We spend a lot of time talking about all of the cartoons that filled the Saturday morning lineup of our youth, but today we thought we would focus on those wonderful live-action shows that we grew up with and were equally beloved. Some offered strange creatures in costume, others offered ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. Today, we want to know what your favorites were, and why. And just to be helpful, we’ll even offer up a selection of live-action “blasts-from-the-past” to get your brain cells working.
First up, we travel back to 1969, and the wonderful minds of Sid and Marty Krofft, who created the beloved series, H.R. Pufnstuf. This psychedelically laced adventure about a boy shipwrecked on a mysterious island offered a selection of colorful characters that still resonate in the memories of so many of us. Let’s take a look:
Next, we really travel back in time, to visit the Marshall family, who fell through a time portal and found themselves amongst dangerous dinosaurs in the 1974 series, Land of the Lost. Each week, we tuned in to see what new prehistoric perils Rick, Will, Holly and their helpful friend, Cha-Ka, would face.
Moving along into the 80s, few live-action shows were as unique and captivating as Pee-Wee’s Playhouse. Masterminded by comedian Paul Reubens, millions tuned in each week to watch Pee-Wee converse with his friends, such as Chairry, the talking chair, and learn the secret word of the week.
And finally, let’s travel to Bayside High to visit Zack, Slater, Kelly and Screech, in the Saturday morning sitcom, Saved by the Bell. So popular was this show, it inspired two spin-off series, two TV movies, and even a comic book.
So, we’ve give you some of our suggestions, but any show is fair game. Perhaps you preferred superhero shows like Shazam!, or variety shows like The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Comedy Show. Maybe you even liked to get more bank for your viewing buck by settling into a smorgasbord of live-action on The Krofft Supershow. In our comments section, tell us which is your favorite live-action show from the Saturday mornings of your childhood, and be sure to share why they were your favorites!
It’s hard to narrow down to one favorite here. Off the top of my head, I liked Bigfoot and Wildboy, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, Land of the Lost, Shazam, Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, ……. I know there’s a few more but I forget at the moment.
i loved pee wee’s playhouse, of course saved by the bell, and land of the lost was great.
H.R. Pufnstuf., Land of the Lost,xThe Krofft Supershow,Lidsville,
Lost Saucer,The Far out Space Nuts., Dr.Shrinker….ect. I could
go on and on.
Dear Eric,
The best live action kids tv shows from the 1970′s and 80′s are..”Far Out Space Nuts”With Bob Denver and my hero Chuck McCann,”The GhostBusters”(The live tv sitcom not those movies or that forgetable tv cartoon spinoff)with Mr.Forest Tucker,Mr.Larry Storch and Mr.Bob Burns(as”Tracy The Ape”),”Steampipe Alley”With Mario Cantone ,”The D.J.Katt Show”,”Wonderama”With Bob McAllister,”Make A Wish”with Mr.Tom Chapin,”Animals/Animals/Animals”With Mr.Hal Linden,Ms.Lynn Kellogg and Mr.Roger Karrass.
You Don’t live kids tv shows better than these.
I pretty much like all of Krofft, (except Pryor’s Place). Those theme songs are the stuff my Saturday mornings were made of. I also like the Filmation live action shows Shazam, Isis, and Space Academy.
Ditto HardyGirl66′s remarks.
Sigmund and the Sea Monsters was my absolute favorite show as a wee lad. I used to imagine I was Sigmund and my (not so much older) uncles were the brothers.
I mentioned somewhere else recently that Land of the Lost was another favorite despite being petrified of the Sleestacks and the dinosaurs.
When I got a little older and needed a Star Wars fix (albeit a cheap knockoff of Star Wars) I loved Jason of Star Command. It even had Mr. Scott.
Am I the only one whe remembers “Big John, Little John” and “Kids from C.A.P.E.R.”?
Land of the Lost was a big favorite, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, of course Shazam and Isis, I also enjoyed Ark II..
Who remembers Ghost Busters with the Larry Storch and Forrest Tucker from F-Troop, and the guy in the gorilla costume..lol
Pee-Wee’s Playhouse,Electra-Woman and Dyna Girl,That’s all I can remember.
No one here mentioned “The Weird Al Show”..does anyone remember this series and does anyone have any recollections about the show?
I’ve always loved Weird Al, so I made sure to tune into his Saturday morning show. It’s on DVD now.
I forgot ISis and Shazam!
I would like to get the Ghost Busters with Larry storch and Forrest Tucker. the Senior Jake Kong and Eddie Spenser. of the Filmation Ghostbusters Juniors.
Does anyone remember a show about a family of 4 that lives on a sailboat in Hawaii. I think it was only on for 2 or 3 years. Then there was this other show about these people, 1 guy, 1 asian girl, and maybe 1 kid. They were from the future or the past but driving around searching for people in a post apocalyptic Earth. These were cool shows that I watched. Theses shows came and went so fast just like youth..lol.
Not sure about the first show, but the second one sounds an awful lot like Ark II.
If nobody here is able to provide the answer to the first show, consider posting your question in the discussion section of our Facebook page.
Good luck with your quest!
Eric sorry I forgot to thank you too. I knew I came to the right place to find knowledgable people. Thanks.
Couchtater: that show with the family living on a sail boat would be “West Wind”, starring Van Williams of “Green Hornet” fame. Regrettably it is not yet available on DVD. I think this was my sister’s favorite live-action Saturday morning show. My favorite by far was “Land of the Lost” because I’d always loved dinosaurs. Another reason it was my favorite, although I didn’t know it at the time, was that it was written by many of the writers of the original Star Trek TV show, which was also a favorite show of mine.
Kirk your awesome. That’s one of the shows I never missed on Sat morns. It always made me dream that I could do the same and sail all over the world. Land of the Lost was also one of my faves, too bad they cancelled that one too. I had no idea the writers did ST too. I’ll never challenge you to a game of Trivial Pursuit……lol. Thanks.