How Disney Changed Doug 

What are your thoughts on both versions (Nickelodeon or Disney) of Doug and which version is your favorite?

For me, Doug represents the kid coming of age who'll never be popular but has minimal but valuable friendships. A very relatable and beloved character.

Nicktoons Doug always struck me as the animated version of The Wonder Years. Seemingly bland and middle-of-the-road to the unfamiliar but memorable, funny and full of heart to anyone lucky enough to watch and fall in love of with the show.

I love that Doug is left handed! Left handed representation with the main character is EXTREMELY RARE

Disney acquiring Doug and changing core aspects of why it was successful really was a sign of things to come.

Fun Fact: Doug's sister was named "Cleopatra Dirtbike Funnie" because that was the winning entry for a contest the magazine Disney Adventures ran to advertise the show. The name was, quite literally, created by a child.

The Beets have legit bangers.

Honestly the fact that Doug could even survive the switch to Disney is pretty impressive in its own right. Normally a show produced by one of the major networks is forever shackled to them for the end of time since the studio and not the creator owns the IP. Also Nickelodeon Doug for the win hands down.

Never knew about that whole situation between Jumbo and Nickelodeon, and man Doug is a show that i liked enough when it aired their re-runs on Nickelodeon on the early to mid 2000's here on Latin America. When i saw the Disney version i was like "What happened with Doug" and i went to it with an open mind. My favorite version is still the Nick one and never saw the movie didn't even knew it had one. Great video Jordan

the transition from Nick to Disney always felt allegorical to me. Growing up, I would learn that things change as time goes by, but also that things can also get worse as well. Not only did Doug lose the Beets, the previous school and the Honker Burger, it would also lose the charm the old series had. Sure it had some interesting episodes about taking "drugs" and sneaking into an R-rated movie, but I still have less nostalgia for it because of how bitter I was about the whole thing at the time.

I just loved the fact that paty asked Doug out at the end, goes in sinc with her character

I once read an interview from Jim Jenkins where he said he made the original changes from Doug and Disney Doug. That since people grow up and since things change like they did in his original hometown in Richmond, Va and the Beatles did break up in real life that he just wanted to change things. Now you don’t have to buy that, but it was something I read.

Here's something that you need to know: Contrary to popular belief, Disney themselves were not responsible for the changes done to Doug. In fact, about the only thing they did was put their name on it. Many of the changes were done by Jim Jinkins himself, as a way to freshen it up.

I’m in the rare camp that didn’t totally hate the glossy makeover Disney gave Doug. The show definitely had a different feel after the channel hop and when I compare the reruns today, although the differences seem glaring, I can enjoy both versions.

Doug is my all time favorite cartoon and while the Nick version is definitely better I still enjoyed the Disney version just not as much as the original

Always felt Hey Arnold was like better version of Doug but Doug a legendary show his theme was addicting when I was a child never watch Doug on Disney only the original episodes by Nickelodeon basically Nickelodeon and Disney share Doug as Nickelodeon I see still play Doug and he be in their commercials sometimes if that's the case they should put Doug in their games.

I like both versions. Shocked me when it went to Disney. Not happy with the changes but I still like the show. Weird Doug came out a little more than 30 years ago.

I still find it hard to believe something like Doug of all things would be one of the few series ever to get a sequel series, and on a different channel and under a different company no less. And I find it even more surreal that Doug was considered a property so lucrative back in the 90's that Disney of all companies would be the one to buy it and make said sequel series. Also, Doug walked so shows like Pepper Ann, As Told By Ginger, and other slice-of-life cartoon could run.

The Disney version is basically an alternate dimension of the Nick show in my eyes. I was such a big fan of Doug when I was little and tried following it to Disney but it was just so unbearably different. The character designs, the personalities, the plot lines of the episodes. It was just too much.

One of the worst things about the show moving from Nickelodeon to Disney was the fact that Billy West decided to leave the cast after it moved to Disney

Damn I never knew that Doug was bought by Disney and that’s where all those weird changes came from. I just remember, as a kid, being very confused by all the changes and liking the earlier seasons better than the new one. Thanks for sharing all this, it was great watching and it cleared up a lot of confusion that I never knew I still had for one of my favorite childhood cartoons.

