DefunctTV: The History of the Original Ghost Busters

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In this extra spooky Halloween episode of DefunctTV, Kevin takes a look at the original Ghost Busters sitcom created by Filmation, predating the popular 1984 comedy.
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Danse Macabre - Light Dance Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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[@merchantfan]

Career move- be the guy who already owns a gorilla suit, so you might as well hire him

[@Clay3613]

That guy also got 20th Century Fox and Universal to give him historic movie props for free! He ran a Halloween attraction for years, themed around classic horror and sci-fi movies.

[@CrazyPangolinLady]

He’s a professional Gorilla.

[@BlazePiffington]

Bob Burns is a class act. What stories he had, i remember hearing his interview on Gilbert Gottfried Amzing Colossal podcast

[@crescentfreshbret]

I hear that’s how Dave Brown got to play Bollo on The Mighty Boosh. Or it may have been the fact that he was the show’s art director. Who knows?

[@SuperWolsey]

Clay3613 Bob Burns has mad crazy luck, he did.

[@sandmaneyes]

There's something about a Gorilla that raises this from a silly show to an art.

[@LordLucario99]

It's called the "Why yes I DID look up 'funny' in the dictionary" factor

[@robertdougherty349]

The term you are looking for is Gorillart. :D

[@souljastation5463]

Yeah, and speaking of art, I'm experiencing cognitive dissonance: they say that the show was cheap and crude, and yet I'm seeing with these two very eyes that the animation was very good, it was at least on par on par with the "real" one (and certainly way above the Hanna & Barbera stuff).

[@phildicks4721]

Never underestimate the power of a Gorilla. Julius Schwartz had to set a Gorilla quota back during the Silver Age at DC Comics, to limit the number of comic books that could have Gorillas on the Cover. I believe it was no more than four books a month.

[@gabe_s_videos]

I think it disposes of any sense of pretense, that this show wasn't "too good" to be funny just for the sake of being funny and it's only purpose was to make the audience laugh.

[@kurttappe]

This finally answers the question of why the "The Real" was in front of the 2nd cartoon's name. That always confused me as a kid.

[@andrewtaylor940]

Yeah, those of us who were just old enough to remember the live action tv show are probably the only ones that understood what the deal was back then. And that was a very narrow age window. To understand why there were two Ghostbusters cartoons you needed to remember this show. Which pretty much limited it to people who were roughly 11 the day Star Wars released in Theaters.

[@MattMcIrvin]

What made it even more confusing was that The Real Ghostbusters didn't even have the likeness rights to the actors--so while they were supposed to be the movie characters, they looked quite different from the _real_ ones. (I suspect the look of Kate McKinnon's character in the reboot movie was partly inspired by the look of the _cartoon_ Egon Spengler.)

[@Trevin_Taylor]

This is incorrect. The term “The Real” was explained in the 1st episode. The premise was that they were the real ghostbusters and had become famous, so famous that a movie was made starring Murray and Akroid, etc. The pilot episode starts with them watching the Ghostbusters movie at the red carpet premiere, real Peter lamenting he’s not the womanizer he was made out to be. They aren’t the movie ghostbusters, they’re the Real Ghostbusters that the comedy movie was based on. This meant they could rewrite characters or established movie rules as they saw fit for the new show. Had to “kid friendly” it up. The licensing issue was separate.

[@SharpDesign]

Interesting. I sort of knew of the original but I guess I didn't know the whole story.

[@hoodedman6579]

@@Trevin_Taylor That's the in-universe explanation, but, unless you have a source outside of the cartoon, it's just as likely that the real explanation was this issue.

[@yeemcgee8149]

If they kept it ghostsmashers the song would say “smashin makes me feel good”

[@shoesncheese]

You're not wrong.

[@SniffHeinkel]

lol

[@starlabradshaw2969]

Well, I mean...is "Bustin Makes Me Feel Good" *LESS* suggestive? Lol

[@WR3ND]

underrated

[@md_vandenberg]

@Jeffery Amherst Don't you mean Gen Z and later Millennials? Millennials range from the years (roughly) 1982 to 1995. I was born in 1982. I remember watching Gallagher on late night TV. Jokes work better when you know what the hell you're talking about.

[@JacobHillSBD]

Ah yes, my favorite ghost: A Vampire.

[@DoswarePictures]

Jacob Hill *KONO DIO DA!!!*

[@DoswarePictures]

Gyllen Stålson Dracula, Dio, or someone else?

[@ghostchaser1631]

I'm pretty sure that that was supposed to be Count Dracula. * looks up episode list elsewhere online * Yep, that was Dracula alright. "A vampire" PFFF! More like THE vampire!

[@abalanceproductions]

Not a Ventriloquist Dummy?

[@eduardo_corrochio]

You really gonna start tugging at threads in _this_ show? 😄 Dr. Frankenstein and his monster weren't ghosts, nor was the werewolf or the abominable snowman. To be fair, the episode you reference involved the ghosts of Dracula and his wife the Countess. Not sure how that works, since vamps never die, LOL.

