Wonderbug (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Wonderbug is a segment of the first and second season of the American
television series The Krofft Supershow
, from 1976 to 1978. It was shot in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
.
The show was rerun as part of ABC's Sunday morning series.
. 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 (John-Anthony Bailey) 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, Schlepcar had the power of flight and was able to help the three teens capture crooks and prevent wrongdoing.
In Wonderbug mode, the car was a Volkswagen
based Meyers Manx
-clone body. Specifically the body was a Dune Runner manufactured by Dune Buggy Enterprises of Westminster, California
. Dune Buggy Enterprises offered the Dune Runner with three different hood choices. Wonderbug has the T- Bird hood choice.
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. Its license plate would change to "1DERBUG".
Barry often thought he was the brains of the outfit. However, it was usually Susan who came up with the ideas that saved them.
, The Lost Saucer
, and Electra Woman and Dyna Girl
.
Ideal Toy Company
published a board game in 1977.
Aladdin Industries
produced a metal lunchbox in 1976.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television series The Krofft Supershow
The Krofft Supershow
The Krofft Supershow is a Saturday morning children's variety show, produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. It aired for two seasons from September 11, 1976 to September 2, 1978 on ABC.-Background:...
, from 1976 to 1978. It was shot in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
The show was rerun as part of ABC's Sunday morning series.
Plot
Wonderbug's alter ego "Schlepcar" (so named due to its personalized California license plate "SCHLEP") was an old, beat up, conglomeration of several junked cars that looked like a rusty dune buggyDune buggy
A dune buggy is a recreational vehicle with large wheels, and wide tires, designed for use on sand dunes or beaches. The design is usually a modified vehicle and engine mounted on an open chassis. The modifications usually attempt to increase the power-to-weight ratio by either lightening the...
. Like Herbie
Herbie
Herbie is an anthropomorphic Volkswagen Beetle, a character that is featured in several Disney motion pictures starting with the 1968 feature film The Love Bug. He has a mind of his own and is capable of driving himself, and is a serious contender in auto racing competitions...
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
David Levy (psychologist)
David Anthony Levy is an American psychologist, professor, author, stage director and actor. He has provided psychological perspectives on current events in numerous broadcast and publication media, and is co-author of an internationally best-selling textbook on cross-cultural psychology and...
), C.C. McNamara (John-Anthony Bailey) 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, Schlepcar had the power of flight and was able to help the three teens capture crooks and prevent wrongdoing.
In Wonderbug mode, the car was a Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
based Meyers Manx
Meyers Manx
The Meyers Manx dune buggy was designed by Californian engineer, artist, boat builder and surfer Bruce Meyers. It was produced by his company between 1964 and 1971.The car featured a fiberglass bodyshell coupled with the Volkswagen Beetle frame and engine...
-clone body. Specifically the body was a Dune Runner manufactured by Dune Buggy Enterprises of Westminster, California
Westminster, California
-Government:In the state legislature Westminster is located in the 34th, Senate District, represented by Democrat Lou Correa and Republican Tom Harman respectively, and in the 67th and 68th Assembly District, represented by Republicans Jim Silva and Van Tran respectively...
. Dune Buggy Enterprises offered the Dune Runner with three different hood choices. Wonderbug has the T- Bird hood choice.
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. Its license plate would change to "1DERBUG".
Barry often thought he was the brains of the outfit. However, it was usually Susan who came up with the ideas that saved them.
Other appearances
Wonderbug shared its half-hour time slot with other Krofft Supershow titles, including Magic Mongo, Dr. ShrinkerDr. Shrinker
Dr. Shrinker was a segment during the first season of the ABC network's The Krofft Supershow in 1976.-Plot:Dr. Shrinker is a mad scientist who creates a shrink ray that can miniaturize anything. Three young adults named Brad Fulton , B.J. Masterson and her brother Gordie Masterson , crash land...
, The Lost Saucer
The Lost Saucer
The Lost Saucer is an ABC network television series produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. It first aired September 6, 1975.-Premise:The Lost Saucer was about two time-travelling futuristic androids named Fi and Fum who land their flying saucer on present day Earth...
, and Electra Woman and Dyna Girl
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl is a Sid and Marty Krofft live action children's television series from 1976. The series lasted 16 weeks as part of the umbrella series The Krofft Supershow. During the second season, it was dropped along with Dr. Shrinker...
.
Ideal Toy Company
Ideal Toy Company
Ideal Toy Company was founded as Ideal Novelty and Toy Company in New York in 1907 by Morris and Rose Michtom after they had invented the Teddy bear in 1903. The company changed its name to Ideal Toy Company in 1938...
published a board game in 1977.
Aladdin Industries
Aladdin Industries
Aladdin Industries is a vendor of lunchboxes, kerosene lamps, stoves and thermal food storage containers. It evolved from the Western Lighting Company, founded in 1907 by Victor S. Johnson, Sr. and incorporated in 1908 as the Mantle Lamp Company. Aladdin Industries was created as a subsidiary of...
produced a metal lunchbox in 1976.