Changes: SuperFriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show

Revision as of 02:21, 22 June 2019

Season Eight

SuperFriends:
The Legendary Super Powers Show (1984)

Channel:

ABC

Aired:

9/8/1984 to 10/29/1984

Episodes:

16

Production

Writer(s):

Alan Burnett
Gerry Conway
Rich Fogel
Cynthia Friedlob
Glenn Leopold
William M. Marston
Al Milgrom
John Semper
Joe Shuster
Jerry Siegel
Jeff Segal
Marc Scott Zicree

Director(s):

Oscar Dufau
Gordon Hunt (recording director)

Creative Director:

Produced by:

Hanna-Barbera
DC Comics

Executive Producers:

Joseph Barbera
William Hanna

Seasons

Season 1 • Season 2 • Season 3 • Season 4
Season 5 • Season 6 • Season 7
Season 8 • Season 9

Chronology

Previous Series:

1983 Shorts - Did not air in the USA (1983)

Next Series:

The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (1985)

Season_8,_Introduction — Season 8, Introduction

Season 8, Introduction

Series Summary

Episode Lengths: 30 minutes

The ABC Network corrected their goof of the previous year and returned the SuperFriends to its 8am slot on Saturday mornings. The Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show was the first Super Friends series in a new format since 1979’s The World’s Greatest Super Friends.

Format

This incarnation consisted of 16 short episodes and ran for thirty minutes - treating us to two 11-minute stories weekly.

It ran from September 8, 1984 to October 29, 1984.

This series was more in line with the very popular Challenge of the SuperFriends series, in that it also featured actual DC super-villains from the comics as regular adversaries. Such as, Brainiac, Lex Luthor, Mirror Master and Mr. Mxyzptlk, as well as Darkseid and his henchmen from Apokolips.

This series is noteworthy, in that, it introduced a new Superfriends team member, Firestorm (Ronald Raymond / Professor Stein).

Toyline tie-in

Unlike previous series, this one was produced as a tie-in with the Kenner Super Powers line. These action figures were sculpted perfectly, had power action and contained a mini comic book and a file card.

Notes

This series is perhaps best known for introducing the first animated version of Firestorm (we see him in his two secret identities quite a bit).
Olan Soule (formerly Batman) voiced over Professor Stein in this one season when Adam West took over as Batman.
Superman, Batman, Robin and Wonder Woman were in the lineup.
For some odd reason, despite his appearance in the intro riding his seahorse Storm, Aquaman does not appear in any episodes of this series.
The, Flash, Green Lantern, and Hawkman were reduced to one cameo.
Shannon Farnon after 10 yrs. as the voice of Wonder Woman was also re-cast in favor of the new voice, Connie Cawlfield. Connie ended up voicing Wonder Woman in this series only.^[1]
The four ethnic heroes, Black Vulcan, Samurai, Apache Chief, and El Dorado were major players in this series and for the most part were usually the heroes who saved the day in the end.
According to DC writer/historian Mark Waid, Aquaman's sole appearance during this season comes via his appearance within the opening credits.^[?]
This season also marks the first time Wonder Woman was animated with the =w= symbol on her costume instead of the eagle design, this carried over into the final series Galactic Guardians, which led to Justice League in 2001, where she wears a modified version of the =w= symbol.
This season also marks a series first, by replacing Olan Soule with the well-known Adam West as the voice of Batman. West would continue through the subsequent Galactic Guardians series.

