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Johnny Bravo

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For the footballer, seeJhonny Bravo.

Johnny Bravo
GenreRomantic comedy
Created byVan Partible
Voices of
Theme music composer
  • Louis Fagenson
  • Christopher Neal Nelson[a]
Opening theme"Johnny Bravo"
Ending theme"Johnny Bravo" (instrumental)[b][c]
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No.of seasons4
No.of episodes
  • 65 (179 segments) (+ 2 specials)
(list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
Running time23 minutes
Production company
Original release
NetworkCartoon Network
ReleaseJuly 14, 1997(1997-07-14)–
August 27, 2004(2004-08-27)
Related
What a Cartoon!

Johnny Bravois an Americananimatedcomedy television series created byVan PartibleforCartoon Networkand distributed byWarner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution.The second of the network'sCartoon Cartoons(afterDexter's Laboratory), it aired from July 14, 1997, to August 27, 2004. The titular Johnny Bravo (voiced byJeff Bennett), who is loosely based onElvis PresleyandJames Dean,is ablonde-hairedsunglasses-wearing, muscular, and dimwitted young man who lives with his mother and attempts to get women to date him, though he always falls short because of his actions. He ends up in bizarre situations and predicaments, often accompanied bycelebrityguest characters such asDonny OsmondorAdam West.Throughout its run, the show was known for itsadult humorandpop culturereferences.

Partible pitched the series toHanna-Barbera's animation showcaseWhat a Cartoon!,basing it on his senior thesis project he produced while attendingLoyola Marymount University.Apilotshort aired on Cartoon Network in 1995. The series was renewed for a second season in 1999, during which Partible left, and the show was retooled under the direction of Kirk Tingblad. In 2003, for the series' fourth season, Partible returned and restored the show to its original format and style. In its four seasons, a total of 67 episodes have aired. The first three seasons were produced by Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, while the fourth season was produced byCartoon Network Studios.

Johnny Bravowas nominated for fourAnnie Awards,oneYoungStar Award,and twoGolden Reel Awards.The series helped launch the careers of several animators, includingSeth MacFarlaneandButch Hartman.Spin-off media include comic books, DVD and VHS releases, collectible toys, T-shirts with Johnny's well known phrase "Whoa Mama", and video games.

Premise

[edit]
From left to right: Johnny Bravo, Suzy, and Mama Bravo.

The series centers on Johnny Bravo (voiced byJeff Bennett[g]), asunglasses-wearing, muscular, conceitednarcissistand dimwitted self-proclaimedwomanizingperson with apompadourand anElvis Presley-esque voice, apparently of Italian heritage, who lives in Aron City (a nod to Presley's middle name). Episodes typically revolve around him trying to get a woman to go on a date with him, though his advances are usually rejected and result in the woman in question harming him in a comedic way due to his boorish manner. Johnny's companions are Bunny "Momma" Bravo (Brenda Vaccaro), his lively, caring, extroverted, equally dimwitted mother, who wears cat eye sunglasses; Little Suzy (Mae Whitman), a talkative and intelligent young girl from the neighborhood who likes to agitate Johnny, although he rarely remembers her name; Carl Chryniszzswics (Tom Kenny), a geek who idolizes Johnny despite being bullied and bossed around by him; and Pops (Larry Drake), the unscrupulous owner of the local diner who provides advice to Johnny, along with food made from atypical ingredients.

Recurring characters include Master Hamma (Brian Tochi), aJapanesemartial artsinstructor who teaches Johnny but never considers him a student due to being the weakest and most pathetic student in the dojo;Donny Osmond(himself), a cheery and optimisticteen idolwho irritates Johnny; and Jungle Boy (Cody Dorkin), a jungle-dwellingferal childwith super strength and theability to speak to animals.

Much of the series' humor is derived from celebrity guest star appearances and references topopular culture.For example, an episode in season 1 is based around homages toThe Twilight Zone,[1]and in another episode, one of theVillage Peoplecan be seen in the background.[2]The series has had numerous guest stars, includingAdam West,Shaquille O'Neal,Seth Greenand the aforementioned Donny Osmond. In the first season, creator Van Partible intended for the show's middle segment to be a form of "Johnny Bravo Meets...", a parody ofThe New Scooby-Doo Movies,which would feature appearances from popular 1970s icons, but guest stars were used informally after the second season began.[3][4]ManyHanna-Barberacharacters had cameo appearances in the series, including the cast ofScooby-Doo,Speed Buggy,Jabberjaw,Fred Flintstone,Yogi Bear,The Blue Falcon,Black Widow,andHuckleberry Hound.

