- The Krofft Supershow
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The Krofft Supershow Format Children's television series Starring Jay Robinson
Billy Barty
Michael Lembeck
Deidre Hall
Lennie WeinribCountry of origin USA No. of episodes 32 Production Producer(s) Sid and Marty Krofft Running time 60 minutes Broadcast Original channel ABC Original run September 11, 1976 – September 2, 1978 Chronology Followed by The Krofft Superstar Hour The Krofft Supershow is a Saturday morning children's variety show, produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. It aired for two seasons from September 11, 1976 to September 2, 1978 on ABC.
Contents
Background
The show was composed of several live action segments, hosted by "Kaptain Kool and the Kongs", a rock band created for the series. The season one (1976–1977) segments were "Dr. Shrinker", "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl" and "Wonderbug", plus re-runs of The Lost Saucer for the first half of the season (they were dropped when the show was cut from 90 minutes to one hour). For season two (1977–1978), "Dr. Shrinker" and "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl" were dropped and replaced with "Bigfoot and Wildboy" and "Magic Mongo." Each live action section was approximately 15 minutes in length.
Instead of a third season, the show was massively revamped (and moved to NBC) in order to feature the then-popular Bay City Rollers. Now retitled The Krofft Superstar Hour, Kaptain Kool and the Kongs were replaced by the Rollers, and new live action segments "Horror Hotel" and "The Lost Island" replaced the older live action segments.
Show segments
Kaptain Kool and the Kongs
For the first season, Kaptain Kool and the Kongs were portrayed as a wacky glam rock band, the segments were filmed at the short-lived World of Sid and Marty Krofft indoor amusement park in Atlanta. For season two, their image was toned down somewhat, and they were downsized from a five to a four-person band and their segments were now filmed in a studio with an audience of children. In either incarnation, the band would introduce the other live action segments, as well as perform skits and songs. Most of the songs were written by the Osmonds.[1] After they were replaced by the Bay City Rollers, the group made appearances on other Sid and Marty Krofft productions, including Donny & Marie, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour and The Krofft Komedy Hour. They also made an appearance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand and they starred in two primetime TV specials featuring previews of ABC's Saturday morning lineup.
Cast:
- Kaptain Kool: Michael Lembeck
- Superchick: Debra Clinger
- Turkey: Mickey McMeel
- Nashville: Louise DuArt
- Flatbush (season 1 only): Bert Sommer
Two albums were released featuring Kaptain Kool and the Kongs, both in 1978: the self-titled Kaptain Kool and the Kongs featured the band singing, and Stories From the Krofft TV Supershow includes several comedy skits. In addition, they released one single, "And I Never Dreamed" b/w "Sing Me a Song."[2]
Dr. Shrinker
Main article: Dr. ShrinkerDr. Shrinker is an evil scientist with a lab on an uncharted island. When teenagers Brad, B.J. and Gordie are stranded on the island, Dr. Shrinker subjects them to his shrinker machine. They manage to escape the lab in miniature form; the series follows their adventures as they try to evade the clutches of the mad scientist.
Cast:- Dr. Shrinker: Jay Robinson
- Hugo: Billy Barty
- Brad: Ted Eccles
- B.J.: Susan Lawrence
- Gordie: Jeff MacKay
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl
Main article: Electra Woman and Dyna GirlLori and Judy, reporters for Newsmaker magazine, are secretly Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, crime fighting superheroines. Assisted by their friend Frank Heflin, they fought such supervillains as the Pharaoh, the Sorcerer, Glitter Rock, Ali Baba, Spider Lady, and the Empress of Evil.
Cast:- Electra Woman/Lori: Deidre Hall
- Dyna Girl/Judy: Judy Strangis
- Frank Heflin: Norman Alden
Wonderbug
Main article: WonderbugBarry, C.C. and Susan are three teenage friends who fixed up an old dune buggy (which they dubbed "Schlepcar"). When they attached a magic horn to the car, Schlepcar comes to life as Wonderbug. Wonderbug could fly, and would help the teens fight crime.
