From The TV IV

Rocky and His Friends was the classic television cartoon series starring Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose. It aired afternoons Tuesdays and Thursdays on ABC.

The series revolved around the derring-do of the favorite citizens of Frostbite Falls, Minnesota, Rocky and Bullwinkle, as they squared off against Pottsylvania spies Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale. One serialized episode aired per show in 15-minute installments, and story arcs ran anywhere from 4 episodes (the finale, "Moosylvania Saved" to 40 episodes (the first, "Jet Formula"). It was ostensibly a kids' show, but the clever satire and Cold War political undertones attracted adults as well. It was rich in puns, character interaction and scripts bristling with crisp dialogue.

Buffeting the show were revolving features such as "Fractured Fairy Tales" and "Peabody's Improbable History" as well as short features "Mr. Know-It-All" and "Bullwinkle's Corner."

It was in 1961 that Jay Ward went to the White House in Washington seeking statehood for Moosylvania, the fictional country he created for later story arcs (he had bought an island, apparently, off the Great Lakes). He was unceremoniously removed from the premises as President John F. Kennedy was embroiled in the Cuban Missile Crisis at the time. Television personality Durward Kirby filed a suit against Ward for the "Kirwood Derby," a hat (in another story arc) that made who ever wore it the most intelligent person on Earth. Ward's response: "Sue us. Please. We need the publicity!"

After leaving ABC's weekday line-up, Rocky and His Friends was retooled for NBC's primetime line up and retitled The Bullwinkle Show. (Repeats under the title Rocky and His Friends ran concurrently in syndication as 30-minute strips, and as The Rocky Show in 15-minute strips.)

In 2005, Ward would be saluted and caricatured by Cartoon Network in an episode of The Powerpuff Girls called "I See a Funny Cartoon in Your Future." The episode played like a Rocky & Bullwinkle episode and even featured the voice of June Foray, voice of Rocky and Natasha.

[edit] Cast

Actor	Character	Duration
Main Cast
Edward Everett Horton	Fractured Fairy Tales Narrator	1	2
June Foray	Rocket J. Squirrel	1	2
	Natasha Fatale	1	2
Bill Scott	Bullwinkle J. Moose	1	2
	Mr. Peabody	1	2
	Fearless Leader	1	2
Paul Frees	Boris Badenov	1	2
William Conrad	Narrator	1	2
Walter Tetley	Sherman	1	2

[edit] Seasons

Season	Premiere	Finale	#
ABC
Season One	November 19, 1959	May 8, 1960	26
Season Two	September 25, 1960	June 10, 1961	52

[edit] DVD Releases

The DVDs for The Bullwinkle Show and Rocky and His Friends have been released under the combined title Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends.

Title	Release Date	#
Season Sets
Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends: Complete Season 1	August 12, 2003	4
Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends: Complete Season 2	August 31, 2004	4
Episode Collections - Various Series
The Best of Boris & Natasha	May 9, 2006	1
The Best of Dudley Do-Right	May 31, 2005	1
The Best of Fractured Fairy Tales	September 6, 2005	1
The Best of Peabody & Sherman	May 31, 2005	1
The Best of Rocky & Bullwinkle: Volume 1	September 13, 2005	1
The Best of Rocky & Bullwinkle: Volume 2	September 18, 2007	1
The Best of Rocky & Bullwinkle	May 9, 2006	1