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Herbie, the Love Bug (TV series)

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Herbie, the Love Bug
Based onCharacters
by Gordon Buford
Written byArthur Alsberg
Don Nelson
Don Tait
Directed byCharles S. Dubin
Vincent McEveety
Bill Bixby
StarringDean Jones
Patricia Harty
Richard Paul
Claudia Wells
Douglas Emerson
Nicky Katt
Larry Linville
Music byFrank De Vol
Tom Worrall
Opening theme"Herbie, My Best Friend" sung by Dean Jones
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes5
Production
Executive producerWilliam Robert Yates
ProducerKevin Corcoran
CinematographyJack A. Whitman Jr.
Jack Swain
EditorsGordon Brenner
Marsh Hendry
Ron Honthaner
Running time48 minutes
Production companyWalt Disney Productions
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseMarch 17 (1982-03-17) –
April 14, 1982 (1982-04-14)

Herbie, the Love Bug is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from March 17 to April 14, 1982. It was produced by Walt Disney Productions and based on a series of films about Herbie, a sentient pearl white 1963 Volkswagen Beetle.

The show was a five-episode mid-season replacement series.[1] It was the last production to feature the titular automobile until 1997's television film The Love Bug. The show's theme song "Herbie, My Best Friend" was performed by its star, Dean Jones.[2]

Plot

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Dean Jones, who had appeared in two of the films (The Love Bug and Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo), reprises his role of Jim Douglas, Herbie's original owner, now a retired race car driver who works as an instructor at the Famous Driving School with his partner Bo Phillips (Richard Paul). He and Herbie stumble upon a bank robbery in progress. They manage to thwart the crime and rescue a young divorcée named Susan MacLane (Patricia Harty), who works at the bank and is a mother of three: Julie (Claudia Wells), Robbie (Douglas Emerson) and Matthew (Nicky Katt). Jim and Susan soon begin to fall in love, much to the consternation of her ex-boyfriend Randy Bigelow (Larry Linville). Randy's attempts to break them up are in vain; Jim and Susan get married in "Herbie the Best Man" episode that aired on April 7.

Cast

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Episodes

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Nº Episode title Directed by Written by Airdate
1"Herbie the Matchmaker"Charles S. DubinArthur Alsberg, Don NelsonMarch 17, 1982 (1982-03-17)
Herbie and his owner, Jim Douglas, stumble on an attempted bank robbery and rescue a hostage.
2"Herbie to the Rescue"Vincent McEveetyArthur Alsberg, Don NelsonMarch 24, 1982 (1982-03-24)
Jim's driving school is closed down when Herbie interferes with a motor vehicle inspection.
3"My House is Your House"Bill BixbyDon TaitMarch 31, 1982 (1982-03-31)
Jim's ex-girlfriend, Diane Darcy (Andrea Howard), surprisingly shows up at his bachelor party.
4"Herbie the Best Man"Vincent McEveetyArthur Alsberg, Don NelsonApril 7, 1982 (1982-04-07)
Randy Bigelow kidnaps Herbie and substitutes a look-alike in a desperate attempt to break up Jim and Susan's wedding.
5"Calling Dr. Herbie"Bill BixbyArthur Alsberg, Don NelsonApril 14, 1982 (1982-04-14)
Jim and Susan decide to sell her car to buy a family station wagon.

Home media

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The series has not become available on DVD, Blu-ray, or Disney+.[citation needed]

Premiere in Brazil

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The series premiered on Brazilian television on January 10, 1993, on TV Globo, on Sunday mornings and then at various times, being the only country to broadcast the program on a Latin American open TV network.

References

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  1. ^ Clute, John (1997). The Encyclopedia of Fantasy. New York City, New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 463. ISBN 978-1-85723-368-1.
  2. ^ Brooks, Tom; Marsh, Earle F. The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present p. 603.
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