Doug is one of those weird shows where I barely remember exact details about the show since I was young asf, yet i always find myself randomly thinking about it lol

What's even more interesting about Doug as a whole is learning how much Jim took from his own life when making it. There's a pretty infamous story about him going to his HS reunion and meeting up with the woman who inspired Patty after not seeing each other for years....only for her to introduce him to her husband.

Doug had interesting characters. Doug was boring and the dog was cool. His crush was a generic hamburger menu, his best friend was a tall Smurf and the bully was highschool Gannondorf.

I swear your channel feels like such a safe comfortable place for us millennials… until the video is over and I’m just left here clinging to my nostalgia. I like my life now but the world back then just felt so magical and these cartoons were so iconic they live rent free in my brain. I miss the 90s-00s so much.

Doug was always one of my favorite shows, and while the Nickelodeon version will always be superior, I...never hated the Disney version. I enjoyed it for the most part, but I will admit that some of the changes to the show were not very good (I don't mean the minor outfit changes since it takes place a year later, I mean some of the aesthetic changes, The Beets breaking up, and Doug's new voice). And the first batch of Disney episodes weren't that great and felt really shaky. It did get better though, and the last season of Disney's version was probably their best. I'm also in the minority who enjoyed the movie. Far from a work of art and definitely not theatrical quality, but it was cute, it was sweet, it was fun...and basically what I'd expect from a Doug movie. I don't know; sometimes I feel the Disney version gets hated on a LITTLE too excessively, but maybe it's because seeing shows go through even worse seasonal rot (*cough*Fairly OddParents*cough*) makes it look minor in comparison. Oh well. It does really annoy me though that the Disney buyout is the reason why you never see Doug on '90s Nick merch. On a more positive note...I did love the other two Jumbo Pictures shows (101 Dalmatians: The Series and PB&J Otter) they made for Disney.

i always loved that all the sound effects on doug were either done with your mouth or random shit like pots and pans. i remember constantly imitating the sounds and still do to this day at 28 years old

If Disney Can get Doug just like that, whose to say other cartoons can't just hop channels? It's kinda similar too how CN took Adventure Time from Nickelodeon when it was just a pilot

Jordan missed a few things, one of which was that one of the higher ups working for Nickelodeon at the time moved to Disney. And he was a key player in Disney buying Jumbo exclusively for Doug. Idk if he knew that or opted to not include it but yeah...

I liked Doug. It was a well deserved rest between crazy shows. Also, never actually watched the Disney version, I dunno, it just didn't catch me I suppose.

I basically loved Doug in both formats. Jim Jinkins graduated from my alma mater, Lipscomb University, and I am just really proud of what he did. What’s he been up to post Doug? I know he worked on other Disney shows, like “P. B. and J. Otter,” but what has he done lately?

Bro the Disney show can burn in a fire.

Hearing "Killer Tofu" just unlocked a part of my brain I'd forgotten

Interesting perspective here! Discussing changes and even behind the scenes contract disputes! Nicely done dude!

This is easily your best video yet. I have little experience with Doug, but your exploration of its 'behind the scenes' gave me bigger appreciation for the showrunners. Doug definitely deserves a modern update (like the Rocko Netflix special).

The original Nickelodeon version will always be my favorite version of Doug. I thought the Disney version was alright, even though some of the changes did initially bothered me when I was a kid. I also watched Allegra's Window as a kid too! Plus I've heard that the changes made in the Disney show were Jim Jenkins' idea rather than Disney's.

