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Line 1: {{Short description\|Television series}} {{About\|the TV series\|the film\|The Monster Squad}} {{Multiple issues\| {{No plot\|section\|date=October 2015}}▼ {{More citations needed\|date=August 2024}} }} {{Infobox television \| ~~name~~ image = ~~Monster Squad~~ \| ~~image~~ caption = \| ~~caption~~ camera = \| ~~camera~~runtime = 30 = minutes \| ~~picture_format~~creator = \| ~~audio_format~~developer = [[Stanley Ralph = Ross]] \| ~~runtime~~ producer = 30[[Michael ~~minutes~~Mclean]] \| executive_producer = {{Plainlist \|▼ ~~\| creator =~~ ~~\| developer = [[Stanley Ralph Ross]]~~ ~~\| producer = [[Michael Mclean]]~~ ▲\| executive_producer = {{Plainlist \| * [[Willam P. D'Angelo]] * [[Harvey Bullock (writer)\|Harvey Bullock]] * [[R.S. Allen\|Ray Allen]] }} \| starring = {{Plainlist \| * [[Fred Grandy]]▼ * [[Henry Polic II]] * [[Buck Kartalian]] * [[Mike Lane\|Michael Lane]] }} ▲* [[Fred Grandy]] }} ~~\| composer = [[Richard La Salle]] (1.1)~~ \| ~~country~~composer = [[Richard La Salle]] ~~= United States~~(1.1) \| ~~language~~ company = ~~[[English~~D'Angelo-Bullock-Allen ~~language\|English]]~~Productions \| ~~network~~country = United ~~= [[NBC]]~~States \| ~~first_run~~ language = English \| ~~first_aired~~ network = ~~{{Start date\|1976\|09\|11}}~~[[NBC]] \| ~~last_aired~~ first_aired = {{~~End~~Start date\|~~1977~~1976\|09\|0311}} \| ~~num_episodes~~last_aired = {{End ~~= 13~~date\|1976\|12\|04}} \| ~~list_episodes~~ num_episodes = 13 \| ~~website~~list_episodes = = }} '''''Monster Squad''''' is a [[television series]] produced by D'Angelo-Bullock-Allen Productions that aired Saturday mornings on [[NBC]] from September 11, 1976, to September 3, 1977.<ref name="Woolery">{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years (~~1946-1981~~1946–1981) Part II: Live, Film, and Tape Series \|date=1985 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-1651-2 \|pages=350}}</ref> ~~It is unrelated to the later [[The Monster Squad\|film of the same name]].~~ ==Premise== The series stars [[Fred Grandy]] ~~(who also starred in ''[[The Love Boat]]'' and was later elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]])~~ as Walt, a [[criminology]] student working as a night watchman at "Fred's Wax Museum". To pass the time, Walt built a prototype "Crime Computer" hidden in a large stone [[sarcophagus]] near an exhibit of legendary monsters. When Walt plugged in his computer, "oscillating vibrations" brought to life the wax statues of [[Count Dracula\|Dracula]] ([[Henry Polic II]]), the [[Werewolf\|Wolfman]] ([[Buck Kartalian]]) – who here was named "Bruce W. Wolf" (with one episode revealing that the "W" stood for "Were"), – and the [[Frankenstein's monster\|Frankenstein Monster]] ([[Mike Lane\|Michael Lane]]), who was referred to as "Frank N. Stein" in the credits. The monsters, wanting to make up for the misdeeds of their pasts, became [[superhero]] crimefighters who used their unique abilities to challenge and defeat various [[supervillain]]s. In most episodes, Walt would send the monsters out to investigate crimes and fight the villains while monitoring the activities from the wax museum via the Crime Computer, presumably because his job required him to be at the [[wax museum]] at all times. However, Walt would sometimes join the climactic battle with his comrades in some episodes and come to the rescue when needed. Though the Squad are supposed to be