Project G.e.e.K.e.R.

Project G.e.e.K.e.R. is an animated television series that premiered on CBS on September 14, 1996. It was created by Douglas TenNapel, creator of Earthworm Jim, and Doug Langdale, later creator of The Weekenders, with original music by Shawn Patterson (main title theme by Terry Scott Taylor). TenNapel and Taylor also collaborated on the video games The Neverhood, Boombots and Skullmonkeys, and in 2005, re-united for the Nickelodeon cartoon Catscratch. The series is rated TV-Y7-FV, and was produced by Columbia TriStar Television.

Synopsis
Set in the future, the show was based around a genetic shapeshifter experiment known as Project GKR (Geno-Kinetic Research), who had been stolen by Lady MacBeth (a short-tempered female cyborg with a bionic arm) before he could get the programming he needed to be a deadly and powerful weapon at the hands of the evil Mister Moloch, head of Moloch Industries. Due to the lack of his final programming, "Geeker" is left to be a totally random, permanently salivating, four-fingered klutz. He only occasionally manages to use his powers to any full extent, a blessing and a threat to his friends and their enemies. Lady MacBeth and her partner-in-crime Noah (a green, baseball cap wearing and intelligent Tyrannosaurus rex) must now prevent Moloch and Geeker's creator Dr. Maston from ever obtaining Geeker at all costs.

Cast

 * Billy West as G.e.e.K.e.R., Additional Voices
 * Cree Summer as Lady MacBeth, Nanny, Sonny, Additional Voices
 * Charles Adler as Dr. Maston, Jake Dragonn, Gene Damage, Additional Voices
 * Jim Cummings as Mister Moloch, Will Dragonn, Cosmotto, Additional Voices
 * Brad Garrett as Noah, Captain Wormhole

Additional voices

 * Danny Mann as Redjack
 * Ed Gilbert as Dinosaur Leader
 * Jeff Bennett as Larry the Virus
 * Charity James
 * Kath Soucie
 * Dee Dee Rescher as Female Junker
 * Joe Alaskey
 * Jason Marsden as Kid Dinosaur
 * Kevin Michael Richardson as Stonebender/"Mr. Smiley", Additional Voices
 * Joe Lala
 * Michael Bell as Toxic Moose
 * Lisa Kaplan

Characters

 * G.e.e.K.e.R. (voiced by Billy West) is a crazy and unstable random idiot, that looks like a citizen of "Cartoonland". He can shapeshift into anything, but they usually come at random. He also usually talks about wanting a Chocolate Monkey.
 * Lady MacBeth (voiced by Cree Summer) is a toughest-nails person with a robotic arm. She was nicknamed by G.e.e.K.e.R. and Noah as "Becky". MacBeth is what G.e.e.K.e.R. assumed is a good person, instead of a thief in the black-market. Even though she has a hatred to G.e.e.K.e.R.'s annoyance, she has a soft spot inside of her, and likes G.e.e.K.e.R. as a friend.
 * Noah (voiced by Brad Garrett) is an intelligent T-Rex, and is Becky's partner in crime. He may seem vicious, but he is friendly, and usually enjoys a good breath mint.
 * Mr. Moloch (voiced by Jim Cummings) is a slick, smooth-talking villain. He may seem like a deadpan, as no one shows his emotion. Despite his appearance, Moloch is a heartless creature that won't stop until he got G.e.e.K.e.R. back, and ruling the universe.
 * Dr. Maston (voiced by Charlie Adler) is a brilliant, but unstable scientist, that is part-human, part-elephant. He usually fails to create another G.K.R., and usually goes in a rage of anger, as someone questions his brilliance, or something goes bad.
 * Will Dragonn (voiced by Jim Cummings) and Jake Dragonn (voiced by Charlie Adler) are mutated dragonfolks that work for Moloch.
 * Stonebender (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson) and his army of Pinkers are futuristic cops with pink shirts. They also work for Moloch to steal G.K.R. back.

Episodes
Project G.e.e.K.e.R. only aired one 13-episode season in its time on CBS.

Credits

 * Executive Producers: Douglas TenNapel and Douglas Langdale
 * Supervising Producer: Richard Raynis
 * Producer: Audu Paden
 * Associate Producers: Monique Beatty and Greg Chalekian
 * Production Coordinator: Luke Wasserman
 * Original Music: Shawn Patterson
 * Theme Song: Terry Scott Taylor
 * Color Designer: Don W. Kim
 * Music Editor: Bradford Cox
 * Dialogue Editor: Thomas Kearney
 * Digital Compositor (Opening Titles): Andy Jolliff
 * Background Designers: Vince Toyama and David James
 * Storyboard Revisor: Charles Garcia

Reception
Project G.e.e.K.e.R. received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences, and was very popular, becoming one of CBS's most popular shows during the time.

Cancellation
Despite the high ratings and good reviews, Project G.e.e.K.e.R. got cancelled, and was taken off the air in its early stages. This was caused by the Government, requiring 3 hours of educational programs. CBS was onto this, and started to replace their cartoon shows with low-budget live-action shows, and G.e.e.K.e.R. happened to be on the list of being removed.

Music
Terry Scott Taylor (friend of creator Doug TenNapel) was contracted to write the main title theme for the show, while Shawn Patterson was selected to be the series score composer. Two days before the show was set to air, Columbia TriStar discovered a licensing issue with Terry and Patterson was asked by the producers to compose and produce a main title theme to go on the air. Shawn completed this and Project GeeKeR aired with Shawn's original main title music. Weeks into the series, the licensing problem with Terry Scott Taylor was cleared up and the show's creator Doug TenNapel requested that Terry's original main title theme be reinserted into the series. Patterson's main title music was then removed from the remainder of the series.

Availability
The show has not been released on DVD and no plans have been announced to do so. However, unlike many other short-lived children's series, all 13 episodes of this series used to be available for viewing on the website Hulu at no charge. The episodes can also be downloaded from iTunes for $1.99 each.