The Smurfs
The Smurfs | |
---|---|
On-screen title card. | |
Network | NBC |
Production company | Hanna-Barbera |
Original release | September 12, 1981—December 2, 1989 |
Run time | 22 minutes |
Starring | Don Messick Lucille Bliss June Foray Danny Goldman Frank Welker William Callaway Paul Winchell |
Executive producer(s) | Joseph Barbera William Hanna |
Producer(s) | Gerard Baldwin |
Music composed by | Hoyt Curtin |
Director(s) | George Gordon Bob Hathcock Carl Urbano Rudy Zamora |
Second title card | |
On-screen title card in syndication. | |
Third title card | |
On-screen title card for international markets. |
The Smurfs, also known as Smurfs, is an American-Belgian animated fantasy-comedy television series produced by Hanna-Barbera and SEPP International for NBC's Saturday morning children's programming. It ran from 1981 to 1989, airing 259 episodes that spanned nine seasons, and an additional seven specials within that time, making it Hanna-Barbera's longest consecutive running series, without any format changes (and succeeding The Flintstones, which ran from 1960 to 1966 in prime-time). It is based on the works of Belgian comics artist Peyo, first appearing in 1958.
The Smurfs centers on the many lives of its titular race; tiny, blue humanoids, wearing Phrygian caps, who live in a village of mushroom-shaped houses. Their names are based on adjectives that emphasize their personalities, such as "Jokey" Smurf, who pulls pranks. Their leader and mentor is the wizened Papa Smurf, who, unlike the others, dresses in red, instead of white. One of the main gimmicks of the show is that their kind is almost entirely made up of males, with Smurfette being the exception (although a couple of others were added towards the end of the series run). Their primary antagonist is the human, Gargamel, who knows of the Smurfs' hidden existence and wants to melt them into gold.
The narrator refers to the show as The Smurfs, while the card refers to it as just Smurfs; the international versions also referred to it as The Smurfs. When the show went into syndication in 1986, it was renamed Smurfs' Adventures.
Production
Development
Segments
- Smurfs
- Johan & Peewit (1982)
Music
The music was composed by Hoyt Curtin until season nine, in which he was replaced by Tom Worrall for that season in particular. The musical cues and leitmotifs are noted to have been excerpted from various classical music compositions, which include some of the following:[1][2]
- "Pictures At an Exhibition" by Mussorgsky
- "The Nutcracker" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- "Symphony No. 8" (also known as "Unfinished Sumphony") by Franz Schumer
- "Moonlight Sonata" (third movement) by Beethoven
- "Morning Mood" and "In the Hall of the Mountain King" from Peer Gynt, by Edvard Grieg
- Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 by Edward Elgar
- The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Paul Dukas
Episodes
Title | Original air date |
---|---|
1x01 | September 12, 1981 |
1x02 | September 12, 1981 |
1x03 | September 19, 1981 |
1x04 | September 19, 1981 |
1x05 | September 26, 1981 |
1x06 | September 26, 1981 |
1x07 | October 3, 1981 |
1x08 | October 3, 1981 |
1x09 | October 10, 1981 |
1x10 | October 10, 1981 |
1x11 | October 17, 1981 |
1x12 | October 17, 1981 |
1x13 | October 24, 1981 |
1x14 | October 24, 1981 |
1x15 | October 31, 1981 |
1x16 | October 31, 1981 |
1x17 | November 7, 1981 |
1x18 | November 7, 1981 |
1x19 | November 14, 1981 |
1x20 | November 14, 1981 |
