October 28, 2010 (2010-10-28)– April 14, 2013 (2013-04-14)
Skatoony (stylized as SkatoonY) is a children's live-action animatedgame show, pitting live-action children against cartoon characters. The series was co-produced by Talent TV and FremantleMedia Animation (for the British version), Blink Studios (for the Arabic version),[1][2] and Marblemedia with Smiley Guy Studios (for the North American version). The series aired on Cartoon Network UK in 2006, with new episodes airing every Friday until the series' cancellation in 2008. Reruns continued to air on Cartoon Network until 2017. Skatoony has also aired as reruns in the UK on Boomerang and Cartoon Network Too until the channel itself closed down in 2014. The show aired on Starz Kids & Family in the U.S. until 2019.[3] Reruns were occasionally shown on Teletoon in Canada until August 5, 2017. It also aired on Boomerang in Australia and New Zealand.
The show is hosted by 'Chudd Chudders' (voiced by Rupert Degas in the UK and Jonathan Wilson in North America) and 'The Earl' (voiced by Lewis MacLeod in the UK and James Rankin in North America).[4] In the UK version, Chudd and Earl have American-Canadian accents sounding similar to themselves in the North American version.[5]
History
Skatoony began as a competition microsite on the Cartoon Network UK website in 2001, co-developed by James Fox and Brian Boyle; the latter left Cartoon Network before the series premiered.[6] In 2006, the first full-length Skatoony TV show premiered on Cartoon Network. However, a few phone-in shows such as Skatoony Quizmas, Ready Steady Skatoony and Skatoony Truckatoony existed before as a sort of continuity during school holidays. These phone-in shows ended in 2005. The UK version of Skatoony was filmed at MTV Studios at Camden and in London with schoolchildren from around the world auditioning as contestants.[6]
According to creator James Fox, the process of producing a Skatoony episode was very complicated and developed over all of the series.
First we’d plan out an episode and part script it. Then we’d take that to the studio and record the quiz element, weaving the script into conversation with the kids using “stand-in” actors instead of cartoons. We created slime and grunge out of various pastes, mostly wallpaper paste! Then we’d take the footage back to the animation studio and build the show from the original script and the live action footage.[6]
On February 9, 2009, Marblemedia announced they would be producing a North American version of the series Skatoony (in English and French).[7] The Canadian adaptation, titled Skatoony North America to differentiate it from other adaptations follows the same format. The North American version of Skatoony was filmed in Toronto, while the French version was filmed in Montreal with a different set of contestants; however, the outcome of the animated contestants remains the same between both versions. Jonathan Wilson voices Chudd Chudders while James Rankin provides the voice of The Earl and new addition to the Northern American release, a NA replacement for Skatoony boss Tony Eagle-Eyes (also voiced by Degas with an American accent) named Charles La Puck, voiced by Jeff Lumby.
A Middle Eastern adaptation of Skatoony debuted on April 5, 2011, on Cartoon Network Arabic.[8][9] A Hindi adaptation aired some time in 2008, on Pogo. Original Skatoony creator James Fox served as executive producer for all Skatoony releases (except for the UAE release where James Fox was credited as a consultant producer) and met every single child contestant on the show.[6]
In addition to the British format, one contestant in each episode of Skatoony North America was a guest contestant from a show from a Canadian animated series. Accordingly, a significant character from the series also appeared in the Skatoony opening sequence. Other children's series (including but not limited to shows on the Teletoon lineup) are often the subject of the questions asked on the shows. Guest contestants are taken from the following series:
Contestants for all three seasons are characters exclusively from Total Drama. During season 3, there was a mix of the characters from this show along with four characters from Jimmy Two-Shoes. Chris McLean appears in the opening sequence and also appeared as a contestant in the Season 3 episode "Pop Video", and Sierra appears in the Skatoony audience in each episode, even when there is no guest.
Jimmy Two-Shoes airs on Teletoon in Canada, Cartoon Network in Australia, and on Disney XD in the US. Heloise is seen online,[11] and was a contestant in the Season 3 episode "Follow that Quizblock".
A similar situation occurs in Skatoony Arabia where guest contestants were taken from the animated series, Freej instead. With the exception of Skatoony North America (in Québec), all non-English language Skatoony releases uses animation footage from the original British version, which is why Tony Eagle Eyes is the hosts' boss instead of Charles La Puck.
Guest Contestants
Every episode (except "Space: The Final Souffle", "Pre-School Problem", and "It Could Be You!") has a guest contestant from shows from Total Drama and Jimmy Two-Shoes.
