Music, sharp design, comedic timing and running gags were definitely the strong points of the show. I never felt bored watching it but of course never got too excited about it as well. :D Thanks for the great video! I still find a lot about the show inspiring!

Although I worked on many DIC cartoon shows I never wrote an episode of Gadget. However Gadget was the cartoon that started the DIC cartoon Empire. It is my understanding that Andy was working at Filmation when the opportunity came from Jean. Andy was/is a great salesperson and built DIC to be a major force in Saturday morning television.

Nick Knacks did A fantastic episode on 'Inspector Gadget', and you should definitely check it out. That being said, the pilot episode is very different in structure from the rest of the series. Gadget is usually the clueless detective played mostly for laughs, but here, he actually more involved, and takes action. It's A shame those traits were never carried over to the series proper because it would've helped him become more than just A bumbling detective with cool gadgets. Also, part of this episode was designed by Shingo Araki. who has A very pleasing art style that's both round, and pointy. He would also work on 'Saint Saiya'.

I’m glad you included an Inspector Gadget episode. I always loved it for its comedy value, especially when Dr. Claw’s plans would go awry...and he would accidentally slam his hand on Mad Cat’s tail. There were some moments in the Transformers series where Frank Welker’s voice as Soundwave wasn’t altered through the vocoder, and it sounded like Dr. Claw speaking.

I had often wished for an episode where Gadget reveals he always knew more than he let on, and pretended to be an idiot as subterfuge. That would be under a show where Penny and Brain were captured and Gadget got super serious, performing feats of investigation and detective work, aided by his gadgets in a shockingly practical and competent manner. The end would involve him either having to explain himself, or pass off his skills as dumb luck to try and continue his clueless facade.

Im guessing 80% of the change in Inspector Gadgets personality is BECAUSE of the casting of Don Adams, as Inspector Gadget is basically a cartoon version of Adams ' famous 'Agent 86' from Get Smart- a bumbling super spy who often goes off on the wrong track with the day being saved by Agent 99, and intelligent woman who often is robbed of credit because the rather obtuse "Chief" mistakes agent 86 as the hero instead of 99.

I always had a soft spot for the 1999 movie since it showcased a similarly smarter Gadget (I really wish the early cut would be released) and I absolutely loathe later shows like Gadgetinis and the 2015 reboot for making Gadget even stupider

Thanks James, it's amazing how many changes they made to the Inspector for this pilot, I prefer this Inspector Gadget because he's competent, I didn't know this pilot.

The cartoon visual style, the animation, the script and even the soundtrack are captivating. An instantly success that proves a simple funny story with simple and equal funny characters can reach the same audiences of the traditional super heroes. Another GREAT video!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼📺📺📺📺🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

The episode where Gadget has to protect a rockstar, Gadget’s Replacement(where loses his job) and the one where Dr.Claw has a mad agent impersonate Gadget to infiltrate a police conference are the episodes that I enjoy the most whenever I open my copy of the Inspector Gadget Megaset Collection.

One thing that comes to mind about Gadget is that the gadget copter couldn't fit in his hat, so it is inside his head. So to make room for it, the doctors had to remove most of his brain...

I remember getting a trench coat because I wanted to look cool like Highlander, and my friend Kayla saw me and said ''Inspector Gadget. One of these days I'll get it right, one of these days.

As endearing as the Bumbling Bobby is, it would have been nice to have had the Competent Copper,as things could have been so different. Take when Gadget questions as to why Penny and Brain happen to turn up with the Reinforcements, I'm sure the Competent Gadget would say "I can't prove it, of course, Penny, but I'm sure this little success is partially down to you and Brain..."

One day I hope there is more information uncovered about Inspector Gadget: Completely Wired - a Disney animated series that was an extension of the Matthew Broderick movie was being promoted in 1999 via action figures, plush toys and other bits of branded merchandise with the 'Completely Wired' branding on the packaging. As the title suggested, this version of Gadget would have been wired to completion and/or possibly more competent.

I always thought this show reminded me of the 70’s show Hong Kong Phooey. He also was incompetent and required the assistance of his cat.

I loved this show

I used to watch Inspector Gadget and Get Smart in the 80’s. I thought it was cool they both used the same catch phrases “Would you believe “ and “Missed it by that much” 😂 They couldn’t get away with cross promotion like that today. And the theme song is still great 👍🏽

Oh the writing on the show was always so all over the place. There are indeed times when Gadget starts to act somewhat intelligent, but they always reeled him back at some point. My favourite example of how nasty the writers were to him, would be the Time a travel sagas first episode set in caveman days. He initially acts somewhat competent. He understands the creatures that appear are dinosaurs. In the second interaction with them, he calls them doggies instead. It was like two different teams wrote the episode, or someone was told to dumb him down.

I used to looove Inspector Gadget, I haven't really rewatched an episode in ages. Someone said it hasn't aged well. I've no idea what they meant but now I'm afraid to go back and watch it.

