George and Martha - Two hippopotamuses who happen to be best friends on the animated series GEORGE AND MARTHA/HBO/1999-2000 (26 episodes). The Nelvana/HBO preschool cartoon series was inspired by the lighthearted children's stories written by James Marshall about two gentle Hippos. Throughout all their activities like going to the movies, playing at the beach, and just hanging around with each other, George and Martha learn to accept their failings and maintain their friendship. Nathan Lane is the voice of George, and Andrea Martin is the voice of Martha. Their friends include Penny the Flamingo (Robin Duke), Frieda (Kathryn Greenwood), Anton (Greg Kramer), Oscar/Valerie Chuckles the hyena (Debra McGrath), Bud Chuckles the hyena (Colin Mochrie), Wilde/Eton (Sean Cullen), and Duke the Toucan (Tony Rosato). TRIVIA NOTE: The idea for the George and Martha come about one fateful summer afternoon in 1971 while James Marshall lay on his hammock drawing pictures. Inside his mother's house in Hilotus, a little town outside of San Antonio, Texas, she was watching the film Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf on TV with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor as the protagonists George and Martha. Marshall wrote seven George and Martha books before his death in 1992. A few years later, George and Martha: The Complete Stories of Two Best Friends, the 25th anniversary compilation edition of all seven of Marshall's books—thirty-five stories—was published by Houghton Mifflin Company.