Syndicated Fun
These are shows that were most often encountered in syndication. Some may have originated as network shows, but had long lives in syndication. I have left off the network favorites that then aired in syndication, sticking to smaller shows or ones that had much bigger syndication lives.
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- StarsSally Claster GelbardNancy ClasterMolly McCloskeyA 1953 -1994 children's T.V. show that used hosts, puppets, games, music, short cartoons, and educational segments to teach a variety of subjects to preschool children.Not so much a syndicated show as a franchised show. We had a local version in Decatur, IL, near where I grew up. My brother appeared on it, before I was aware of anything beyond feedings and diaper changes. The show had songs and games and little lessons. It was better known through some of their official merchandise.
- CreatorDick DarleyStarsNed Le FevreMargaret KerryHal SmithScott McCloud is the Space Angel, a secret agent for EBI (Earth Bureau of Investigation) on board the spaceship Starduster fighting hard to protect the solar system.From Cambria, the people who gave us Clutch Cargo, came this sci-fi series, featuring Scott McLoud and his companions Taurus and Crystal. Our trio soars the spaceways, as they encounter various villains and dangerous situations. The show is notorious for it's use of "synchro-vox," where human mouths were superimposed on the cartoon characters. The show featured rather static animation, but made up for it with designs from comic greats Alex Toth and Doug Wildey.
- CreatorClark HaasStarsRichard CottingHal SmithMargaret KerryThe adventures of a pilot who takes on dangerous assignments.Cambria's earlier adventure show, though I have only seen clips of it. Space Angel was the more imaginative of the two shows.
- StarsMoe HowardLarry FineJoe DeRitaThe animated adventures of the crazy trio.More from Cambria. This featured the Stooges in cartoon form (with voice actors like Pat Harrington) while the real Stooges appeared in linking segments, recorded on film. The theme song is one of the earliest tv earwigs.
- CreatorEiji TsuburayaStarsSusumu KurobeSandayû DokumamushiMasaya NiheiA human member of a defense force is given the life and ability to change into a giant super-hero to battle the monsters that wreaks havoc on Earth.The first of the Ultra shows (unless you count Ultra Q, which wasn't exactly the same kind of show). It was dubbed into English and syndicated across the country. It was quite a change from most things on tv, where Ultraman fights battles against various monsters. Plenty of fighting to entertain the young action fan.
- StarsMitsunobu KanekoToshiyuki TsuchiyamaKôichi ChibaA young boy aids in the fight against a terrorist organization as the sole controller of a prototype giant robot.Another from Japan, where it was known as Giant Robo. Jonny is a young boy who, alongside a Unicorn security agent, encounters an alien terrorist group. Together, they steal the Giant Robot and bring him to Unicorn. Johnny then works alongside Unicorn to fight the alien menace, while ducking child welfare officials, no doubt. Fun show with lots of action and monsters. Plenty of james Bond-style violence, too.
- StarsYôsuke OkadaHisashi KatôRei MakiSuper Science Institute member Ken Kurenai pilots the giant robot Red Baron, entrusted to him by its inventor, his older brother, to avenge his murder at the hands of the Iron Mask Party, led by the evil President Deviler.More from Japan. This features a giant robot that is piloted by the security team, fighting other robots and menaces.
- CreatorTatsuo YoshidaStarsKatsuji MoriPeter FernandezCorinne OrrTeenager Gô Mifune aspires to be the world's best race-car champion with the help of his friends, family and his father's high-tech race-car, the Mach 5.aka Mach Go GO Go. Speed and his friends and family compete in races around the globe, while battling crooks, terrorists and other ne'rdowells. A longtime favorite of action and rather fevered voicework. Often unintentionally funny.