Beezy is one of the three contestants to make it into Round 3, as well as the only Jimmy Two-Shoes character not to get kicked out at the end of Round 1.
Lucius Heinous VII
"Host of Doom"
Guest contestant replacement
In Skatoony, the quizblock has six colored squares - green (top left), red (top middle), pink(top right), purple (bottom left), blue (bottom middle), and yellow (bottom right). The children get the green, pink and blue squares (they sometimes move to the purple, red and yellow squares if two child contestants remain in Round 3), and the cartoon contestants get the red, yellow and purple. The guest contestants take the place of a cartoon character in the UK version. In the episode 'Skeleton Crew in Da House' in North America, Scabz was originally a contestant but he left before the first round and was replaced by Harold.
Season 1
Episode
Guest character
Color square he/she is in
UK cartoon character he/she replaces
"Knights and Daze"
Owen
Red
Bradzilla
"Invasion"
Noah
Yellow
Eugene Keen
"I Stink, Therefore I Am"
Eva
Purple
Squeaky Sam
"Pirates"
Izzy
Wendell
"Skeleton Crew in Da House"
Harold
Red
Scabz
"Xcqankly"
Katie & Sadie
Purple
Easter Bunny
"To the Quiz Cave"
Gwen
Yellow
Hyacinth Bosh
"Quizoo"
Bridgette
Red
Doug
"Hoo Loves You, Baby!"
Courtney
Kevin Quizzin
"Quiziatori Gladihost"
Leshawna
Yellow then Red
Rooks
"Superheroes"
Chef Hatchet
Red
Wasp Boy
"Dinosaur"
Ezekiel
Professor Fuddlehudd
"Hooray for Bollywood"
Justin
The I-Know-Bot
Season 2
Episode
Guest character
Color square he/she is in
UK cartoon character he/she replaces
"Body Swap"
Dakota
Yellow
Princess Nebula
"Sports Academy"
Lightning
Nash Cash
"Trash Talk"
Izzy
Red
Royden
"Vikings"
Brick
Stelly
"Stop the Pop"
Silent B
Purple
Freezee
"Inside La Puck"
Jo
Mac Mandrak
"I Spy, You Quiz"
Staci
Mary Lou
"Out to Sea"
Dawn
Red
Evie Mancheevy
"Freakshow"
Sam
Matilda
"Destination: Moon"
Cameron
Yellow
Easter Bunny
Note: The episodes "Space: The Final Souffle", "Pre-School Problem" and "It Could Be You!" are all skipped because they have no guest.
Season 3
Episode
Guest character
Color square he/she is in
UK cartoon character he/she replaces
"CJ's Birthday"
Katie & Sadie
Yellow
The Super Smile Gang (Jake, Megan and Kiki)
"Amusement Park"
Scott
Hyacinth Bosh
"Follow that Quizblock"
Heloise
Purple
Frezzee
"Style Trial"
Anne Maria
Yellow
Mr. Yomp
"Pop Video"
Chris
Purple
Doug
"Quiz to the Future"
Jimmy Two-Shoes
Red
Kevin Quizzin
"Broke Charles"
Leshawna
Purple
Gore
"In Your Dreams"
Beezy
Fibbz
"Unusual Suspects"
Owen
Bradzilla
"Café Le Quiz"
Chef Hatchet
Lucrezia
"Host of Doom"
Lucius Heinous VII
Yellow
Sarge
Seasonal episodes
Episode
Guest character
Color square he/she is in
UK cartoon character he/she replaces
"Stoopid Santa"
Zoey
Red
Hyacinth Bosh
"Halloween"
Mike
Purple
Dr. Jerkhill (and Mr. Hives)
Factories in which eliminated contestants are ejected into
Season 1
1) "Knights and Daze" - Sandpaper Factory
2) "Invasion" - Dentist's Convention
3) "I Stink, Therefore I Am" - Manure Factory
4) "Pirates" - Sewage Factory
5) "Skeleton Crew in Da House" - Porcupine Sanctuary
6) "Xcquankly" - Mousetrap Factory
7) "To the Quiz Cave" - Really Hard Mattress Company
8) "Quizoo" - Africa, Australia, and The North Pole
2) "Amusement Park" - Rejected Hot Dog Meat Factory
3) "Follow that Quizblock" - Leftover School Dinners Dump
4) "Style Trial" - Pointy Pin Factory
5) "Pop Video" - Home for One Hit Wonders
6) "Quiz to the Future" - Broken Clock Factory / Tar Pits
7) "Broke Tony/Charles" - Worm World
8) "In Your Dreams" - Giant Frog Factory
9) "Unusual Suspects" - Gravy Recycling
10) "Café Le Quiz" - Hot Dog Factory
11) "Host of Doom" - Robo-World: Turning People Into Products for Over 20 Years
Seasonal episodes
1) "Halloween" - Rotten Pumpkin World
2) "Stoopid Santa" - Fake Holly Factory
Format
