The Bugaloos is an American children's television series, produced by brothers Sid and Marty Krofft, that aired on NBC on Saturday mornings from 1970 to 1972. Reruns of the show aired in daily syndication from 1978 to 1985 as part of the "Krofft Superstars" package with six other Krofft series. The show features a musical group composed of four British teenagers in insect-themed outfits, constantly beset by the evil machinations of the talent-challenged Benita Bizarre, played by comedian Martha Raye.
Premise
The show takes place in the fantasy setting of Tranquility Forest. The central characters are teenage musicians who've formed a pop band named the Bugaloos. The foursome are human, mostly, although they have antennae and actual wings. While occasionally seen air-surfing on leaves, they more usually fly unaided. On the ground, the Bugaloos are sometimes seen traveling around in their "Bugaloo Buggy", a colorful dune buggy custom-made for the show by car builder George Barris. Other bands mentioned in the show include Blood, Sweat & Soap.
Peace-loving and hippie-like, the Bugaloos are pursued by the feathered yet flightless Benita Bizarre, who envies the Bugaloos' ability to fly as much as their ability to create good music.
Characters
The Bugaloos
I.Q. (portrayed by John McIndoe) – A grasshopper who plays the guitar and sings lead vocals. Harmony (portrayed by Wayne Laryea) – A bumblebee who plays the keyboard and sings backup vocals. Courage (portrayed by John Philpott) – A ladybug who plays the drums and sings backup vocals. Joy (portrayed by Caroline Ellis) – A butterfly who plays percussion and also sings lead and backup vocals.
Villains
Benita Bizarre (portrayed by Martha Raye) – A jealous, untalented, unattractive, and old crone who is the main antagonist of the series who sports a feathered outfit. Benita lives in a gigantic jukebox and uses it to broadcast her own brand of blaring, obnoxious, unpleasant "music". A dreadful singer, Benita is furious at the popularity of the Bugaloos' more melodic, upbeat sound. Pitting her technology against their nature, she plots elaborate, unsuccessful schemes to either destroy or enslave them, frequently making use of a powerful ultrasonic weapon called the Stereo Zapper which renders its victim unconscious in seconds. In Episode 2, she steals Joy Bugaloo's voice. In Episode 6, she almost succeeds in amputating I.Q.'s wings with the aim of achieving flight herself. Happily, her schemes never cause permanent harm. Raye also appeared the same year in the H.R. Pufnstuf movie as the Boss Witch, which led to her getting the role of Benita. Funky Rat (performed by Sharon Baird, voiced by Walker Edmiston) – Benita's German-accented chauffeur and chief flunky. The Funky Rat costume was also used for essentially the same role as Boss Witch's chauffeur Heinrich Rat in Pufnstuf. Woofer and Tweeter (performed by Joy Campbell and Van Snowden, voiced by Walker Edmiston and Joan Gerber) – Two anthropomorphic stereo speakers who are Benita's two bumbling, sycophantic henchmen.
Supporting characters
Sparky (performed by Billy Barty, voiced by Walker Edmiston) – A firefly whom the Bugaloos took in. Nutty Bird (voiced by Walker Edmiston) – A local messenger who periodically delivers messages to and from the Bugaloos. Peter Platter (voiced by Walker Edmiston) – A DJ for radio station KOOK in nearby Rock City. Mike (voiced by Joan Gerber) – Peter Platters's smart-alecky talking microphone. Magico The Magician (voiced by Walker Edmiston impersonating Ed Wynn) – A frog magician and hypnotist extraordinaire. Gina Lolawattage (voiced by Joan Gerber impersonating Mae West) – A firefly singer and actress who becomes smitten with her #1 fan Sparky. Bluebell Flower (voiced by Joan Gerber) – A giant talking flower who alerts the Bugaloos of impending danger, such as Benita's latest schemes, serving as their "alarm bell". The Grapevine (voiced by Joan Gerber and Walker Edmiston) – A bunch of talking grapes on a vine who aid Bluebell in giving the Bugaloos the latest bad news (a visual take on the hit Motown song "I Heard it Through the Grapevine").
Episodes
Production and airing
Touted as the British version of The Monkees, The Bugaloos attracted more than 5,000 young actors and actresses to audition in spring 1970 for the show's four lead roles, each having to demonstrate aptitude in dance, singing and acting.