Cereal, Cartoons, and Krofft Brothers: Saturday Morning in the 70s
Saturday morning was a ritual in the 70s, often starting before the station sign-on (we didn't have 24 hours of local programming, in those days) and lasting at least until American Bandstand. Here are some of those programs of that era and my memories (some are from the end of the 60s, but were still in reruns at the beginning of the 70s, while a few are from the very early 80s). Your mileage may vary...
ps. This list used to include Tom and Jery, which was shown on CBS, from 1965-1972. It was a network show, consisting of the Tom and Jerry Cartoons, like the Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show. However, the listing has been deleted by IMDB.
ps. This list used to include Tom and Jery, which was shown on CBS, from 1965-1972. It was a network show, consisting of the Tom and Jerry Cartoons, like the Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show. However, the listing has been deleted by IMDB.
List activity
89K views
• 38 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
96 titles
- CreatorDoug WildeyStarsMike RoadTim MathesonDon MessickThe Quest family and their bodyguard investigate strange phenomena and battle villains around the world.This was in re-runs in the 70s, but the powers that be hadn't really messed with the content. It is still one of the most imaginative adventure cartoons ever. People died, there was real peril, some monsters, genuine creeps, amazing machinery and good characters. You can't do much better than this.
- StarsMel BlancBea BenaderetHal SmithBugs Bunny and all his cartoon friends are stage performers entertaining audiences with 7 features per show, all of which are classic theatrical cartoons from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.Lasting through several variations, from the 60s through the 80s, this was still the best cartoon show on Saturday morning. It was on ABC, then CBS in that era and was even 90 minutes long, at one point. It eventually migrated to NBC, then back to ABC. Again, the censors hadn't gotten out of hand yet, so you still had the gunshots and some of the wilder antics that were edited out by the 80s.
- CreatorJoe RubyKen SpearsJoseph BarberaStarsDon MessickCasey KasemNicole JaffeA group of teenage friends and their Great Dane (Scooby-Doo) travel in a bright green van solving strange and hilarious mysteries, while returning from or going to a regular teenage function.Scooby Doo was a classic by any standard! Things got greatly watered down with the later shows, but this one is still memorable. The show was formulaic but the scripts were pretty inventive and the visuals were quite wild. Added bonus, no Scrappy Doo.
- CreatorMarty KrofftSid KrofftStarsJack WildBillie HayesLennie WeinribThe adventures of a boy trapped in a fantastic land with a dragon friend and a witch enemy.This was surreal, to put it mildly. You have a weird combination of live actors, people in puppet costumes, and actual puppets. The colors were bright, the humor was silly, and the stores were bizarre, but it had an immense charm. Witchiepoo is still the best!
- CreatorGardner FoxStarsDanny DarkCasey KasemOlan SouleThe greatest of the DC Comics superheroes work together to uphold the good with the help of some young proteges.The first of the Super Friends shows, it suffered from the heavier standards imposed after the 60s, so no one could ever grab one of the villains (with their own hands) and there weren't many real villains (certainly not from the comics), but it had some creative stories. Some of the character names were real groaners (Dr. Shaman, with his Shaman U device).
By far the best of the Super Friends shows, with actual villains from the comics comprising the Legion of Doom. This was the way the rest of the Super Friends shows should have been done. Frank Welker's voice for Toyman will set your teeth on edge, though.
Yet another variation on the theme. Pretty much more of the same. Some decent episodes, some farily odd.
Second iteration of the Super Friends, introducing the Wonder Twins, and adding a team-up with a new hero each week. We finally got some villains, but only a couple from the comics. Debut of Apache Chief, Samurai and Black Vulcan; and, debut of Rima the Jungle Girl, of all characters. I tended to find the shorter segments (especially the team-ups with the non-core characters) more entertaining than the big adventure of the week. It desperately needed more villains and plots from the comics. - CreatorMarty KrofftSid KrofftStarsCharles Nelson ReillyBillie HayesButch PatrickA boy finds himself trapped in a land populated by living hat-people which is ruled by a crotchety magician.Another weird Krofft show. The characters were all hats, with personalities to match. Not as creative as Pufnstuf, but it is hard to forget the image of a green skinned Charles Nelson Riley flying through the air in a giant top hat!
- CreatorAllan FoshkoMarty KrofftSid KrofftStarsWesley EureKathy ColemanSpencer MilliganA family finds themselves fighting to survive in a land populated by dinosaurs and otherworldly beings.Probably the most popular of the Krofft Shows, featuring a lost world of dinosaurs (in bad stop motion and puppetry), strange humanoids (the Pakunis), and Sleestaks. Very imaginative but held back by budget and technology. Many of the Sleestaks were actually basketball players from UCLA and USC.
- StarsRoss MartinJohn StephensonJosh AlbeeCartoon adventure series that focused on a group of Oceanauts in their experimental complex on the ocean floor.One of the last of the Hanna-Barbera adventure shows (apart from the Super Friends), it featured aquatic adventures with ecological focus. Featured Ross Martin of The Wild Wild West. It would later spawn Adult Swim's Sealab 2021.
