Flying off the shelf once again, it's the continuing, daring & dangling adventures of... CLIFF HANGER!!
—Announcer/Lionel
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The Adventures of Cliff Hanger is a book series by Livingston Dangerously. It's an main animated segment that happens in most Between the Lions episodes.
Theme Song Lyrics[]
Original[]
♪Cliff Hanger, hanging from a cliff!♪
♪And that's why he's called Cliff Hanger!♪♪
The Last Cliff Hanger[]
♪Cliff Hanger, living on the beach!♪
♪And that's why he's called oh, phooey!♪♪
We Lost Our Gig[]
♪And we lost our gig!♪♪
Black Stapler[]
♪Black stapler, staples and it's black!♪
♪And that's why it's called black stapler.♪♪
Two Lions[]
♪Two lions, one plus one is two.♪
♪And that's why they're called two lions!♪♪
What Talent[]
♪What talent.♪♪
Pen Holder[]
♪Pen holder, holding lots of pens!♪
♪And that's why it's called pen holder!♪♪
Can't Take It[]
♪Can't take it, can't take any more!♪♪
Green Lampshade[]
♪Green lampshade, a lampshade that is green.♪
♪And that's why it's called green lampshade!♪♪
Ham Sandwich[]
♪Ham sandwich, sandwich made of ham.♪
♪And that's why it's called…♪♪
African-American singer: Hey, Cliff's back on the cliff. We're working!
♪And that's why he's called Cliff Hanger!♪♪
Plot[]
Each segment begins with the book showing the name and number of that particular adventure. The installments are not numbered chronologically. A chorus sings the theme song while flying past a cliff in a helicopter. Cliff Hanger, who is hanging from the cliff on a branch, tries unsuccessfully to get their attention. The branch begins to break as Cliff shouts his catchphrase "Can't hold on much longer!" After that, Cliff notices something or someone significant above or below him. As the narrator describes what's happening, Cliff reaches into his backpack and consults his trusty Survival Manual for instructions on how the surrounding events might help him. Cliff follows the instructions, usually using items from his backpack. Sometimes he gets off the cliff on his own, while other times he falls off. But inevitably, his actions lead up to him back on the cliff where he started. To Cliff's dismay, the branch begins to break again, and he says his catchphrase "Can't hold on much longer!" as the sun goes down.
Episode Appearances[]
- Pecos Bill Cleans Up The West (April 3, 2000) (debut)
- Shooting Stars (April 7, 2000)
- The Hopping Hen (April 10, 2000)
- The Boy Who Cried Wolf (April 12, 2000)
- Fuzzy Wuzzy, Wuzzy? (April 13, 2000)
- The Chap with Caps (April 18, 2000)
- The Popcorn Popper (April 24, 2000)
- Something Fishy (April 25, 2000)
- Sausage Nose (May 1, 2000)
- Red Hat, Green Hat (May 2, 2000)
- The Lucky Duck (May 3, 2000)
- Be Bop (May 12, 2000)
- Humph! Humph! Humph! (April 3, 2001)
- Zoop! Zoop! (April 6, 2001)
- Clickety-Clack, Clickety-Clack! (April 9, 2001)
- Poetry Day (April 10, 2001)
- The Last Cliff Hanger (April 13, 2001)
- Five, Six, and Thistle Sticks (April 18, 2001)
- Trains and Brains and Rainy Plains (April 20, 2001)
- Why the Baboon's Balloon Went Ka-boom! (April 25, 2001)
- Two Coats, One Goat and One Boat (November 11, 2002)
- Art Party (September 15, 2003)
- Grow, Mane, Grow! (September 16, 2003)
- Three Goats, No Waiting (September 17, 2003)
- What's In The Box? (May 2, 2005)
- A Shower of Stars (May 9, 2005)
- It's Red! It's Green! (June 21, 2005)
- Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash (April 17, 2006)
- Sheep on a Ship (April 24, 2006)
- Yo Yes? (May 1, 2006)
- Jamaica Louise James (May 8, 2006)
- Pete's a Pizza (May 15, 2006)
- Here Come The Aliens (May 22, 2006)
- King Midas (May 29, 2006)
- Stolen Smells (June 5, 2006)
- The Coyote and the Rabbit (June 12, 2006)
- The Goat in the Coat (June 19, 2006)
- The Problem with Chickens (September 17, 2007)
- Yesterday I Had the Blues (September 24, 2007)
- Night in the Country (October 1, 2007)
- Not Afraid of Dogs (October 8, 2007)
- Dear Mr. Blueberry (October 15, 2007)
- What Instrument Does Alvin Play? (October 22, 2007)
- Moon Rope (October 29, 2007)
- When Jabo Jammed (November 5, 2007)
- Here Come The Aliens (November 12, 2007)
- Ruby Sings the Blues (September 15, 2008)
- Owen and Mzee (September 22, 2008)
- Chicks and Salsa (September 29, 2008)
- Are You a Snail? (October 6, 2008)
