DID I MENTION FLAPJACK AS WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack

Flapjack is your typical, wide-eyed kid out looking for adventure. What's not-so-typical about him though, is the fact that he was raised by an overprotective blue whale (her name is Bubbie), and currently journeys through the high seas with a grizzled pirate by the name of Captain K'nuckles. But life is great for 'lil 'ol Flapjack. With Bubbie as his home and transportation from dock to dock and adventure to adventure, and the old Captain as his guide; Flapjack is at that precarious age where all he wants to do is explore life, even if that means taking on a Giant Sea Lobster in the treacherous Sea of Teeth.

Flapjack is well aware of the dangers of the world; well, some of them at least. Raised by Bubbie, a sassy but motherly whale that has a large need for companionship, Flapjack is a fun but talkative kid who keeps a diary of just about anything and everything. He has a far-fetched dream of becoming the world's greatest adventurer… and fortunately or unfortunately, a grumpy old pirate by the name of Captain K'nuckles is his only pal (that's human, anyways).

Captain K'nuckles (pronounced phonetically, of course), is a sharp-witted but ultimately quite jaded guy whose interest in travelling and exploring the seven seas has somewhat dimmed recently. After all, when the local docks have a tavern called The Candy Barrel -- which serves candy out of the tap, like liquor -- the Captain doesn't really have much of a reason to go out anymore.

But alas, Flapjack's unbridled enthusiasm for everything that's dangerous, life-threatening or remotely out of this world keeps the old Captain on his toes… or pegs… considering that K'nuckles has two peg-legs.

And so goes The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, a deluge of nifty watercolor paintings and wonderful characters that should help us move through the summer months with a great bit of ease this year. The series banks on the curious if not ironic twist that as much as Flapjack and K'nuckles talk, explain and "spin that yarn" over adventures, the animated program is really just the day-to-day hilarity of a hyperactive little boy and the pessimistic pirate that looks after him.

The show's visual feel is outstanding and the simple story (with a limited number of characters) looks to have hit the sweet spot. K'nuckles enjoys having Flapjack, or "Flap" as he's sometimes called, around to chat with… but it's Flapjack's overzealousness for the open sea that gets K'nuckles nervous and irritable.It's impossible to say whether or not the Captain actually has been through as many so-called adventures that he claims, but it doesn't really matter… because what matters is the humor derived from the assumption that he has, but out of laziness simply refuses to let Flapjack in on the secret.

CHOWDER MOOWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

"Chowder"

This is one of Cartoon Networks newer programs and from watching it I believe that the show holds great promise. “Chowder” was created by Carl H. Greenblatt who has worked on other Cartoon Network originals such as “The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy” and “Evil con Carne,” as well as Nickelodeon’s “SpongeBob SquarePants.” The animation style is a mixture of the traditional hand drawn with snippets of stop-motion and puppetry.

Chowder has a different feel about it - from the Moroccan-esque architecture of Marzipan City to the bizarre assortment of creatures that coexist there. Oh yeah, and then there is the bizarre dishes that Master Chef Mung Daal whips up – “bon appetit!”

Marzipan City

Loosely based upon Greenblatt’s experiences in New York City, Marzipan is also a vibrant melting pot of various cultures, but coupled with a surreal landscape of weird beings and exotic structures. Marzipan City has a magical feel to it, as if you have stepped into another dimension.

Main Characters

Chowder

Chowder is the young apprentice to Master Chef Mung Daal and hopes to become a great chef too one day. The main challenge however, is that Chowder has a short attention span and lacks discipline. Given to whimsy and following his impulses, Chowder means well but often gets sidetracked from the main task at hand.

One of Chowder’s quirks is that he is perpetually hungry and this often hampers the cooking lessons that Mung Daal tries to give him, as he will often eat the dish that is being prepared! Also, you may be wondering - “just what is Chowder” - a cat, a rabbit, or a bear? The answer is simple – he is an amalgamation of all three animals!

Mung Daal

The master chef who owns the catering business where Chowder apprentices, Mung Daal believes himself to also be quite the ladies man despite being married to his wife Truffles for centuries now. This eccentric mentor considers himself the best at what he does, though his rival Ms. Endive would say otherwise. Mung Daal spends most of his time in the kitchen creating exotic dishes such as the “Not Fruit” and “Burple Nurples.”

Although he may be the boss in the kitchen, rest assured that his wife Truffles is running the show everywhere else. He employs a grumpy rock monster by the name of Shnitzel, who is tasked with most of the grunt work of the business.

Truffles

She is a fairy with an attitude and tolerates little foolishness from anyone, especially Chowder and her husband Mung Daal. Truffles runs the business aspect of the catering service, such as handling customer orders and taking care of the book-keeping.

Truffles can kind of be seen as a mother figure to Chowder, keeping him in line when he needs it. She is also fiercely competitive, and to interrupt her Mahjong game is to risk life and limb, or goatee as Mung Daal found out one time!

Shnitzel

This menacing looking rock monster is Mung Daal’s assistant and he is given all sorts of menial chores to do. Shnitzel speaks in a manner of “radda radda radda” that the others seem to understand just fine. He is also a rather no-nonsense personality and has little patience for Chowder and his antics, even going so far as to suggest throwing Chowder into the furnace once. Nevertheless, Shnitzel is a “rock-solid” and reliable employee who gets the job done.

Kimchi

What can be said about Chowder’s pet Kimchi? Let’s see, Chowder keeps him in a cage next to his bed, he communicates by “blowing raspberries,” oh yeah, and he’s a living fart! Yep, “living fart” – nuff said!

Panini

Like Chowder, she is also an apprentice who is learning her way around the kitchen. She is studying under the rigid Ms. Endive and appears to be making better progress than Chowder, whom she has a crush on. These feelings are not reciprocated, and she is frequently told by Chowder “I’m not your boyfriend!” Also, she is the same species as Chowder.

Ms. Endive

A rather large woman who looks like an overgrown "Oompa-Loompa," she is mentor to Panini and rival to Mung Daal. While Mung Daal’s cooking style is eccentric and free-flowing. Ms. Endive’s is strictly text book as she is a meticulous perfectionist. Endive is an imposing presence and the antithesis of the unorthodox Mung Daal.

Gazpacho

He is a mammoth store keeper and aspiring stand-up comic who Chowder has frequent contact with. Gazpacho is socially impaired as he still lives at home with his mother, and her influence on him can be readily apprehended through his many references to her in casual conversation. Chowder is probably the only friend that Gazpacho has, aside from “mom” that is.

Also, if Gazpacho’s voice sounds familiar, that’s because it’s done by none other than Dana Snyder – who is also the voice of “Master Shake” on Adult Swim’s “Aqua Teen Hunger Force!”