15:11 sounds perfect

Inspector Gadet is just continuing in the comic tradition of Inspector Clouseau (Pink Panther) and Maxwell Smart (Get Smart): the bumbling protagonist who saves the day by pure dumbluck than any demonstrable skill. Maxwell Smart himself voices Inspector Gadget

Love this, thank you James. So much info and insight.

I felt the same as you did as a kid in the mid 80s watching this. As much as I loved the premise, I will never forget the day I figured out how boring the structure was. It became a never ending half hour of unending hell to get through after that. I have come, as an adult to appreciate it a lot more, but it’s far from top tier 80s entertainment.

James thanks for this video. I loved Inspector Gadget growing up.

Episode 8, the Haunted Castle was another episode where he was a lot more competent and helpful than being his usual bumbling self.

That was very very interesting, I knew about Gadget’s moustache but the rest of that was all new information to me - very cool! 😀

Penny and Brain did all the work while Gadget and his cluessiness and clutziness came last. Dr. Claw I use to think was Chief Quimby cuz Chief Quimby would always hide in his house and in later episodes Claw would have cameras around Gadget's property. Coincidence? I think not. I loved the sound track to the music and Claws voice.

It's sad that the writers essentially figured the only way to make the character work was to dumb him down. It even gets worse in the later series. in GADGETINIS, he's an utter danger to everyone around him, and even Brain can't stand him anymore. The CGI reboot is just awful.

You know what, I'm going to say... I prefer the live action movie interpretation of Inspector Gadget, I know that a majority of the fanbase LOATHES the movie, but in my opinion I think they did the right call by not making him a blithering idiot. They made him a bit absent minded and clumsy like the cartoon, but they wanted him to be a determined police officer who'll stop at nothing till he solves the mystery and shuts the door on said case. Hell, even S.C.O.O.B. turned Dynomutt into a professional and efficient superhero. They're aware that making stupid characters into relatable main protagonists is VERY tricky, especially in comedy films. I mean look at Dumb and Dumber and the later prequel and 2014 sequel, it shows proof on what to do with absent minded characters and what NOT to do at the same time. I think the reboot that's in development at Disney should follow the cartoon and try implementing elements from the previous movie and the pilot episode of Inspector Gadget, but unfortunately, knowing that it's written by the same people behind Home Sweet Home Alone gets me worried.

I was always wondering did he have a moustache or didn’t he do thanks for clearing that up? The theme tune was the best part of that show and I’m glad you covered this!

I thought Inspector Gadget was pretty good. I did the same thing as you as I would tape He-Man in the summer block on CITV and Gadget would be on as well. The better episodes that are in my mind are "All That Glitters", "Race to the Finish" and "Gadget at the Circus". All funnily enough were series 1.

I think this was a silly cartoon and entertaining, I like Inspector Gadget without the mustache and that squeaky funny voice more than the thicker one.

Well damn! I had no idea the pilot aired in the UK back in the day! 😯 I always thought it completely dodged the airwaves here! Never even knew it aired on Sky One!

that change in personality just blew my mind

I agree that the theme-tune is EASILY the best part of this show!! Anyway, enjoyed this one too 🙂

i wish they kept the mustache. sadly some studio had to say something

Inspector Gadget seems like it was on Nickelodeon in the evening where I lived. I remember watching it and maybe Heathcliff after getting home from church. I liked heathcliff better, I feel like Heathclliff was the real slim shady. Great vid James on a less than stellar character.

Inspector Gadget from the pilot is basically a cybernetic Inspector Clousseau or Frank Drebin: an idiot but still competent enough to get the job done. This sort of reminds me of the 1987 TMNT cartoon where the pilot portrayed them as proficient martial artists while the rest of the show made them use slapstick comedy.

Great video! Thank you! To be fair, though, a lot of cartoons had tediously repetitive and formulaic plotlines, and most of the enjoyment was in the weird variations they threw in for each episode. The later Inspector Gadget was less likeable to me, too, especially when they introduced Capeman. But now I'm seeing it, that moustache definitely gives me an Inspector Clouseau vibe, which is a thoroughly credible theory to explain the shift to an utterly bumbling Gadget after the pilot.

Penny always saved the day with her monstrous smart phone.

Thanks for the video and all the info, James. I did always like the pilot and I have seen all the variants at one point or another Despite you not liking the series much, I loved it and it’s because he is a bumbler that I loved it. There are better episodes than others but overall I found them funny and entertaining and not at all boring. Although I did notice many differences between the pilot and series, it didn’t matter to me at all. Also you mentioned when Gary Owen’s voice was replaced by Don Adams, in my opinion it made it better. I always liked Gary Owens and heard the version and it didn’t fit to me. Owens will always be the announcer on Laugh In and Blue Falcon and Don Adams will always be Tennessee Tuxedo and more importantly Inspector Gadget!

how come inspector gadget never had scenes from the intro added to actual episodes?

