View source for Duckman

{{Short description|American adult animated sitcom}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox television
| alt_name             = ''Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man''
| image                = Duckman logo.jpg
| genre                = [[Adult animation]]<br>[[Animated sitcom]]
| runtime              = 22–23 minutes
| creator              = [[Everett Peck]]
| based_on             = {{Based on|''Duckman''|Everett Peck}}
| developer            = {{Plainlist|
* Jeff Reno
* Ron Osborn
* [[Gábor Csupó]]
* [[Arlene Klasky]]
* Everett Peck
}}
| executive_producer   = {{Plainlist|
* Everett Peck
* Jeff Reno
* Ron Osborn
* [[Arlene Klasky]]
* [[Gábor Csupó]]
* David Misch {{small|(1997)}}
}}
| producer             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Sherry Gunther]] {{small|(1994–1995)}}
* Michael Markowitz {{small|(1995–1996)}}
* Margot Pipkin {{small|(1995–1997)}}
* Mitch Watson {{small|(1997)}}
* [[Gene Laufenberg]] {{small|(1997)}}
}}
| director             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Peter Avanzino]]
* John Eng
* Jeff McGrath
* [[Raymie Muzquiz]]
}}
| starring             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Jason Alexander]]
* [[Gregg Berger]]
* [[Nancy Travis]]
* [[Dana Hill]] {{small|(1994–1996)}}
* [[Pat Musick]]
* [[E. G. Daily]]
* [[Dweezil Zappa]]
}}
| composer             = {{Plainlist|
* Scott Wilk
* Todd Yvega
}}
| country              = United States
| company              = {{Plainlist|
* [[Klasky Csupo]]
* Reno & Osborn Productions
* [[Paramount Television]]
}}
| network              = [[USA Network]]
| first_aired          = {{start date|1994|3|5}}
| last_aired           = {{end date|1997|9|6}}
| num_seasons          = 4
| num_episodes         = 70
| list_episodes        = List of Duckman episodes
}}
'''''Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man''''', commonly known simply as '''''Duckman''''', is an American [[Adult animation|adult]] [[animated sitcom]] created and developed by [[Everett Peck]], based on the characters he created in his 1990 one-shot comic book published by [[Dark Horse Comics]]. ''Duckman'' aired on the [[USA Network]] from March 5, 1994, through September 6, 1997, for 4 seasons and [[List of Duckman episodes|70 episodes]]. It follows Eric Tiberius Duckman (voiced by [[Jason Alexander]]), a [[Private investigator|private detective]] who lives with his family.

After airing in syndication, the series gained a [[cult following]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kurland |first=Daniel |date=March 8, 2019 |title=Duckman: We Need Him Now More Than Ever |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/duckman-we-need-him-now-more-than-ever/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=[[Den of Geek]] |archive-date=October 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002231122/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/duckman-we-need-him-now-more-than-ever/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Spin-off media include volume DVDs released from 2008 to 2009, a comic book collection released by [[Topps]] between 1994 and 1996, a ''Complete Series'' DVD set released in 2018, and a video game entitled ''[[Duckman: The Graphic Adventures of a Private Dick]]'' for [[Microsoft Windows]]. The series was listed among ''[[IGN]]''{{'}}s "Top 100 Best Animated TV Shows" in 2009 and received three nominations at the [[Primetime Emmy Awards]].

==Plot==
[[File:Duckman characters.png|thumb|left|200px|Left to right: Duckman, Bernice, Ajax, Gecko, Charles and Mambo, "Grandma-ma", and Cornfed.]]
In a universe where humans and anthropomorphic animals coexist, the series centers on Eric [[James T. Kirk|Tiberius]] Duckman (voiced by [[Jason Alexander]]),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zupan |first=Michael |date=September 22, 2008 |title=Duckman - Seasons One & Two |url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/34784/duckman-seasons-one-two/ |access-date=August 22, 2010 |website=[[DVD Talk]] |archive-date=August 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820131327/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/34784/duckman-seasons-one-two/ |url-status=live }}</ref> a widowed, lewd, self-hating, egocentric [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] duck who lives with his family in [[Los Angeles]] (as mentioned in the episode "Bev Takes a Holiday") and works as a private detective. The tagline of the show, seen in the opening credits, is "Private Dick/Family Man".

Main characters include Cornfed (voiced by [[Gregg Berger]]), a pig who is Duckman's [[Joe Friday]]–esque business partner and only friend; Ajax (voiced by [[Dweezil Zappa]]), Duckman's eldest, slow-witted teenage son; Charles (voiced by [[Dana Hill]] and later [[Pat Musick]]) and Mambo (voiced by [[E. G. Daily]]), Duckman's genius [[conjoined twins]] whose [[Polycephaly|heads share a body]]; Bernice (voiced by [[Nancy Travis]]), the identical twin of Duckman's presumed-dead wife Beatrice, a fanatical fitness buff who hates Duckman with a passion; and Grandma-ma (voiced by Travis), Duckman's comatose, immensely flatulent mother-in-law.