The show's format is that three child contestants and three cartoon character contestants, making six contestants in all, compete in a quiz show lasting three rounds. At the end of each of the first two rounds, the two lowest scoring contestants are eliminated. The first round is always Bang On! or Bogus?, a rapid-fire true-or-false questioning round; with "Bang On!" meaning true, and "Bogus!" meaning false. The last two rounds vary between episodes. As contestants are eliminated, they are usually catapulted out of their seats as the hosts (and the remaining contestants) sing "You're Outta Here!". The losing contestants are catapulted into a factory containing something nasty, such as 'Compost World', 'Leftover School Dinners Dump', 'Used Nappy Dump (UK version) / Dirty Diaper Factory (North American version)' or 'Concrete Pillow Factory', and then they are (sometimes) not seen for the remainder of the episode. Vignettes featuring eliminated animated contestants (and on occasion, eliminated child contestants) interacting with Chudd or the Earl (and, on Skatoony North America, Charles La Puck, their boss ([Tony Eagle-Eyes in the UK])) also appear during the progression of the show; in Skatoony North America, this extends to the web extras available on the Skatoony website. The first round always ends with having one child contestant and a cartoon contestant being eliminated.
At the end of the third round, only 1 of the 2 remaining contestants gets eliminated through ejection, based on who has the lowest score at the end of the round. At the end of three rounds, the remaining contestant takes on the Skatoony Quiz Champ Challenge, where they must answer ten questions correctly in 90 seconds. After 45 seconds, the clock will temporarily stop, and Earl's Halfway Deal will be offered, trading in time for correct answers: in the UK version, deals offered were inconsistent in season 1. In seasons 2 and 3 of the UK version and all seasons of the North American version, the deals offered were as follows depending on the player's score:
3 points or less: 3 additional points in exchange for 25 seconds (20 seconds left)
4-5 points: 2 additional points in exchange for 20 seconds (25 seconds left)
6-7 points: 1 additional point in exchange for 10 seconds (35 seconds left)
8 points or more: No deal is offered
If the contestant finishes with time remaining and gets ten questions right, the contestant wins a prize, offered at the start of each episode. If a contestant finishes with the ten correct answers in under 45 seconds, they are further honoured with being called "#1 Skatoony Quiz Champ Champion". This only happened once in the show's history in the North American version of "Quizoo."
Note that the games used in each round and the contestants' interactions are based on the number of child contestants remaining, and that the game always ensures that a child contestant will always be the last remaining contestant. Sometimes, for the third round, it can be either one child vs. one toon, or two children vs. each other. In addition, it is typical for the second-round challenge to be rigged against an animated contestant, leading to their elimination as well.
In Skatoony North America, the prize for winning the Skatoony Quiz Champ Challenge in the first season was an iPod Touch; later seasons have refused to disclose the grand prize. Other merchandise from Teletoon shows are also awarded to the contestants for their participation.
In the British version, the prizes were:
Season 1: A Sony PSP (on two episodes it was a video iPod). In one episode it was turned into a frog.
Season 3: An iPod Touch (on two episodes it was a Nintendo DS console). In one episode it was a chocolate scale model of Tony Eagle Eyes/Charles La Puck.
According to certain articles, the prize for the Hindi version was a Sony PlayStation 3 console.
In the Arabic version, the prize was a trophy.
In the one currently available episode of the German version (Season 1, Episode 4: Pirates!), the prize was a Nintendo DS and the Ben 10: Alien Force video game.
Rounds
Beyond Bang On! or Bogus? (used in the first round) and the Skatoony Quiz Champ Challenge (when one contestant remains), the following challenges have been used:
Round 1 challenges
Bang On! or Bogus? (All Seasons [NA, India, UAE, Germany and UK]) - Chudd will say a lot of silly things, some of it is true, but some of it is false. When the contestants think it is true, they say "Bang On!" And when the contestants think it is false, they say "Bogus".
Round 2 challenges
Draw What You Hear, and Shout Out When You Know What You've Drawn! (All Seasons [NA and UK]) - Chudd will use words to describe what it is to be drawn, and contestants must infer what is being drawn from Chudd's instructions. Chudd will continue with the description until one contestant answers correctly.
