2 Stupid Dogs is an American animated television series, created and designed by Donovan Cook and produced by Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, that originally ran from September 5, 1993, to May 15, 1995, on TBS and in syndication. The main segments of the show featured two unnamed dogs, called "The Big Dog" and "The Little Dog" in the credits. They were voiced by Brad Garrett and Mark Schiff, respectively. The show has been described as "Hanna-Barbera's answer to Ren and Stimpy", a hit show that premiered two years earlier. Like Ren and Stimpy, the Dogs characters are not very bright, the show is scored with jazz music, and the comedy style leans on gross-out body-secretion humor. Asked about the comparison, Hanna-Barbera CEO Fred Seibert was unconcerned, saying that it was "like Pearl Jam worrying about being compared to Nirvana." A backup segment, Super Secret Secret Squirrel, was shown in between the main 2 Stupid Dogs cartoons in the first season's episodes, similar to early Hanna-Barbera cartoons in the 1960s.
Plot
The show is about two unnamed dogs—neither of whom, as the title states, are very intelligent—and their everyday misadventures. The animation style is unusual for the time: a very flat and simplistic style similar to the early Hanna-Barbera cartoons of the 1950s and 1960s, but with early 1990s humor and sensibility. The Big Dog tends to talk much less than the Little Dog. When the Big Dog talks, he usually talks about food.
Episodes
Characters
The Little Dog, a small tawny-colored Dachshund, is much more energetic and hyperactive than the Big Dog. The Little Dog is completely scared of cats, and when a cat appears, it is the Big Dog who scares the cat away.
The Big Dog is a large grey Old English Sheepdog with a purple nose. He is much stronger and significantly more stoic and reserved than the Little Dog, and speaks much less - on occasion he has also been shown to be surprisingly smarter than Little Dog. In one episode, an acquaintance refers to him as Jonathan.
The Cat is a small innocent cat which the Little Dog is terrified of, despite its being harmless. The Big Dog's bark causes the Cat to freeze in terror; however, the Cat is not afraid of the Big Dog unless he barks.
Mr. Hollywood is a large man and likes to point out others' mistakes. He has a completely different job in each appearance, including teacher, farmer, casino manager, Noah and pet shop owner. When pointing out others' mistakes he will first say, "Well now, isn't that cute..." and then yell out, "...BUT IT'S WRONG!!!", usually accompanied by a blaring foghorn.
Kenny Fowler is a small skinny kid with nerdy glasses, who is often pushed around by Buzz and often asks the dogs for help. He often falls down on the floor.
Buzz is a school bully who picks on Kenny and says "What a Fowler!" whenever Kenny falls to the floor.
Cubby is a fat, spotty man with big glasses, blonde hair and blue lips. In the episodes that he appears in, he assumes the role of a different job, like Mr. Hollywood.
Buffy Ziegenhagen is a girl in Kenny's class that he has a crush on and who has a secret crush on him.
Red is a small, meek little girl that the dogs often encounter. When she speaks, she shouts one word in the sentence very loudly compared to the quiet tone of voice she usually has.
On August 14, 2018, the Warner Archive Collection released the first season of the series as 2 Stupid Dogs/Secret Squirrel Show Volume One on DVD.
Reception
Martin "Dr. Toon" Goodman of Animation World Magazine described 2 Stupid Dogs as one of two "clones" of The Ren & Stimpy Show, the other one being The Shnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon Show. The series was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award.