Adult humor is a frequent presence. In one episode, when Suzy calls Johnny to ask if he wants to come over, Johnny nonchalantly tells her to "[call] back in 15 years when [she is] a co-ed", and in another, when Johnny is hit by a tranquilizer dart and is informed he has only six seconds of consciousness left and to "use it wisely", he immediately pulls out agirlie magazine.

In regard to the adult humor, Hartman stated "...being concerned with the content of the episodes wasn't our main focus", and creator Partible remembers that "No one was really watching Cartoon Network [...] As far as content, they were pretty lenient on all the kind of things that were going on."[3]

In the show's first and fourth seasons (when Van Partible was the showrunner), Johnny was a tad smarter and wasn't a complete doofus and was able to react with clever quips. For example in the episode, "Bearly Enough Time", Johnny was successfully able to cleverly trick Chronos the Time Bear. After Chronos told Johnny he had 20 minutes to put him to sleep, which Johnny was able to do with just a few seconds left, Chronos woke up a few seconds later because of the loud alarms and said that Johnny's time was up but when Johnny told the bear he still had 12 minutes left (pointing to the VCR), Chronos said that was just the VCR to which Johnny made his escape.

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

While attendingLoyola Marymount University,Van Partibleproduced his senior thesis projectMess O' Blues(1993), an animated short film about anElvis Presleyimpersonator.[3]His roommate, actor Chistopher Keene Kelly (Blacklist, Succession) and recent LMU Film School graduate, Writer/Producer/Voice Actor, Lee J. Bognar (The Expatriat Act, Sioux Me, SNL, The Man Show) worked with Partible to punch up his short story and lend their voice talents to the project, as well as animating some of the cells. That partnership proved key when Partible accidentally destroyed the soundtrack while editing the final cut just before the screening for grading, in front of a live packed theater at LMU. Bognar, who already had several feature films under his belt at Disney (Sister Act) and Paramount (Thing Called Love), swooped in and quickly assembled the actors and musicians to perform the soundtrack - live. The musicians played acoustically and the voice actors did the sound effects when they weren't speaking their lines. The rare spectacle of a liveFoleysession presentation, expertly executed by such young, inexperienced performers is a great source of pride for Loyola Marymount's School of Film and Television to this day. It received a standing ovation from the packed theater, and caught the attention of a Rep from Hanna-Barbera. Shortly after, Partible's animation professor screened the film to a friend who also worked forHanna-Barbera,and the studio loved it. They asked Partible to develop it into a pitch for a seven-minute short, which they would own.

For the new short, Partible revised his main character fromMess O' Blues,renaming him "Johnny Bravo" and making him "this '50s iconicJames Dean-looking character that talked like Elvis. "He was also inspired byMichael Jackson's "impetus for using whip snaps and cracks" (like inCaptain EO) for whenever Johnny striked a pose.[5]Voice actorJeff Bennettwas cast as Johnny, based solely on his young, hyped Elvis impression.[3]Partible, with a small team of animators, animated the short themselves in-house at Hanna-Barbera usingdigital ink and paint.[2]

The short, titledJohnny Bravo,was aired onCartoon Network's animation showcase,World Premiere Toons,[3]on March 26, 1995. Two more shorts followed:Jungle Boy in "Mr. Monkeyman"in 1996 andJohnny Bravo and the Amazon Womenin 1997.

The name Johnny Bravo derived from creator Van Partible's middle name, Giovanni Bravo, asGiovanniis an Italian name for John or Johnny.[6]

Original seasons

[edit]

The popularity of the shorts led to Cartoon Network commissioning a first season ofJohnny Bravo,consisting of 13 episodes. The crew of the first season consisted of several writers, animators, and directors fromWorld Premiere Toons,includingSeth MacFarlane,Butch Hartman,Steve Marmel,andJohn McIntyre.Veteran animatorJoseph Barberaalso served as a creative consultant and mentor for the first season.[7][8]Partible stated in a 1997 interview the goal of the series was to have "animation reminiscent of the old Hanna-Barbera cartoons".[8]

It was Hanna-Barbera's first production afterTurner Broadcasting Systemwas purchased byTime Warner.

Johnny Bravopremiered on July 14, 1997,[9]and the first season completed production in December of that year.

Retool seasons

[edit]

After the first season,Johnny Bravowas put on hiatus, until it was picked up for an unexpected second season in 1999. Van Partible was fired duringWarner Bros.takeover of Turner Broadcastingand Kirk Tingblad took over as director, leading to a major retooling in the show's visual style, tone, humor, and characters.[10]The show retained this format for the third season.