Same Sound Name Round (Season 1 [NA and UK]) - Each contestant is given three placards, each depicting a picture corresponding to a particular word, with all three words rhyming with each other. Chudd's questions in this round will have an answer that will either match or have the same pronunciation as one of these three placards. Contestants are only awarded points for presenting the correct placard: giving the correct answer verbally while presenting the wrong placard does not award points.
Wear in the World? (Season 1 [NA and UK]) - Each contestant is given three hats, representing three countries. All of Chudd's questions this round have answers corresponding to one of these three countries, and contestants must wear the correct hat in order to be awarded points. Giving the correct answer verbally while wearing the wrong hat (or not wearing the hat at all) does not award points.
Alphabet Soup (Season 2 [NA and UK]) - Each contestant is given four letters embedded in a liquid. Chudd's questions will have answers that begin with or have the same pronunciation as one of the letters of the alphabet. Contestants are only awarded points for presenting the correct letter of the alphabet; giving the correct answer verbally whilst holding the wrong letter does not award points. It was only played once in the Season 2 episode "Body Swap".
Colourful Language (Season 3 [NA and UK]) - Each contestant has four boxes in front of them, each with a different colour. Chudd's questions will be about the colours written on the box. They have to give the colour written on the box, not the one coloured. It was only played once in the Season 3 episode "Pop Video".
Throw If You Know (Seasons 2 and 3 [NA and UK]) - Each Contestant wears a big round hat with three balls, each with a different type, Chudd's questions will be about them. If they get it right, they have to throw the correct ball to Chudd. In the Season 3 episode "Amusement Park", the balls were replaced with moons, stars, and planets.
Blindfold Buffet (Season 2 [NA and UK]) - In front of the contestants are five different foods or animals, which are answers to the questions that are answered. They have to pick up a handful of the right answer, then buzz in. However, all the contestants are blindfolded, so that they cannot see the object in front of them. Contestants are only awarded points for presenting the correct item; giving the correct answer verbally whilst holding the wrong item does not award points. This round is never played in the Skatoony studio, and it was played in the Season 2 episodes, "Space: The Final Souffle" and "Out to Sea".
Cheery Tunes (Season 2 [NA and UK]) - The contestants have to guess the tune of a nursery rhyme Earl plays. It was only played in the Season 2 episode "Pre-School Problem"'.
Goldie Pops' Same Sound Name Round (Season 2 [NA and UK]) - Goldie Pops' personal game, which was only played in the Season 2 episode "Stop The Pop" to replace "Draw What You Hear, and Shout Out When You Know What You've Drawn!". Similar to Same Sound Name Round, except the three rhyming answers are in tanks of sludge, and the contestants must pick the answers up with their teeth, similar to apple bobbing. It was called 'Goldie Pops' Deeply Dipping Game' in the UK version.
Color Me Quizzy (Seasons 2 and 3 [NA and UK]) - The contestants have three boxes of paint in front of them. They have to dip their face in the correct color, then hit their buzzer. Contestants are only awarded points for the correct color that is on their face; giving the correct answer verbally whilst the wrong color paint is on their face does not award points. The child contestants (and cartoon contestants) wear goggles to protect their eyes. In the Season 3 episode "Cafe Le Quiz", they substituted the paint for mustard (yellow), barbecue sauce (brown), and mushy peas (green).
Quick Pic Picking! (Season 2 [NA and UK]) - There is a roulette of animal pictures, and contestants have to guess the animal Chudd is describing. The players must buzz in when the roulette shows the right picture. Giving the correct answer verbally while stopping at the wrong picture does not award points. Chudd will continue his description until someone answers correctly. Players cannot buzz in more than once for the same question. It was only played once in the Season 2 episode "I Spy, You Quiz".
Animal Swap-a-Butt (Seasons 2 [NA] and 3 [NA and UK]) - Fernando Fernando Fernando has a group of animal hybrids. The contestants must guess the two correct animals, to earn a point. It was played in the episodes "Freakshow" and "In Your Dreams".
Talkin' Backwords! (Season 3 [NA and UK]) - Chudd goes around the quizblock and asks each of the contestants a question in turn; but they have to give their answer back to front. Seen and played in the Season 3 episodes "CJ's Birthday" and "Follow that Quizblock".
