired in 2002. It wasn't shown again until 2016 on the late-night TV block "The Splat" on Teen Nick.
See also
In Spanish: Action League Now!! para niños
