July 11, 1993 (1993-07-11) – June 30, 1997 (1997-06-30)
Weinerville is an American children's variety television program on Nickelodeon. It aired from 1993 to 1994. This series was based around a giant puppet stage that was designed to look like a city called Weinerville. It was created and hosted by Marc Weiner.
Production
Weinerville's first season aired as part of a two-hour marathon every Sunday on Nickelodeon beginning on July 11, 1993. Weinerville quickly gained popularity; in the middle of the first season, on November 15, 1993, Nickelodeon began broadcasting it on weekday afternoons. Marc and his Weinerville characters hosted Nick New Year's, a New Year's Eve television special akin to Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve for the child demographic. Airing in 1993 and 1994, the New Year's Eve specials feature host segments, which serve as wraparounds for the best Nicktoons and shows of that year, where Weinerville characters read letters from viewers about their New Year's resolutions while counting down to midnight, at which point they celebrate by shooting slime into the sky.
For the 40-episode second season, which premiered on March 21, 1994, episodes aired daily and were later part of the Stick Stickly show Nick in the Afternoon, which includes Marc as Dottie in some segments. Unfortunately with all the success of hosting two seasons, three television specials, and especially hitting a milestone for being the show to tape its 1000th episode at Nickelodeon Studios, Weinerville was not renewed for a third season. According to Marc, the cancellation happened because Nickelodeon was changing their identity from family friendly to edgy, sarcastic, and somewhat subversive shows, and a puppet show did not fit with the network's new direction of programming.[citation needed]
Overview
Weinerville was filmed at Nickelodeon Studios at Universal Studios Florida. Its format is an audience participation comedy series that focuses on Weiner and his puppets making a show. While early episodes do not have much of a plot or story line the show started to integrate these elements later in season one. In addition to 68 normal episodes, Nickelodeon aired five Weinerville television specials.
Marc Weiner - The host of Nickelodeon's Weinerville who is tasked with solving Dottie's or the town's problems. In season one, Marc wears an unbuttoned Weinerville baseball jersey with a green undershirt. In season two, the color of his undershirt changes.
Kevin Elemeno P. (pronounced: "L-M-N-O-P") - The network executive character, played by Orlando local child actor Travis Robertson, whose name is a pun on the show's executive producer, Kevin Kay.
Puppets
The puppets below feature Weiner's head and a puppet body where their parts have been pre-taped so that Weiner can interact with them:
Dottie - The Mayor of Weinerville. Marc is usually forced to solve Dottie's problems and tends to get carried away with things if they do not get out of control. She has a sidekick/assistant named Zip. Dottie always quotes "Oh well, welcome to Weinerville" at the end of the cold opening.
Baby Jeffrey - The puppet nephew of Marc. He usually introduces Marc at the beginning of each episode and always makes a mess.
Big Pops - The owner of the diner Pops'. Big Pops usually does a lot with his nose, either picking it or playing the kazoo. On some occasions, Big Pops only appeared in Season One.
Schnitzel - Marc's sassy parrot sidekick in season one. While Schnitzel is usually played by Marc, an unnamed extra plays him when Marc is in front of the audience.
Commander Ozone - A space captain that runs the AV-1 Spaceship. He defends evil and saves the universe with his sidekick Wilson. In season one, he is renamed "Captain Ozone".
Eric Von Firstensecond - Commander Ozone's evil enemy who always devises an evil scheme to take over Weinerville or to marry Dottie. Eric only appears in season two.
Cocktail Frank - The bandleader and guitar player of the house band of the show "Cocktail Frank and His Weenies." Frank is the lead singer/guitarist where his puppet band consisted of Posse on piano/turntables, Antoinette on drums, an unnamed bass guitarist, and an unnamed saxophone player.
Joey Deluxe - The big shot manager and super entertainment agent.
Soup Tureen - The host of That's Not Fair who only appears in season two.
The ones listed below are puppet characters:
Zip (performed by Scott Fellows) - Dottie's assistant who always gets himself into trouble, makes his famous trademark scream, and crashes into the wall.
Boney (performed by Marc Weiner) - An obvious parody of Barney, he is a dinosaur skeleton in sneakers that lives in the jungles of Weinerville. Boney is beloved by children, but hates them himself. When Boney quotes "Now get outta here," the children and anyone else visiting him that are present leave his cave. The "theme song" at the end of his show consists of said puppet singing "I'm Boney, I'm Boney, leave me aloney!" Boney's puppet appears differently in season two and the specials. According to the 1995 summer issue of Nickelodeon Magazine, Boney is Weiner's favorite puppet.
Pops (performed by Ray Abruzzo) - Known in season one as "Little Pops", he is the local chef who works with Big Pops. After Big Pops is dropped from the show, Pops takes over the restaurant. He sometimes argues with Louie, but they tend to get along.