I like both, especially how Doug himself changed, because he was EXACTLY like how Cory changed from kid/early teen to mid/late teen on Boy Meets World:) To the point where they had the SAME experience having to handle all of the things that were different! Both shows were serious in their own way in how they told their stories, and I've always liked and appreciated both as the transition really shows Doug's growth as a person. And I like the theme song for the Nick version, but I LOVE the one for the Disney version;)

I hate that they made Connie thin! I must have blocked that out. I liked that she was a chubby character because, guess what? Sometimes kids hit puberty a bit earlier, and girls put on weight when this happens. I basically hit my adult size in fifth grade and kept getting chewed out about it. Seeing characters my age that no one ridiculed over their weight was nice for a change.

My family enjoyed Doug in it's original run, never watched the Disney'd version it looked like they changed too much and had that classic "Disney" touch that turned us off.

The OG Nick Doug has to be my favorite by far the intro music is just so chill and takes me back everytime I hear it. Great video Jordan!

I marathoned the Nick and Disney series + movie all the way through in order a couple years ago, watching an episode a day every day while I got ready for work. I enjoyed that Disney changed a lot of characters specifically because it took place the summer after finishing 5th grade and heading into middle school. It felt appropriate because that’s exactly what middle school felt like in real life. Like… you come back to a new school after the summer and everybody is different. I get that you kinda like them all a little less because they’re not what you’re used to, but that’s also realistic lmao

I will never forget the shock I felt as a kid when Doug got blue shoes. My world was rocked lol

It's really interesting to see what went on behind the scenes with Doug, and how it moved to Disney from Nickelodeon. I personally haven't seen either version of the show, but I have seen the intro songs. And I agree that the Nick version of the theme is better :)

I liked both versions of the show but nothing beats the original Nickelodeon version. The Disney version had a few classic episodes too, but with the original, all of the episodes were timeless classics.

I feel like one of the only people who enjoyed Disney's Doug. I was happy my favorite show was getting a chance to continue on. I love both version the same, and will always be a big part of my childhood. Good work dude. Hope all is well ✌🏾

I was 8 when Nick’s Doug was on the air and I have to say it hit me at the right time to really impact me. Great analysis as always and way to secure that bag from Magic Spoon. Ay-ee-ooh…Killah Tofu!

11:07 I remember when FamiliarFaces covered Connie's change in the transition from Nickelodeon to Disney. And everytime this comes up, I just still tilt my head over the decision

We used to have a Doug magnet on our fridge I loved that show But to be honest I don't remember Disney's Doug very well or it was because I was so young I didn't fully realize the difference so I'm excited for this vid!

I LOVED doug as a child, I watched it always, with my sister, there are episodes that traumatized me (the scary movie, the Halloween episode for example) and episodes that I just love (the beets, quailman, the kite episode, the lake monster fish) and I only noticed the disney version later and it felt completely heartless. It was no longer the show I used to love and I still have a bitter taste in my mouth because of it.

I enjoyed both versions of the show. I took both for what they were and didn't compare them. Besides, Doug was mostly consistent on both versions of the show. It made the fact that things were changing around him feel like a digestible story.

People are way too harsh on the Disney version. Sure the older one was better but the new show had good episodes and felt like a continuation of Doug's life.

Nickelodeon's Doug > Disney's Doug

Jim Jenkins said that the changes were his idea and it wasn't Disney's fault. Source: Jim Jenkins Old School Lane Interview. "The Legacy of Doug"

Alright that magic spoon ad was stylish haha

I do like that they try to change the characters. Cartoons so often never age.

I tried to like the Disney version. I think you nailed it when you call the original version "chill". It was the first in the Nick Toons block, it wasn't overly loud or "in your face". Disney wanted to make changes to show it was different and so it got louder. I understand the tone change but it could have been better but yea . . . Disney

i love Nick's Doug because thats the first version i watched, but i also enjoy Disney's Doug. for me Disney changed alot, it did feel different but i still enjoyed it. it still felt like doug (albeit somewhat). Nick's Doug is special, plus Billy West not voicing Doug threw me off for awhile.

I think this is probably the only nick show to be bought by Disney. This is a fascinating move

I truly miss the energy from the 90s … peaceful, refreshing, slow, and living in the moment ..

Your Magic Spoon advertiser turning on you for not sharing was pretty good I laughed out loud.