Recurring characters include Agnes Delrooney (voiced by [[Brian Doyle-Murray]]), Grandma-ma's [[doppelgänger]] who kidnaps her and poses as her until near the end of the final season; Fluffy and Uranus (voiced by Musick), Duckman's two obsessively [[Political correctness|politically correct]] [[Care Bears|Care Bear]]–esque pink and blue [[teddy bear]] office assistants; George Herbert Walker "King" Chicken (voiced by [[Tim Curry]]), a supervillain who schemes to ruin Duckman's life as retribution for ruining his high school tenure; Beverly (voiced by Travis), Beatrice and Bernice's long-lost sister; and Gecko, Duckman's pet dog (which he had stolen and renamed).

In the final episode, four couples (Dr. Stein/Dana Reynard, Duckman/Honey, King Chicken/Bernice, Cornfed/Beverly) get married – the last three in a joint ceremony. The kids, Fluffy and Uranus, and a number of characters from previous episodes are in attendance. As the ceremonies draw to a close, Beatrice (Duckman's supposedly deceased wife) appears and shocks the entire crowd. When Duckman asks how she can still be alive, Beatrice indicates Cornfed always knew. Cornfed says, "I can explain." The show then ends with "To be continued...?" superimposed on the screen. In regards to this [[cliffhanger]], ''Duckman'' writer Michael Markowitz offered the following shortly after the series came to an end: "We never formally planned Part II... and I'll never tell what I personally had in mind. I'm hoping to leave it to my heirs, for the inevitable day when Duckman is revived by future generations."<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 21, 1998 |title=To Be DIScontinued! - The Hall of Unresolved TV Cliffhangers: 1996-2000 |url=http://members.tripod.com/rover_wow/clif9600.htm |access-date=2015-03-07 |publisher=Members.tripod.com |archive-date=March 23, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090323093115/http://members.tripod.com/rover_wow/clif9600.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> On August 13, 2015, Markowitz posted on his Twitter page in response to a question from a fan about the cliffhanger, "Was then (& now) an #XFiles fan (bride in ep was Dana Reynard, a Mulder-Scully hint) so involved gov't coverup of aliens".<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=631917449089146880 |user=markowitz |title=@Kennnnnny ...Was then ( & now) #XFiles fan (bride in ep was Dana Reynard, a Mulder-Scully hint) so involved gov't coverup of aliens |date=August 13, 2015}}</ref>

==Production==
The series consists of 70 episodes that aired on Saturday nights from 1994 to 1997 at 10:30 PM<ref>{{Cite web |title=1994 Press Photo "Duckman" Animated Cartoon on USA Network |url=https://www.ebay.com/itm/406013069399 |access-date=2025-10-19 |website=[[eBay]]}}</ref> and later 10:00 PM<ref>{{Cite web |title=&#039;Duckman&#039; creator flying high after initial difficulties |url=https://dailybruin.com/1996/02/21/duckman-creator-flying-high-af/ |access-date=2025-10-19 |website=[[Daily Bruin]]}}</ref> on the [[USA Network]]. It later reran on [[Comedy Central]] from 2000 to 2006. In [[Spain]], it aired on [[Canal+ (Spanish TV channel)|Canal+]] in the 1990s and on [[Cartoon Network (Spain)|Cartoon Network]] from 2000 to 2001 through a nightly block aimed at adults, vaguely as a pre-beta to [[Adult Swim]], both times alongside ''[[The Critic]]''. In the [[United Kingdom]], it aired on [[Sky One|Sky 1]] and [[BBC Two]], and in [[Canada]], it is a former program on [[MTV2 (Canada)|MTV2]] and [[Cartoon Network (Canada)|Teletoon]]. The initial [[showrunner]]s were Peck, Reno and Osborn, and the show was produced in association with [[Paramount Television|Paramount Network Television]]. [[Klasky Csupo]] animated and produced the show; around the same time, they were also producing ''[[Aaahh!!! Real Monsters]]'' on [[Nickelodeon]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Byrnes |first=Nanette |date=October 16, 1995 |title=The Rugrats' Real Mom and Dad |publisher=[[Business Week]] |location=Hollywood |url=http://www.businessweek.com/archives/1995/b3446111.arc.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=August 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101207095808/http://www.businessweek.com/archives/1995/b3446111.arc.htm |archive-date=December 7, 2010 |df=mdy}}</ref> In later years, the show running duties went to David Misch and Michael Markowitz. Creator and executive producer Everett Peck was with the show for its entire run. Producer [[Gene Laufenberg]] was with the show for most of its run. Scott Wilk and Todd Yvega created original music for the series, including the theme.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ASCAP ACE - Search Results |url=http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=DUCKMAN&search_in=t&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&pagenum=1&start=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523060627/http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=DUCKMAN&search_in=t&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&pagenum=1&start=1 |archive-date=May 23, 2011 |access-date=2008-01-14 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The first season also featured music from [[Frank Zappa]]'s published catalog (Zappa died several months prior to this series' premiere).

