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Recess (TV series)

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Recess
Created byPaul Germain
Joe Ansolabehere
StarringRoss Malinger
(1997-1998)
Andrew Lawrence
(1998-2001)
Rickey D'Shon Collins
Pamela Adlon
Ashley Johnson
Jason Davis
Courtland Mead
Allyce Beasley
April Winchell
(1997-1999)
Dabney Coleman
Ryan O'Donohue
Toran Caudell
Erik von Detten
Blake McIver Ewing
Anndi McAfee
Helen Slayton-Hughes
(1999-2001)
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons7 (although the seventh season is just 3 episodes that were put together to make a TV Movie)
No. of episodes69 (Episode List)
Production
Running time20 minutes with commercials (mostly two 10-minute segments)
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseSeptember 13, 1997 –
November 1, 2001

Recess is an American animated television series that was created by Paul Germain and Joe Ansolabehere, and produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. Recess focused on six elementary school students and their interaction with other classmates and teachers.

Premise

The series is centered around the interaction between the six main characters of the series. Typical plots involved the group banding together in order to unravel government conspiracies, or attempting to outwit their teacher chaperons. Usually, every episode ends with one of the characters learning an important life lesson. Recess is at Third Street Elementary School, and usually focuses time the characters spend playing outdoors during recess. The outdoor environment of Third Street Elementary School is littered with typical playground equipment, and obscure structures (most notably the Ashley Clubhouse and the jungle gym, Ol' Rusty). During this time, the children are governed by a pseudo-monarchy, and required to conduct themselves according to a clichéd set of unwritten laws. The Show ends with the episode Halloween, which was just the third and last part of the TV Movie, Recess: Taking The Fifth Grade

Production

Recess premiered on ABC's One Saturday Morning programming block on September 13, 1997. Despite coexisting with big-name Disney shows like Pepper Ann and Doug, Recess established itself as one of the most popular and successful shows of its time. Recess 's success spawned two direct to video titles and one theatrical film, Recess: School's Out, which was released in 2001.

The series was canceled in 2001, and Disney stopped airing new episodes after November 1, 2001, but still continued to show episodes on ABC's One Saturday Morning and UPN's Disney's One Too programming blocks until 2003 when both blocks were phased out. Re-runs also aired on ABC Kids until September 2005 (when the block turned into an all Disney Channel line-up). It also remained on the Disney Channel until 2003. So far, the episodes from Season 6 have not been shown again since their initial airing. [1] The cancellation led to Disney still releasing the unreleased episodes to video. In 2003, two direct-to-video movies were made of Recess. Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade, one of the films, was actually made up of three different Recess episodes that take place in what can only be called a previously unreleased and unfinished seventh season where all the characters are now in the fifth grade. Canada still shows reruns of Recess on the Family channel, run by Cesar Reano [2].

Characters

Main characters

File:Recesscast.png
The Six Main Stars Of Recess (actors above, characters below).

Along with the six main characters, Recess featured a plethora of other characters from various socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

  • Theodore Jasper "T.J." Detweiler
T.J. is the ringleader of his five best friends. He usually spends time planning pranks against the teachers, at which he is quite talented. His siblings include an older sister named Becky who was seen in Recess: School's Out and was voiced by Melissa Joan Hart. T.J. has good leadership skills, and has a talent for speaking in public. He was voiced by Ross Malinger from 1997-1998, and Andrew Lawrence afterward.
  • Vincent Pierre "Vince" LaSalle
Known around 3rd Street as "the cool one", Vince is the most talented athlete in school. He is tall and he is an African-American. Vince is also a skilled chef. His biggest rival is Lawson, a fifth grader who regularly engages him in competitions. He was voiced by Rickey D'Shon Collins.
  • Ashley Funicello Spinelli
Spinelli is a tomboy and a wrestling fan. Spinelli hates her first name, "Ashley", because of the other 'Ashley girls'. Both of her parents often embarrass her in front of her friends and in public and once her mother forced her to attend Ballet classes to make a girl of her--thus, she does not tolerate much interaction between her parents and friends. In one episode, Don't Ask Me, Spinelli demonstrated her usage of Savate, a French Martial Art. Spinelli was voiced by Pamela Segall Adlon.
  • Gretchen Priscilla Grundler
Gretchen is academically talented and extremely intelligent, and is known as "Smart Girl" on the playground. She is the only female that wears eyeglasses in the series, except for Miss Finster, Miss Grotke, Swinger Girl and Library kid. She has shown the ability to do Sixth Grade work and probably that of a higher level. She was voiced by Ashley Johnson.
  • Michael "Mikey" Blumberg
Mikey is obese, mild-mannered, and philosophical. He writes poetry, performs classical dance, and believes in notions of peace that are often dismissed by the others. Mikey was voiced by Jason Davis; his singing voice was provided by Robert Goulet.
  • Gustav Patton "Gus" Griswald.A.K.A El Diablo
The newest kid in Third Street, Gus is usually naive to the rules of the playground and its traditions. He is not the only male that wears eyeglasses in the series, Menlow and the Diggers also wear glasses. Gus comes from a very disciplined military family, which caused his family to move around frequently.He is also a master at dodgeball and has and never will beaten and is known as "El Diablo"(spanish for the Devil) He was voiced by Courtland Mead.

