Disney Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Disney Wiki

So it turned out okay after all, for us anyway. And you know something? It seems like things usually do turn out okay. Sure being a kid can be tricky, growing all the time, things are always changing, but no matter how things really do change, I figure that as long as we stick up for what we believe in and stay true to ourselves, everything will be alright. And who knows? Seeing as how we made it through so much already I got a feeling that this might be our best year yet. Really, I mean it!
―T.J.'s final words in the Recess franchise[src]

Theodore Jasper "T.J." Detweiler is the leader of the group and the main protagonist of the animated TV series Recess.

Background[]

Personality[]

T.J. is the leader of the main six kids in the show and has been best friends with them since kindergarten (except Gus, who moved to town in the first episode, however, he has also been shown in kindergarten with the rest of the kids). He is outgoing, kindhearted, optimistic, and friendly, and takes having fun very seriously. He is also very dumb, and once he even scored a 10% on a test. While he is somewhat ditzy, ignorant, and lazy, he's a genius when it comes to pulling schemes on the playground.

Despite being more heavy-set than the other five members of the gang (save for Mikey), he is capable of pulling a few stunts, such as escaping detention by climbing either out the window or from the roof of the school a few times. In second grade, he invented the word "whomp", which is what the kids of the playground use instead of "stinks" or "sucks" to describe an unpleasant situation or person. Aside from "whomp", he also uses the word "frooping" a number of times (to replace the "f-word"), though it is unknown whether he created the word or not. T.J. often roots for the underdog and cares about every kid on the playground, including his enemies. Thus causing most of the school to like him, with the exception of Gordy, as seen in the episode, "Nobody Doesn't Like T.J.". He is hardly ever seen without his red baseball hat.

His best friend, Ashley Spinelli, has a crush on him, as revealed in the episode "Parents' Night". In the episode "The Experiment", they kiss each other to experiment on the effects kissing has on the opposite genders, with them seeming to not enjoy it. However, when they are left by themselves afterward, they both seem to act a little shy about it, hinting that T.J. has a crush on her as well. He is often seen wrapping his arm around her shoulders for no apparent reason, which also hints this.

He was very shy as a kindergarten student and was not the brave leader that has been seen in the fourth grade. Gus was the first one to really become his friend, and he was also the one who gave him his nickname. After Gus proves to the other students that Mikey wasn't a bully, the other kindergartners start to become more outgoing and show the first displays of their usual personalities, When Randall tattles on Gus and is put in the principal's office, T.J. assumes his position as the leader when they have to save Gus, and puts his trademark baseball cap on backward as he wears it in the series proper.

Physical appearance[]

T.J. is a nine, later ten-year-old, boy who is short, white and slightly chubby. He has light messy brown hair, freckles and an upturned nose. His usual wear consists of a red baseball cap he wears backwards, a white t-shirt, a grey jacket, blue denim jeans and red and white sneakers. When in formal attire, he lacks his hat and has his hair neatly combed to the sides and wears a nice blue suit, with a white undershirt and a red and blue striped tie.

Gallery[]

Wiki
The Disney Wiki has a collection of images and media related to T.J. Detweiler.

Trivia[]

