SNEAK PEEK: UNDERDOG
March 31, 2006
Actor Peter Dinklage, currently filming the CBS-TV pilot "Ultra" at Toronto Film Studios has now signed on to play evil scientist 'Simon Barsinister' for Spyglass Entertainment's upcoming live-action "Underdog" feature, based on the 1960's cartoon series of the same name.
Shooting begins April 10 in Rhode Island under the direction of Frederik Du Chau.
Spyglass' Roger Birnbaum, Gary Barber and Jonathan Glickman are producing "Underdog" along with Jay Polstein. Eric Ellenbogen and Bob Higgins executive produce.
Debuting on NBC-TV October 3, 1964, the "Underdog" cartoon series, created by artist Chet Stover and writer Buck Biggers, moved to CBS in 1966, appearing on the network until September 1, 1973.
The voice of "Underdog" was originally played by actor Wally "Mr. Peepers" Cox, as a super-dog who would talk in rhyme.
Underdog's secret identity was 'Shoeshine Boy', called into action by his poochie-girlfriend, ace TV reporter 'Sweet Polly Purebred', voiced by actress Norma McMillan.
When Polly would sing "Oh where, oh where has my Underdog gone?", Shoeshine Boy would jump into a phone booth and emerge as Underdog.
The series would always start with the "Superman" parody opening of, "Look, up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's a frog...a frog?" Underdog would then chime in, "Not bird, nor plane, nor even frog, it's just little 'ole me, Underdog !"
Whenever Underdog felt his powers begin to wane, he would pop a 'revitalizing' energy pill hidden in a secret compartment in his ring.
Underdog's main foes included underworld boss 'Riff Raff' and 'Simon Barsinister', a mad doctor who created a 'Big Dipper Machine' to siphon off the world's water supply.