==Episodes==
{{Main|List of Duckman episodes}}
{{:List of Duckman episodes}}

==Merchandise==

===Comic books===
Between 1994 and 1996, various comic books were published by [[Topps]] based on the TV series.<ref name="lambiek.net">{{Cite web |title=Everett Peck |url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/p/peck_everett.htm |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Lambiek.net |archive-date=July 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703075502/https://www.lambiek.net/artists/p/peck_everett.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> These were largely written and drawn by others, including [[Jay Lynch]], [[Scott Shaw (artist)|Scott Shaw!]] and [[Craig Yoe]]. Topps also reprinted Peck's original 1990 ''Duckman'' comic.

===Home media===
In January 2008, [[TVShowsOnDVD.com]] reported that ''Duckman'' would be coming to region 1 DVD.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=David |date=January 5, 2008 |title=Duckman DVD news: Plans Announced for Duckman |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Duckman-DVDs-Planned/8731 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402144634/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Duckman-DVDs-Planned/8731 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |access-date=2015-03-07 |website=[[TVShowsOnDVD.com]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Details followed in May, when it was announced that the first release in the series would be the first two seasons, 22 combined episodes on three discs, on September 16, 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=David |date=May 28, 2008 |title=Duckman DVD News: Announcement for Duckman - Seasons 1 and 2 |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Duckman-Seasons-1-and-2/9717 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017005209/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Duckman-Seasons-1-and-2/9717 |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |access-date=2015-03-07 |website=[[TVShowsOnDVD.com]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The final two seasons, 48 episodes, were released on a seven-disc set on January 6, 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=David |date=September 14, 2008 |title=Duckman DVD News: Update About Duckman - Seasons 3 & 4 |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Duckman-Seasons-3-and-4/10524 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091158/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Duckman-Seasons-3-and-4/10524 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |access-date=2015-03-07 |website=[[TVShowsOnDVD.com]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Both DVD sets were released by [[CBS Home Entertainment|CBS DVD]]/[[Paramount Home Entertainment]].

With the DVD releases, many episodes were edited to remove copyrighted music because of royalty issues. As a result, they differ somewhat from the aired TV episodes. However, Everett Peck was involved in the process of the DVD releases and he felt the most important music was preserved.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mulrooney |first=Martin |date=November 18, 2009 |title=Interview – In Conversation with Everett Peck, Animator, Cartoonist and Creator of Duckman |url=https://alternativemagazineonline.co.uk/2009/11/18/interview-in-conversation-with-everett-peck-animator-cartoonist-and-creator-of-duckman/ |access-date=February 13, 2020 |website=AlternativeMagazineOnline.co.uk |archive-date=April 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406075015/https://alternativemagazineonline.co.uk/2009/11/18/interview-in-conversation-with-everett-peck-animator-cartoonist-and-creator-of-duckman/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The ''Complete Series'' DVD was released on February 6, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=David |date=November 13, 2017 |title=Duckman - 'The Complete Series' on DVD from CBS/Paramount: Date and Package Art Look for All 4 Seasons to Come Together in One Set in Early February |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Duckman-The-Complete-Series/23797 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114093028/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Duckman-The-Complete-Series/23797 |archive-date=November 14, 2017 |access-date=2017-11-13 |website=[[TVShowsOnDVD.com]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Title
! Season(s)
! Episode count
! Release date
|-
| colspan=4 style="background:#fdce30|
|-
| style="text-align: center|''Volume 1: The Complete First and Second Seasons''
| style="text-align: center|1 and 2
| style="text-align: center|22
| style="text-align: center|{{Start date|2008|9|16}}
|-
| colspan=4|This three-disc release contained the entire first two seasons.
|-
| colspan=4 style="background:#F66E2A|
|-
| colspan=4 style="background:#584522|
|-
| style="text-align: center|''Volume 2: The Complete Third and Fourth Seasons''
| style="text-align: center|3 and 4
| style="text-align: center|48
| style="text-align: center|{{Start date|2009|1|6}}
|-
| colspan=4|This seven-disc release contained the entire final two seasons.
|-
| colspan=4 style="background:#61A1A1|
|-
| colspan=4 style="background:#efcd2e|
|-
| style="text-align: center|''The Complete Series''
| style="text-align: center|1–4
| style="text-align: center|70
| style="text-align: center|{{Start date|2018|2|6}}
|-
| colspan=4|This ten-disc release contained the entire series.
|-
| colspan=4 style="background:#efcd2e|
|}