This was the example I got as a kid that anything that goes to Disney never come back The same

I grew up with both but saw the drastic change. But honestly it was the theme of change that hit me in that same child-pre teen transition that Doug was going through. I do think the original is better but I love the Disney version because aging and changing is something that happens during that time that so many kids, and myself, deal with. Disney's Doug helped me with dealing with older themes and issues like "am I old enough to kiss a girl" or "if everyone else is doing adult things does that make it ok" things like that helped define my childhood just as much as the old so I appreciate the change in growing with me rather than without me.

Old school Doug for me, but I did watch the newer one for a while. The theme of dealing with change was definitely pushed in your face. Because of this you felt the pressure from Disney to try and force you to forget and accept their version, which made me resent it a bit.

Both versions have its merits. Watching the original as a kid, and the newer version as a slightly older kid, it just made you feel validated when everything starts to change as you get a bit older just like the characters. Not to mention bands breaking up, your favorite restaurants closing down, and different vibes everywhere you go. Ahh, nostalgia. I have finally, FINALLY, earned my "back in my day" merit badge for the Bluff Scouts.

I think the Nick Doug is definitely better, but I still love the Disney version. I love Doug's 1st Movie and it's one of my childhood favorites.

I was born in Chile and never had access to Disney Channel early on. So Nick was my childhood and lived Doug, along with Arnold and Rugrats. Those were my top 3 shows as a kid. And then one time we change cable and we had Disney. And was shocked that they had Doug and then it was so different that I never really got back into it. Maybe I would revisit it as an adult now. But nestles to say, that for me the OG nick episodes were amazing.

Doug was one of my favorites! I prefer it over R+S. I liked how honest it was. It taught me that worrying about things is pointless because they always work out. Doug had hella anxiety lol

I'm settling this long-over-run debate right now. Sure the Nick version is more recognized by the fans but Disney at least gave Jim the chance to continue his work despite ending with Nick. Disney was trying to be Nick with their almost forgotten show Nightmare Ned where it started the Nickelodeon type humor and animation. Where we got shows like Recess and Pepper Ann, Disney's reboot of Doug was all about trial and error on what eps worked and what didn't. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but doesn't always work. What we see here is as Jordan said it best, is change. Wither it was good or bad, change is change and often times don't get what we always what in life and just have to accept it. With shows like Doug, it was a masterpiece in itself when it comes to storytelling and animation. To be fair, a show like this show deserves to be continued. But unless the right people are involved and not seeing as a means to an end as witnessed with the Rugrats reboot then Doug should remain in the best part of the past.

Doug going from Nickelodeon to ABC was like Bret Hart going from the WWF to WCW.

Brand Spankin' New anything is awesomely confident rebranding. Personally, I like both versions and sometimes, I feel like binging the show when I'm sad. Also, it's hard to believe that Disney at one point couldn't afford shit.

crazy that Doug, rugrats, and ren & stimpy all premiered on the same day (I think it said). that must be the most historic day in cartoon history

Nothing is ever the same when Disney gets their hands on something

Once Disney bought Doug, at least you no longer needed cable to watch it. 💯

For as long as I’ve been subbed and watching, it’s stood out to me that Jordan has really found his voice. And it’s a good one! He’s genuinely funny and always thoughtful. Love this content, and I’ll always be rooting for you to continue to knock it out of the park!

Disney: "Sorry, we're not willing to pay for Billy West." Also Disney: "Teen Wolf but with leprechauns? Genius! Take all the money you need!"

I'm still waiting for The Life and Times Of Juniper Lee which is really amazing at everything. The writing, the jokes, the visuals, the fights and specially the world building.

When i was litle nick used to rerun nicktoons after 8pm and i would stay up past my bedtime to watch them. Whenever Doug turned on I went to sleep.

I wasn't totally into Doug back in the day but I knew the character loved to daydream and didn't realize the show once moved to Disney. That would explain a lot of why people may not have that many fond memories of it.

I was riding in the car surfing through radio stations and the OG Doug theme song came on and it brought me all the way back to my childhood and I just couldn’t believe that it was on the radio. The 90’s Man what a beautiful time to be alive.

