# Robot partners and sidekicks **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 18, 2003, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-partners-and-sidekicks/182638 "2003-06-18T05:08:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-partners-and-sidekicks/182638/61 "2003-06-21T03:27:28Z")
Robotman has already been mentioned, though I think only the second version, who was a member of the Doom Patrol. The _original_ Robotman has been around since 1942. Neither version can really count as a robot, since both were human brains placed in mechanical bodies,and should be considered more cyborg than robot. However, the original Robotman did have a robot sidekick - a talking robotic dog named, wait for it, Robbie. Robotman wore a human-like mask and had a secret identity under the name “Paul Dennis” while Robbie wore a fur suit on occasion. In one story (which I’ll quote from Steranko) Robbie tries to alert Paul to a suspicious-smelling pedestrian: Robbie: Robotman, there’s something strange! That man… Paul: QUIET! Lucky no-one was close enough to hear! But I told you not to talk… and don’t call me Robotman while I’m wearing this disguise. Robbie: I’m sorry, Ro… I mean, Paul! Which always suggested to me a moment where: Suspicious crook: Hey! Did that dog just call you Robotman? Paul: Uh, no. No. He said Paul. Not Robotman. Paul. Crook: Well, good. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-partners-and-sidekicks/182638/62 "2003-06-21T17:26:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > \*\*Um … it might be faster (like, **way** faster) to come up with a list of robots who **weren’t** partners with humans. > > Considering that the whole **purpose** of the robots we real-life humans are designing now is that of mechanized servants. \*\* **Confession.** I have a slightly scholastic ulterior motive for wanting a list of the more benevolent robots, **tracer.** I’m writing a sci-fi short story, and I wanted a comprehensive list for a (hopefully) humorous side plot. With a little prodding, Straight Dope is the best search engine I know of for a laid-back researcher like me. Maybe I ought to start an Evil Robot Thread, just so I can submit Mechagodzilla and Emperor Zurg. Keep those robot sidekicks, partners and servants coming, folks. I’m learning a lot. Cyborgs and androids are cool, too. Was Ultra-Man mechanical or did he just look that way? The Bionic Man and the Bionic Woman should get an ‘Honorary Mention.’ ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-partners-and-sidekicks/182638/63 "2003-06-24T16:06:25Z")
Uh… did my honesty kill my own thread? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-partners-and-sidekicks/182638/64 "2003-06-28T00:37:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Askia \* > \*\*Uh… did my honesty kill my own thread? \*\* Affirmative, foolish hu-man. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-partners-and-sidekicks/182638/65 "2003-06-28T00:51:50Z")
This is the third or fourth time I’ve admitted in a thread I started that I was posing a question in order to pick people’s brains for research. As SOON I do that, the thread dies. I dunno if it’s me, **Bryan** , or a localized SDMB phenomemon. But it seems the second I admit I might have – GASP!-- a _commercial interest_ in getting information, people stop helping. But I don’t want to LIE. I do think it’s kind of funny. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-partners-and-sidekicks/182638/66 "2003-06-28T00:57:03Z")
Well, I just couldn’t think ofany more partners off-hand. But I’ll wrack my brain, and say Klaatu and Gnut. Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-partners-and-sidekicks/182638/67 "2003-06-28T01:10:52Z")
**Sir Rhosis** – By “Klaatu”, do you mean **Gort** from THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL? If so that’s GOOD one. And who’s Gnut? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-partners-and-sidekicks/182638/68 "2003-06-28T01:15:20Z")
Gotcha. Read the original Harry Bates novella–_Farewell To The Master_ which TDTESS is based upon. You’ll find that the movie-makers changed the name of the robot\* and in fact changed who was the “sidekick.” Sir Rhosis \*Well, the only way I can see to pronounce it is “nut,” so I would have probably changed it as well. Or maybe “newt” is what Bates intended it to sound like. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-partners-and-sidekicks/182638/69 "2003-06-28T01:24:53Z")
**Sir Rhosis:** Thank you for the clarification. I never knew the filmmakers changed the characters’ names! Extra points for submitting the original source material. ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-partners-and-sidekicks/182638/70 "2003-06-28T03:50:51Z")
How about the Teddy Bear from A.I.? He was a robot sidekick to David, who was a robot himself. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-partners-and-sidekicks/182638/71 "2003-06-28T04:11:42Z")
don’t know if it counts as a robot, but the mechanical owl from _Clash of the Titans_. Odo? and the one mentioned before from _Space Camp_ I think was called Jinx. I have this line from the movie running through my head, “Jinx put Max in space. Jinx can bring Max back.” ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-partners-and-sidekicks/182638/72 "2003-06-30T14:58:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tangent \* > \*\*don’t know if it counts as a robot, but the mechanical owl from _Clash of the Titans_. Odo? > > and the one mentioned before from _Space Camp_ I think was called Jinx. I have this line from the movie running through my head, “Jinx put Max in space. Jinx can bring Max back.” \*\* the owl was **Bubo** the most annoying thing in a Harryhausen movie ever. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-partners-and-sidekicks/182638/73 "2003-06-30T15:05:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BMalion \* > \*\*the owl was **Bubo** the most annoying thing in a Harryhausen movie ever. \*\* Note-- a 'bubo" is a swelling under the arms or in the groijn, caused by the Bubonic Plague. It is filled with pus, and other foul-swmelling fluids, & breaking it kills the vpatient. Maybe Harryhausen agreed with you…😃 ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-partners-and-sidekicks/182638/74 "2003-06-30T21:49:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\*Note-- a 'bubo" is a swelling under the arms or in the groijn, caused by the Bubonic Plague. It is filled with pus, and other foul-swmelling fluids, & breaking it kills the vpatient. > > Maybe Harryhausen agreed with you…😃 \*\* I’ll bet he did. I believe that Bubo was actually animated by Jim Danforth, who perhaps wasn’t overly proud of having to imitate R2D2. _Loved the scorpian fight however._ ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2004, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-partners-and-sidekicks/182638/75 "2004-06-27T05:20:37Z")
> [@Necromancer](#): > > There was the robot from the TV series Lost in Space…he was Dr Smith and Will Robinson’s sidekick. That very same robot turned up in an episode of “The Addams Family” as a replacement for Lurch. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2004, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-partners-and-sidekicks/182638/76 "2004-06-27T05:24:57Z")
My apologies, I came here from [another thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=194062) and didn’t realize this one was a year old. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-partners-and-sidekicks/182638.md?page=3)