The All-New Super Friends Hour

Summary

The popularity of TV's Wonder Woman and The Six Million Dollar Man spurred network interest in reviving the Super Friends program, which had run in the 1973/1974 season. When it was again unveiled in 1977, more young children and teenagers than before tuned in, making The All-New Super Friends Hour a huge ratings success. The success prompted the ABC television network to plan a new and even more innovative series for the Fall of 1978.

Characters

In this particular incarnation of the Super Friends, the DC Comic book characters Superman, Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman and Aquaman return to fight for justice. This time however they get help from the shape-shifting super-teens The Wonder Twins, along with their space-monkey Gleek.

Format

The All-New Super Friends Hour featured 15 episodes of 60 minutes each, which followed a basic format each week. The first segment of every show featured two of the heroes (for the purposes of the team-ups in the first and fourth segments, Batman and Robin were considered one hero) teaming up in a separate mini story. The second segment featured a story with the Wonder Twins. The typical plot is that teenagers engage in a specific discouraged activity like vandalism or hitchhiking, and the Twins are summoned to deal with it. Inevitably, the misbehaving teenagers find themselves in danger as a consequence of their misbehavior and the Twins rescue them.

The third segment was considered the "primary" adventure of the week which featured the entire Super Friends roster (including the Wonder Twins) in a longer adventure. The fourth and final segment featured a story with one of the primary lineup along with a special guest star. The fourth segment typically featured a problem which was solved using the guest star's unique abilities. In addition, there were additional short spots between segments with members of the Super Friends giving basic safety lessons, basic health and first aid advice, magic tricks, craft projects, and a two-part riddle featuring the week's primary plot line.

Syndication/cable

The 15 hour-long shows were later cut into half-hour installments for local syndication in the early 1980s. Episodes from the 1977 series were included in The Superman/Batman Adventures, which aired on the USA Network in 1996 and later on the Cartoon Network and Boomerang, which would air the original hour-long shows from 1977 in their entirety (save for the next week's previews) in July 2004 and again in June 2008.

Character lineup

• Superman
• Batman
• Robin
• Wonder Woman
• Aquaman
• The Wonder Twins
  • Zan
  • Jayna
  • Gleek

Guests

• Black Vulcan
• Apache Chief
• Hawkman
• Hawkgirl
• Rima the Jungle Girl
• The Atom (Ray Palmer)
• Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)
• Samurai
• The Flash (Barry Allen)

Black Manta appeared on the episodes "The Whirlpool" and "The Water Beast", where he was referred to simply as "Manta" and his suit color was now olive brown.

Gentleman Ghost appears in the episode titled "Ghost". In this show, he is referred to only as "Gentleman Jim Craddock" instead of "Gentleman Ghost". A man casts a spell to bring Gentleman Ghost to the living so that he can take revenge on Superman and Wonder Woman for imprisoning his spirit. He uses his powers to turn U.N. representatives into ghosts and later turns Superman and Wonder Woman into ghosts. The curse is eventually broken, after which the Super Friends used the mystical Rods of Merlin to send Gentleman Ghost back to his grave, never to return.

