Remember that one day when you could wake up without an alarm? When you would get your favorite bowl of cereal and sit between the hours of 8 and 12? This is a blog dedicated to the greatest time of our childhood: Saturday mornings. The television programs you watched, the memories attached to them, and maybe introducing you to something you didn't realize existed. Updated every weekend.
His career spanned from early Disney through Hanna-Barbera's later output. He provided animation for The
Secret Squirrel Show, The Atom Ant Show, Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears
and Droopy: Master Detective. His
work was also seen in a short included in Mickey’s
House of Villains direct-to-video movie. He served as an assistant director
or director on Shirt Tales, Monchichis,
The Dukes, Pac-Man, The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show, The Biskitts, Pink
Panther and Sons, Snorks and The
Smurfs, Galtar and the Golden Lance, The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo, The
Flintstone Kids, Foofur, Wildfire, Popeye and Son, Yogi’s Treasure Hunt, Pound
Puppies (1986), The Completely Mental
Misadventures of Ed Grimley, Tom & Jerry Kids Show, Rick Moranis in
Gravedale High, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, Yo
Yogi!, The Addams Family (1992), and The
Pirates of Dark Water.
It’s hard to imagine a time for LEGO before everything
truly was awesome, but in the early part of the 21st century the
company was on a steady decline towards bankruptcy. The market was changing and
LEGO was slow to adapt. It began making moves to try and correct this by
bringing in a new generation of innovative designers to oversee their set
creations and acquiring licenses to hit franchise properties like Star
Warsand
Harry
Potter.
In
2001, LEGO decided to enter the growing build-a-figure market by creating a toyline
tying into and financing a new upcoming science fiction program, Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension.
Allegra with the map.
Created by Thomas W. Lynch,
the series focused on average teenager, Nick Bluetooth (named for Danish king Harald Bluetooth
and originally named Christian by Lynch, played by Matthew Ewald), who had been
having strange dreams about a completely different place. He was given an
electronic map that led him to a spaceship called the Egg that took him and his
best friend, Allegra Zane (Marie-Marguerite Sabongui), to the Outer
Dimension—the place from Nick’s dreams. It turned out that Nick’s father,
Samuel (Randy Thomas), had created the Egg and had adventures in the Outer
Dimension where he met Nick’s mother, Queen Riana (Tara Leigh). He was brought
to the Outer Dimension to help stop the invasion forces of the sinister Gorm
(performed by Derrick Damon Reeve and Steven P. Park, voiced by Ian Finlay), a
former royal advisor who was banished and spent his time amassing a huge army
and conquering various worlds; leaving a wasteland in his wake. However, in
order to conquer Galidor, Gorm must find and assemble a shattered key that will
open a gateway to that world.
Promo shot of Euripidies, Allegra, Nick, Jens and Nepol by the Egg.
Aiding Nick was Jens (performed by
Sam Magdi, voiced by Michael O’Reilly), the chief royal scientist whose
original plant body was destroyed by Gorm resulting in his being placed into a
robot one; Euripides (performed by Jeff Hall, voiced by Georges Morris), a
frog-like creature called an Amphibib who was the royal scholar capable of
using telekinesis and generating heat through his staff; and Nepol (performed
by Claude Giroux, voiced by Walter Massey), a blue-furred Siktari that was
shrunken by Gorm and could run at great speeds or freeze things with his spear.
Riana would appear in holographic messages only Nick could see to provide cryptic
guidance on his journey. Eventually, Lind (Karen Cliche), a Galidorian trained
by Gorm to take his place in the royal court that could dissolve into a purple
gel, would join the team. Aiding Gorm was Tager, a being with mind control
abilities; Caliphonic, the leader of the Aquarts; and Bala (Sean Devine), a
cyborg bounty hunter. Gorm’s primary army was composed of Boges; human-sized
bug-like creatures that could fly.
Gorm.
In the Outer Dimension, Nick
discovered he gained a special ability to “glinch.” Glinching meant he was able
to channel an energy that allowed him to shapeshift parts of his body to
resemble those he had come in close contact with, temporarily gaining whatever
skill was associated with those appendages (such as super strength with Jens’
robotic arms). Gorm also possessed this ability but to a lesser extent than
Nick, necessitating his use of a device to increase his power. This glinching
ability was used to explain the core aspect of the toyline: where a character’s
body parts could be swapped for others. While Nick and Gorm, and to an extent
the Egg--which was revealed to be partially sentient--were the only ones on the
show who could do this, all of the characters in the toyline were able to be
mixed and matched. It was a simplified version of LEGO’s more-successful BIONICLEline.
