View source for The Popeye Show

{{short description|American animation anthology series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox television
| image              = The_Popeye_Show_title_screen.jpg
| runtime            = 30 minutes
| producer           = [[Barry Mills (producer)|Barry Mills]]
| executive_producer = [[Mike Lazzo]]<br />[[Keith Crofford]]
| voices             = Bill Murray
| country            = United States
| network            = [[Cartoon Network]]
| first_aired        = {{Start date|2001|11|12}}<ref name=Premiere1>{{cite web |title="I'm Popeye" |url=https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/im-popeye.2844731/#post-42278951 |website=Anime Superhero Forum |access-date=2 November 2024 |date=6 November 2001}}</ref><ref name=Premiere2>{{cite web |title=The Popeye Show - 11/12/01 |url=https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/the-popeye-show-11-12-01.2847811/ |website=Anime Superhero Forum |access-date=2 November 2024 |date=12 November 2001}}</ref>
| last_aired         = {{End date|2003|7|20}}
| num_episodes       = 45 (135 segments)
| related            = [[Popeye's Island Adventures]]
}}
'''''The Popeye Show''''' (Originally titled '''I'm Popeye''')<ref name=PopeyePremiere>{{cite web |title=Archived Cartoon Network Schedule - Sunday, October 28, 2001 |url=http://alt.cartoonnetwork.com/Schedule/0,3671,CTN%7c7%7c%7cEastern,00.html |access-date=20 August 2022 |date=21 October 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011021222721/http://alt.cartoonnetwork.com/Schedule/0,3671,CTN%7c7%7c%7cEastern,00.html |archive-date=2001-10-21 }}</ref><ref name=I'MPOPEYE!>{{cite web |title=I'M POPEYE!, The Restoration of the Paramount Popeye cartoons |url=https://www.oocities.org/argussventon/cartoondistributors/aap/popeye1.html |website=www.oocities.org |access-date=2 November 2024}}</ref> is an American [[cartoon]] [[anthology series]] that premiered on November 12, 2001,<ref name=Premiere1 /><ref name=Premiere2 /> on [[Cartoon Network]]. Each episode includes three ''[[Popeye the Sailor (animated cartoons)|Popeye]]'' theatrical shorts from [[Fleischer Studios]] and/or [[Famous Studios]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Grandinetti |first1=Fred |title=Popeye: An Illustrated Cultural History |date=2004 |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=9780786416059 |pages=201–202}}</ref> The show is narrated by Bill Murray (not to be confused with [[Bill Murray|the film actor]] of the same name), who gives the audience short facts about the history of the cartoons as filler material between each short. Animation historian [[Jerry Beck]] served as a consultant and [[Barry Mills (producer)|Barry Mills]] served as writer and producer. A total of 45 episodes were produced, consisting of a total of 135 shorts. The series was originally planned to premiere on October 29, 2001 with "Episode 1" before being pulled at the last minute.<ref name=PopeyePremiere /><ref name=I'MPOPEYE! /> "Episode 2" would instead act as the series premiere, airing on November 12, 2001, while "Episode 1" would premiere on November 19, 2001.<ref name=Episode1>{{cite web |title=The Popeye Show - 11/19/01 |url=https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/the-popeye-show-11-19-01.2852061/ |website=Anime Superhero Forum |access-date=2 November 2024 |date=19 November 2001}}</ref>

== Significance ==
Prior to the premiere of ''The Popeye Show'', most television airings of theatrical ''Popeye'' cartoons bore the logos of [[Associated Artists Productions]], the company that bought the films from [[Paramount Pictures]] for television distribution. This is due to the films having been sold in the 1950s, when most movie studios did not want to be associated with television. As a result, A.A.P. was required to replace the original Paramount logos with their own. For ''The Popeye Show'', efforts were made to present these films as close to their original theatrical form as possible: some of the cartoons shown were copies that actually had their original Paramount titles intact, while others needed to have their original titles simulated through the process of [[video editing software|digital video editing]].

