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Herbie, the Love Bug (TV series) facts for kids

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Herbie, the Love Bug
HerbieLoveBugTV1982 titlescreen.jpg
Written by Arthur Alsberg
Don Nelson
Don Tait
Directed by Charles S. Dubin
Vincent McEveety
Bill Bixby
Starring Dean Jones
Patricia Harty
Richard Paul
Claudia Wells
Douglas Emerson
Nicky Katt
Larry Linville
Music by Frank De Vol
Tom Worrall
Opening theme "Herbie, My Best Friend" sung by Dean Jones
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of episodes 5
Production
Executive producer(s) William Robert Yates
Producer(s) Kevin Corcoran
Cinematography Jack A. Whitman Jr.
Jack Swain
Editor(s) Gordon Brenner
Marsh Hendry
Ron Honthaner
Running time 48 minutes
Production company(s) Walt Disney Productions
Release
Original network CBS
Original release March 17 (1982-03-17) – April 14, 1982 (1982-04-14)

Herbie, the Love Bug is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from March 17 to April 14, 1982. It was produced by Walt Disney Productions and based on a series of films about Herbie, a white 1963 Volkswagen racing Beetle with a mind of its own.

The show was a five-episode mid-season replacement series. It was the last production to feature the titular automobile until 1997's television film The Love Bug. The show's theme song "Herbie, My Best Friend" was performed by its star, Dean Jones.

Plot

Dean Jones, who had appeared in two of the films (The Love Bug and Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo), reprises his role of Jim Douglas, Herbie's original owner, now a retired race car driver who works as an instructor at the Famous Driving School with his partner Bo Phillips (Richard Paul). He and Herbie stumble upon a bank robbery in progress. They manage to thwart the crime and rescue a young divorcée named Susan MacLane (Patricia Harty), who works at the bank and is a mother of three: Julie (Claudia Wells), Robbie (Douglas Emerson) and Matthew (Nicky Katt). Jim and Susan soon begin to fall in love, much to the consternation of her ex-boyfriend Randy Bigelow (Larry Linville). Randy's attempts to break them up are in vain; Jim and Susan get married in "Herbie the Best Man" episode that aired on April 7.

Cast

  • Dean Jones as Jim Douglas
  • Patricia Harty as Susan MacLane
  • Richard Paul as Bo Phillips
  • Claudia Wells as Julie MacLane
  • Douglas Emerson as Robbie MacLane
  • Nicky Katt as Matthew MacLane
  • Bryan Utman as Jason
  • Larry Linville as Randy Bigelow
  • Natalie Core as Mrs. Bigelow

Episodes

Episode title Directed by Written by Airdate
1 "Herbie the Matchmaker" Charles S. Dubin Arthur Alsberg, Don Nelson March 17, 1982 (1982-03-17)
Herbie and his owner, Jim Douglas, stumble on an attempted bank robbery and rescue a hostage.
2 "Herbie to the Rescue" Vincent McEveety Arthur Alsberg, Don Nelson March 24, 1982 (1982-03-24)
Jim's driving school is closed down when Herbie interferes with a motor vehicle inspection.
3 "My House is Your House" Bill Bixby Don Tait March 31, 1982 (1982-03-31)
Jim's ex-girlfriend, Diane Darcy (Andrea Howard), surprisingly shows up at his bachelor party.
4 "Herbie the Best Man" Vincent McEveety Arthur Alsberg, Don Nelson April 7, 1982 (1982-04-07)
Randy Bigelow kidnaps Herbie and substitutes a look-alike in a desperate attempt to break up Jim and Susan's wedding.
5 "Calling Dr. Herbie" Bill Bixby Arthur Alsberg, Don Nelson April 14, 1982 (1982-04-14)
Jim and Susan decide to sell her car to buy a family station wagon.

Home media

The series has not yet become available on DVD, Blu-ray, or Disney+.

Premiere in Brazil

The series premiered on Brazilian television on January 10, 1993 on TV Globo, on Sunday mornings and then at various times, being the only country to broadcast the program on a Latin American open TV network.

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