Line #189 Characters/JosieAndThePussycats


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5	For tropes related specifically to the characters' portrayals in the [[Film/JosieAndThePussycats2001 2001 film adaptation]], go [[Characters/JosieAndThePussycats2001 here]].
6
7	[[foldercontrol]]
8	[[folder:Josie]]
9	!!Josie
10	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/josie_banner.jpg]]
11	->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/JanetWaldo, Cathy Dougher (singing)
12	->'''Played by:''' Creator/RachaelLeighCook (2001 movie), Creator/AshleighMurray (''Series/{{Riverdale}}'', ''Series/KatyKeene'')
13
14	A short-haired redhead, Josie is the leader and co-founder of the Pussycats. She is the lead vocalist and plays guitar. Portrayed as a sweet, attractive, and level-headed teenage girl, Josie is usually the stable center in the middle of the chaos surrounding her band and her friends.
15	----
16	* AdaptationalPersonalityChange: The comics depicted her as a NiceGirl albeit with her own flaws and vulnerabilities, not above having a temper, a DeadpanSnarker, and being boy-crazy. The cartoon series sort of made her more of a StraightMan.
17	* AlliterativeName: Sometimes, though the comics are inconsistent about whether her surname is Jones or James (or whether it's [=McCoy=] as in the cartoon and 2001 film).
18	* ContinuitySnarl: Josie's surname has been inconsistent. It was alternately "Jones" or "James" for much of the comic's run. [=McCoy=] was her surname for the 1970 cartoon and the 2001 movie. Archie Comics later sometimes acknowledged the surnames from the movie as canonical, though not consistently. In a few stories reprinted in the 2000s, Archie Comics changed her surname to [=McCoy=]. However, the manga version used "Jones", which was her first surname to actually appear in the comics.
19	* DeadpanSnarker: Shows up in the comics a lot, especially in the [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/archiecomics/images/3/35/She%27s_Josie_Vol_1_1.png/revision/latest?cb=20170404234522 premier cover]].
20	* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference: Josie originally wore her hair in a bouffant instead of a bob.
21	* {{Expy}}: Josie is a DistaffCounterpart for Archie.
22	* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: She started out with a elaborate poufy and flipped bouffant in the [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/archiecomics/images/3/35/She%27s_Josie_Vol_1_1.png/revision/latest?cb=20170404234522 1963-1964 comics]], [[https://comicvine.gamespot.com/she-s-josie-11-the-great-one/4000-409776/ 1965 gave her the signature bouffant/bob hairstyle]] associated with her, only for it vary in styles throughout the decades (poufy bangs in TheEighties and a blunt bob or shag in TheNineties and TheAughts).
23	%%* TheLeader
24	* LeadSingerPlaysLeadGuitar: She is the trio's lead vocalist and lead guitarist.
25	* RaceLift: Is African-American in ''Riverdale''.
26	* StandardizedLeader: Josie suffers from this at times. Alexandra is the main plot driver, and Valerie is the main problem solver, leaving Josie not much to do.
27	[[/folder]]
28
29	[[folder:Melody]]
30	!!Melody Valentine
31	[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/melody62.jpg]]
32	->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/JackieJoseph, Creator/CherylLadd (singing)
33	->'''Played by:''' Creator/TaraReid (2001 movie), Ashanti Bromfield (''Riverdale'')
34
35	The co-founder and drummer for the Pussycats (she also sang occasional lead vocals for the TV series), Melody is a cute blonde and usually speaks in a sing-song voice, denoted by the musical notes in her cartoon word balloons. She is an absent-minded, bubbly sort of character often taken to using silly, nonsense language, and provides much of the comic relief of the series.
36	----
37	* BrainlessBeauty: Beautiful and ditzy.
38	* BewareTheNiceOnes: In the modern comics. When she finds out [[spoiler:Alan is cheating on Josie]] her first reaction is '''I WILL MURDER HIM IN PUBLIC.'''
39	* DistractedByTheSexy: Melody is the poster girl for this trope in comic. When male characters see her, they uncontrollably fall for her and lose all sense of anything else, frequently leading to chaos; although, she is usually oblvious to this.
40	* TheDitz: She is an absent-minded, bubbly sort of character often taken to using silly, nonsense language, and provides much of the comic relief of the series.
41	* DudeMagnet: The first issue even had her getting a large portion of the boys at her school into the physical education program by letting them chase her around the track.
