The Bugaloos


Title card

Created by: Sid and Marty Krofft
Starring: John McIndoe
Caroline Ellis
John Philpott
Wayne Laryea
Martha Raye
Billy Barty
Sharon Baird
Joy Campbell
Van Snowden
Voices of: Walker Edmiston, Joan Gerber
No. of seasons: 1 {The 17th episode aired on January 2, 1971. From then on it was in rerun.}
No. of episodes: 17 (list of episodes)
Original network: NBC
Original release: September 12, 1970 – September 2, 1972

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


The Bugaloos and Sparky in Tranquility Forest

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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.

Among those auditioning were Elton John's future manager John Reid and Phil Collins, who joined the art rock band Genesis later that year. Reid and Collins were two of the three finalists for the role of "I.Q." given to Scottish musician John McIndoe. "If one of those guys had gotten it instead of me, rock-'n'-roll history might have changed," McIndoe later joked. "Whenever I see them, I say, 'Hey guys, you were lucky you didn't get the part'."

The show was taped in Los Angeles, California. Seventeen episodes of the series were produced. Like its predecessor, H. R. Pufnstuf (1969), The Bugaloos ran for only one season (1970–1971) on NBC, with reruns airing the following year (1971–1972). Following production of the first season, the Kroffts tried shooting for a second season and also had a movie deal in the works with Columbia Pictures. However, miscommunication with the actors resulted in their returning to the UK that December against the Kroffts' wishes. As a result, a potential second season was ultimately scrapped, along with plans for a movie which was shelved due to the bankruptcy of Columbia Pictures.

Although the show featured British actors, it was not screened in the U.K.

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Bugaloos Episode 1: "Firefly, Light My Fire"

Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures
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207,334 views Mar 15, 2022
The Bugaloos rescue Sparky (Billy Barty) a nervous firefly after he is hit by Benita Bizarre's (Martha Raye) Dynamobile.

Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures
143K subscribers