Neil Patrick Harris Returns to ‘Penguins of Madagascar’

The Penguins of Madagascar
The Penguins of Madagascar: Dr Blowhole Strikes Back - Photo: Nickelodeon ©2011 Viacom International, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Neil Patrick Harris, seen this summer being attacked by blue creatures in The Smurfs, is back as the evil dolphin Dr Blowhole in Nickelodeon’s Penguins of Madagascar special, Blowhole Strikes Back. The animated family-friendly comedy will debut on September 9, 2011 (8pm ET/PT) with Harris singing four brand new original songs (two of which he performs with the penguins). Series executive producers Robert Schooley and Mark McCorkle wrote the lyrics.

“Our viewers loved Dr. Blowhole in the first special, so we were excited to bring the character back and work with the very talented Neil Patrick Harris again,” said Brown Johnson, President, Animation, Nickelodeon in a press release. “In this second special, he has expanded his role with unforgettable vocal performances, including a stand-out power ballad.”

Andy Richter and Tom McGrath (co-creator of the penguin characters and director of both Madagascar films) reprise their roles as Mort and Skipper. Nicole Sullivan voices the role of Marlene the otter, Jeff Bennett voices Kowalski, James Patrick Stuart voices Private, John DiMaggio voices Rico and Danny Jacobs stars as Julien, King of the Lemurs.

The Story: In the special, Skipper arrives in Shanghai on a super secret solo mission that leads him waddling right into a Dr. Blowhole trap. Without his men, who are back at the zoo, he is helpless and his memory gets wiped away by Blowhole’s “Mind-Jacker.” Blowhole’s despicable plan uses Skipper’s memories to locate Kowalski, Private and Rico, blast them with his “Diabologizer,” and render them evil monsters who destroy their headquarters.