Courage The Cowardly Dog: Shirley Moments - The Nostalgia Guy

Shirley the Medium is a Chihuahua with a frequently occurring role on the show as an anti-heroine/anti-villainess. She is voiced by actress Mary Testa. Shirley is a tiny green Chihuahua with purple eyelids, long eyelashes tipped with small gold balls, a purple nose, and black paws. She has heterochromia, her right eye has an orange iris and the left one has green and orange coloring. She wears an oversized golden earring on her right ear. Her attire consists of a green dress covered by a purple cape and a blue hood. Shirley is a mystical fortune teller whose primary pastime is casting curses on those who defy morality. She despises the greedy, the wrathful, and the inhospitable, and subjects them to spells that only repair when their sins are reversed. Ironically, she is very fond of money; charging heavy fees on clients and selling herself on TV are some of the ways she obtains it. This is probably because she is actually poor (as shown in The Curse of Shirley) while living on the outskirts of Nowhere in her gypsy wagon. It may also be out of a desire to punish Eustace, whom she charges the most and whose actions annoy her the most. She commonly refers to Eustace as "the stupid one" because his mother Ma Bagge calls him "stupid boy", just like how he calls Courage "stupid dog" and seems to have a particular grudge against him. She seems to not mind Muriel and seems to have at least a mutual relationship with Courage. She can also play the saxophone well and uses this to attract money. In Swindlin' Wind, her curses are based on the crimes the couples have committed against her, and she removed them (without being asked) after seeing one member of the couple show concern for the other, smiling as she does so.

[@RinLockhart]

I'm a firm believer that Shirley and Courage actually hang out in between episodes and talk shit about Eustace.

[@ishikawagoemon4397]

Now that is sweet, I like that idea since they both agree Eustace is a jackass. I don't know why Muriel marry him or what does she see in the guy

[@gemstoneprincess2890]

​@@ishikawagoemon4397no idea neither

[@kingkrysen]

Same I like to believe they are besties it makes sense as they are both dogs

[@haf1872]

You know what??? Yes, I definitely see this and Shirley is like Courage's outlet.

[@sirhcsnomde2002]

​​@@gemstoneprincess2890 because she is the definition of "rose colored glasses" and believes there is good in everyone. And I love that mentality but it is incredibly naive. Eustace as an example he's been hurt by his mother all him life it ruined his confidence and destroyed any hope he would see good in the world. Now he is a bitter old man

[@Cloud-dt6xb]

Shirley is the only one in this show to seriously call Eustace out on his crap and I love it.

[@happyhour4670]

i thought his mom did too

[@bmabs35]

"The stupid one, yes?"

[@carmensandiego328]

Agreed! Plus she seems to understand Courage

[@TheArtgorithm]

​@@carmensandiego328I think it's because she's also a dog (chihuahua)

[@carmensandiego328]

@@TheArtgorithm good point too. I don’t get why Courage doesn’t use his words when he speaks like Shirley does.

[@TheDUDERulez1]

Always liked how she wasn't totally heartless. So long as you do right by her, she'll do right by you...for the most part.

[@segastars9802]

Awww, you had the perfect set up to say....for a fee. But yes, that's why she's one of my favorite characters.

[@spencerbowden2979]

Her services weren’t free but you got what you paid for with Shirley. The only time she is even the antagonist is cause eustace ripped her off.

[@soralinklokidottirprincess10]

And unless you payed a fee.

[@MCAP887]

Honestly she played the good supporting character really well.

[@andrecc1996]

Considering Shirley has pretty powerful magic, I'm sure Courage somehow got help from her off-screen to break The Great Fusilli's spell that turned Muriel & Eustace into puppets.

[@alexconn7473]

That definitely would make sense

[@Adamguy2003]

Sounds about right.

[@NeoUzumaki]

That would make the most sense in this crazy ass show 😂

[@FilmmakeroftheFuture]

It wouldn’t surprise me a bit.

[@ciscojacobo7168]

​@@FilmmakeroftheFutureThat's a way better than just Courage imagining the rest of the events of Season 2. Maybe Courage got help from both Shirley and The Computer to reverse the curse.