Louie (performed by Scott Fellows) - The local laundromat owner who has disagreements with Pops, but they tend to get along.
Socko (performed by Marc Weiner) - An inverted hand puppet who likes to kick Marc's buttocks, performed with his own props, who makes sarcastic gestures when things do not go right.
Wilson - The sidekick of Commander Ozone. In season one, he has a squeaky voice like Zip.
Professor Phosphate (performed by Scott Fellows and David Jordan) - A puppet scientist with green hair who can only be seen from the waist up who debuted in season two. Professor Phosphate is the owner of Weinerville Labs and often causes explosions with inventions that malfunction. Despite this, he often solves the problems.
Fufusky - A grub-like alien who is Eric von Firstensecond's alien sidekick. He stuns people using his breathe ray (silly string).
Berny - He is responsible for bringing out the Weinerizer being pulled by his tractor.
Other sketches
The show also featured several non-puppet characters played by Weiner himself:
Captain Bob - Captain Bob is a sea captain in yellow rain gear that constantly cracks puns. He owns the S.S. Bob at Port Weinerville (which is located near the building where Cocktail Frank and His Wienies are located). On many shows, an audience member would be invited to climb aboard where an offscreen person would fling water on him before the "tidal wave" (a bucket of water, or, in some cases, slime, thrown by a stage hand) soaked the participant. Captain Bob first appeared on Saturday Night Live when Weiner was a writer in the early 1980s. In scenes in which Marc Weiner interacts with Captain Bob, an actor seen from behind would portray Captain Bob with Weiner dubbing his voice in during post-production.
The Weinerville General Store - Members of the audience are also called down to participate in various activities during the main part of the show, such as helping to demonstrate items in the Weinerville General Store. A recurring joke on the show takes place in the General Store, in which Weiner sells comedic props similar to those of Carrot Top. Nearly everything in the store sells for $13.50. It only appears in season one.
Running Joke - Occasionally, the "$13.50" gag is used in other segments. For instance, on the "Talent Show" episode, the winners won with 1,350 points. On the "DTV" episode, DTV was on channel 1350. On the General Store and Captain Bob skits, that would be the price when Marc would hand the participant anything. "$13.50" originated as an inside joke between Weiner and head writer Ray Abruzzo. Thinking it was funny, the two ultimately put it in the show.
That's Not Fair! - A game show where a kid and an adult played for points answering questions. Usually the kids win. It was only featured in Season 2. According to an interview with Marc Weiner, "That's Not Fair" was a pilot he made for Comedy Central in 1991, after it was tested, the network said it was appropriate for children, so Nickelodeon got a hold of it and the pilot became "Weinerville".
Weinerizer — The show always ends with Weiner choosing two people from the audience to get "Weinerized" (turned into puppets). The participants enter a contraption called the Weinerizer upon being helped by two crew members. The Weinerizer appears to shrink them to puppet size (by having contestants place their heads into a hole above a miniature puppet body). They compete in a game and the winner receives "The Golden Hot Dog" as well as a dose of green slime. During the credits, the two people are seen being let out of the Weinerizer. Although the audience members were ostensibly chosen at random, Matt Day (who at the time was working on Nickelodeon's Clarissa Explains It All) revealed that participants were sometimes selected beforehand, including himself on the "Baseball" episode in Playland.[citation needed]
Playland - In a prelude, Weiner selects two audience members to be placed in the Weinerizer and sent to Playland. In season two, an alarm sounds to alert Weiner that it is almost time for Playland. Participants then compete in a game to test their skills operating their puppet bodies. The runner-up receives the "Silver Hot Dog", with the winner receiving the "Golden Hot Dog" as well as the "Special Topping" (a small amount of green slime dumped onto the player's head). If a malfunction occurs or both players tie, they both get the "Golden Hot Dog". Occasionally, both players receive the Special Topping, especially when both players are adults, and if the game involves pies, both contestants are hit with pies themselves instead of anyone getting the Special Topping (the special topping is awarded for pie games in season two). The Playland stage was enlarged and revamped the second season to incorporate more elaborate stunts; these frequently had the contestants facing each other and squirting water or whipped cream at some target, usually soaking the other contestant in the process. Some season 2 stunts are team stunts where each player has a non-Weinerized teammate. Season one was a carnival-style. In the second season, it was a radio-active style.
Episodes
All 68 episodes aired out of sequence and in no particular order. When the last episode was taped, it was the 1000th television episode to be shot at Nickelodeon Studios.[1] The filming schedule for the second season was November 29, 1993, to February 14, 1994.[2]
Marc teaches the importance of taking care of your teeth. Marc shows us we can recycle gum after we chewed it with the "Gum Again Machine" and shows us interesting chewed gum art work.