Cast

• Norman Alden – Aquaman, Caller, Professor Rogers (in "Will the World Collide?"), Gruth (in "The Ghost"), Earthor #1 (in "Invasion of the Earthors")
• Jack Angel – Hawkman, Samurai, Dr. Lau (in "Time Rescue")
• Michael Bell – Zan, Gleek, Mechanic (in "Joy Ride"), Jeff (in "Joy Ride"), Kalmo (in "The Mysterious Time Creatures"), Sully (in "Runaways"), Gary
• Wally Burr – Atom, Secret Four Member #1 (in "The Secret Four"), The Enforcer (in "The Enforcer"), Peterson (in "The Invisible Menace"), Dr. Pisces (in "Attack of the Giant Squid"), Newton's son (in "The Collector"), Zeno Leader (in "Exploration Earth"), Lionex (in "The Lion Men"), Bus Depot Master (in "Runaways")
• Ted Cassidy – Crag the Earthor (in "Invasion of the Earthors")
• Henry Corden – Vika (in "Tibetan Raiders"), Rudolph Korloff (in "The Mummy of Nazca")
• Regis Cordic – Manta, Apache Chief (first appearance), Nemus (in "The Invisible Menace"), Professor Martinez (in "The Water Beast"), Jules (in "The Marsh Monster")
• Danny Dark – Superman
• Shannon Farnon – Wonder Woman, Rima, Hawkgirl, Drowning Boy, Newton's daughter (in "The Collector"), Dr. Amy Zahn (in "The Fifty Foot Woman"), Dr. Taylor (in "The Fifty Foot Woman")
• Pat Fraley – Ron (in "Handicap"), Jack (in "Cheating")
• Bob Hastings – Corky (in "Joy Ride"), Scott (in "Handicap")
• Buster Jones – Black Vulcan
• Jane Jones – Suzie (in "Tiger on the Loose"), Jody (in "Hitchhike")
• Casey Kasem – Robin, Police Officer (in "The Brain Machine"), Tour Guide (in "Invasion of the Earthors"), Mr. Brown, Guest, Justice League Computer, Secret Four Member #3 (in "The Secret Four"), Dictor (in "The Mysterious Time Creatures"), Insecta (in "Coming of the Antropods"), Brunette Scientist (in "The Marsh Monster"), Mr. Thompson (in "Doctor Fright"), Professor Larvey (in "Will the World Collide?)
• Joyce Mancini – Mary Nelson (in "Tiny World of Terror")
• Ross Martin – Dr. Cranum (in "The Brain Machine"), Professor Strickland (in "Tiny World of Terror")
• Chuck McClennan – Mongor (in "City in a Bottle")
• Alan Oppenheimer – Doctor Fright (in "Doctor Fright"), Wolfman (in "The Man Beasts of Xra"), The Marsh Monster (in "The Marsh Monster"), Gentleman Ghost (in "The Ghost"), Scientist (in "The Ghost")
• Richard Paul – Professor Price (in "Forbidden Power")
• Barney Phillips – Flash (in "Tibetan Raiders"), Jules (in "The Marsh Monster")
• Robert Ridgely - Captain Shark (in "The Protector")
• Mike Road – Varko (in "Planet of the Neanderthals")
• Michael Rye – Apache Chief, Green Lantern, Abominable Snowman (in "Alaska Peril")
• Ronnie Schell – First Mate (in "The Whirlpool")
• Olan Soule – Batman, Police Officer (in "The Brain Machine"), Secret Four Member #4 (in "The Secret Four") Professor Wong (in "Tiny World of Terror"), Professor Fearo (in "Will the World Collide?")
• John Stephenson – Police Officer (in "Doctor Fright"), Dr. Droid (in "The Monster of Dr. Droid"), Pantherman (in "The Man Beasts of Xra"), Sculpin (in "Frozen Peril"), Freighter Captain (in "Frozen Peril")
• Robert Towers – Hydronoid Captain (in "Invasion of the Hydronoids")
• Jean Vander Pyl – Medula (in "The Mind Maidens"), Dr. Xra (in "The Man Beasts of Xra"), Magda Duval (in "The Marsh Monster")
• Louise "Liberty" Williams – Jayna, Little Sister
• Bill Woodson – Narrator, Captain Croner (in "The Whirlpool"), Dr. Scat (in "The Brain Machine"), Police Chief (in "The Brain Machine"), Earthor #2 (in "Invasion of the Earthors"), Secret Four Member #2 (in "The Secret Four"), Hydronoid Ruler (in "Invasion of the Hydronoids"), Professor (in "Doctor Fright"), Boris (in "The Monster of Dr. Droid"), Professor Fairweather (in "The Invisible Menace"), Newton Domehead (in "The Collector"), Professor Dalton (in "Alaska Peril"), Professor Zarkoff (in "Forbidden Power"), Mutant (in "Forbidden Power"), Dr. Markham (in "The Man Beasts of Xra"), Jay's Pop (in "Runaways"), Cleazor (in "Will the World Collide?"), Professor Comstock (in "Time Rescue")

Episodes

Cameos: Superman and Aquaman whirlpool.

