Characters / The Rock-afire Explosion

Billy Bob Brockali and Looney Bird

Billy Bob Brockali

"Howdy folks, I'm Billy Bob. That's three B's, two L's, a Y, an I, and an O!"

Voiced by: Aaron Fechter (1980-present), Bob West (ShowBiz corporate showtapes, 1986-1987)

The mascot and face of ShowBiz Pizza, Billy Bob is a naive brown bear from Tennessee wearing yellow and red overalls. He plays bass on Stage Left.

Tropes

• Adaptational Attractiveness: While by no means ugly, Billy Bob was significantly slimmed down for The New Rock-afire Explosion.
• Beary Friendly: He’s a friendly bear.
• Berserk Button: Playing the radio while Billy Bob's trying to sing.
• Big Fun: Is a big bear, and is fun at the same time.
• Half-Dressed Cartoon Animal: Wears overalls and no shirt.
• Hayseed Name: "Billy Bob".
• The Heart: Is often the one acting as a peacekeeper for conflicts on Center Stage and Stage Right.
• The Host: Billy Bob usually hosts shows when they're not hosted by Fatz.
• Iconic Outfit: His yellow-and-red striped overalls.
• Innocent Blue Eyes: Billy Bob is a sweet, innocent bear with blue eyes.
• The Leader: Billy Bob is the main character and often meditates their struggles.
• Lead Singer Plays Lead Guitar: He plays the lead guitar, and is the protagonist.
• Nice Guy: You'd be hard-pressed to find a sweeter soul.
• Rough Overalls: Billy Bob—a country boy with a Hayseed Name from Tennessee with a wooden bass styled like a banjo—wears red and yellow striped overalls.
• Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: The Sensitive Guy to Fatz and Looney Bird's Manly Man.
• Simpleton Voice: Billy Bob has a country-like voice.
• True Companions: With Looney Bird.
• Vocal Evolution: His voice started out as a thick country accent with somewhat broken English; a 1982 showtape gave him a higher, squeakier and more feminine voice. From late 1982 on, his voice was lower again, and his country accent was gradually downplayed until it was almost completely absent.

Looney Bird

"Your host for today is none other than me, the world-renowned, and also very famous, Looney Bird, respected throughout the world for my achievements in journalistic reporting and other stuff."

Voiced by: Aaron Fechter (1980-present), unknown actor (ShowBiz corporate showtapes, 1986-1987)

Billy Bob's closest friend, Looney Bird hangs out in the oil drum beside Billy Bob and pops his head out. He is a talented inventor and would work on things inside of his barrel (which seemed to be much larger on the inside), and would also read fanmail.

Tropes:

• The Alcoholic: Looney was this in the early days of the band.
• Characterization Marches On: In the early days, Looney Bird was The Alcoholic instead of a Gadgeteer Genius.
• Gadgeteer Genius: Became this from the mid-1980s onward.
• Labcoat of Science and Medicine: Looney wears a labcoat in The New Rock-afire Explosion.
• The Lancer: Is Billy Bob’s companion.
• Plucky Comic Relief: Serves as this.
• Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: The Manly Man to Billy Bob's Sensitive Guy.
• Species Surname: His surname is “Bird”.
• True Companions: With Billy Bob.

Rolfe DeWolfe and Earl Schmerle

Rolfe DeWolfe

"I actually decided to take a good look in the mirror to see if I liked what I saw. I don't need to tell ya ... I did. But hey, if you look in the mirror and you don't like what you see, then get a nose job or put a cleft in your chin or something!"

Voiced by: Aaron Fechter (1980-present), Joe Conti (ShowBiz corporate showtapes, 1986-1987, 1990)

A wolf who, along with his puppet sidekick Earl, hosted several comedy segments in between songs on stage right. He is arrogant, has a big ego, and often gets into fights with band member Fatz Geronimo.

