- Nightmare Ned
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Nightmare Ned 
The series' title cardGenre Black comedy
AdventureFormat Children's television series Created by Terry Shakespeare
Sue Shakespeare
David MolinaDirected by Donovan Cook Starring Courtland Mead
Brad Garrett
Victoria Jackson
Aria Curzon
Kevin West
Dan CastellanetaTheme music composer Patrick J. Collins Composer(s) Steve Bartek Country of origin 
United StatesNo. of episodes 12 Production Producer(s) Donovan Cook Running time 22 minutes approx. Production company(s) Walt Disney Television Animation
Creative Capers EntertainmentBroadcast Original channel ABC Original run April 19, 1997 – August 9, 1997 Nightmare Ned was a short-lived animated television series which ran from April 19, 1997 to August 9, 1997 on ABC. Based on a homonymous video game developed by Creative Capers Entertainment, the show focuses on the life of Ned Needlemeyer (voiced by Courtland Mead), a 10-year-old boy that deals with his daily problems through dark, quirky nightmares. The show ran over budget, and was cancelled after only 12 episodes were produced.[1]
The show had Donovan Cook as its producer and director. Cook previously created 2 Stupid Dogs for Cartoon Network.
Contents
Video game
The show was based on a computer game, released in 1997. Developed by Creative Capers Entertainment and published by Disney Interactive Studios, the game feature Ned as he travels through five different adventure portals such as The Graveyard, The Alcatraz Elementary School, The Medical Nightmare, The Attic, Basement and Beyond, and The Bathroom. You start at the Quilt, where you can choose from 5 of the nightmare worlds. You only have 8 times to go to the Quilt, but there are secret passages in each portal that take you to another portal. There is one "shadow creature" for every portal. Throughout a portal, by defeating creatures and completing tasks, a small part of the shadow creature is revealed. There are 3 pieces for each. After each section is completed, the shadow creature becomes someone (or something) from reality who is connected with that issue. In the Graveyard Nightmare, the shadow creature turns into Ned's grandfather at the end, because Ned was worried about him dying. In the Medical Nightmare, the creature turns into a nurse named Dr. Klutzchnik. Ned was scared about getting sick and having to get a shot. In the Alcatraz Elementary School, the creature turns into Billy, a bully who just wanted to be friends with Ned. Ned simply wanted him to stop calling him "Melonhead". In the Attic, Basement and Beyond, the creature turns into a girl named Sally with a weird doll whom she calls "Sandy Patty Cake". She found it in the trash. Finally, in the Bathroom Nightmare, the creature turns into Ned's bathroom toilet who, in the nightmare, can talk. There are two endings to the game. The "bad" ending is when you use up all 8 "Quilt tries". Ned ends up still being scared of everything. The "good" ending is where Ned wakes up and isn't scared. As a result, the shadow creatures don't know what to do anymore.
Voice cast
- Harry Anderson as the Graveyard Shadow/Grampa Ted Needlemeyer
- Jeff Cesario
- Steve Coon
- Jill Fischer as the Attic, Basement and Beyond Shadow/Sally
- David Holmes
- Michael O'Malley
- Edie McClurg as the Storytelling Dragon
- Courtland Mead as Ned
- Lani Minella as Mrs. Needlemeyer
- Kathy Najimy
- Alexandra Wentworth as the Medical Shadow/Dr. Klutzchnik
- Additional voices by Kyle Kozloff
Characters
- Ned Needlemeyer: The show's protagonist. He is a 10-year-old boy who deals with his troubles through his nightmares. Voiced by Courtland Mead.
- Ed Needlemeyer: Ned's father. He constantly tries to help Ned with his problems, but this does not occur often. Voiced by Brad Garrett.
- Mrs. Needlemeyer: Ned's mother. She is the only one in the family who tries to understand Ned's nightmares. Voiced by Victoria Jackson.
- Amy Needlemeyer: Ned's baby sister.
- Conrad and Vernon: Two bullies who constantly pick up on Ned. They are named after Conrad Vernon, who served as one of the storyboard artists of the show. Conrad is voiced by Kevin West, while Vernon is voiced by Dan Castellaneta.
Episode list
# Title Original Airdate 1 Ned's Life as a Dog 4/19/1997 1 A Doll's House 4/19/1997 2 Robot Ned 4/26/1997 2 Dapper Dan 4/26/1997 3 Monster Ned 5/3/1997 3 The Ants 5/3/1997 4 Magic Bus 5/10/1997 4 'Til Undeath Do Us Part 5/10/1997 5 Headless Lester 5/17/1997 5 My, How You've Grown, Part 1 5/17/1997 5 My, How You've Grown, Part 2 5/17/1997 6 Tooth or Consequences 5/24/1997 6 Show Me the Infidel 5/24/1997 7 Willie Trout 5/31/1997 7 House of Games 5/31/1997 8 Girl Trouble 6/7/1997 8 Canadian Bacon 6/7/1997 9 Abduction 6/14/1997 9 Bad Report Card 6/14/1997 10 Testing...Testing... 6/21/1997 10 The Accordion Lesson 6/21/1997 11 Along for the Ride 6/28/1997 11 Steamed Vegetables 6/28/1997 12 Lucky Abe (One Cent Ned) 8/09/1997 12 The Dentist 8/09/1997 12 The Ballad of Vernon & Conrad 8/09/1997 References
External links
- Nightmare Ned at the Internet Movie Database
- Nightmare Ned at TV.com
- Nightmare Ned at Toonopedia
- Scenes From the Nightmare Ned Video Game
- Nightmare Ned page at the official site of Robert Rose, who served as the game's stop motion artist
First-run animated series A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (1988–1991) • Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears • The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988–2002) • Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters (1986–1991) • Beetlejuice (1989–1992) • The Wizard of Oz (1990–1991) • Little Rosey (1990–1991) • New Kids on the Block (1990-1991) • Hammerman (1991–1992) • The Pirates of Dark Water (1991-1992) • Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa (1992–1994) • Goof Troop (1992–1993) • The Addams Family (1992-1995) • Cro (1993–1995) • Tales from the Cryptkeeper (1993–1994) • Free Willy (1994-1996) • ReBoot (1994–1995) • Bump in the Night (1994–1996) • The New Adventures of Madeline (1995-1996) • Dumb and Dumber (1995-1996) • What-a-Mess (1995–1996) • Brand Spanking New Doug (1996–1999) • Mighty Ducks (1996–1997) • Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles (1996–1997) • The Oz Kids (1996) • Jungle Cubs (1996–1997) • Nightmare Ned (1997) • 101 Dalmatians: The Series • Recess (1997–2001) • Pepper Ann (1997–2000) • Science Court (1997–1998) • Hercules • Sabrina: The Animated Series (1999–2001)First-run live-action series Animal Crack-Ups • ABC Weekend Special (1977-1997) • Land of the Lost (1992–1994) • CityKids • Fudge (1995-1996) • Hypernauts • Bone Chillers (1996–1997) • Flash Forward (1996–1997)Rebroadcasts The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show (1985-2000) • Street Sharks • DuckTales (1997) • ProStars • Dennis the Menace and GnasherSchedules 1989-90 • 1990-91 • 1991-92 • 1992-93 • 1993-94 • 1994-95 • 1995-96 • 1996-97 • 1997-98 • 1998-99 • 1999-2000Related programming and topics Categories:- 1990s American animated television series
- American Broadcasting Company network shows
- 1997 American television series debuts
- 1997 American television series endings
- Black comedy television programs
- Children's comedy series
- English-language television series
- Animated series based on video games
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