Unfortunately, Galidor failed on two fronts. Not only did the show underperform in
the ratings, but the toyline was selling poorly. This was due in large part to
LEGO’s miscalculation of making the toys incompatible with other LEGO sets and
doing away with the construction style they were best known for. Only 15 of 17
planned sets were made before sales saw the line cancelled. Without the toys to
draw revenue from and the ending of Fox Kids, Galidor ended on a cliffhanger after two seasons; which aired
without a break in between. Reruns would air on ABC Family
following its conclusion.
To promote the series, a set of five
toys and a mini
comic book were included with McDonald’sHappy Meals
that year. Nick, Jens, Euripides, Nepol and Gorm were all present with fully
interchangeable parts. LEGO also published a single issue for a proposed comic
book series, Galidor: Danger in the Outer Dimension. A poorly-received
tie-in video
game
was developed by Tiertex
Design Studios for the Game Boy Advance
and released by LEGO
Interactive and Electronic
Arts
in October of 2002. Asylum
Entertainment was developing a version
for PlayStation
2,
GameCube
and PC with an early 2003 release date, but financial instability caused them
to cancel the game and lay off the development team. A Flash
game was also featured on the Fox Kids website. One of the toys, the Kek Powerizer,
featured a built-in game that could be controlled by moving the toy’s limbs in
certain ways. It also had a special sensor that allowed it to interact with the
show when it was on by playing sounds, screen animations and activating new
missions for the game.
Although LEGO eventually rebounded,
the blunder with Galidor almost
pushed the company over the edge. It wouldn’t be until 2010’s Hero
Factorythat
they would again attempt a tie-in television series to one of their toy lines.
The Galidor concept was eventually
reused for the Ben 10: Alien Force toyline,
which met with similar success (or lack thereof). Galidor was later mentioned
as a location in the Guardians
of The Galaxy: The Thanos Threatseries
of shorts and was seen as a t-shirt worn by Rufus McCallister
in the Ninjago
City set from The
Ninjago Movie.
EPISODE GUIDE:
“Identity”
(2/9/02) – Nick receives a map on his birthday that leads him and Allegra to a
ship that takes them to the Outer Dimension.
“Euripides,
Please” (2/16/02) – Nick, Allegra and Jen search for Euripides, a Aphibib
philosopher who can show them how to read the map.
“All
for One, One for Nepol” (2/23/02) – Nick meets the warrior Nepol and Vilda,
Gorm’s henchwoman who collects slaves to become part of Gorm’s army.
“Bouncing
Off the Walls” (3/2/02) – Nick finds but is unable to acquire the first key
fragment.
“Dust
til Dawn” (3/9/02) – The team runs into a problem when they locate the key.
“Belonging”
(3/16/02) – Nick and Allegra are a little homesick and Nick discovers his team
are plastered on wanted posters.
“A
Crack in the Map” (3/23/02) – Nick’s friends must save him when he’s sentenced
to 30 years of community service after a dumb mistake.
“Seeing
is Just Seeing” (3/30/02) – The team finds the secret hideout of infamous
break-in artist Colash, and Gorm finds them.
“Truth,
Lies and Videotape” (4/6/02) - Jens’ old friend Britta has the next key
fragment, but she believes Gorm is good and alerts him to their presence.
“Just
Because You’re Paranoid” (4/27/02) – Nick plans to expose Gorm on television,
but Gorm jams the signal and ends up damning him and his team instead.
“Frozen
Feud” (5/4/02) – The next key fragment is located in the icey home of
Euripides, which necessitates him and Allegra to find a special plant that will
keep them warm.
“Relativity”
(5/11/02) – The team deals with attacks from the Boges and snow beasts while
retrieving crystals to repair Nepol’s goggles.
“It’s
Déjà vu All Over Again’ (5/18/02) – Nick believes he found a nest of key
fragments, but that’s put on hold when Gorm has Allegra kidnapped.
“The
Road to Kek” (5/25/02) – Allegra manages to escape and get a message to Nick to
tell him that Gorm’s defenses are weak, but that appears to be nothing more
than a trap.
“A
Room with No View” (6/1/02) – As the team continues to come for Allegra, Gorm
uses illusion technology to make her believe her adventures were just a dream.
“Escape
from Kek” (6/8/02) – Gorm finally captures the team and wants Nick to join him
in rebuilding the Outer Dimension.
