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1->''"I used to love the nightlife\
2And hang out in a bar...\
3I used to hit the bottle,\
4But then I hit a '''car.'''''"
5-->--First lines of opening theme
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7[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/john_callahans_quads_5983.jpg]]
8[[caption-width-right:350: ''It's my life, such as it is...'''SUCH AS IT IS!''''']]
9
10''John Callahan's Quads!'' is a [[InternationalCoproduction Canadian-Australian]] BlackComedy from Creator/{{Nelvana}} created by American cartoonist [[InCaseYouForgotWhoWroteIt John Callahan]], who was rendered quadriplegic at the age of 21 after a car accident and based the cartoon on his experiences being around other handicapped people. Like most of Callahan's work, it is unapologetic in its warts-and-all portrayal of DisabilityAsAnExcuseForJerkassery, as Callahan resented what he saw as the pitying, patronizing attitude of the general population toward the disabled, and only assumed he had gone too far if he received complaints from disabled people themselves rather than the physically able getting outraged on their behalf.
11
12The central character, Reilly O'Reilly, is paralyzed for life after being hit by a millionaire's car, and is able to live a life of luxury on the money from the legal settlement. His other friends include a blind man, a man with hooks in place of hands, and a head on a skateboard, and while they can be just as petty and selfish as the physically able, they are united in the face of a world that doesn't seem to know how to treat them. Like much of Callahan's work, it was praised by the disabled community for its DontYouDarePityMe approach to physical handicaps.
13
14The series ran on Creator/{{Teletoon}}'s [[Creator/TeletoonAtNight Detour block]] from February 3, 2001 to May 1, 2002 with 26 episodes and 2 seasons.
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16Interesting fact: This show was '''''the''''' very first animated series created for television that was done entirely in UsefulNotes/AdobeFlash, beating out ''WesternAnimation/MuchaLucha'' by one year. Prior to ''Quads!'', Flash had only been used for internet cartoons and animations.
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18See also ''WesternAnimation/{{Pelswick}}'', John Callahan's much more LighterAndSofter take on disability, also from Nelvana.
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21!!Tropes
22* AllNaturalFireExtinguisher: In the episode "Bad Manors", when Grizz's lit fart sets the Brombergs' curtain on fire, one of the members of Hell's Angels tries to put it out by peeing on it.
23%%* BlackComedy: Oh so very much.
24* BlindPeopleWearSunglasses: Fontaine has a pair of sunglasses covering up his blind eyes (which aren't even eyes so much as they're [[WingDingEyes Xs]]).
25* DealWithTheDevil: Reilly makes one in "Gonad's Faust" to restore his [[TheLoinsSleepTonight *ahem* fire, so to speak.]]
26* DemonicPossession: {{Satan}} possesses Reilly in "Gonad's Faust" in an attempt to claim his soul.
27* EverybodyKnewAlready: When Spalding [[ComingOutStory comes out]] to his parents in "Spalding in the Family Way", they reveal that they had guessed it a long time ago.
28* EvilLaughTurnedCoughingFit: In the episode "Gonads Faust", [[TheProtagonist Reilly O'Reilly]] [[DealWithTheDevil sells his soul to Satan]] in order to be able to get an erection again. In the middle of the episode, Satan comes to Reilly and charges him with a task: play a joke on Sister Butch Johnson. When watching the prank on his [=TV=] in hell, Satan has this to say.
29-->'''Satan:''' Hmm, he does good work, he'll make a fine minion. See you soon, Reilly. Hoo hoo hoo hoo! Ah ha ha ha ha-eugh(coughs up phlegm) Eh, I've got to get that looked at.
30* GranolaGirl: Reilly's girlfriend, Franny.
31* HookHand: Lefty, one of Reilly's friends, has two.
32* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Like many of his works, John Callahan based this show off how he ended up in a wheelchair. If it weren't for that fact, the show probably would never have lasted two seasons.
33* RealMenWearPink: At the end of "Spalding in the Family Way", it's revealed that Spalding's dad wears dresses under his clothes.
34* RepetitiveName: The main character is called Reilly O'Reilly.
35* SomethingElseAlsoRises: In "Gonad's Faust", a Brachiosaurus can be seen lifting its neck up as Reilly and Franny attempt to have sex on the couch. However, when Franny informs Reilly that his "mighty rainstick" isn't as "mighty" as it usually is, the Brachiosaurus does an AsideGlance and sadly droops its head back down.
36* StatusQuoIsGod: One episode had the residents of Maimed Manor undergo experimental procedures which improve their various disabilities--until the side effects kick in, that is.

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