Cartoon Catchphrases Trivia Quiz

Answer: Scooby-Doo

Did I fool you with the anime choices or did you know it was Shaggy (the voice of Casey Kasem) on "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!" (1969-1978)? "If not for those meddling kids" we would have no Scooby, no Velma, Daphne, Fred or Shaggy, no Mystery Machine and no ghostly presences to unmask. We would miss the talking Great Dane saying "ruh-roh"; and, try as we might, we would be unable to explain the absence of the follow-up 2002 movie where, after a hiatus, the unanimated team finds its way to Spooky Island during spring break to investigate a rash of paranormal incidents.

Answer: Take a bite out of crime

McGruff is a cartoon character with a message for use in bringing crime awareness to children. McGruff was created in 1980 by the advertising firm of Saatchi and Saatchi to help "take a bit out of crime" through the use of educational videos and commercials from the National Crime Prevention Council.

The information deals with subjects like safety, bullying and drugs, and recently has begun dealing with identity theft and cybercrime. McGruff Houses were even set up around the country as a refuge and a safe haven for kids.

As an unfortunate postscript, the actor who portrayed McGruff was sentenced to 16 years in prison for possession of marijuana plants.

Answer: Roadrunner

Often misunderstood, the Roadrunner's catchphrase is "meep meep" and not "beep beep". The Warner Brothers legendary Roadrunner character was patterned after the actual bird, called "Geococcyx californianus", which eats rattlesnakes and runs its way across American deserts.

It is a member of the Cuckoo family (Cuculidae) and can, in fact, fly but only for very short distances; the roadrunner has a very distinctive look and can run up to 17 miles an hour, but is not usually being followed by Wile E. Coyote.

Answer: Freakazoid

One day geeky Dexter Douglass, who attends Harry Connick High, was at home surfing the internet when he got zapped into cyberspace, giving him ALL the information on the internet, enhanced strength and agility, and a totally manic personality; he can't actually fly so he runs around with his arms out, making swooshing sounds with his mouth. By saying "Freak-In", Dexter can turn into Freakazoid to battle super villains, usually employing a pun or two along the way; conversely, by saying "Freak-Out" he returns to being mild-mannered Dexter. Steven Spielberg was the executive producer of "Freakazoid" which ran from 1995 through 1997.

Answer: South Park

"South Park" is really not for viewing by kids who are the same age as the 4 main characters: Stan, Kyle, Kenny (not usually for the entire episode) and Eric Cartman. This is a series developed in 1997 by Trey Parker and Matt Stone ("The Book of Mormon") and its goal seems to be to offend everyone. Eric Cartman is an overweight, spoiled, self-absorbed fourth grader who, when he doesn't get his way, always says "Screw you guys, I'm going home".

The show deals with celebrities, transgender issues, political figures (e.g., Saddam and Osama) and, of course, "OMG! They killed Kenny" almost every week.

Answer: Kim Possible

Kim Possible, possibly one of the best cartoon heroines ever, would cooly ask "What's the sitch?" in dangerous situations and then respond with her other catchphrase "so not the drama". The show presented an average teen cheerleader (well, with great looks and brilliant parents) whose best friend was a boy (Ron Stoppable) with a naked mole rat.

They fought witty and sarcastic super-villains like Shego, Senor Senior Sr. (voiced by Ricardo Montalban) and Adrena Lynn, defied gender stereotypes, and Kim was always accessible judging by her theme song "Call Me Beep Me If You Wanna Reach Me" (sung by Christina Milian). What a class act!

Answer: Hokey Smoke

...or, more precisely, "Hokey Smoke, Bullwinkle!"; Rocky's voice on "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show" (1959-1964) was provided by the incomparable 'voicist' (that should be a word) June Foray who also did the voices for Natasha Fatale and Dudley Do-Right's girlfriend Nell Fenwick, among many others.

In fact, she even has her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and, at 97 years old, she is still doing commercials! If you were lucky enough to grow up in that era, you will recall how witty and 'punny' the dialogue was, and even after the 'cold war', how Boris and Natasha continued to chase "moose and squirrel"; nor did we doubt for a moment that a squirrel could fly!

Answer: Charlie Brown

Charles M. Schulz wrote and illustrated the syndicated "Peanuts" which ran from October 2, 1950 to February 13, 2000...quite a run! The main character was the stoic Charlie Brown who, when confronted with a difficult situation would always say "Good Grief".

In 2013, 'TV Guide' rated the "Peanuts" TV specials 4th on the list of 'Greatest TV Cartoons of All Time. Who could forget Lucy van Pelt and her booth 'Psychiatric Help 5c'(cents) or Schroeder playing his little piano or Linus and his blanket - all of the characters forever imprinted in our minds. Oh, and then there was the running joke of only the sound of a trombone when any adult spoke...

Answer: Giggity

Yes, it was Glenn Quagmire with his hypersexuality who would exclaim "Giggity" when seeing a 'hot chick' on the animated show "Family Guy". With his sexual fetishes and his use of women as sexual objects, he is a throwback to an earlier time, a time when his occupation (pilot) afforded him the opportunity to 'bed any broad' without consequences and without guilt. You understand a little more when you delve into his background, e.g., his father is transgender and his sister was in an abusive relationship with her partner, so Quagmire killed him in order to protect her. 'The Parents TV Council' proclaimed that he gives us "some of the tawdriest moments" on the show.

Answer: Porky Pig

How about ending a cartoon catchphrase quiz with one of the most famous lines of all time, i.e., "Th-th-that's all folks" said by the Looney Tunes character, P-P-Porky Pig, as he pops out of the Warner Brothers logo at the end of each cartoon; is there anyone who has not heard his signature line at the movies or on TV? Porky was voiced by Mel Blanc, known as 'The Man of 1,000 Voices', who also voiced Bugs Bunny, Speedy Gonzales, Tweety Bird, Marvin the Martian, Wile E. Coyote, the Roadrunner and so many others.

In fact, Mel died in 1989 and written on his tombstone is..."That's All Folks"!