[@mustachesally4134]

Fact: Shirley is a chihuahua based on a dog who belonged to the creator of the shows, aunt. Shirley the medium portrayed the chihuahuas personality and how they are crafty but also wants to be spoiled and just wanted attention. Shirley the chi was my favorite character in this series!

[@mikhailthegreatestdragon3627]

Shirley's a chihuahua? Damn, I thought she was a cat

[@Nin_the_Shinobi]

I always thought she was a jackal for some reason 😅

[@deaddan2148]

I thought she was a fox!

[@eragoncat07]

Owning a Chihuahua. The moment I saw Shirley, I knew immediately she was a Chihuahua. It’s the headshape hat gave t away to me

[@LethalLaurie]

I honestly thought she was a bat for many years!

[@bean_machine96]

Courage doesn’t have many allies (if any) but out all of them Shirley is the most useful imo

[@jackcarraway4707]

Courage has friendly relationships with Shirley, Big Foot, the Duck Brothers, the Hunchback, Charlie the Mouse, Robot Randy, Computer, Dr. Vindaloo and Kitty/Bunny.

[@HCHaven7619]

I don't know, I think the computer helped him a lot more than Shirley did.

[@mediadragon2191]

Don’t forget Mr Mouse “No prob.”

[@mutantratz9225]

@@mediadragon2191 Mr Mouse is awesome one of my fave characters on the show :)

[@TheArtgorithm]

​@@mutantratz9225agreed. It was kind of a bummer that he is one of the few recurring allies of courage. It would have been nice to see an episode where courage had one or a few of his allies take down an enemy together. Kinda like Ball of Revenge but reversed.

[@RandoSando.]

"The stupid one, is stupid? Yes?"

[@hannahmartin9705]

"Uh-huh"

[@brandr7964]

No argument there

[@stevenasidilla4140]

Yes.

[@daetomrossington3623]

He’s stupid.. right?

[@sandracedillo8088]

My favorite line from Shirley 😂

[@enlightenerofcryptozoology8761]

“The stupid one. He is stupid yes?” It is nice when she pulls out her saxophone. It is also interesting seeing the relationship and interactions between her and Courage. It being mutual and they understand each other, gibberish included, and under good terms. XD

[@gemstoneprincess2890]

I wish I can play the saxophone 🎷 so I can curse on those who hurt me

[@martinmarkov9707]

​@@gemstoneprincess2890..use the fire duster.

[@Cutiepie-cy8td]

The fact Courage didn’t even hesitate to pull out his gold tooth and give it to Shirley as an act of kindness..

[@GlitterPeach]

@@martinmarkov9707 what

[@Katelynnleon3000]

Next to Muriel and Bunny she's my absolute favorite female character in the series so mysterious powerful she's a really cool witchy character

[@obsesstivereader21]

I think Shirley is the ONLY one who Courage isn't scared of, don't you?

[@mutantratz9225]

I notice that too! Maybe it's because she's a dog to and he can relate to her in a way?

[@chris1995-l8w]

What about the hunchback?

[@mutantratz9225]

@@chris1995-l8w oh true!

[@rampagerichard]

@@chris1995-l8wthat guy is Courage’s friend and so is Shirley too

[@crisisboy5822]

Also the shadow and the bunny

[@ragincajunstud]

0:53 I like how Shirley is perfectly listening to Courage’s babbling.

[@JustAPrinnyDood]

Maybe it's because she's a dog too

[@monkeycat48]

I don’t know why, back then I assumed she was just a bat but no actually she looks like a Chihuahua

[@Ghost-fv6lw]

"The stupid one he opened the box yes?" Home girl knew what was up 😂

[@nucleardino8992]

​@@monkeycat48That's what *I* was thinking!

[@jaygooese4242]

@@Ghost-fv6lw yes

[@stephj505]

I remember Courage giving Shirley a big piece of silver and thinking, "Dang, how much allowance does Muriel give you?"

[@brandr7964]

Toonforce hammerspace

[@ishikawagoemon4397]

I don't think it's that much, remember the episode where he doesn't have enough cash to the librarian?

[@DemonicAdj]

He might have dug it up. Lots of weird stuff turns up in Nowhere.

[@dubledolix0956]

@@DemonicAdj Considering all of the baddies and supernatural mess that he and his family have to go through on a regular basis, it may've also been money he'd gotten from people who were at their house.