- Bein' with You This Way (October 20, 2008)
- Sea Horse (October 27, 2008)
- Jamaica Louise James (November 3, 2008)
- The Coyote and the Rabbit (November 10, 2008)
- I Don't Want a Birthday Party (November 17, 2008)
- Under Construction (September 21, 2009)
- Cliff Hanger, the Pheasant, and the Phone (October 5, 2009)
- River Story (October 12, 2009)
- King Midas (October 26, 2009)
- The Hungry Coat (November 9, 2009)
- Winter is the Warmest Season (November 16, 2009)
- Chinese New Year (November 23, 2009)
- City Mouse and Country Mouse (October 4, 2010)
- Dream Carver (October 11, 2010)
- Roller Coaster (October 18, 2010)
- Just What Mama Needs (November 1, 2010)
- My House (November 8, 2010)
- Deep in the Swamp (November 15, 2010)
- Not Afraid of Dogs (November 22, 2010) (last appearance)
Stories (In adventure order)[]
- Cliff Hanger and Trixie the Tricky Pixie - Adventure 6
- Cliff Hanger Celebrates Kiss-A-Moose Week - Episode 7
- Cliff Hanger and his Bullfrog Hat - Adventure 10
- Cliff Hanger and the Crane - Episode 16
- Cliff Hanger and the Balloons - Adventure 17
- Cliff Hanger and the Dirty Purple Shirt - Adventure 30
- Happy Birthday, Cliff Hanger! - Episode 39
- Cliff Hanger and the Big Flying Rug - Adventure 73
- Cliff Hanger and the Enchanted Goat in a Coat in a Boat - Adventure 76
- Cliff Hanger and the Giant Snail - Adventure 77
- Cliff Hanger, the Lap Dog, and the Riddle - Book 212
- Cliff Hanger and the Judge of Jam Jar Jugglers - Episode 255
- Cliff Hanger and the Amazing Hippopotamus Sculpture - Number 414
- Cliff Hanger, the Pheasant, and the Phone - Episode 445
- Cliff Hanger and the Soiled Oil Lamp - Adventure 493
- Cliff Hanger and the Sneezing Zebu - Episode 800
- Cliff Hanger and the Grumpy Gourd Gatherers - Episode 892
- Cliff Hanger and the Nightingales - Number 919
- Cliff Hanger and the Fuzzy Wuzzy Bear and the Big Wig - Adventure 1,465
- Cliff Hanger and the Kindly Kangaroo King - Adventure 1,826
- Cliff Hanger and the Fish and the Eagle - Adventure 2,125
- Cliff Hanger and the Bed - Adventure 2,345
- Cliff Hanger and the Rain - Adventure 2,498
- Cliff Hanger and the Wish Upon a Star - Adventure 2,612
- Cliff Hanger Comes to the Circus - Adventure 2,631
- Cliff Hanger and the Yodeling Yellow Yak - Adventure 2,712
- Cliff Hanger and the Rain, and the River - Episode 3,344
- Cliff Hanger and the Big Ape and the Banana Drop - Adventure 3,462
- The Last Cliff Hanger - Adventure 3,785
- The Adventures of Cliff Hanger all-new - Adventure 3,786
- Cliff Hanger and the Mammoth Whale - Adventure 3,787
- Cliff Hanger Meets the Sleeping Gypsy - Adventure 3,975
- Cliff Hanger and the Very Powerful Vacuum Cleaner - Episode 5,711
- Cliff Hanger and the Sheep on a Ship - Adventure 6,767
- Cliff Hanger and the Awfully Big Seesaw - Adventure 7,616
- Cliff Hanger and Quentin Quigley's Quick Question - Adventure 7,657
- Cliff Hanger, the Mole, and the Rope - Episode 9,000
- Cliff Hanger and the Chuckling Chickens - Chapter 12,363
- Cliff Hanger and the Three Brothers and a Pizza - Adventure 13,333
- Cliff Hanger and the Fabulous Flying Fish - Number 14,455
- Cliff Hanger Sells His House - Special Episode 1,000,000
- Cliff Hanger and the Yes Man
- Cliff Hanger and the Marching Band - Adventure 1,000,001
- Cliff Hanger Sings the Blues - Adventure 11,000,012
- Cliff Hanger and the Priceless Gift
Voices[]
- Chris Phillips - Cliff Hanger, Kangaroo King, Big Ape, Fuzzy Wuzzy, Quentin Quigley, Eagle, Simon Cowell parody, Male Scientist, Marching Band Leader, Son Fisherman, Male Moose
- Michael K. Frith - Announcer (Seasons 1-5)
- Tyler Bunch - Announcer (Seasons 6-10), Male Ranger
- Jennifer Barnhart - Female Ranger, Hippopotamus Sculpturist, Female Scientist, Stork #2, Female Moose
- TBA - Big Ape (The Dirty Purple Shirt and The Awfully Big Seesaw)
- TBA - Helicopter Chorus
- TBA - Paula Abdul parody
- TBA - Goat in the Coat
- TBA - Sheep on a Ship
- TBA and TBA - Grumpy Gourd Gatherers
- TBA - Sleeping Gypsy
- TBA - Lion
- TBA - Father Fisherman
- TBA - Roy the Genie
- TBA - Three Brothers
- TBA - Ringmaster
- TBA - Zebu
- TBA - Giant African Snail
Trivia[]
- Cliff Hanger is a play on the media term "cliffhanger" which is indicated by the phrase "To be continued..." meaning that the story continues in the next episode.
