As any kid who’s had to move around once, twice, or as in the case of some, countless times throughout their childhood, it just isn’t easy to be the new kid.  Sure, with time things settle in, but it was never the piece of cake everyone assured that it would be.  Add into that the physical changes and emotional trauma that is junior high school, and you’ve got Douglas Yancey Funnie, or as we like to call him, Doug.

Doug premiered on Nickelodeon in the summer of 1991, and audiences got to know the 11-year old ‘average kid’ through the journal he keeps.  The story picks up just after his move from Bloatsburg to Bluffington, where he meets his new best pal Skeeter, love-interest Patti, school bully Roger and the spoiled brat Beebe.  He lives out his life just trying to not be humiliated, even if he always seemed to land in some awful situation that gave Roger the opportunity to harass and torture him. 

Imagination proved to be the best escape for Doug, as he would change from his mild-mannered green sweater vest wearing self into his super hero alter ego, Quail Man.  When the tough got tough, Quail Man would appear and save the day.  Of course, our superhero was just Doug wearing a belt around his head and his underwear on the outside of his clothes, but when he was Quail Man, he was capable of doing great things, things that Doug couldn’t ever do. 

The real Doug was fortunate to have a really great friend in the blue-toned Skeeter.  Though he honked before he spoke, he proved himself to be a rock of friendship during Doug’s toughest of times.  Porkchop, Doug’s anthromorphic, multi-talented dog was loyal to the end.  And though he had a never ending crush on the sweetly Southern Patti Mayonnaise, she was always kind to him.  He never found the courage to tell her how he felt. 

Created by artist Jim Jinkins through his production company, Jumbo Pictures Inc., Doug ran until 1994, when Nickelodeon cancelled the series after only 52 episodes.  Two years later, Disney picked up Jinkins’ company, and ordered up some new episodes, changing the name first to Brand Spanking New! Doug, then Disney’s Doug.  Doug was now ½ years old, and had a baby sister.  Patti found a new hairstyle and Roger was more than a bully, he was a bully with money.  From 1996 to 2000, the new series aired on ABC’s One Saturday Morning, Disney’s big network cartoon block.  They also gave Doug his own feature film in 1999, the aptly named Doug’s 1st Movie.  The popularity of the program was such that from 1999 – 2001 Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World featured the half-hour musical stage show Disney’s Doug Live! and in 2000 came a videogame, Doug’s Big Game. Today, old episodes can be caught in re-runs, and once more Doug can help kids get through the experience of being the new kid in town.