TVSquad

It looks like the Krofft brothers Sid and Marty will soon be on MySpace. The 70's icons will soon be putting their programming on MySpaceTV.

This will include their classic shows such as H.R. Pufnstuf, The Bugaloos and Land of the Lost and will be exclusively shown on the social-networking platform. V.P. of Marketing at MySpace Josh Brooks sees the collaboration as an example of how the site will mine pop-culture nostalgia to build audiences.

The license includes full episodes as well as condensed three to five minute versions (called "Kwikies") and pre-taped messages from the Kroffts themselves. The Krofft branded channel can be found at myspace.com/Krofft.

I remember watching the Krofft shows as a kiddie. Why are condensed versions of the shows necessary for this channel? Are they really that bad when watched at normal length as an adult? Perhaps nobody has time to watch a full episode anymore. Shows like Electra Woman and Dyna Girl can only be appreciated when watched at full length.

We already have Land of the Lost coming to the big screen next year starring Will Ferrell. Now two more Sid and Marty Krofft creations might be on the way.

Apparently, the shows Sigmund and the Sea Monsters and H.R. Pufnstuf will be getting the big screen treatment as well. Knowing Hollywood, the CGI gurus are probably already working on new character designs that are hip and cool (although thankfully they didn't change the Sleestaks very much). Part of the appeal of the original 70's programs were the actors in the silly costumes, but I guess one must adapt to the times.

The original shows were very psychedelic and a product of the time. There are rumors that the Kroffts created them under the influence. I just have two questions: First, will the lead child actor in Sigmund and the Sea Monsters sing a solo at the end like Johnny Whitaker? Second, would I be able to appreciate the movies more if I watched them while stoned?

Toon Zone has reported that Lennie Weinrib passed away on Wednesday at his home in Chile. He was 71-years-old. You may not recognize the name, although he wrote for and performed in numerous television series for over 40 years. However, if you were a child of the 1960's, 70's or 80's you would probably recognize him as the voice of numerous Saturday morning cartoon characters that you loved, including H.R. Pufnstuf and Scrappy-Doo.

Lennie began his television career as an actor in various shows such as Peter Gunn, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and Burke's Law. His first voice work was for the Hanna-Barbera cartoon The Jetsons back in 1962. Seven years later he became the voice of H.R. Pufnstuf for the Sid and Marty Krofft show of the same name.

After that his voice career took off. In addition to Pufnstuf and Scrappy-Doo he was the voice of Moonrock on The Pebbles and Bam-Bam Show, Inch High on Inch High, Private Eye, and good guy Hunk and bad guy Lotor on Voltron. He was also an additional voice in cartoons like The New Adventures of Batman (where he voiced Commissioner and most of the villains), Jabberjaw, and The Smurfs.

Writer Mark Evanier has a very nice tribute to Weinrib on his website.