Out of Jimmy's Head

Out of Jimmy's Head (abbreviated as OOJH) is an American live-action animated teen sitcom created by Tim McKeon and Adam Pava for Cartoon Network. It is based on the network's 2006 film Re-Animated, and is the first live-action animated television series produced by Cartoon Network. The series was produced by Cartoon Network Studios and Brookwell McNamara Entertainment (the latter known for Disney's shows such as Even Stevens and That's So Raven). The creators, Tim McKeon and Adam Pava, were originally writers for Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, As Told by Ginger, and The Life and Times of Juniper Lee, as well as the creators of Weighty Decisions short on Cartoon Network's Sunday Pants anthology series.

Out of Jimmy's Head
GenreComedy
Teen sitcom
Created byTim McKeon
Adam Pava
Based on
Re-Animated
by
  • Tim McKeon
  • Adam Pava
Starring
Voices of
Theme music composerPaul Buckley
Opening theme"Out of Jimmy's Head"
Ending theme"Out of Jimmy's Head" (instrumental)
ComposerPaul Buckley
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes20
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Pixie Wespiser
  • Christina Lambert and Frank Merwald (co-producers)
  • Matt Danner (supervising producer)
Production locationDowney, California
CinematographyBob Hayes
Editors
  • Bill Lowe
  • Jan Lucas
  • Clayton Woodhull
  • Andy Zall
Running time22 minutes
Production companiesBrookwell McNamara Entertainment
Cartoon Network Studios
Release
Original networkCartoon Network
Original releaseSeptember 14, 2007 (2007-09-14) 
May 29, 2008 (2008-05-29)

The series premiered on Cartoon Network on September 14, 2007, to coincide with the release of the Re-Animated film on DVD, and was the only network series affected by the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike. It then made its Canadian premiere on Teletoon on Saturday, September 6, 2008. It also aired on Boomerang in Australia. The U.S. run of the series ended with the airing of the series' final episode on May 29, 2008. The series never streamed on Max.

Although Renegade Animation did the pilot film's animation, due to budget and time constraints, the series' animation was produced in-house at the Cartoon Network Studios' flash division. Cartoon Network did not acknowledge the series again until 2018, where Golly had a cameo role on OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, in the season two episode, Crossover Nexus, along with a small cameo with Dolly and Crocko in the 20th anniversary mural from 2012.

The show received extremely negative reviews from critics and mixed reviews from audiences. Before October 4, 2023, this show was considered to be lost media, due to Cartoon Network erasing the show from all online streaming websites, including its own. The show got a DVD release exclusively in the United Kingdom, containing only the first three episodes.

Premise

The series follows the backstory established by the film. After receiving the brain of deceased cartoonist Milt Appleday following an accident, 13-year-old Jimmy Roberts finds himself inexplicably capable of seeing and communicating with Appleday's characters, resulting in a variety of odd predicaments at the hands of Jimmy's interactions with them. However, he also must deal with Appleday's son Sonny, who intends to kill him and obtain his brain so he may gain notoriety as a cartoonist, and take over the world.

Cast

Main

Recurring

  • Rachel Quaintance as Louisa Roberts
  • Jonina Gable as Becky
  • Christian Vandal as Logan
  • Austin Rogers as Animal Loving Kevin
  • Terrence Hardy, Jr. as Easily Excited Kid
  • Caden Michael Gray as Crazy Jake
  • Katelin Petersen as Hildy Jeffries
  • Nicole Smolen as Young Yancy
  • Nolan Gould as Young Jimmy
  • Ryan Eggold as Mike the Werewolf

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
PilotDecember 8, 2006 (2006-12-08)
120September 14, 2007 (2007-09-14)May 29, 2008 (2008-05-29)

Pilot film (2006)

TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
Re-AnimatedBruce HurwitTim McKeon & Adam PavaDecember 8, 2006 (2006-12-08)

Jimmy Roberts, a 12-year-old boy, requires a brain transplant after a tragic accident in Gollyworld. Not only is he granted a new life, but his new brain allows him to see cartoon characters in real life.

First appearance of: Jimmy Roberts, Robin, Sonny and Craig.

Season 1 (2007–08)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Talent Show"Sean McNamaraTim McKeon & Adam PavaSeptember 14, 2007 (2007-09-14)

Jimmy offends Tux after he refuses to use the penguin's jokes in a school talent show.

Guest Stars: Courtney Hope as Humorless Teen Girl, and John Bliss as Gramps
2"Friends"Sean McNamaraTim McKeon & Adam PavaSeptember 21, 2007 (2007-09-21)

An evil principal obsessed with spitballs drives a wedge between Jimmy and Craig's friendship, and threatens to kick Robin out of school. Meanwhile, Crocco shocks Golly when he tells him he's not his best friend.

Guest Stars: Becky Thyre as Principal Muriel J. Fairplay, and George Frangides as The Janitor

Absent: Matt Knudsen as Sonny Appleday, and Rhea Lando as Yancy Roberts
3"Sleepover"Jonathan JudgeTim McKeon & Adam PavaSeptember 28, 2007 (2007-09-28)

Yancy holds a boy-bashing sleepover, which upsets Jimmy after Robin shows up. Elsewhere, Jimmy's father takes a space joyride and Dolly loses touch with her feminine side.