[@amaruqlonewolf3350]

He can lay 14 karat gold eggs. I guess that'll be a good explanation.

[@Inferno65]

*Shirley:* ^Asks for something^ *Courage:* ^Rips out ONE OF HIS FUCKING TEETH and gives it to her no questions asked^

[@guardianm4browning111]

One time he llayed a small golden egg out of nowhere he made by himself.

[@Inferno65]

@@guardianm4browning111 My point was more that he's so overly generous, he will literally remove a body part to present as a gift.

[@comettoss3935]

It was golden.

[@Demaad]

Gotta help a fellow dog

[@Wolfgodmak]

Shirley has no problem with Courage and Muriel. Its just Eustace arrogance and stubbornness that causes her to respond likewise

[@MrSomaArikado]

"Im afraid no magic can fix this.....go digital" -Shirley

[@volactic5240]

That's internet

[@micmen1496]

This line aged so well 😂

[@featherflight8446]

“Swindling begets only swindling just as selfishness begets banana heads.” That line makes me laugh every time just because of how silly it is.

[@Sheenifier]

It's kind of shitty she cursed Muriel too even though it was all Eustace's fault. But he still gets his comeuppance

[@daddylonglegs3698]

@@Sheenifier She needed to say something to rhyme with life though.

[@ligondesenuts769]

@@Sheenifier I think Shirley kind of represents the consequences of being too self centered

[@quashietagoe5124]

Shirley’s right about the swindling though, it will come back to bite you

[@TheShadowspear2]

1:50-2:10 Even though it was a gold tooth I noticed symbolically that Courage was willing to go through pain give everything to help someone out.

[@NoWayJose24]

Really shows under all that fear, courage is a good dog

[@DSi381]

Don't forget in the Magical Tree of Nowhere, he endured hornet stings to make the cure for Muriel. HORNETS!

[@Demaad]

@@NoWayJose24 As Courage always says, Things he does for love

[@seeleunit2000]

​@@DemaadAnd that's why he's named Courage.

[@aqeelramathula9717]

Shirley doesn't take no shit from Eustace no matter how he treats her and she's a pretty cool anti-heroine.

[@brentdye1504]

Clearly she didn't like Eustace.

[@DRCE777]

7:25 Aww, Shirley undoing the Curse seeing them the way they are brings tears to my eyes, the music as well😭

[@XJIcequeen]

Me too

[@lloydau3610]

She might have been the antagonist in some episodes but I always felt comforted whenever she was on screen. She's often altruistic and reasonable in this mad show.

[@pantherman8719]

I kinda felt like she was an anti-hero. Kinda there sometimes helping Courage other times antagonizes Eustace lol.

[@lloydau3610]

@@pantherman8719 Shirley definitely has her own goals but she's not evil, she's not gonna hurt an innocent person for no reason. That's what I think.

[@pantherman8719]

@@lloydau3610 i agree

[@XJIcequeen]

@@lloydau3610she only wants to teach the mean and selfish a lesson. I actually based a kind human Gypsy character off her

[@SFAPowerhouse]

She was never an antagonist....always an anti-hero

[@cirnosnumberfan6449]

I like to think that the only reason Shirley learned how to do magic and curses its for self defense. Because of her small size and poor life style, she knew that people would try to take advantage of that. We never really see her use her magic for ill intent or anything like that, only when people have it coming.

[@azaraelhyzer3874]

Shirley is like the therapist we all wanted but never got.

[@toledotoledo3620]

Who else wants a prequel spin off that shows the origins of Shirley

[@coollionboy3887]

She deserves one

[@TheDylanJoyce]

And we wonder who thinks we need these unnecessary spin-offs!

[@ghostprince4284]

I Do! If She Does Get A Spin Off Series,The Show Should Be Called:Shirley The Medium Chihuahua.

[@irawilliams343]

Her sass is the reason why she's my favorite character in the show. If only she and Courage had more episodes working together.

[@Amber417]

I love how Shirley doles out curses left and right, but she always tells Courage how to reverse them and even removes them herself when she sees others have learned their lesson i.e. 7:30. She’s vengeful but fair.

