Inch High

INCH HIGH, "the world's biggest little detective," was the hero of Inch High, Private Eye, a 1972 Hanna Barbera cartoon for kids. He could shrink down to the height of one inch, thanks to the help of a secret shrinking formula. Unfortunately, the effects of the formula weren't reliable, and he would often start to grow in the most inopportune of times. Suffice it to say the whole thing was played for laughs...

At least Inch could count on the well-intentioned (although not always capable) assistance of his normal-sized niece Laurie, her palooka of a boyfriend (and master of disguise) Gator, and his cowardly dog Braveheart. They also had a car, The Hugemobile, in which they sallied forth to fight crime on behalf of the Finkerton Organization (run by Mr. Finkerton, of course).

Although I still meet folks who swear they loved it as kids, according to The Boxtree Encyclopedia of TV Detectives the show was "short on stature, short on entertainment."

To which I say, "Bah."

Inch was last seen on the Cartoon network's Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law in 2004, in an episode entitled "Trio's company," in which he hires Harvey to represent him in a height-discrimination case.

TELEVISION

• INCH HIGH, PRIVATE EYE ., Buy this book
  (1973-74, ABC)
  13 30-minute episodes
  Premiere: September 8, 1973
  A Hanna-Barbera Production
  Starring the voices of Lenny Weinrib as INCH HIGH
  with Kathy Gori as Lori
  Bob Lutell as Gator
  John Stephenson as Mr. Finkerton
  Jean VanderPyl as Mrs. Finkerton
  and Don Messick as Braveheart
  Also featuring the voices of Ted Knight, Jamie Farr, Allan oppenheimer, Janet waldo and Vic Perrin.

"Diamonds Are A Crook's Best Friend" (September 8, 1973)

"You Oughta Be In Pictures" (September 15, 1973)

"The Smugglers" (September 22, 1973)

"Counterfeit Story" (September 29, 1973)

"The Mummy's Curse" (October 6, 1973)

"The Doll Maker" (October 13, 1973)

"Music Maestro" (October 20, 1973)

"Dude City" (October 27, 1973)

"High Fashion" (November 3, 1973)

"The Cat Burglars" (November 10, 1973)

"The World's Greatest Animals" (November 17, 1973)

"Super Flea" (November 24, 1973)

"The Return Of Spumoni" (December 1, 1973)

• HARVEY BIRDMAN, ATTORNEY AT LAW
  (2000-07)
  Starring the voice of Gary Cole as Harvey Birdman