- StarsAllan MelvinHal SmithCasey KasemThree teenagers and the ghost of a patriot from the American Revolution set across the country to uphold justice and fight discrimination.Basically in the mold of Scooby Doo, but with a cowardly Revolutionary War ghost. Not the greatest but not the worst.
- CreatorJoseph BarberaWilliam HannaStarsScatman CrothersJoe E. RossKathy GoriA kung-fu-fighting pup and his snickering cat sidekick battle crime.Fun series that tried to jump onto the kung-fu bandwagon. Very slapsticky and repetitive but succeeded on the strength of Scatman Crothers as the voice of the hero.
- StarsJamie FarrKathy GoriTed KnightAnimated childrens show about a private detective who's only a few inches tall. Aided by some normal sized teenagers, he solves a variety of mysteries.Pretty much a one gimmick show with little to recommend. It was one of those shows you watched because the competition didn't have anything better.
- StarsRobert RidgelyJack BannonErika ScheimerThis series is based on the adventures of Tarzan who seeks to champion the less fortunate, to right wrongs and to protect both the animals in his jungle as well as the human visitors.Great show from Filmation, using rotoscoping (animating over live footage) to give the character more movement. It looked great but they used the same shots over and over. The writers defaulted to lost civilizations a lot but it was memorable.
- CreatorGene RoddenberryStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyThe further adventures of Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise, as they explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets.Animated version of the classic series. It looked good and featured the original actors, though their delivery was often wooden. The stories were great and stand alongside any from the live series.
- StarsGeorge DiCenzoEvan C. KimDee TimberlakeA trio of teenage superheroes, representing three different racial groups, use their powers to fight against evil forces.Filmation's own attempt at a superhero show, with some Star Wars elements thrown in. The trio of heroes were racially diverse and from different eras and fought a variety of menaces, including rogue Sentinels. It stole heavily from DC's Green Lantern (which stole from EE Smith's Lensmen Saga). The idea was good, though execution was shaky.
- StarsJane WebbJohn ErwinDal McKennonSabrina's involved with a band of monsters, The Groovy Ghoulies; a rock band with Dracula, the Wolfman, and Frankenstein; who scare people for their own amusement.Fun series in its day, but the humor doesn't hold up as well as you age. Sabrina carried over from the Archies, but the Goolies were the reason to watch. It was essentially Laugh-In, with the Universal monsters.
- StarsRobert RidgelyAlan OppenheimerDiane PershingThe adventures of the comic strip space hero and his friends as they battle the tyranny of Ming the Merciless on the planet Mongo.Great adaptation of the comic strip. It started as a movie for prime time and so impressed NBC that they asked for a series. The series ended up broadcast before the movie (which expanded things to include the beginning of WW2 and the Nazis). The second season jettisoned the serialized format and added a cute dragon that killed the show.
- StarsSally StruthersJay NorthAlan ReedThe misadventures of the children of the Flintstones and the Rubbles as teenagers.My memories are pretty hazy here, other than Pebbles and Bam Bam as teenagers, complete with a band. Not quite up to the original Flintstones standards but entertaining enough.
- CreatorJoseph BarberaWilliam HannaAlex LovyStarsDon MessickPaul WinchellDick Dastardly leads a fighter plane group to try ineffectualy to stop a carrier pigeon.Spun off from Wacky Races, here Dick Dastardly and Muttley tried to stop Yakee Doodle. It was pretty much swiped from the movie Those Magnificent Men and their Flying Machines, with Dick Dastardly taking the Terry Thomas role. The planes were pretty wild, as I recall.
- CreatorJoseph BarberaWilliam HannaStarsJanet WaldoMel BlancPaul WinchellThe Ant Hill Mob has to protect Penelope Pitstop from a murderous lawyer who is after her inheritance.Another spinoff from Wacky Races, with Penelope Pitstop and the Anthill Gang matching wits with the Hooded Claw (Paul Lynde). It was pretty run of the mill, with tons of serial cliffhangers and plenty of bondage themes for future fetishists.
- StarsMarilyn SchrefflerCasey KasemDon MessickThe various Hanna Barbera characters compete in their own version of the Olympic Games.Essentially a remake of Wacky Races, this series grew out of the 1976 Olympics, in Montreal. You had three teams; one led by Yogi Bear, another by Scooby Doo, and a third comprised of all of the villains. It was pretty much the same thing every week.
- CreatorBud BlakeDik BrowneMilton CaniffStarsDon MessickJohn StephensonJoan GerberHour-long animated specials, many based on existing properties and/or pilots for new series.An interesting experiment that provided a showcase for cartoon series pilots. A few, like the Brady Kids and Lassie's Rescue Rangers, made it to series but most didn't. Style-wise, the height of the show was Oliver and the Artful Dodger, which featured designs from Alex Toth and provided a sequel to Oliver Twist. The show also featured a meeting between the Looney Tunes gang and the Groovy Goolies (with horrible animation from Filmation), an animated Lost in Space, cartoons based on Bewitched and Nanny & the Professor, and a Popeye feature with all of the King Features Syndicate cartoon characters.