Weinerville is holding a talent show where Big Pops plays the kazoo with his nose, Marc juggles, and Dottie does a mime act. However, Captain Bob's drums and hula girl wins!
Mayor Dottie gets some balloons from Nick Tracy (who was last seen in "Missing Cartoons"). When Zip asks Mayor Dottie for a balloon, he gets stuck on one of them. Meanwhile, Pops and Louie have an argument on who has been belching smoke near their buildings.
Zip takes an interest in joining Weinerville's baseball team, while practicing his batting. Marc has been getting tired of Schnitzel's jokes that he tells the audience to test there hand eye coordination by focusing on throwing baseballs at a target, like Schnitzel!
Zip rides a train in Dottie's office, but it goes out of control and Zip goes crashing through the wall. Marc has his own train with a couple children from the audience, and tells them to smile and wave and makes a ratings joke.
Dottie puts together a séance to connect with the spirit of Zip's great grandfather to find out where his family treasure is buried. Things however keep on interrupting her.
Baby Jeffrey, Marc's nephew, is going to camp. Dottie was nice and packed for him. Due to rules, Dottie packed too many suitcases and has to repack!
28
28
"Auxiliary Satellite System"
Georgie and the Dragon (1951) and A Leak in the Dike (1965)
Dottie can't watch TV, her auxiliary satellite is on the fritz. So she calls for Captain Ozone to try and fix it. Then Boney tells us about "Jack and the bean stock", "Humpty Dumpty", and "Little Red Riding Hood". Dottie finally ends up having Zip be her satellite because his legs pick up great reception.
Professor Phosphate's rats escape from his lab and are all over Weinerville.
30
2
"Viva La Weinerville"
Crashcup Invents Baseball (1961) and The Dirty Sinker (1967)
Dottie returns from her Las Vegas vacation and decides to add lots of flash and pizzaz to Weinerville.
31
3
"The Ever Popular Tortured Robot Effect"
TBA
Dottie feels burned out and leaves for vacation, leaving Marc to audition people to be acting mayor, Phosphate invents a hologram of Dottie but it malfunctions.
32
4
"Who's on Firstensecond"
TBA
Eric Von Firstensecond is plotting to take over Weinerville by taking over the citizen's minds! All but Marc and Commander Ozone are unaffected because then the show wouldn't have an ending.
33
5
"There Goes the Neighborhood"
TBA
Donald Rump (parody of Donald Trump) is trying to buy out Weinerville to make room for a burger joints and casino. Forcing the citizens to sell their homes.
34
6
"60 Seconds & Counting"
TBA
Weinerville is part of a “60 Seconds” news story.
35
7
"Don't Be Alarmed"
TBA
Marc and the Weinerville characters teach us about fire safety.
36
8
"Be Careful What You Wish For"
TBA
Dottie won a magic lamp and everyone in Weinerville gets a chance to make ONE wish, unfortunately they don’t turn out the way they think.
37
9
"Puppet's Court"
TBA
Pop's and Louie's arguments have got out of control until finally Marc has an idea to settle their latest dispute in the puppet's court with Dottie being the judge.
38
10
"Do It Yourself Fever"
TBA
The citizens of Weinerville show off their “Do-It-Yourself” skills and unfortunately the Weinerizer breaks, but Zip and Marc offers their best to fix it.
39
11
"Al B. Darned"
TBA
(Episode has not surfaced)
40
12
"Citizen Louie"
TBA
Louie, after waiting many years for his papers gets to become a citizen of Weinerville! So the gang throws him a party!
Dottie goes on vacation and has a relative to fill in for her, who happens to boss around the Weinerville gang like a drill sergeant.
43
15
"Brain Switch"
TBA
Dottie and Commander Ozone switch bodies in a Freaky Friday fashion.
44
16
"Mirror Mirror"
TBA
Commander Ozone and Wilson are entering coordinates to visit Weinerville. However, Wilson let his hair grow too long, that he reads the coordinates backwards. They crash into a world just like Weinerville, but backwards.
45
17
"Boney, Boney Everywhere"
TBA
Professor Phosphate's invention goes wrong, and after an explosion of toxic gas that spreads makes everyone in Weinerville act like Boney. Except Marc, his nose is stuffed up.
46
18
"Spin Offs"
TBA
Dottie got wind of the network wanting a show to air before "Weinerville". but news travels fast that everyone in Puppet City comes up with a new spinoff show.
47
19
"Dottie's Reunion"
TBA
Dottie has been invited to her high school reunion. Not particularly excited, she invites Socko as her date and makes a great impression.
48
20
"Excess"
Ringading Brothers (1966) and Squares (1961)
Dottie is addicted to the "Loca Cola" soda and learns a lesson on when to say "no".
