From: mrapple@quack.sac.ca.us (Nick Sayer)
Subject: The Ren & Stimpy Show: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Followups-To: alt.tv.ren-n-stimpy
Organization: The Duck Pond public unix: +1 408 249 9630, log in as 'guest'.
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1992 12:30:05 GMT
Expires: 29 Aug 1992 12:30:06 UTC

Archive-name: ren-n-stimpy.faq
Version: Mon Aug  3 19:04:24 PDT 1992

Before you post a question about R&S, you should read this list to
see if your question has already been answered. If you have corrections,
additions, suggestions, or hairballs, send them to mrapple@quack.sac.ca.us
with $47,000,000. There is no guarantee that posted items will make it
to my attention. For it to work, you gotta MAIL it. Thanks.

R&S = The Ren & Stimpy Show
Nick = Nickelodeon - the network that first aired R&S

1. What is R&S?

"The Ren & Stimpy Show" is one of three new cartoon shows (collectively
known as "The Nicktoons") produced by Nickelodeon, a Cable TV
channel in North America. The two main characters are an "asthma-hound"
chihuahua named "Ren Hoek" (with an umlaut over the o), and a cat named
"Stimpson J. Cat". The show's attraction is its check-your-brain-at-
the-door humor. It is suitable (and funny) for the whole family.

2. When/where can I see R&S?

Currently, R&S can only be seen via cable TV or satellite. It airs on
Nickelodeon Sundays at 11 AM (Pacific/Eastern). MTV's airings of R&S
seem to have become irregular at best, or possibly even canceled.
Good thing too, because MTV showings are inferior to the showing on
Nick, since they stick the MTV logo on the lower right corner and have
more commercials. MTV also compresses the audio badly. MTV also doesn't
start the show on time. Incidently, MTV Networks, Inc., owns Nick.
Apparently MTV is owned in large part by Viacom.

3. My site seems to get two R&S newsgroups. What's the deal?

At the time a newsgroup for R&S was being discussed, the original
idea was for the alt.fan group. Many (including this author)
counter-proposed that it should be under alt.tv. When it came
time to create the groups, both newgroups went out. It is
the poster's opinion that since it is a TV show, it belongs
in alt.tv. The alt.tv group is not called 'ren-and-stimpy'
because that would be too long for certain (broken) news
programs or operating systems. 'ren-&-stimpy' is inappropriate
because it contains a non-alphanumeric character other than '- or _'.

4. How do I pronounce Ren's name?

The name is apparently Dutch, and thus an English pronunciation
will only be approximate. It ends up as "Hork" (rhymes with "pork").
They play with this in the show and intentionally mispronounce it
"HO-ack" or "HO-ehk" from time to time. His first name rhymes with
"pen," of course.

5. Who makes R&S?

The creative force behind R&S is John Kricfalusi. He is also
Ren's voice. John K.'s last name is pronounced "KRIS-fah-loo-see".
He is 36 and from Ottawa.

John K is "stunned" that so many adults watch R&S.

From ebh@mink.att.com:
He [John K] was a major creative force (under the [Ralph] Bakshi umbrella)
behind the New Adventures of Mighty Mouse, and he was also involved with
The Jetsons.

Stimpy's voice is Billy West. Billy West is also the voice of
"Doug," one of the other Nicktoons. West used to work at WBCN
in Boston, which is famous for shock-radio.

The creative organization is called "Spumco". The company
motto is "The Danes call it quality." Apparently, however, according
to one poster the motto is a non sequitur. They just made it up
because it sounded silly. The boy whose picture is shown with
the motto is Jimmy, the retarded boy - the company mascot
(From lazlo@triton.unm.edu).

From: zuckerma@aludra.usc.edu:

Spumco International (that's how it's listed in the Greater LA phone book)
5625 Melrose Avenue
Hollywood, CA  90038

It's located a few blocks west of the Paramount Studios lot.

6. What are the words to...

   ... the 'Log' song?

   "What rolls down stairs alone or in pairs
    rolls over your neighbor's dog?
    What's great for a snack and fits on your back?
    It's Log, Log, Log!

