Inspector Gadget



Inspector Gadget, also known simply as Inspector or Gadget, is a bumbling detective cyborg who has starred in many animated TV series, specials, and two live-action films. He is well-known for the fact that his mechanical body contains a huge variety of gadgets, most of which are activated by him saying "Go-Go-Gadget-(name of gadget)". Inspector Gadget appeared as a guest star on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! on two occasions because DIC Entertainment produced both it and the animated series of the same name and used the character as the company mascot.

Inspector Gadget first appeared in "Defective Gadgetry", where he arrived at Mario Brothers Plumbing in need of repairs. It was the character's first live-action appearance, predating the film by ten years. As he greeted Mario, the two of them shook hands, only for Gadget to accidentally extend his gadget hammer in place of his hand. Mario pulled off the hammer, and told Inspector Gadget to return in an hour. Inspector Gadget claimed that he had to stay while Mario and Luigi were to repair his gadgets, as he was awaiting an important phone call from the Chief. Gadget then answered the call on his top-secret gadget phone, and told the Chief that he would be on his way as soon as the Mario Bros. fixed him up. As Gadget hung up from his conversation, the antenna from his phone broke.

Inspector Gadget waited patiently while Mario and Luigi prepared themselves to repair him, and continued to wait as Mario and Luigi repaired his body. Despite what they claimed, Inspector Gadget's body was in worse shape than when he arrived, as it was in pieces all over the assembly table. Barely able to talk, Inspector Gadget asked Mario and Luigi how long the two of them had been working for Dr. Claw, his longtime arch-nemesis.

Fortunately, Mario and Luigi were able to rebuild Inspector Gadget's body using some spare parts that Luigi picked up. Treating Inspector Gadget as if he were a car, Luigi treated him to a bench check, reporting that his RPM was up by 3000, his oil was clean, and that he would have to come back for a left foot alignment at around 3000 miles. Mario then presented Gadget with a thirty day parts and labor warranty, and warned him not to run over any nails.

As he prepared to make out a check, Inspector Gadget asked Luigi as to where he got his spare parts, to which Luigi commented that he got them from a nearby novelty store. Inspector Gadget realized what this meant, as when he stood up, his hands were drooping down from his arms on springs. Gadget then thanked the Mario Bros. for their so-called "work", and vowed to leave before they could help any more. As Gadget stepped outside, he accidentally activated his rocket shoes, which were wrongly hooked up by Mario and Luigi, and went crashing outside Mario Brothers Plumbing.

Inspector Gadget appeared again in The Treasure of Sierra Brooklyn. When Mario and Luigi find a treasure map, they call Inspector Gadget over to get help.

Trivia

 * Maurice LaMarche, the actor who portrayed Inspector Gadget on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, would later go on to take over the role of voicing him from the late Don Adams several years later following Don Adams' retirement from the role.
 * An animated version of Inspector Gadget is featured in the menu of the The Super Mario Bros. Super Show: Mario's Greatest Movie Moments DVD, where he explains how to use the menu's various options.