- StarsEve PlumbMike LookinlandSusan OlsenThe Brady kids form a pop group and go on adventures with their newfound friends: two pandas, a shaggy dog and a magical bird.Animated version of the Brady Bunch, sans Mike, Carol, and Alice. Instead, we got a pair of panda bears and a mynah bird. the cast did their own voices for the first season, but several bowed out for the second and were replaced by the children of producer Lou Scheimer. the stories weren't anything to write home about, but they did meet up with Superman, Wonder Woman (her first animated appearance) and the Lone Ranger.
- StarsBob DenverAlan Hale Jr.Jim BackusThe further misadventures of the inept sailor, Gilligan and his fellow castaways, in an animated series.Filmation version, minus Tina Louise. As was typical of these adaptations, they didn't really expand things much. Jane Webb voiced Maryann and Ginger (Dawn Wells wasn't available and Tina Louise said no). It was't great, but was much better than the later, even sillier, Gilligan's Planet (they escape the island in a rocket and end up marooned on another planet!).
- StarsNicole JaffeCasey KasemDon MessickThe Mystery Inc. gang investigate more supernatural sightings with various guest stars and characters.First sequel to the original series, it featured guest stars voicing themselves, ranging from Sonny and Cher to Batman & Robin, with an eclectic bunch in between. The mysteries weren't as inventive and episodes varied greatly, depending on who was the guest star. The pair of Batman episodes were pretty good.
- StarsPatricia StevensFrank WelkerCasey KasemScooby Doo and the gang solve mysteries; then Blue Falcon and Dynomutt fight crime in each two-part episode of this animated series.More of the same from Scooby Doo; but, Dyno Mutt brought some superhero goofiness. Frank Welker (Fred on Scooby Doo) provided the voice, while Gary Owens (Laugh-In and Space Ghost) voiced Blue Falcon. Played a bit too much for cheap laughs it was still a pretty fun show.
- StarsEddie 'Rochester' AndersonRudy ClarkScatman CrothersThe adventures of a basketball comedy team.Animated adventures of the Globetrotters. Not especially memorable; it was about average for cartoons of the era.
- CreatorRoy SimpsonStarsPeter FirthBrinsley FordeGillian BaileyThe adventures of a gang of seven kids whose clubhouse is an abandoned double decker bus in a London junkyard. Usually involves a bit of singing, a bit of dancing and general fun times.Interesting British show that played here in the states. A gang of kids has a clubhouse in an old double-decker bus, in a junkyard. I have very vague memories, but it was a very inventive show with a lot of charm. It took me the better part of 20 years to verify that this show existed. Thank you IMDB (and a bio of the Harlem Globetrotters, that gave me a possible name for the show).
- CreatorPaul MazurskyLarry TuckerStarsDavy JonesMicky DolenzPeter TorkThe misadventures of a struggling pop group.This was from the 60s, but was repeated a couple of times in the 70s. Loads of fun from the gang.
- CreatorAlex TothStarsDon MessickGinny TylerGary OwensThe adventures of a space superhero who can become invisible and his sidekicks.Another show repeated in the 70s, alongside the Herculoids (especially after Star Wars). Great designs, voicework and stories, though the earlier ones are the best. The show would return in the early 80s, in a new format.
- CreatorAlex TothStarsVirginia GreggTed EcclesDon MessickKing Zandor and a group of bizarre creatures protect their futuristic kingdom from creatures from other galaxies.Repeated, alongisde Space Ghost, in the 70s. Tells the tales of a family of adventurers, on a primative world. Zandor was at one point going to be called Zantar, but I suspect the lawyers said to change it. The monster characters were the real draw. It was inventive, but the stories got repetitive after a while (a common theme with H-B).
- StarsDaws ButlerPaul WinchellWilliam CallawayAnimated series centering on three bears who live in a zoo. Every now and then they try to sneak out of the zoo. So the zoo keeper and his assistant try to stop them or apprehend them when they do. They also have schemes which the zoo keeper has to take care of.Another H-B show, borrowing more than a bit from Tennessee Tuxedo, in terms of the zoo setting. Not especially funny, compared to other shows; but, it was entertaining enough to kill a half hour until a better cartoon came along.
- StarsMel BlancArlene GolonkaChris AllenAnimated 'Saturday-morning' television cartoon about a race car.Essentially Scooby Doo, but with a talking dune buggy and its race team. It was ok.
- CreatorJoe RubyKen SpearsStarsTommy CookRegis CordicRon FeinbergThe futuristic undersea adventures of a goofy talking shark and his human musical band companions.Scooby Doo underwater, with Curly Howard's personality borrowed for the shark. The underwater setting gave it a bit more than the other Scooby Doo ripoffs.