1x21 | November 21, 1981 |
1x22 | November 21, 1981 |
1x23 | November 28, 1981 |
1x24 | December 28, 1981 |
1x25 | December 5, 1981 |
1x26 | December 5, 1981 |
2x01 | September 18, 1982 |
2x02 | September 18, 1982 |
2x03
|
September 18, 1982 |
2x04 | September 25, 1982 |
2x05
|
September 25, 1982 |
2x06 | September 25, 1982 |
2x07 | October 2, 1982 |
2x08 | October 2, 1982 |
2x09
|
October 2, 1982 |
2x10 | October 9, 1982 |
2x11
|
October 9, 1982 |
2x12 | October 9, 1982 |
2x13
|
October 16, 1982 |
2x14 | October 16, 1982 |
2x15
|
October 16, 1982 |
2x16
|
October 23, 1982 |
2x17 | October 23, 1982 |
2x18 | October 23, 1982 |
2x19 | October 30, 1982 |
2x20 | October 30, 1982 |
2x21 | October 30, 1982 |
2x22
|
November 6, 1982 |
2x23
|
November 6, 1982 |
2x24 | November 6, 1982 |
2x25
|
November 13, 1982 |
2x26 | November 13, 1982 |
2x27 | November 13, 1982 |
2x28
|
November 20, 1982 |
2x29
|
November 20, 1982 |
2x30 | November 20, 1982 |
2x31 | November 27, 1982 |
2x32 | November 27, 1982 |
2x33 | November 27, 1982 |
2x34 | December 4, 1982 |
2x35 | December 4, 1982 |
2x36 | December 4, 1982 |
3x01 | September 17, 1983 |
3x02 | September 17, 1983 |
3x03 | September 17, 1983 |
3x04 | September 24, 1983 |
3x05 | September 24, 1983 |
3x06 | September 24, 1983 |
3x07 | October 1, 1983 |
3x08 | October 1, 1983 |
3x09 | October 1, 1983 |
3x10 | October 8, 1983 |
3x11 | October 8, 1983 |
3x12 | October 8, 1983 |
3x13 | October 15, 1983 |
3x14 | October 15, 1983 |
3x15 | October 15, 1983 |
3x16 | October 22, 1983 |
3x17 | October 22, 1983 |
3x18 | October 29, 1983 |
3x19 | October 29, 1983 |
3x20 | October 29, 1983 |
3x21 | November 5, 1983 |
3x22 | November 5, 1983 |
3x23 | November 5, 1983 |
3x24 | November 12, 1983 |
3x25 | November 12, 1983 |
3x26 | November 12, 1983 |
3x27 | November 19, 1983 |
3x28 | November 19, 1983 |
3x29 | November 19, 1983 |
3x30 | November 26, 1983 |
3x31 | November 26, 1983 |
3x32 | November 26, 1983 |
4x01 | September 15, 1984 |
4x02 | September 15, 1984 |
4x03 | September 15, 1984 |
4x04 | September 22, 1984 |
4x05 | September 22, 1984 |
4x06 | September 22, 1984 |
4x07 | September 29, 1984 |
4x08 | September 29, 1984 |
4x09 | September 29, 1984 |
4x10 | October 6, 1984 |
4x11 | October 6, 1984 |
4x12 | October 6, 1984 |
4x13 | October 13, 1984 |
4x14 | October 13, 1984 |
4x15 | October 13, 1984 |
4x16 | October 20, 1984 |
4x17 | October 20, 1984 |
4x18 | October 20, 1984 |
4x19 | October 27, 1984 |
4x20 | October 27, 1984 |
4x21 | October 27, 1984 |
4x22 | November 10, 1984 |
4x23 | November 10, 1984 |
4x24 | November 10, 1984 |
4x25 | November 17, 1984 |
4x26 | November 17, 1984 |
5x01
|
September 21, 1985 |
5x02 | September 21, 1985 |
5x03 | September 21, 1984 |
5x04 | September 28, 1985 |
5x05 | September 28, 1985 |
5x06 | September 28, 1985 |
5x07 | October 5, 1985 |
5x08 | October 5, 1985 |
5x09 | October 5, 1985 |
5x10 | October 12, 1985 |
5x11 | October 12, 1985 |
5x12 | October 12, 1985 |
5x13 | October 19, 1985 |
5x14 | October 19, 1985 |
5x15 | October 19, 1985 |
5x16 | October 26, 1985 |
5x17 | October 26, 1985 |
5x18 | October 26, 1985 |
5x19 | November 2, 1985 |
5x20 | November 2, 1985 |
5x21 | November 2, 1985 |
5x22 | November 9, 1985 |
5x23 | November 9, 1985 |
5x24 | November 9, 1985 |
6x01 | September 13, 1986 |
6x02 | September 13, 1986 |
6x03 | September 13, 1986 |
6x04 | September 20, 1986 |
6x05 | September 20, 1986 |
6x06 | September 20, 1986 |
6x07 | September 27, 1986 |
6x08 | September 27, 1986 |
6x09 | September 27, 1986 |
