Television series

The Secret Squirrel Show

Name: The Secret Squirrel Show
Genre: Comedy, Action, Adventure
Released: 1965
Cast: Mel Blanc, Paul Frees, Paul Frees, Paul Frees, Paul Frees

Parody
Light-hearted
Dip in and out

Hanna-Barbera's 1965 spy-comedy cartoon where Mel Blanc's acorn-munching secret agent parodies James Bond with gadgets, disguises, and ridiculous missions. Wildly enthusiastic, silly without trying too hard, perfectly pitched for kids who loved spy fiction but also found it hilarious. Pure Saturday-morning joy.

TVMaze rating

3.3

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you love spy-movie send-ups played straight-faced for laughs, the kind of parody that winks at James Bond with a sly, deadpan rhythm and gadgets that never quite work.

Skip it if you want a story with momentum, since these are short, gag-driven bits where the joke is the point and little builds from one episode to the next.

What it asks of you: Brief bursts of a few minutes each, with quick cuts and repeated gags that reward a second look more than sustained attention.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Get Smart1965

The live-action spy-comedy that aired the same year, with Don Adams as Agent 86. Shares the exact same comedic DNA: bumbling-but-earnest agent, absurd gadgets, and the spy genre treated as pure playground material. Absolutely hilarious.

But The laugh track is relentless and occasionally smothers the jokes. Some gags land softer than others across its five seasons, so commitment matters.

The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show1959

Jay Ward's masterpiece of rapid-fire parody where nothing is sacred and the humor works for both kids and adults. Same anarchic spirit as Secret Squirrel, same willingness to let comedy trump logic. Pure inventive gold.

But The animation is deliberately cheap and flat; if you need slick visuals, this will feel unpolished. Some references are era-specific and may not land.

Inspector Gadget1983

The direct spiritual successor: a bumbling agent with endless ridiculous gadgets solving crimes incompetently but successfully. Captures that same warmth and absurdist humor, with better animation than the original. Endlessly rewatchable.

But It runs long enough that filler episodes exist. The formula repeats, which is charming until it isn't, depending on your patience.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Secret Squirrel Show

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Danger Mouse2015

Same Hanna-Barbera spy-comedy formula, but Danger Mouse treats its hero as genuinely heroic rather than a joke. It's Secret Squirrel grown up, asking what happens when the silly premise meets real peril.

An animated spy-action show that inherits Secret Squirrel's tonal balance but applies it seriously—a white mouse in an eyepatch as a secret agent, with real stakes and character development. Same premise, inverted registers. Surprisingly moving.

But It commits to actual drama and character arcs, so if you want pure comedy, the tonal shifts will feel jarring. It's also harder to find than it should be.

Johnny Bravo1997

Cartoon Network's absurdist comedy with similar '60s parody DNA. Fast-paced, silly, affectionate about the genres it mocks, and genuinely weird in ways that feel freeing. Perfect tonal match for Secret Squirrel fans.

But The humor is sometimes random to the point of chaos. If you prefer structure and coherence, this will feel scattered.

Danger: Diabolik1968

Mario Bava's gloriously camp villain-romance that is basically Secret Squirrel's fever dream in live action. Impossibly stylish, impossibly silly, completely earnest about being ridiculous. A visual feast of '60s pulp energy.

But It's a villain love story, not a spy comedy, so tonal whiplash is real. If you need the good guys to win cleanly, this subverts that entirely.

The Pink Panther1963

Blake Edwards' deadpan genius applied to spy-adjacent comedy. Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau is the live-action equivalent of Secret Squirrel's earnest incompetence. Timing, physicality, the works.

But The comedy is far more sophisticated than Secret Squirrel; if you're hoping for bright Saturday-morning silliness, this is more refined and sometimes arch.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.1964

The live-action spy show that Secret Squirrel is directly parodying. Robert Vaughn and David McCallum in straight-faced spy glamour. Watching both back-to-back shows exactly what the cartoon was riffing on.

But It plays it mostly straight, so if you're coming from Secret Squirrel for laughs, this will feel slow and serious. The episodes feel their era heavily.

The Incredibles2004

Both use retro spy aesthetics as playground for comedy and character. The Incredibles essentially adapts Secret Squirrel's sensibility for a different medium and audience, proving the formula has real staying power.

Pixar's superhero-family film that steals Secret Squirrel's entire vibe: silly spy gadgets, impossible missions, a hero who's competent-but-ridiculous, and genuine warmth underneath. Mid-century design language and everything. This is what Secret Squirrel would be in live-action CGI.

But It's a family film with a genuine emotional core about aging and obsolescence. If you want pure gag comedy, the heart might feel unearned or cloying.