WordGirl
WordGirl is a children's animated series produced by Soup2Nuts for PBS Kids GO!. It began as a series of shorts that premiered on PBS Kids GO! on November 10, 2006, usually shown at the end of Maya & Miguel. The segment was spun-off into a new series which premiered on September 3, 2007 on most PBS member stations. The show is aimed at kids aged 6-10 and is designed to teach about the expansive English language.[1] The first season will have 31 episodes.
Plot
At the beginning of the series, we are introduced to Becky Botsford, a 10-year-old girl who is WordGirl in secret. Becky was born on the planet Lexicon. When she was an infant, her spaceship, which was being piloted by Captain Huggy Face at the time, crashed to Earth where she was adopted by Tim and Sally Botsford. She makes friends with "Scoops" (the school reporter) and Violet Heaslip at school.
WordGirl uses her great vocabulary to fend off villains such as Granny May, The Butcher, Chuck the Evil Sandwich Making Guy and Dr. Two-Brains. She never reveals her true identity--"Wordgirl"--to anyone, not even her own family.
Characters
WordGirl/Becky Botsford
A superheroine from the planet Lexicon. Her superpowers include flying at the speed of sound, bending steel, and an awesome vocabulary, as her name suggests. Her symbol is a star. As Becky Botsford, she spends her time reading, failing art class, and trying to hide her secret identity. No one knows who WordGirl really is except for Captain Huggy Face and, of course, the Narrator; and despite obvious similarities, no one else has made the connection until one episode in which Dr. Two-Brains does find out, but forgets when he is hit with his amnesia ray. Her parents once began to make the connection, but just when they were about to find out, Bob/Captain Huggy Face distracted them. Even though she may be a superhero, Becky has a love for ponies and other animals, just as any other 5th-grade girl might.
Captain Huggy Face/Bob
WordGirl's sidekick, a monkey who is also from Lexicon and is responsible for crashing WordGirl's spacecraft. Huggy face has no superpowers and loves to eat almost anything(he hates the repulsive Chicken Liver Fricassee the Butcher conjured once), even the dreaded Beans a la Botsford. Huggy is a surprisingly competent sidekick and can do martial arts. His symbol is a lightning bolt. As Bob, he is the Botsford family pet and is always being mistaken for the wrong type of animal.
The Butcher
A criminal with the ability to shoot any type of meat out of his hands. He has the strange habit of mixing up words (such as saying "sunbeam" instead of "supreme", or "robbifery" instead of "robbery") or even whole phrases ("So, Wordgirl, we meet again for the first time!"). The Butcher's powers are counteracted by tofu.
Dr. Two-Brains
Dr. Two-Brains is the result of a laboratory experiment fusing Professor Steven Boxleitner, a scientist, with an albino mouse, Squeaky. He is now out to steal all the cheese in the city. Dr. Two-Brains often argues with himself because his human brain knows what he's doing is wrong. WordGirl was good friends with him before he became a supervillain. Dr. Two-Brains seems to know most of the vocabulary words as well. By the episode "Mouse Army", people learned that he was traitorous.
Mr. Big
A dishonest salesman who is the head of Mr. Big Industries. He is the inventor of the Thing and the Mega-thing, cubic objects that do absolutely nothing but were a big hit because Mr. Big used mind control to make people buy them. He enjoys squeezing his squishy toy rabbit.
Granny May
A senior supervillain who pretends to be a sweet, deaf, old grandma in order to deceive those she robs. Her main weapons are knitting needles that shoot yarn and strong-smelling perfume which she uses as a sort of stink gas. She may be the most clever of Wordgirl's adversaries, once convincing nearly the entire city that Wordgirl was mean-hearted and not to be trusted.
Theodore Tobey MacCallister The Third/Tobey
A 10-year-old genius kid inventor who uses his giant robots to destroy the city in hopes of getting Wordgirl's attention. Tobey has a giant crush on Wordgirl and has often demanded that if he beats her, she should tell her secret identity or go out for ice cream with him. Tobey's mother is aware of her child's intelligence, and he can't launch any of his schemes unless she is away on business. Tobey is not truly evil; he just does not understand how dangerous his mischief is. He is shown to be very nonathletic, which may explain why he feels the need to prove to everyone how smart he is.
Chuck the Evil Sandwich Making Guy
A supervillain who definitely does not have a way with words, hence his name. His main weapons are squirt bottles of ketchup, mustard, and olive oil. Determined to prove to the world how important his sandwich powers are, he often commits small robberies for no real reason other than to show how "evil" he is. Chuck has tried to come up with better names for himself, such as "Destructo the Destroyer", "Amazo the Amazing Guy Who's Evil but Not Really That Bad When You Get to Know Him", or "Handsome Eddie".
Lady Redundant Woman
Half woman, half copy-machine, she learned the hard way that it's never wise to push an unfamiliar button! By touching her nose, the former Beatrice Bixby, copy-shop employee, creates duplicates of her villainous new persona, sending them out into the city to do her evil bidding.
