Bob and Margaret
Encyclopedia
Bob and Margaret was a Canadian
/UK
animated television series that was also shown in the United States
and all over the world. The series was produced by Nelvana
, a Toronto animation studio, and created by Canadian David Fine and Brit Alison Snowden
. The series was based on the short film Bob's Birthday
, featuring the same main characters, which won the Best Animated Short Film Oscar
in 1994. The award-winning series is one of the few Canadian TV shows to ever have regular American exposure. In Canada, it was the highest rated Canadian made animation series ever when it aired in prime time on Global Television.
The show revolved around a married English
couple named Bob and Margaret Fish, a middle class
40-ish working couple with no child
ren and two dog
s named William and Elizabeth. Bob is a dentist
and Margaret is a chiropodist. Bob and Margaret struggle with everyday issues and mid life crisis. Stories often revolve around the mundane, but in a way which is eminently relatable. From the trials of shopping to dealing with friends who annoy them, but owe them a dinner.
In the first two seasons, Bob and Margaret lived in England, in the South London
community of Balham
. For the third and fourth seasons, however, they moved to Toronto
, Canada, allowing the writers to explore the humour of culture clash. The move was actually inspired by the realities of funding, with certain Canadian tax benefits dependent on stories actually based in Canada. As such, to keep the series funded, the move was necessary. The creators of the series (real-life husband-and-wife David Fine and Alison Snowden
) chose to take an executive role on these latter two seasons, reviewing scripts and consulting, but not involved in the detail they were for the first two seasons. Snowden continued to provide the voice of Margaret, but Bob's voice, originally played by Andy Hamilton
, was replaced by Brian George
.
The programme was shown in the United Kingdom on Channel 4
and Ftn
, in the United States on Comedy Central
, and in Germany and France on Arte
. Comedy Central only showed the two "London" seasons. The third and fourth "Toronto" seasons were eventually shown (almost 2 years after Comedy Central showed the last second season episode) on the Showtime cable channel; they currently rerun all four seasons on their specialty "Showtime Women" channel.
Bob and Margaret currently airs on Adult Swim
Latin America and on Canada's YTV. Cartoon Network Brasil airs its four seasons on the Adult Swim program. The London seasons also get shown in the UK, currently on Channel 4
.
The second series can be found on Region 1 NTSC
DVDs in Canada and Region 2 PAL
DVDs in the UK. Season one can be found on VHS in PAL (at least in the UK) and NTSC (at least in Canada), and the DVD is due for release in Canada in February 2010 as an NTSC
Region 1 Set.
until Brian George
replaced him in the third and fourth seasons.
, they both have carefree attitudes and always have a positive and humourous view of life, the Tv series depict them as being proud canadians and always compare Toronto
as being a better city than New York
(season 3 episodes 1 "Stranded in Toronto" ), however as much as they love and adore Bob and Margaret they certainly and unknowingly annoy them at numerous times. evidence is shown when they play their vacation videos, illustrating their time in London visiting them and all the hilarious and humiliating moments of them taping Bob and Margaret at their worst time.the couple have two cats named Bailey and Buster whom act violently towards the dogs "William and Elizabeth" the voice of Melvin is portrayed by Wayne Robson while Cookie is voiced by Jayne Eastwood
. Their first appearance was in season 1 of episode 11 "the Discomfort of strangers"
for improper care of their dogs,when actually it was Penny's fault. Heather in Bob's other secretary working in his dental office in Toronto, she's somewhat kind and less judgemental with a carefree attidtude.
while Guinvere (voiced by Tracey Hoyt) is Margaret's other secretary working at the women clinic in Toronto
, she is seen as calm and friendly to Margaret. In one episode "Gone to Seed" she decided to have a baby from the sperm donor clinic and ended up in panic, when she find outs that the donation sperm was going to come from Margaret's husband Bob
, Trevor (voiced by Dwayne Hill) is seen as lazy, couch potato, while his wife Joyce is working, the couple is mostly seen fighting all the time except when Bob and Margaret are there visiting
and whom Bob dispises, the couple is seen as having complicated relations when Cathy is annoyed by Ken's antics and end up regreting, when something bad happens to ken. Cathy is voiced by Sarah Harland while Ken is voiced by Victor Heathrow Lu
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
/UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
animated television series that was also shown in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and all over the world. The series was produced by Nelvana
Nelvana
Nelvana Limited is a Canadian entertainment company founded in 1971 known for its work in children's animation. It was named by founders Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert and Clive A. Smith after a Canadian comic book superheroine created by Adrian Dingle in the 1940s...