[@exoticjanene]

she was so adorable to me 🤣🥰

[@pomo1697]

She's looks like a taco bell dog

[@rachelgreenicon]

Cat or dog

[@chris1995-l8w]

@@rachelgreenicon dog

[@gouravchakraborty9801]

​@@rachelgreenicon*CHIHUAHUA*

[@brandr7964]

So cuddlely, wish courage dated her they had chemistry /:)

[@madcreator4650]

"Go digital" I fucking love this cartoon 😂

[@JackSchoenfeldt]

How romantic when those teenagers are still in love in their uncursed.

[@thetokutickler]

Shirley is a true chaotic neutral, preventing just about as much havoc as she causes

[@mutantratz9225]

Shirley was one my most favorite reccuring characters from this show along with Charlie the Mouse and Katz.

[@RoaldJBrito]

And le quack

[@TayoEXE]

I always loved the way Shirley refers to Eustace as "The Stupid One." Like, he's earned a special title of her disrespect.

[@angeloflifewonders9380]

I love her she's adorable, her magic basically makes her walking karma.

[@FilmmakeroftheFuture]

It makes sense that Courage would help Shirley in her time of need due to how she’s helped him in the past.

[@louisnapolitano]

Very underrated character I usually think fortune tellers are scammers as people can't tell the future even if they tried

[@edwardantone810]

Pyshic 🔮 Chihuahua 🐕 Can Play The Saxophone 🎷

[@pomo1697]

She's a taco bell dog

[@JorDel_1111]

Actually Shirley looks like a Chihuahua😮😮😂

[@KYLE1654-v7m]

She is one.

[@FlyyGirl1000]

I call her a pretty gypsy dog lol

[@MrWill9002]

My favorite one being: "The stupid one. He's stupid, right?" It like another day for her dealing with idiots

[@gemstoneprincess2890]

Yep

[@SunshineAriascine]

6:14 “What?! This is not oil well; this is oil bill! I have been swindled!” Me: “Well, excuse me for saying so, but if he was too cheap to give you a simple $5, why would he instead give you a deed to an oil well?”

[@brentdye1504]

Eustace! Don't swindling Shirley! She was not tolerate for this!

[@gemstoneprincess2890]

If I was Eustace I would give the damn 5 dollars

[@tartlynerdy]

I'll be honest. I only came here because Shirley's sax solos have lived in my head rent free for years.

[@kingkrysen]

Same lol 😂

[@lolohets6467]

I love how she casts a curse using a Saxophone 😂😂😂

[@sonicguyver7445]

In Animal Crossing, I love reading Katrina's dialog in Shirley's voice.

[@g-girl95]

Besides Courage, Shirley will always be one of my favorite characters in this show🔮

[@josephinebutler1989]

"You HAD to open the box" One of my absolute favorite lines in this show🤣

[@ico1]

"The Stupid One. He's stupid, right?"

[@Simipourfangirl]

Wait... Why does Muriel carry a tea tray and a whole pie in her purse?

[@Desiremademanifest]

You never know when someone might want some pie and tea.

[@GlitterPeach]

always prepared

[@superdarklink]

Big Grandma energy

[@Simipourfangirl]

@@superdarklink yeah she does give off Grandma vibes. Very sweet.

[@Simipourfangirl]

@@Desiremademanifest good point.

[@charlespacheco2806]

Mary Testa (Voice of Shirley the Medium) is very talented

[@Darkblue4269]

What else has she done?

[@jessicaburdell7779]

5:13 Shirley gives her stance on GameStop

[@disneyknightspadilla1406]

I like when Shirley berates Eustace for opening the box just for greed.

[@glacialheir4815]

I love courage speaks noises and they can understand him 😂

[@KYLE1654-v7m]

She's a dog to.

[@reptile1687]

Well shes a dog like him

[@Druggy-Doggo]

When I was younger my head canon was that Shirly was courage’s long lost mother 😂

[@kytrensol9777]

Or his cool aunt who helps him every now and then.

[@Druggy-Doggo]

@@kytrensol9777 that to, tru

[@kytrensol9777]

​@@Druggy-Doggo maybe his parents were affiliated with Shirley, so she helps him out.