Other characters

  • Muriel P. Finster
Miss Finster is the aging but harsh assistant principal who reminisces of her days in Guam and is the children's constant nemesis on the playground. She is feared by all and is always closely followed by her teacher's pet, the equally nefarious Randall C. Weems, who is largely disliked by the other students.
  • Principal Peter "Petey" Prickly
Principal Prickly is the irritable head of Third Street School, though his personality may have been influenced by his older, nastier brother who is also an elementary school principal. In the episode featuring a hypnotist it is revealed that he was born in the month of June.
  • Randall C. Weems
Randall is the resident snitch of the playground. He is at the beck and call of Miss. Finster, who rewards him with various confiscated items. He pesters T.J. and his pals and seems to enjoy his position on the playground. He is hunched and almost always seen with a notepad or recording device, waiting to report trouble makers. He bears a strong resemblance to Moe from The Simpsons.
  • Menlo
Menlo is Miss Lemons' filing assistant, a very organized boy who wears a shirt and tie to school and spends most of his time outside Principal Prickly's office, rarely going outside to Recess. He used to be very good friends with T.J.Before all this, he was once a rowdy kid.
  • King Bob
King Bob is the unibrowed current ruler of the Third Street playground and the former prankster prince, whose throne sits atop the jungle gym. He is one of the school's older students. Bob is regularly depicted with a number '8' hockey jersey, and carries a hockey stick as a scepter.
He rules fairly in the hopes of being remembered when he has left the school, though does occassionally take things too far, such as building a pyramid by forcing the playground to build it, but later has to apologize to those he wronged.
  • Erwin Lawson
Lawson, as he is always known, is the fifth-grader archenemy of T.J. and his gang. Like T.J. he usually wears a baseball cap, but unlike him, Lawson's visor sticks out in front and he is tall and lanky. He bullies Gus and athletically competes with Vince. When against Vince he always loses but still thinks he is better than him.
  • Alordayne Grotke
Miss Grotke is the somewhat mystical, hippie-like fourth-graders' teacher. She is adored by her pupils and performs magic tricks at clubs as a hobby.
  • Miss Lemon
Principal Prickly's old and miserable secretary. Her voice was done by Tress MacNeille. She is always seen at her typewriter and co-ordinates Menlo's schedule.
The Ashleys are a secretive group of the students named Ashley A., B., Q., and T., four gossip girls who are known to shout "Scandalous!" in unison and maintain a secret clubhouse inside the playground's tirestack. In the playground, their club house on the outside is a pile of tires, with a lavish interior.
As an in-joke by Disney, Ashley A. once referred to the creators of the show by expressing her horror at the thought of dating boys named "Paul" or "Joe". The Ashleys are some what thought to be a parody of the girls of the Golden Afternoon from Alice in Wonderland
  • The Kindergarteners
Making up their own unique group among the students, the kindergarteners live as uncivilized and even dangerous little urchins that wear face paint, carry tribal weapons, and harass the older children.
  • Gelman
Gelman is one of the bullies in school. He mainly likes to pick on gus and even though Gus has stood up to him, Gelman continues to mess with him
  • Brandon the Singer
Brandon is the boy in a red sweater and slicked back hair. He is the prized vocal performer in school. He often sings instead of speaking, much to the annoyance of his fellow students.
  • Sam and Dave the Diggers
Two boys, looking like twins but are not, who enjoy digging holes. They are close friends with TJ's gang and often have fairly large roles in episodes.
  • Swinger Girl
A girl who likes to play on the swings every recess. She wears her trademark pilot's costume.
Her ultimate goal is to swing so high that she loops the swingset bar, but has never yet achieved it. She nearly made it once, but jumped off before she made it because she left for a vacation, causing Spinelli to think she went into another dimension.
  • Phil the Woodchuck Scout
A woodchuck scout, who is known for his trademark Scout like costume.
  • Upside Down Girl
A girl who hangs upside down on the monkey bars every recess. As a result, her pigtails always stand up.
  • The Hustler Kid
Francis, the Hustler Kid is a kid that offers the children of the playground trivial toys and food and often discreetly.
  • Hector
Red headed kidnergartner who calls Gus Safety man. He was part of a group that the kids mentored.
  • Butch
Bearer of bad news, he tells the kids horror stories from when his brother was in school. He has a white streak in his hair caused from seeing his brother kiss a girl. His voice was done by Kath Soucie.
  • Gordy
The only kid who does not like T.J. despite the fact that when they were in detention and T.J. tried his best to impress him.
  • Geoffery
The perfect boy who can beat everyone at everything. Who at first everyone hates but begin to become attached to him.He appeared for only one episode due to the president of the UN request for his help.
A boy who offers wisdom to kids who seek his advice. He wears a pair of striped shorts and his shirt on his head as a turban.
  • Bob and Flow Spinelli
Spinelli's parent who tend to annoy her in public. Also, they are secret agents who none of the other characters know about.
  • Tubby
Tubby is an overweight kindergartener who has red hair and is really fast as shown in "the Kindergarten Derby". he is one of Mikey's best friends.

