LANCELOT LINK: SECRET CHIMP (1970-1971) – From Sandler-Burns-Marmer Productions came this fun children’s show that presented trained chimps in a spoof of secret agent stories. Dialogue was dubbed in over the usual twitchy mouth movements of chimpanzees to attempt the illusion that the “performers” were speaking.
The program presented a Good Guy Spy Outfit vs Bad Guy Spy Outfit situation like UNCLE vs THRUSH, SHIELD vs HYDRA, etc, but mostly Lancelot Link: Secret Chimp was based on the spy comedy Get Smart. That show’s villainous Bernie Kopell even voice acted for some of the bad guy characters.
Lancelot Link was a secret agent for A.P.E. (Agency to Prevent Evil), the heroic spies who opposed the agents of C.H.U.M.P. (Criminal Headquarters for Underworld Master Plan). Lance’s cover was that he was a guitarist and singer for a bubblegum pop band called the Evolution Revolution. His fellow agent Mata Hairi was also in the band along with other chimps, and novelty songs credited to the group were released in the real world.
Lance and Mata’s boss at A.P.E. was Commander Darwin, setting up jokes like “What’s your theory, Darwin?” In charge of C.H.U.M.P. was the monocle wearing Baron Von Butcher. The Baron’s underlings included Dragon Woman, Creto, Dr. Strangemind, Wang Fu, the Duchess and Ali Assa Seen. Continue reading
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