The show focused mostly on the [[Popeye the Sailor filmography (Fleischer Studios)|Fleischer ''Popeye'' shorts]] and early Famous Studios shorts that were originally filmed in [[black and white]]. For all episodes, the first two shorts were from this era. Sometimes the third cartoon would be a [[color motion picture film|color]] cartoon from Famous Studios, but on many occasions an entire episode would entirely be made of black-and-white cartoons. While selecting the color entries that would air, the only ones that were initially selected were those that were in the [[Turner Entertainment|Turner]] vaults with their original titles. The only color cartoons to have their original titles recreated were those shown in the last episode of Season 3, and all episodes of Season 4. <!--(fan review/report; really need to find a reliable source before restoring) In regards to the last episode of Season 3, there were some viewer complaints as to whether the short ''[[A Balmy Swami]]'' was restored properly since it was made clearly obvious that the Paramount logos used on that cartoon were sourced from the 1945 short ''[[Shape Ahoy]]''.-->

In season 1, an original copy of ''Popeye, the Ace of Space'' (1953) with its original titles was shown for the first time on TV. This particular cartoon was originally shown in [[3-D Film|3D]], and therefore had a unique opening sequence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cartoonresearch.com/paramount.html#ACE |title=The Lost Popeye Titles |publisher=Cartoonresearch.com |date=1941-05-24 |accessdate=2022-08-27}}</ref> It also had a unique ending sequence that was not shown on syndication prints because it involved the Paramount logo being formed from the smoke of Popeye's [[tobacco pipe|pipe]]. The black and white short ''The Hungry Goat'' (1943) was kept from being shown in earlier seasons because it required extra attention to recreate the ending as close to original as possible. The original ending involved Popeye's nemesis in the short, a goat, laughing at Popeye while watching the end of the very cartoon they were in, and, like ''The Ace of Space'', involved the Paramount logo.

The 1945 short ''Tops in the Big Top'', which did not open with the standard ''Popeye'' theme music, but had a rendition with a circus theme, had its original soundtrack restored for the program. Similarly, a version of ''We're on Our Way to Rio'' (1944) was prepared with the opening soundtrack restored, but the show was cancelled before it could be included in any episodes.

== Cartoons skipped during original run ==
Two episodes from Season 1 were initially skipped and did not make their TV debut until reruns. The reason was that the two episodes had cartoons that the executives at Cartoon Network would not pass for unedited airings. Episode #10 was originally supposed to have ''[[Popeye the Sailor (film)|Popeye the Sailor]]'', which was a [[Betty Boop]] cartoon in which Popeye makes his theatrical debut. This particular cartoon had a scene at the carnival where Popeye and Bluto play a ball-toss game where the target is an [[African American]] [[stereotype]]. Episode #11 had the short ''Happy Birthdaze'', in which Popeye murders his suicidal Navy buddy Shorty in a scene that is usually cut from most TV broadcasts. When Episode #10 finally aired, ''I Eats My Spinach'' replaced ''Popeye the Sailor'', while Episode #11 aired with no changes made, and ''Happy Birthdaze'' was shown uncut.

=== Ethnic censorship ===
Several shorts are not seen in or out of this package due to heavy racial stereotyping, despite this Anthological series being aired as part of [[Adult Swim]] in later runs. ''Pop-Pie a la Mode'', ''The Island Fling'', and ''Popeye's Pappy'' have since been removed from circulation because of African-American stereotyping. ''You’re a Sap, Mr. Jap'', ''Scrap the Japs'', and ''Seein' Red, White, 'N' Blue'' are no longer shown on U.S. television due to Japanese stereotyping.

A later episode featured an unedited version of the [[World War II]] themed ''Spinach Fer Britain'' (1943), a cartoon in which Popeye battles [[Nazis]]. This particular cartoon is rarely shown outside of any scheduled airings of The Popeye Show. Another later episode featured stereotypes of Native-Americans in ''Wigwam Whoopee'' (1948), which featured Olive Oyl portrayed as an Indian Princess with depicted [[person of color|skin color]] and sexualization in background. This episode is also rarely shown outside of any schedule airings of this anthology series. ''Wigwam Whoopee'' was available uncut on the [[Boomerang (TV channel)|Boomerang]] app until it was eventually removed in September 2021.

== Episodes ==
Below is an episode guide for ''The Popeye Show''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.toonarific.com/episode_guide_all.php?show_id=2882 | title=Popeye Show, the Episode Guide @ Toonarific Cartoons }}</ref> All episodes are listed in production order. There were a few occasions where episodes were skipped and therefore did not air in their proper order.

