According to a 1997 comics poll conducted by the New York Daily News, "Motley's Crew" was elected as the 28th most favorite comic strip among readers and visitors to the official Internet site. The comic strip was considered to be more popular than B.C. (still in publication) but less popular than Broom-Hilda (still in publication). However, it also voted as the 30th least favorite comic strip in the same poll; indicating that more people liked the "Motley's Crew" comic strip than hated it. Templeton and Forman created the comic in 1976. It was first syndicated by what is known today as Tribune Content Agency on September 6 of that year. Templeton and Forman were working together on it until Forman's death in 1996. After Forman's death, Templeton continued alone. It continued until January 1, 2000.