- Lionel's a fan of the Cliff Hanger books, while Leona finds it boring.
- It is noted that since Lionel is a huge fan, he seemingly doesn’t want the series to end, as he wants Cliff to still stay on the cliff.
- A constant recurring gag is that in some episodes, Cliff would throw some items away from his pack which ironically he could have used to get off the cliff.
- As shown in Cliff Hanger and the Enchanted Goat in a Coat in a Boat, his backpack's also a toaster. It’s also hinted to be rare with only 3 copies existing.
- Cliff Hanger does get off the cliff as seen in The Last Cliff Hanger although Livingston Dangerously rewrites a new adventure where he gets back on the cliff.
- The Big Ape from The Dirty Purple Shirt story appears again in The Awfully Big Seesaw story.
- The clips shown in the Lionel's montage The Last Cliff Hanger are from Cliff Hanger and the Big Flying Rug, Cliff Hanger and the Big Ape and the Banana Drop, and Cliff Hanger and the Bed.
- Cliff does not use his survival manual in Cliff Hanger and the Giant Snail, Cliff Hanger and his Bullfrog Hat, and Happy Birthday, Cliff Hanger!.
- In some airings, instead of the helicopter chorus singing the last verse of the theme song at the end of the segment, a lonely male singer sings it instead. Other airings when the chorus sings the last verse while Cliff's getting back onto the branch and sometimes it doesn't feature Cliff looking down from the height of the cliff either him turning his head down or his legs moving and sometimes when what he sees leaves. In the continuing story in The Last Cliff Hanger, when Cliff gets back on the cliff, we see a slowed-down shot of his legs moving and Cliff sings "And that's why I'm called Cliff Hanger" before saying his catchphrase.
- At the end of the segment, Theo, Cleo, and Lionel (except for Leona) sings Cliff Hanger theme song in Episode 81: Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash.
- In Cliff Hanger and the Wish Upon a Star, when the chorus comes to sing Cliff's theme, he asks them to get him off and lead him back to safety, they lower down a rope ladder for Cliff to climb aboard in but it turns out Cliff was only dreaming (Announcer: No! It was only a dream! Cliff Hanger: A dream?).
- Lenny Lizard likes a similar book series called The Adventures of Justin Time who uses his survival kit (similar to Cliff's backpack) and gets his Safety Manual (similar to the Survival Manual).
- Cliff does a different pose of falling down to get back on the branch in Cliff Hanger and the Fish and the Eagle.
- In Cliff Hanger and the Giant Snail, Cliff actually says his catchphrase in a sentence when he was trying to tell the truth to the snail (thus the chorus not being heard singing the last part of the song when the segment was ending, nor the lonely man as mentioned above).
- In Cliff Hanger and the Marching Band, Cliff plays the tune of the last part of his theme song on a tuba, instead of the chorus singing it.
- Cliff Hanger Sings the Blues marks the only time the chorus is seen at the end of the segment singing the last part of the theme song (most of the time they are offscreen when they are heard singing the last part of the song).
- In Seasons 9-10, the segment was slightly changed. One notable change was the switch from hand-drawn animation to flash animation, and instead of opening with the book intro, the segment starts with the helicopter chorus singing the theme song, then the title card is shown. Afterwards, the segment continues as normal. This only occurs in newer segments.
- A special HD book intro was made, but rarely used. The only segments that have the new intro are Cliff Hanger and the Rain, and the River, Cliff Hanger and the Very Powerful Vacuum Cleaner, Cliff Hanger Celebrates Kiss-A-Moose Week (Episode 120 only), and Cliff Hanger and the Sneezing Zebu