Big John, Little John

Infobox Television
show_name = Big John, Little John


caption = Big John (Herb Edelman), from the opening credits
genre = Comedy
creator = Sherwood Schwartz
starring = Herb Edelman
Robbie Rist
Joyce Bulifant
theme_music_composer = Richard LaSalle
opentheme =
endtheme =
country = USA
language = English
num_seasons = 1
num_episodes = 13
list_episodes =
producer = Lloyd Schwartz
executive_producer = Sherwood Schwartz
runtime = 30 minutes
network = NBC
picture_format =
audio_format =
first_run =
first_aired = September 11, 1976
last_aired = December 4, 1976
website =
imdb_id = 0202719
tv_com_id = 233599

"Big John, Little John" was an American Saturday morning sitcom produced by Sherwood Schwartz which starred Robbie Rist as Little John, and Herb Edelman as Big John. The show first aired on September 11, 1976 on NBC, and ran for one season of 13 episodes

Plot summary

The show centered around a forty-year-old middle school science teacher named John Martin (played by Edelman). While vacationing in Florida, he drinks from a spring which turns out to be the legendary Fountain of Youth sought by Ponce de Leon. Returning home, the effects of the water change him into a twelve-year-old boy (played by Rist), and back again (In the days before morphing technology, the visual effect was accomplished by crossfading through a series of men's and boys' faces.)

Martin has no control over when the changes will occur, because he only took a sip of the water, and not a full drink, which explains why the changes are recurring and not permanent (according to legend, anyone who drank the fountain of youth could not regain their true age). Only his wife, Marjorie (Joyce Bulifant) and son, Ricky (Mike Darnell) know his secret. In order to explain the appearance of the younger John, the Martins claim that he is their nephew. The one most suspicious of the whole thing was Bertha Bottomly, John's superior, the Middle School's principal, who didn't know that Little John Martin and Big John Martin were one and the same. Throughout the series, "Big John" unsuccessfully tries to find a cure for his predicament, but his experiences as "Little John" often give him insight into what his students are facing.

To make the two actors resemble each other, Rist's blond hair was dyed brown, while Edelman wore a hairpiece. Edelman and Rist appeared together in 1977, on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.

Besides Edelman and Bulifant, who were already famous before this show, one of the most successful alumni of the show was actor Kristoff St. John, who played Homer, one of John Martin's students. He went on to play Adam Marshall on Generations and more famously, Neil Winters on The Young and the Restless.

Episode Guide

1. A Sizeable Problem

"First aired: September 11, 1976"

While on a trip to Florida, John Martin stumbles upon the legendary fountain of youth. Willing to test the waters, John sips a handful of the liquid. The consequences are unforeseeable, he begins to revert to his childhood on certain times, causing a lot of situations for John and his family.

2. Peter Panic

"First aired: September 18, 1976"

John must find out who is stealing cookies from his pantry.

3. Very Little John

"First aired: September 25, 1976"

John tries a new formula in the laboratory that apparently might cure him from his conversions.

4. The Great Escape

"First aired: October 2, 1976"

John Martin is detained when a sheriff demands his ID and he cannot produce it. He gets his freedom when his personality changes in prison.

5. Big Scare, Little Scare

Writer: Ron Friedman

Director: Gordon Wiles

Guest stars: Don 'Red' Barry (Mr. Crabtree), James Deuter (Mr. Boswell)

"First aired: October 9, 1976"

John has summoned Mr. Boswell, Stanley’s dad, to account for his son’s continuous absence to class for five days. Boswell explains that the boy is afraid of crossing in front of the Crabtree mansion, an abandoned house that neighbors believe it to be haunted. John decides to find out who’s behind the Crabtree ghost.

6. Big Shot/Little Shot

"First aired: October 16, 1976"

when it's vaccination day at the school and John turns into a kid and he gets vaccinated. Then at the end of the episode he becomes a man and the other teachers take him to get vaccinated again much to his chagrin.

7. Time For Change

"First aired: October 23, 1976"

On Thanksgiving John has to be a chaperon for a Thanksgiving dance at the school, while they are also decorating. He also has to deal with a girl who his son likes but who is asking little John out.

8. The Principal Who Came To Dinner

"First aired: October 30, 1976"

Big John's voice in Little John's body puts not only Martin in a squeeze but his family as well.

9. Bully For You

"First aired: November 6, 1976"

Stanley is again late for the class. The teacher is speaking to his students about the importance of facing up bullies. This leads to trouble for Little John when he's threatened by the class bully, Gasey.

10. Off The Wall

"First aired: November 13, 1976"

John is assigned to find who's behind the vandalism inflicted on the school walls. Martin is invited to join the school basketball team since he was once a superhero for his old team.

11. The Missing John

"First aired: November 20, 1976"

Little John receives a severe reprimand for having played unwillingly a joke on the school principal.

12. Speak For Yourself, John

"First aired: November 27, 1976"

Because of the arrangements for the annual dance that it is held at the school, Ms. Botonly proposes to professor Martin that he be one of the chaperons. At the same time that the Little John is chosen by his female classmate as companion for that day.

13. Abracadabra

"First aired: December 04, 1976"

In order to arrange a show for the school annual party, one of Martin's students prepares a set of different magic tricks.

Cast

*Herb Edelman - Big John Martin
*Robbie Rist - Little John Martin
*Joyce Bulifant - Marjorie Martin
*Mike Darnell - Ricky Martin
*Olive Dunbar - Bertha Bottomly
*Kristoff St. John - Homer
*Cari Anne Warder - Valerie
*Stephen Cassidy - Stanley

Rist previously worked on Schwartz's "Brady Bunch" during its final season (1973-1974), portraying the character Cousin Oliver.

External links

* [http://www.70slivekidvid.com/bjlj.htm Big John, Little John at 70s Live Action Kid Vid website]
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