- StarsAlan YoungKeye LukeRonnie SchellA five-member superhero team called G-Force fights to defend Earth and its space colonies from the threat of the planet Spectra.Sandy Frank version of Kagaku Ninjatai Gatchaman (Science Ninja Team Gatchaman). The show features the adventures of the teen heroes of G-Force, as they battle the forces of the evil planet Spectra, led by Zoltar. This version reworked the original episodes, placing the action in outer space, instead of Earth, while removing a lot of the violence. New bridging sequences were added with the new character, 7-Zark-7. The show tried to cash in on the Star Wars success, but succeeded in its own right. It featured voicework from H-B vets Janet Waldo and Kasey Casem, as well as Ronnie Schell (Gomer Pyle USMC) and Alan Young (Mr. Ed, Duck Tales). Great show!
- StarsEddie AllenMichael BertoliniAmy Howard WilsonIn the year 2199, a starship must make a dangerous voyage to the distant planet Iscandar and back to save Earth from an alien invasion.English version of Space Battleship Yamato. The three series of Yamato were combined and characters were renamed and dubbed. The original storyline finds an Earth devastated by alien attack, where a small group of spacemen travel to a distant planet to find a cure for the radiation that is killing the people of Earth. Plenty of melodrama and action to satisfy anyone.
- CreatorCarl MacekStarsSteve KramerTom WynerRobert AxelrodAn alien spaceship crash lands on Earth and the technology and secrets she bears lead Earth into three destructive interplanetary wars.Series blending 3 different Japanese tv shows into one grand epic. This show helped fully launch the anime boom in the US, though the shows of the late 60s and 70s paved the way.
- StarsPeter CullenMichael BellJack AngelThis series focuses on five lion robots and their pilots as they fight the evil forces of King Zarkon and Prince Lotor.Another redubbed Japanese show, inspired by the Sentai shows of Japan (Power Rangers). The series actually features two different cartoons.
- StarsJôji YanamiHiroya IshimaruIsamu TanonakaTeenager Koji Kabuto pilots the amazing super-robot Mazinger Z to avenge its inventor (his grandfather) against the Mycene Empire, led by the evil mad scientist Doctor Hell.English version of Mazinger Z, based on the manga by Go Nagai. Giant robot mecha vs various menaces. Part of the early anime wave.
- StarsGeorge S. IrvingWally CoxAllen SwiftThe adventures of a rhyming canine superhero.Originated on network tv, but had a long life in syndication, plus a 90s revival on Nickelodeon. Humble, loveable Shoeshine Boy takes his super vitamin pill to become Underdog, champion of the people, figthing the likes of Riff-Raff and Simon Bar Sinister. Wally Cox did the rhyming voice. Companion cartoons featured Commander McBragg, Klondike Cat, and the Go-Go Gophers. Often paired with Tennessee Tuxedo and other Total Television cartoons in syndication.
- StarsKenny DelmarDon AdamsBradley BolkeThe educational misadventures of a fast-talking penguin and his dumb walrus friend.As with Underdog, it started on Saturday mornings network programming, but lived longer in syndication. Tennessee and Chumley (the walrus) get caught up in another scheme and need Mr. Whoopee's help to get them out. Mr. Whoopee adds education, via the 3DBB (3-Dimensional Blackboard), where he outlines basic scientific principles and history. Don Adams and Larry Storch provided the voices of Tennessee and Mr. Whoopee, with talents from many other voice artists. Loads of fun.
- CreatorMitsuteru YokoyamaStarsBillie Lou WattRay OwensPeter FernandezWhen terrorist groups, criminals and aliens become too strong for Earth's overstretched armed forces, the virtually indestructible robot named Gigantor is built to combat them.One of the earlier Japanese cartoons to make it to American shores, faturing one of the earlier giant robots.
- StarsBob BellRoy BrownFrazier ThomasChildren would go home from school at noon to have lunch and watch the show. They had a terrific band and funny skits with several clowns. In addition, the audience was entertained by stand alone circus acts from time to time.There were actually many Bozo franchise shows across the country. Most featured Bozo as the host of a variety show of cartoons and studio skits and games. This is the Chicago version, from WGN.