The Whammer
Being a sidekick isn't a job just anyone can do. When his sidekick gig for Chuck the Evil Sandwich-Making Guy didn't pan out, The Whammer decided it was time to show his OWN evil talents. Whamming his fists together, he sends out sonic waves to ruthlessly crush anything (or anyone) standing in his way. Almost as devastating as his sonic weapons? His repeated use of the word WHAM!
Tim Botsford
Becky's adoptive father. He is cheerful and encouraging, though not terribly bright. He makes Beans a la Botsford, which only Bob will eat.
Sally Botsford
Becky's adoptive mother. She is also a constant optimist. Sally works at city hall as a district attorney.
TJ Botsford
Tim and Sally's 7-year-old biological child. He was born after Becky was adopted. He is greatly annoyed by his older sister, but oddly enough he idolizes WordGirl and is constantly ranting to Becky about how awesome she is. When Becky uses long words , he usually says "Look who thinks she's Wordgirl!".
Todd "Scoops" Ming
The reporter for the elementary school's newspaper the Daily Rag. Because very few people besides students (and the Butcher) subscribe to the Daily Rag, Scoops dreams of working for the Big City Times, although he has a long way to go. Even Becky, who has a secret crush on him, agrees that his articles can be rather dull. Scoops has a high opinion of himself and does not hesitate to take credit for anything he might possibly have had to do with. He is desperate to know Wordgirl's secret identity.
Violet Heaslip
Becky's best friend from school. Violet is quiet, shy, and artistic. She can make up poems off the top of her head, even if there is a meteor hurling towards her.
The Grocery Store Manager
A terrible communicator who is always trying to find people to work in the store. He has been known to try to hire villains when they come to rob him.
Reginald
The pompous owner of Ye Old Fancy Schmancy Jewelry Store.
Beau Handsome
The host of the game show "May I Have a Word?".
Professor James Doohickey
A technology/gadget professional that introduces the audience to both the villains' and heroes' helpful gadgets.
Cast
- Dannah Feinglass - Becky Botsford/WordGirl
- Chris Parnell - The Narrator
- Tom Kenny - Dr. Two Brains / TJ – Becky’s little brother
- Wanda Sykes - Granny May
- Patton Oswalt - Theodore McAlister/Tobey
- Fred Stoller - Chuck the Evil Sandwich Making Guy
- Jack Ferraiolo - The Butcher
- Maria Bamford - Violet Heaslip/Mrs. Botsford
- Ryan Raddatz - Mr. Botsford
- Mike O’Connell - Grocery Store Manager
- James Adomian - Robber/Security Guard/Curator
- H. Jon Benjamin - Reginald (
Episodes
- Tobey or Consequences / High-Fat Robbery
- You Can't Flatten City Hall / Two-Brain Highway
- Coupon Madness / When Life Gives You Potatoes
- Jerky Jerk / Becky's Birthday
- Down With Word Up / Chuck!
- Book Ends / Mr. Big
- Super-Grounded / Mouse Army
- Chuck the Nice Pencil-Selling Guy / Granny-Sitter
- Vocab Bee / Mr. Big's Big Plan
Shorts
31 shorts were produced for PBS Kids GO!.
- WG101 "Catch as Catch Can"
Can WordGirl prevent a cumbersome meteorite from destroying the city?
- WG102 "Enter, the Butcher"
WordGirl meets the Butcher, master of meat and mangler of words, and tries to prevent him from robbing a bank. WordGirl also tries to convince the Butcher that he's not "a fender" but "offended" when she tells him he "butchers" the English language.
- WG103 "Re-enter, the Butcher"
WordGirl tries to stop the Butcher from robbing Ye Olde Fancy Schmancy Jewelry Store. They also have to deal with a pompous store clerk.
- WG104 "What's Up, Doc?"
WordGirl pays a visit to Professor Steven Boxleitner (author of the book Superheroes and You: A Practical Guide) to figure out a way to stop the vicious Butcher.
- WG105 "Re-Re-enter, the Butcher"
WordGirl tries to prevent the Butcher from robbing a grocery store. She also tries to clear up a misunderstanding between the Butcher and the Grocery Store Manager, who believes that the Butcher is there for a job.
- WG106 "Yes Sir, That's My Butcher"
WordGirl and the Butcher face off for their big, big battle royale. WordGirl reveals her secret weapon: her always hungry ally, Captain Huggy Face.
- WG107 "The Crazy World of Doctor Two-Brains"
In a lab experiment that goes horribly wrong, Prof. Steven Boxleitner accidentally fuses his mind with that of his vicious lab mouse and becomes the villainous Dr. Two-Brains. Becky (WordGirl's secret identity) tries to distract her little brother TJ so she can transform into WordGirl and capture Dr. Two Brains before he goes on a cheese-stealing rampage.
- WG108 "Two Brains in the Grocers"
WordGirl tries to capture Dr. Two Brains after he eats all the cheese in the grocery store, but Dr. Two Brains is able to escape by causing a ruckus.
- WG109 "The Times, They Are A-Cheesy"
The Botsford family (including Becky Botsford, a.k.a WordGirl) are flabbergasted when Dr. Two Brains appears on television, threatening to turn the city into goop if he doesn't get every piece of cheese in the city.
