14 September 2012 (2012-9-14)– 6 April 2015 (2015-4-6)
Moone Boy is an Irish sitcom created, co-written by and co-starring Chris O'Dowd for British broadcaster Sky One. The series is co-written by Nick Vincent Murphy and is produced by Baby Cow Productions, Sprout Pictures, Hot Cod Productions, and Grand Pictures. The series is semi-autobiographical of O'Dowd and focuses on a young boy's life growing up in Boyle, County Roscommon, in the west of Ireland in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Moone Boy is the second series produced from Sky One's Little Crackers shorts and is inspired by O'Dowd's contribution, "Capturing Santa", which was produced by Sprout Pictures.
The introductory music for much of each episode is "Tico's Tune" by Geoff Love (recorded by him under the name "Manuel & The Music of the Mountains"). This piece of music has near-iconic status in Ireland as it was used as the theme music for The Gay Byrne Show, a long-running and immensely popular morning radio show on RTÉ Radio 1. Background music and soundtrack pieces were composed for the series by Rónán Johnston. The opening credits are accompanied with the song "Where's Me Jumper" by The Sultans of Ping FC.
Moone Boy aired its third and final series in 2015.[1]
Synopsis
Seán Murphy is the imaginary friend of 12-year-old Martin Paul Moone, the only boy in a family living in Boyle, a small town in the north of County Roscommon in the rural West of Ireland. Martin, aided by his imaginary friend, has a unique perspective on life. His imagination comes into play both in his childish drawings, which come alive through animation, and in the ridiculous schemes he comes up with, against Seán's better judgement. With Seán's help, Martin negotiates life as the youngest member of a chaotic, scatterbrained family.
Production
Chris O'Dowd said: "Moone Boy is a fantastic comedy which centres on a twelve-year-old boy who has an imaginary friend. It is set in the late eighties/early nineties and all of the experiences are ones that I had. It's a really funny show which has loads of animation and a number of laughs that I hope people will love. It was essential to film in Ireland and what was great about Sky was they wanted us to film here and they were really supportive. That wouldn't have happened at any other channel."[2]
Moone Boy is Sky's second commission based on a Little Crackers short. The series is a co-production between Sprout Pictures, who produced the original Little Crackers short, Baby Cow Productions, Hot Cod Productions and Grand Pictures, and began filming in early 2012 on location in Boyle and other places in County Roscommon, as well as County Wicklow.
Martin celebrates his 12th birthday. While his sisters don't exactly go all-out with their gifts, Martin is thrilled with his Readybix bike from Mam and Dad, although it doesn't last long when the local bullies, Jonner and Conner Bonnor (Who Sleep in Beds at Nighttime in Pyjamas) decide to intervene. Dad tries to even the score with the Bonner brothers with unexpected consequences i.e. he finds a soul mate in their father.
2
"Bunch of Marys"
Declan Lowney
Chris O'Dowd & Nick Vincent Murphy
543,000
14September2012(2012-9-14)
Martin befriends new boy Trevor to dine on his family's regular gourmet meals while Debra is too distracted with political campaigning to feed her youngest child. Ma Moone and her friends hope to incite "girl power" in the local area by canvassing for politician Prof.Mary Robinson during the Presidential Election of 1990. However, they're less than thrilled when they're forced to turn to fishy rich man Francie "Touchie" Feeley (Steve Coogan) for funding.
3
"Another Prick in the Wall"
Declan Lowney
Chris O'Dowd & Nick Vincent Murphy
483,000
21September2012(2012-9-21)
Using the battle for the bathroom as an opportunity to catch extra zeds, Martin falls foul of Sinéad's pranks when she covers him in make-up while he's asleep. Unable to get to a mirror, Martin heads off to school unaware of his new look. He then discovers a short cut to school which will stop him falling prey to his sister's pranks.
4
"Dark Side of the Moone"
Declan Lowney
Chris O'Dowd & Nick Vincent Murphy
Under 383,000
28September2012(2012-9-28)
Uncle Danny (Steve Wall) arrives just in time for Martin's birds-and-the-bees talk with Mam and Dad. Seán seeks solace with other imaginary friends when Martin dumps him under the influence of his visiting musician uncle. When Danny shows the pictures of his travels, when he talks of the French town of Lyon, the picture actually shows the Swiss city of Lausanne with a famous Tl bus.
5
"Godfellas"
Declan Lowney
Chris O'Dowd & Nick Vincent Murphy
Under 382,000
5October2012(2012-10-5)
While Fidelma joins the church choir, Martin's confirmation service leads to an epiphany: he wants to become an altar boy. Has he got what it takes? Can he keep to the Altar Boys Code? What will Ma and Pa Moone think of a son as an Altar Boy and a daughter in the choir?