, a Toronto animation studio, and created by Canadian David Fine and Brit Alison Snowden
Alison Snowden
Alison Snowden Alison Snowden Alison Snowden (born in Alison Snowden (born in Alison Snowden (born in [[Nottingham 4 April 1958) is a voice actress, producer, and screenwriter best known for [[Bob and Margaret]].- Life and work :...
. The series was based on the short film Bob's Birthday
Bob's Birthday
Bob's Birthday is a 1993 animated short by Alison Snowden and David Fine, winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 67th Academy Awards. The 12 minute 18 second film features a humorous look a wife's plans to throw a surprise birthday party for her husband on his 40th...
, featuring the same main characters, which won the Best Animated Short Film Oscar
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
in 1994. The award-winning series is one of the few Canadian TV shows to ever have regular American exposure. In Canada, it was the highest rated Canadian made animation series ever when it aired in prime time on Global Television.
The show revolved around a married English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
couple named Bob and Margaret Fish, a middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
40-ish working couple with no child
Child
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
ren and two dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
s named William and Elizabeth. Bob is a dentist
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
and Margaret is a chiropodist. Bob and Margaret struggle with everyday issues and mid life crisis. Stories often revolve around the mundane, but in a way which is eminently relatable. From the trials of shopping to dealing with friends who annoy them, but owe them a dinner.
In the first two seasons, Bob and Margaret lived in England, in the South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
community of Balham
Balham
Balham is a district of London, EnglandBalham can also refer to:*Balham, Ardennes, a commune in France*Balham station, railway and tube station in Balham, London*Balaam, a Biblical figure...
. For the third and fourth seasons, however, they moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada, allowing the writers to explore the humour of culture clash. The move was actually inspired by the realities of funding, with certain Canadian tax benefits dependent on stories actually based in Canada. As such, to keep the series funded, the move was necessary. The creators of the series (real-life husband-and-wife David Fine and Alison Snowden
Alison Snowden
Alison Snowden Alison Snowden Alison Snowden (born in Alison Snowden (born in Alison Snowden (born in [[Nottingham 4 April 1958) is a voice actress, producer, and screenwriter best known for [[Bob and Margaret]].- Life and work :...
) chose to take an executive role on these latter two seasons, reviewing scripts and consulting, but not involved in the detail they were for the first two seasons. Snowden continued to provide the voice of Margaret, but Bob's voice, originally played by Andy Hamilton
Andy Hamilton
Andrew Neil Hamilton is a British comedian, game show panellist, television director, comedy screenwriter and radio dramatist.-Early life:...
, was replaced by Brian George
Brian George
Brian George is a British-Israeli actor and voice actor for Indian accents, who typically plays guest roles for characters of South Asian descent. Perhaps his most famous role is as Pakistani restaurateur Babu Bhatt on Seinfeld.-Early life:...
.
The programme was shown in the United Kingdom on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
and Ftn
Ftn
Ftn was a television channel from Virgin Media Television transmitting free-to-air on Freeview and Virgin Media, and as a subscription channel on Sky Digital. The channel was broadcast between 18:00 and 06:00 daily...
, in the United States on Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
, and in Germany and France on Arte
Arte
Arte is a Franco-German TV network. It is a European culture channel and aims to promote quality programming especially in areas of culture and the arts...