6x10 | October 4, 1986 |
6x11 | October 4, 1986 |
6x12 | October 4, 1986 |
6x13 | October 11, 1986 |
6x14 | October 11, 1986 |
6x15 | October 11, 1986 |
6x16 | October 18, 1986 |
6x17 | October 18, 1986 |
6x18 | October 18, 1986 |
6x19 | October 25, 1986 |
6x20 | October 25, 1986 |
6x21 | October 25, 1986 |
6x22 | November 1, 1986 |
6x23 | November 1, 1986 |
6x24 | November 1, 1986 |
6x25 | November 8, 1986 |
6x26 | November 8, 1986 |
6x27 | November 8, 1986 |
6x28 | November 15, 1986 |
6x29 | November 15, 1986 |
6x30 | November 15, 1986 |
6x31 | November 22, 1986 |
6x32 | November 22, 1986 |
6x33 | November 22, 1986 |
6x34 | November 29, 1986 |
6x35 | November 29, 1986 |
6x36 | November 29, 1986 |
7x01 | September 19, 1987 |
7x02 | September 19, 1987 |
7x03 | September 19, 1987 |
7x04 | September 26, 1987 |
7x05 | September 26, 1987 |
7x06 | September 26, 1987 |
7x07 | October 3, 1987 |
7x08 | October 3, 1987 |
7x09 | October 3, 1987 |
7x10 | October 10, 1987 |
7x11 | October 10, 1987 |
7x12 | October 10, 1987 |
7x13 | October 17, 1987 |
7x14 | October 17, 1987 |
7x15 | October 17, 1987 |
7x16 | October 24, 1987 |
7x17 | October 24, 1987 |
7x18 | October 24, 1987 |
7x19 | October 31, 1987 |
7x20 | October 31, 1987 |
7x21 | October 31, 1987 |
7x22 | November 7, 1987 |
7x23 | November 7, 1987 |
7x24 | November 7, 1987 |
7x25 | November 14, 1987 |
7x26 | November 14, 1987 |
7x27 | November 14, 1987 |
7x28 | November 21, 1987 |
7x29 | November 21, 1987 |
7x30 | November 21, 1987 |
7x31 | November 28, 1987 |
7x32 | November 28, 1987 |
7x33 | November 28, 1987 |
7x34 | December 5, 1987 |
7x35 | December 5, 1987 |
7x36 | December 5, 1987 |
8x01 | September 10, 1988 |
8x02 | September 10, 1988 |
8x03 | September 17, 1988 |
8x04 | September 17, 1988 |
8x05 | September 24, 1988 |
8x06 | September 24, 1988 |
8x07 | October 1, 1988 |
8x08 | October 1, 1988 |
8x09 | October 8, 1988 |
8x10 | October 8, 1988 |
8x11 | October 15, 1988 |
8x12 | October 15, 1988 |
8x13 | October 22, 1988 |
8x14 | October 22, 1988 |
8x15 | October 29, 1988 |
8x16 | October 29, 1988 |
9x01 | September 9, 1989 |
9x02 | September 9, 1989 |
9x03 | September 16, 1989 |
9x04 | September 16, 1989 |
9x05 | September 23, 1989 |
9x06 | September 23, 1989 |
9x07 | September 30, 1989 |
9x08 | September 30, 1989 |
9x09 | October 7, 1989 |
9x10 | October 7, 1989 |
9x11 | October 14, 1989 |
9x12 | October 14, 1989 |
9x13 | October 21, 1989 |
9x14 | October 21, 1989 |
9x15 | October 28, 1989 |
9x16 | October 28, 1989 |
9x17 | November 4, 1989 |
9x18 | November 4, 1989 |
9x19 | November 11, 1989 |
9x20 | November 11, 1989 |
9x21 | November 18, 1989 |
9x22 | November 18, 1989 |
9x23 | December 2, 1989 |
9x24 | December 2, 1989 |
Specials
Title | Original air date |
---|---|
1 | April 8, 1982 |
2 | December 12, 1982 |
3 | February 13, 1983 |
4 | May 20, 1984 |
5 | February 13, 1985 |
6 | December 13, 1987 |
Cast
- Don Messick as Papa Smurf and Azrael
- Lucille Bliss as Smurfette
- June Foray as Jokey Smurf
- Danny Goldman as Brainy Smurf
- Frank Welker as Hefty Smurf and Peewit
- William Callaway as Clumsy Smurf
- Paul Winchell as Gargamel
- Michael Bell as Johan
In popular culture
WARNING: The following section contains content that may be seen as mature or offensive to some readers. Reader discretion is advised. |
- In the Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures episode "Don't Touch That Dial," among all the Saturday morning show parodies, there is a Smurf-like character in red clothing like Papa, but looks like Popeye.