  • In the original drafts of the show, his name was going to be P.J., to stand for the first initials of the show's creators (Paul and Joe). After the first recording for "The Break In", his name was changed for unknown reasons. His name was most likely changed to avoid confusion with the character of P.J. Pete from Goof Troop.
  • He has had the most voice actors out of the main six characters in the show. Ross Malinger played him for all of Season One and a few episodes of Season Two, ending with "Outcast Ashley". Starting from "The Game", Andrew Lawrence played him due to Ross Malinger going through puberty and no longer sounded like T.J., and played him until the end of the series. In between the last episode of the show ("Lost Leader") and the direct-to-video movies (Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade and Recess: All Growed Down), Andrew Lawrence went through puberty and was replaced by Myles Jeffrey for the movies. When the Lilo & Stitch crossover episode "Lax" aired, he had been replaced by Axel Alba. Both Axel Alba and Myles Jeffrey played T.J. in various TV spots for the show when airing on Toon Disney.
  • In the Italian dub, T.J.'s favorite show is mentioned to be Darkwing Duck.
  • According to Paul Germain and Joe Ansolabehere, T.J.'s described being "a funny looking little guy with a lot of charisma".
  • According to "To Finster with Love", T.J. weighs 76 pounds.
  • According to "Big Ol' Mikey", in his adult years, he will grow up to be 5 feet 9 inches tall.
  • T.J. has had the most episodes focused on him out of the entire cast.
  • T.J. has been in every episode of the series.
  • T.J. and his friends were originally going to make cameos in Lloyd in Space.
  • During the first season of the show, T.J. had highlights in his eyes. For unknown reasons, they were removed in season two but sometimes appeared in either off-model moments or tie-in merchandise.
  • T.J. is one of three members of the gang with siblings (along with Spinelli and Vince), however, he is also the only member of the gang with a sister.
  • The first line spoken by T.J. in the show was "Tomato Surprise; just when you thought it was safe to go back in the lunchroom". This is also the first line spoken by any character in the show.
  • In some early concept art (Using the finalized character designs), T.J.'s sneakers were gray instead of red, his eyes were also completely circular instead of being semi-circular, and his hair was blond instead of light brown.
  • T.J. was the first animated character that Ross Malinger and Andrew Lawrence have played.
  • In Japan, T.J. seems to be a fan-favorite; he is commonly seen as the show's mascot and is apparently considered an example of a "moe" character.
  • T.J. bears a strong resemblance to Ralphie Tennelli from Scholastic's The Magic School Bus.

External links[]


v - e - d
Recess-logo
Media
Recess (Videography) • Recess: School's Out (Soundtrack) • Recess: All Growed DownRecess: Taking the Fifth GradeRecess: Miracle on Third Street"Lax" (Lilo & Stitch: The Series crossover episode)"Codename: Electric Haircut" (Fillmore! crossover episode)
Characters
T.J. DetweilerVince LaSalleAshley SpinelliMikey BlumbergGretchen GrundlerGus GriswaldCaptain BradleyCornchip GirlThe KindergartnersThe DiggersHustler KidErwin LawsonMiss GrotkeMuriel FinsterBecky DetweilerDr. Phillium BenedictMenloBrockPeter PricklyKojakMiss SalamoneButchAshley ArmbrusterAshley BouletAshley QuinlanAshley TomassianFenwickBrandon the SingerGelmanKing BobChuckoJockoRandall WeemsKing Freddie IICheaySpencerThe MegansThe BrittanysThe TylersBob and Flo Spinelli
Episodes
Season One: "The Break In" / "The New Kid" • "The Experiment" / "The Great Jungle Gym Standoff" • "Jinxed" / "Officer Mikey" • "First Name Ashley" / "To Finster with Love" • "King Gus" / "Big Brother Chad" • "My Fair Gretchen" / "Speedy, We Hardly Knew Ye" • "I Will Kick No More Forever" / "The Kid Came Back" • "The Pest" / "The Legend of Big Kid" • "The Box" / "The Trial" • "Teacher's Lounge" / "Randall's Reform" • "Rainy Days" / "The Great Can Drive" • "The Voice" / "Kids in the Mist" • "Parents' Night" / "Swing on Thru to the Other Side"