wax statues, it often appears that they are something else entirely, as they apparently have all the memories of the monsters they are based on as well as their powers. The gentle giant Frank, for example, possessed superhuman strength and could smash through walls, while the dapper [[cloak]]-clad and fearsome-fanged Drac could turn into a [[bat]], and the short and furry Bruce was a ferocious fighter who could climb up the sheer sides of buildings [[Spider-Man]]-style and had a super-sensitive sense of smell. The Squad had their own customized black Monster Van, and each monster had a "utility belt" with a communicator device used to keep in touch with Walt, who had apparently created them for the monsters to use. Their [[Citizen's band radio\|CB]]-style codenames were "Chamber of Horrors" (Walt), "Nightflyer" (Drac), "Green Machine" (Frank) and "Furball" (Bruce).▼ ▲The Squad had their own customized black Monster Van, and each monster had a "utility belt" with a communicator device used to keep in touch with Walt, who had apparently created them for the monsters to use. Their [[Citizen's band radio\|CB]]-style codenames were "Chamber of Horrors" (Walt), "Nightflyer" (Drac), "Green Machine" (Frank) and "Furball" (Bruce). The show was comparable to the 1960s ''[[Batman (TV series)\|Batman]]'' TV show, not surprising considering that creator [[Stanley Ralph Ross]] had been one of the main writers on that series. The villains were often exaggerated [[Camp (style)\|camp]] villains much like the ones on ''Batman'' in keeping with the "[[superhero]]" tone of the show, and were often played by familiar-faced [[guest stars]] of the time, like [[Alice Ghostley]] ("[[Queen Bee (comics)\|Queen Bee]]"), [[Marty Allen (comedian)\|Marty Allen]] ("[[Lorenzo Music]]a"), [[Jonathan Harris]] ("the [[Astrology\|Astrologer]]"), [[Julie Newmar]] ("Ultra Witch"), [[Avery Schreiber]] ("the Weatherman") and [[Vito Scotti]] ("[[Hermaphrodite\|Albert/Alberta]]").▼ ▲The show was comparable to the 1960s ''[[Batman (TV series)\|Batman]]'' TV show,; ~~not surprising considering that~~its creator [[Stanley Ralph Ross]] had been one of the main writers on that series. The villains were often exaggerated [[Camp (style)\|camp]] ~~villains~~[[supervillain]]s much like the ones on ''Batman'' in keeping with the "[[superhero]]" tone of the show, and were often played by familiar-faced [[guest stars]] of the time, like [[Alice Ghostley]] ("[[Queen Bee (comics)\|Queen Bee]]"), [[Marty Allen (comedian)\|Marty Allen]] ("[[Lorenzo Music]]a"), [[Jonathan Harris]] ("the [[Astrology\|Astrologer]]"), [[Julie Newmar]] ("[[witchcraft\|Ultra Witch]]"), [[Avery Schreiber]] ("the Weatherman") and [[Vito Scotti]] ("[[Hermaphrodite\|Albert/Alberta]]"). ~~A later, unrelated [[animated television series]] by [[Hanna-Barbera Productions]] called ''[[Drak Pack]]'' had a similar premise.~~ ~~Though the Squad are supposed to be wax statues, it often appears that they are something else entirely, as they apparently have all the memories of the monsters they are based on.