    It's Log, Log, it's big, it's heavy, it's wood.
    It's Log, Log, it's better than bad, it's good!
    Everyone wants a log! You're gonna love it, Log!
    Come on and get your log! Everyone needs a Log!"

    ... the Oath?

    "I do hereby promise only to watch the Ren & Stimpy show,
    to make underleg noises during the good scenes,
    to wear unwashed lederhosen every single day of
    the rest of my life."

    At least one poster claims 'underleg' is underling,
    but the consensus is for the former (underleg noises
    being farts, of course. Hardly an episode goes by
    that someone doesn't cut one).

    ... Nurst Stimpy's oath?

    "I do solemnly swear by the sacred bedpan to fix the patient,
    and ease his wretched suffering, even until all hope is lost."

    ... The Muddy Mudskipper theme song?

    "Who's the greatest mudskipper of them all?
    Who can skip in the mud with the greatest of ease?
    What kind of wonderful guy?

    Who can crawl like a dog without scraping his knees?
    Who's got segmented eyes?

    It's Muddy Mudskipper, it's Muddy Mudskipper
    It's the Muddy Mudskipper show!"

    ... Stimpy's "Gritty Kitty" poem?

    Gritty Kitty aint't so pretty, but it's really thick
    It fills my cat box oh so snug, it always does the trick
    I like to rub it on my toes and squish and squish and squish
    It ne'er offends my tender nose, like a smelly fish
    Its texture is a joy to me, it's just as smooth as silk
    It makes my little whiskers twitch, it stays crunchy even in milk
    I may not be the president, I may not be the pope
    But as long as I have Gritty Kitty, I shall never mope.

    ... The "Happy Happy Joy Joy" song?

    Hello, boys and girls. This is your old pal, Stinky Weaselteats. [*]
    This is a song about a whale. No! This is a song about being happy!
    That's right! It's the Happy Happy Joy Joy song!

    [chorus]
    Happy Happy Joy Joy Happy Happy Joy Joy
    Happy Happy Joy Joy Happy Happy Joy Joy
    Happy Happy Joy Joy Happy Happy Joy Joy
    Happy Happy Joy Joy Joy!

    I don't think you're happy enough! That's right! I'll teach you to
    be happy! I'll teach your grandmother to suck eggs! Now, boys and
    girls, let's try it again!

    [chorus]

    If'n you aint the grandaddy of all liars! The little critters of
    nature... They don't know that they're ugly! That's very funny, a
    fly marrying a bumblebee! I told you I'd shoot! But you didn't
    believe me! Why didn't you believe me?!

    [chorus without last line]
    Happy Happy Happy Happy
    Happy Happy Happy Happy
    Happy Happy Joy Joy Joy!

    * Stinky's last name is up for debate. It is pronounced closer
    to "whizzleteats". The authority for "Weaselteats" is an article
    that appeared in "Metro" magazine, a weekly for-free newspaper
    that appears at various places in Santa Clara County. The HHJJ
    song was described by the author of the article as, "Sing 'Happy
    Happy Joy Joy'. Repeat until death sets you free."

7. What is the meaning behind or origin of...

    [ Much of the items that seem like obscure or trivial humor are in
    fact non sequiturs. There's no meaning. They're just there for the
    hell of it. ]

    ... The Crock-o-stimpy Bus? [ "Untamed World" ]

    Non sequitur.

    ... "We're not hitchiking anymore! We're riding!" [ "Space Madness" ]

    From jeffy@athena.mit.edu:
    This is apparently from the movie "Centurion." The line was
    delivered by Kirk Douglas (see below).

    ... The face that rises and sets over Hollywood during "Stimpy's Big
    Day?"

    From ebh@mink.att.com:
    The face is apparently Kirk Douglas. According to John K.,
    Kirk Douglas was the [partial?] inspiration for Ren.

    ... The various narrations in the "Happy Happy Joy Joy" song?

    "I'll teach your grandmother to suck eggs"
    This aparently paraphrases an old saying. There are many film and
    TV uses of this phrase. It means (roughly) to teach someone
    what they already know. Furthermore, "to suck eggs" is aparently
    a euphamism for nosing into other people's business.

