Rude Dog is a fictional white cartoon dog originally created by artist Brad McMahon while under contract to Sun Sportswear in the 1980s as part of a line of surfing- and skateboarding-related clothing. As of 30 August 2015 Rude Dog was once again trademarked, this time in the name of original series/character creator Brad McMahon. McMahon also created Rude Dog's gang of canine misfits known as "The Dweebs" as well as Seymour, Rude Dog's nemesis.
Sun Sportswear projects
The character was a stylized version of a Bull Terrier, and the name "Rude" had the dual purpose of glorifying uncalled-for deportment and referring to the Rude boy subculture of Ska that was popular at the time. The majority of the clothing used angular artwork and neon colors, in keeping with the fashion trend shared by Quiksilver, Vision Street Wear, PCH, and many others.
Rude Dog and the Dweebs
To further market the character, Sun Sportswear also developed a Saturday morning cartoon entitled Rude Dog and the Dweebs. Rude Dog and the Dweebs was as colorful as the clothing it advertised. The punkish pooch himself drives a 1959 pink Cadillac across a backdrop of Beverly Hills imagined in hues of pastel and neon.
Rude Dog (voiced by Rob Paulsen in a Brooklyn accent) runs an auto shop, where he is assisted by the Dweebs, a motley mix of mutt minions. The team includes the stuttering Dachshund Caboose (voiced by Frank Welker), the uptight Bulldog Winston (voiced by Peter Cullen in an English accent), Reginald AKA Reggie the Smooth Fox Terrier (voiced by Mendi Segal impersonating Jack Nicholson), Barney the Great Dane (voiced by Dave Coulier in a Southern accent), Ditzy Kibble the Chinese Crested mix (voiced by Ellen Gerstell), Satch the Beagle (voiced by Jim Cummings impersonating Ed Wynn), and a friendly Chihuahua named Tweek (voiced by Hank Saroyan). Rude Dog has a girlfriend named Gloria (voiced by Ellen Gerstell).
Their feline foe is the vicious Seymour (also voiced by Frank Welker), and joining him in the chase is the ubiquitous dog catcher Herman (also voiced by Peter Cullen) and his dimwitted rottweiler assistant Rot (also voiced by Frank Welker). Each week, Rude Dog and company balance their auto shop duties with attempts to elude the persistent Seymour, Herman, and Rot.
The show aired on United States by CBS from 16 September 1989 to 16 December 1989 for one season And The show aired on United Kingdom by CBBC from 1991 to 1994, UK Gold from 1992, TCC from 1990 to 1994 and Nickelodeon from 1995 to 1996 for one season. It also spawned home entertainment releases in the United States by Celebrity Home Entertainment through their Just for Kids Home Video label. In the United Kingdom it was released on the VHS: Leisureview Video And Boulevard Entertaiment label.
Episodes
- 01 - Hello, Mr. Kitty? / The Fish Who Went Moo - 16 September 1989
- 02 - Dweebiest Dog On The Beach / Dweeb-Illac Dilemma - 23 September 1989
- 03 - No Dweebs Aloud / Ding-A-Ling Kitty - 30 September 1989
- 04 - War Of The Dweebs / Dweebs In Space - 7 October 1989
- 05 - Nightmare On Dweeb Street / Dweebsy Kind'a Love - 14 October 1989
- 06 - Call Of The Dweeb / Dumbbell Dweeb - 21 October 1989
- 07 - Waiter, There's A Dweeb In My Soup! / Boardwalk Boss - 28 October 1989
- 08 - To Kibble Or Not To Kibble / Dweebsday Afternoon - 4 November 1989
- 09 - Dweebochondriacs / Surprise, You're Itch! - 11 November 1989
- 10 - Leave It To Tweek / Polly Wanna Dweeb? - 18 November 1989
- 11 - Winston's Family TreeRot / Pretty Dweebs All In A Row - 25 November 1989
- 12 - The Hiccuping Bandit / Dweeb Your Manners - 2 December 1989
- 13 - Tuesday The 14th, Part Dweeb / Home Sweet Dweeb - 16 December 1989
Broadcast
- United States - CBS (16 September 1989 â€" 16 December 1989)
- UK - CBBC (1991-1994), UK Gold (1992), The Children's Channel (1990-1994), Nickelodeon (1995-1996)
Home media
Beginning in 1989, select episodes were released in the United States on 30-minute, 60-minute, and 120 minute NTSC VHS tapes by Celebrity Home Entertainment's Just for Kids Mini Features line. Beginning in 1990, select episodes were released in the United Kingdom on 70-minute, PAL VHS tapes by Leisureview Video (MARVEL VIDEO COMICS), rated  U for "Universal" and deemed suitable for all ages. The series was distributed by New World Television, which was owned by Sun, the makers of the "Rude Dog" toys. As a result, Sun Sportswear must give approval before any future home video release of the series is made available.
In the UK, the series was released on VHS by Leisureview Video in 1990
Reception
In 2014, listing it among twelve 1980s cartoons that did not deserve remembrance, io9 characterized the series as "an animated atrocity", noting that the series appeared to glorify the "rudeness" that was the main character's defining characteristic.
References
External links
- Rude Dog on IMDb
- Rude Dog Delta, a fansite covering all aspects of Rude Dog
- Official Rude Dog Website