[@Maswartz226]

The scariest thing is how screwed over they got.

[@MattMcIrvin]

Never settle for a piece of the net.

[@GigawingsVideo]

It's their own damn fault for canceling the show even after a lot of praise and love. Also they can't revive the Isis one because of that name conotation now.

[@PixelatedH2O]

@@GigawingsVideo Isis is the name of an ancient Egyptian goddess. Even then, many people would probably still complain.

[@welcometomylives]

@@GigawingsVideo She's in Legends of Tomorrow now anyway.

[@CrimsonNineTail]

@@PixelatedH2O True, but not many know about Egyptian mythology.

[@redram5150]

The rise and fall of Hanna-Barberra would be a great episode premise

[@kirstenc4279]

K ris Yes! scooby doo was my childhood.

[@MattMcIrvin]

@Frizzurd Hanna-Barbera never had a successful idea that they couldn't rip off themselves a dozen times over.

[@MattMcIrvin]

​@Frizzurd Not as many times as Scooby-Doo, but after "The Jetsons" there was a third one called "The Roman Holidays" that was exactly what you'd guess it was. And "Wait 'Til Your Father Gets Home" was another attempt at a prime-time family sitcom, but without the period gimmick (it'd have fit right in with all the shows that popped up much later in the wake of "The Simpsons"). And then there were all the many, many revivals and spinoffs of "The Flintstones" itself, and a "Jetsons" ripoff with the Partridge Family living in a Jetsons world.

[@redram5150]

Frizzurd “Speed Buggy” where the driver was a slightly meatier, more serious version of Shaggy. And the dune buggy was a living creature with an attitude similar to Scooby

[@kryptin420]

@Frizzurd yes, besides the Jetsons, there was also Where's Huddles and The Roman Holidays.

[@eripena7895]

This just adds a layer of irony to the He-Man joke in Ghostbusters 2.

[@Clay3613]

However, He-Man was no longer popular in 1989.

[@memyself898]

@@Clay3613 not as popular as it was in '84 maybe, but people still knew what it was and the joke was still relevant.

[@seatspud]

@Sour Puss Maybe they thought Dolph Lundgren would drop by?

[@rwdplz1]

I still remember playing with He-Man action figures in '89

[@LaurenceQuint]

@Sour Puss Yeah. In 1989, that felt to me like middle-aged men (the writers, Aykroyd and Ramis) being out of the loop on what kids actually liked at the time.

[@amb163]

I remember getting SO annoyed as a kid when I would check the local tv listings, see that the Ghostbusters cartoon was on... only to realise it wasn't The REAL Ghostbusters.

[@firestrikerii810]

Shut up

[@HoldenMuhKnutz]

😂😂same

[@ZJohnnymnemonic2]

I bought a dvd set with a bunch of old crappy cartoons on it. Saw ghost busters on it and was psyched. Then i saw it was the shite one.

[@Mackdez]

God I hated the cartoon for this and they kept jumping on the bed to get to the car 🥵

[@Chad2Underscores]

"Akroyd had grown up in family of ghost fanatics... " Hm. That makes a lot more sense.

[@taffysaur]

Oh, he is sincerely into the paranormal. He thinks all that stuff is 100% real. He actually does use words like ectoplasm and free-form apparition totally in earnest, bless him, lol.

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

@@taffysaur His father actually wrote a book on the paranormal that the vast majority of the technical jargon used in the films and cartoons is derived from.

[@rushmaverick1923]

I wonder if that's why Butch Hartman decided to call his character Danny Phantom. He didn't just make a character that was Spider-Man if he were a Ghostbuster, he even loosely based his family off of Dan Akroyd's family.

[@OriginalPineapplesFoster]

There's an excellent episode of "Last Podcast on the Left" with him as a guest, just talking about paranormal stuff. Not my cup of tea but interesting nonetheless, as he's pretty intense. 👻🍍

[@roxassora2706]

​@@taffysaur I believe in ghosts also, but I wouldn't be so (apparently) antsy about it.

[@Morbos1000]

I decided to look the actors up to see when they died and was shocked that two of the three are still with us, with Larry Storch being 96!

[@DarkMarine33]

2 years later Storch and Burns are still with us.

[@tonycanabal1659]

@@DarkMarine33 Now just Bob Burns, a great preserver of Sci-Fi, and Fantasy movie memorabilia, and of his own GB show.

[@pbase36]

Storch passed last year at 99. Looked good for his age!

[@tomkerruish2982]

His memory lives on in The Larry Storch School of Heating and Air Conditioning Repair.

[@eyeseer1]

Larry Storch was in Married with Children for a few episodes.