[@gemstoneprincess2890]

Actually aunt

[@elperrodelautumo7511]

Maybe Courage has some Romani blood 🩸 within. It would make sense why he connects well with Shirley and dr Vindaloo. As well as the computer. Because these people connect to India 🇮🇳.

[@pomo1697]

Shirley is my favorite Courage The Cowardly Dog character beside Eustace

[@Mars_over_seer]

Looking back on this show, I realized how Skips served a similar role in Regular show. I’m surprised now one made a crossover with that show, with Skips asking Shirley to help Mordecai and Rigby.

[@mushroom_hat9556]

wait that happen??

[@drakofox1362]

​@@mushroom_hat9556 autocorrect may have messed OPs message they mean how no one made a crossover of them yet

[@alexomega0622]

3:13 My reaction to some people.

[@xionia6908]

My favorite line from her lol

[@mitchellneuhoff9946]

And unfortunately, Eustace bagge is one of those people

[@darkstone_official_2427]

Eustace: Hey! That's mine. Shirley: Licensing fee. Eustace: (Cries) Gotta love how even though he's selfish, money grubbing, and rude, he still respects a business transaction.

[@nutshot_brawler8466]

You know, I just realized that Shirley can understand Courage, because she's a chihuahua

[@vojislavS8652]

Casting curses with a saxophone is the weirdest and funniest way to cast a curse 😂 🎷

[@miketherobotinkling7741]

I feel like Shirley is the key to all your problems

[@giratina47]

I love shirley!!! She was straight up

[@kickstand801]

Shirley could play a mean sax. Always loved this character.

[@leventhumps3861]

As a kid I shipped Courage and Shirley. I was too young to really understand, but he was a boy dog and she was a girl dog. That’s about as deep as my thinking was.

[@aidanrandall7438]

Maybe I mean who else is there for Courage.

[@Simipourfangirl]

I think Shirley may be too old for courage. I mean both are clearly adult dogs but .

[@SpokeNyan1390]

Well that is you as a kid. Nice thought though, maybe you can imagine it.

[@segastars9802]

Same! I was about to post my own comment on this, but since I saw yours, I'm just going to comment under it. I had the exact same thoughts about them. Now that I'm older, I know that Shirley would be more like an aunt to Courage.

[@DemonicAdj]

The Only Sane People in Nowhere.

[@HolyCross9]

Who was it that voiced this lovely and attractive chihuahua medium?

[@NostalgiaGuy760]

Mary Testa

[@HolyCross9]

@@NostalgiaGuy760 Thanks!

[@Sheenifier]

Oh yeah its- ayo? 🤨

[@chitvanmohan1643]

Chihuahua gypsy is cute.💜

[@companiondroid]

I think its interesting she started out with a silver sax and by the end homegirl upgraded to a gold one.

[@eugenegodzilla946]

Pyshic chihuahua

[@taylorhillard4868]

7:00 swindling begets only swindling. Just as selfishness begets bananaheads. 😂

[@GhostCell47]

2:27 8:35 That 🎷 tho!!!😂😂😂😂😂

[@foxythehtfredfirefox11734]

Yeah I love her Zaxaphone everytime she used I got chills😮

[@whoisyouranime]

1:00, 3:13, 4:57, 7:44, 7:58 I love how Shirley calls Eustace "The Stupid One".

[@MageSkeleton]

having her as a love interest for Courage would had been a neat dynamic. i still can't believe how well they did that show. Would be nice to see a reboot where Eustis actually makes attempts to farm, it can be part educational, comedy, and each episode follow after events from the last.

[@M.W.K6996]

Shirley was one of the very best characters in the show. And I deeply wish she had much more roles. As well as a part in the Courage/Scooby Doo crossover.