We are treated to a new Brainiac (despite him appearing in his original form in the opening credits)
There were vehicles of the Supermobile and the Batmobile, Lex Luthor had his own vehicle, the Lex Soar 7.
The Super Powers was so successful that several comic book mini series were spawned and in 1984, it caused a resurgence of popularity with the Super Friends.
Hanna-Barbera made new episodes for two more years which not only kept to tradition, but tied into the Super Powers toyline.
With the introduction of Darkseid the Super Friends series finally had some genuine conflict.
Other than NBC airing reruns of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends and the animated adventures of the Incredible Hulk by Marvel/Sunbow Productions, this SuperFriends series had no serious competition on the other networks.
These three episodes from the 1983 lost episodes aired in 1984 as part of the Legendary Super Powers Show the following year:

Cast

Narrator – voiced by William Woodson
Announcer - Dick Tufeld

Episode List:

Ep #	Full Length Episodes	The Shorts	Air Date
1	The Bride of Darkseid (Part One)	The Bride of Darkseid (Part Two)	September 8, 1984
2	The Wrath of Brainiac	Reflections in Crime	September 15, 1984
3	No Honor Among Thieves	Mr. Mxyzptlk and the Magic Lamp	September 22, 1984
4	The Case of the Shrinking Superfriends	The Mask of Mystery	October 1, 1984
5	Darkseid's Golden Trap (Part One)	Darkseid's Golden Trap (Part Two)	October 8, 1984
6	The Island of the Dinosoids	Uncle Mxyzptlk	October 15, 1984
7	The Case of the Dreadful Dolls	The Royal Ruse	October 22, 1984
8	The Village of Lost Souls	The Curator	October 29, 1984

Marketing

New_Teen_Titans_Anti_Drug_Commercial_Footage_1984 — New Teen Titans Anti Drug Commercial Footage 1984

New Teen Titans Anti-Drug Commercial (1984)

This show had a number of marketing tie-ins, such as the Super Powers Collection action figure line. There was also a program used by schools that DC Comics used to promote vehicle safety, and abstaining from drugs, and helping kids with issues such as child abuse and teenage pregnancy.

A commercial of it was made which featured some footage of the Anti-drug commercial with the New Teen Titans.

DVD / Media info

Warner Home Video (via DC Entertainment, Hanna-Barbera Cartoons and Warner Bros. Family Entertainment) released The Complete Series of Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show on DVD^[2] on August 7, 2007.

DVD Name	Ep #	Release Date
The Complete Series	16	August 7, 2007

This DVD series is available through Amazon – The Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show - The Complete Series (DVD - 2007).

External links

Videos

References

↑ It has been commonly believed that Connie got the role because she was dating the voice director, probably due to the Shannon Farnon interview. This is not correct. The casting director was a woman and Connie was married at the time and still is. She auditioned along with over 300 other actresses. They sent her audition to the networks and ended up casting her because they "liked the little crinkle in her voice."
↑ The Sweatbox Review

[1] It has been commonly believed that Connie got the role because she was dating the voice director, probably due to the Shannon Farnon interview. This is not correct. The casting director was a woman and Connie was married at the time and still is. She auditioned along with over 300 other actresses. They sent her audition to the networks and ended up casting her because they "liked the little crinkle in her voice."