[@pt_samurai474]

BUSTIN' makes me feel good

[@CobraDBlade]

BUSTIN' BUSTIN' BUSTIN' BUSTIN'

[@arbyw.1889]

I ain't afraid of no sleep I ain't afraid of no bed

[@Sin_Alder]

Freaky ghost baby~

[@Warlocke000]

You don't' say... kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqXHqoiVnLxpjac

[@rasmusdegn9690]

Freaky ghost man~

[@tsunderefandomer3425]

Now I get why in Ghostbusters 2, the kids in the birthday scene preferred He-Man. It was a on the nose gag towards Filmation.

[@KingRandor82]

Orrrr because He-Man was THE Boys franchise of the 80s...

[@murasakiahiru]

Makes sense to me.

[@jimmyju76]

Both i think, lol

[@SlapstickGenius23]

Before He Man, Filmation made its own tv adaptation of Tarzan. Inspired by the daily and Sunday comics of Burne Hogarth.

[@queenmedesa]

The Spanish version said Hulk

[@arri275555]

Worked with Ernie Hudson several years ago. He is so humble and down to earth. Such a great guy.

[@trublgrl]

Larry Storch is really one of the unsung heroes of his day. We remember him from F Troop, but on the stage, and in the golden age of radio, he was considered the greatest impressionist of his day. His voice characterizations were often indistinguishable from the real celebrities and public figures he portrayed, and with no visuals, many believed that Storch's performances were the real thing. He also was a pioneer in animation, voicing many characters, particularly in the Bullwinkle/George of the Jungle/ King Leo films by Jay Ward. His talent was well recognized in his day, but his star has lost his shine in the days since. Still, we have so much of his work to enjoy.

[@rattyeely]

I would kill for a crossover comic where the two Ghostbusters teams meet

[@luigihorror6455]

Bro fr, i would love for them to crossover 😭

[@LegendShark]

Abbot and Costello voice: "Wait, but then who are the real ghostbusters?"

[@MattMcIrvin]

[ they slowly turn to look in a mirror, with increasing terror ]

[@googiegress7459]

[ Charlie Chaplin just looking on and silently eating a boot made out of black licorice ]

[@pgj1997]

There's one major difference between these two franchises: One's spelled with a space, one isn't. Two separate trademarks! No confusion at all!

[@bullant12]

That is what I am surprised that DefuncTV did not highlight. According to what was explained by Retroblasting, the reason why Filmnation came out with the "Ghostbusters" was that the trademark was going to lapse and Sony would end up with it by default, so Filmnation created the cartoon based on their original show and tried to keep from Sony from "stealing" the name which technically was Sony's... all Sony had to do was pay Filmnation their 1% loyalty. But Sony played the "sorry, there was no profit due to Hollywood accounting" tactic and Filmnation felt they had to do something or they would really loose it.

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

@@bullant12 Putting a space in the name wouldn't have been enough to secure a trademark anyway. They would have been considered sufficiently similar, and the space might have even been enough to deny a trademark anyway. Ghostbusters works because it's a single compound nonsense word by the definitions of trade naming. Ghost Busters is made up of two common words, and doesn't have as strong of a claim as a result. It wasn't highlighted because it didn't actually make much difference.

[@bullant12]

OtakuUnitedStudio that’s my point dude. Space or no space Filmnation had the rights to the name and just wanted to grab it before Sony would cash in on it.

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

@@bullant12 Okay then, yeah, no question. Columbia was still LICENSING the name, and Filmation still owned it. There was no doubt that it was still their trademark. But Sony should have just commissioned them for the cartoon in the first place; they could have assigned the same writers and got a mostly similar product to what they eventually made.

[@bullant12]

@@OtakuUnitedStudio they didn't think that way at the time. Sony (before buying Columbia) just wanted to show the guns. They didn't care about assigning the same writers. They want to make big projects at small budgets in case it doesn't work out.

[@JSB1882]

Larry Storch is still alive! He's 96 and still active.

[@TheAnubis57]

OMG ! I didn't know --thanks. How goes way back in 1950s. I saw his name on the 1956 TV Jacky Gleason's "Stage Show" on CBS.

[@kevinfisher5492]

Loved his cameos on Married: With Children too. I still say "Coming to you Live in Surround Storch!"

[@lilj1778]

As in... sexually ?

[@jenniferbice8998]

@@lilj1778 Hey! Not nice. Not nice at all. 😣

[@firestrikerii810]

@@jenniferbice8998 Shut up

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

So rather than capture ghosts, they just zapped sentient beings entirely out of existence, denying them an afterlife. How zany!

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Maybe there's a "another dimension" they're stuck in until the next time!

[@ccggenius]

Yeah... they're Ghost BUSTERS, not Ghost catchers.

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

@@ccggenius I mean, fair point, but not the main focus of my observation.

[@grantorino2325]

In the 1980s cartoon, though, Kong tells a reporter that it actually "temporarily sends them to an alternate dimension."

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

@@grantorino2325 I know, I just wanted to make a dark joke.

