Inspector Gadget

     

 

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Inspector Gadget is an animated television series about a clumsy, simple-witted detective named Inspector Gadget, who is a human being with various bionic gadgets built into his body. Gadget's arch-nemesis is Dr. Claw, the leader of an evil organization, known as "M.A.D.".[

Inspector Gadget is the main protagonist of the series and movies. His fashion sense resembles that of Inspector Clouseau from the Pink Panther movies; his mannerisms also appear to draw on the character of Maxwell Smart, which Adams portrayed in the 1960s.

Often cluelessly stumbling through any case he is given, Gadget frequently ignorantly makes foolish mistakes pertaining to surroundings and current environment, mistaking innocent bystanders (and sometimes Brain, his niece Penny's dog) for enemies, and believing that the real enemies are friends. His ineptitude always leads him into danger, but he always gets out of trouble through either his trusty gadgets (most notably his springs), Penny's interference, or pure luck.

The episode "M.A.D. Trap" is one of the few episodes in which Gadget actually shows some competence. When Dr. Claw traps him in a steel foundry, he uses his gadgets flawlessly to save Penny and Brain. Later, in "The Moral," Penny and Brain muse that it was a good thing his gadgets were in top shape. Another episode where he shows some genuine police skill was when he makes an earnest effort to catch Claw during a car chase and becomes infuriated when Claw gets away.

In the early episodes Gadget is halfway brilliant and acknowledges Dr. Claw is nearby. After the first few episodes, however, Gadget has become incompetent. Occasionally, he also inadvertently helps Penny solve the case, with his bungling either distracting Dr. Claw or setting things up for Penny to do her work.

The nearest Gadget ever gets to capturing Dr. Claw is in the opening teaser of each episode in which Gadget handcuffs a decoy metal glove, only to have a bomb explode in his face. However, this is meant to demonstrate that Claw always manages to escape justice and was never seen in any actual episode. Gadget's catchphrase is "Wowsers!".

Penny is Gadget's precocious niece and partner. Inspector Gadget is her guardian and caretaker, though often she seems more suited to be his caretaker due to Gadget's clumsiness. Unknown to any of the recurring characters other than Brain, she is a master of investigation and technology who is the one truly responsible for foiling M.A.D.'s schemes. Penny's principal crime-fighting tool is a high-tech Computer Book capable of breaking codes, surveiling buildings and overriding practically any sort of machine or device. Using the book, Penny is able to monitor Gadget's activities and—with Brain's help—surreptitiously help him avoid numerous potential catastrophes that result from his absent-mindedness while uncovering the true nature of Dr. Claw's plot and foiling it. Penny has blonde hair in pigtails and green eyes, and wears a red and white shirt, green pants and red shoes. She has a number of outfits which are worn for certain assignments or free times rather than her normal clothes. In the second season, Penny mostly wears a jacket. She has a number of the perils and plays the helpless damsel-in-distress role, rescued by Brain usually, and escaping by herself sometimes

Brain the Dog is Inspector Gadget's and Penny's faithful pet dog and companion. He assists her in keeping Gadget out of danger and solving the crime. He is a master of disguise and dresses up in order to watch over Gadget and save him from attempts on his life. Although Brain is in contact with Gadget almost the entire time while he is supposedly solving a case, Gadget never sees through his disguises (and as often as not, Gadget assumes Brain is a M.A.D. agent while ignoring all the real ones). Brain's collar is outfitted with a retractable video communications system linked to a computer wristwatch Penny wears that allows her to relay information on Gadget's activity, or warn Brain as to the whereabouts of M.A.D. agents, like with Flipper the dolphin. Brain can speak a human language, though in a gruff "dog" voice (with a speech impediment featuring constant uses of the letter "r"), similar to Astro of The Jetsons or Scooby-Doo. Sometimes it is impossible to understand what Brain is saying. In a pinch, Brain will resort to pantomime and physical gestures to communicate effectively. Brain usually walks on 2 legs, and is able to function with anthropomorphic capabilities. He is voiced by Frank Welker

Dr. Claw is the main antagonist of the series and movies. He is the leader of the evil organization known as M.A.D. He speaks in a deep, menacing, ominous-sounding voice and his face and the majority of his body are never shown throughout the series; only his arms and gloved hands are visible. He is usually at a computer terminal where he monitors his various schemes, often in a creepy old castle. Even though he is aware of Gadget's stupidity, he believes the Inspector to be his greatest nemesis, never fully realizing that it is actually Penny and Brain who foil his plots in each episode (although he or his M.A.D. agents have captured Penny and sometimes Brain a number of times). He is voiced by Frank Welker (and in a few episodes in the first season by Greg Duffell).

