Hot Fudge
Encyclopedia
Hot Fudge is an American
children's television series
that was produced in Detroit
by WXYZ-TV
and distributed by the Lexington Broadcast Services Company
. Originally airing only in Detroit beginning in 1974
, the show grew in popularity and was syndicated
nationally from 1976
to 1980
.
s and puppet
s (known as the "Mits"), the show was originally hosted by Arte Johnson
. The duo of the bearded musician Larry (Larry Santos
) and green fuzzy puppet Seymour (voiced by producer Bob Elnicky) took over after the first season.
Glenn Denver, a puppet parody of John Denver
, released an album titled Glenn Denver Sings Country Songs from the Hot Fudge T.V. Show. Three other Hot Fudge albums were released; The Electric Fuzz's Rock 'N Roll from the Hot Fudge T.V. Show, Larry and Seymour Sing Songs from the Hot Fudge T.V. Show, and Hooray For Friendship and 9 Other Hits from the Hot Fudge T.V. Show. All of the albums have been released on CD.
A Hot Fudge episode was submitted to the University of Georgia
for a Peabody Award
in 1974; though not selected for the award itself, it was retained for the university's Peabody Awards Collection Archives. The show won a Puppeteers of America ACT AWARD in 1976.
presented a 90-minute reunion special, featuring the original cast, including Larry and Seymour. The special featured memories of the program interspersed with clips from the series. A rerun
of the episode was aired on December 14, 2007.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
children's television series
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
that was produced in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
by WXYZ-TV
WXYZ-TV
WXYZ-TV, channel 7, is an ABC-affiliated television station in Detroit, Michigan, USA. WXYZ-TV is owned by the E.W. Scripps Company, and is the media company's largest-market TV station property...
and distributed by the Lexington Broadcast Services Company
Lexington Broadcast Services Company
Lexington Broadcast Services Company was a television production and syndication company founded in 1976 by advertising pioneer Henry Siegel...
. Originally airing only in Detroit beginning in 1974
1974 in television
The year 1974 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1974.For the American TV schedule, see: 1974-75 American network television schedule.-Events:...
, the show grew in popularity and was syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
nationally from 1976
1976 in television
The year 1976 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1976.-Global television events:*The Olympics, broadcast from Montreal, Canada, draw an estimated one billion viewers worldwide....
to 1980
1980 in television
The year 1980 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1980.For the American TV schedule, see: 1980-81 American network television schedule.-Events:...
.
Overview
Featuring music, songs, and sketches with live actorActor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
s and puppet
Puppet
A puppet is an inanimate object or representational figure animated or manipulated by an entertainer, who is called a puppeteer. It is used in puppetry, a play or a presentation that is a very ancient form of theatre....
s (known as the "Mits"), the show was originally hosted by Arte Johnson
Arte Johnson
Arthur Stanton Eric "Arte" Johnson is an American comic actor. Johnson was a regular on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. His best-remembered "character" was that of a German soldier with the catchphrase: "Verrrry interesting, but...['stupid', 'not very funny', and other variations]".-Early life:Johnson...
. The duo of the bearded musician Larry (Larry Santos
Larry Santos
Larry Santos is an American singer-songwriter. He wrote tunes for several American pop bands in the 1960s, including the 1963 #3 hit "Candy Girl" for The Four Seasons. In the mid-Sixties, he recorded a few singles as part of a group called The Madisons, as well as under his own name...
) and green fuzzy puppet Seymour (voiced by producer Bob Elnicky) took over after the first season.
Glenn Denver, a puppet parody of John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
, released an album titled Glenn Denver Sings Country Songs from the Hot Fudge T.V. Show. Three other Hot Fudge albums were released; The Electric Fuzz's Rock 'N Roll from the Hot Fudge T.V. Show, Larry and Seymour Sing Songs from the Hot Fudge T.V. Show, and Hooray For Friendship and 9 Other Hits from the Hot Fudge T.V. Show. All of the albums have been released on CD.
A Hot Fudge episode was submitted to the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
for a Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
in 1974; though not selected for the award itself, it was retained for the university's Peabody Awards Collection Archives. The show won a Puppeteers of America ACT AWARD in 1976.
Sketches and characters
- Holy Moley!: A sketch where a simple-minded man (Ron Coden) tries to outwit problems, but gets socked back.
- Name That Feeling: Professor Emotion (Ron Coden) hosts a parody of Name That TuneName That TuneName That Tune is a television game show that put two contestants against each other to test their knowledge of songs. Premiering in the United States on NBC Radio in 1952, the show was created and produced by Harry Salter and his wife Roberta....
with puppet contestants watching a video clip of other puppets and trying to guess how they feel. - Write On!/Newsreel/Unreasonable Report: News sketches featuring Harry Unreasonable, a parody of news anchor Harry ReasonerHarry ReasonerHarry Truman Reasoner was an American journalist for ABC and CBS News, known for his inventive use of language as a television commentator, and as a founder of the 60 Minutes program.-Biography:...
. - Hot Fudge Gang/The Mits/Happening!: Various sketches featuring children and adults.
- Detective Tomato (Ron Coden) giving advice to children then leaving through the door behind him, only to have something happen to him when he goes through.
- Elton Seymour: Seymour playing a tune in the guise of Elton JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, usually featured at the beginning of the show. - Amanda Caruthers, portraying various characters in sketches, often giving kindly advice to the inquiring puppets.
2007 reunion special
On Wednesday December 5, 2007, Detroit PBS member station WTVSWTVS
WTVS, branded as Detroit Public TV, is the Public Broadcasting Service member Public television station in Detroit, Michigan. Broadcasting since 1955, its vision statement is "educate, entertain and inspire — in partnership with our community." The viewer supported station produces many local...
presented a 90-minute reunion special, featuring the original cast, including Larry and Seymour. The special featured memories of the program interspersed with clips from the series. A rerun
Rerun
A rerun or repeat is a re-airing of an episode of a radio or television broadcast. The invention of the rerun is generally credited to Desi Arnaz. There are two types of reruns—those that occur during a hiatus, and those that occur when a program is syndicated. Reruns can also be, as the...
of the episode was aired on December 14, 2007.