Cameos: Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman Absent: Superman Note: This is the first time that Superman did not appear.

Cameos: Wonder Woman and Aquaman

Cameos: Superman, Batman, Robin, and Aquaman

Cameos: Superman and Wonder Woman

Cameos: Superman, Batman, Robin, and Aquaman

Cameos: Batman, Robin, and Aquaman

Cameos: Superman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman

Cameos: Batman, Robin, and Aquaman

Cameos: Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and the Wonder Twins

Cameos: Superman, Batman, and Robin Note: The show's announcer mentioned Wonder Woman and Superman were involved in this episode's crimefighting task. It was actually Aquaman, not Superman, although Superman was seen in the Hall of Justice scenes.

Cameos: Superman, Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman

Cameos: Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman

Cameos: Superman, Batman, Robin, and Aquaman

Cameos: Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman

Cameos, Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman and Aquaman

Cameos: Batman, Robin, and Aquaman

Cameos: Superman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman

Absent: Superman and Aquaman Note: This is the first episode that Aquaman did not appear. Absent: Superman

Cameos: Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman, and the Wonder Twins Absent: Superman

Cameos: Superman and Aquaman

Cameos: Superman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman

Cameos: Aquaman and Jayna Absent: Wonder Woman Note: This is the first time that Wonder Woman does not appear. Aired in Primetime Note: Aired in Primetime Note: Aired in Primetime

Cameos: Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman Note: Aired in Primetime

Cameos: Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman, Wonder Twins, and Gleek

Cameos: Superman, Batman, Robin, Aquaman, Wonder Twins, and Gleek

Cameos: Wonder Woman and Aquaman

Absent: Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Wonder Twins, and Gleek.

Note 1: This is the first time that Batman and Robin do not appear. Note 2: The design of this episode seems to be based on Tatooine from that year's Star Wars.

Cameos: Superman, Wonder Woman, Wonder Twins, and Gleek

Cameos: Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman and Aquaman

Home media

Warner Home Video (via DC Comics Entertainment, Hanna-Barbera Cartoons and Warner Bros. Family Entertainment) released The All-New Super Friends Hour – Season 1, Volume 1 on DVD on January 8, 2008, containing 7 uncut, original episodes (28 cartoon segments), restored and remastered, and presented in its original, unedited hour-long version and original broadcast presentation. The episodes however are not in their original airdate order just as they originally aired on ABC. Warner released The All-New Super Friends Hour – Season 1, Volume 2 in January 2009, featuring the remaining eight episodes.

''DC Super Friends''

Despite using the main theme from The World's Greatest SuperFriends, the 2010 DC Super Friends "The Joker's Playhouse" shares several elements of its opening sequence with The All-New Super Friends Hour including introducing several of the Super Friends by name.

Trivia

• Family Guy once did a parody of the show's intro with its main characters replacing the original cast in the episode "Family Goy" (Peter Griffin played as Superman, Lois Griffin as Wonder Woman, Brian Griffin as Batman, Stewie Griffin as Robin and Chris Griffin as Aquaman), all except for Meg Griffin, who was just seen standing in the living room in place of the Wonder Twins and Gleek.

References

References

1. (1983). "Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981, Part I: Animated Cartoon Series". Scarecrow Press.
2. (2005). "Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003". McFarland & Co.
3. Cyrenne, Randall. (2008-02-04). "The All-New Super Friends Hour: Season One, Volume One • Animated Views". Animated-views.com.
4. (2011-08-26). "DC SUPER FRIENDS™ The Joker's Playhouse DVD Episode | Imaginext | Fisher Price". YouTube.