Wonderbug
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Wonderbug | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre | Children's television series |
| Starring | David Levy Jack Baker Carol Anne Seflinger Frank Welker (voice) |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 22 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Sid and Marty Krofft |
| Running time | 0:15 (per episode) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ABC |
| Original run | September 11, 1976 – September 2, 1978 |
| Links | |
| IMDb profile | |
Wonderbug was a TV series on ABC network, and was part of the first and second season of the ABC network's Krofft Supershow beginning in 1976.
Wonderbug's alter ego "Schlepcar" was an old, beat up, conglomeration of several junked cars that looked like a rusty dune buggy. Like Herbie of Disney movie fame, Schlepcar was alive and could drive itself, and could also talk in a mumbling voice. It was found in a junk yard by teenagers Barry Buntrock (David Levy), C.C. McNamara (Jack Baker) and Susan Talbot (Carol Anne Seflinger). Schlepcar transformed into the shiny metal-flake orange Wonderbug when a magic horn was sounded. In his Wonderbug identity, Shlepcar had the power of flight and was able to help the three teens capture crooks and prevent evil wrongdoing.
In Wonderbug mode, the car was a custom Meyers Manx-clone body Volkswagen. The car had articulated eyeball headlights, and a custom bumper that resembled a mouth; different bumpers were sometimes used to give the car different facial expressions. When the car spoke in its mumbling voice, a rubber puppet stand-in with a moving mouth was sometimes used. The space that would normally contain the left rear passenger seat instead contained a box, described in dialog as "the costume trunk"; this box actually served to conceal a hidden driver in scenes in which the car drives itself. The car also had a long fender-mounded radio antenna that terminated with a robot-like claw or gripper.
Barry often thought he was the brains of the outfit. However, it was usually Susan who came up with the ideas that saved them.
Wonderbug shared its half-hour time slot with other Krofft Supershow titles, including Magic Mongo, Dr. Shrinker, The Lost Saucer, and Electra Woman and Dyna Girl.