- In the Adventures of Superman #441, Mr. Mxyzptlk brings to life a billboard advertising Saturday morning cartoons, including one for The Dorfs, with pastiches of Papa and Brainy, before a whole horde of Dorfs try to thank Superman to death, but Superman defeats them by trapping them all inside his cape.
- In the film Johnny Be Good, Johnny called the crowd of girls dressed in blue Smurf patrol.
- In the film Field of Dreams, Karin uses a Smurfs glass.
- In the film UHF, George Newman has a Smurfs glass.
- In the Saved By the Bell episode "Aloha Slater," Zach apologizes for having Screech crammed in Belding's file cabinet for so long, but he brushes it off and says, "Just paint me blue and call me a Smurf."
- In the film Slacker, a slacker talks about how The Smurfs teaches children about colonization and how they can't do their own thing, with the Smurfs answering to Papa Smurf every time they try to be individuals and leave, while another slacker says his friend believes that kids are being taught to get used to blue people for when the Hindi deity Krishna comes.
- In The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episode "Something for Nothing," Ashley mentions she has a Smurf bank.
- In the Rugrats episode "Together at Last," Steve calls Larry a Smurf after he gets blue paint on him.
- In the Moesha episode "My Mum's Not an Ottoman," Moesha finds an old Smurf doll.
- In Chris Rice's song "Cartoons," Rice questions if the Smurfs (referred to as "those little blue guys") are religious and would say "Hah-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-lay-loo-yah" in place of "Hallelujah."
- In The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy episode "The Schlubs," there is a race of creatures known as the Schlubs living in the mushrooms in Billy's front yard. Grim wants to melt the 100 Schlubs into gold bars to revive My Troubled Pony, in reference to Gargamel wanting to melt the Smurfs into gold. There is also a single female Schlub like Smurfette, who is giant-sized and fiercely jealous of any competition. Mandy ended up melting all the Schlubs herself, except for the female Schlub.
- In the Big Bang Theory, Howard and Bernadette paint themselves blue and wear Papa and Smurfette-like costumes for a party. Bernadette also uses "smurf" in place of a private area she will have to clean paint out of for weeks.
- In The Thundermans episode "Blue Detective," a blue-skinned Max refers to himself as a Smurf.
- In the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt episode "Kimmy Finds Her Mom!," Titus is excited to be in Titusville, telling a waitress that he would like to replace words with Titus in them like the Smurfs talk.
- In the Uncle Grandpa episode "Cartoon Factory," Uncle Grandpa walks (or gets kicked) into the reception area of Cartoon Factory (a parody of Cartoon Network), where a poster of Chowder is on the wall, but Chowder's body is blue and his hat is white making him resemble a Smurf.
- In the ThunderCats Roar episode "Schnorp," the interactive robot Snarf takes on a whole new personality when the ThunderKittens enter a video game cartridge into him, transforming him into an elder-like figure called Schnorp, although the ThunderKittens call him Papa Schnorp.
- In the Saturday Night Live episode "John Mulaney/The Strokes," John Mulaney uses his opening monologue to compare how Governor Cuomo kept saying New York like he was a Smurf.
- In the Cobra Kai episode "First Learn Stand," Johnny says the deck is as "Smooth as a Smurf's ass" after working on it.
- In the Disney+ film Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers, the bootleg facility has a Smurfs hat, and when Captain Putty is caught working with the bad guys, he calls himself a "greedy little Smurf."
American Dad!
- Main article: American Dad!