M.A.D. Cat is Dr. Claw's fat pet cat. M.A.D. Cat is always at Dr. Claw's side, usually curled up next to Claw's control panel. M.A.D. Cat serves as a foil for Dr. Claw, often being petted when Dr. Claw is happy, to the point of getting beat up when Dr. Claw gets angry. M.A.D. Cat "talks" in cat sounds. M.A.D. Cat has an evil, hissing laugh.

 

Original U.S. Airdate Episode Title
September 12, 1983 Winter Olympics
September 13, 1983 Monster Lake
September 14, 1983 Down on the Farm
September 15, 1983 Gadget at the Circus
September 16, 1983 The Amazon
September 19, 1983 Health Spa
September 20, 1983 The Boat
September 21, 1983 Haunted Castle
September 22, 1983 Race to the Finish
September 23, 1983 The Ruby
September 26, 1983 A Star is Lost
September 27, 1983 All That Glitters
September 28, 1983 Movie Set
September 29, 1983 Amusement Park
September 30, 1983 Art Heist
October 3, 1983 Volcano Island
October 4, 1983 The Invasion
October 5, 1983 The Infiltration
October 6, 1983 The Curse of the Pharaoh
October 7, 1983 M.A.D. Trap
October 10, 1983 Basic Training
October 11, 1983 Sleeping Gas
October 12, 1983 Gadget's Replacement
October 13, 1983 Greenfinger
October 14, 1983 Gadget Goes West
October 17, 1983 Launch Time
October 18, 1983 Photo Safari
October 19, 1983 Coo Clock Caper
October 20, 1983 The Bermuda Triangle
October 21, 1983 The Japanese Connection
October 24, 1983 Arabian Nights
October 25, 1983 Clear Case
October 26, 1983 Dutch Treat
October 27, 1983 The Great Divide
October 28, 1983 Eye of the Dragon
October 31, 1983 Doubled Agent
November 1, 1983 Plantform of the Opera
November 2, 1983 Don't Hold Your Breath
November 3, 1983 Gone Went the Wind
November 4, 1983 King Wrong
November 7, 1983 Pirate Island
November 8, 1983 M.A.D. Academy
November 9, 1983 No Flies on Us
November 10, 1983 Luck of the Irish
November 11, 1983 Prince of the Gypsies
November 14, 1983 Old Man of the Mountain
November 15, 1983 The Emerald Duck
November 16, 1983 Do Unto Udders
November 17, 1983 Did You Myth Me?
November 18, 1983 A Bad Altitude
November 21, 1983 Funny Money
November 22, 1983 Follow That Jet
November 23, 1983 Dry Spell
November 24, 1983 Smeldorado
November 25, 1983 Quimby Exchange
November 28, 1983 Weather in Tibet
November 29, 1983 Unhenged
November 30, 1983 Snakin' All Over
December 1, 1983 In Seine
December 2, 1983 Tree Guesses
December 5, 1983 Birds of a Feather
December 6, 1983 So it is Written
December 7, 1983 Fang the Wonder Dog
December 8, 1983 School for Pickpockets
December 9, 1983 Quiz Master

 

Ep# Episode Title
2-01 Magic Gadget
2-02 The Great Wambini's Seance
2-03 Wambini Predicts
2-04 The Capeman Cometh
2-05 Crashcourse in Crime
2-06 Gadget's Gadgets
2-07 Gadget in Minimadness
2-08 The Incredible Shrinking Gadget
2-09 Gadget Meets the Grappler
2-10 Ghost Catchers
2-11 Busy Signal
2-12 Bad Dreams Are Made of This
2-13 Focus on Gadget
2-14 Mad in the Moon
2-15 N.S.F. Gadget
2-16 Tyrannosaurus Gadget
2-17 Gadget's Roma
2-18 Gadget's Clean Sweep
2-19 Gadget Meets the Clan
2-20 Gadget and Old Lace
2-21 Gadget and the Red Rose

 

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Genre Animated series
Created by Jean Chalopin
Voices of Don Adams
Frank Welker
Cree Summer
Holly Berger
Chris Wiggins
Maurice LaMarche
Narrated by  
Counrty of origin United States
No. of episodes 86
Running Time) 22 minutes
Original Run September 10, 1983 – February 1, 1986
Language English

 

 

 

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