The series was put on hiatus once again until it was renewed for a fourth season in 2003, which aired in 2004. The final season of the series returned to the humor of the original shorts and first season of the series, with Van Partible returning and co-directing all of the fourth season episodes, although the Jungle Boy character from the first season never returned.

Episodes

[edit]
Main article:List of Johnny Bravo episodes
SeasonSegmentsEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
13813March 26, 1995(1995-03-26)[11]December 15, 1997(1997-12-15)[11]Cartoon Network
26622July 2, 1999(1999-07-02)[12]January 28, 2000(2000-01-28)[12]
35117August 11, 2000(2000-08-11)[13]June 14, 2002(2002-06-14)[13]
42413February 20, 2004(2004-02-20)[14]August 27, 2004(2004-08-27)[14]
SpecialsN/A2December 7, 2001(2001-12-07)February 14, 2004(2004-02-14)
India special2011(2011)Cartoon Network (India)

Reception and legacy

[edit]

In 2009,IGNrankedJohnny BravoNo. 71 for its Top 100 Animated Series list.[15]

After the series ended in 2004, the No. 5Kellogg'sChevrolet was given a special paint scheme with Johnny Bravo on the hood. It was driven byKyle Buschin the 2005 Sharpie 500NASCARrace.

On the long lasting impact of the show, writer/directorButch Hartmanstates:

WhenJohnny Bravofirst came out, I don't think a lot of people had high hopes for it, and I think it was really cool that proved exactly what kind of character he was. No one really thought it was going to go anywhere. Not only has it gone somewhere, it's actually still around, it's very iconic now, 15, 16 years later.[3]

The title character is considered "iconic", and his catchphrases are relatively common in popular culture.[3]

The show's creative team went on to create many successful television series throughout the 1990s and 2000s, including writer Seth MacFarlane, creator of the popular animated seriesFamily Guy.Shortly after the series' first season was completed, writer/director Butch Hartman left to work onNickelodeon'sOh Yeah! Cartoons,from which those shorts spun off his own success,The Fairly OddParents.Steve Marmel, writer forJohnny Bravo,has been a producer and writer forThe Fairly OddParentssince its premiere in 2001, and is also the creator of the live-action sitcomSonny with a Chance.In addition toJohnny Bravo,director John McIntyre directed episodes of several other Cartoon Cartoons, and more recently served as a supervising director on Cartoon Network's original seriesThe Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack.

In 2023 Indian Entertainment JournalPinkvillanamedJohnny Bravoamong the top 10 cartoon shows of the 1990s. They mentioned the running gag of Johnny Bravo chasing after women and getting beaten up by them while also featuring other action and comedic themes such as getting lost in distant places while attempting to travel to simple locations and his subsequent explorations and adventures as having great comedic influence in future cartoons.[16]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result
1997 Annie Award Best Individual Achievement: Voice Acting by a Male Performer in a TV Production[17] Jeff Bennett(as Johnny Bravo) Nominated
1998 Outstanding Individual Achievement for Writing in an Animated Television Production[18] Steve Marmel(for "The Perfect Gift" ) Nominated
YoungStar Award Best Performance in a Voice Over Talent[19] Mae Whitman(as Little Suzy) Nominated
2000 Annie Award Outstanding Individual Achievement for Directing in an Animated Television Production[20] Kirk Tingblad (for "Noir Johnny" ) Nominated
Outstanding Individual Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Television Production[20] Mary Hanley (for "Noir Johnny" ) Nominated
2001 Golden Reel Award Best Sound Editing — Television Animated Series — Sound[21] Glenn Oyabe, Kerry Iverson, Jesse Aruda, and John Bires (for "The Johnny Bravo Affair/Biosphere Johnny/Spa Spaz" ) Nominated
2004 Best Sound Editing in Television Animation — Music[22] Roy Braverman(for "It's Valentine's Day, Johnny Bravo" ) Nominated

Spin-offs

[edit]

JBVO: Your All Request Cartoon Show

[edit]

JBVO: Your All Request Cartoon Showwas a programming block that aired Sundays on Cartoon Network from April 2, 2000, to mid-2001. It was hosted by Johnny Bravo, along with some infrequent guest stars such as Chicken (fromCow and Chicken). Callers would write into the show via mail or through the Cartoon Network website[23]to call the show and request a cartoon from Cartoon Network's cartoon library, which would then be played, with an exception of half-hour-long shows. One caller of the show named Jennifer requested an episode ofDragon Ball Z.Being that it was a half-hour long, Johnny regretfully had to fast-forward through the entire episode with Johnny providing only expositional commentary.[24]Afterward, Johnny apologized to the caller for the inconvenience.[24]

