Season 1

The first season of the American animated television series ***Big Group*** was created by cartoonist Alan Johnson and animator David Fisherson. Season 1 premiered on December 16, 1994 with the episode "Daniel's Inferno" and ended on May 12, 1995 with the episode "Last Day of School". The series follows the lives of four adolescent kids collectively known as The Cappies, consisting of Daniel Davis, Wendy Miles, Frank Turner, and Lucas Markman, with their two grown-up friends, Doctor Genesis and Doctor Thomas, who go around their fictional town of Sandwood Summers, New York making money-making schemes, going on adventures, or preventing attacks from the series' main antagonist, Doctor Dexxen. The show features the voices of Nancy Cartwright as Daniel Davis, Cheryl Chase as Wendy Miles and Susan Markman, Mike Judge as Frank Turner, Rob Paulsen as Lucas Markman, Hank Azaria as Doctor Genesis, Dan Castellaneta as Doctor Thomas, J. K. Simmons as Doctor Dexxen, Jill Talley as Karen Dexxen, Tara Strong as Timothy Darwins, Mary Kay Bergman as Martin Harolds Jr., Pamela Hayden as Alvin Testaburger, Mona Marshall as Greta Schwartzenegger and Vanessa Davis, Yeardley Smith as DeeDee Brown, Grey DeLisle as Sabrina Terrens, Catherine Cavadini as Izzy Warner, and Jodi Benson as Barbara Wolfcastle. Among the first guest stars to appear on the show were Adam West and Burt Ward, the original Batman and Robin, voicing the superhero characters of Ultra Man and Super Boy, parodies of Batman and Robin, in the self-titled episode, as well as Kelsey Grammar, the actor of Fraiser on the NBC sitcom Cheers and its spin-off Fraiser and the voice of Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons, voicing Daniel's paternal uncle Jason Davis in the episode "Uncle Jason".

The original plan was to begin the season and the series in the Autumn of 1994 with "Last Day of School". However, the workprint of the episode was of poor animation and quality and was declined to be used. Seventy percent of its animation had to be redone, delaying it for months throughout the season until it finally was aired as the season finale on May 12, 1995. Subsequent episodes such as "Scientist Doctors", the debut appearances of Doctor Genesis, Thomas and Dexxen, had minor problems in production that were easy to fix and were suitable for airing. As "Last Day of School" was being overhauled, the producers decided to air "Daniel's Inferno" as the series premiere on December 16, 1994. The timing was very fortunate, as the episode didn't feature Doctor Genesis, Thomas or Dexxen at all.

Several compilation DVDs that contained episodes from the first season were released. The *Big Group: The Complete First Season* DVD was released in Region 1 on September 25, 2001, Region 2 on September 24, 2001, and Region 4 on October 3, 2001, six years after it had completed its television broadcast, in a 3-disc digipack set. The DVD was re-released in a standard 3-disc keep case on November 13, 2012.

The season received positive reviews from media critics upon release, with the episode "Cappy Live!" winning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program, for which "Daniel's Inferno" was a nominee. "Daniel's Inferno" was also nominated for "Outstanding Editing in a Miniseries or Special"; "Chicken Pox" was nominated for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special"; and "The Big Group Theme," composed by Danny Elfman, was nominated for "Outstanding Achievement in Main Title Theme Music".

With a total of 13 episodes, this is the shortest season of the series to date, as the rest of the seasons have 20 or more. This is also the only season to not feature a Halloween episode, possibly due to none of the episodes airing in October.

## Voice cast & Characters

Nancy Cartwright as Daniel Davis and moreCheryl Chase as Wendy Miles, Susan Markman, Pervert the Poodle and moreMike Judge as Frank Turner, Tony Miles, Foolish Frog, Bob and moreRob Paulsen as Lucas Markman, Loser the Lizard and moreHank Azaria as Doctor Genesis, Lenny Darwins and moreDan Castellaneta as Doctor Thomas, Charlie Davis II, Harold Warner and moreJ. K. Simmons as Doctor Dexxen, Boris Brown and moreJill Talley as Karen Dexxen, Joanna Darwins and moreTara Strong as Timothy Darwins and moreMary Kay Bergman as Martin Harolds Jr. and morePamela Hayden as Alvin Testaburger and moreMona Marshall as Greta Schwartzenegger, Vanessa Davis and moreYeardley Smith as DeeDee Brown and moreGrey DeLisle as Sabrina Terrens and moreCatherine Cavadini as Izzy Warner and moreJodi Benson as Barbara Wolfcastle and moreTom Kenny as Doofus the Dog, Billy and morePhil Hartman as Video Game Guy and moreMr. Lawrence as Joe Harrison and moreHowie Mandel as Charlie Davis III, Mark Schwartzenegger, David Testaburger, Ben Terrens, and moreTress MacNeille as Rose Davis, Amanda Wolfcastle, Margaret Testabuger, Linda Harolds, Paula Turner and moreJerry Seinfeld as Edward Turner, Ben Wolfcastle and moreWilliam Ragsdale as Randy Markman, Martin Harolds Sr. and moreMelaine Chartoff as Sharon Markman, Sara Terrens, Mandy Brown and moreKatey Segal as Lucy Schwartzenegger, Mary Warner and moreAdam West as Ultra Man
("Ultra Man and Super Boy")Burt Ward as Super Boy
("Ultra Man and Super Boy")Kelsey Grammar as Jason Davis
("Uncle Jason")
## Episodes

* All episodes are written by Alan Johnson and David Fisherson.