[1][2] The group was formed in 1975 by University of Iowa students Bill Allard, Dan Coffey, Merle Kessler, Leon Martell, and Jim Turner.
The sketches became nationally popular, and three of the recurring characters – Dr. Science (Coffey), Ian Shoales (Kessler), and Randee of the Redwoods (Turner) – became better known than the group.
Pundit Ian Shoales appeared frequently on ABC's Nightline with Ted Koppel, pioneering the comic genre more recently associated with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.
The Ducks toured throughout the United States during the 1980s, doing live shows at colleges and similar venues, in addition to their radio work.
Unfortunately, the film failed to capture the humor of the group's stage shows and radio sketches, and was not well received by audiences or critics.