49
21
"Weinervilla"
Ostrich and The Brave Chipmunks (1961)
Weinerville is being sued by a Spanish show called "Weinervilla" claiming "Weinerville" stole their idea.
50
22
"Ego Mania"
TBA
Everybody in Weinerville has their ego's out of control, even Boney is threatening to quit unless he gets "Barney" money. So Marc calls upon Kevin Elemeno P. to come and be the voice of reason. However, Kevin runs the Weinerizer and Playland and his ego gets out of control.
51
23
"No Time to Talk"
The Little Dog (1961) and Crashcup Invents Glass (1962)
Marc has so much to do, but Dottie forces him to do her shopping, as she needs to make a report for the network executive, Kevin. Marc eventually comes back, and Dottie faxes the report and keeps Kevin from shutting the show down.
52
24
"DTV"
Strolling Through the Park (1961) and This Is Your Life (1961)
Dottie abandons her role as the Mayor of Weinerville and starts her own public access fly-by-night cable network.
53
25
"Princess Dottie"
TBA
(Episode has not surfaced)
54
26
"Election Day"
TBA
(Episode has not surfaced)
55
27
"Who’s Marc?"
Ragtime Cowboy Joe (1962) and Crashcup Invents the Telephone (1962)
Marc hits his head and loses his memory after Mayor Dottie tells him that the head of the network Clara Cloud is coming. Now Dottie, Zip, Pops, Louie, Socko, and Professor Phosphate must find a way to restore Marc's memory.
56
28
"Dotterella"
TBA
(Episode has not surfaced)
57
29
"Zip's Rebellion"
Crashcup Invents the Baby (1961) and The Short Circuit Case (1966)
Zip and Dottie get into an argument and quits his job and leaves Weinerville, so he tries to work for Commander Ozone. Things don't workout for Zip so he decides to go back home, unfortunately Zip gets stuck in Ozone's tracker beam.
58
30
"The Dating Connection"
TBA
Dottie gets a love letter from an old flame that lives in Alaska. She leaves over night, not knowing that Marc planned a Dating Game for Dottie, none of the three bachelor's can see Dottie. So, Marc provides the voice.
59
31
"Don't Call Us, We'll Call You"
TBA
Marc is directing and working on casting for a motion picture based on Weinerville which actors and actresses try out for their roles.
60
32
"The Time Machine"
TBA
Professor Phosphate creates a device that can look through the future and the past.
61
33
"Firstensecond Makes a Dump"
Polly Wolly Doodle and Theodore's Dog (1962)
Eric von Firstensecond uses Weinerville as his landfill area. While Marc works on a way to clean up the mess, Zip becomes Eco Man to combat Eric von Firstensecond.
62
34
"The Player"
TBA
Dottie invents a new video game called “The X-R3 Space Shuttle”, that becomes a success. Firstensecond sees how much money she made, asks her to marry him. Dottie refuses so Firstensecond plots a scheme to kidnap Marc and Socko.
Dottie and Marc disagree on what the show is, but finally come to an agreement after turning the show into a sitcom (I Love Lucy parody, with Marc playing the husband). Then the second half was a variety show with dancers, and even a song "Welcome to Weinerville"
Marc and his Weinerville characters host the best Nickelodeon shows and Nicktoons of 1993.
"The Weinerville New Year's Special: Lost in the Big Apple"
Mike Maronna, Mellissa Joan Hart, Paul Shaffer, Marc Summers
December 31, 1994 (1994-12-31)
When Marc and the Weinerville gang head to New York City for New Year's, Dottie informs them that they have to join Cocktail Frank and His Weenies to perform at Nick's New Year's Eve party.
The Weinerville inhabitants are celebrating Chanukah at the Weinerville Ski Lodge as Marc is on his way there with his family and friends. Two potato pancake-looking Sectos named Nivek and Sinrek are pursued by the evil alien king Antidorkus of the Kerg Empire and crash-land at the Weinerville Ski Lodge where they receive the help of Boney, Socko, and Fluffy the Dog.
"The Weinerville Election Special: From Washington B.C."
Philip Mansfield as Hugh J. Magnate, Joe O'Connor as Knuckles, and Preslaysa Edwards as Liberty Brown
February 17, 1996 (1996-02-17)
Boney runs for President of the United States, and the Weinerville gang helps him with his campaign. However, the other candidate Hugh J. Magnate is not pleased and is working on an evil scheme to sabotage Boney along with his henchman "Knuckles". With the help of Boney's campaign manager Liberty Brown, they will expose Hugh for his evil plan to turn all the nation's parks into parking lots.
Guest stars
Marc Summers of Double Dare is referenced regularly, including cameos in "Giant Spider" and the Chanukah, New Year's, and election specials.