    From zeus@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu:
    "The little critters of nature -- They don't know that they're ugly."
    This is a line from the film "Summer Magic" starring Berl Ives and
    Hayley Mills.

8. Is it "No sir, I _DON'T_ like it", or "No sir, I _DIDN'T_
   like it"?

Both. "Don't" is heard in "Stimpy's Big Day/The Big Shot,"
and "didn't" is heard in "Fire Dogs," and "Marooned."

9. Does anyone have a list of episodes?

It is posted at the same time as this FAQ list.

10. What is the title of the one that spoofs "Wild Kingdom"?

This is a point of controversy. The titles read "A Cartoon /
Written by Jim Smith & John K. / Storyboards by Jim Smith /
Directed by John K. / Untamed World".

Some believe it is titled simply "Untamed World" under the theory that
the first thing you see doesn't have to be the title. It would
have been awkward to put the credits after "Untamed World" because
of how the action goes. It would have been similarly awkward to
start off with "Written by". "A Cartoon" was thus simply used to
intro the credits.

Some believe that since "A Cartoon" is capitalized and appears
by itself that it must be a title, and call it "A Cartoon"
or "A Cartoon: Untamed World".

Official word from Spumco has reached the author (from
jeffy@athena.mit.edu) that Spumco folk internally refered to it as
"Nature Show".

11. Does Nickelodeon censor R&S?

The opening titles contain scenes from "Big House Blues" and point to the
possibility that Nickelodeon has cut scenes from the show.  In particular,
Nick's rendering of BHB does NOT show the scene where Ren is 'drinking from
the porcelain bus'.  Additionally, although Nick originally showed the entire
"Magic Nose Goblins" ending, they have since then started doing a quick fade
as the scene panned over the 'field of green'.  There are other places in the
series where editing may have taken place. In particular, in "Untamed World",
there is a blackout, then a wipe to the next scene.  Nowhere else does this
take place.

From jeffy@athena.mit.edu:
There were a few incidences in "Big House Blues."  In one scene, the dog-
catcher asks R&S if they like to have fun; R&S agree. "Well go ahead, have
fun!" [then, in the missing footage, the dogcatcher turns his back, and
says in a feminine voice, "See if I care."] [If you freeze frame it,
you can see the dogcatcher turn around and put his hands on his hips in
a rather feminine stance. Just a brief glance.] Also, during the sleep
sequence, Ren ends up kissing Stimpy, then wakes up, screams, says something
about having to "clean himself," and goes to toilet, drinking out of it (not
vomiting into it). Or maybe it's eating, who can say.

From ja1r+@andrew.cmu.edu:
Like that other Jeff said, Ren dreams he's having a romantic
encounter and ends up kissing Stimpy, at which point he instantly
wakes up wide-eyed and dashes over to the PHENOMENALLY rusty and
filthy prison toilet, takes a loooong drink to wash his mouth out (!),
glares back and Stimpy and shouts, "HAVE YOU *NO* SENSE OF PERSONAL
HYGIENE???"

12. What about the music?

Apart from a few selections, there is not a single piece of original music
in the whole show. Instead, R&S quotes extensively from the classical
repertoire, as well as 50's style TV themes and takes. Space prohibits
a complete listing here.

From Jeffy@athena.mit.edu:
John K apparently wrote "The Muddy Mudskipper Show" theme, and the
[words to the (?)] "Happy Happy Joy Joy" song.

From jondr@sco.com:
Chris Reccardi wrote the [music to the (?)] HHJJ song. He has done work
for Tiny Toon Adventures, among other things.

From otg@csi.compuserve.com:
The closing theme is not an original composition. It's a version of the
Howlin' Wolf (Chester Burnett) classic blues "Killing Floor". No doubt.
In fact, it's VERY similar to the arrangement on the Howlin' Wolf Chess
Box.

13. Where can I get R&S...

    ... videos?

    Unfortunately, there is no way to obtain R&S except to tape it.
    Previous announcements that at least BHB was available on "Tournee of
    Animation" tapes were in error.