Season 2:
“Pieces
of Nick” (6/22/02) – Nick is forced outside of the material world and Allegra
decides bringing the Egg back to Kek will bring him back.
“A
Tale of Two Nicks” (6/29/02) – A Nick from another reality is pulled into
theirs and because two of them can’t exist in the same one Nick begins to fade
out.
“Go
for the Bronze” (7/6/02) – The next key fragment ends up being in the grand
prize of a fierce battle competition.
“State
of the Art” (7/13/02) – Bala manages to download the map and the next key fragment,
putting Nick’s crew into a race against his.
“The
Great Glinch Switch” (7/20/02) – The final key fragment is located on Earth,
but Tager steals the Egg and all of their fragments before they can go after
it.
“Mr.
Tager Goes to Earth’ (7/27/02) – The team heads to Earth for the last key
fragment, and Tager uses his mind control powers to send everyone after them.
“Area
51” (8/3/02) – Nick sets out to rescue Euripides from a secret laboratory and
discovers that Lind is trying to do the same.
“Recalling
the Past” (8/10/02) – As the team reminisces over their adventures, Nick
reveals to them how Allegra is an important member of it.
“The
Gates of Galidor, Part 1” (8/17/02) – The team locates the Gates of Galidor
where their enemies wait to take them down.
“The
Gates of Galidor, Part 2” (8/24/02) – As Lind confronts Gorm, the team
discovers Nick’s father’s secret laboratory which may hold the solution to all
their problems.
Hey, folks, this is just to let you all know out there in internet land that we here at SMF HQ are experiencing internet issues that are becoming a bear to resolve. We'll try to update things as best we can in the meantime, but expect some delays. Sorry of the inconvenience!
While having a long career as an actor and director, Marshall was primarily known for her role of Laverne DeFazio in the hit sitcom Laverne and Shirley. She would reprise that role for the show's animated spin-off, Laverne and Shirley in the Army.
A
Date With Judy began its life as a comedy radio series on NBC as a summer
replacement for Bob Hope’s show.
Starring Ann
Gillis as Judy, the series focused on the teenaged girl who was
deemed the most datable in town, but had a habit of attracting trouble and
causing chaos. The show began on June 24th, 1941 and ran until May
25, 1950; with Louise Erickson taking
over as Judy in the third season and the final season being broadcast on ABC.
The radio cast photo from an article after Erickson took over the role.
The show proved immensely popular,
gaining a movie adaptation
from MGM in
1948 starring Elizabeth Taylor in the
title role. The movie was also a hit, earning over $4.5 million at the box
office. When the radio show ended, ABC decided to adapt it again; this time for
their television network. The show first aired on Saturday mornings, beginning
June 5th, 1951. Patricia Crowley played the title role, with Gene
O’Donnell and Anna Lee as her parents Melvin and Dora, Judson Rees as her brother,
Randolph, and Jimmy Sommer as Judy’s boyfriend, Ogden “Oogie” Pringle. The
series was produced and written by Aleen Leslie.
Judy and Oogie sharing a shake.
After a single season, ABC decided
to retool the show and move it to primetime on Thursdays and later Wednesdays
for the remainder of its run. The entire cast was replaced, with Mary Linn
Beller as Judy, John Gibson as Melvin, Flora Campbell as Dora, and Peter Avarmo
as Randolph. Only Sommer was retained as Oogie, and Leslie continued to produce
and write for the show. It ended after three seasons on September 30, 1953,
replaced by Saber of London.
Judy's first comic appearance.
While the radio show was on the air,
National Periodical Publications (the precursor of DC Comics) began publication of a comic
based on the series. It ran for 79 issues between 1947 and 1960,
outliving every incarnation of the show. As for the show itself, clips and
stills have not yet found their way online assuming any had survived their
initial broadcasts.
Ever wondered what The Fugitivewould
be like if it starred an animal—say, a dog? Well, wonder no more!
Corey training Joe.
Created by Richard H. Landau, the show
centered on a German Shepherd named Joe (Heinrich, the pet of producer William D’Angelo) who was being
trained by army Sargent William Corey (Arch Whiting). However, one day Joe was
framed for attacking Corey; the punishment for which was for him to be
euthanized. Joe escaped, and the army put a $200 bounty on his head. Joe traveled
the country, trying to keep ahead of the army and the various bounty hunters
looking to collect the reward, while also helping those in need he encountered
along the way. Corey also gave his own pursuit, believing Joe to be innocent
and wanting to find him before the army did.