- StarsScott HallReginald LisowskiCurt HennigSyndicated series featuring wrestling matches as promoted by the American Wrestling Association (AWA).I just picked this as a placemarker. There were various syndicated wrestling shows, produced by the promoters or different territories. Usually, the syndication package aired in the same markets where live events were promoted. In my area (central Illinois), we had, at different times, the WWA, from Indianapolis, ICW from Lexington KY (the family of Randy Savage), and Central States from Kansas City. Most promotions were members of the NWA, or at least had working agreements with them (including the AWA in Minnesota and WWWF in New York). Each week, the shows featured studio or small arena matches which advanced storylines, which led to the big shows at the main arena of the territory. Cable expansion and bad promotion led to the decline of the territories and syndication became the home of the few promotions to thrive: the WWF and the Turner Cable-produced NWA/WCW promotion. By the end, only Vince Mcmahon's WWF/E survived.
- StarsBob McFaddenLarry KenneyEarl HammondA team of humanoid cats fight evil in their adopted home world.One of the better syndicated cartoons of the 80s. The show featured excellent stories and above average voicework, plus exciting animation. A cut above some of the other shows out there, more concerned with good storytelling than selling toys.
- StarsJohn ErwinAlan OppenheimerLinda GaryThe most powerful man in the universe, He-Man, goes against the evil forces of Skeletor to save the planet Eternia and to protect the secrets of Castle Grayskull.Filmation cartoons, based on the Mattel toy line. Like most Filmation work, it reused a lot of footage and the plots were rather repetitive; but, it was one of the most popular shows in syndication. Also in keeping with the Filmation tradition, it featured moral lessons as part of each story. It also helped launch a wave of cartoons that were designed to sell toys, leading to new Federal guidelines which prohibited the shows from also airing commercials for the toy line.
- StarsJackson BeckChristopher CollinsMichael BellAn elite special missions force fights against the terrorist forces of Cobra.Cartoon series based on the popular toyline. It was launched in conjunction with the Marvel Comics series, featuring tons of battles and explosions, but no one ever gets hurt. Probably the biggest offender in regards to being glorified advertising, though it had generally well written stories. Voicework was never anything special.
- CreatorHenry OrensteinStarsFrank WelkerPeter CullenCorey BurtonTwo opposing factions of transforming alien robots engage in a battle that has the fate of Earth in the balance.The tv series that launched a series of awful movies. Based on the Japanese toy line, the show featured advertisements, I mean cartoons, about the battle between the alien autobots and Deceptikons. Fairly repetitive (as most cartoon shows are) and willfully fudging scale when the robots transformed to and from their vehicle forms. It was hugely popular, though.
- StarsBob McFaddenEarl HammondLarry KenneyA team of cyborgs protects Limbo from Mon Star and his gang.Another series in the vein of Thundercats. I think there were toys, at one point, but it existed more to entertain than sell. It was decent, though nowhere near as imaginative as Thundercats.
- CreatorJean ChalopinAndy HeywardBruno BianchiStarsDon AdamsHolly BergerFrank WelkerA bumbling cyborg inspector outfitted with an array of bizarre gadgets pursues the criminal organization M.A.D., all while his precocious niece and dog do the real investigative work.Popular tv series featuring Don Adams as the voice of our hero. The stories were often the same, but lively voicework and inventive ideas propelled the show. Producers, DIC, never had the budgets to rival the show from Japan, but they did decent work. The young girl character, Penny, would go on to become the subject of some rather lurid fan fiction on the internet.
- CreatorMarc RichardsStarsPat FraleyPeter CullenAlan OppenheimerA squad of supernatural investigators are Earth's only defense against an evil ghost wizard and his minions.This was the Filmation series, based on their older live-action series (which starred Larry Storch and Forrest Tucker). It came about thanks to the Ghostbusters movies, where those guys would be surprised to find that they didn't own the trademark on the name. The movie-based cartoon would have to call itself Real Ghostbusters. The Filmation series was typical of their output and was inferior to the movie-based cartoon show.