Season Two: "The Break-up" / "The Hypnotist" • "Mama's Girl" / "Outcast Ashley" • "The Game" / "The Lost Ball" • "Gus' Last Stand" / "Operation Field Trip" • "The Challenge" / "Wild Child" • "The Substitute" / "Gretchen and the Secret of Yo" • "The Girl Was Trouble" / "Copycat Kid" • "Operation Stuart" / "Pharaoh Bob" • "The Story of Whomps" / "Weekend at Muriel's" • "Economics of Recess" / "Omega Kids" • "Yes, Mikey, Santa Does Shave" • "Bad Hair Day" / "Dance Lessons" • "Principal for a Day" / "The Beauty Contest"
Season Three: "One Stayed Clean" / "A Genius Among Us" • "Dodgeball City" / "A Career to Remember" • "Kindergarten Derby" / "The Bet" • "Space Cadet" / "Stand Up Randall" • "The Shiner" / "Lord of the Nerds" • "That Stinking Feeling" / "My Funny Valentines" • "The Barnaby Boys" / "Buried Treasure" • "The Library Kid" / "The Ratings Game"
Season Four: "The First Picture Show" / "The Big Prank" • "Hustler's Apprentice" / "The Spy Who Came in from the Playground" • "Gus' Fortune" / "Rumor Mill" • "Recess is Cancelled" / "Tattletale Heart" • "The Madness of King Bob" / "Call Me Guy" • "Prickly is Leaving" / "Randall's Friends" • "The Biggest Trouble Ever" / "The Rules" • "Gus and Misdemeanors" / "A Science Fair to Remember" • "Mikey's Pants" / "Here Comes Mr. Perfect" • "Good Luck Charm" / "Diggers Split Up" • "Schoolworld" / "Bachelor Gus" • "The Dude" / "Partners in Crime" • "The Candidates" / "This Brain for Hire" • "Spinelli's Masterpiece" / "Nobody Doesn't Like T.J." • "A Great State Fair" / "The A.V. Kid" • "Yope from Norway" / "Bonky Fever" • "Don't Ask Me" / "The Secret Life of Grotke" • "The Fuss Over Finster" / "Soccer Boy" • "Fort Tender" / "Germ Warfare" • "More Like Gretchen" / "Prince Randall" • "Me No Know" / "Good Ole T.J." • "Chez Vince" / "Tucked in Mikey" • "Old Folks Home" / "Some Friend"
Season Five: "The Coolest Heatwave Ever" / "No Strings Attached" • "Beyond a Reasonable Scout" / "The C Note" • "The Army Navy Game" / "Big Ol' Mikey" • "The Principals of Golf" / "All the Principal's Men" • "Lawson and his Crew"
Season Six: "Terrifying Tales of Recess" • "Kurst the Not So Bad" / "League of Randalls" • "Mundy, Mundy" / "Lost Leader"

Locations
Third Street SchoolOld RustyFifth and Sixth Grader ClubAshley's ClubhouseKing's Jungle Gym
Songs
We Shall Not Be MovedBorn to Be WildGreen TambourineDancing in the Street


v - e - d
Lilo & Stitch Logo
Media
Films: Lilo & Stitch (video/soundtrack) • Stitch! The Movie (video) • Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch (video) • Leroy & Stitch (video) • Lilo & Stitch (live-action film)

Shorts: The Origin of StitchOnce Upon a Studio
Shows: Lilo & Stitch: The SeriesStitch!Stitch & AiChibi Tiny Tales
Soundtracks: Lilo & Stitch: Island FavoritesLilo & Stitch Hawaiian Album
Video Games: Lilo & Stitch (GBA)Lilo & Stitch PinballLilo & Stitch: Hawaiian AdventureLilo & Stitch: Trouble in ParadiseDisney's Stitch: Experiment 626Lilo & Stitch's Island of AdventuresLilo & Stitch 2: Hämsterviel HavocKingdom Hearts IIStitch JamKingdom Hearts: Birth by SleepMotto! Stitch! DSStitch! Super ChefStitch!Now (Stitch Cosplay) • Bomberman: Disney Stitch EditionDisney Magical WorldDisney InfinityDisney Infinity: 2.0 EditionDisney Magical World 2Disney Magic KingdomsDisney Emoji BlitzDisney Crossy RoadDisney Heroes: Battle ModeKingdom Hearts IIIDisney Epic QuestDisney Getaway BlastDisney Dreamlight ValleyDisney Speedstorm
Books: Comic Zone Volume 1: Disney's Lilo & StitchStitch & the SamuraiAgent Stitch

Disney Parks
Disney Animation BuildingDisney Friends of the MonthInnoventionsIt's a Small WorldKaribuni MarketplaceStitch's Great Escape!Stitch EncounterThe Enchanted Tiki Room: Stitch Presents Aloha e Komo Mai!Stitch's Alien Encounter Character Greeting!