[2] The Sweatbox Review

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{series
+|Season        = Season Eight
-|image         =[[image: SUPERFRIENDS_-_THE_LEGENDARY_SUPER_POWERS_SHOW_(1984_-_1985).png‎|320px]]
-|TV Show name  = SuperFriends: <br> The Legendary Super Powers Show (1984)
+|TV Show Name  = SuperFriends: <br> The Legendary Super Powers Show (1984)
+| Image         =SUPERFRIENDS_-_THE_LEGENDARY_SUPER_POWERS_SHOW_(1984_-_1985).png
-|channel    = [[Wikipedia: American Broadcasting Company | ABC]]
-| aired        = 1984
+| ImageSize     = 300px
+|channel    = [[American Broadcasting Company | ABC]]
+| aired        = 9/8/1984 to 10/29/1984
 |episodes      = 16
-|production          = Production
 |creator       =
-|writer       = 	Alan Burnett <br> Gerry Conway <br> Rich Fogel <br> Cynthia Friedlob <br> Glenn Leopold <br> William M. Marston <br> Al Milgrom <br> John Semper <br> Joe Shuster <br> Jerry Siegel <br> Jeff Segal <br> Marc Scott Zicree
+|writer       = 	[[Alan Burnett]] <br> [[Gerry Conway]] <br> [[Rich Fogel]] <br> [[Cynthia Friedlob]] <br> [[Glenn Leopold]] <br> [[William M. Marston]] <br> [[Al Milgrom]] <br> [[John Semper]] <br> [[Joe Shuster]] <br> [[Jerry Siegel]] <br> [[Jeff Segal]] <br> [[Marc Scott Zicree]]
-|director       = Oscar Dufau <br> Gordon Hunt (recording director)
+|director       = [[Oscar Dufau]] <br> [[Gordon Hunt]] (recording director)
 |cdirector     =
-|produced     = [[Hanna-Barbera]] <br> DC Comics
+|produced     = [[Hanna-Barbera]] <br> [[DC Comics]]
 |execproducers    = [[Joseph Barbera]] <br> [[William Hanna]]
-|chronology          = Chronology
 |prevseries     = [[1983 Shorts]] - Did not air in the USA (1983)
 |nextseries     = [[The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians]] (1985)
 }}
+[[File:Season 8, Introduction|thumb|left|300 px|Season 8, Introduction]]
 ==Series Summary==
 Episode Lengths: 30 minutes
-The [[Wikipedia:American Broadcasting Company|ABC Network]] corrected their goof of the previous year and returned the Super Friends to its 8:00 slot on Saturday mornings. The Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show was the first Super Friends series in a new format since 1979’s [[The World’s Greatest Super Friends]].
+The [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Network]] corrected their goof of the previous year and returned the ''SuperFriends'' to its 8am slot on Saturday mornings. The ''Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show'' was the first [[Super Friends!|Super Friends]] [[Super Friends (TV Series)|series]] in a new format since 1979’s [[The World’s Greatest Super Friends]].
+==Format==
+This [[Super Friends series|incarnation]] consisted of 16 short episodes and ran for thirty minutes - treating us to two 11-minute stories weekly.
+It ran from September 8, 1984 to October 29, 1984.
+This series was more in line with the very popular [[Challenge of the SuperFriends]] series, in that it also featured actual [[DC]] [[supervillain|super-villains]] from the [[DC Comics|comics]] as regular adversaries. Such as, [[Brainiac]], [[Lex Luthor]], [[Mirror Master]] and [[Mr. Mxyzptlk]], as well as [[Darkseid]] and his henchmen from [[Apokolips]].
-This series consisted of 16 short episodes, treating us to 2 episodes weekly, which are approximately eleven minutes in length.
+This series is noteworthy, in that, it introduced a new ''Superfriends team member'', [[Firestorm]] ([[Ronald Raymond]] / [[Professor Stein]]).
-It ran from September 1, 1984 to October 27, 1984.
-Unlike previous series, this one was produced as a tie-in with the [[Super Powers toyline and products|Kenner Toys Super Powers line]]. These action figures were sculpted perfectly, had power action and contained a [[List of Super Powers Minicomics|mini comic book]] and a file card as well.