[@benderbendingrodriguez420]

Forrest Tucker & Larry Storch had amazing chemistry

[@Nick-ty9us]

Just watch F Troop to see that amazing chemistry

[@freesteve1977]

The gorilla counting down right before the message blow up was so funny

[@googiegress7459]

1000% my dad's humor there

[@mr.sinjin-smyth]

I still have fond memories watching the "Real" Ghostbusters and Filmation's Ghost busters cartoons back to back on Fridays and Saturdays between 1988 and 1992. The Real Ghostbusters aired around 7:00 PM every Friday nights (Original TMNT followed at 7:30 PM), while Filmation's Ghost busters aired every Saturday mornings along Looney Tunes and Garfield. Those were such wonderful times being a kid.

[@bladeobrian2144]

Damn, this is a deep cut.....

[@mottmatt7844]

I can remember that "let's go ghostbusters" theme and how I could remember that as a kid it was weird how the show suddenly had different main characters. Thank you for unlocking that memory. Although I might imagine remembering it.

[@jamieaiken919]

God I adore Dan Aykroyd. I feel like you could do an entire video just on all the films he’s written.

[@firestrikerii810]

No

[@canaisyoung3601]

And his stint on Saturday Night Live. Remember: he was one of the original "Not Ready for Primetime" cast members.

[@manofaction1807]

I was there.... I grew up on this show. One lost opportunity would have been Tucker and Storch as ghosts in the Ghostbusters movie. They were awesome as a comedy team. Tucker and Storch was everywhere in the early 70's.

[@nickhill8612]

That's really cool.

[@jonathanwarrdddedcxddeecec4787]

I actually adore the filmation ghostbusters. It’s super bizarre and weird and very entertaining . I kinda wish it would get a comic series or the real ghostbusters kinda crossover .

[@jonathanwarrdddedcxddeecec4787]

Though the real ghostbusters cartoon was better, at least the first number of seasons .

[@retro9173]

its' possible, crossover and multiverses is a thing now in pop culture but before it was unheard off ..

[@Monkofmagnesia]

Spencer, Tracy and Kong, and Kong was NOT the name of the Gorilla! Very clever and probably very few noticed.

[@mistersympa15]

I feel like I can already hear some old lady being like "But why wasn't the APE named Kong? These silly bastards got it wrong!"

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

@@mistersympa15 The old lady's mom would probably say "Because Doctor Strangelove."

[@radish6691]

Everyone noticed. Tucker says “I’m Kong” in the opening credits to start...

[@theotherjared9824]

Nothing is scarier than 70's children's television

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

60's children's television.

[@MrSpuzzz]

Jared Watson no doubt, oh gawd do you remember H&R Pufnstuff? Sigmund and the Seamonster? Land of the Lost? No wonder Gen X turned out this way!

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

@@MrSpuzzz HR Pufnstuf was actually from 1969 and only lasted one season.

[@MrSpuzzz]

OtakuUnitedStudio hairsplitter! ;)

[@mastermarkus5307]

@@OtakuUnitedStudio THANK GOODNESS IT ONLY LASTED ONE SEASON!

[@TroyFullwood]

You could do a whole episode on the fascinating period in the late 50s and early 60s when early characters like Felix the Cat and Koko the Clown (and of course Popeye) got brought back with new syndicated shorts, due to renewed interest from tv syndication packages of sometimes ancient cartoons

[@EastsideShowSCP]

Me and my father would love watching the original ghostbusters, but we always loved watching the movie ghostbusters as well. Both are great in their own rights, especially The Real Ghostbusters. That cartoon was amazing.

[@firestrikerii810]

Nope

[@worthybutter2004]

@@firestrikerii810 Yes, cause it's his opinion.

[@jack-a-lopium]

@@worthybutter2004 Also mine, lol. It was an awesome cartoon :D

[@worthybutter2004]

@@jack-a-lopium Indeed!

[@SLagonia]

Storch and Tucker are the only reason I had ever even heard of this show, let alone watched it. F-Troop was one of my favorite shows, so I had to check it out. The two were comedy legends.

[@firestrikerii810]

Mo

[@VidtopiaEntertainment]

I think that this is a very strange series and is very much like Scooby Doo Where Are You. But I hate to admit that I kinda like this series, it’s cheesy yes but it still has this strange charm to it.

[@WardOfSouls]

I remember watching the animated show during its syndication run in the 80s. Real weird seeing it air back to back with "The Real Ghost Busters", but I recall it being fun in a way that the Columbia series wasn't. I may have to see if I can find it somewhere to show my nephews.

[@souljastation5463]

Maybe it's ecause the animation was really good, way above scooby doo, I'd dare to say that was on par with the "real" ghostbusters cartoon.