- CreatorBob CampChuck TatelyStarsRich LittlePaul FreesDave BarryA classy, resourceful panther has plenty of hilarious misadventures, outwitting those who annoy him with his clever tricks.Like Bugs Bunny, this was a Saturday morning showcase for the theatrical cartoons, though they made new ones. The overall quality was good, though the individual cartoons varied. Also featured the The Ant & the Aardvark (very much a Road Runner and Coyote swipe) and the Inspector, and animated version of Inspector Clouseau.
- StarsDaws ButlerDon MessickJosh AlbeeSpinning off of the smash hit ABC Saturday Superstar Movie, Yogi's Ark Lark, Yogi's Gang took Yogi Bear and crew to the airwaves weekly to continue their environmentally minded missions.Spun off from the ABC Saturday Superstar Movie feature, Yogi's Ark, this featured the H-B gang of cartoon characters in environmentally themed episodes, travelling aroung in a balloon. It was kind of preachy and not as fun as the old shorts.
- StarsAlistair DuncanRoss HigginsMax OsbistonTo marry Belinda Maze and win a 20, 000 pound bet with her father, Phileas Fogg must journey around the world in 80 days. To help him is his servant Passepartout. Hindering them at every turn is Mr. Fix, hired by Maze's father to stop him.Taking its lead more from the movie, rather than the Verne story, this series was produced in Australia, for Hanna-Barbera. H-B acquired interests in an Australian studio and farmed a lot of their work out to them during this era. It wasn't bad, but it didn't stand out either.
- CreatorMarty KrofftSid KrofftSi RoseStarsJohnny WhitakerScott C. KoldenBilly BartyTwo boys try to maintain normal lives while secretly having adventures with families of sea monsters and genies.Another Krofft show. Not quite as memorable as the earlier stuff. Featured Johnnie Whitaker of Family Affair (he played Jodie). Billy Barty, I think, was Sigmund.
- CreatorMarty KrofftSid KrofftStarsJohn McIndoeWayne LaryeaJohn PhilpottFour musical insect-like British fairies live happily in their enchanted forest while avoiding the schemes of the jealous Benita Bizarre.Another early Krofft show. The music elevated this one a bit. Martha Rae got to chew a lot of scenery. I only vaguely remember this, which has only slightly been helped by clips that appeared in the 90s Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits video album (based on the CD, with 90s bands covering various cartoon theme songs).
- StarsChuck McClendonJulie McWhirterDanny BonaduceThe adventures of a futuristic version of the Partridge Family.This was actually meant to be a Jetsons sequel, but the designs were shoehorned into a series with the Partridge Family. It stunk!
- StarsJulie McWhirterMark HamillJoe BesserCalifornia teen Corey Anders finds a bottle containing a genie and her bumbling sidekick.Animated I Dream of Jeannie, minus Majors Nelson and Healy and everyone else from NASA, not to mention, Barbara Eden. Typical H-B. The character design would pop up again in Laffalympics.
- StarsBill HudsonMark HudsonBrett HudsonVariety show hosted by singing group The Hudson Brothers.Attempt at a variety show, with the Hudson Brothers band. It failed. The only real connection to today is that Kate Hudson is the daughter of one of the band members.
- StarsMichael BellBob HoltBob DenisonAn anthology series featuring various fantasy action heroes.Tarzan was teamed up with other cartoons, including: Web Woman, Manta & Moray, Super Stretch & Micro Woman, and the Freedom Force; plus, the live action Jason of Star Command (itself a sequel to Space Academy). Not bad, though Jason of Star Command was the most memorable element (apart from Tarzan). It was a space opera, heavily influenced by Star Wars, with Sid Haig as the villain, and James Doohan as the leader of Star Command (later replaced by John "Lawman" Russell).
- CreatorAllen DucovnyStarsJonathan HarrisPamelyn FerdinRic CarrottThe adventures of the students of an outer space military school.Filmation's attempt at cashing in on Star Wars and Star Trek. It preceeded Jason of Star Command, though it didn't quite have the same level of excitement. It did have Jonathan Harris, of Lost In Space.
- CreatorMartin RothStarsTerry LesterJean Marie HonJosé FloresThree young scientists travel around the country in the 25th century after the world has been ravaged by pollution. In their hi-tech RV (called Ark II), they study the land and help out those in need.Another Filmation live-action series. This time, a team of scientists travels across a post-apocalyptic Earth, trying to get ceivilization back up to speed. The main feature was the Ark, which was inspired by Damnation Alley, though the design was different.
- CreatorC.C. BeckBill ParkerStarsMichael GrayLes TremayneJackson BostwickA young boy, able to transform into the superhero Captain Marvel, travels the country fighting evil and helping people.Live action adaptation of Captain Marvel, featuring Michael Gray as Billy Batson, Les Tremayne as mentor, and Jackson Bostwick as Captain Marvel. Biily and Mentor travelled around in an RV, helping people in need, sans violence. It tried but the restrictions from the network really restrained the show. Led to the Isis spinoff and several crossovers. The Republic serial is far more entertaining; but, this has it's fans.