Entertainment: Lilo & Stitch's Ohana LuauDisney Adventure Friends CavalcadeDisney's Showtime SpectacularDisney's WishesFantasmic!Max LIVE: Gettin’ Goofy With ItMickey and the Magical MapOne Man's Dream II: The Magic Lives OnMickey presents: "Happy Anniversary Disneyland Paris"Stitch's Interplanetary Beach Party BlastStitch's Supersonic CelebrationThe Golden Mickeys
Parades: A Million Splashes of ColourDisney's Dreams On Parade: Moving OnFlights of Fantasy ParadeHappiness is Here ParadeJubilation!Mickey's New Year's Eve ParadeMove It! Shake It! Dance and Play It! Street PartyMickey's Storybook Express
Fireworks: Celebrate the MagicIlluminate! A Nighttime CelebrationCelebrate! Tokyo DisneylandMomentousWonderful World of AnimationWondrous Journeys
Spring: Disney's Easter WonderlandDisney's Spring PromenadeFashionable Easter
Summer: Adventure is Out There!Mickey's WaterWorksStitch's Summer Dance BashStitch and Friends Summer SurpriseSummer Blast
Halloween: Halloween Pop'n LIVERe-Villains! Halloween ParadeScream and Shout Halloween Parade
Christmas: A Totally Tomorrowland ChristmasDisney Christmas StoriesWorld of Color: Season of Light

Characters
Original: StitchLilo PelekaiNani PelekaiJumba JookibaPleakleyDavid KawenaCaptain GantuJacques von HämstervielGrand CouncilwomanGalactic ArmadaUGF TroopersMertle EdmondsElena, Teresa, and YukiSusan HegartyCobra BubblesMoses PulokiMrs. HasagawaMr. and Mrs. PelekaiLukiIce Cream Man

TV series: Mr. WongMrs. EdmondsAunt StacyOfficer KahikoKeoni JamesonMr. JamesonVictoriaMrs. PleakleyPixley PleakleyBertley PleakleyCharles and MaryMitzi Suzuki and Kato StewartMerwin and DeanEllen and LonaZach MakeliRingmasterMayor AnoloNicoléDr. Gladys OkraSaraMr. CooperChaps, Manny, and SperkMortlegax
Stitch!: Yuna KamiharaGrammaPennyKennyTaroSashaHiromanJessicaTigerlily SakaiDoloresAni PelekaiBooGooKijimunaaDelia
Stitch & Ai: Wang Ai LingWang JiejieMeiyingQian DahuWang DaiyuMr. DingBaoDim LongScratchJumba's Chinese Experiments
Video game characters: Dr. Habbitrale
Experiments: ChopsueySparkyReubenJamDiggerMaryHuggoSlimyRichterPhantasmoClipMr. StenchySpookyHolioCannonballGigiYinYangKixxSplodyheadAmnesioSwirlyFibberTankSproutElasticoYaarp627DeforestatorZapTopperMeltyHoudiniFudgySinkerNosyFinderSlushyDupeHeatThresherPlasmoidHammerfaceShortstuffAngelFelixPoxyHunkahunkaSampleBabyfierBonnieClydeSluggerDrowsySpikeSqueakFrenchfrySwapperShoeBackhoePokiSlickSkipClinkCheckersPJPlootSnootyRetroBelleMorpholomewSpatsHecklerWishy-WashyPhoonBugbyShushLaxRemmyDoubledipGotchuForeheadHockerZawpMulchShredderPixBoomerMannersWoodyWrapperBlowhardDerrickAceGlitchWoopsSnafuNosoxStamenTickle-TummyLinkLeroyCloudyStopgoSplatSproingKernelCarmenCyberShrinkBraggMrs. SicklyPopDorkifierWormholeToonsHertz DonutWelkoLoriderWitchSproutlingSkunkunaDark End
Guest Characters: Kim PossibleRon StoppableWadeDr. DrakkenShegoRufusPenny ProudOscar ProudTrudy ProudBeBe & CeCe ProudSuga MamaPuffT.J. DetweilerVince LaSalleAshley SpinelliGretchen GrundlerMikey BlumbergGus GriswaldMuriel FinsterJake LongLuong Lao ShiFu DogTrixie CarterArthur Spudinski
Others: Elvis PresleyPudgeJimmy the CockroachVarious AliensLeroy ClonesYamato MeisonSergeant C4703BK2704-90210