+==Toyline tie-in==
-This series was more in line with the very popular [[Challenge of the SuperFriends]] series, in that it also featured actual [http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page DC] super-villains from the comics as regular adversaries.
+Unlike previous series, this one was produced as a tie-in with the [[Kenner]] ''[[Super Powers toyline and products| Super Powers line]]''. These action figures were sculpted perfectly, had power action and contained a [[List of Super Powers Minicomics|mini comic book]] and a file card.
 ===Notes===
-* This series is perhaps best known for introducing the first animated version of [[Firestorm]] (we see him in his two secret identities quite a bit).
+* This series is perhaps best known for introducing the ''first animated version'' of [[Firestorm]] (we see him in his two [[Secret Identity|secret identities]] quite a bit).
 * [[Olan Soule]] (formerly [[Batman]]) voiced over [[Firestorm |Professor Stein]] in this one season when [[Adam West]] took over as [[Batman]].
 * [[Superman]], [[Batman]], [[Robin]] and [[Wonder Woman]] were in the lineup.
-* For some odd reason, despite his appearance in the intro riding his seahorse [[Storm]], [[Aquaman]] does not appear in any episodes of this series.
+* For some odd reason, despite his appearance in the intro riding his [[seahorse]] [[Storm]], [[Aquaman]] does not appear in any episodes of this series.
-* The, [[Flash]], [[Green Lantern]], and [[Hawkman]] were reduced to one cameo.
+* The, [[Flash]], [[Hal Jordan|Green Lantern]], and [[Hawkman]] were reduced to one cameo.
-* [[Shannon Farnon]] after 10 yrs. as the voice of [[Wonder Woman]] was also re-cast in favor of the new voice, [[Connie Cawlfield]]. Connie ended up voicing [[Wonder Woman]] in this series only.<ref>It has been commonly believed that Connie got the role because she was dating the voice director, probably due to the [http://www.wonderwomancollectors.com/interviews-1.html  Shannon Farnon interview].  This is not correct.  The casting director was a women and Connie was married at the time and still is. She auditioned along with over 300 other actresses. They sent her audition to the networks and ended up casting her because they "liked the little crinkle in her voice."</ref>
+* [[Shannon Farnon]] after 10 yrs. as the voice of [[Wonder Woman]] was also re-cast in favor of the new voice, [[Connie Cawlfield]]. Connie ended up voicing [[Wonder Woman]] in this series only.<ref>It has been commonly believed that Connie got the role because she was dating the voice director, probably due to the [http://www.wonderwomancollectors.com/interviews-1.html  Shannon Farnon interview].  This is not correct.  The casting director was a woman and Connie was married at the time and still is. She auditioned along with over 300 other actresses. They sent her audition to the networks and ended up casting her because they "liked the little crinkle in her voice."</ref>
 * The four ethnic heroes, [[Black Vulcan]], [[Samurai]], [[Apache Chief]], and [[El Dorado]] were major players in this series and for the most part were usually the heroes who saved the day in the end.
+* According to DC writer/historian [[Mark Waid]], [[Aquaman]]'s sole appearance during this season comes via his appearance within the ''opening credits''.{{Fact|}}
+*This season also marks the first time Wonder Woman was animated with the =w= symbol on her costume instead of the [[eagles|eagle]] design, this carried over into the final series Galactic Guardians, which led to Justice League in 2001, where she wears a modified version of the =w= symbol.
+*This season also marks a series first, by replacing [[Olan Soule]] with the well-known [[Adam West]] as the voice of [[Batman]]. West would continue through the subsequent [[Season 9|Galactic Guardians]] series.