[@jenniferbice8998]

I've been watching episodes of The Ghost Busters lately on KZbin. One thing stood out to me on a couple of episodes (the one with the Witch of Salem and the other with the Yeti) is that there is some adult humor on that show. I'm surprised those two episodes got past CBS's Standards and Practices Department for children's TV shows.

[@nerdlingful]

When I first heard the word Ghostbusters, The phrase, “I’m Spencer he’s Tracy”...”I’m Kong” Popped into my head. These are the Ghostbusters I relate to, partially because of F Troop, partially because of Saturday mornings. The only thing that got me into the “Real Ghostbusters” were Joe Straczynski’s excellent Scripts.

[@benabramowitz18]

When are we getting a DefunctTV for *Space Ghost: Coast to Coast?!*

[@gallifreyanknight1355]

Or even the two previous cartoons as well? Like, how cool would that be, as a trilogy deticated to the three Space Ghost shows?

[@gallifreyanknight1355]

@Frizzurd I've actually considered doing that as a fan film, tbh

[@gallifreyanknight1355]

@Frizzurd I'm honestly still trying to figure that out too, tbh. Maybe a 3-D replica of the cartoon version, despite how goofy that could turn out? It will still have kinda a retro aesthetic too

[@ZeldaDD]

@@gallifreyanknight1355 I could see that totally working for a show like that. I always kind of liked the CG Moltar Cartoon Network would use in Toonami bumpers way back in the day.

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

A Coast-to-Coast episode wouldn't be complete if it didn't also discuss Cartoon Planet.

[@chrisedwards7241]

I watched the Ghostbusters show as a kid, and I still love seeing two talented pros tackle the very silly material they have to work with. The humor is utterly surreal at times. Great to see some love for the REAL Real Ghostbusters.

[@goodfellabeats]

I was hoping you mentioned the other Ghostbusters. When I mentioned to people that there was another cartoon called Ghostbusters I get blank stares.

[@Genevieve0880]

I can't believe that John Belushi was almost apart of Ghostbusters. In another universe, he might have actually been in it. This is super interesting though! Can't believe a show had the Ghostbusters name first.

[@cumexolaf3276]

replacing whom? Winston or the Gorilla?

[@darkstrifequeen1458]

Maybe in an alternate universe, the ghost busters we’re familiar with would have had a pet gorilla. But we have slimer! But hear me out, I’m glad we have slimer, because a “pet gorilla” would have been nightmare fuel in the pop cultural influence that the ghost busters we know.

[@r0bw00d]

In a way, he still is. Slimer is a tribute to John.

[@skivvy3565]

Fun fact: Dan Akyroyd’s family were successful paranormal investigators and ghost hunters, and he truly believed in the supernatural. You can also see in all the tv appearances bill Murray and the cast facepalming and talking over dan Akron’s when Johnny Carson or anyone ask about the movie and dan starts talking about ghosts being Real life phenomena and how beliefs in aliens and...

[@davidbuswa9425]

Here's a little trivia about Dan Akyroyd, He has heterochromia very much like David Bowie and Mila Kunis has

[@nickhill8612]

That's interesting.

[@christheghostwriter]

Yeah, Aykroyd's a fruitloop

[@bobsonny]

"Successful" is a stretch, considering that ghosts do not exist

[@seed_drill7135]

I watched this show when it was originally on and recalled it when the movie came out and wondered how they got the naming rights.

[@MrSpuzzz]

Seed_drill you beat me to it, I just posted a very similar thought.

[@mgfoster9197]

I showed this to my parents (my dad a fan of cartoons, my mom actually went to see Ghostbusters in 1984 when it was first released), they have no recollection of this series but they do remember the issue with the cartoons (neither of which appeases my mother.)

[@dubdaze68]

A live action version of this with Jack Black and John Hodgman would be fantastic.

[@A_Black_Sheep94]

No unfunny women though.

[@victoriabell9546]

@@A_Black_Sheep94 Unfunny women...?

[@A_Black_Sheep94]

@@victoriabell9546 Yes the Ghostbusters reboot. You *cannot* tell me that movie was funny.

[@manospondylus4896]

Sovereign Snorlax What about funny women tho?

[@A_Black_Sheep94]

@@manospondylus4896 Well if they're funny they're not unfunny...

[@NoelsterSF]

this looks vaguely familiar... I must've dematerialized it out of my brain.

[@jenniferbice8998]

Two of the actors were on F-Troop.

[@stevehefferan56709]

Remember that scene in Ghostbusters 2 where they go to a kid's birthday party and the kids start shouting for He-Man?

[@221b]

Which just shows how out-of-touch the people making GB2 were, since He-Man was well past its prime in 1989. Realistically they'd be shouting for the Ninja Turtles.

[@thegamerguru97]

@@221b and yet there were He-man bootlegs based on ninja turtles...Wild how that works

[@TravJam317]

You have to remember that the scene was probably shot in 1987.