. Comedy Central only showed the two "London" seasons. The third and fourth "Toronto" seasons were eventually shown (almost 2 years after Comedy Central showed the last second season episode) on the Showtime cable channel; they currently rerun all four seasons on their specialty "Showtime Women" channel.
Bob and Margaret currently airs on Adult Swim
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
Latin America and on Canada's YTV. Cartoon Network Brasil airs its four seasons on the Adult Swim program. The London seasons also get shown in the UK, currently on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
.
The second series can be found on Region 1 NTSC
NTSC
NTSC, named for the National Television System Committee, is the analog television system that is used in most of North America, most of South America , Burma, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and some Pacific island nations and territories .Most countries using the NTSC standard, as...
DVDs in Canada and Region 2 PAL
PAL
PAL, short for Phase Alternating Line, is an analogue television colour encoding system used in broadcast television systems in many countries. Other common analogue television systems are NTSC and SECAM. This page primarily discusses the PAL colour encoding system...
DVDs in the UK. Season one can be found on VHS in PAL (at least in the UK) and NTSC (at least in Canada), and the DVD is due for release in Canada in February 2010 as an NTSC
NTSC
NTSC, named for the National Television System Committee, is the analog television system that is used in most of North America, most of South America , Burma, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and some Pacific island nations and territories .Most countries using the NTSC standard, as...
Region 1 Set.
Robert (Bob) Fish
Born in South London to Daisy Fish and Cesial Fish, and is the husband of the main character Margaret, Bob has 1 brother named Peter who happens to be a successful world class chef, while his sister Susan is a recent divorcee raising a child alone. Bob is a dentist working alongside with his colleagues. Bob is originally voiced by Andy HamiltonAndy Hamilton
Andrew Neil Hamilton is a British comedian, game show panellist, television director, comedy screenwriter and radio dramatist.-Early life:...
until Brian George
Brian George
Brian George is a British-Israeli actor and voice actor for Indian accents, who typically plays guest roles for characters of South Asian descent. Perhaps his most famous role is as Pakistani restaurateur Babu Bhatt on Seinfeld.-Early life:...
replaced him in the third and fourth seasons.
Margaret Heslop Fish
Raised by Tony and Mureen Helsop, Margaret is portrayed as caring chiropodist working in South London, in many, lots of people take advantage of, she was once accidentally classified as a terrorist in Season 2 of episode 1 "Bob and gets Wired". Margaret eventually learns to stand up for herself to a lot of people in the third and fourth season, People like the group of furniture movers in the fourth season as well defend Bob's cousin when one of Bob's idols from the Canadian dental association, insult and mocks Cookie and Melvin for their class status. She is married to Bob Fish. Her character is portrayed as a loving caring wife who has issues with her parents Tony and Maureen Heslop. Margaret is voiced by Alison SnowdenAlison Snowden
Alison Snowden Alison Snowden Alison Snowden (born in Alison Snowden (born in Alison Snowden (born in [[Nottingham 4 April 1958) is a voice actress, producer, and screenwriter best known for [[Bob and Margaret]].- Life and work :...
Cookie and Melvin Fish
Cookie and Melvin Fish are Bob's friendly canadian cousins from TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, they both have carefree attitudes and always have a positive and humourous view of life, the Tv series depict them as being proud canadians and always compare Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
as being a better city than New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(season 3 episodes 1 "Stranded in Toronto" ), however as much as they love and adore Bob and Margaret they certainly and unknowingly annoy them at numerous times. evidence is shown when they play their vacation videos, illustrating their time in London visiting them and all the hilarious and humiliating moments of them taping Bob and Margaret at their worst time.the couple have two cats named Bailey and Buster whom act violently towards the dogs "William and Elizabeth" the voice of Melvin is portrayed by Wayne Robson while Cookie is voiced by Jayne Eastwood
Jayne Eastwood
Jayne Eastwood , also credited as Jane Easton or Jane Eastwood, is a Canadian actress most famous for appearing in the 2002 film Chicago. She was one of the original cast members of the Toronto branch of The Second City, and was a semi-regular on SCTV...