This provided me with 5 minutes of entertainment but I did not come

Gadget getting dumbed downed, seemed to be a troupe in the early 90s when featuring family based shows, with a father-like figure. For example, in the early episodes of the tv series, "the simpsons", homer wasn't nearly as incompetent as he is portrayed in the current series continuity.

Clouseau!!!!!

9:44 its funnyier the way the sieres goes i like bumble gadget how eles can penny n brain save the day

I like this series a lot, especially because of how Dr. Claw pets his feline pet, Mad Cat. I remember that there was an episode in which Mad Cat was showing him different weapons on his computer, and monitor, until Dr. Claw let's him know that he the very weapon that they were looking for. unfortunately, I don't remember the name of that episode. do any of you out there know the episode name?

If you remember on my last, late account, I said this could, with some tweeking, serve as a series finale due to Gadget's more seasoned performance...and so I put that theory to the test, you can find a link on my new channel to a fan edit I made to hopefully make it a worthy conclusion

The intro music was quite a hook.

Well I'll be damned, I'm surprised they didn't stay with this version of Inspector Gadget.

Andy Heyward may have helped to set up the American side of the business, but it was Jean Chaolpin himself who founded the company to begin with in France. The appreciation DIC means Diffusion, Information and Communication, without the original DIC, the American DIC Entertianment wouldn't have existed. I'm rather surprised that you left this out as the video implies Andy founded the company out right which he didn't, he just took over from Jean as the years went on. Though you do mention DiC's French roots later in the video, so it just comes off as confusing. Also, Jean's last name (I could be mistaken here) might be pronounced in a similar fashion to the French composer, Frédéric Chopin. (Show pan or in this case sha low pan). Also, Bruno Bianchi's name might be pronounced as 'bee anne chee', but again I could be wrong. But still nice to give acknowledgement to DIC's three important men. :) Don Adams voicing Gadget, great James now I have Inspector Gadget in my head crying out "The Enforcers will handle this". LOL. :D Funny though you said that about the pilot being picked up by an American company and being dubbed into English as DiC would do that in the 90's. It was interesting though to learn that there were several different versions of this pilot episode too, that was awesome. :) It's also interesting that Inspector Gadget was most likely inspired by Inspector Clouseau, though the pilot version visual resembled him more, but was not the same bumbling character as Clouseau, but the regular version resembled him less, but restored that bumbling aspect. It really does make you think. Terrific episode as always James, keep up the good work. :)

🦾Next time Gadget!!! NEXT TIME!!!

You do know that even in the pilot that. gadget was still you know, it might have seemed like he knew what he was doing. but he was still falling the wrong lead. Find the wrong clues. and didn't realize that, you know, maybe his dog might actually be his dog's brain. That's because that's the way the character supposed to be. He's supposed to be clueless. basically like Inspector Clouseau from the Pink Panther movie.

I wonder if original master reels for any DIC shows like this still exist?

And still no UK complete series DVD set like they have in Germany and Spain!

15:45 rediculas

I would like to highlight the music in the pilot when it was voiced by Gary. It's more authentic and melancholic. In the series, there was a lot of inappropriate pop and sounds. I don't know what's going on with the franchise now, but I want to get something new and good from it. And in December of this year it will be 40 years since the day of Officer Brown. I wanted to celebrate it with something pretentious, like an anaimation, but apparently not fate. P. S. Tell me, where did you find such wonderful clear renderers? I only know one remaster of the pilot, but it doesn't have his intro.

Gadget IS competent. The idiot thing is a distraction to protect Penny and Brain. Really, though, they wanted the show to have more "kid appeal" so Gadget was dumbed down. But he actually is deadly when he has to be.

18:00 nah

14:58 sounds rediculas

Hated this cartoon along with roger ramjet...but was totally smitten by penny 😆😅😅🥴

So you want james bond ....nah

14:21 sorry i disagree with your art views

Yeah, I never liked Inspector Gadget. Mainly because I didn't understand why they would spend millions of dollars worth of cybernetic enhancements on a half-wit like him. At least in the pilot you could understand why.

fascinating stuff, as always. i share your mild dislike for the treatment of the titular character int he series. Kind of a doofus.

somehow i don't think a children's show from the 80s that was essentially designed as a 20 minute long commercial to sell toys has a whole lot to offer in terms of character development and a strong narrative. i feel you're reading far, far too much into something that's a vehicle to entertain kids between ads for sugary drinks. they spent about 14 seconds writing each episode so surprise! they're formulaic and repetitive. imagine that. almost like every episode of transformers, he-man, go-bots, thundercats, voltron, GI Joe, silverhawks, gummi bears, and ducktales, and 50 other shows. there were no 11th hour meetings discussing the subtleties of the dialog in she-ra: princess of power. it was fluff, aimed at 8 year olds, and nothing more.

Did Gadget saved the day??? NNo that was all Penny and Brain. When Dr Claw was going to use a nuke on the city, it was Brain that defuse it ete.