Twiki

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the wiki website software, see TWiki.

This article does not cite any references or sources. (January 2008)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Twiki (carrying Dr. Theopolis on his torso) in the 1979 episode "Planet of the Amazon Women."

Twiki is a fictional character on the TV show Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Twiki (pronounced twee-kee) is a robot sometimes referred throughout the series as an "ambuquad" (which, as depicted in the episode, "Twiki is Missing," refers to a specialized series of robots made for work in space mines). Built by an ambuquad facility in New Chicago, the same episode also reveals that the robot's model number is 22-23-T. The character's name, "Twiki," is derived from the robot's alphanumeric designation: TWKE-4, as revealed in the episode, "Shgoratchx!" Most notably in the first season, Twiki was often seen carrying Dr. Theopolis around with him.

Felix Silla provided the character's physical performance, while Mel Blanc provided the voice for the character in most episodes, except for a brief stretch during the show's second season, when he was voiced quite differently by Bob Elyea. Blanc's voicing for Twiki is somewhat of a cross between two of his characters from Merrie Melodies, namely Yosemite Sam and Porky Pig. Twiki was well known for frequently blurting a low key "bidi-bidi-bidi" for no reason. This was also how he spoke with other robots.

[edit] Cultural references

In the TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000, Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo often express contempt for Twiki.
In Family Guy (Episode "The Story on Page One"), Peter states that he wanted to name Meg after Twiki.
In the Venture Brothers Doctor Rusty Venture mockingly calls his brother Jonas Venture Junior Twiki because of his short stature; even mimicking Twiki's unique speech pattern during the insult.
Referenced in Robot Chicken during the "I'Rosie" sketch.