The Pink Panther Show

The Pink Panther Show

1969 - United States

The Pink Panther first appeared on cinema screens in the comical title sequence of the live action movie of the same name. The animated character which was created by Friz Freleng had nothing to do with the movie itself which centred round the theft of a diamond called the Pink Panther. However, Freleng's cartoon creation was such a success that United Artists signed him up to produce a series of theatrical comedy shorts. The first of these, 1964's The Pink Phink (which won the 1964 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film), featured the Panther tormenting a white moustachioed man (actually a caricature of Freleng), by constantly thwarting his attempts to paint his house blue - by painting it pink. 

In late 1969 the Pink Panther cartoons by Freleng and David H. DePatie made their way to television on The Pink Panther Show, a series by Mirisch Films and DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, created to showcase the cartoons. Each 30 minute episode began with a Doug Goodwin composed theme music replacing the more familiarly known Pink Panther Theme by Henry Mancini. Each show featured the Pink Panther and The Inspector, a cartoon version of the live-action Clousseau character. The opening sequence showed the Pink Panther and the Inspector alighting from the Panthermobile outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Announcer Marvin Miller acting as an off-camera narrator for the linking scenes between cartoons which now had canned laughter added to the original soundtrack. 

Other DePatie-Freleng series joined the Pink Panther, including Roland and Rattfink, The Dogfather, The Blue Racer and Crazylegs Crane as well as The Inspector, with the bumbling Clouseau and his Spanish-speaking sidekick Sgt. Deux-Deux.

Published on January 18th, 2019. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

The Brady Bunch

Architect Mike Brady marries beautiful young Carol, who has three girls to care for. Likewise, Mike's previous wife's death has left him to raise his three boys all alone. In no time this amalgam becomes the ideal average American middle class family.

Also released in 1969

A Charlie Brown Christmas

For Peanuts fans everywhere, it just wouldn't be Christmas without this classic holiday delight.

Also tagged Childrens Animation

Doctor In The House

Hospital comedy based on Richard Gordon's series of books, which had previously been adapted for the cinema starting with a 1954 production starring Dirk Bogarde. New medical students arrive at St Swithin's Hospital...mayhem ensues

Also released in 1969

Top Cat

Top Cat! The most effectual, Top Cat! Who's intellectual! Close friends get to call him "T.C.," Providing it's with dignity! Top Cat! The indisputable leader of the gang. He's the boss, he's a VIP, he's a championship. He's the most tip top, Top Cat.

Also tagged Cartoon Series

Counterstrike

An alien 'agent', Simon King, sent to Earth by an intergalactic council posing as a journalist in order to unmask refugees from a dying planet, who wanted to take over the world.

Also released in 1969

The Magic Ball

Sam has a magic ball which can take him anywhere his imagination wants to wander

Also tagged Childrens Animation

Foo Foo cartoon series

Foo Foo was created for ABC Television in the UK by Halas & Batchelor, who had been producing films since 1940.

Also tagged Cartoon Series

Paddington Bear TV Series

Paddington Bear leaves deepest darkest Peru for adventures in England with the Brown family.

Also tagged Childrens Cartoon