I was a kid while both were airing. I saw reruns on Nick while seeing new episodes on Toon Disney and One Saturday Morning. I do prefer Nick over Disney because I thought the shorter segments worked best for the show but Disney did do some good stuff too. One thing I think people overlook from the Disney portion is how they took minor things from previous Nick episodes and brought them to light. For example, Skeeter actually being a genius became more prominent of a thing on Disney's Doug or BeBe and Skeeter being an item and even the mayor losing his campaign happened in a Nick episode and was continued in the Disney series. The movie was mediocre and the new series had some episodes that dragged but it wasn't the dumpster fire that people claim it to be

as soon as Doug had long sleeves I knew it was over

Doug nuts

I remember liking Disney's Doug mainly because of how different it was from the original series. Also there's something special about being a kid in the 90s and early-00s and knowing one of your favorite shows is on both of your favorite channels. I still say the original run on Nick was my favorite story-wise but I can appreciate Disney's attempt at capturing what its like being an adolescent and seeing the environment around you change, despite some of the weirder changes. Being around 8 - 11 during the Disney run, some of those changes resonated with me.

This was honestly my comfort show, I won’t deny the Disney version had its moments. And while change itself isn’t a bad thing, the Disney version had so much changes that it felt like a massive joy kill. Though I will say changes like Connie losing weight and having her become a lot more confident was actually really nice to see.

One of disney’s earliest victims of buy and die.

This topic was just referenced as a joke on the newest vivziepop merch video Lol

The fact that they didn't bother bringing the Beets back together at all was a missed opportunity.

I've got something to keep in mind for this year's Fringemas. The season 4 Christmas episode of Nick's Doug. Doug almost loses Porkchop after he "bit" Beebee to save her from thin ice while skating. I'm watching it right now and I'm getting super emotional. This is one of the few episodes that I just barely remember. Probably because it only came on at Christmas.

I sort of remember watching the Disney Doug. Didn't really see enough to truly judge it, but I do remember seeing the movie and remembering a scene where Skeeter tells the monster to stop drinking out of the toilet and thinking it was absolutely hilarious cause I was a dumb 5 or 6 year old.

I appreciate all the work you put into your videos.

I liked Nick Doug in my childhood. The beat box soundtrack made the animation look graceful. The scripts were honest. It was like a cartoon version of "The Wonder Years". Great show!

So, Doug was kind of a comfort in my developmental years. The a cappella sound effects and music just sticks in my mind so well. After about eight years, I discovered Toon Disney and watched the entire Disney series. I didn't know why everything changed, but I still felt nostalgia for it. But having grown up in those few years, and watching Doug do the same, it was just very nice to see him evolve. I want to binge the whole series from Nick to Disney to the movie. I might even give the game a crack. Doug just comforts me in a way that no other media can. It doesn't matter who owned him. His imagination is still overactive, and quirky things always happen. Yes, I prefer Nickelodeon to Disney, but I think Disney has merit.

Doug was my favorite show as a kid but didn't know a lot about difference once Disney took it over! Great vid. Nickeldeon's verison is definitely my favorite.

Great Video Jordan. Keep up the great work. Love your videos and personality. Congrats on 223k

Doug's original cast and crew on the show were just incredible. Amazing musicians on the cast too... All that changed when they were bought out.

Disney's Doug wasn't great, but you can't say that they didn't try. They literally gave Doug the red carpet treatment. Three new seasons, a stage musical, a movie, and tons of merchandise.

I’d recently become nostalgic for “Doug” and had been made aware that I had always watched the Disney version, so I came here to see what I’d been missing

I adored Doug as a kid. Absolutely one of my favorite shows.

I can't help but like the old series and the Disney version. I can see why they changed so much, even though I missed the honked burger.

From what I recall, I still liked the Disney version of Doug, but if I went back and rewatched both versions now, I probably would like the Nick version better. At least the series got more love then many of the canned shows Nick produced in the mid to late 2000s 😑 .