. Their first appearance was in season 1 of episode 11 "the Discomfort of strangers"
Penny and Heather
After the arrest of Bob's fromer secretary Dorothy for charges in acomplicing patient molestations, Penny becomes Bob's secretary as she first appeared in the pilot episode " A Tale fo Two Dentist " . Penny is Bob's former secretary at his fromer dental office back in London, she is charcterized as a lazy, irresponsible and negeletful employee of Bob who seem to have a comedic attitude problem and is the main cause of Bob and Margaret's evictions from London due to a horrendous and violence protesting associated with protestors who theretened death thereats if the couple were ever to return to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for improper care of their dogs,when actually it was Penny's fault. Heather in Bob's other secretary working in his dental office in Toronto, she's somewhat kind and less judgemental with a carefree attidtude.
Ed and Patel
Ed and Patel are Bob's dental hygenists working in his Toronto dental clinic, Ed is defined as a canadian woodman while his friend Patel is an indian hygenist who encourages Bob to take on challenges for success. In one episode both Ed and Patel fight when all three of them including Bob head out on a camping adventure.Eden and Guinvere
Eden or Edie is Margaret's former secretary at her former chiropody clinic back in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
while Guinvere (voiced by Tracey Hoyt) is Margaret's other secretary working at the women clinic in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, she is seen as calm and friendly to Margaret. In one episode "Gone to Seed" she decided to have a baby from the sperm donor clinic and ended up in panic, when she find outs that the donation sperm was going to come from Margaret's husband Bob
Trevor and Joyce
Tevor and Joyce are Bob and Margaret next door neighbour in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Trevor (voiced by Dwayne Hill) is seen as lazy, couch potato, while his wife Joyce is working, the couple is mostly seen fighting all the time except when Bob and Margaret are there visiting
Cesial and Daisy Fish
the parent of Bob, Peter and Suasan Fish Cesial is variously seen in Bob's past flashback although the show portarys him as being uncaring father to Bob. Daisy reveals that Bob was Cesial favourite son while Peter becomes Daisy favourite which is not a surprise since Bob reveals how horrible his mother Daisy been to him in such giving him bad advice and alway putting him down. Daisy is seen as meanspirited to Bob while being blind sided to Peter and Susan schemes of trying to profit her at her expensePeter and Susan Fish
Peter and Susan Fish are Bob's sibling back in London, Peter is a world class chef while Susan is a stay at home mom ,however both are charcaterized as selfish offsprings who try gained money at the expense of their mother.Tony and Mureen Heslop
Tony and Mureen are Margaret's two parent, who is alway seen to putting her down at many times, however they greatly respect, Bob for marrying their daugther Margaret, thinking that no one else would marry their daugtherdue to physical charcteristics, who they seem to characterize Margaret as a "menatlly ill moneky" which was shown at the series finale of Bob and Margaret "A very Fishy Christmas"Cathy Beattle and Ken
Cathy and ken are an overbearing couple who were recently friends with Margaret back in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and whom Bob dispises, the couple is seen as having complicated relations when Cathy is annoyed by Ken's antics and end up regreting, when something bad happens to ken. Cathy is voiced by Sarah Harland while Ken is voiced by Victor Heathrow Lu
CPT: Caroline Pines and Garrett Chip
Constopable Caroline Pines and Garrett Chip are very corrupt and lazy officers who is seen many times in the London based epsiodes. Both Caharcters are charcterized ot have breached and violated their protocals and mandates in humerous ways however the writer created the flow by making the whole London police base force as being corruptive and less brightSee also
- O Canada (TV series)O Canada (TV series)O Canada was an animated television anthology series, broadcast in the United States on Cartoon Network.Shown mainly on Sunday nights at 12:00 midnight ET, O Canada featured a selection of animated shorts from Canada, mostly from the archives of the National Film Board of Canada.The title of the...
, Cartoon NetworkCartoon NetworkCartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
series that featured "Bob's Birthday"
External links
- Bob and Margaret on Arte TV
- SnowdenFine.com — the creators' website