saturday morning - 3/4

Planet of the Apes

One of the most successful science fiction franchises ever to emerge from Hollywood, Planet of the Apes (and the four sequels that followed) introduced film audiences to a world where apes ruled supreme, and with an iron fist. With Charlton Heston playing the lead human, and Roddy McDowell, Maurice Evans and Kim Hunter transformed into believable beasts (via loads of latex makeup), The Planet of the Apes continues to enthrall with its thought-provoking plot and colorful characters over four decades after its original release.

Jabberjaw

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A pinch of Curly from The Three Stooges, a dash of Rodney Dangerfield throw in for good measure. Mix the ingredients and stuff them into a Great White shark and you have the makings for Jabberjaw - a fondly-remembered aquatic creature animated by Hanna-Barbera. Jabberjaw debuted on Saturday mornings in 1976, and although his stay [...]

Dynomutt, Dog Wonder

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Any regular watcher of television will tell you that a dog is man’s best friend. They will also attest that nifty gadgets are a crime-fighter’s best friend. So, what if we had a dog who was a loyal pet and sidekick to a crime fighting millionaire? Logic suggests that he would be equipped with plenty of high-tech sophistication. Such was the case with Dynomutt, a lovable but ever-clumsy canine robot, equipped with an array of gear that would make the future Inspector Gadget a tad jealous.

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids

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With rare exception, longevity isn't a word often associated with Saturday morning cartoons. Most only last a couple of years at best. Put comedian/educator Bill Cosby at the helm, however, and you have a recipe for success. Such was the case with Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, a beloved series and a staple of Saturday mornings for over a decade.

Wacky Races

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Debuting in 1968, Wacky Races really consisted of only one race - one really, really long race. It covered the entire planet and never seemed to end. Was there a trophy? Who sponsored the race? When did they stop to fill up? These questions were never answered (but nobody seemed to mind) as the racers competed for first place and the title, "World's Wackiest Racer." Let's take a look back at this classic cartoon.

Kidd Video

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With the enormous success of MTV in the early 80s, it was only a matter of time before Saturday morning programming took advantage of the power of music video and worked it into a live action/animation hybrid. They called their creation Kidd Video.

Sigmund and the Sea Monsters

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Few people made a more profound impact on the Saturday mornings of the 70s than the creative duo of Sid and Marty Krofft. They whisked us off to one magical locale after another with such offerings as H.R. Pufnstuf, The Bugaloos and Lidsville. In 1973, a floating piece of seaweed inspired the pair to create a series a little closer to home. Breaking with their surrealistic style, they set their new show at a southern California beach, and called it Sigmund and the Sea Monsters.

Bay City Rollers

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Bringing up the rear of the British Invasion, the Bay City Rollers emerged from Scotland in the 70s and after racking up a respectable number of fans in the UK, arrived in America to enjoy even more adulation. Besides gracing the American music charts with a string of hits, the teen heartthrobs also endeared themselves to millions via Saturday morning television.

Bobby’s World

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For a four-year-old, the world seems a mighty strange place. For a four-year-old who has Howie Mandel for a father, strange might be an understatement. Such was the case for the little animated star of the Saturday morning series, Bobby’s World.

Josie and the Pussycats

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Josie wasn’t always a pussycat. In the late 60’s, this future feline rocker was simply Josie, star of her own Archie comic book about the adventures of Josie and her best friend, Melody. But with the musical success of The Archies on the rise, it was determined by the creators that it might not be such a bad thing if Josie and Melody started up their own group. And so was born, Josie and the Pussycats.