- WG110 "Mouse Trap"
WordGirl and Captain Huggy Face confront Dr. Two Brains at his secret hideout and witness part of his argument with himself. Dr. Two Brains proves that their attacks on him would be futile by capturing them in his giant mousetrap.
- WG111 "Squeaky's Machine"
Dr. Two Brains is about to use his Goop Ray to give WordGirl and Captain Huggy Face a one-way ticket to Goop Town. But is being stopped by Mr. Botsford asking questions about what cheese is acceptable.
- WG112 "Driving Miss Granny"
A new villain's in town! Granny May and her timid (and enormous) grandson Eugene rob an armored car in broad daylight.
- WG113 "Kiss My Granny"
While trying to stop Granny May from robbing Ye Olde Fancy Schmancy Jewelry store, WordGirl and Captain Huggy Face are blinded by Granny's dazzling jewelry, then captured in her knitted Web of Yarn.
- WG114 "Living in the Granny's Paradise"
Although WordGirl and Captain Huggy Face are able to use their coordination to escape Granny's trap, they are soon caught in the unbreakable grip of Eugene.
- WG115 "Play Date"
After destroying a giant, rampaging robot as WordGirl, Becky returns home to find that she has an unexpected playdate with Theodore MacCallister III. When Becky discovers that Theodore is actually Tobey, the mischievous genius behind the giant robot's rampage, she risks revealing her secret identity.
- WG116 "Tobey or Not Tobey"
Tobey and Becky argue over whether Tobey's Robot caused real damage to the city or only a minor hullabaloo. Tobey decides to play a game with Becky to see if she's really WordGirl or not.
- WG117 "The Wrath of Tobey"
Tobey gives Becky an impossible choice: reveal herself as WordGirl and destroy the robot threatening her house or do nothing and watch her house get demolished. Becky and Bob (a.k.a. Captain Huggy Face) initiate Emergency Plan #47, with mixed results.
- WG118 "Chuck, the Evil Sandwich Making Guy"
Chuck, the Evil Sandwich Making Guy threatens to squash the Grocery Store Manager with his giant sandwich press after the Owner calls the press extreme.
- WG119 "Name That Dude"
WordGirl and the Narrator have a hard time not laughing at Chuck, the Evil Sandwich Making Guy's name. Chuck captures WordGirl with his noxious Pickled Eggs. As WordGirl, Scoops, and the Grocery Store Manager head towards certain doom on the giant sandwich press, all of them try to think of a less absurd name for Chuck. Meanwhile, Captain Huggy Face races to the rescue.
- WG120 "Chucky and the Sandwich Factory"
WordGirl sends Captain Huggy Face to search for the "ultimate crowbar" in order to help them escape Chuck, the Evil Sandwich Making Guy's giant sandwich press.
- WG121 "Movie Trailer"
The origin of Captain Huggy Face and WordGirl.
- WG122 "WordGirl and the Butcher"
WordGirl tries to prevent the Butcher from setting off his "Steak Bomb" and ruining the day of vegetarians city-wide.
- WG123 "WordGirl and Dr. Two-Brains"
Dr. Two Brains becomes frustrated with a malfunctioning trap.
- WG124 "WordGirl and Chuck, the Evil Sandwich Making Guy"
WordGirl and Captain Huggy Face struggle to break free from Chuck, the Evil Sandwich Making Guy's "Atomic Hot Dog Lasso."
- WG125 "WordGirl and Dr. Two-Brains, Part Two"
WordGirl tries to thwart Dr. Two Brains' latest scheme but is distracted by a yummy mixed-fruit beverage.
- WG126 "Becky and Scoops"
Scoops ponders WordGirl's secret identity while Becky saves him from perils that he doesn't notice.
- WG127 "WordGirl and the Narrator"
WordGirl wants a new Super Hero name. She convinces the Narrator to put his reputation on hold and announce the new name she has in mind, just to see how it sounds.
- WG128 "WordGirl and Captain Huggy Face, part one"
WordGirl makes Captain Huggy Face try on some new costumes because she feels his regular costume lacks pizzazz.
- WG129 "WordGirl and Captain Huggy Face, part two"
When Captain Huggy Face is late for a robot battle because of the bus schedule, WordGirl suggests some other modes of transportation.
- WG130 "Becky and Mr. Botsford"
Despite certain clues, Mr. Botsford is oblivious about WordGirl's secret identity.
Quotes from WordGirl (2006)
- Todd "Scoops" Ming: WordGirl is definitely older than she looks... I'm thinking -- mid-40s.
- Becky: How do you know?
- Todd "Scoops" Ming: A reporter's instinct.
- Becky [she tries to socialize with Tobey, a boy who tries to destroy the city with robots]: So, Theodore -- what do you like to do for fun?
- Theodore "Tobey" McCalister: Ah. Television. Only a family of imbeciles has a television.
- Becky: Whoa, we're not imbeciles!
- Theodore "Tobey" McCalister: ...And how would you know?
- Becky: "Imbecile" is another word for "idiot". We're not idiots. We only watch PBS.
- Theodore "Tobey" McCalister: Hmm, interesting -- someone my age who actually has a brain in her head.
- Becky: Thanks. I think.