The Bugaloos

1970 - 1971

Firefly, Light My Fire

12th September 1970

Episode 1

Benita kidnaps the Bugaloos, and hold's Joy hostage. She forces the other members to be her backup band and attempts to record a hit song. Sparky the Firefly enters the scene and helps the Bugaloos escape, becoming their new friend. Sparky records a hit single.

Our Home is Our Hassle

19th September 1970

Episode 2

Benita wants to live in Tranquility Forest, she thinks it will help her write a song for a radio contest. Benita gets a hold of a phony land deed for Tranquility Forest. The Bugaloos find a way to get her to move out of the Forest and back home.

The Great Voice of Robbery

26th September 1970

Episode 3

Benita can't stand her voice anymore, so she kidnaps Joy and uses a voice-switching machine to steal her voice. Joy gets Benita's voice. The rest of the gang get involved, complicating matters by scrambling everyone's voice.

Courage Come Home

3rd October 1970

Episode 4

Benita gets rid of all her hired help. Then Courage takes a fall and gets a bout of amnesia. Benita takes advantage of the situation by telling him he is her nephew, and he is responsible for doing the housework.

If I Had the Wings of a Bugaloo

10th October 1970

Episode 5

Benita's determined to fly, so she kidnaps I.Q. and attempts to steal his wings.

Now You See 'em, Now You Don't

17th October 1970

Episode 6

Benita adopts Sparky, so the Bugaloos turn themselves invisible to keep an eye on him.

Today I Am a Firefly

24th October 1970

Episode 7

Sparky runs away from home. Meanwhile, Woofer, Tweeter and Funky Rat shrink the Bugaloos and imprison them in Benita Bizarre's broken music box.

Benita's Double Trouble

31st October 1970

Episode 8

Peter Platter is heading off to a "Disc Jock Convention", and asks the Bugaloos to take over his show, in his absence. After a bit of coercing, the Bugaloos accept. Benita, of course, wants to do the show herself, and kidnaps Peter, then forces him to call the Bugaloos and tell them that he's given the job to Benita, instead. The Bugaloos figure out that something is wrong and head off to the jukebox to rescue Peter. I.Q. dresses up as Benita Bizarre, and the rest of the Bugaloos imitate Funky Rat, Woofer and Tweeter!

Help Wanted - Firefly

7th November 1970

Episode 9

Sparky gets a job working on Peter Platter's radio show. Meanwhile, Benita schemes to take over the radio station's signal.

Circus Time at Benita's

14th November 1970

Episode 10

"The Amazing Circus" has been cancelled, because Benita Bizarre paid them *not* to come. Since the whole town is now in the dumps, the Bugaloos decide to put on their own circus in place of it! Magico the Magnificent comes to help out and hypnotizes Sparky into thinking that he's the "Bravest Person in the World". Armed with this new bravery, he flies off to pick a fight with Benita Bizarre. He doesn't get very far, but now she thinks that Magico could use hypnosis to make her the "Greatest Singer in the World". She promptly kidnaps him and the Bugaloos plan a scheme to rescue him

The Uptown 500

21st November 1970

Episode 11

It's another exciting day in Rock City when Kook Radio sponsor, "Way Out Wheeler", the "Freaky Wheels Dealer", puts on a big road race: "The Uptown 500". In addition to getting "a lot of loot", the winner also gets to sing all of the "Way Out Wheeler" TV commercial spots. Benita Bizarre, of course, insists on winning. To ensure an easy win, she "takes out" all of the competition, even going to the extent of kidnapping Sparky, to keep the Bugaloos from winning.

The Love Bugaloos

28th November 1970

Episode 12

Sparky has a crush on "The Flaming Firefly of Rock", a rock star named "Gina Lola-Wattage". Gina, by chance, is an old friend of Joy's. Joy manages to get Gina to stop by and meet Sparky. Gina is scheduled to perform for the Peter Platter show, in town. Benita Bizarre, however, has other plans... Benita kidnaps Gina in order to "fill in" for her, and finally get some stage time. The gang have to rescue Gina and get her back in order to perform the show.

Lady, You Don't Look 80

5th December 1970

Episode 13

A misunderstanding leads Benita to become convinced that the Bugaloos have access to the fountain of youth.

On a Clear Day

12th December 1970

Episode 14

Benita Bizarre tries to sabotage a rock festival by pumping smog into Tranquility Forest.

The Bugaloos Bugaboo

19th December 1970

Episode 15

Sparky is unhappy because Gina Lola-Wattage has not written him. The Bugaloos insist that she's busy, but Sparky believes it's because she's a big Rock Star, and he's a "nobody". The Bugaloos insist he can be anything he wants to be, so Sparky decides to become a songwriter. With the help of the Bugaloos, Sparky pens a short ditty called "I Really Love You". This information makes it to Benita Bizarre who is told that *Sparky* is the real talent behind the Bugaloos, so she becomes "J.W. Wooster, Hollywood Agent, Extraordinare", and hires Sparky as her new songwriter. She then takes his songs and uses them in Peter Platter's "Big Talent Contest", for which the winner gets a guest shot on Peter's "Big TV Show". The Bugaloos go to retrieve Sparky from her clutches.

Benita the Beautiful

26th December 1970

Episode 16

Benita rigs a beauty pageant.

The Good Old Days

2nd January 1971

Episode 17

Benita Bizarre has decided it's time to get rid of "The Bugaloos", once and for all. So, she sent Funky Rat down to City Hall and bought the Title Deed to Tranquility Forest! As the new owner, she gave The Bugaloos 24 hours to vacate her property. The Bugaloos invent "Madame Tania", a gypsy lady who curses Benita, and tells her the only way to break the curse, is to make friends with all her enemies. Specifically, "The Bugaloos".

Top Cast

John McIndoe•Wayne Laryea•John Philpott

Director

Tony Charmoli

The Bugaloos was an American children's television series, produced by brothers Sidney Krofft and Martin Krofft, that aired on NBC on Saturday mornings from 1970 to 1972. The show featured a musical group composed of four British-accented teenagers, who lived in fictional Tranquility Forest. They wore insect-themed outfits with antennae and wings which allowed them to fly, though on occasion, they were shown flying on surfboards. They were constantly beset by the evil machinations of Benita Bizarre, played by comedienne Martha Raye. Bizarre, being untalented and ugly herself, was covetous of the Bugaloos' musical prowess.

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Full Cast

John McIndoe Image

John McIndoe

IQ

Wayne Laryea Image

Wayne Laryea

Harmony

John Philpott Image

John Philpott

Courage

Caroline Ellis Image

Caroline Ellis

Joy

Martha Raye Image

Martha Raye

Benita Bizarre

Billy Barty Image

Billy Barty

Sparky

Sharon Baird Image

Sharon Baird

Funky Rat

Van Snowden

Tweeter

Joy Campbell

Woofer

Full Crew

Tony Charmoli Image

Tony Charmoli

Director

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