- CreatorMarc RichardsStarsJoAnna CameronBrian CutlerJoanna PangAn archaeologist gains an amulet that allows her to transform into the superheroine goddess Isis and fight evil.Spinoff from Shazam, featuring an original heroine in Isis. Archeologist and teacher Andrea Thomas discovers the amulet of Isis and is endowed with her abilities (mainly the ability to fly). Star Joanna Cameron was beautiful and played it straight, rivalling Lynda Carter's performance as Wonder Woman. Unfortunately, Filmation's writers didn't deliver much out of the ordinary, but the team-ups with Captain Marvel were highpoints.
- CreatorEarle DoudMarty KrofftSid KrofftStarsBob DenverChuck McCannPatty MaloneyThe misadventures of two maintenance workers who are accidentally launched into space.Another Krofft show, with Bob Denver as star. Standard Krofft low budget and lame jokes. The most memorable part was the opening, where Denver's partner yells, "I said lunch, not launch!" later used for riffs in MST3K.
- StarsMichael LembeckDebra ClingerMickey McMeelAn anthology of live-action fantasy/adventure shows hosted by musical group Kaptain Kool and the Kongs.This had some variation is segments. It started out being hosted by Captain Kool and the Kongs, who were soon replaced by the Bay City Rollers.The most memorable segments were Electro Woman and Dyna Girl, which was a rip off of the Batman tv series, and Dr. Shrinker, a take off on Land of the Giants and similar shows and movies. Electra Woman had charm and Deidre Hall in spandex, while Shrinker could occassionally be kind of scary. Wonderbug was pretty much Speed Buggy recycled, with less creativity and action, while I barely remember the other features. Witchiepoo was back in a segment, at one point.
- CreatorSherm CohenTim HillTodd WhiteStarsKeenon DouglasBob DeloesHenry CordenA modern continuation of the original Tom and Jerry cartoon, where the cat-and-mouse duo are now close friends through a series of adventures and chaos.Tom & Jerry returned in lamer cartoons and were joined by Mumbly (a heroic version of Muttley) and Grape Ape, the real star of the show. Grape Ape was spun off into his own show, which was standard fare, though built around Grape's immense size.
- CreatorSteve GerberStarsHenry CordenRobert RidgelyNellie BellflowerThundarr the Barbarian and his companions Ookla the Mok and Princess Ariel wander a devastated future Earth and fight evil wherever they find it.This was 1980, but it counts in my book. Wildly imaginative show, set in a future devestated Earth. Designs came from Jack Kirby (creator of most of Marvel Comics' biggies) and stories from Steve Gerber (Howard the Duck comic). This blew away every other adventure show on Saturday morning.
- CreatorDuane PooleDick RobbinsStarsTed CassidyJeff DavidDon MessickThe crew of the research vessel, The Calico, investigate strange phenomena and often meet menaces that force them to summon Godzilla to help.H-B version of the Big G, with Godzooky and some humans. Godzilla fought other creatures, but nothing like the movies. Ted Cassidy did the roar. Better than most.
- CreatorLen JansonChuck MenvilleStarsPhyllis DillerCharles Nelson ReillyAlfie WiseParody of kids' entertainment show where Uncle Croc, the host, despises his job and clashes with his program director, Basil Bitterbottom. He also trades banter with his sidekick, Rabbit Ears, has "Star Time" where he talks to fictional celebrities and introduces kids' cartoons.A Filmation series that has the dubious distinction of being cancelled before it had completed its run (very rare in Saturday Morning tv). Various cartoons were linked by live action segments with Charles Nelson Riley as Uncle Croc. The cartoons were fairly lame, including a take off of MASH (but with dogs) and a mastadon pair named Wacky and Packy. i don't remember the rest, mainly because the show stunk!
- StarsPaul WinchellJo Ann HarrisRonnie SchellA dog, able to become temporarily invisible, and his human companions investigate mysteries involving the paranormal.Another Scooby ripoff. Not particularly memorable. If I recall correctly, the dog, Goober, disappeared when he was scared. Something like that. Meh...
- StarsJudy StrangisMicky DolenzJohn StephensonThe globe-trotting adventures of a group of teenage spies masquerading as a rock-and-roll band.Better known as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids. Sort of Scooby Doo, but more a mix of music and spies. Butch and the gang act as agents for a spy organization, receiving their orders from a talking computer. It was a decent show. Mickey Dolenz, of the Monkees, voiced one of the characters.
- StarsSherry AlberoniJerry DexterCathy DouglasAn up-and-coming pop-music group and its entourage get involved with strange mysteries while touring the world.Part Archie, part Scooby Doo. An all-female trio investigates mysteries, along with their agent and his sister. It was pretty fun.
- StarsJackie JosephCasey KasemJanet WaldoThe Pussycats and a pet-sized fluffy alien called Bleep, encounter strange new worlds, where they are often kidnapped by various alien races before escaping and attempting to return home.H-B was running out of ideas here. Basically the original show shot into space, though not as interesting, if you can believe it.