Cast

Major cast

Minor cast

Episodes

Main article: List of Recess episodes
Season Ep # First Airdate Last Airdate
Season 1 13 September 3, 1997 January 10, 1998
Season 2 12 September 9, 1998 April 10, 1999
Season 3 7 September 11, 1999 January 22, 2000
Season 4 21 September 12, 1999 July 17, 2000
Season 5 5 September 9, 2000 January 6, 2001
Season 6 3 August 21, 2001 November 21, 2001
Season 7 3 (released as Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade) December 9, 2003 December 9 2003


TV-Movies

Recess: School's Out

Recess: School's Out is an animated film based on the television series. This film was produced by Walt Disney Pictures, and released to movie theatres by 2001.


Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade

Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade is a Disney direct-to-video animated film.

DVD Releases

Recess: School's Out

(Released August 7, 2001)[3]

It is an animated film based on the television series. This film was produced by Walt Disney Pictures, and released to movie theatres by 2001.


Recess Christmas: Miracle on Third Street

(Released November 6, 2001)[4]

It is s a Disney direct-to-video animated film. It compiles four unrelated episodes, including the program's Christmas special "Yes Mikey, Santa Does Shave".


Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade

(Released December 9, 2003)[5]

It is a Disney direct-to-video animated film.


Recess: All Growed Down

(Released December 9, 2003)[6]

It is a Disney direct-to-video animated film.

  • Episodes
    • The Legend of Big Kid
    • Wild Child
    • The Kindergarten Derby
    • All Grown-Up (un-aired episode)
  • Bonus DVD Episodes titled as "Fans' 3 Favorite Episodes"
    • The Challenge
    • The Story of Whomps
    • One Stayed Clean

References

  1. ^ Recess Season 6
  2. ^ http://www.tv.com/recess/taking-the-5th-grade/episode/320506/summary.html Taking the 5th Grade on TV.com
  3. ^ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005KAQJ
  4. ^ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005K9OF
  5. ^ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000C52DY
  6. ^ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000C52DX
Wikiquote has quotations related to Recess (TV series).

[1] (x j a h) Recess (TV series) on OpenStreetMap

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