Guest Stars: Jenn Shagrin as Humorless Teen Girl, and Courtney Hope as Angry Teen Girl
4"Mascot"Jonathan WinfreyTim McKeon & Adam PavaOctober 5, 2007 (2007-10-05)

Jimmy becomes the school mascot by assuming Crocco's look, but it soon changes his behavior. Elsewhere, Yancy spends a day at work with her mother.

Guest Stars: Amy Tolsky as Coach, and Pat Finn as Daryl
5"Ghosts"Gregory HobsonTom MartinOctober 12, 2007 (2007-10-12)

In the Halloween-themed episode Jimmy thinks he sees ghosts in an attic classroom, which Craig spots as a money-making opportunity. Elsewhere, Sonny hatches a new plan to get into Jimmy's brain.

Note: This episode was aired in 3D.

Guest Stars: David Reynolds as Frankenstein's Monster, Jane Sibbett as Ms. Shank, Irene Roseen as Carol Ann, Grey DeLisle as Ghost Mouth/Misshapen Moose, and Katelin Petersen as Hildy Jeffries
6"Sick Day"Jonathan JudgeKevin SecciaNovember 2, 2007 (2007-11-02)

Jimmy and Robin skip school to ride a roller coaster. Also, Sonny creates a robot version of Jimmy.

Guest Star: Adam Conway as Jimbotron
7"Bully"Savage Steve HollandTim McKeon & Adam PavaNovember 9, 2007 (2007-11-09)

A bully with a secret lair targets Jimmy and tries to steal Robin. Elsewhere, Sonny snatches a baseball player's brain.

Guest Stars: Annie O'Donnell as CKW's Mom, Adam Cagley as Sergei, E.J. Callahan as CKW's Dad, Reed Alexander as C. Kingsley Weatherhead, and Michael Cornaccia as Junior
8"Skate Night"Savage Steve HollandTim McKeon & Adam PavaNovember 16, 2007 (2007-11-16)

Robin organizes a fundraising event at the local skating rink, and in hopes to win her over another skater, Jimmy learns to skate while Sonny gets a new job.

Note: This was the first episode with a laugh track, which was a determination that was panned by critics.

Guest Stars: Shadoe Stevens from the John Davidson version of Hollywood Squares as D.J. Cashew, Tom Kenny as Animated Logan Ogre, and Aviva as Employee Emily
9"Soda"Jonathan WinfreySarah PetersNovember 30, 2007 (2007-11-30)

A reporter for the school newspaper does a story on Jimmy, but she is secretly investigating Craig and his bootleg soda operation. Elsewhere, Yancy gives Sonny romantic advice.

Guest Stars: Kieran Newton as The Editor, Katelin Petersen as Hildy Jeffries, and Mary Birdsong as Cosima Von Darkness
10"Detention"Jim DrakeKevin Seccia & Sarah PetersDecember 7, 2007 (2007-12-07)

Jimmy and Craig have to get out of detention to prevent Robin from finding out Jimmy's most embarrassing secret.

Guest Stars: Eve Brent as Rita, and Helen Slayton-Hughes as Doris
11"Ambush"Sean McNamaraConrad KleinDecember 14, 2007 (2007-12-14)

After Robin blames Jimmy for ruining her rock opera, she looks for revenge during the school's annual game of Ambush.

Guest Stars: Carlos Alazraqui as Officer Akita, and Charlie Stewart as Zeus
12"Cartoons Drive"Sean McNamaraMichael YankFebruary 18, 2008 (2008-02-18)

Jimmy helps Robin with her campaign for school president, but when she refuses to use his plan to save the old school parking lot tree, he decides to run against her. Meanwhile, Golly, Dolly, Crocco and Tux accidentally release Jimmy's most embarrassing memories inside his brain.

Guest Stars: Carlos Alazraqui as Memory 1, Brian Posehn as Memory 2, and Tom Kenny as Memory 3

Absent: Jon Kent Ethridge II as Craig Wheeler
13"Outdoors"Jim DrakeKevin SecciaMarch 7, 2008 (2008-03-07)

Jimmy goes into the wilderness with a cartoon owl to verify his father's accomplishments.

Guest Stars: Michael Pataki as Hoots Burly, Nicole Smolen as Young Yancy, Nolan Gould as Young Jimmy, and Dave Florek as Ranger Millican
14"Craig Steals Dad"Sean McNamaraMichael YankMarch 14, 2008 (2008-03-14)

Jimmy becomes wary of his dad's growing friendship with Craig. Elsewhere, Crocco and Yancy connect.

Guest Stars: Gregg Binkley as Notary, Keith Diamond as Mr. Wheeler, and Sybil Azur as Mrs. Wheeler
15"Stunt"Lawrence GutermanMichael YankMarch 21, 2008 (2008-03-21)

Craig and Jimmy devise an over-the-top stunt in hopes of one-upping a viral video star. Elsewhere, Robin works with Jimmy's father.