Cast:- Barry: David Levy
- C.C.: Jack Baker (as John Anthony Bailey)
- Susan: Carol Anne Seflinger
- Wonderbug (voice): Frank Welker
Magic Mongo
When teenagers Donald, Lorraine, and Kristy find an old bottle, they discover it is the home of Mongo, a genie. Mongo's magical attempts to help his young masters lead to many wacky misadventures.
Cast:
- Mongo: Lennie Weinrib
- Donald: Paul Hinckley
- Lorraine: Helaine Lembeck
- Kristy: Robin Dearden
- Ace: Bart Braverman
- Duncey: Larry Larsen
Bigfoot and Wildboy
Main article: Bigfoot and WildboyAfter Wildboy was orphaned in the Pacific Northwest, he was found and raised by Bigfoot, the legendary man-beast of the forest. The two work together to fight those who would harm the forest. They were aided in the first season by Suzie, 12-year-old daughter of Ranger Lucas; in the second season, Suzie was replaced by Cindy, a young archeology student.
The episodes of "Bigfoot and Wildboy" that aired on The Krofft Supershow were 15 minutes in length. In 1979, ABC brought back the show as a stand-alone series by editing the 15 minutes segments into 30 minute episodes. New episodes were also filmed and aired in the summer of 1979.
Cast:
- Bigfoot: Ray Young
- Wildboy: Joseph Butcher
- Suzie: Monika Ramirez
- Ranger Lucas: Ned Romero
- Cindy: Yvonne Regalado
- Cindy's father: Al Wyatt, Jr.
Notes
- ^ Trivia entry at the Internet Movie Database. Last accessed 27 February 2007.
- ^ Entry at Rate Your Music. Last accessed 27 February 2007.
External links
- The Krofft Supershow at the Internet Movie Database
- Bigfoot and Wildboy at Episodeguides.com
- Krofft Supershow at the Weird World of Sid and Marty Krofft fanpage
Sid and Marty Krofft Television shows H.R. Pufnstuf (1969) · The Bugaloos (1970) · Lidsville (1971) · Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (1973) · Land of the Lost (1974) · Far Out Space Nuts (1975) · The Lost Saucer (1975) · Donny & Marie (1976) · The Krofft Supershow (1976) · The Brady Bunch Hour (1977) · The Krofft Superstar Hour (1978) · Pink Lady and Jeff (1980) · Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (1980) · Pryor's Place (1984) · D.C. Follies (1987) · Land of the Lost (1991) · Family Affair (2002)
Krofft Supershow Segments Dr. Shrinker (1976) · Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (1976) · Kaptain Kool and the Kongs (1976) · Wonderbug (1976) · Magic Mongo (1977) · Bigfoot and Wildboy (1977)
Krofft Puppets appeared in The Dean Martin Show (1965) · The Banana Splits (1968) · The Great Space Coaster (1981)
Pilots and TV specials Here's Irving (1957) · Fol-de-Rol (1972) · The World of Sid & Marty Krofft at the Hollywood Bowl (1973) · Really Raquel (1974) · Jimmy Osmond Presents ABC's Saturday Sneak Peek (1976) · The Paul Lynde Halloween Special (1976) · The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (1976) · Kaptain Kool and the Kongs Present ABC All-Star Saturday (1977) · The Bay City Rollers Meet the Saturday Superstars (1978) · The Krofft Komedy Hour (1978) · Bobby Vinton's Rock 'n' Rollers (1978) · Anson & Lorrie (1981) · Saturday's the Place (1984) · The Cracker Brothers (1985) · Rock 'n' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular (1985) · The Patti LaBelle Show (1985) · Sid & Marty Krofft's Red Eye Express (1988) · Krofft Late Night (1991) · Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (2001)
Films Pufnstuf (1970) · Harry Tracy, Desperado (1980) · Middle Age Crazy (1980) · Side Show (1981) · Land of the Lost (2009)
Theme park Live shows Howdy, Mr. Ice of 1950 (1949) · Les Poupées de Paris (1961) · Circus (1966) · Funny World (1966) · Kaleidescope (1968) · Fol-de-Rol (1968) · Comedy Kings (1988)
Categories:- American children's television series
- American Broadcasting Company network shows
- 1976 television series debuts
- 1978 television series endings
- 1970s American television series
- American variety television series
- Television series by Sid & Marty Krofft Television Productions
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