==Series overview==
<onlyinclude>{{Series overview

| link1      = <includeonly>List of The Popeye Show episodes</includeonly>#Season 1 (2001-2002)
| episodes1  = 13
| start1     = {{Start date|2001|10|29}}
| end1       = {{End date|2002|2|18}}

| link2      = <includeonly>List of The Popeye Show episodes</includeonly>#Season 2 (2002)
| episodes2  = 13
| start2     = {{Start date|2002|7|7}}
| end2       = {{End date|2002|9|29}}

| link3      = <includeonly>List of The Popeye Show episodes</includeonly>#Season 3 (2002)
| episodes3  = 13
| start3     = {{Start date|2002|11|17}}
| end3       = {{End date|2002|12|31}}

| link4      = <includeonly>List of The Popeye Show episodes</includeonly>#Season 4 (2003)
| episodes4  = 6
| start4     = {{Start date|2003|6|15}}
| end4       = {{End date|2003|7|20}}

}}</onlyinclude>

===Season 1 (2001–2002)===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Episode #
! Shorts Featured
! Original Air Date
|-
| 1
|
* Can You Take It (1934)
* Me Musical Nephews (1942)
* Olive Oyl for President (1948)
| {{Start date|2001|11|19}}<ref name=Episode1 />
|-
| 2
|
* Sock-a-Bye Baby (1934)
* The Jeep (1938)
* Fightin' Pals (1940)
| {{Start date|2001|11|12}}<ref name=Premiere1 /><ref name=Premiere2 />
|-
| 3
|
* The Spinach Overture (1935)
* It's The Natural Thing to Do (1939)
* Hill-billing and Cooing (1956)
| {{Start date|2001|11|26}}
|-
| 4
|
* Goonland (1938)
* Wotta Nitemare (1939)
* Pipeye, Pupeye, Poopeye an' Peepeye (1942)
| {{Start date|2001|12|3}}
|-
| 5
|
* Cops is Always Right (1938)
* Hello, How Am I? (1939)
* Robin Hood-Winked (1948)
| {{Start date|2001|12|3}}
|-
| 6
|
* Shiver Me Timbers (1934)
* Alona on the Sarong Seas (1942)
* Insect to Injury (1956)
| {{Start date|2001|12|10}}
|-
| 7
|
* The Man on the Flying Trapeze (1934)
* I Yam Love Sick (1938)
* She-Sick Sailors (1944)
| {{Start date|2001|12|10}}
|-
| 8
|
* A Dream Walking (1934)
* Organ Grinder's Swing (1937)
* Cops is Tops (1955)
| {{Start date|2001|12|17}}
|-
| 9
|
* The Hyp-Nut-Tist (1935)
* Child Psykolojiky (1941)
* Cartoons Ain't Human (1943)
| {{Start date|2001|12|17}}
|-
| 10
|
* I Eats My Spinach (1933)
* Little Swee'Pea (1936)
* Poopdeck Pappy (1940)
| {{Start date|2002|2|11}}<ref>{{cite web |title=The Popeye Show - 2/11/02 |url=https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/the-popeye-show-2-11-02.2916391/#post-43001321 |website=Anime Superhero Forum |access-date=5 September 2022}}</ref><ref name=NewPopeyeShowsinFebruary>{{cite web |title=New Popeye Shows in February |url=https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/new-popeye-shows-in-february.2905441/ |website=Anime Superhero Forum |access-date=5 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="Popeye 10&11">{{cite web |title=Popeye 10 & 11 |url=https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/popeye-10-11.2913011/#post-42965861 |website=Anime Superhero Forum |access-date=5 September 2022}}</ref>
|-
| 11
|
* Vim, Vigor and Vitaliky (1936)
* Happy Birthdaze (1943)
* Abusement Park (1947)
| {{Start date|2002|2|18}}<ref>{{cite web |title=The Popeye Show - 2/18/2002 |url=https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/the-popeye-show-2-18-2002.2922641/#post-43086161 |website=Anime Superhero Forum |access-date=5 September 2022}}</ref><ref name=NewPopeyeShowsinFebruary/><ref name="Popeye 10&11"/>
|-
| 12
|
* Choose Your Weppins (1935)
* Mutiny Ain't Nice (1938)
* Kickin' the Conga Round (1942)
| {{Start date|2001|12|24}}<ref name="ThePopeyeShow12/24/01">{{cite web |title=The Popeye Show 12/24/01 |url=https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/the-popeye-show-12-24-01.2877011/ |website=Anime Superhero Forum |access-date=5 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="CartoonNetworkSchedule:12/23-12/24/01">{{cite web |title=The Popeye Show (Incorrectly Listed as Shows #10 & #11) Toon Zone - Shows - Cartoon Network Schedule |url=https://animesuperhero.com/shows/cnschedules/2001-12/23.html |website=animesuperhero.com |access-date=5 September 2022}}</ref>
|-
| 13
|
* Never Kick a Woman (1936)
* Shakespearean Spinach (1940)
* Popeye, the Ace of Space (1953)
| {{Start date|2001|12|24}}<ref name="ThePopeyeShow12/24/01"/><ref name="CartoonNetworkSchedule:12/23-12/24/01"/>
|}