[@nikolademitri731]

221b I don’t think that was the point, though, unless I’m misunderstanding the OP. I think his point was that they were referencing the fact that the OG creators of Ghost Busters also made He-Man, which was faaarrrrr more successful for them than their rip off cartoon of Ghost Busters, let alone their original run of the live action Ghost Busters 10+ years prior. I think it’s more an Easter egg type thing, or even a diss towards the animation studio (whatever they were called), so the relevance of He-Man at the time in ‘89 would be unimportant to their point/the joke. At least that’s how I understood it.

[@jasonhu9505]

I don’t know why but the monkey is the most interesting thing about this.

[@CeltKnight]

Ah, a quick and fun visit back to my childhood. I remember when Ghost Busters premiered. It was a show that my parents and much older siblings all watched and enjoyed.

[@themysteriouscatperson9483]

I love the original ghostbusters,found it a while back and fell in love with the cheesy sets, goofy acting, and the gorilla. I bought the dvd and everything, great video

[@CWRoederer]

I’ve always wanted to hear more about the history of Captain Kangaroo. This show would be perfect for that.

[@MattMcIrvin]

That's a long and involved history, too--would be DefuncTV-worthy for sure.

[@LaikaLycanthrope]

Oh, hell, a huge yes please for that one. Every morning at 8 am he'd be on, but during school months, I'd only get to see half his show, as I had to leave at 8:30 to get to school by the quarter-to bell (it was only a couple of blocks' walk away.) If I got my little butt up early enough, I'd get to watch Kimba on a different channel just before him, though (original dub, including an episode that they probably banned now.)

[@mrj667]

This is insane. The quality in your videos is eye candy. Love your content keep it up

[@outpostorange9580]

8:04 Scooby-Doo, Where are You! called and wanted there sound effect back

[@eharasan]

This show needs to get a DVD release!

[@rwdplz1]

Back in the 80's, despite having the name first, we called this weird show, "The FAKE Ghostbusters". We just assumed it was a half-assed cash grab, like all the obviously 'inspired by' He-Man shows.

[@firestrikerii810]

It wasn’t fake and it wasn’t a cash grab

[@elfiefromangelcity6142]

2:32 Tripping out cuz that building has been there my whole life, and it's still there. Driven past it many a time.

[@cannibalisticrequiem]

It's great to see Filmation's GhostBusters getting some love! The only other person I know who's made a video about it-- which is how I discovered its existence, is an old Familiar Faces Halloween video made by CR back in 2009/2010 (I don't remember) back in the days of TGWTG.

[@Mario500NOW]

"TGWTG"?

[@antonnorth7678]

I used to watch the animated series but had completely forgotten about it! The themesong clip sounded immediately, viscerally familiar, but then Ghostbuggy's voice caused it all to come crashing back. Thank you for the unexpected trip down memory lane!

[@drewforchic9083]

0:43 Oh my god that skeleton cracked me up. A+ quality

[@MsEco13]

Thank you for reminding me about the 1970's Ghost Busters show! I now remember singing that theme song when I was a child and how much I loved the characters.

[@nickhill8612]

Yes

[@TrevorFlorence]

This resolves some long-standing confusion on my part as a child. For much of my childhood, I had this confused fever-memory of a gorilla being part of the Ghostbusters in a cartoon and me being very confused. I had so many "real" Ghostbuster toys as a child. Definitely one of my favorites.

[@geoleo965]

I do remember its cartoon. It was OK, but nothing in comparison with *_"The Real Ghostbusters."_*

[@bahamakazi]

Geo Leo Extreme ghostbusters was pretty good too

[@geoleo965]

@@bahamakazi I really tried hard to like it... But without the original gang and the new party being too bland for me...

[@bahamakazi]

Geo Leo thats understandable, it took me a few episodes to get into it, I really liked the gritty take on it but I always come back to “The Real Ghostbusters”

[@geoleo965]

@@bahamakazi Yeah, some great and actual spooky episodes it had in its early seasons... And dude, don't get me started with Janine as the nerdy, sexy redhead.

[@clayzulah]

Real Ghostbusters holds up better than a film tie-in cartoon from the 80's has any right to

[@FlyBoyEnterprises]

I only knew of the cartoon series. I never KNEW of the existence of live action version. I want to find the series now. It's very fascinating.

[@timetochronicle]

13:00 OW MY AXELS

[@dangerouslytalented]

1% of what’s left after accountants hide the profits. Ouch

[@turdferguson8928]

Yep. How movie studios are able to get away with burying profit is criminal

[@dangerouslytalented]

@@turdferguson8928 Movie studios? That's a tip of a rancid iceberg. The music industry, property developers, any industry where potential profits are colossal will have accountants and executives out to reroute money to themselves.Go look up the history of Handmade Films (the Monty Python film company). The accountant was fiddling the books so badly that the whole lot collapsed even while they had big hits like A Fish Called Wanda.

[@johnyyaussi1339]

I was always told by my mom that Larry Storch was a second cousin. Remember from F troop.