After the series ended, a spin-off ofJBVOnamedToon FMwas launched in Europe. The series had a few unique changes, such as Godzilla presenting the weather. The spin-off also hadBrakfromSpace Ghostas the co-host.[25]

There was also a similar spin-off of theJBVOconcept itself entitledViva Las Bravo,a summer block that aired from 2005 to 2006 on certain European variants of Cartoon Network.[26]Every day Johnny would announce three cartoons, and the one getting the highest votes via email or on CartoonNetworkHQ.net would be shown for two hours the next day. He would also constantly appear in commercial breaks, cracking jokes or answering humorous emails and phone calls.

Media

[edit]

Comics

[edit]

Johnny Bravo first appeared in theCartoon NetworkStarring series fromDC Comicsfrom 1999 to 2001. Newer stories were then included for Cartoon Network's Cartoon Cartoons anthology comic from DC comics from 2001 to 2004. As well as the comics successor, Cartoon Network Block Party, from 2004 to 2009. In February 2013,IDW Publishingannounced a partnership with Cartoon Network to produce comics based on its publishing properties. Johnny Bravo was one of these titles announced to be published.[27]

Video games

[edit]

A video game titledJohnny Bravo in The Hukka Mega Mighty Ultra Extreme Date-O-Rama!was released on June 9, 2009, for theNintendo DSandPlayStation 2.[28]The PlayStation 2 version was released exclusively in Europe and Australia byBlast! Entertainment,while the DS version was released in North America byMumboJumbo.

Characters fromJohnny Bravoare featured in the Cartoon Network gamesCartoon Network: Block Party,Cartoon Network Racing,Cartoon Network Speedway,Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall,andCartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion.

Planned film

[edit]

In October 2002,Varietyreported thatWarner Bros.had secured thefilm rightsto make a live-actionJohnny Bravofeature-length film "as a potential starring vehicle" forDwayne "The Rock" Johnson.[29]However, no further developments regarding this project have been announced since then.

Home media

[edit]

Warner Bros.stated in an interview that they were "...in conversations withCartoon Network"forDVDcollections of various cartoons, among which wasJohnny Bravoin 2006.[30]Johnny Bravo: Season 1,a two-disc set featuring the complete first season which contains all 13 episodes, was released byMadman EntertainmentinAustralia and New Zealand(Region 4) on October 10, 2007. On November 4, 2009, the complete second season was released.

A Region 1 release of the first season, with different cover art and new special features, was released byWarner Home Videoon June 15, 2010. The release is first in an official release of severalCartoon Cartoonson DVD, under the "Cartoon Network Hall of Fame" name.[31]


The PlayStation 2 version of the video gameCartoon Network Racingcontains the episodes "Doommates" and "Johnny's Telethon" as unlockable extras.

Johnny Bravohome media releases
Season Title Release dates
Region 1 Region 2
1 Scooby-Dooand the Toon Tour of Mysteries June 2004 —
Nine Creepy Cartoon Capers August 10, 2004 —
Christmas Rocks October 4, 2005 October 18, 2010
The Complete First Season June 15, 2010 —
Hall of Fame #1 March 13, 2012 —
2 Scooby-Dooand the Toon Tour of Mysteries June 2004 —
3 Yuletie Follies October 5, 2004 —
Grossest Halloween Ever August 9, 2005 —

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^abcSeasons 2–3
  2. ^abcSeasons 1 and 4
  3. ^Seasons 2 and 3 replace this with an instrumental of Neal Nelson's version.
  4. ^abcdefghijkSeason 1
  5. ^Season 4
  6. ^Produced underHanna-Barbera Cartoonsfor seasons 1–3. Produced under a separate entity for seasons 3–4. In-credit only for season 3.
  7. ^Marc Silkhas also voiced Johnny Bravo, in bumpers forCartoon Network UK & Ireland,when the character hosted a programming block on the channel. Silk did not play the character in the show itself.