[@KevinEontrainer381]

4:12 EA each time they put in lootboxes

[@ravennalovecraft421]

My heart sighed when she took away the curses❤❤❤ i love when Shirley smiles

[@drakofox1362]

I love how at 10:03 Shirley doesn't question how the hell Courage shat out a actual 14 karat gold egg and asks if he could have made a bigger one 😂 love that little Chihuahua

[@ishikawagoemon4397]

I think Shirley is the best allied courage could ever ask for, even tho she only do it for a "small" fee if something too mysterious for him to handle. Beside the A.I computer

[@alexadams4358]

"The Stupid One. He is stupid." 3:13

[@erasmocortez5952]

3:10 saving for my self lol

[@selfactualizer2099]

This is one of the most impressive children's shows I've ever seen, and if I ever have children this is on the list without a doubt, I was genuinely excited to see this show at the same time on tv every day, sure people joke about its creepiness but in reality it was just genuinely satisfying to watch I think it says a lot about what shows should be as well, modern children's shows are just energetic and random without any kind of deeper thoughts or creative artwork Infact most modern cartoons are just a bunch of small characters with big eyes now, without any other purpose other than consistently profitable and reproduceable without much risk (I mean the computer in courage just insults him every time, and he gets abused by one of his owners lmao, that kind of toon humor just doesn't fly like it used to, I believe the next generation of parents will be more relaxed on censorship though, I think censorship was evolved by people who grew up before the "digital age", Just a bit of a rant, maybe people agree, we should bring back the focus to art, story, and design, and stop giving attention to the mills

[@SevenTailedWolf72]

Agreed.

[@PerfectlyImperfect93]

I love Shirley 😂 other than Courage she was my favorite character ❤

[@Lily-kl1of]

I kind of shipped Courage and Shirley. They’re both dogs, they’re both kind, and they both don’t like Eustace.

[@jesseaguon5196]

But their is a problem she sounds a little too old for courage, I mean like from the sound of her voice she sounds like she could be maybe in her early 50's and courage from the scenes in which he spoke clear English sounded like he was in his late 30's, I know they're dogs not humans but really she sounds a bit too old for courage, so I don't see them as a couple just as friends

[@Lily-kl1of]

@@jesseaguon5196 Fair enough

[@Demaad]

@@Lily-kl1ofI’d say she’s more like a cool aunt to Courage

[@spongebobswindow7472]

never realised Shirley was a chihuahua

[@sethporter730]

The quote “The stupid one. He’s stupid, right?” Sounds like something you’d see on a t-shirt or a bumper sticker

[@erisunflower]

This whole time I thought Shirley was a cat, but I just found out she’s a chihuahua lol. An adorable, sassy one of course 💙

[@FurryEskimo]

I remember her being very helpful and not scary. She didn’t ignore Courage or yank people around with riddles, she was very direct.

[@PoorDog69]

I love Shirley, she's so relatable 😻

[@NickNui]

Every time I think of a sarcastic sorceress character in a video game or book or something, I just imagine them with this voice.

[@Quanboyadvanced]

The way he says that is so satisfying 6:04

[@anon0092]

" The stupid one, [ he ] is stupid, right?" I still quote that, to this day XD

[@TheDarkarrow7]

“The Stupid One, he opened the box yes?” 😂🤣

[@humblemarty]

1:27 Shirley is amazing. Can we talk about how Muriel was able to fit the whole pie, tea set, and anything the size of her generosity into her purse?

[@myrasvlogs787]

7:26-7:40 Is a very sweet scene🫠❤️😭

[@saucygyal6480]

Awhhh I like her accent. She’s a beautiful gypsy puppy 🥹

[@FlyyGirl1000]

She’s a pretty gypsy doggy 🥰

[@disneyknightspadilla1406]

2:30 courage was like “ooh now you done it you made her angry!”

[@tiannaspence9671]

Courage remembered laying golden eggs from the Bayou Swamp curse episode

[@BaseballRoscoe25]

Eustace: Ain't no such thing as curses! Me: Obviously he never heard of the Chicago Cubs

[@brunomartins1477]

I like how her golden earring changes ear at 3:17

[@brydc0ck31]

She is magical!

[@deronevery7127]

1:42-1:47 Muriel had a pie a tea in her pocketbook

[@zinhlemakh]

She's so cute

[@Life4Nintendo]

"The stupid one, he is stupid, yes?"

[@wyatthadley6543]

I don't think there is a berry saxophone that is that small

[@haziqsaffari9893]

Shirley is definitely one of best characters in Courage the Cowardly Dog.

[@jinglejinglebell7844]

5:18 that cut was perfect 😂

[@Es97Coqui]

T0P 3 Favorite Cartoons : Teen Titans Regular Show Courage the Cowardly Dog