Tropes:

• All Men Are Perverts: One 1990s skit sees him try to take advantage of Mitzi while her boyfriend is away, leading to Mitzi singing "My Boyfriend's Back". Said boyfriend comes back to beat up Rolfe, as a result.
• AM/FM Characterization: Rolfe is fond of disco music and Frank Sinatra.
• Berserk Button: Insulting his talent, of course.
• Characterization Marches On: One early skit has Rolfe attempt to torture Earl with a saw just for insulting him. While Rolfe remains a narcissistic Jerkass, he would never threaten physical violence again.
• Closet Geek: Beneath his arrogant exterior, Rolfe is pretty geeky. Earl once even referred to him as a "screaming geek".
• Fan Boy: Of Frank Sinatra.
• Freudian Excuse: Rolfe grew up in a poor family, leading to his greed as an adult.
• Greed: Rolfe is known for his love of money.
• Half-Dressed Cartoon Animal: Doesn't wear pants.
• The Host: At times, Rolfe would be the lead-in to songs; nowadays, he (along with Earl) is the character who gives birthday shoutouts.
• Jerkass: Rolfe is this to other characters such as Earl and Fatz, to the point where the latter once threatened to break his neck.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Despite his harsh exterior, Rolfe does have a heart beneath it all.
• Narcissist: To the point where he's possibly sending himself fan mail.
• Small Name, Big Ego: Acted like he was too good to give out autographs when in reality nobody wanted his autograph.
• Token Evil Teammate: Easily the most unpleasant member of the group.
• Ventriloquism: Rolfe is a ventriloquist and Earl appears to be his dummy.
• Waistcoat of Style: He wears a red vest, and is a pretentious egotist.

Earl Schmerle

"No, Rolfe, you're not a geek. You're a screaming geek!"

Voiced by: Aaron Fechter (1980-present), unknown actor (ShowBiz corporate showtapes, 1986-1987, 1990)

A seemingly sentient ventriloquist dummy who is literally attached to Rolfe and is constantly berating him for it.

Tropes:

• Anti-Role Model: He's the only character in the band that blatantly alludes to sex and drugs.
• The Bully: All of his insults are directed towards Rolfe and hardly anyone else. Not that Rolfe doesn't deserve it, mind you.
• Deadpan Snarker: Earl sometimes makes sarcastic quips at Rolfe.
• Hand Puppet Mockery: Earl is a puppet and exists to be Rolfe's biggest critic.
• Inconsistent Spelling: His first name is occasionally spelled as Earle, usually by unofficial sources. The final Rock-afire showtape for ShowBiz, "The Rolfe & Earle Show", uses this spelling.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Earl's only really a jerk to Rolfe, who deserves it.

Main bandmates (The Rock-afire Explosion)

A band of animals, the Rock-afire Explosion also features a ventriloquist act in Rolfe and Earl, as well as main character Billy Bob and his sidekick Looney Bird, and backup singers in the form of The Sun and The Moon. Prop characters include baby bear Choo-Choo, spider Antioch, a frog, Birthday Bird, and formerly an owl.

Tropes

• Four-Temperament Ensemble: Among the main cast:

  • Fatz: Melancholic
  • Mitzi: Sanguine
  • Beach Bear: Phlegmatic
  • Dook: Choleric

• Inexplicably Tailless: None of the characters have tails.
• Vague Age: With the exception of Mitzi (who turns 17 in the New Years '88 showtape at the stroke of midnight), none of their ages are specified.

Fatz Geronimo

"Okay, it's time for everybody to shut up so I can sing this song..."

Voiced by: Burt "Sal" Wilson (1980-2006, 2020-2023), Aaron Fechter (2006-2020), unknown actor (ShowBiz corporate showtapes, 1986-1987)

The keyboardist and unofficial front man. Fatz dominates the stage with his presence directly in the center and his bombastic voice.

