"The Adventures of Pete & Pete" (1993) TV series 1993-1996

Creators:

Will McRobb
Chris Viscardi

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | unknown

Release Date:

5 December 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Drama

Plot:

This delightfully quirky show looks at the lives and adventures of two red headed brothers with the same name.

Plot Keywords:

Fictional Town | Strong Man | Ampersand In Title | Portable Toilet | Fourth Of July

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Michael C. Maronna	...	Big Pete Wrigley / ... (39 episodes, 1991-1996)
Danny Tamberelli	...	Little Pete Wrigley / ... (39 episodes, 1991-1996)
Alison Fanelli	...	Ellen Josephine Hickle / ... (21 episodes, 1991-1996)
Judy Grafe	...	Joyce Wrigley / ... (20 episodes, 1993-1996)
Hardy Rawls	...	Don Wrigley (19 episodes, 1993-1996)

Also Known As:

Pete and Pete (USA) (short title)
Pete & Pete (Germany) [de]

Runtime:

30 min (including commercials) | 24 min (approx.)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:TV-Y

Filming Locations:

Bayonne, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Wellsville Productions

Trivia:

The near indecipherable and much-debated lyrics to the theme song are: "Hey smiling strange, you're looking happily deranged (Can you settle to shoot me,) and have you picked your target yet Hey Sandy...ai yai yai yai... Don't Ya' Talk Back, Hey Sandy Four feet Away, end of speech its the end of the day We was only funning, but guiltily I thought... You had it comin', Hey Sandy, Don't Ya Talk Back, Hey Sandy." The line in parenthesis above has never been revealed by the band members, and "Can you settle to shoot me?" is only one of several interpretations.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the introduction of the show, Mark Mulcahy is wearing a gray vest. In the next shot, the vest is gone and he is only wearing a shirt. The vest switches on and off numerous times.

Quotes:

Artie, The Strongest Man in the World: Soon you will be like Cheese Boy: melty, melty, melty!

Movie Connections:

Spin off Snow Day (2000)

Soundtrack:

Flowers

Quality Television DOES exist

The Adventures of Pete and Pete is what more television shows should strive for. Kids can enjoy it, but I was 19 when I started watching it and have been intrigued ever since (I'm 24 now). This show is unique, humorous but not in the traditional way, very well written, very surreal and there is enough mystery to leave a variety of impressions and interpretations. Things that should be small events are blown up to very large scale circumstances with apocalyptic consequences. Other stories take completely random and unreal situations and make them a part of everyday life. If people thought like this on a daily basis, everyone's life would be much more exciting.

Artie, "The Strongest Man in the World", is a skinny fellow in striped pyjamas. His favorite smell is tire air. He's little Pete's personal superhero. Artie, who calls things "Pipe" when they're going well, is the only man capable of vanquishing a bowling ball that comes between two brothers. Without special effects the writers have created a very convincing alternate universe.

The stories are usually called "weird". More appropriately, they are metaphorical and mysterious. Little Pete and friends must survive a gym class dodge ball match, while Big Pete needs to study for a test. Whatensues is an epic of revolution and facing your fears. Cryptic characters come and go, bearing vague clues and meanings such as an old woman with a leg vein pattern matching an Iowa road map (though I've seen a map of Iowa and it's really just a big grid). Other times, yes, it's just plain weird. Very funny too.

Pete and Pete breaks away from every boring and trite television show out there. The problems on most sit-coms are stupid, petty and seem like every other show out there (everyday life is great, but WATCHING everyday life sucks). Pete and Pete breaks out of that completely. The storylines create profound meanings from quirky twists on everyday life; the quest for perfection...using an underwear inspector, a "lost" favorite song and the journey to get it back. If there is ANYTHING to compare this show to, it's like Tim Burton got control of the Wonder Years...kind of.

Pete and Pete says there is excitement in everyday life and implies that just about anything is possible...why not be a bus driver or a bear for career day?

If TV were truly what it should be: A medium to entertain, inspire and teach the masses, we would see so many more shows like this. Talented writers who made something unique right down to the theme music.

And the guest stars! They're offbeat yet recognizable and respectable... Steve Buchemi, Janine Garofolo, Chris Elliot, Adam West. Then rock and roll stars: Michael Stipe, Iggy Pop and Juliana Hatfield. Finally out of the blue you get Monday Night Football's Frank Gifford and PBS's John McLaughlin. Like I said, unique right down to the theme song.

This show is awesome.