- StarsStanley LivingstonMicky DolenzNorman AldenThree teenage circus performers travel the country solving mysteries.It was supposed to be Evel Knievel, but he passed on it, so H-B created their own daredevil. Like most immitators, it didn't stick. He was put to better use on Harvey Birdman.
- CreatorJoe RubyKen SpearsStarsMel BlancGary OwensLaurel PageThe adventures of a superhero caveman and a trio of female amateur detectives.Rather loud series featuring a Josie and the Pussycats copycat band and a caveman superhero. Probably didn't do much for Mel Blanc's voice.
- StarsJohn StephensonFrank WelkerMel BlancFairly forgettable Flintstones series, with the Shmoo added, from Li'l Abner. The problem was, Abner was gone by then and most of the kids had no idea what a Shmoo was. Alternate form of Fred and Barney Meet the Thing.
- StarsJohn StephensonArt MetranoJohn ErwinA show featuring two different cartoon segments,The New Fred and Barney Show (a revival of The Flintstones) and The Thing (based on the Marvel Comics superhero).Same as above, but with the Thing, from the Fantastic Four. However, this Thing was a teenager who turned into the Thing. Not exactly a masterpiece.
- CreatorStan LeeStarsMike RoadGinny TylerTed CassidyThe super-elastic Mr. Fantastic, the force field-wielding Invisible Girl, the orange rock-covered Thing and the data-crammed robot H.E.R.B.I.E. make up a team of superheroes dedicated to thwarting would-be world-dominating villains.Not up to the standards of the 1967 series, but it tried. infamous for replacing the Human Torch with HERBIE the Robot. Urban legend says it was because of the Torch catching fire, but the truth was he had been optioned by another studio and couldn't be used. Jack Kirby worked on the character designs, reuniting him with Marvel, though by circumstance, not choice. It was a bit stiff, due to budgets of the period.
- StarsGeorge DiCenzoLinda GaryPatrick PinneyAn astronaut, stranded on a primitive planet in a distant universe, fights against the tyranny of the Overlord.Another early 80s cartoon, so sue me. Not quite at the level of Thundaar, but pretty good. Typical stiff Filmation animation, though. The story was hampered by not having a "destination" in mind for the plot.
- CreatorMarc RichardsStarsForrest TuckerLarry StorchBob BurnsTwo guys and their pet gorilla hunt spooks.The real, original Ghost Busters, featuring Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch, and a guy in a gorilla suit. Silly live action fare from Filmation, who were later able to create an animated series and force the other show to call itself The Real Ghost Busters.
- StarsBob DoroughJack SheldonLynn AhrensA series of shorts illustrating various songs that teach multiplication tables, grammar, science, American history, computers, economics, and environmentalism.Short cartoons broadcast between shows on ABC. It began with Multiplication Rock and soon followed with Grammar Rock, America Rock, and Science Rock. Catchy songs helped introduce multiplication tables, elements of grammar, American History, and principles of science. The Preamble song helped many of us with the Constitution test in Civics classes. The US Congress used I'm Just a Bill and The Three Ring Circus as a training tool for Congressional aides.
- StarsBob HoltLennie WeinribDon MessickThe Skatebirds mostly revolved around the nasty Scat Cat perpetually chasing the roller-skating trio and trying to get the best of them.Pretty much a Banana Splits knock off, with the Three Robonic Stooges and Mystery island.
- StarsJonathan HarrisHoward MorrisLane ScheimerMartin and his nephew Andromeda return to Earth to cause havoc for Tim O'Hara.Another animated adaptation. These things usually failed, as the principal actors rarely voiced their characters. The animation did allow for things that live-action couldn't afford to do.
- CreatorStan BurnsMike MarmerStarsDayton AllenJoan GerberBernie KopellA member of pop band Evolution Revolution, Lancelot Link is called upon by the Agency to Prevent Evil (APE), in their ongoing fight against CHUMP.As weird as it sounds. The show featured chimpanzees as the characters, including our hero, Lancelot Link. You can't explain it, you just have to see it.
- StarsTed KnightJane WebbKeith SutherlandThe heroic collie dog leads a team of animal friends to assist a human forest ranger search and rescue unit.Spun off from the ABC Saturday Superstar Movie, featuring Lassie, a bunch of animals, and some forest rangers helping people in trouble.
- StarsAdam WestBurt WardLennie WeinribBatman, Robin and Batgirl fight crime in Gotham City with the "help" of Batmite.Filmation's version of Batman returned, while he still appeared on H-B's Super Friends. This time, he was voiced by Adam West, with Burt Ward as Robin. Not quite as good as the 60s cartoon series, since they couldn't fight the villains as in that series, but ok. Batmite was beyond annoying.