42	* DumbBlonde: Classic example. There was a story in which she was certain that nylons were an endangered animal and that Josie and Alexandra's fake fur coats were made from "cute, cuddly orlons".
43	* FemmeFatale: Melody becomes this on the rare occasions when she stops being the InnocentFanserviceGirl and deliberately tries to seduce men.
44	%%* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold
45	* HeadTurningBeauty: RunningGag is that Melody causes this reaction wherever she goes, and is too naive/dumb to notice.
46	%%* TheHeart
47	%%* InnocentBlueEyes
48	* InexplicablySpeaksFluentAlien: In ''Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space'', Melody could understand the speech of the gang's new alien TeamPet Bleep, and some other creatures.
49	* InnocentFanserviceGirl: One comic has Melody try to undress in front of men, only to be shielded from view by "spoilsport" Josie.
50	* KindheartedSimpleton: Melody may not have a very big brain, but she certainly has a very big heart, making her one the nicest Archie characters, especially in the animated series.
51	* {{Malaproper}}: Melody does this frequently. One story has Josie and Valerie shocked that "she finally got one right!" In another story, Melody's 'mixed-up maxims' are mistaken for SpySpeak, and she's handed something from another agent, because she inexplicably rattled off a code-phrase!
52	** To give some idea, just one page in the comic saw her say, "A fool and his mother are soon parted" and "You can't burn your bridges and have them, too". In one comics story, her response to Alexandra calling her an eternal optimist was, "I can't be an internal octopus! I don't even know how to make glasses!"
53	* MeaningfulName: Melody certainly lives up to her name, because she usually speaks in a sing-song voice, denoted by the musical notes in her word balloons in the comics. She does not have this habit in the modern comics or short-lived manga adaptation, however.
54	* MindManipulation: In the cartoon, she frequently gets brainwashed.
55	* MsFanservice: She wears the skimpiest outfits and draws all the male attention.
56	* NWordPrivileges: With "ditzy", in the modern comics.
57	* ObliviouslyBeautiful: Often she misinterprets the reason why men are interested in her.
58	* SayItWithHearts: A variant: rather than hearts, Melody's dialogue is usually punctuated with music notes.
59	* SoBeautifulItsACurse: Melody is so beautiful that almost any man who sees her gets DistractedByTheSexy and suffers AmusingInjuries.
60	** A story before the ReTool involved her trying to lose this, as Alexander had entered her in a beauty contest but her parents threatened to disown her if she came home with another trophy. Josie and Pepper's attempts to hide their friend's allure from men but it results in her capturing the hearts of little boys, senior citizens and at one point, ''male dogs'' instead. So it's not just limited to men.
61	** In one story, the Pussycats can't get any work at a club because the female customers are so infuriated at losing all their boyfriends to Melody.
62	** In another, Melody visits a museum with the rest of the Pussycats, and inadvertently causes the tour groups to abandon the tour to follow ''her'' instead. When the museum curator tries to counter this by hiring Melody as a tour guide herself, a new problem arises: an exhibit is robbed while she and a tour group are in there, with the theft succeeding because the tour group is so focused on Melody, while she's too busy [[BrainlessBeauty sounding out the signs on the exhibit]].
63	** Zig-zagged in a story where a little boy is seen stalking Melody. When Alexander uncovers him, the kid tearfully confesses that he was stalking Melody because he was in love with her. Melody is so flattered she kisses the boy right on the lips, which sends him rocketing into the sky.
64	[[/folder]]
65
66	[[folder:Valerie]]
67	!!Valerie Brown
68	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/valerie_brown.jpg]]
69	->'''Voiced by:''' Barbara Pariot, Patrice Holloway (singing)
70	->'''Played by:''' Creator/RosarioDawson (2001 movie), Hayley Law (''Riverdale'')
71
72	Valerie performs back-up vocals (in the comics, cartoons, and the movie) and occasionally sings lead (nearly always in the TV series) for the Pussycats. In the comics and the movie, she plays the bass; in the cartoons, she plays tambourine. She is also the group's main songwriter, and is occasionally seen playing different instruments.
73	----
74	* DeadpanSnarker: She is developed into this after her first few appearances.
75	%%* CurtainsMatchtheWindow
76	%%* TheLancer
77	* MacGyvering: Valerie was the champion of this in the cartoon, making solutions and springing traps with guitar strings, bubble gum, and hairspray.
78	%%* SheCleansUpNicely
79	* TheSmartGuy: In the comics, this is downplayed, although she is still the most intelligent of the group.
