McDuff, the Talking Dog
Encyclopedia
McDuff, The Talking Dog was a Saturday morning live action
television program
that aired on NBC
in 1976. The show centered around the ghost of a 100-year-old sheepdog who used to live in the home now owned by a veterinarian
, Dr. Calvin Campbell (played by Walter Willison). McDuff (voice provided by Jack Lester) could talk not only to the other animals, but also to Dr. Campbell. However, Dr. Campbell was the only person who could hear or see McDuff, which often led to wacky situations.
Dr. Campbell’s neighbor, Amos Ferguson, was played by Gordon Jump
, who would later go on to WKRP in Cincinnati
fame.
, which was entering its third season, and four other new shows: Monster Squad
, Big John, Little John
, The Kids from C.A.P.E.R.
and Muggsy
. None of the six shows returned for the beginning of 1977-78 season, with McDuff being the first casualty. It was cancelled after only two months—after airing only 11 of the 13 episodes that had been produced. The original films were lost in a fire making a release of this material impossible.
Live action
In filmmaking, video production, and other media, the term live action refers to cinematography, videography not produced using animation...
television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
that aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in 1976. The show centered around the ghost of a 100-year-old sheepdog who used to live in the home now owned by a veterinarian
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
, Dr. Calvin Campbell (played by Walter Willison). McDuff (voice provided by Jack Lester) could talk not only to the other animals, but also to Dr. Campbell. However, Dr. Campbell was the only person who could hear or see McDuff, which often led to wacky situations.
Dr. Campbell’s neighbor, Amos Ferguson, was played by Gordon Jump
Gordon Jump
Alexander Gordon Jump was an American actor best known as the clueless radio station manager Arthur "Big Guy" Carlson in the TV series WKRP in Cincinnati and the incompetent "Chief of Police Tinkler" in the sitcom Soap...
, who would later go on to WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati is an American situation comedy that featured the misadventures of the staff of a struggling fictional radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show was created by Hugh Wilson and was based upon his experiences working in advertising sales at Top 40 radio station WQXI in Atlanta...
fame.
Broadcast history
At the beginning of the 1976-77 television season, McDuff, the Talking Dog was part of a three-hour block of six live action shows aired on Saturday mornings on NBC, alongside Land of the LostLand of the Lost (1974 TV series)
Land of the Lost is a children's television series co-created and produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. During its original run, it was broadcast on the NBC television network....
, which was entering its third season, and four other new shows: Monster Squad
Monster Squad
Monster Squad is a television series that aired Saturday mornings on NBC from 1976-1977 that is unrelated to the later movie of the same name....
, Big John, Little John
Big John, Little John
Big John, Little John is an American Saturday morning sitcom produced by Sherwood Schwartz which stars Robbie Rist as Little John, and Herb Edelman as Big John. The show first aired on September 11, 1976 on NBC, and ran for one season of 13 episodes...
, The Kids from C.A.P.E.R.
The Kids From C.A.P.E.R.
The Kids From C.A.P.E.R. is a Saturday morning live action television comedy series for children, produced by NBC, that aired from September 11, 1976 to November 20, 1976 and resumed from April 9, 1977 to September 3, 1977. The 13 episodes were produced and directed by Stanley Z. Cherry; among the...
and Muggsy
Muggsy (TV series)
Muggsy was a Saturday morning live action television program that aired on NBC in 1976-1977.-Synopsis:Filmed on location in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the show centered around Margaret “Muggsy” Malloy , who lived with her older brother Nick , a cab driver, in a furnished truck converted into an...
. None of the six shows returned for the beginning of 1977-78 season, with McDuff being the first casualty. It was cancelled after only two months—after airing only 11 of the 13 episodes that had been produced. The original films were lost in a fire making a release of this material impossible.