Episodes
Season One: "Richter" • "Phantasmo" • "Clip" • "Mr. Stenchy" • "Spooky" • "Holio" • "Cannonball" • "Yapper" • "Yin-Yang" • "Kixx" • "Splodyhead" • "Amnesio" • "Swirly" • "Fibber" • "Tank" • "Sprout" • "Elastico" • "Yaarp" • "627" • "The Asteroid" • "Topper" • "Melty" • "Houdini" • "Sinker" • "Nosy" • "Finder" • "Slushy" • "Dupe" • "Shortstuff" • "Angel" • "Felix" • "Poxy" • "Hunkahunka" • "Sample" • "Babyfier" • "Bonnie & Clyde" • "Slugger" • "Bad Stitch" • "Drowsy"

Season Two: "Spike" • "Frenchfry" • "Swapper" • "Shoe" • "Slick" • "Skip" • "Checkers" • "PJ" • "Ploot" • "Snooty" • "Retro" • "Belle" • "Morpholomew" • "Spats" • "Heckler" • "Wishy-Washy" • "Phoon" • "Bugby" • "Rufus" • "Shush" • "Lax" • "Remmy" • "Mrs. Hasagawa's Cats/Ace" • "Glitch/Woops" • "Snafu" • "Link"

Songs
He Mele No LiloHeartbreak HotelStuck on YouSuspicious Minds(You're the) Devil in DisguiseHawaiian Roller Coaster RideAloha ʻOeHound DogBurning LoveCan't Help Falling in LoveLahainaRubberneckin'I Need Your Love TonightA Little Less ConversationAlwaysAloha, E Komo MaiI'm So Lonesome I Could CryJailhouse RockDon't Be Cruel
Locations
HawaiiHonoluluKokaua TownLahui BeachLilo's HouseAloha Animal RescueHasagawa FruitsKaiāulu HaleMertle's HouseBirds of Paradise HotelKilauea LighthouseRental HutMuscle BayKiki's Coffee HutBeauty ParlorMartMacki Macaw'sLuki's Shave IceWaialeale PeakKauai AirportTuroPlorgonarPrison Asteroid K-37Galaxy Defense IndustriesLihue AirportIzayoi IslandIzayoi Elementary SchoolOkinawa New Town
Objects
Experiment PodsExperiment Pod ContainerJumba's ComputerPlasma BlasterNet CannonGalactic Cell PhonePrison CapsuleSample ExtractorFusion ChamberProjectorUburniumTime MachineReducer RayProtoplasmic Growth RayPlasmatic EnglobulatronLuggageScrumpLilo's Experiment BookStitch's SpacesuitStitch's NecklaceChitama Spiritual StoneGood Deed Counter
Vehicles/Spaceships
Jumba's ShipGantu's ShipPolice CruisersThe Red OneYellow Plantation TrucksAHI Tanker TruckDr. Hämsterviel's ShipManta ShuttleHovercraftX-BuggyFederation ShipB.R.B. 9000G.A.C.C. Ship
See Also
Unconfirmed ExperimentsTantalog languagePelekai ʻohana"The 747 Sequence"Stitch Crashes DisneyStitch Attacks Snacks
Advertisement