===Video game===
In May 1997, a [[Point and click|point-and-click]] adventure computer game, ''[[Duckman: The Graphic Adventures of a Private Dick]]'', was released for [[Microsoft Windows]]. In it, Duckman has become a famous detective, and a television series based on him is about to debut, but someone is pushing Duckman out of his own life and replacing him with a bigger, better, heroic Duckman. The player's goal is to help Duckman get rid of the impostor and reclaim his rightful place. A [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] port was planned for a release in the first quarter of 1997 but it was cancelled.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=E3: The City of Angels Hosts One Hell of a Show - Duckman |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |date=July 1996 |issue=84 |page=67 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/8/87/EGM_US_084.pdf |publisher=EGM Media, LLC |quote=System: PlayStation, Release date: 1st Qtr, '97}}</ref>

==Reception==
The show was critically acclaimed.<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Connor |first=John J. |date=March 9, 1996 |title=Television Review - 'Madison County' Spoof from a Cartoon Duck |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/09/movies/television-review-madison-county-spoof-from-a-cartoon-duck.html |url-status=live |access-date=2015-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913054832/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/09/movies/television-review-madison-county-spoof-from-a-cartoon-duck.html |archive-date=September 13, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Hiltbrand |first=David |title=Picks and Pans Review: Duckman |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20107655,00.html |url-status=dead |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402121630/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20107655,00.html |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |access-date=2015-03-07 |via=People.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Winistorfer |first=Andrew |date=January 18, 2009 |title=Duckman: Seasons Three and Four |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/68899-duckman-seasons-three-and-four/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017005209/http://www.popmatters.com/review/68899-duckman-seasons-three-and-four/ |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |access-date=2015-03-07 |website=PopMatters.com}}</ref> In January 2009, ''[[IGN]]'' listed ''Duckman'' as the 48th best in the Top 100 Best Animated TV Shows.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite news |title=Top 100 Animated Series |work=[[IGN]] |url=http://www.ign.com/top/animated-tv-series/48.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426015118/http://www.ign.com/top/animated-tv-series/48.html |archive-date=April 26, 2014}}</ref>

Episodes "T.V. or Not to Be", "Noir Gang", and "Haunted Society Plumbers" were nominated for a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program]] in 1994, 1996, and 1997, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Duckman |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/duckman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117040644/https://www.emmys.com/shows/duckman |archive-date=November 17, 2022 |access-date=2016-09-29 |website=[[Emmys.com]]}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Television|United States|Cartoon|Los Angeles|1990s
}}
* ''[[Duckman: The Graphic Adventures of a Private Dick]]''
* ''[[Squirrel Boy]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970614035646/http://www.usanetwork.com/content/backlot/duckman.html |date=June 14, 1997 |title=USA Network site}}
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001109140200/http://www.comedycentral.com/duckman/ |date=November 9, 2000 |title=Comedy Central site}}
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227141623/http://www.duckman.com/ |date=December 27, 1996 |title=Official Website}}<!--There was also duckman.msn.com but that seems to have not archived successfully :( -->
* {{Toonopedia|duckman.htm}} ({{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20240527202901/https://www.webcitation.org/6hGmTZOSw?url=http://toonopedia.com/duckman.htm|date=2024-05-27}})
* {{IMDb title|0108755|title=Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man}}

{{Klasky Csupo}}
{{USANetwork Shows}}

[[Category:Duckman| ]]
[[Category:1990s American adult animated television series]]
[[Category:1990s American animated comedy television series]]
[[Category:1990s American satirical television series]]
[[Category:Animated satirical television series]]
[[Category:1990s American sitcoms]]
[[Category:1994 American animated television series debuts]]
[[Category:1997 American television series endings]]
[[Category:American adult animated comedy television series]]
[[Category:American animated sitcoms]]
[[Category:Comics about talking animals]]
[[Category:Television series about talking animals]]
[[Category:Comics about anthropomorphic ducks]]
[[Category:Comics about anthropomorphic pigs]]
[[Category:Counterculture of the 1990s]]
[[Category:Satirical comics]]
[[Category:Comics set in the United States]]
[[Category:Dark Horse Comics titles]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:USA Network original programming]]
[[Category:American television series with live action and animation]]
[[Category:Fictional private investigators]]
[[Category:Television shows based on American comics]]
[[Category:Television series by CBS Studios]]
[[Category:Television series created by Everett Peck]]
[[Category:Television series by Klasky Csupo]]
[[Category:Animated television series about ducks]]
[[Category:Animated television series about dysfunctional families]]
[[Category:Animated television series set in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Topps Comics titles]]
[[Category:Television shows adapted into comics]]
[[Category:Television shows adapted into video games]]