- StarsJoe BakerMichael BellMelendy BrittThe adventures of the original stretchable superhero and various other characters.Cartoon series headed by the classic Plastic Man. Plas debuted on the original Super Frinds show (in cartoon form, anyway) and is joined by several friends. It was inventive, though nowhere near as good as Jack Cole's comics. Plas later got a baby. Woozie Winks was replaced, inexplicably, by Hula-Hula. The other cartoons, like Mighty Man and Yuck, were fairly lame.
- CreatorPeyoStarsDon MessickDanny GoldmanLucille BlissThe Smurfs are tiny blue creatures that live in mushroom houses in a peaceful forest. They repeatedly try to outwit Gargamel, an evil sorcerer, his apprentice, Scruple, and his mangy cat, Azrael.This debuted at the start of the 80s and at the end of my Saturday morning days. Based on the popular Belgian comic, Les Schtroumpfs, it features the adventures of the little blue guys (and girl) and their enemy Gargamel. Fine for little kids, bit it was pretty annoying if you were older. That song is the ultimate earwig. This pretty much told me it was time to sleep in on Saturdays.
- StarsRick SpringfieldHoward MorrisLola FisherA witchy teacher and a small group of students travel to magical lands with pop star Rick Springfield.Another Filmation series, featuring a teacher who had magical powers. She would draw a door on a chalkboard and it would open to another world, complete with a young, animated Rick Springfield. His autobiography mentions it only once (just one sentence, I believe), which pretty much sums up the series, though it seemed ok when I was young.
- StarsHoward MorrisDal McKennonJohn ErwinThe comedic misadventures and music of Archie Andrews and his friends.The first of the Filmation cartoons with the Riverdale gang. There were short cartoons plus musical numbers. Pretty entertaining. Howard Morris (Ernest T Bass on Andy Griffith) was Jughead, amongst others. He would do a lot of voices for Filmation.
- StarsJohn ErwinHoward MorrisDal McKennonArchie and the gang present animated adaptations of popular comic strips like Smokey Stover and Dick Tracy.I remember loving this as a little kid, with the Riverdale gang operating a tv station that showed cartoons based on comic strips. The only bit I can recall with any clarity was Dick Tracy. I've seen some of the other cartoons in later years and Tracy was definitely the best.
- StarsJane WebbJohn ErwinHoward MorrisArchie and the Riverdale gang explore and reenact important moments of American history.Preping for the Bicentennial, Archie and the gang explore American history, meeting famous people. It was educational, if a bit dry.
- CreatorBill CosbyStarsBill CosbyGerald EdwardsLou ScheimerThe educational adventures of a group of Afro-American inner city kids.Arguably the best cartoon series Filmation produced. Bill Cosby's routines about his old neighborhood were brought to life, complete with Cos in tow. The gang had adventures, sang a song, and learned a thing or two. Great fun and full of good moral lessons.
- StarsFrank WelkerJudy StrangisPaul Winchellthis animated comedy follows the misadventures of a car named wheelie.Another fairly forgettable series, with motorcycle characters. There was a comic book, which featured early work by John Byrne (X-Men, Fantastic Four, Superman), from Charlton. Other than that, not much to note.
- StarsBud CollyerBob HastingsJackson BeckThe animated debut of Batman & Robin brings the Dynamic Duo to animated life in Filmation's cult classic take on The Dark Knight and The Boy Wonder, defending Gotham City from The Caped Crusader's Rogues Gallery, one crook at a time.This was still on when I was little and was my first real exposure to the World's Finest duo. These were done before network crackdowns, so Batman and Robin got to hit the crooks and Superman got to smash things. Filmation also created cartoon segments with the characters for the earliest days of Sesame Street.
- StarsDonny OsmondPaul FreesJames A. OsmondIn the early 1970s, white America could not allow the success of the Jackson 5 to go unchallenged. The Osmonds were their answer. It was not a great answer.Cartoon show with the Mormons' favorite pop group. Jimmy was generally portrayed as a brat, if I recall.
- StarsJoel CooperDonald FulliloveMike MartinezThe animated musical adventures of the Jackson brothers.Cartoon version of the Jackson 5. Pretty much an excuse to run animation to their songs, following in the tradition of the Beatles cartoon.
- StarsHenry WinklerRon HowardDon MostArthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli, Richie Cunningham, and Ralph Malph find themselves lost in time with their new friend, Cupcake, an alien from the future.Yeah, they tried to milk Happy Days on Saturday morning. Might have worked if it had been done earlier. This was pretty bad.
- CreatorDavid H. DePatieFriz FrelengStarsAustin StokerPhilippa HarrisHenry CordenWhile on a mission, three astronauts in their spaceship get caught in a time vortex. They return to Earth in the year 3979 A.D. and discover that intelligent apes are now the highest form of life.This came a little late for the Apes gravy train, but was well conceived, with mature stories that continued across episodes. The design was from Doug Wildey (Jonny Quest), but it was hampered by bland voice acting static animation.
- StarsFrank WelkerScatman CrothersJohnny WilliamsThe adventures of the basketball team as superheroes.Another attempt at an animated Globetrotter show, this time as superheroes. This was a pretty dumb concept, though slightly better than The 3 Robonic Stooges.