- "The Scarlett Getters:" Steve admits to Hayley that he accidentally wore her underwear which he discovered gave him good luck, but has now been stolen by his best friend and Hayley's unwanted admirer, Snot. Hayley tells Steve that it was never her underwear that gave him that good luck, it was him all along, comparing it to the time Papa Smurf pretended to give Weakling (who she calls Wimpy Smurf) a magic courage potion, but was really Smurfberry jam, which actually did happen in The Smurfs episode "A Little Smurf Confidence."
- "Bahama Mama:" When Steve finds out he is going to become an uncle, he decides to give away all of his trademarked toys, including Smorfs.
Breaking Bad
- "A No-Rough-Stuff-Type Deal:" Jesse uses the term "smurfs" for his drug buyers.
- "Dead Freight:" Mike talks about putting to work a dozen skells "smurfing" out cold pills.
Comic Book Men
- Main article: Comic Book Men
- "Tough Sh*t:" They talk like the Smurfs, which includes bedroom talk, and mention Gargamel.
- "Stash Wars:" They talk about living in the background of a cartoon, with Brian picking Smurfs, which would put Lazy Smurf out of a job (Gargamel is also mentioned).
- "Holy Zap Copter:" Mike thought The Smurfs was the most outlandish cartoon.
The Cleveland Show
- "Our Gang:" Cleveland calls Rallo Super Smurf because of the blue costume he's wearing.
- "B.M.O.C.:" Federline addresses Cleveland as Papa Smurf because he was stupid enough to believe Cleveland when he told Federline that was his name. When Federline leaves, Cleveland wishes him a "Smurfy day."
- "Escape from Goochland:" Cleveland disguises himself as Papa.
- "The Hangover Part Tubbs:" Cleveland Jr. compares the size of the school speedo to Papa's hat.
Drawn Together
- Main article: Drawn Together
- "Hot Tub:" The housemates watch as two smurfs fight each other as knife-wielding pit fighters.
- "Freaks & Geeks:" At the beginning of the episode, a smurf village is being decimated by Wooldoor's lawnmower.
- The Draw Together Movie: The Movie!: While holding a funeral for Papa, Smurfette, Brainy, and Hefty, are all run over by a carriage.
Family Guy
- Main article: Family Guy
- "Emission Impossible:" Stewie watches an episode of The Smurfs, where two Smurfs discuss one of them having sex with Smurfette, using the word "smurf" as a euphemism for sex.
- "Halloween on Spooner Street:" A girl dresses up as Smurfette, attending the same party as Meg and her friends.
- "Guy, Robot:" A drunken Peter claims that the mushrooms on his side of the bed are where the Smurfs live.
Full House
- "Beach Boy Bingo:" D.J. is getting ready for the Beach Boys concert, Danny, who is disappointed in not being taken as her plus one, mentions how he took her to see Smurfs on Ice.
- "Mr. Egghead:" Danny jokes that it is psychologically proven that judges are more sympathetic to people wearing blue, which is why you never see a Smurf on death row.
- "Sisters in Crime:" Jesse said he learnt about playing on the ice from taking the kids to see Smurfs on Ice.
Riverdale (2017)
- "Chapter Thirty-Four: Judgment Night:" Penny calls Toni a Southside Smurfette.
- "Chapter Fifty-Eight: In Memoriam:" Cheryl calls Jughead an "insufferable Smurf."
Robot Chicken
- Main article: Robot Chicken
- "Atta Toy:" In the sketch, "Murder In Smurf Town X," Papa tasks Brainy with investigating the deaths of several Smurfs, which he discovers was done by Jokey.
- "Massage Chair:"
- "Slaughterhouse on the Prairie:"
- "Unionizing Our Labor:"
- "Especially the Animal Keith Crofford:"
- "Dear Consumer:" At Christmas, a father pulls a prank on his son when he opens up his gift, only to discover it explodes. This obliterates the son, which the father was not expecting, and says to his wife, "Oh, it was a lot funnier when Jokey Smurf did it, huh?"
- "Saving Private Gigli:" Skeletor's accountant calls him "Smurfy."