Blinking Brain Box (Season 3 [NA and UK]) - For this game, Chudd wears a helmet that shows his thoughts, but they are jumbled. The contestants must figure out what he is thinking of, they can earn up to five points, depending how fast they can figure out what Chudd is thinking and it made the easiest way to eliminate both toon contestants in each episode. This game was played in the Season 3 episodes "Quiz to the Future" and "Host of Doom".
Round 3 challenges
Hoo Flung Dung! (All Seasons [NA and UK]) - In this round, Hoo, the "artistic gorilla", will throw his "paint" (though claimed to be dung by the round's title, on other occasions it is implied to be ordinary mud) onto a canvas. The "paint" will form into a particular shape, which the contestants must identify. A particular feature of this challenge is the fact that some of the "paint" is splattered on the contestants. In the UK version, the question would sometimes end when the painting was finished, while in the NA version, it would always last until a player guessed correctly.
DangerBox (Season 1 [NA and UK]) - Presented in front of each contestant are three boxes, each of which contains a particular type of food, be it something nice or nasty. Contestants must open a box and eat its contents before giving the answer to each question Chudd asks. Contestants may not pick a box more than once. Refusing to eat what's in a box will deny the contestant both the question and the points with it.
Fast Food (Seasons 1 and 2 [NA and UK])- The contestants compete head to head in a speed quizzing challenge. Each contestant will have as much time as it takes for the other to consume a specified quantity of food. In the episode "Space: The Final Souffle", each player had a backup timer which would be used if their opponent didn't finish the food fast enough.
Egg Noggin! (All Seasons [NA and UK]) - Presented in front of each contestant is a row of eggs, some of which are raw and some of which are hard-boiled. The two contestants must listen to the general knowledge questions, and then buzz in when they know the answer. Contestants are awarded one point for each correct answer. Regardless of whether the contestant answers correctly or not, contestants must then select an egg and break it against their forehead. A bonus point is awarded if the egg chosen is hard-boiled, but if it is raw, the egg yolk will splatter all over their face. Enough eggs are provided so that neither contestant runs out of eggs.
The DangerGrid of Doom (Seasons 2 and 3 [NA and UK]) - The DangerGrid of Doom is a huge robot with a panel of twelve numbers, each containing a nasty surprise such as drenching the contestant in various gunge or a deduction of points. Contestants answering correctly may choose one panel from the grid as a nasty surprise to unleash on their opponent. Conversely, contestants answering incorrectly are subject to a nasty surprise chosen by their opponent from the grid. In the Season 3 episode "Host of Doom", the Dangergrid of Doom was the new host/main antagonist of the episode, but his round was never played.
Viking Flung Dung! (Season 2 [NA and UK]) - Same rules as Hoo Flung Dung, but only played in the Season 2 episode "Vikings".
Stinky Drinky (Seasons 2 and 3 [NA and UK]) - Contestants have to answer general knowledge questions. If the contestant gets it right, their opponent has to drink one of the nasty drinks lined up in front of them. But if they get the question wrong, they have to drink one. If anyone refuses to drink, either they lose a point or their opponent gets a bonus point, though this never happened in any episode. Just like Blindfold Buffet, this round is never played in the studio; it was played various locations, including in a spooky cave, inside their boss' stomach, and out in the desert in the middle of nowhere.
Mystery Pie Roulette (Seasons 2 [UK] and 3 [NA and UK]) - Contestants have to answer general knowledge questions. If they get it right, their opponent has to eat one of the pies lined up in front of them, except the filling is something horrid. If the player gets the question wrong, they have to eat a pie. If they refuse to eat a pie, they lose a point. In the UK, this game is called "Mince Pie Roulette".
Final Round challenges
Skatoony Quiz Champ Challenge (all Seasons [NA and UK]) - At the end of three rounds, the remaining contestant takes on the Skatoony Quiz Champ Challenge, where they must answer ten questions correctly in 90 seconds.
Earl's Halfway Deal (all Seasons [NA and UK]) - Halfway through the round, the Earl will offer the contestant a deal. He will give the player extra points, however he will also take away some time. The player has a choice of whether to accept the deal or to reject it. The only time Earl doesn't offer a deal is either when a contestant has 8 points or more or if a contestant scores 10 points in under 45 seconds.
Time to Play for a Prize! (Season 2 [NA and UK]) - The Tooskany version of the Skatoony Quiz Champ Challenge, seen in the Season 2 episode "Trash Talk".
La-Re's Magical Middle Moment (Season 2 [NA and UK]) - The Tooskany version of Earl's Halfway Deal, seen in the Season 2 episode "Trash Talk".
↑ Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p.300. ISBN9781476672939.
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