    ... GIFs?

    It used to be calvin.nmsu.edu (192.20.239.129), but that site
    has been closed indefinitely.

    You might try piggy.ucsb.edu under the directory /pub/RnS.
    There is at least a quick-time movie of the opening
    there (from bebrown@ucsd.edu).

    Try garfield.catt.nmsu.edu:/pub/graphics/images/ren-n-stimpy or
    something like that. (from hughes@sol.csee.usf.edu)  

    ... sounds?

    From rogue@cellar.org:
    ab20 was closed back in May.  The entire archives have been shuttled
    to wuarchive.wustl.edu and nic.funet.fi.  The Ren & Stimpy sounds are
    part of the Amiga archives.  (wuarchive has done some shuffling of the
    ab20 files, and no longer has a mirror of the old site.  The sounds may
    have been moved to another directory.)

    From bkariger@aunix.fullerton.edu:
    We can rightly claim to be the first to have contributed digital
    samplings of Ren & Stimpy audio to INet and several other networks.
    (Well, OK, we are 98% sure of it; and we would like to know of any
    other uploads, both earlier and later.) They originally appeared in
    the Info-Mac archives. (The Info-Mac archives are available (by using
    FTP, account anonymous, any password) in the info-mac directory on
    sumex-aim.stanford.edu [36.44.0.6]. Help files and indices are in
    /info-mac/help.) They are in the /info-mac/sound directory:

    ... shirts?

    They've now spread to most any mall T-shirt store.

    ... coffee cups?

    A company called "Custom Screenprinting" makes them (from
    bub@vuse.vanderbilt.edu).

    ... calendars?

    "Advance Comics Catalog" reports that a 18 month calendar for
    1993 and 2nd half 1992 will be available in August from Andrews
    & McMeel. It'll cost $8.95 and will be in full color (from
    michaelb@sol.cse.fau.edu)

    ... comic books?

    Marvel Comics is planning on making a monthly R&S comic book. It's
    in the planning stages and is at least 4 months away. (from
    watts@csa3.lbl.gov).

    ... "Log," "Log for Girls," "Powdered Toast," etc?

    "You sick little monkey!" "Don't you know cartoons will ruin your MIND?!"
            -- Ren

    ... other products for the drooling fanboy in each of us?

    Stay tuned.

14. Is there a fan club?

From: jeffy@athena.mit.edu
Hahaha! It never occured to me, until I was looking at a just-finished copy
of X Magazine #10 ("Big Ren & Stimpy Blow-Out" issue, plug plug) to post
the address of the Almost-Official Ren and Stimpy Fan Club. So:
 
 Ren & Stimpy Fan Club
 2930 Jacob St.
 Hamtramck, MI 48212
  
15. What about the future of R&S?

As has been known for weeks now, the new season is slated to begin
August 15. New episodes will air at 9 PM Saturday nights. It is not
known whether R&S will continue to be shown on Sunday mornings,
nor whether new episodes will/would be aired in that timeslot.

The block of shows on Saturday night go from 8-10 pm ET/PT.  The shows
are: "Clarissa Explains It All", "Roundhouse", "Ren and Stimpy"
(yeah!), and "Are You Afraid of the Dark?".

From dprice@convex.com (David Price):
Here's some assorted details from the article "'Ren and Stimpy' stay off
the wall" by Matt Roush:

13 new half hour episodes start airing Aug 15th as "part of an
ambitious lineup of original prime-time fare for Saturday nights,
dubbed 'Snick'".

Ren has a cousin named "Svenhoek" [I assume that's really "Sven Hoek" -dp]
who is even stupider that Stimpy.  He loves playing the "Don't Whizz
on the Electric Fence" board game with Stimpy.  Ren doesn't heed the
game's advice and ends up in hell.

Powdered Toast Man saves the pope (Zappa) and the president who is
caught in his own zipper.

One episode has them reading fan mail in Hollywood, Yugoslavia.

Ren's advanced tooth decay spins out the fable of the Tooth Beaver who
feeds on nerve endings, "the tastiest part of the body".

Newsgroups: alt.tv.ren-n-stimpy