Wonderbug

infobox television
show_name = Wonderbug


caption= C.C., Susan, Barry, and Wonderbug
format = Children's television series
runtime = 0:15 (per episode)
producer = Sid and Marty Krofft
starring = David Levy
Jack Baker
Carol Anne Seflinger
voices = Frank Welker
country = USA
network = ABC
first_aired = September 11, 1976
last_aired = September 2, 1978
num_episodes = 22
imdb_id = 0074014

"Wonderbug" was a TV series on ABC network, and was part of the first and second season of the ABC network's "Krofft Supershow" beginning in 1976. It was shot in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

Plot

Wonderbug's alter ego "Schlepcar" was an old, beat up, conglomeration of several junked cars that looked like a rusty dune buggy. Like Herbie of Disney movie fame, Schlepcar was alive and could drive itself, and could also talk in a mumbling voice. It was found in a junk yard by teenagers Barry Buntrock (David Levy), C.C. McNamara (Jack Baker) and Susan Talbot (Carol Anne Seflinger). Schlepcar transformed into the shiny metal-flake orange Wonderbug when a magic horn was sounded. In his Wonderbug identity, Schlepcar had the power of flight and was able to help the three teens capture crooks and prevent evil wrongdoing.

In Wonderbug mode, the car was a custom Meyers Manx-clone body Volkswagen. The car had articulated eyeball headlights, and a custom bumper that resembled a mouth; different bumpers were sometimes used to give the car different facial expressions. When the car spoke in its mumbling voice, a rubber puppet stand-in with a moving mouth was sometimes used. The space that would normally contain the left rear passenger seat instead contained a box, described in dialog as "the costume trunk"; this box actually served to conceal a hidden driver in scenes in which the car drives itself. The car also had a long fender-mounded radio antenna that terminated with a robot-like claw or gripper.

Barry often thought he was the brains of the outfit. However, it was usually Susan who came up with the ideas that saved them.

Other Appearances

"Wonderbug" shared its half-hour time slot with other "Krofft Supershow" titles, including "Magic Mongo", "Dr. Shrinker", "The Lost Saucer", and "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl".

External links

*http://dt.prohosting.com/70s/childtv/krofft_facts.txt
*http://www.70slivekidvid.com/wbug.htm
*imdb title|0074014|The Krofft Supershow