Guest Stars: Ryan Pinkston as Donny Ironsides, Jordi Caballero as Mexican Newscaster, Ryan Alvarez as Larry Wasserman, Patrick Warburton as Moonbounce #1, April Winchell as Moonbounce #2, Tabitha St. Germain as Moonbounce #3, and Charlie Adler as Moonbounce #4
16"Princess"David BrookwellEric KaplanMarch 28, 2008 (2008-03-28)

Jimmy is jealous when Robin has a date for movie night at the Roberts residence, so he uses Sonny's new invention to make a cartoon princess come to life as his own date. Sonny, meanwhile, decides to fill the princess' spot and learns what animated life is really like.

Guest Stars: Austin Butler as Lance, Peter Marr as Prince Lochinvar, April Bowlby as Princess Gugulfa, Selwyn Miller as Troll, Rose Abdoo as Witch, Carlos Alazraqui as Pigeon, Tom Kenny as Squirrel, Brian Posehn as Foot, and Sean McNamara as King
17"Movie"Lawrence GutermanEric KaplanMay 8, 2008 (2008-05-08)

The boys make an alien-invasion movie and trick Yancy into the starring role. The plan backfires, however, when Yancy's extraterrestrial ex-boyfriend wants a part in the film as well.

Guest Stars: Brian Posehn as Warthog, Tom Kenny as Doc/Female Gopher, Carlos Alazraqui as Female Tornado, Jenn Shagrin as Humorless Teen Girl, and Mitch Silpa as Durzagon
18"Bad Fad"Lawrence GutermanMichael YankMay 15, 2008 (2008-05-15)

Stressed by debate practice and other activities, Jimmy regresses to childhood after falling in with an unsophisticated clique. Meanwhile, in an effort to score money for a new video game, Craig works as a babysitter.

Note: Blake Michael from Fried Dynamite guest stars in this episode.

Guest Stars: Chloe Suazo as Undine, Sterling Knight as Brad, Blake Michael as Stop Light Kid, Atticus Shaffer as Aaron, Khamani Griffin as Cody, Tom Virtue as Main Judge, Carlos Alazraqui as Cruxie, Tom Kenny as Nuxie, and Brian Posehn as Luxie
19"Out of Jimmy's Body"Lawrence GutermanEric KaplanMay 22, 2008 (2008-05-22)

In order to take Robin to see a movie, Jimmy asks Sonny for help to make him look older. However, instead of making him look older, Sonny switches bodies with Jimmy so he can see the Appleday cartoons. Meanwhile, Jimmy's father, a parrot, Robin and her piano teacher also switch bodies.

Guest Star: Ellen Albertini Dow as Miss Plattner
20"Lunch Tables"Bruce HurwitKenny ByerlyMay 29, 2008 (2008-05-29)

Jimmy earns a spot at the cool kids' table. Elsewhere, Craig finds love and Dolly tries to accept better cartoons.

Guest Stars: Christopher David as Desperate Kid, Lil' Romeo as Himself, Patricia Belcher as Lunchlady Edna, and Tom Kenny as Getalong Gary

Broadcast and reception

For Out of Jimmy's Head, Cartoon Network ordered 20 episodes, which were filmed from May to September 2007. In airing the series, Cartoon Network split the series into two seasons. The first season of the series premiered in September 2007 and lasted 13 episodes. The channel later aired the remaining seven episodes as the second season, starting in March 2008, one week after the airing of episode 13, which was considered part of the first season. The series' hiatus between seasons (actually between episodes 12 and 13) coincided with the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike, which led many to believe that writing on the series had been interrupted. In fact, writing and production for all episodes had been completed in September. However, the strike did prevent the writers from being involved in editing and post-production, including the infamous decision to add a laugh track beginning with episode 8, "Skate Night". Due to low ratings the show was not renewed.

It was the last Cartoon Network original series to be broadcast in full screen 4:3 before Cartoon Network started its own high-definition feed, although it was produced in a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9.

Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times wrote: "Cast aside all that clutter, though, and this is really just another show about a seventh grader trying to fit in. It’s also a show with a sly sense of humor when it’s not being self-consciously frentic", and praised Bil Dwyer for his comedic role.[1] Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media rated the show 3 out of 5 stars and wrote: "It's just fun fluff. It is worth noting that the show is an improvement on the movie in terms of Jimmy's increased confidence and ability to fend off peer pressure, which is certainly a welcome change".[2]

Despite the negative reviews from critics, the show received some accolades: the program's cast won a combined Young Artist Award in 2008 for "Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series",[3] then was nominated at the same ceremony for "Best Family Television Series", and finally Tinashe Kachingwe with Caden Michael Gray were nominated for "Best Performance in a TV Series – Supporting Young Actress" and "Best Performance in a TV Series – Recurring Young Actor", respectively.[3]

References

  1. Genzlinger, Neil (September 14, 2007). "What's in a Seventh Grader's Head?". The New York Times.
  2. "Out of Jimmy's Head - TV Review". September 19, 2007.
  3. "29th Annual Young Artist Awards - Nominations / Special Awards". Young Artist Awards. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
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