80	* ThirdOptionLoveInterest: For Archie Andrews in the comic. She was featured as his love interest in a crossover supplement story, and the idea became popular enough that she returned several times as his permanent girlfriend. She even received her own ''Married'' storyline alongside Betty and Veronica, wherein Archie chose to go into music rather than go into business. He and Valerie become a husband-wife singing duo, and even have a dark-skinned redhead baby who follows in their footsteps.
81	** She's Archie's ex in the live-action ''Riverdale'' series.
82	* TokenMinority: Valerie is the first African-American female cartoon character on a regular animated television series. Naturally, she become this also in the comic.
83	* {{Tomboy}}: In the comics, Valerie is more tomboyish than her two bandmates. She is less concerned about her appearance or her love life than Josie, Melody or Alexandra, and had rarely been seen in a romantic relationship.
84	* TVGenius: She is the character who saves the day the most often, thanks to her street smarts and her mechanical and scientific genius. In the modern comics, she was studying ''veterinary medicine'' before she joined the Pussycats on tour.
85	* WrenchWench: She is a skilled auto mechanic.
86	[[/folder]]
87
88	[[folder:Alan M.]]
89	!!Alan M.
90	[[quoteright:143:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alan_m_mayberry.jpg]]
91	->'''Voiced by:''' Jerry Dexter
92	->'''Played by:''' Creator/GabrielMann (2001 movie), Chris [=McNally=] (''Riverdale'')
93
94	Alan M. Mayberry (known as "Alan M." in the comics and live-action film, and as simply "Alan" in the cartoon series) is a tall, blond, muscular folk singer who serves as the Pussycats' roadie. He is also Josie's on-off boyfriend, but Alexandra is constantly trying to win a date with him.
95	----
96	* AdaptationalIntelligence: In the comic strip, Alan was portrayed to be, at best, an average guy with muscles or, at worst, a bit of DumbMuscle, but in the cartoon, he is made out to be a GeniusBruiser who's just as intelligent as Valerie.
97	%%* DumbMuscle
98	* {{Expy}}: Almost identical to [[Franchise/ScoobyDoo Fred Jones]].
99	* ReplacementGoldfish: During the early years of her comic (1963–1969), Josie dated a guitarist named Albert. After the Josie and the Pussycats revamp, she dated Alan.
100	[[/folder]]
101
102	[[folder:Alexander Cabot III]]
103	!!Alexander Cabot III
104	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alexandercabot.jpg]]
105	->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/CaseyKasem
106	->'''Played by:''' Creator/PauloCostanzo (2001 movie), Lucien Laviscount (''Katy Keene'')
107
108	Rich, temperamental, and cowardly, Alexander is the Pussycats' shifty and not-too-dependable manager. He often gets the group in hot water because of his crazy promotional schemes. Alexander wears sunglasses often and likes to flaunt his wealth, typically dressing in flamboyant and expensive clothing.
109	----
110	* AdaptationalAttractiveness: He's much more conventionally good looking in the modern comics, especially compared to his cartoon counterpart
111	* AdaptationalHeroism:
112	** Alexander's personality is markedly different in the animated series. He is much friendlier, though no more dependable and far more cowardly than his comic strip alter ego.
113	** He's also a lot friendlier in the live-action film, and much less of a jerk (since the film already had other antagonists).
114	* AdaptationalWimp: In the comics, though Alexander is far from being a heroic and noble character, but he isn't nearly as cowardly as his animated version.
115	* {{Expy}}: In the comic, he is just a much richer [[Comicbook/{{Archie}} Reggie Mantle.]] The cartoon turned him into more of an expy of [[Franchise/ScoobyDoo Shaggy]] -- which made the crossover episode with Scooby-Doo a little weird, since they were [[ActingForTwo both voiced]] by Creator/CaseyKasem.
116	* GreenEyedMonster: He has a crush on Josie and often tries to divert her attention from her boyfriend, Alan M.
117	** The animated version of Alexander is friendly to Josie, but shows no romantic interest in her.
118	* {{Jerkass}}: Alexander can slip between this and JerkWithAHeartOfGold.
119	* LargeHam: While this fell to Alexandra in the cartoon, Alexander often exemplified this trope in the comics.
120	* LovableCoward: in the cartoon he talks a big game, but has no spine to back up his boasting.
