Talk:Michigan J. Frog

Another Froggy Evening

I believe the second cartoon was a feature on the DVD SpaceJam and was actually titled "Another Froggy Evening". Mark @ DailyNetworks talk 17:31, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

Frog Politics

I've always been curious as to why The WB chose MJF, a character who's only starred in two cartoons, as its mascot. Did all the more well-known Loony Toons characters have prior commitments? An expansion of this article might address this mystery. ---Isaac R 19:47, 19 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I don't know why for certain, but my guess is that it's probably because the cartoon he stars in is one of the most famous cartoons of all time, and it was done in the 50's. Because he was so iconic, and had no prior association, he probably made a good neutral (but recognizable) mascot.--Mike 06:04, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

MJF still in use in Little Rock

The frog is still in use on the website and TV spots on KWBF in Little Rock, Arkansas. Not sure if it is on other stations or not.

Website: http://www.wb42.com/

Sadly, the link is dead when checked on June 5, 2007. --Mark @ DailyNetworks talk 10:26, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

Chuck Jones, etc.

I've read in a couple of different places that MJF actually didn't have a name when the cartoons were created, and that Chuck Jones actually gave him the name several years later. If a good reference can be found, would this be worth adding? Jafafa Hots 17:55, 24 January 2006 (UTC)

Michigan and minstrelsy

I tend to beleive that the style of performance used by the animators of said frog is that of a minstrel in the Al Jolson tradition, but i could be wrong. Could you point me in the direction of somewhere that would elaborate on the differences and how Michigan falls into the Vaudevillian cat instead? Thanks for your help. Youngamerican 16:47, 31 January 2006 (UTC)

Well, first of all, until someone finds a source citation to back up a claim one way or the other, all of our discussion will be speculation and thus not fair game for inclusion in Wikipedia.

That said, the current article (which lacks sources) says that Al Jolson was the inspiration for Michigan J. Frog. Well, Jolson was primarily a vaudeville and film performer. Furthermore, Michigan sings ragtime hits (again, according to our unsourced article); ragtime, while contemporary with part of minstrelsy, is not closely associated with it according to my research. Finally, minstrelsy was pretty much dead except in isolated places by the time these cartoons were made. Aspects of it survived in blackface vaudeville and film acts, but those are not minstrel shows proper.

To conclude, I think that Category:Blackface minstrelsy should be removed from this article; it's really not intended to be placed on every article about something tangentially related to blackface. And if any article should get a "See also" pointing to this article, it should probably be ragtime and not blackface or minstrel show. That's all, again, assuming someone can point to a reference that connects Michigan with Jolson and/or ragtime. — BrianSmithson 17:01, 31 January 2006 (UTC)

Thanks. Youngamerican 17:06, 31 January 2006 (UTC)

I should add that I hate to come off as a WP:CITE pedant, but my work on minstrel show, Dixie (song), and other artcicles has kind of turned me into one. :) — BrianSmithson 17:13, 31 January 2006 (UTC)

I just emailed the professor of African-American history at the university I attended to see if he could point me in the direction of any academic publications that took a stance one way or the other. Even if they dont deal with anything we are discussing, who know, maybe they will have something useful for the 'pedia. I will, of course, only add anything about Mr. Frog and minstrelsy if I can back it up with something muy credible. Thank you for the constructive converstion. Youngamerican 17:23, 31 January 2006 (UTC)

I've got That's Enough Folks on its way via Amazon. It's about characterizations of African Americans in cartoons. I ordered it before this conversation, but it might have some pertinent information. Should arrive any day now. — BrianSmithson 17:50, 31 January 2006 (UTC)

"Michigan" Froggy's voice and dancing are of the early 20th century Vaudeville variety, but are not blakeface minstel show nor Al Jolson (and I think it inappropriate that the article the article claims he sings "in the style of Al Jolson"; that's what I came to the talk page to comment on). Jolson was a very recognized (and much imitated) figure. The exagerated body language and facial expressions of the old Blackface Minstrel shows are quite distinctive. Warner Bros cartoonists referenced or parodied both in other cartoons. If they wished to make such a clear reference here they were certainly capable of doing so, but they did not. -- Infrogmation 02:34, 2 February 2006 (UTC)

Note: My comment above is in reference to One Froggy Evening. I am not aware of all the more recent appearances of Michigan that may well reference Jolson &/or minstrel shows, but since such doesn't appear in the character's most famous film nor the first 30 some years of the chararacter's history, I think it misleading to claim Jolson style in the opening description. -- Infrogmation 02:59, 2 February 2006 (UTC)

He is singing Hello! Ma Baby! one of the biggest blackface songs ever. It is a subtle parody, pointing towards the racism of Chuck Jones Thund3rl1p5 18:38, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

The Frog is Not Dead...Retired, Maybe, But Not Dead

Is it really right to say that MJF is dead, soley for the reason that WB stopped using him? LT:BiA came out 4 years ago, I don't think the rest of the gang has really done anything since that, are they dead?

The song

I just found an article, Hello! Ma Baby, which claims the song this frog sings is not the Michigan Rag, as stated by the article. Anyone with further information? --Adamrush 20:57, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

I initiated that article, which notes that Hello! Ma Baby is the introductory song, i.e. the one the frog sings upon being freed from the box in the scenes at the beginning and ending of the film. The song called The Michigan Rag is the second one of the eight different songs he sings. He also reprises it later in the cartoon. All of this is noted in the list of songs in One Froggy Evening. Wahkeenah 22:05, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

Fantastic. --Adamrush 13:32, 6 November 2006 (UTC)

What?

How was anybody able to get a Description Of The WB's Launch? Is There A Video On YouTube?

Date problems

It says his first carton (One Froggy Evening) premiered on 12/31/1995. However, the same paragraph says he appeared in a later cartoon (Another Froggy Evening) that premiered on 10/06/1955. Anbyody else see the problem? How can the later cartoon premiere before the first? Either the dates are wrong, or his real first appearence was "Another Froggy Evening". TJ Spyke 09:47, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

The first carton was released in 1955, the second in 1995. 1995 is after 1955, so no contradiction. Rillian 13:09, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

My bad, I made the edit at 4:47 AM and must have misread them both as 1955 since I was tired. TJ Spyke 23:12, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

The Simpons?

The content in this article is this:

• The Simpons are watching The WB, and Michigan J. Frog is on screen singing "We're proud to present on the WB, another bad show that no one will see! [Disgustedly walking off] Ah, I need a drink."

It should be:

• The Simpsons are watching The WB, and Michigan J. Frog is on screen singing "We're proud to present on the WB, another bad show that no one will see! [Disgustedly walking off] Ah, I need a drink."