References

[edit]
  1. ^Partible, Van (2010).Johnny Bravo Season One DVD Commentary for "The Man Who Cried" Clown! "/ Johnny, Real Good / Little Talky Tabitha!"(DVD). Warner Home Video.
  2. ^abPartible, Van(2010).Johnny Bravo Season One DVD Commentary for "Johnny Bravo / Jungle Boy in" Mr. Monkeyman "/ Johnny Bravo and the Amazon Women"(DVD). Warner Home Video.
  3. ^abcdefgVan Partible, Jeff Bennett, Butch Hartman, John McIntyre; et al. (2010).Johnny Bravo: Season One. Special Features: Bringing Up Johnny Bravo(DVD). Warner Home Video.{{cite AV media}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^Azar, Philip (2010-04-28)."LMU-originated 'Johnny Bravo' on DVD".Los Angeles Loyolan. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-01-03.Retrieved2010-06-16.
  5. ^Partible, Van(June 21, 2010)."Johnny Bravo and Michael Jackson".VanPartible.com.Archivedfrom the original on August 12, 2020.RetrievedAugust 12,2020.
  6. ^Cruz, Marinel R. (December 8, 2011)."Meet the Creator of 'Johnny Bravo'".Philippine Daily Inquirer.Inquirer Group of Companies.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-02-16.Retrieved2019-09-10.
  7. ^Partible, Van (2010).Johnny Bravo Season One DVD Commentary for "The Sensitive Male! / Bravo Dooby-Doo"(DVD). Warner Home Video.
  8. ^ab"Drawing from Experience".1997.Archivedfrom the original on 2010-08-25.Retrieved2010-06-16.
  9. ^Boedeker, Hal (July 14, 1997)."Cartoon Network Zany Relief".The Orlando Sentinel.Archivedfrom the original on March 1, 2017.Retrieved2011-05-29.
  10. ^Partible, Van (2015)."In and Out of Toon".LMU Magazine.Archivedfrom the original on September 4, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 16,2018.
  11. ^ab"Johnny Bravo: Episode Guide (season 1)".Zap2it.Retrieved2018-02-08.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ab"Johnny Bravo: Episode Guide (season 2)".Zap2it.Retrieved2018-02-08.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ab"Johnny Bravo: Episode Guide (season 3)".Zap2it.Retrieved2018-02-08.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ab"Johnny Bravo: Episode Guide (season 4)".Zap2it.Retrieved2018-02-08.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^"71. Johnny Bravo".IGN.January 23, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon February 20, 2009.RetrievedDecember 27,2012.
  16. ^Puri, Chhavi (June 28, 2023)."Best 90s Cartoons to Make You Nostalgic Right Away".PinkVilla.com.
  17. ^"25th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (1997)".AnnieAwards.org.ASIFA-Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on 2015-12-30.Retrieved2013-01-26.
  18. ^"26th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (1998)".AnnieAwards.org.ASIFA-Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-02-23.Retrieved2013-01-26.
  19. ^"The Hollywood Reporter's 4th Annual YoungStar Awards Hosts and Nominees Announced".United Business Media.PR Newswire.September 2, 1999.Archivedfrom the original on August 26, 2014.Retrieved2013-01-26– viaTheFreeLibrary.com.
  20. ^ab"28th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (2000)".AnnieAwards.org.ASIFA-Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-04-25.Retrieved2013-01-26.
  21. ^"Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA (2001)".IMDb.Archivedfrom the original on 2015-09-24.Retrieved2013-01-26.
  22. ^"Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA (2004)".IMDb.Archivedfrom the original on 2010-05-06.Retrieved2013-01-26.
  23. ^"Cartoon Network: JBVO".Archived fromthe originalon 2000-08-15.Retrieved2011-05-29.
  24. ^abAlexander, Cristina (2023-05-15)."JBVO's Lost Dragon Ball Z Episode Has Finally Been Found".IGN.Retrieved2023-05-17.
  25. ^Cartoon Network UK - Toon FM Advert.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-12-02.Retrieved2022-12-02– viaYouTube.
  26. ^"Cartoon Network EMEA - Viva Las Bravo Promo (2006) *INCOMPLETE*".19 May 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-12-02.Retrieved2022-12-02– viaYouTube.
  27. ^"IDW Teams Up with Cartoon Network!".IDWPublishing.com(Press release).San Diego.Archived fromthe originalon 2014-08-04.Retrieved2013-05-18.
  28. ^"Johnny Bravo: Date-O-Rama!".GameSpot.CBS Interactive.Archivedfrom the original on November 14, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 25,2013.
  29. ^Dunkley, Cathy (October 17, 2002)."WB to Rock with 'Bravo'".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on February 20, 2016.Retrieved2016-02-25.
  30. ^Lacey, Gord (June 7, 2006)."Home Theatre Forum Warner Bros Chat Transcript — Part 2".TVShowsOnDVD.com.Archived fromthe originalon 2010-08-22.Retrieved2007-03-26.
  31. ^Lambert, David (December 22, 2009)."Johnny Bravo Long Awaited Season 1 DVD".TVShowsOnDVD.com.Archived fromthe originalon 2009-12-25.Retrieved2009-12-02.
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