121	[[/folder]]
122
123	[[folder:Alexandra Cabot]]
124	!!Alexandra Cabot
125	[[quoteright:178:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alexandra_cabot.jpg]]
126	->'''Voiced by:''' Sherry Alberoni
127	->'''Played by:''' Creator/MissiPyle (2001 movie), Creator/CamilleHyde (''Katy Keene'', 'Riverdale'')
128
129	Alexander's sister. Alexandra is cynical, hateful, mean, offensive, rude, envious, scheming and self-centered. She is insanely jealous of the Pussycats, especially Josie, about whom she never has a kind word.
130	----
131	* AdaptationalNiceGuy: Isn't as much of a jerk in the live-action film (since there were already antagonists), and ultimately helps Josie [[spoiler:uncover the SubliminalSeduction [=MegaRecords=] was using on them.]]
132	** AdaptationalWimp: Her magic powers are nowhere to be found in either the cartoons and the film; probably for the best since, in the latter, she [[spoiler:[[StoryBreakerPower could've resolved the problems involving the record company's subliminal messaging far sooner.]]]]
133	* AttemptedHomewrecker: Josie and Alan have been dating steadily pretty much since Alan's introduction. This doesn't stop Alexandra from trying to sabotage Josie, and take Alan for herself. However, much of the series comedy lies in Alexandra suffering repeated {{Backstab Backfire}}s while trying to sunder the Josie + Alan couple. This dynamic extends into the AnimatedAdaptation in 1970 by Creator/HannaBarbera.
134	* TheBusCameBack: Alexandra having magical powers, along with Sebastian, had been missing since the '80s. A 2014 issue brought them back.
135	* DispelMagic: Alexandra can cast witchcraft spells, but these are fragile spells whose effects are ended by as little as Melody snapping her fingers, which Melody is wont to do.
136	* {{Expy}}: Of Veronica Lodge. Same attitude (though Alexandra almost ''never'' gets a PetTheDog moment), same dark hair (with a white streak in it), same role towards the NiceGirl Josie. The only difference is that Alan M, her romantic target, scarcely reciprocates her feelings at all - that, and the fact that she had magic powers for a time.
137	* DrivenByEnvy: She is insanely jealous of the Pussycats, especially Josie, who she especially dislikes because Josie is the leader of the band and the one that Alan M. has eyes for.
138	* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference: Alexandra didn't have her signature skunk stripe early on.
139	* TheFriendNobodyLikes: She does nothing to help out the gang and deliberately tries to sabotage anything they do when she gets the chance.
140	* GreenEyedMonster: Alexandra has an enormous crush on Alan M. and often tries to steal him away from Josie. This occurs primarily in the animated version but also occurs in a few comic book stories as well.
141	* HollywoodToneDeaf: Cannot sing to save her life but believes she should be lead singer of the Pussycats.
142	* HotWitch: Alexandra, in a number of stories, was secretly a witch with Sebastian as her familiar and would often use her magic or mischief or to get back at Josie for perceived wrongs -- though it would almost always backfire on her in some way. The original concept was that she was descended from a warlock named Sebastian Cabot, who had reincarnated as her black-and-white cat -- and so, whenever she held Sebastian in her arms she could cast all kinds of spells. It would [[DependingOnTheWriter vary from story to story]] whether she needed Sebastian or not; in some stories, her powers wouldn't work without him, while in others she was fine working magic even if he wasn't around. It also varied wildly whether Alexander knew about her magic or not.
143	* IneptMage: In the issues where she had magical powers. "I seem to be some sort of an ''inaccurate'' witch."
144	* IronButtMonkey: In the cartoon for all of her AmusingInjuries. As she points out in "Never Mind a Master Mind":
145	-->"I get all the lumps and Josie gets Alan."
146	* ItsAllAboutMe: Despite having no vocal or musical talent at all, Alexandra desperately wants to be a star; her conditions for joining the Pussycats were that she be made the lead and that the band be renamed Alexandra's Cool Time Cats.
147	* {{Jerkass}}: Alexandra's arrogance, impatience, and pomposity make her very difficult to like.
148	* KnowNothingKnowItAll: Especially in the cartoon - her declaring that she can do something better than anyone else (double points if it's someone obviously more qualified), only to immediately [[EpicFail foul it up]], is one of the show's biggest running gags. Ironically, she can actually be quite competent and helpful when she's not trying to showboat - some episodes like "X Marks the Spot" even put her in a larger heroic role.
149	* LargeHam: In the cartoon.
