Danger Mouse

TV SHOW TITLE: Danger Mouse
CREATORS: Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall
YEARS ACTIVE: 1981-1992
GENRE: Children’s Spy Comedy
RATING: TV-Y
GRADE: Pass


In merry old London, England, the world’s greatest secret agent Danger Mouse and his trusty, yet clumsy hamster sidekick Penfold constantly save humanity from the hostile takeovers of the evil toad Baron Greenback and his sinister crow henchman Stiletto. Mr. Greenback has tried everything from weaponizing laundry machines to stealing the world’s landmarks in an attempt to drop them all on the unsuspecting heroes. With impeccable martial arts skills, a crafty personality, and the occasional help of his dimwitted hamster friend, Danger Mouse can overcome any obstacle Greenback throws his way.

Watching this TV show as a kid and again as a freshman college student was an entertaining experience that made me feel giddy and warm inside. Part of the reason is because of the show’s sarcastic tongue-in-cheek dialogue, which is appealing to both children and adults. One example is when Danger Mouse and Penfold are riding around in the former’s flying car and DM says, “The engine’s knocking!” Penfold, being the lovable moron that he is says, “Does it want to come in?”, to which DM politely says, “Shush!” Even little catchphrases like Danger Mouse’s “Shush!” and Penfold’s “Crumbs!” and “Oh, heck!” can make the viewers feel like playtime will never end. Then again, with Penfold being as cute and cuddly as he is with his mole-like features, tiny blue suit, and thick-rimmed glasses, childhood innocence is beginning all over again! Aww!

If you still need a reason to be excited about an episode of Danger Mouse, look no further than the open and closing theme music. With fast-paced and dramatic music accompanying the lyrics, the wife of David Jason (the voice of Danger Mouse) proudly sings, “He’s the greatest! He’s fantastic! Wherever there is danger, he’ll be there! Danger Mouse! Powerhouse! He’s the strongest, he’s the quickest, he’s the best!” David Jason’s wife (whose Gaelic name I can’t spell or pronounce to save my life) no doubt has a lovely voice that’s full of emotion, which is what contributes to the drama of the theme music. As a kid, the music did startle me a little bit, especially during the end credits when a round bomb was being exploded. As an adult, I embrace every note and lyric.

While it is true that the original version of Danger Mouse was ended in 1992 (when I was only seven years old), the legacy it left behind is alive and well. There are full episodes of Danger Mouse on You Tube as well as Hulu or any other digital channel you might have on your TV or computer. If you’ve seen all of the old episodes and want something new, know that sometime in 2015, the show will be revived under a new format and Stephen Fry will be one of the voice actors. Stephen Fry, man! Stephen Fry! If you’re worried about the revived version being able to live up to the potential that the old version had, don’t sweat it. It will still have the same British gentlemanly spirit, the giggly dialogue, and the mass age appeal. Or to put it in a way that makes use of my rhyming skills, Generation Z is the place to be! You’re darn right this is getting a passing grade!

　

***TELEVISION DIALOGUE OF THE DAY***

DANGER MOUSE: Come, Penfold! Help me find the manual so that I can stop this train!
PENFOLD: But I don’t speak Spanish!
DANGER MOUSE: Not Manuel, Penfold…ugh, never mind!

-Danger Mouse’s Orient Express Episode-

"The Cleaner" by Brett Battles

“The Cleaner” may be 400 plus pages long, but that’s only because it’s jam-packed with fast-paced action that would look awesome on the silver screen. You know that phrase, “Never a dull moment?” It’s a perfect way to describe this piece of spy fiction. Your main character is Jonathan Quinn, a no nonsense professional whose primary job is making potential crime scenes look like they never happened, hence the nickname “The Cleaner”. Soon after completing a job in Denver, Colorado, he becomes the center of a conspiracy where someone wants him dead and nobody will tell him who. When you have a main character who is always on the run and has a target on his back the size of a flying saucer, you can be pretty sure that there won’t be any break in the action. Sure, you might have small moments of dialogue that advance the story along, but that’s only because Jonathan Quinn’s knowledgeable ways allow him those brief reprieves. Brett Battles knew exactly what he was doing when he put together this complex story. It’s because of this novel that I became a born-again bookworm in the first place. It became the standard bearer for what I want out of fiction and that’s constant motion and instant excitement. I even went so far as to try to figure out who would play Jonathan Quinn if “The Cleaner” ever became a movie, which it most definitely could and should. It was a tossup between Jeffrey Donovan from “Burn Notice”, Michael Chiklis from “The Shield”, and Chris O’Donnell from “NCIS: Los Angeles”. Because of his combination of youth and experience, Jeffrey Donovan would probably be the best choice of those three. When you’re so excited about a book that you start making guesses as to who would play the main character on the silver screen, you know it’s something special. I’m sure there were Harry Potter fans who did the exact same thing before the first movie came out, though Daniel Radcliffe was relatively unknown at the time. And as much as I hate to admit it, there were Twilight fans who did the same as well. But unlike Twilight, I’m not going to get in a boner battle between Jonathan Quinn and the people who are trying to murder him. I’m perfectly happy with just reading the book and adding it to this blog of fast-paced novels.

　

***LYRICS OF THE DAY***

“I choose death before dishonor. I’d rather die than live down on my knees. Bury me like a soldier, with my dignity!”

-Five Finger Death Punch singing “Death Before Dishonor”-