The Krofft Supershow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Krofft Supershow |
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| Created by | Joe Ruby Ken Spears |
| Starring | Michael Lembeck Debra Clinger Mickey McMeel Louise DuArt Bert Sommer |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 32 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Sid and Marty Krofft |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | September 11, 1976 – September 2, 1978 |
| Chronology | |
| Followed by | The Krofft Superstar Hour |
The Krofft Supershow was a fun Saturday morning TV show for kids. It was created by Sid and Marty Krofft, who were famous for their puppet and live-action shows. This show aired on ABC for two years, from 1976 to 1978. It was a "variety show," meaning it had different mini-shows or segments all in one program.
About The Krofft Supershow
This show was made up of several live-action adventures. A rock band called "Kaptain Kool and the Kongs" hosted the show. They introduced each segment and performed songs.
First Season Segments (1976–1977)
In the first season, the show featured three main segments:
They also showed reruns of The Lost Saucer for part of the season. Each live-action segment was about 15 minutes long.
Second Season Segments (1977–1978)
For the second season, "Dr. Shrinker" and "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl" were replaced. New segments included:
- "Bigfoot and Wildboy"
- "Magic Mongo"
What Happened Next?
Instead of a third season, the show changed a lot. It moved to NBC and was renamed The Krofft Superstar Hour. The popular band Bay City Rollers took over as hosts. New segments like "Horror Hotel" and "The Lost Island" were added.
Meet Kaptain Kool and the Kongs
This group was a special band created just for the show. They were the hosts, introducing the other segments and performing funny skits and songs.
The Band's Style
In the first season, Kaptain Kool and the Kongs were a wild glam rock band. Their parts of the show were filmed at the World of Sid and Marty Krofft amusement park in Atlanta.
For the second season, their look became a bit calmer. The band also became a four-person group instead of five. Their segments were filmed in a studio with a live audience of kids.
Music and Other Appearances
Many of the songs the band sang were written by the Osmonds. Even after the Bay City Rollers took over the show, Kaptain Kool and the Kongs appeared on other TV shows. These included Donny & Marie and The Brady Bunch Variety Hour. They even appeared on Dick Clark's American Bandstand.
Kaptain Kool and the Kongs Cast
- Kaptain Kool: Michael Lembeck
- Superchick: Debra Clinger
- Turkey: Mickey McMeel
- Nashville: Louise DuArt
- Flatbush: Bert Sommer (only in Season 1)
Two music albums featuring Kaptain Kool and the Kongs were released in 1978. One album had the band singing, and the other included comedy skits from the show.
Exciting Show Segments
Dr. Shrinker
Dr. Shrinker was about an evil scientist who lived on a secret island. Three teenagers, Brad, B.J., and Gordie, got stuck on his island. Dr. Shrinker used his special machine to shrink them! The show followed their adventures as they tried to escape the tiny world and avoid the mad scientist and his helper, Hugo.
Dr. Shrinker Cast
- Dr. Shrinker: Jay Robinson
- Hugo: Billy Barty
- Brad: Ted Eccles
- B.J.: Susan Lawrence
- Gordie: Jeff MacKay
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl
Lori and Judy were reporters for a magazine, but they had a secret identity! They were Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, two superheroines who fought crime. With help from their friend Frank Heflin, they battled many villains. These bad guys included the Pharaoh, the Sorcerer, Glitter Rock, and the Spider Lady.
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl Cast
- Electra Woman/Lori: Deidre Hall
- Dyna Girl/Judy: Judy Strangis
- Frank Heflin: Norman Alden
Wonderbug
This segment featured three teenage friends: Barry, C.C., and Susan. They fixed up an old dune buggy and named it "Schlepcar." When they put a magic horn on the car, Schlepcar came to life as Wonderbug! Wonderbug could fly and helped the teens solve mysteries and fight crime.
Wonderbug Cast
- Barry: David Levy
- C.C.: Jack Baker (as John Anthony Bailey)
- Susan: Carol Anne Seflinger
- Wonderbug (voice): Frank Welker
Magic Mongo
In "Magic Mongo," teenagers Donald, Lorraine, and Kristy found an old bottle. Inside was a genie named Mongo! Mongo tried to help his new young friends with his magic. However, his attempts often led to funny and unexpected problems.
Magic Mongo Cast
- Mongo: Lennie Weinrib
- Donald: Paul Hinckley
- Lorraine: Helaine Lembeck
- Kristy: Robin Dearden
- Ace: Bart Braverman
- Duncey: Larry Larsen
Bigfoot and Wildboy
This segment told the story of Wildboy, who was orphaned in the Pacific Northwest. He was found and raised by Bigfoot, the famous man-beast of the forest. Together, they protected the forest from anyone who tried to harm it. In the first season, they were helped by Suzie, a 12-year-old girl. In the second season, an archeology student named Cindy joined them.
The "Bigfoot and Wildboy" episodes on The Krofft Supershow were 15 minutes long. Later, in 1979, ABC brought the show back as its own series. They combined the 15-minute segments into 30-minute episodes. New episodes were also filmed and aired in the summer of 1979.
Bigfoot and Wildboy Cast
- Bigfoot: Ray Young
- Wildboy: Joseph Butcher
- Suzie: Monika Ramirez
- Ranger Lucas: Ned Romero
- Cindy: Yvonne Regalado
- Cindy's father: Al Wyatt, Jr.