- StarsHenry DarrowJulio MedinaDon DiamondThe further adventures of the masked hero of Spanish California.Another from Filmation. It featured generally good stories with some decent action, again aided by rotoscoping. Keeping with the educational nature of Filmation's shows, it had Spanish lessons at the end. Henry Darrow was the voice of Zorro and would later play an aging Zorro on ABC's Zorro and Son.
- StarsWilliam ConradIvan NaranjoFrank WelkerIn the American Wild West, The Lone Ranger, with the help of his partner, Tonto, defends the rights of farmers and townspeople against outlaws and desperados.Revamp of Tarzan and the Super 7 (and Tarzan and Batman), adding a new Lone Ranger cartoon, full of historic figures. Not quite as stylish as the 1966 cartoon, but featured William Conrad (Cannon, Jake & the Fatman, Bulwinkle narrator)as the Ranger.
- StarsMaylo McCaslinBarry GordonDawn JefforyThe adventures of a high school for superheroes while the Marvel Family fights evil with the power given to them by the wizard, Shazam.Intended as an Archie superhero show, Archie Comics said no; so, Filmation just changed the names and slightly altered the designs. Featured live-action host segments between cartoons. This was typical stuff, except for the Shazam cartoon. This version, unlike the live series, made great use of the Marvel Family and the villains and supporting characters. It was successful in capturing the whimsical nature of the comics.
- StarsDave WillockStanley LivingstonDaws ButlerBy the same people that brought us "Flintstones, The" (1960), this similar cartoon was about people living in Rome in 63 A.D.Sitcom cartoon, set in ancient Rome. Typical fare. Think of the Flintstones, in the Roman era, but with less quality in the work.
- StarsPaul WinchellBob HastingsDavid JolliffeFour teenage siblings, whose late parents were friends of the county sheriff, run a private investigations agency out of their suburban residence.Another Scooby Doo take off, but with two dogs. Not bad, not exceptional. The dogs were the center of the episodes.
- StarsDaws ButlerHenry CordenChuck McCannSaturday morning cartoon series featuring the following segments: "The CB Bears", "Blast-Off Buzzard", "Heyyy, It's the King!", "Posse Impossible", "Shake, Rattle and Roll" and "Undercover Elephant".Yet another cartoon trying to cash in on a very short-lived fad.
- CreatorFred FreibergerStarsJim MalindaBill EwingNaomi NewmanA family of Neanderthals struggle to survive the harsh conditions of the Ice Age.A rare live-action series from Hanna-Barbera, about a family of neanderthals. I rember this being on but I don't think I ever saw a single episode.
- StarsShannon FarnonMike RoadKathy GoriAmerican science teacher John Butler along with his wife Kim and their two children Katie and Greg, as well as their dog Digger, are on a rafting trip on the Amazon river. As they are going down the river, their boat gets caught in a dangerous current and capsizes. They are pulled into a whirlpool. When they surface they find themselves in a prehistoric valley where they meet caveman Gorak, his wife Gara and their two children Lok and Tana. The two families soon become friends and Gorak and his family help the Butlers in their many attempts to find a way to return home while trying to survive in the valley.Another "lost world" cartoon. Pretty much middle grade fare, storywise, but it looked good.
- CreatorDavid LevyStarsJosh AlbeeHoward CaineJohn CarverThe spooky family finds adventures while on a cross-country road trip in a camper shaped like their mansion.The cartoon version of our favorite mysterious and spooky family. These were pretty good, for the time, and captured the flavor of the original show well.
- CreatorRichard H. LandauStarsPaul FreesArch WhitingChad StatesJoe, a trained member of the military's K9-Corp., was falsely accused of attacking his master, Sergeant Corey. Joe managed to escape before being killed and a bounty was put on his head.A K-9 Corps dog is falsely accused of attacking his handler and is ordered to be put down. The dog takes it on the lam, while his handler, who believes he is innocent, searches for him. The dog helps people along his journey, but always misses his handler. Basically, it's Lassie/Rin Tin Tin-meets-The Fugitive. I always thought the premise was a bit hard to swallow.
- StarsPerry BensonAnoop SinghBrett WayKukla, Fran and Ollie hosted this film program. They would introduce children's films from around the world. In between, the three would act in short skits.This was still going in the early 70s. It featured child-oriented movies from around the globe. I rarely watched it, as it came on opposite American Bandstand.
- StarsDick ClarkCharlie O'DonnellPeaches JohnsonDick Clark hosts a daily to weekly dance show that features the latest hit music for the attending teens to dance to. In addition, the show has performances by popular musicians and audience members rate songs.Pretty much the end of Saturday morning and the first place you encountered many musical acts, unless you had a really good rock station. I mostly remember a lot of dance contest participants who did the Robot and had the same bit where the girl's skirt would be torn off to reveal a skimpier costume underneath. Soul Train had better dancers but this was mainstream America, for good or bad.