Family Dog (TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Family Dog |
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| Genre | |
| Created by | Brad Bird |
| Directed by | Chris Buck |
| Voices of |
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| Theme music composer | Danny Elfman |
| Composer(s) | Steve Bartek |
| Country of origin | United States Canada |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
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| Producer(s) | Chuck Richardson |
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| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release | June 23 – July 28, 1993 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Amazing Stories |
Family Dog is a 1987 episode of Amazing Stories, created by Brad Bird and an animated television series that aired from June 23 to July 28, 1993, on CBS. It was about an average suburban family, the Binsfords, as told through the eyes of their dog named Jonah. The series was the first collaboration between executive producers Steven Spielberg and Tim Burton.
Delayed for years and panned by critics, the latter show has been called "one of the biggest fiascos in television animation history, on both a creative and commercial level, in spite (but, in many ways, because of) the high-powered talent behind the project." One critic observed that the main problem with the show was that "the Binford family was so repulsively selfish that audience interest in their adventures was nil."
Contents
Cast and characters
1987 short
- Stan Freberg as Skip Binsford, the father
- Annie Potts as Bev Binsford, the mother
- Brad Bird as Jonah, a Bull Terrier and the family dog
- Scott Menville as Billy Binsford, the son
- Brooke Ashley as Buffy Binsford, the daughter
- Mercedes McCambridge as Miss Lestrange
- Marshall Efron as Burglar
- Stanley Ralph Ross as Burglar
- Jack Angel as Security Guard
1993 series
- Martin Mull as Skip Binsford, the father
- Molly Cheek as Bev Binsford, the mother
- Danny Mann as Jonah, a Bull Terrier and the family dog
- Zak Huxtable Epstein as Billy Binsford, the son
- Cassie Cole as Buffy Binsford, the daughter
Recurring
- Bruce McGill as Martin Mahoney
- Deanna Oliver as Trish Mahoney
- Mary Kay Bergman as Katie, a female Chihuahua and neighbor's dog
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Original air date | |
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| 1 | "Show Dog" | Chris Buck, Clive A. Smith | June 23, 1993 | |
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The Binsfords enter Jonah in a rodeo showcase of the stars, believing him to be specially talented. Meanwhile, all Jonah wants is a drink of water.
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| 2 | "Hot Dog at the Zoo" | Clive A. Smith | June 23, 1993 | |
| 3 | "Doggone Girl Is Mine" | Clive A. Smith | June 30, 1993 | |
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Jonah falls hard for a recently-divorced neighbor's pet. Meanwhile, Skip fears Bev might leave him.
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| 4 | "Enemy Dog" | Clive A. Smith | July 7, 1993 | |
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When the pretentious Mahoneys pick up a vicious police dog from an auction, the Binsfords force their pooch to interact with it.
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| 5 | "Eye on the Sparrow" | Chris Buck, Clive A. Smith | July 7, 1993 | |
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Jonah cares for a sparrow who is unable to fly.
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| 6 | "Call of the Mild" | Chris Buck, Clive A. Smith | July 14, 1993 | |
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Jonah the family dog dreams of cavorting with the neighborhood strays, but he soon discovers that he does not have what it takes to run with the pack.
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| 7 | "Dog Days of Summer" | Chris Buck, Clive A. Smith | July 21, 1993 | |
| 8 | "Party Animal" | Chris Buck, Clive A. Smith | July 21, 1993 | |
| 9 | "Family Dog Goes Homeless" | Klay Hall | July 28, 1993 | |
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Jonah the family dog befriends a homeless woman.
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| 10 | "Family Dog Gets Good and Sick" | Becky Bristow | July 28, 1993 | |
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Jonah the family dog becomes ill after being bitten by a mosquito that was feasting on toxic waste. Meanwhile, a neighborhood dog is killed by a car.
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Video game
The show was adapted into a Super NES video game about the life of an everyday family dog. The player has to go three places such as the home where the dog lives, a dog pound and the woods to defeat stereotypical obstacles and enemies like a dog catcher and a cat.
Images for kids
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TV Guide advertisement for original episode
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Complete Series LaserDisc cover
See also
In Spanish: Family Dog para niños