Joe helping a blind girl.
Run, Joe, Run debuted
on NBC on September 7, 1974. Landau had
presented the idea to D’Angelo during production of Love, American
Styleand the pair tried for years to sell it as a prime-time show, but
the networks weren’t interested. NBC head of children’s programming, Joe Taritero, suggested doing it as a kid’s show. Although D’Angelo had never
produced a show for children before, he saw it as a chance to open D’Angelo
Productions and developed the concept for their Saturday morning schedule.
Writers for the show included Landau with Harte Catlin, Arlene Stadd, Leonard Stadd
and Martin
Donovan. Richard LaSalle
composed the music. Because it was a traveling hero show, it featured a number
of guest-stars including Chuck
McCann, Robbie Rist, Robert Carradine, Leif Garrett, James Gammon, James Hampton and Pat Priest, amongst others.
The show was renewed for a second season. Whiting
left the show; his character being written out as having to return to active
duty after being unable to find Joe. In his place was hiker Josh McCoy (Chad States)
who became Joe’s traveling companion. While Joe would continue to help those he
encountered, Josh would end up often becoming involved in the plots by taking
jobs in the places where something would go down; be it driving a car targeted
by thieves or slinging hash in a joint invaded by bank robbers. While the show
was not renewed for a third season, it remained on the network’s schedule until
the fall of 1976.Stills from the episode “Little Big Bear
Hunter” were turned into a ViewMaster set
in 1974.
EPISODE GUIDE:
“Bounty Hunter” (9/7/74) – A ruthless bounty hunter and his attack dog
pursue Joe.
“Yardbirds” (9/14/74) – Joe helps a railroad station guard put an end
to freight car thefts.
“Bon Voyage” (9/21/74) – A fisherman relies on Joe to get his nephew
to stop skipping school.
“Missionary” (9/28/74) – Joe takes refuge on a bus to escape two
motorcycle-riding bounty hunters.
“False Alarm” (10/5/74) – Joe’s tenure as a fire dog comes with
stopping two boys from setting false alarms.
“The Big Race” (10/12/74) – Joe encounters criminals at a race track.
“Homecoming” (10/19/74) – A girl finds and takes in Joe but runs away with
him when her stepfather wants to get rid of him.
“Six Seals, Two Whales and a Dog” (10/26/74) – Joe ends up at a wild
animal park where he becomes part of the dolphin show.
“Little Big Bear Hunter” (11/2/74) – To prove his manhood, a
city-raised Indian boy confronts a wild bear.
“Sunken Treasure” (11/9/74) – Joe finds valuable jewels on a boy he
just saved from drowning.
“The Mute” (11/16/74) – A mute boy helps Joe after he’s hurt in a
fall.
“Blind Girl” (11/23/74) – Joe leads a blind girl lost in the woods to
safety.
“Little Old Lady Antique Dealer” (11/30/74) – Thieves take an interest
in the doll purchased by an elderly antique dealer.
Season 2:
“Joe’s New Friend” (9/6/75) – Two hunters mistaking Joe for another
dog leads him to meet his new traveling companion, Josh.
“The Secret – Part 1” (9/13/75) – Josh gets accused of robbing the
house where he has been working as a handyman.
“The Secret – Part 2” (9/20/75) – Joe and Josh end up in the middle of
a truck hijacking.
“Rip Off” (9/27/75) – Motorcyclists come for the stolen diamonds they
hid in Josh’s backpack.
“The Prisoner” (10/4/75) – Joe looks for a prisoner who escaped from a
crashed prison plane.
“The Town Hero” (10/11/75) – Joe ends up in a pound and is adopted by
a man who plans to use dogs for robberies.
“Trackdown” (10/18/75) – A thief seeks to lure Joe into the swamp as
he gives chase.
“The Hitchhiker” (10/25/75) – Josh gets hit by a camper and falls into
a ditch with a broken leg.
“The Wild Stallion” (11/1/75) – Joe and Josh take jobs at a farm where
the owner is obsessed with catching a wild stallion.
“The Runaway” (11/8/75) – Josh meets a female hitchhiker who ran away
from her life.
“The Long Wait” (11/15/75) – Josh tries to stop a feud while stumbling
upon a real estate scam.
“The Scrap Heap” (11/22/75) – Josh gets a job driving a vintage car
that ends up stolen.
“The Hunters” (11/29/75) – Josh gets a job in a café that ends up
being taken over by bank robbers.