6
"The Bell-End of an Era"
Declan Lowney
Chris O'Dowd & Nick Vincent Murphy
Under 443,000
12October2012(2012-10-12)
It's a big moment in the life of young Martin Moone: his last week of national school (primary school). Martin and Pádraic have some interesting plans to be remembered in future years. For Sinéad, if she finishes top of her class, the prospect of going to the Girl Guides' Jamboree awaits. For Trisha her exam prospects are somewhat poor and Fidelma has issues with boyfriend Dessie.
Martin is appalled when his dad takes the family on holiday during the 1990 FIFA World Cup, so he tries to hitch-hike back to Boyle to watch a vital match on home turf.
2
"Moone Dance"
Ian Fitzgibbon
Chris O'Dowd & Nick Vincent Murphy
Under 441,000
24February2014(2014-2-24)
It's the dawn of a new era for Martin Moone as he begins secondary school, and while he isn't impressed with his friends' talk about girls, he soon changes his tune when he meets art teacher Miss Tivnan (Amy Huberman), a vision at the blackboard who sparks a romantic rivalry between him and Sean. Meanwhile, Dessie has an important question for Fidelma.
3
"Ghost Raft"
Ian Fitzgibbon
Nick Vincent Murphy
514,000
3March2014(2014-3-3)
Back in the summer, Martin and Padraic started building a raft. They planned to sail down the river into town, buy ice cream and frolic in the water. But now it's October and the raft still isn't quite finished. So instead, they'll make it a Halloween ghost ship.
4
"Handball Duel"
Ian Fitzgibbon
Chris O'Dowd & Nick Vincent Murphy
445,000
10March2014(2014-3-10)
Like all young lads in the early '90s, Martin wants (needs) a Sega Mega Drive. Be gone, slinky; hello, magic machine. But Liam is having none of it: not only is this whole computer thing just a fad, work is slow and money is tight.
5
"Stags And Hens"
Ian Fitzgibbon
Chris O'Dowd & Nick Vincent Murphy
Under 429,000
17March2014(2014-3-17)
Fidelma and Dessie's big day is just a week away and wedding fever has gripped the Moone household.
6
"The Boyle Wedding"
Ian Fitzgibbon
Chris O'Dowd & Nick Vincent Murphy
Under 375,000
24March2014(2014-3-24)
Celebration is in the air as St Patrick's Day dawns, but the Moones are having a different kind of party today: Fidelma's wedding.
In September 1991, Liam and Debra abandon the kids for a romantic break to celebrate their 20th anniversary – but it all threatens to fall apart after a chance encounter with Liam's old flame. Meanwhile, Martin and Padraic are in Dublin, where they soon discover new talents.
2
"The Plunder Years"
Chris O'Dowd
Chris O'Dowd & Nick Vincent Murphy
327,000
9March2015(2015-3-9)
Sick of being caught between two warring parents, Padraic goes on the run with Martin. Crunchie Haystacks struggles to cope, too.
3
"Fecks, Lies And Videotape"
Chris O'Dowd
Chris O'Dowd & Nick Vincent Murphy
Under 345,000
16March2015(2015-3-16)
While the Moone house is bursting at the seams, Martin and Padriac try to film a hilarious home video. Sir Terry Wogan guest stars.
4
"Unidentified Feckin' Objects"
Chris O'Dowd
Chris O'Dowd & Nick Vincent Murphy
Under 362,000
23March2015(2015-3-23)
Aliens have landed in Boyle. When crop circles are discovered in their wake, Martin and Padraic couldn't be more thrilled. No sooner have the lads embarked on a UFO hunt than Donkey Kong mysteriously disappears.
5
"Bells 'n' Smells"
Chris O'Dowd
Chris O'Dowd & Nick Vincent Murphy
Under 375,000
30March2015(2015-3-30)
Dessie dreams of opening Boyle's first Catholic bookshop. Also Martin (Noah's identical twin brother) was advised to leave the toilet because of the horrible disgusting rotten smell
6
"Gershwin's Bucket List"
Chris O'Dowd
Chris O'Dowd & Nick Vincent Murphy
Under 350,000
6April2015(2015-4-6)
Granddad Moone's childhood imaginary friend, George Gershwin, has returned. Paul Rudd guest stars. Note: 45-minute episode [But the version shown in US was the usual length]
Reception
The show has been well received by critics. The Guardian called it "the most life-affirming delight to have hit our screens in a long time", and said: "It is surreal, within decent limits, and it is derivative, but I think the derivations are happily if tacitly acknowledged".[4]
The first series of Moone Boy was released on DVD on 15 October 2012.[7] The second series of Moone Boy was released on DVD on 31 March 2014. A boxset containing the first two series was also released on 31 March 2014.
American remake
It was announced in October 2014 that the show received a "Put-pilot" from ABC. O'Dowd was said to be a writer and producer, but was not expected to star.[8]
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