Tropes:

• Adaptational Attractiveness: Fatz was slimmed down significantly for The New Rock-afire Explosion.
• Berserk Button: Call Fatz a "big ol' fat monkey" as Rolfe did and he'll threaten to break your neck.
• The Big Guy: Easily the heftiest member of the cast; one 1990s brochure states that he weighs 850 pounds.
• The Casanova: Fatz frequently flirts with women in the audience, even when he's in a relationship with Esmeralda.
• Deep South: Fatz is from Louisiana and has a Southern accent.
• Half-Dressed Cartoon Animal: Only wears a jacket and bowtie.
• The Host: Fatz acts as the show's host in many skits.
• Iconic Outfit: His gold tuxedo jacket, shirtfront and bowtie.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Fatz does have a softer side beneath his brooding personality, mainly when he talks about his romance with the unseen Esmeralda.
• Meaningful Name: His first name is Fatz, and he's easily the heftiest of the group.
• No Celebrities Were Harmed: Fatz is based on real-life singer and pianist Fats Domino (right down to his name), as well as Ray Charles. His voice sounds very similar to Tennessee Ernie Ford.
• Parental Substitute: He typically fills this role to his bandmates, particularly Mitzi.
• Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: The Manly Man to Billy Bob's Sensitive Guy.
• Sharp-Dressed Man: Wears a nice jacket and bowtie.
• Sitcom Arch-Nemesis: With Rolfe.
• Vocal Evolution: Fatz originally had a deep baritone voice. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, his voice started getting higher and sounding more aged. This continued into Wilson's return performances as Fatz in the final years of his life, likely due to old age.

Mitzi Mozzarella

"Shut up, Fatz, I'm tryin' to sing!"

Voiced by: Aaron Fechter (1980-1982), Monique Danielle (1982), Shalisa James (née Sloan, 1982-present), unknown actor (ShowBiz corporate showtapes, 1986-1987)

A teenage cheerleader mouse who is the female vocalist.

Tropes:

• '80s Hair: A 1993 New Rock-afire Explosion prototype gives Mitzi a perm.
• All Girls Like Ponies: Mitzi likes horseback riding.
• AM/FM Characterization: Mitzi's favorite musician is Michael Jackson, as befitting a typical 1980s teen.
• Berserk Button:
  • She does not like it when Fatz makes monkey noises while she sings.
  • Any other RAE member meeting Michael Jackson without Mitzi present, or even failing to get his autograph for her, will set her off.
• Brought to You by the Letter "S": Mitzi's sweater has an M on it.
• Butt-Monkey: Downplayed: being the youngest of the RAE, Mitzi frequently gets teased by her bandmates, but never in a serious way.
• Character Aged with the Actor: When Shalisa Sloan became the voice of Mitzi, the character began aging. Her official birthday is at midnight on New Year's Eve, with the New Year's Eve 1988 showtape partially being about her imminent 18th birthday.
• Cheerful Child: Mitzi was a child during Shalisa's early years voicing the character, and is very fun-loving.
• Childish Bangs: Mitzi's hairstyle incorporates bangs, and she's the youngest of the cast.
• Class Representative: One showtape reveals that Mitzi is class president.
• Girlish Pigtails: Mitzi's usual hairstyle is a pair of blonde pigtails, though The New Rock-afire Explosion depicts her without a wig.
• Girly Girl: Mitzi is a fun-loving cheerleader interested in boys, pop music, and gossip.
• Gossipy Hens: Mitzi is known to gossip in several showtapes.
• Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: Mitzi is one of the nicest RAE members, and has blonde hair.
• Large Ham: In the "Tribute to Michael Jackson" segment, Mitzi rants about how she would rip Jackson's shirt off, take a clump of his hair, and steal one of his shoes to make up for not getting his autograph, all in a delightfully hammy way.
• Modesty Shorts: Mitzi wears shorts underneath her dress in The New Rock-afire Explosion.
• Nice Mice: Mitzi is a mouse, and is naïve and innocent.
• Non-Mammal Mammaries: She is depicted with breasts in both her animatronics and artwork.
• Pom-Pom Girl: Being a cheerleader, Mitzi carries pom-poms in her hands.
• Rodents of Unusual Size: Mitzi is a mouse, and is about the size of a human.
• Smitten Teenage Girl: She is known to be boy-crazy.
• The Smurfette Principle: Is the band's sole female member.
• Tagalong Kid: She's the youngest member of the cast, and frequently gets ridiculed for it.
• Vocal Evolution: Shalisa Sloan's Mitzi started out as younger and more childlike (she was 11 when she was cast), getting deeper and more mature as she aged.

Beach Bear

"Double in size? If you double in size you're going to have to apply for you own zip code!"