- "Terms of Endaredevil:"
- "Punctured Jugular:"
- "Butchered in Burbank:"
- "Papercut to Aorta:"
- "G.I. Jogurt:"
- "Secret of the Booze:"
- "Up, Up and Buffet:"
- "Bitch Pudding Special:"
- "Batman Forever 21:"
- "Lots of Holidays (But Don't Worry Christmas is Still in There Too So Pull the Stick Out of Your Ass Fox News) Special:"
- "Your Mouth Is Hanging Off Your Face:"
- "May Cause Light Cannibalism:"
The Simpsons
- Main article: The Simpsons
- "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire:" Bart wants Homer to bet on the racehorse Whirlwind, which he thinks would be a Christmas miracle for the family, just TV taught him of the Christmas miracle in the special The Smurfs Christmas Special.
- "Trilogy of Error:" During his drunken rambling, Homer mentions that The Blue Men Group are rip-offs of The Smurfs.
South Park
- Main article: South Park
- "Imaginationland, Episode III:" A Smurf takes the side of the good imaginary characters in the final battle against the bad imaginary characters.
- "Dances with Smurfs:" In a cross between The Smurfs, and the movies Avatar and Dances with Wolves, Cartman integrates himself with the Smurfs in Smurfland to save them and the Smurfberries from Wendy, who fills in for Gargamel. He also tries to start a relationship with Smurfette, but has to prove himself to Papa. Clumsy warns Cartman that Wendy has found them, who gets her way by bulldozing the entire village and killing all the Smurfs in the process.
Sugar and Toys
- Main article: Sugar and Toys
- "It's Hard to Raise Yourself These Days:" A bearded purple Papa-like Smurf (revealed in the third appearance to be called Purps) acts as the DJ in a rap showdown between other knock-off cartoon characters in a segment called "Cartoon Cypher."
- "Burning Scouts:" The bearded Purp and a clean-shaven Purp disrobe to see each other naked in an aptly named segment called "Cartoon BFFs, See Each Other Naked for the First Time." The clean-shaven Smurf is surprised by the discolouration of the bearded Smurfs' penis.
- "Superduper Kyle's Stay at Home Staycation:" Rachel Dolezal has gone from pretending to be a Black woman to pretending to be a purple Purp (who are supposed to be Black themselves) and trying to live among the other Purps, which is annoying the women Purps (including what is presumably Smurfette). "Dolezal Purp" gets interviewed on CNNN when the host asks if she is the daughter of Gargamel, unnamed, but his photo is put on screen.
- "Rebooty Call:" Gargamel is in a therapy group for reforming villains. His pursuit in trying to eat them started because when the Smurfs came into the village, it raised the prices for food. Instead of calling them purple Purps, he calls them Smurfs and refers to them being blue.
Tiny Toon Adventures
- Main article: Tiny Toon Adventures
- "Career Oppor-Toon-ities:" In the "Working Pig" segment, Porky gets a job at a toy store at Acme Mall and tries selling Elmyra "The Muffy Smuffs," little purple creatures who were pink pants and earmuffs.
- "You Asked for It:" In the "Duck Out of Luck" segment, when the fighter jets target the King Kong-sized Plucky Duck, one jet shoots anything but actual missiles, such as a more human-looking Smurf in green.
The Venture Bros.
- Main article: The Venture Bros.
- "Careers in Science:" Manstrong argues with Baldavitch that Brock has a Smurf living in his genitalia because it's as big as a mushroom.
- "Are You There, God, It's Me, Dean:" Henchmen 24 debates with Henchman 21 whether or not Smurfette lays eggs, but Henchman 21 counters that they're mammals, as Papa Smurf has a beard.
- "Past Tense:" One of the original Team Venture members mentions Smurfs.
Merchandise
Home media
Warner Home Video released the first season onto DVD into two volumes in 2008, with Volume One containing about ten episodes, and Volume Two containing the next sixteen; Warner Home Video printed the episode order differently as to how it aired on TV. After that, Warner Home Video their DVDs stuck with select season two episodes in 2009, 2011, and 2013.
References
- ^ "George Daugherty bugs out". Montreal Mirror (July 10, 1997). Archived from the original on January 23, 2003.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions!". Astro's Treasure Chest (January 20, 2003). Archived from original on November 15, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2024.