Wolf Rock TV (or just Wolf Rock) is a 1984 DiC Entertainment and Dick Clark Productions-created television show that starred Wolfman Jack. It only lasted for a total of 7 episodes before facing swift cancellation. Though it was rerun in syndication alongside the thematically similar Kidd Video in 1989, Wolf Rock has become a mostly lost series due to the lack of an official release on home media and streaming, with only a home recording of a single episode being available online.
The show was directed by Bernard Deyries and developed by Len Janson and Chuck Menville, while Mike O'Mahoney, Chuck Lorre, Jay Johnson, Len Udes, Warren Taylor and Dennis Mark are credited as writers. Animation was outsourced to Japanese studio TMS Entertainment, who already have an established relation with DiC. It aired on ABC during the Fall 1984 season, lasting from September 8 through October 20.
The show consists of both animated and live-action segments starring Wolfman Jack and other characters. Wolfman Jack, like his real life counterpart, runs a radio show, while three teenagers, Sarah, Sunny and Ricardo, work as his assistants. They are also assisted by a green parrot named Bopper. Other members of the radio station include the sour manager Mr. Morris, who disapproves of Wolfman Jack's raunchy content.
The show also had news broadcast and interview segments.
Tropes
- '20s Bob Haircut: Sarah wears her hair in the "sleek" manner, even though she lives in The '80s.
- As Himself: Wolfman Jack voices himself.
- Asian and Nerdy: Sarah, the token East Asian girl, is placed as the studio engineer.
- Animated Adaptation: Of the Wolfman Jack radio show.
- Big Fun: Wolfman Jack has a visible muffin top, but he's still loved by everybody for his funny and endearing personality.
- Celebrity Toons: The first of many such shows DiC would produce. This show was made to profit off of Wolfman Jack's fame at the time and he also plays himself.
- Cool Old Guy: All the kids think Wolfman Jack is this because he's funny, entertaining and in-tune with pop culture despite his age.
- Cool Shades: Boppers wears bright pink shades with stars at the edges.
- Funny Animal: Bopper the parrot, who dons Cool Shades and speaks and acts like the rest of the teenagers
- Show Within a Show: Wolfman Rock News is a fictional news channel where current events are commented on and discussed by the main cast.
- Straw Character: Mr. Morris thinks that Wolfman Jack's show is unfit for children and way too vulgar, but can't do anything about it because he's too famous. He resembles a typical Moral Guardian that wants television and media to be sanitized for a kid audience.
- Team Pet: Bopper, the bright green parrot, is treated as an equal and a friend by the other characters.
- Token Minority: Sarah and Ricardo are the token Asian and Hispanic characters, respectively.
