When I went to see Where The Wild Things Are I couldn’t help but be reminded of Pufnstuf. Part of me wished that the Kroffts had gotten Puf out first, while another part was glad the Sid and Marty could hopefully learn from the mistakes of Wild. In an article at NY Daily News, Marty expresses:

” ‘Wild Things’ is very, very good for us,” says Marty Krofft. “We always wanted to do low-tech costumes and high-tech heads. But it’ll be a big difference in tone, of course — we’ll be bright, not dark.”

Also, this marks the first time (that I’m aware of) that Marty admits they went to far with Land of the Lost. That they strayed to far from the original.

“We went with comedy, which got it green-lit. But we didn’t know it was going to go so far in the PG-13 direction and so close to an R rating,” he says of the unfortunate flop. “Our characters are all likable, and we have so much goodwill from our fans. So, now we know: Don’t mess with what’s worked.”

I’m glad to see that he’s had this realization. When I met Marty Krofft this past summer, I really wanted to discuss this exact issue with him, but wasn’t sure he would have been receptive. You can’t turn a family-friendly story of a popular children’s show into a raunchy comedy and expect success. It’s like drinking a beer when you were expecting milk. Doesn’t matter how good the beer is, it’ll taste like crap. (even though in this case it was crap)

Also in the article, Marty discusses plans for Electra Woman and Doctor Shrinker. Both stories would have great appeal if handled properly. Especially EW with the rash of super hero movies at the box office.

Thanks to Shemp DeYoung for pointing me to the article. Please leave your comments below.

The online video series Krofft Kwikies presents another fun episode of Dr. Shrinker. In this video clip, the mad doctor un-shrinks little brother Gordie, but the super sized sibling forgets all the little people and where he came from.

Features the classic original theme music! You can watch more classic Krofft Kwikies on Myspace . com/Krofft and revisit Saturday Mornings any day of the week!

Over at IO9.com there is a pretty good discussion of Krofft shows that touch the realm of Sci-Fi (and honestly, don’t they all). (more…)

For years I’ve a Krofft Fan website called KROFFT.NET(currently under heavy rebuild), so I am a huge fan of the Brothers Krofft. Between the last 3 weeks of South Park and last weeks My Name Is Earl, the works of Sid and Marty Krofft have been getting allot of airplay.
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Billy Barty died December 23, 2000 of heart failure, age 76. Diminutive (3’10″ at his tallest) movie and TV actor who enjoyed a long career (over 70 years) playing everything from tough guy heavies to clowns to TV children show characters (including Sigmund the Sea Monster). He was memorable in 1976′s “Foul Play” portraying the helpless Bible salesman who’s literally hung out of a window by Goldie Hawn. In 1957, Mr. Barty helped found the The Little People of America, an organization concerned with the ethical treatment of people of small stature, and in 1976 he founded the Billy Barty Foundation.

REGULAR TV ROLES
As Billy Bitesize in Your Pet Parade (1951)
As a regular on Ford Festival (1951-1952)
As a regular on The Spike Jones Show (1954)
As Little Tom in Circus Boy (1957)
As a regular on Club Oasis (1958)
As Clang in H.R. Pufnstuf (1969-1971)
As Sparky the Firefly in The Bugaloos (1970-1972)
As Sigmund Ooze in Sigmund & the Sea Monsters (1973-1975)
As Hugo in “Dr. Shrinker” segment of The Krofft Supershow (1976-1977)
As a regular on The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour (1977)
As a regular on The Bay City Rollers Show (1978-1979)
As Inch in Ace Crawford, Private Eye (1983)
As voice of Dweedle in Wildfire (1986-1987)

Doctor Shrinker

Far Out Spacenuts