[@quesoblanco444]

I don't think this is obscure to anyone who was a kid when this aired, I LOVED this show, and I was not even allowed to watch sat morning cartoons at the time. I also appreciated you mentioning that Tucker and Storch always gave 100%, as I always felt that (and Bob Burns) really added a lot to the show. I always thought the Filmation live-action shows worked a bit better then their cartoons, as the animation in those was so stilted and repetitive. Thanks for posting, this was real fun to watch!

[@thecunninlynguist]

have fond memories of the cartoon. Mom bought me a VHS of it. That theme was damn catchy. Also liked how they transformed into their uniforms

[@geowynleda4641]

I loved this show, especially the theme song.

[@Lance37a]

I went to the Larry Storch school of acting.

[@lanceturley7745]

I understood that reference.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

@@lanceturley7745 I did too!

[@Lance37a]

@@lanceturley7745 lol I'm glad someone did.

[@kingcosworth2643]

Al Bundy for Prez

[@kevinfisher5492]

My stereo has Surround Storch.

[@DigiRangerScott]

When there’s something known, and you know it’s known, who’s it gonna know? Known Knowers!

[@Sorrelhas]

Futura reminds me of Presenta, my daughter, named after the fact that she was born in the present

[@SteampunkDoctorWho]

I LOVED this show when I was a kid. Thanks for the memories.

[@kennethdickinson2591]

I remember watching and loving this show (and Shazam and Isis) on Saturday mornings as a kid. Thanks for the flashback!

[@anaypatel451]

I remember the ghostbuster cartoons from way back when... Edit: had no idea Kevin was going to talk about it... wow! Good job Kevin!

[@SonofMrPeanut]

Had I been a kid growing up in the mid-70s, this would absolutely have been something I watched.

[@SmittenKitten.]

Wishing everyone a SPOOKY Halloween!!! Thanks for another great installment, Kevin!

[@MichaelPenaRiderKick]

I would love a video on Journey Back to Oz. It seems like a movie nobody ever talks about.

[@allthelonely4287]

I'd be interested in learning more about it.

[@jasoncline6519]

Man I had no idea the Ghost Busters were based off a show in the 70's. Growing up in the 80's with both cartoons was really confusing as hell. Funny that the Ghost Busters cartoon was to stick it to the Ghostbusters for using their name for the movie. Can't say I didn't learn something today! Thanks Kevin!

[@LaDracul]

Forest Tucker: the guy who tells the trees to tuck in their shirts. Also, Bob Burns is the finest gorilla suit actor of our time.

[@googiegress7459]

On the inside of the suit, he's a man, but on the inside of the man is the heart of a gorilla. Back in those days sandwich catering was weird.

[@specterman2000]

When I was kid I loved the original Saturday Morning TV series "The Ghost Busters" with Spencer, Tracy and Kong. Their Dematerializer was great to get rid of all the ghosts. It makes me wished they would have given them a few more seasons!

[@manddautoparts7055]

and I thought I was the only person who remembered this show.... I even remembered the theme.

[@maxordman4100]

For an early 70s tv show this does look pretty good! Terrific humor as usual. Quite the wild deep dive! Let’s go Ghost Busters! Amazing story!

[@nickhill8612]

I know right

[@rasmusdegn9690]

Has there ever been an attempt in the Ghostbusters expanded universe to integrate the 70's sitcom into the canon? Genuinely curious.

[@nicholastosoni707]

Thank you for reminding me, I ought to start up my _Filmation's Ghostbusters Discontinuity Guide_ again.

[@ari-dynamicarchive]

they make a cameo in the IDW "Get Real" crossover comic events, which has the movie GB meet the Real Ghostbusters among many others in the franchise long history.

[@firestrikerii810]

@@nicholastosoni707 no

[@firestrikerii810]

@@ari-dynamicarchive mo

[@firestrikerii810]

@@ari-dynamicarchive no

[@daviddaniels9551]

Bob (Tracy the Gorilla) REALLY Loved working on that show! You've got to be a masochist to do body-suit work. The costume weighs 50 pounds or more - has little/no ventilation - and you are working under hot studio lights! He also couldn't say enough good things about Tuck - Forrest Tucker. The Veteran Actor had been around enough to understand how tough life in a costume was. He took Bob in under his wing, making sure they never overworked "The Kid!"

[@yelloweyeball]

I knew about the filmation cartoon, but had no idea that it was based on a 70's sitcom. This explains so much.

[@cainking7943]

"Jekyll and Hyde..." Be polite now, he has a PHD, it's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

[@ianjones9961]

Thank you, Defunctcrew, for giving me something I can easily link to people who don't believe me that this show existed.

[@michaeldreibelbis9529]

Greatest Ghostbusters!!! Spencer, Tracy and Kong.... These three were awesome. And anyone that watched it heard Kong... call himself Kong. Very fond memories of this one... especially Storch and Tucker.... these guys were the Abbott and Costello of the time...