~~ In several episodes, a statue of the [[Invisible Man]] can be seen in an alcove on the opposite side of the monsters' exhibit. It is never explained why this statue remains unaffected by the Crime Computer's oscillating vibrations. ==Cast== === Main === * [[Fred Grandy]] - Walt * [[Fred Grandy]] – Walt * [[Henry Polic II]] -– [[Count Dracula\|Dracula]] * [[Buck Kartalian]] -– [[Werewolf\|Bruce W. Wolf]] * [[Mike Lane\|Michael Lane]] -– [[Frankenstein's monster\|Frank N. Stein]] ===Recurring=== Line 63 ⟶ 64: * '''Mimi Falters''': (portrayed by [[Caren Kaye]]) * '''Farmer''': (portrayed by [[Frank Cady]]) * '''[[Famous Amos\|Dandy Andy]]''': (portrayed by [[Johnny Brown (actor)\|Johnny Brown]]) * '''King Fooey''': (portrayed by [[Nathan Jung]]) * '''Store Manager''': (portrayed by Patrick Campbell) Line 70 ⟶ 71: ===Villains=== * '''[[Queen Bee (comics)\|Queen Bee]]''': (portrayed by [[Alice Ghostley]]) – A [[bee]]-themed villainess who controls a swarm of [[Africanized bee\|killer bees]] ** '''[[Spelling Bee]] and [[bumblebee\|Bumble Bee]]''': (portrayed by [[Hamilton Camp]] and [[Al Mancini]]) -– Queen Bee's henchmen * '''Mr. Mephisto''': (portrayed by [[Barry Dennen]]) – Creator of life-sized living [[dolls]] ** '''[[Baby Doll]] and [[Arlene Dahl\|Arlene Doll]]''': (portrayed by Cathy Worthington and Mindi Miller) -– Mr. Mephisto's [[hypnosis\|hypnotic]]-eyed henchwomen * '''The Tickler''': (portrayed by [[Ivor Francis]]) – Sad-faced [[clown]]/criminal mastermind ** '''Twitter and Snicker''': (portrayed by Al Stellone and Doug Stevenson) -– The Tickler's henchmen * '''[[Ringmaster (circus)\|The Ringmaster]]''': (portrayed by [[Billy Curtis]]) – Diminutive [[circus]] owner who holds an audience of children hostage as revenge against those who made fun of his size ** '''Sam Strongman and Bonnie Bon''': (portrayed by [[H.B. Haggerty]] and [[Simone Griffeth]]) -– The Ringmaster's henchmen * '''[[Lorenzo ~~Musica~~Music]]a''': (portrayed by [[Marty Allen]]) – A failed musician who robs a [[telethon]] so he can pay people to attend his concert ** '''[[Andante (tempo)\|Andante]] and [[allegro (music)\|Allegro]]''': (portrayed by Tom Sherohman and [[Michael McManus (American actor)\|Michael McManus]]) -– Lorenzo Musica's henchmen * '''No Face''': (portrayed by [[Sid Haig]] and [[Edward Andrews]], although his actual voice was supplied by an uncredited third actor) – A literally faceless master of disguise ** '''Pillage and Plunder''': (portrayed by [[Timothy Scott (actor, born 1937)\|Timothy Scott]] and [[David Proval]]) -– No Face's henchmen * '''[[Astrology\|The Astrologer]]''': (portrayed by [[Jonathan Harris]]) – A TV prognosticator planning to use an [[atomic bomb]] to make his prediction of an [[earthquake]] come true ** '''[[Castor and Pollux]]''': (portrayed by [[Sandy McPeak]] and [[James Gammon]]) -– The Astrologer's henchmen * '''[[Witchcraft\|Ultra Witch]]''': (portrayed by [[Julie Newmar]]) – A sexy sorceress who has made all the world's [[milk]] turn sour ** '''Toil and Trouble''': (portrayed by [[Richard Bakalyan]] and [[Joe E. Tata]]) -– Ultra Witch's henchmen * '''[[Wizard (comics)\|The Wizard]]''': (portrayed by [[Arthur Malet]]) – A [[Merlin]]-like magician miniaturizing monuments ** '''Mumbo and Jumbo''': (portrayed by Victor Paul and Mickey Morton) -– The Wizard's henchmen * '''The Skull''': (portrayed by [[Geoffrey Lewis (actor)\|Geoffrey Lewis]]) – A sinister scientist who revives a [[mummy]] as the first step in his plan to create an army of the evil dead ** '''[[Igor (character)\|Blue Tooth]] and [[Mummy (undead)\|The Mummy]]''': (portrayed by Peter Zapp and Pete Kellett) -– The Skull's henchmen * '''The Weatherman''': (portrayed by [[Avery Schreiber]]) – A would-be dictator causing [[blizzards]] in July ** '''[[Phoebe Snow]] and [[David Frost]]''': (portrayed by [[Cheryl Miller (actress)\|Cheryl Miller]] and