===Season 2 (2002)===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Episode #
! Shorts Featured
! Original Air Date
|-
| 14
|
* What - No Spinach? (1936)
* Lost and Foundry (1937)
* Popeye Presents Eugene the Jeep (1940)
| {{Start date|2002|7|7}}
|-
| 15
|
* Strong to the Finich (1934)
* Nurse Mates (1940)
* Quiet! Pleeze (1941)
| {{Start date|2002|7|14}}
|-
| 16
|
* Beware of Barnacle Bill (1935)
* Wimmin is a Myskery (1940)
* Olive's Boithday Presink (1941)
| {{Start date|2002|7|21}}
|-
| 17
|
* I Yam What I Yam (1933)
* The Football Toucher Downer (1937)
* I'll Never Crow Again (1941)
| {{Start date|2002|7|28}}
|-
| 18
|
* Hospitaliky (1937)
* Me Feelins is Hurt (1940)
* The Mighty Navy (1941)
| {{Start date|2002|8|5}}
|-
| 19
|
* Blow Me Down (1933)
* The Twisker Pitcher (1937)
* Nix on Hypnotricks (1941)
| {{Start date|2002|8|12}}
|-
| 20
|
* Hold the Wire (1936)
* Ghosks is the Bunk (1939)
* Olive Oyl and Water Don't Mix (1942)
| {{Start date|2002|8|19}}
|-
| 21
|
* Adventures of Popeye (1935)
* Stealin' Ain't Honest (1940)
* Many Tanks (1942)
| {{Start date|2002|8|26}}
|-
| 22
|
* Let's You and Him Fight (1934)
* Onion Pacific (1940)
* Baby Wants a Bottleship (1942)
| {{Start date|2002|9|1}}
|-
| 23
|
* Pleased to Meet Cha (1935)
* Let's Celebrake (1938)
* A Hull of a Mess (1942)
| {{Start date|2002|9|8}}
|-
| 24
|
* A Clean Shaven Man (1936)
* Protek the Weakerist (1937)
* Spinach fer Britain (1943)
| {{Start date|2002|9|15}}
|-
| 25
|
* Brotherly Love (1936)
* Popeye Meets William Tell (1940)
* Too Weak to Work (1943)
| {{Start date|2002|9|22}}
|-
| 26
|
* I Wanna be a Lifeguard (1936)
* Puttin' on the Act (1940)
* Wood-Peckin' (1943)
| {{Start date|2002|9|29}}
|}