[@bongmuon]

I always wondered about this as a kid. I liked watching both of them. still remembered the uniform changing scenes but like a dream, had to watch an episode for it all to come back.

[@CherylKhan80]

I never understood why there was another Ghostbusters cartoon with a gorilla until now. I always wondered why there were two totally different cartoons and characters but the shows had the same name. Thank you for this video! :)

[@BleachFan9891]

‘“If there’s something strange in the neighborhood, who ya gonna call?” Not these guys.👻👻👻

[@EntertainmentFan11]

More like, "NOT the 'new team'!"

[@jedipoodoo]

This.

[@jimmymelendez1836]

Over here, the syndicated Filmation Ghostbusters ran on WGN in Chicago while The Real Ghostbusters ran on ABC on a Chicago affiliate WLS Chicago. Just hearing the theme song alone brought back memories.

[@daniellogan-scott5968]

I watched the original live action Ghost Busters when it aired. I was seven, but it left a lifetime impression.

[@DeadpoolNJ]

" dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!"

[@cmdraftbrn]

i'm gonna send him a nice fruit basket.

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

What have we got to worry about? We've each got an unlicensed nuclear accelerator strapped to our backs.

[@seatspud]

Tell 'im 'bout the Twinkie.

[@christopheralthouse6378]

Speaking of dogs and cats living together, Bill Murray shares TWO characters with voice artist Lorenzo Music. Lorenzo Music would provide the voice for Peter Venkman in "The Real Ghostbusters", then voice Garfield in several of the Garfield animated series', "Garfield and Friends" being the most well-known of the lot...take a guess where Bill Murray steps back in? Yep...when Garfield went to the big screen, it would be none other than Bill Murray providing the voice for everyone's favorite fat cat! 😂😂😂😂

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

@@christopheralthouse6378 The irony was that Bill Murray had requested Lorenzo Music be replaced because, "I'm Venkman and I don't sound like Garfield." _O O F_

[@thinkbolt]

I did my own 'exopse' of the 1984 Ghostbusters a few years ago, and I saw the 1975 show during its first run. I suspect the press hype about it becoming a prime-time show was just that. Even as a 10-year-old, I knew the show was painfully bad. I can't believe it was a actually that popular.

[@lancerutt9936]

My guess is that there was probably a lot of goodwill leftover from F-Troop

[@thinkbolt]

@@lancerutt9936 I don't know. Whatever the case, when the 1984 movie came out, I seemed to be the only member of my generation who remembered there was ALREADY a Ghostbusters. Even my fellow kids had entirely forgotten it.

[@LaikaLycanthrope]

@@thinkbolt No, I expected to see a gorilla at some point when that movie came out. I was about 7 or 8 when the show was on, 15 when the movie released. Wasn't butthurt about the difference (which was pretty obvious early on in the movie), because I enjoyed the hell out of it on its own merits, starting right about at the library ghost scene. "Get her." Lol.

[@mr.mirchenstein6549]

It's just the name. Not like they copied the show itself or the characters or anything. And the TV show was long dead by the time the movie and cartoon were a thing in the 80s...

[@firestrikerii810]

The show wasn’t bad

[@mariocaballero1665]

I saw the Ghostbusters on a VHS I got from a garage sale once. I was always confused about who they were but just wrote it off as some spin off but since I only had the one tape with two episodes never saw more. Thanks for informing me on where they came from... I like the vets and gorilla

[@cha5]

I was addicted to the Original Filmation Ghostbusters as a kid. and Larry Storch was a big part of the draw of it for me. When I first heard about the 1984 Ghostbuster film I was actually wondering if there would be a gorilla in it.

[@KendrickHarrisKenfinity]

I've heard and seen clips of this obscure ghost hunting show with this skillful and hilarious team! Keep it up!

[@nicholastosoni707]

It's my goal to one day build a '75 Classic MK-1 Dematerializer, sweetened, of course, with modern lights and tech.

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

I would legit love to see someone in a '75 Ghost Busters costume hanging out with some '84 Ghostbusters cosplayers and looking like they're having fun together. The fans don't need to fight a proxy war on behalf of the creators, and it's okay to like both.

[@nicholastosoni707]

@@OtakuUnitedStudio A couple of German cosplayers--crafty fellows--have built Cartoon!FGB equipment that's more in line with Dan Aykroyd's sensibilities. I applaud their efforts even if I don't necessarily _agree_ with the aesthetic.

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

@@nicholastosoni707 That is the kind of attitude I appreciate. Thank you for saying so.

[@jacklowe3429]

I read, several years ago, that Filmation, or the network, had wiped all the original Ghost Busters tapes and reused them. Finally getting to see this footage is amazing!

[@bowdencable7094]

This show is familiar like a fever dream of a memory that you never spoke of, because you couldn't be sure it ever happened.