Owen Orr) -– The Weatherman's henchmen * '''[[T. E. Lawrence\|Lawrence of Moravia]]''': (portrayed by [[Joseph Mascolo]]) – [[Arabian]] [[billionaire]] who steals for fun rather than profit '''Fouad and Abdul''': (portrayed by Winston Roberts and Joe Tornatore) -– Lawrence of Moravia's henchmen '''Night Watchman''': (portrayed by [[Whitney Rydbeck]]) -– Lawrence of Moravia's henchman * '''Albert/Alberta''': (portrayed by [[Vito Scotti]]) – A [[sideshow]]-style half-and-half [[hermaphrodite]] using a [[laser]] to melt the [[polar icecap]] ** '''Half-Wit and [[half nelson choke\|Half-Nelson]]''': (portrayed by Raymond Singer and Phil Diskin) -– Albert/Alberta's henchmen ==Episodes== ▲{{No plot\|section\|date=October 2015}} {{Episode table \|background=#000000 \|overall=5 \|title=22 \|director=18 \|writer=22 \|airdate=18 \|episodes= Line 105: \| EpisodeNumber = 1 \| Title = Queen Bee \| DirectedBy = [[James Sheldon]] \| WrittenBy = Richard M. Bluel \| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date\|1976\|9\|11}} Line 209: ==Home video== ''Monster Squad: The Complete Series'' was released in Region 1 on June 23, 2009, by Virgil Films and Entertainment. The Region 2 release followed on August 3, 2009, by Fabulous Films. == In popular culture == A later, unrelated [[animated television series]] by [[Hanna-Barbera Productions]] called ''[[Drak Pack]]'' had a similar premise, as did the [[DC Comics]] characters the [[Creature Commandos]], although they fought [[Nazis]] rather that super-criminals. A similar group of Universal-inspired monsters appeared in a [[The Monster Squad\|film of the same name]], given the name and iconography the influence is clear. In ''[[Teen Titans Go! (TV series)\|Teen Titans Go!]]'' episode 8, "Monster Squad", the Titans want to be the scariest trick-or-treaters in town, so Raven casts a spell to turn them into real monsters.▼ ▲In ''[[~~Teen Titans Go! (TV series)\|~~Teen Titans Go!]]'' episode 8, "Monster Squad", the Titans want to be the scariest trick-or-treaters in town, so Raven casts a spell to turn them into real monsters. == References == {{Reflist}} * Jones, Stephen, ed. ''The Illustrated Werewolf Movie Guide''. London: Titan Books, 1996, p.  137. {{ISBN\|1-85286-658-6}} * {{cite book \| last=Terrace \| first=Vincent \| title=The Complete Encyclopedia of Television Programs (~~1947-1979~~1947–1979) Volume 2 \| isbn=0-498-02177-7 \| publisher=[[Alfred Smith Barnes]] \| chapter=The Monster Squad \| year=1979 \| edition=second \| page=666 }} == External links == * {{IMDb title\|0128000\|The Monster Squad}} * [http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/monster-squad-tv-series/ ''Monster Squad'' -– Pilot episode in-depth review with screenshots] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090511150320/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Monster-Squad-Box-Art/11839 TV Shows on DVD news] Line 227 ⟶ 229: {{Frankenstein}} ~~{{DEFAULTSORT:Monster Squad, The}}~~ [[Category:NBC original programming]] [[Category:1976 American television series debuts]] [[Category:1977 American television series endings]] [[Category:1970s American children's ~~comedy~~ television series]] [[Category:1970s American horror television series]] [[Category:Vampires in television]] [[Category:Television about werewolves]] [[Category:American ~~superhero~~children's ~~comedy~~horror television series]] [[Category:Works based on Frankenstein]] [[Category:Batman (TV series)]]