 | Continuing the theme of Hanna Barbera Saturday morning animations, just had to do Hong Kong Phooey. I couldn't believe like many Hanna Barbera animations that Hong Kong Phooey only lasted for one season, of 16 episodes. Originally aired on ABC between September and December 1974. The character of Hong Kong Phooey was the alter-ego of mild mannered janitor Penrod "Penry" Pooch, who worked at a police station under the ever watchful eye of Sergeant "Sarge" Flint. Penry transforms himself into Hong Kong Phooey by going into a magic filing cabinet. When upon he'd always get stuck, and have to be released by Spot the cat. |
| Once transformed into the eponymous superhero, he'd fight crime by referring to his The Hong Kong Book of Kung Fu. Our inept hero would usually me saved from misadventure by Spot, or as a inadvertent side-effect of his actions. Like many crime fighting animation characters, Phooey had his vehicle. The Phooeymobile, which transforms itself into a boat, a plane, or a telephone booth depending on the circumstances by banging his gong or changes automatically whenever necessary. Each episode begins with Rosemary, the telephone operator, getting a call. Explaining the crime to Sergeant Flint, upon which Penry, transforms himself into Phooey, whom Rosemary has a crush on. |  |
| | Hong Kong Phooey was voiced by Scatman Crothers. Sergeant Flint was voiced by Joe E. Ross, best known as Officer Gunther Toody in the early '60s television series Car 54, Where Are You?. As Flint, Ross revived Toody's famous "Ooh! Ooh!" exclamation. Sergeant Flint was very similar both in voice and appearance to Botch, assistant zookeeper at the Wonderland Zoo on Help! It's the Hair Bear Bunch, whom Ross also voiced. |