150	* TheLoad:
151	** In the cartoon, Alexandra stoops to subversion to undermine Josie, and insists upon being the designated hero, which often sunders the effort to thwart the villain, though there were times when she actually managed to thwart the villain of the episode, mainly by accident.
152	** Also in the movie, where she doesn't actually have a clear role (the opening credits list her as supplying "attitude") and even her brother wonders why she's there ([[LeaningOnTheFourthWall she replies it's because she was in the comic book]]).
153	* MagicIsFeminine: In the comics written by Creator/ArchieComics Alexandra Cabot is the only female roadie and the only one with magic powers. However, her magic rarely succeeds, either because her spells are fragile (one snap of Melody's fingers will negate them) or the effect goes wildly off target. "I seem to be some sort of ''inaccurate'' witch," she laments.
154	* TheMillstone: Very often, the gang's plans would probably go off without a hitch if Alexandra wasn't around to muck things up.
155	* PersonalHateBeforeCommonGoals: She is seething jealous of Josie's musical talent, and that Josie has Alan's affections. Alexandra will routinely jeopardize the Pussycats' efforts to escape from the villain or to thwart the EvilPlan just to humiliate Josie or to grandstand for Alan's attention. Naturally, this results in LaserGuidedKarma biting Alexandra on her butt, because in this animated series, slapstick is for everyone.
156	* PetTheDog: In a story from the very last issue of the original comic, Alexandra secretly uses her witchcraft powers to save Josie and Valerie from a couple of bullies.
157	-->'''Alexandra:''' Priorities, Sebastian! Josie and Valerie are '''our''' people! [[HypocriticalHeartwarming If anybody's going to clobber them, it's us!]]
158	%%* PrettyInMink
159	%%* RichBitch
160	* SmallNameBigEgo: She thinks she's the star of the Pussycats, and has on occasion introduced herself as "The most important member of the band."
161	* TokenEvilTeammate: She only tags along with the group because her brother Alexander is the manager. Every episode usually features her either trying to steal Alan away from Josie or sabotage the band in some way.
162	* UncattyResemblance: Alexandra and Sebastian both have black hair with a white streak.
163	[[/folder]]
164
165	[[folder:Sebastian]]
166	!!Sebastian
167	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sebastian_1.jpg]]
168	->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/DonMessick
169
170	Alexandra's familiar.
171	----
172	* AdaptationalWimp: Has no magical powers in the cartoon and seems to be a normal if hyper competent cat.
173	* AdaptedOut: He's not present in the live-action film, though several normal cats are seen early on (none of them look like him, though).
174	* AscendedExtra: Similar to Hot Dog in ''WesternAnimation/TheArchieShow'', Sebastian has a much larger role in the cartoon than he did in the comics.
175	* CatsAreMean: Sebastian was a nasty prankster in the cartoon.
176	* {{Expy}}: He is essentially, [[WesternAnimation/WackyRaces Muttley]] in a cat suit. They even share similar snickering laughs, both provided by Messick.
177	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: In the cartoon. He's an often mean-spirited prankster who finds other people's pain and humiliation hilariously funny, but he ''does'' care about his humans, particularly Alexandra, and will provide aid and support when needed.
178	%%* NonHumanSidekick
179	* {{Reincarnation}} In the comics, Sebastian is the reincarnation of Sebastian Cabot, a witchcraft-practicing ancestor of the Cabot family.
180	* UncattyResemblance: Alexandra and Sebastian both have black hair with a white streak.
181	[[/folder]]
182
183	[[folder:Pepper]]
184	!!Pepper
185	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pepper1.jpg]]
186	->'''Played by:''' Julia Chan (''Riverdale'')
187
188	Josie's best friend in the original comics, and, until the 1969 renovation, one of the main five characters (along with Josie, Melody, Albert, and Alex).
189	----
190	%%* BrainyBrunette
191	* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: She vanished from the feature in the 1969 ReTool, though she returned for a brief cameo in a 2007 story and later become a supporting character in ''Series/KatyKeene''.
192	* DeadpanSnarker: Often makes snarky remarks about other characters, especially Melody.
193	* {{Expy}}: Pepper has a similar role to Jughead, both being the snarky, yet extremely loyal friend of the main character. while also being more emotionally reserved than the others when it came to the opposite sex. The only difference is that Pepper lacks Jughead's love for food.
194	* InformedDeformity: Several early issues imply Pepper is supposed to be unattractive, but as drawn, she's just a typical Dan De Carlo pretty girl with freckles and glasses.
195	[[/folder]]

Context Characters / JosieAndThePussycats