Voiced by: Aaron Fechter (1977-1982), Rick Bailey (1982-present), unknown actor (ShowBiz corporate showtapes, 1986-1987)

A laid-back surfer polar bear who sits on-top of a surfboard and is the lead guitarist.

Tropes:

• Alliterative Name: Beach Bear.
• Book Smart: Beach is revealed to be an English major in the Christmas 1986 showtape.
• Characterization Marches On: From 1980-82, Beach Bear was a Dumb Jock with a dopey voice, continued from his Wolf Pack 5 incarnation. Once Rick Bailey took over the role, he became a wise Deadpan Snarker.
• Character Tic: Beach Bear tends to cross his eyes when he sings, a leftover from his Dumb Jock incarnation.
• The Conscience: Whenever a conflict arises, he usually tries to diffuse it.
• Deadpan Snarker: Usually dishes out snide remarks toward Fatz, playfully.
• Dumb Blonde: Wore a blonde wig in the early 1980s and again from 2003 onward, and was pretty idiotic before Bailey took over.
• Dumb Jock: The pre-Rick Bailey incarnations were basically this.
• Early Installment Character-Design Difference: Beach Bear originally had gray fur instead of white. He also wore a blonde wig until 1984, though it was reinstated in the 2000s.
• Faux Horrific: Beach Bear expresses his fear of "sidewalk surfboards" (skateboards) in a late-1980s showtape.
• Half-Dressed Cartoon Animal: Only wears swim trunks, and sometimes a flower lei.
• Meaningful Name: His name is Beach Bear, and he's a bear who loves surfing.
• The Reliable One: The wisest and most levelheaded one of the group.
• Simpleton Voice: Beach Bear originally had a deep, goofy voice as part of his Dumb Jock personality.
• Smarter Than You Look: Beach may look dopey, but he's the smartest of the group.
• Species Surname: His surname is "Bear".
• Surfer Dude: Downplayed: he is a surfer, but doesn't have the stereotypical mannerisms.

Dook LaRue

"'What is this thing on my head?' by Dook LaRue."

Voiced by: Duke Chauppetta (1980-1994, 2016-present), unknown actor (ShowBiz corporate showtapes, 1986-1987)

A dog who wears a spacesuit and serves as the band's drummer.

Tropes:

• Brought to You by the Letter "S": The top of Dook's jumpsuit has a D on it.
• Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Say what you will about his general intelligence, his singing voice is gorgeous.
• Butt-Monkey: Dook is sometimes the butt of certain jokes.
• Character Catchphrase: "(name) by Dook LaRue."
• Cloud Cuckoolander: Dook is a pretty bizarre fellow.
• Deep South: Like Fatz, Dook hails from Louisiana and has a Louisiana accent.
• The Ditz: He somehow manages to be even dumber than Rolfe, often stuttering over his lines during spoken skits.
• Down in the Dumps: He lived in a junkyard in The New Rock-afire Explosion stage.
• Early Installment Character-Design Difference: Dook originally wore a completely different outfit, incorporating a different hat, flannel shirt, gold chain, and green pants.
• Furry Reminder: Dook sometimes barks in showtapes.
• Out of Focus: Dook's roles in showtapes tend to be smaller than those of other characters.
• Space Clothes: Dook's shiny outfit.
• Trademark Favorite Food: Coleslaw.

Uncle Klunk

"This is Uncle Klunk, your voice of the pizza..."

An eccentric talk show host who appeared in about 30 ShowBiz Pizza Place locations in the 1980s.

Voiced by: Jeff Howell (1983), unknown voice actor (1983), Shawn Fernandez (1985)

Tropes:

• Cloud Cuckoolander: He's not called an abomination for nothing.
• Gonk: Which makes his "Thank you, I'm beautiful" catchphrase in his second showtape especially ironic.
• Ink-Suit Actor: Klunk is modeled after his original voice actor, Jeff Howell.
• Simpleton Voice: Klunk's second voice actor gives him one.
• Token Human: The only human member of the band.

The Moonrockers

An alien retrofit of the Rock-afire introduced in 1985.

Quasar

Voiced by: Unidentified employee named Max

The laser guitarist.

• Trademark Favorite Food: Lizards.