===Season 3 (2002)===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Episode #
! Shorts Featured
! Original Air Date
|-
| 27
|
* We Aim to Please (1934)
* Learn Polikeness (1938)
* Shape Ahoy (1945)
| {{Start date|2002|11|17}}
|-
| 28
|
* King of the Mardi Gras (1935)
* Popeye Meets Rip Van Winkle (1941)
* A Haul in One (1956)
| {{Start date|2002|11|24}}
|-
| 29
|
* Axe Me Another (1934)
* Never Sock a Baby (1939)
* Peep in the Deep (1946)
| {{Start date|2002|12|1}}
|-
| 30
|
* Morning, Noon and Night Club (1937)
* Flies Ain't Human (1941)
* Parlez Vous Woo (1956)
| {{Start date|2002|12|8}}
|-
| 31
|
* Seasin's Greetinks (1933)
* Doing Impossikible Stunts (1940)
* Wigwam Whoopee (1948)
| {{Start date|2002|12|15}}
|-
| 32
|
* Dizzy Divers (1935)
* A Date to Skate (1938)
* Assault and Flattery (1956)
| {{Start date|2002|12|22}}
|-
| 33
|
* The Two-Alarm Fire (1934)
* Females is Fickle (1940)
* A Wolf in Sheik's Clothing (1948)
| {{Start date|2002|12|29}}
|-
| 34
|
* The Dance Contest (1934)
* Customers Wanted (1939)
* Out to Punch (1956)
| {{Start date|2002|12|19}}<ref name=ThePopeyeShowSpecialHolidayPremieres>{{cite web |title=Oooh, Christmas surprises from CN!! |url=https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/oooh-christmas-surprises-from-cn.3204831/#post-46970571 |website=Anime Superhero Forum}}</ref>
|-
| 35
|
* For Better or Worser (1935)
* The House Builder Upper (1938)
* Symphony in Spinach (1948)
| {{Start date|2002|12|20}}<ref name=ThePopeyeShowSpecialHolidayPremieres/>
|-
| 36
|
* The Spinach Roadster (1936)
* Ration fer the Duration (1943)
* A Job for a Gob (1955)
| {{Start date|2002|12|24}}<ref name=ThePopeyeShowSpecialHolidayPremieres/>
|-
| 37
|
* Shoein' Hosses (1934)
* Plumbing is a Pipe (1938)
* Alpine for You (1951)
| {{Start date|2002|12|26}}<ref name=ThePopeyeShowSpecialHolidayPremieres/>
|-
| 38
|
* I Likes Babies and Infinks (1937)
* Pest Pilot (1941)
* Mister and Mistletoe (1955)
| {{Start date|2002|12|27}}<ref name=ThePopeyeShowSpecialHolidayPremieres/>
|-
| 39
|
* Fowl Play (1937)
* Fleets of Stren'th (1942)
* A Balmy Swami (1949)
| {{Start date|2002|12|31}}<ref name=ThePopeyeShowSpecialHolidayPremieres/>
|}

===Season 4 (2003)===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Episode #
! Shorts Featured
! Original Air Date
|-
| 40
|
* I Never Changes My Altitude (1937)
* Wimmin Hadn't Oughta Drive (1940)
* The Marry-Go-Round (1943)
| {{Start date|2003|6|15}}
|-
| 41
|
* Wild Elephinks (1933)
* The Hungry Goat (1943)
* Tops in the Big Top (1945)
| {{Start date|2003|6|22}}
|-
| 42
|
* The Paneless Window Washer (1937)
* Big Chief Ugh-Amugh-Ugh (1938)
* Moving Aweigh (1944)
| {{Start date|2003|6|29}}
|-
| 43
|
* Bridge Ahoy (1936)
* Leave Well Enough Alone (1939)
* Pitchin' Woo at the Zoo (1944)
| {{Start date|2003|7|6}}
|-
| 44
|
* I-Ski Love-Ski You-Ski (1936)
* Bulldozing the Bull (1938)
* Spinach Packin' Popeye (1944)
| {{Start date|2003|7|13}}
|-
| 45
|
* You Gotta Be a Football Hero (1935)
* Olive's Sweepstake Ticket (1941)
* The Anvil Chorus Girl (1944)
| {{Start date|2003|7|20}}
|}

== See also ==
* [[Popeye the Sailor filmography (Fleischer Studios)]]
* [[Popeye the Sailor filmography (Famous Studios)]]
* ''[[The Tex Avery Show]]''
* ''[[ToonHeads]]''
* ''[[The Bob Clampett Show]]''
* ''[[Cartoon Alley]]''

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}

{{Popeye}}
{{Former Cartoon Network original programming}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Popeye Show}}
[[Category:Cartoon Network original programming]]
[[Category:2000s American animated television series]]
[[Category:2000s American anthology television series]]
[[Category:2000s American children's television series]]
[[Category:2001 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:2003 American television series endings]]
[[Category:American animated television spin-offs]]
[[Category:American children's animated anthology television series]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Popeye the Sailor television series]]