 * We are treated to a ''new'' [[Brainiac]] (despite him appearing in his original form in the opening credits)
 * There were vehicles of the [[Supermobile]] and the [[Batmobile]], [[Lex Luthor]] had his own vehicle, the [[Lex Soar 7]].
@@ Line 44: / Line 56: @@
 * [[Wikipedia: Hanna-Barbera|Hanna-Barbera]] made new episodes for two more years which not only kept to tradition, but tied into the [[Super Powers toyline and products|Super Powers toyline]].
 * With the introduction of [[Darkseid]] the Super Friends series finally had some genuine conflict.
-* Other than [[Wikipedia:NBC|NBC]] airing reruns of [[Wikipedia: Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends|Spiderman and His Amazing Friends]] and the [[Wikipedia: Incredible Hulk (1982 animated TV series)|animated adventures of the Incredible Hulk]] by [[Wikipedia: Kid Marvel Productions|Marvel/Sunbow Productions]], this SuperFriends series had no serious competition on the other networks.
+* Other than [[NBC#NBC in the real world|NBC]] airing reruns of [[Wikipedia: Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends|Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends]] and the [[Wikipedia: Incredible Hulk (1982 animated TV series)|animated adventures of the Incredible Hulk]] by [[Wikipedia: Kid Marvel Productions|Marvel/Sunbow Productions]], this SuperFriends series had no serious competition on the other networks.
 * These three episodes from the [[Super Friends: The Shorts, Part Three, The Lost Episodes |1983 ''lost episodes'']] aired in 1984 as part of the ''Legendary Super Powers Show'' the following year:
 ** [[Mxyzptlk's Revenge]]
@@ Line 50: / Line 62: @@
 ** [[Once Upon a Poltergeist]]
+==Cast==
+* [[Narrator]] – voiced by [[William Woodson]]
-[[Video:Season 5, Introduction|thumb|300px|right|Season 5, Introduction]]
+* [[Narrator|Announcer]] - [[Dick Tufeld]]
-==Intro and Cast==
-* Narrator – voiced by [[William Woodson]] (1977-1985)
 === SuperFriends Cast ===
-* [[Superman]] – voiced by [[Danny Dark]] (1973-1985)
+* [[Superman]] – voiced by [[Danny Dark]]
-* [[Batman]] – voiced by [[Adam West]] (1984-1985)
+* [[Batman]] – voiced by [[Adam West]]
-* [[Robin]] – voiced by [[Casey Kasem]] (1973-1985)
+* [[Robin]] – voiced by [[Casey Kasem]]
-* [[Wonder Woman]] – voiced by [[Connie Cawlfield]] (1984-1985)
+* [[Wonder Woman]] – voiced by [[Connie Cawlfield]]
-* [[Firestorm]] – voiced by [[Mark L. Taylor]] (1984-1985)
+* [[Firestorm]] – voiced by [[Mark L. Taylor]]
-* [[Samurai]] – voiced by [[Jack Angel]] (1977-1985)
+* [[Samurai]] – voiced by [[Jack Angel]]
-* [[Black Vulcan]] – voiced by [[Buster Jones]] (1977-1985)
+* [[Black Vulcan]] – voiced by [[Buster Jones]]
-* [[El Dorado]] – voiced by [[Fernando Escandon]] (1980 -1985)
+* [[El Dorado]] – voiced by [[Fernando Escandon]]
-* [[Apache Chief]] – voiced by [[Michael Rye]] (1977-1985)
+* [[Apache Chief]] – voiced by [[Michael Rye]]
 === Also starring ===
 [http://superfriends.wikia.com/wiki/Justice_League_of_America#Junior_SuperFriends_Members Junior SuperFriends]:
-* [http://superfriends.wikia.com/wiki/Wonder_Twins Wonder Twin], [[Jayna]] – voiced by [[B.J. Ward]] (1984)
+* [http://superfriends.wikia.com/wiki/Wonder_Twins Wonder Twin], [[Jayna]] – voiced by [[B.J. Ward]]
-* [http://superfriends.wikia.com/wiki/Wonder_Twins Wonder Twin], [[Zan]] – voiced by [[Michael Bell]] (1984)
+* [http://superfriends.wikia.com/wiki/Wonder_Twins Wonder Twin], [[Zan]] – voiced by [[Michael Bell]]
-* [[Gleek]] – voiced by [[Michael Bell]] (1984)
+* [[Gleek]] – voiced by [[Michael Bell]]
-* [[Desaad]] – voiced by [[Rene Auberjonois]] (1984-1985)
+* [[Desaad]] – voiced by [[Rene Auberjonois]]
-* [[Darkseid]] – voiced by [[Frank Welker]] (1984-1985)
+* [[Darkseid]] – voiced by [[Frank Welker]]
-* [[Kalibak]] – voiced by [[Frank Welker]] (1984-1985)
+* [[Kalibak]] – voiced by [[Frank Welker]]
 ===Cameo Appearances===
-* [[Hawkman]] – voiced by [[Jack Angel]] (1980 -1983)
+* [[Hawkman]] – voiced by [[Jack Angel]]
-* [[Green Lantern]] – voiced by [[Michael Rye]] (1980 -1983)
+* [[Hal Jordan|Green Lantern]] – voiced by [[Michael Rye]]
-* The [[Flash]] – voiced by [[Jack Angel]] (1980 -1983)
+*  [[Flash]] – voiced by [[Jack Angel]]
 * [[Lois Lane]] voiced by [[Mary McDonald Lewis]]
-* [[Brainiac]] – voiced by [[Stanley Ralph Ross]] (1980 -1983)
+* [[Brainiac]] – voiced by [[Stanley Ralph Ross]]
-* [[Lex Luthor]] – voiced by [[Stan Jones]] (1978 -1985)
+* [[Lex Luthor]] – voiced by [[Stan Jones]]
-* The [[Riddler]] – voiced by [[Michael Bell]] (1978, 1984)
+*  [[Riddler]] – voiced by [[Michael Bell]]
-== DVD / Media info ==
-This DVD series is available through [http://www.amazon.com/ Amazon] – The [http://www.amazon.com/Super-Friends-Legendary-Complete-Collection/dp/B000PC8AKK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1237904472&sr=8-1 Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show - The Complete Series (DVD - 2007)].
+=== Villains: ===
+* [[Mirror Master]] (One Appearance, [[Reflections in Crime]])
 == Episode List: ==
+<small>
 {| class="wikitable" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="1"
 |-  bgcolor="#efefef"
@@ Line 142: / Line 152: @@
 |  &nbsp; &nbsp; October 29, 1984 &nbsp; &nbsp;
 |}
+</small>
+==See Also==
+*[[Season 5, Series Credits]]
+*[[Super Powers Collection]]
+==Marketing==
+[[File:New Teen Titans Anti Drug Commercial Footage 1984|thumb|300px|right|New Teen Titans Anti-Drug Commercial (1984)]]
+This show had a number of marketing tie-ins, such as the [[Super Powers Collection]] [[action figure]] line. There was also a program used by schools that [[DC Comics]] used to promote vehicle safety, and abstaining from drugs, and helping kids with issues such as child abuse and teenage pregnancy.
+A commercial of it was made which featured some footage of the [[Anti-drug commercial (1983-1984)|Anti-drug commercial]] with the [[New Teen Titans]].
+== [[DVD / Media info]] ==
+Warner Home Video (via DC Entertainment, Hanna-Barbera Cartoons and Warner Bros. Family Entertainment) released '''''The Complete Series of Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show''''' on DVD<ref>[http://animated-views.com/2007/super-friends-the-legendary-super-powers-show-the-complete-series/ The Sweatbox Review]</ref> on August 7, 2007.
+{| class="wikitable"
+!DVD Name
+!Ep #
+!Release Date
+|-
+| The Complete Series
+| align="center"|16
+| August 7, 2007
+|}
+This DVD series is available through [http://www.amazon.com/ Amazon] – The [http://www.amazon.com/Super-Friends-Legendary-Complete-Collection/dp/B000PC8AKK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1237904472&sr=8-1 Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show - The Complete Series (DVD - 2007)].
+==External links==
+*[http://www.bcdb.com/cartoons/Hanna-Barbera_Studios/S/Super_Friends-_The_Legendary_Super_Powers_Show/index.html Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show] at The [http://www.bcdb.com/ Big Cartoon DataBase]
+* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088620/ Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show entry at the Internet Movie Database (IMDB)]
+* [http://www.tv.com/superfriends-the-legendary-super-powers-show/show/11620/summary.html?q=Legendary%20Super%20Powers&tag=search_results;title;0 Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show entry at TV.com] ''(episode titles)''
+==Videos==
-{{TV Series Box
-|before=[[Super Friends: The Shorts, Part Three, The Lost Episodes]] – Did not air in the USA (1983)
-|after=[[The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians]] (1985)
-}}