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Far-Out Space Nuts

It’s All In Your Mind

Far-Out Space NutsAfter confusing “lunch” with “launch”, two launch pad employees are blasted into deep space. They frantically try to return to Earth, but are faced with the reality that they’re really just qualified to load food on a spaceship, not fly it.

Having already explored one planet where they found a lonely life form known as Honk, which communicates entirely by honking through a horn-like protrusion on its head, they land on a planet ruled by a mind-controlling computer named G.A.L., only to find that Junior’s thoughts somehow become reality here. That’s the only way they can escape G.A.L. and its sinister cybernetic henchmen.

written by Dick Robbins & Duane Poole
directed by Wes Kenney
music by Michael Lloyd / arranged by Reg Powell

Far-Out Space NutsCast: Bob Denver (Junior), Chuck McCann (Barney), Patty Maloney (Honk), Leo Gordon (Head Dronek), Joan Gerber (voice of G.A.L.)

Notes: The series art director was Herman Zimmerman, who would go on to create the distinctive sets Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Star Trek V, Star Trek VI, Star Trek Generations, and so on. Representing Star Trek’s past was the show’s makeup chief, Fred Phillips, who had created and applied Mr. Spock’s Vulcan ears for the entire run of Star Trek in Far-Out Space Nutsthe 1960s. The name of the all-controlling computer, “G.A.L. 36-24-36”, is both a play on 2001: a space odyssey‘s HAL 9000, and a set of measurements that was likely intended to sail directly over the heads of the show’s young audience. (An almost identical gag was used a few years later as an episode title on Quark.)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Far-Out Space Nuts

The Crystallites

Far-Out Space NutsAt their latest destination, Junior and Barney discover that they’re out of water. Junior and Honk go exploring to try to find a water source, but instead, Junior finds gourd-like fruit whose innards taste like chocolate. But he’s allergic to the fruit, and every time he sneezes, he turns into a giant green hairy beast without realizing it. But the locals aren’t worried about that…until they decide Junior is their next ruler.

written by Earle Doud & Chuck McCann
directed by Wes Kenney
Far-Out Space Nutsmusic by Michael Lloyd / arranged by Reg Powell

Cast: Bob Denver (Junior), Chuck McCann (Barney), Patty Maloney (Honk), John Carradine (Ruler)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Far-Out Space Nuts

The Robots Of Pod

Far-Out Space NutsThe lander is trapped on a planet where a full-scale robot uprising is taking place. Barney and Junior have to disguise themselves as robots to survive in the tyrannical rule of Mercurial, the robots’ overlord, and they have to stay alive long enough to help the other robots overthrow him.

written by Earle Doud & Chuck McCann
directed by Claudio Guzman
music by Michael Lloyd / arranged by Reg Powell

Far-Out Space NutsCast: Bob Denver (Junior), Chuck McCann (Barney), Patty Maloney (Honk), Eve Bruce (Princess Lantana), Earle Doud (Mercurial)

Notes: Both of the creators of Far Out Space Nuts appear in the flesh in this episode: Chuck McCann appears in every episode as Barney, while Earle Doud put in an appearance as the robots’ ruler.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Far-Out Space Nuts

Fantastic Journey

Far-Out Space NutsBarney and Junior are surrounded by mad scientists when one scientist, clearly a few test tubes short of a laboratory, asks for their help in finding another, who turns out to be just as insane. Can either one be trusted?

written by Buddy Atkinson & Dick Conway
directed by Claudio Guzman
Far-Out Space Nutsmusic by Michael Lloyd / arranged by Reg Powell

Cast: Bob Denver (Junior), Chuck McCann (Barney), Patty Maloney (Honk), Kay E. Kuter (Dr. Kala), Stanley Ralph Ross (Dr. Drone), Whitney Rydbeck (Prof. Rundspock)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Far-Out Space Nuts

Tower Of Tagot

Far-Out Space NutsUsing his “future machine”, the mad tyrant Tagot sees a future in which Barney, Junior and Honk threaten his reign. The Sarians, who seek to end Tagot’s reign by rescuing their kidnapped queen, equip the wayward space travelers with such weapons as an inviso-ray and a bravery belt, because they’re equally sure that Barney and Junior pose a threat to Tagot. The only missing piece of the puzzle? Nobody knows how they’ll overthrow Tagot.

written by Earle Doud & Chuck McCann
directed by Wes Kenney
Far-Out Space Nutsmusic by Michael Lloyd / arranged by Reg Powell

Cast: Bob Denver (Junior), Chuck McCann (Barney), Patty Maloney (Honk), Robert Quarry (Zarlam), Barbara Rhoades (Pulma), Paul Wexler (Tagot)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Far-Out Space Nuts

The Three Spaceketeers

Far-Out Space NutsAfter some simple housekeeping tasks go awry, Barney declares Junior “useless”…and Junior decides to strike out on his own, leaving Barney and Honk behind. Trouble immediately finds him in the form of two alien freedom fighters seeking to free their queen, who is imprisoned in a nearby fortress. These aliens believe that a great leader named “Junio” will guide them in their hour of greatest need…but, since they don’t know any better, “Junior” is drafted into their plan.

written by Dick Robbins & Duane Poole
directed by Wes Kenney
Far-Out Space Nutsmusic by Michael Lloyd / arranged by Reg Powell

Cast: Bob Denver (Junior), Chuck McCann (Barney), Patty Maloney (Honk), Bob Basso (Junio), Al Checco (Sporian #1), Robert Dunlap (Sporian #2), Howard George (Lizard #1), Jason Kincaid (Lizard #2), Kathryn Loder (Royal Helona)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Far-Out Space Nuts

Flight Of The Pippets

Far-Out Space NutsA tiny flying saucer buzzes Junior while he naps, and he soon meets the crew, who can make themselves as big as he is – or shrink themselves (and him) – with a device they carry. When Honk arrives to rescue the miniaturized Junior, the aliens flee…and Junior is still tiny. He may have to become even tinier to thwart the Pippets’ plan to be the big species on the block.

written by Earle Doud & Check McCann
directed by Al Schwartz
Far-Out Space Nutsmusic by Michael Lloyd / arranged by Reg Powell

Cast: Bob Denver (Junior), Chuck McCann (Barney), Patty Maloney (Honk), Robert Dunlap (Pippet Captain), Michael Hawes (Pippet), Mickey Morton (Pippet)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Far-Out Space Nuts

Birds Of A Feather

Far-Out Space NutsA group of Motrons – chicken-like birdmen – abduct Barney and Junior. Their leader, Falco, intends to force Junior to sit on the sovereign egg of the Motrons’ aerie. The egg contains the Motrons’ next ruled, but unknown to the hapless humans, they’ve become pawns in a Motron power struggle. Falco’s underlings intend to take the egg out of circulation, removing Falco’s family from power, but to save their own skins, Barney and Junior hatch a plan of their own.

written by Earle Doud & Check McCann
directed by Al Schwartz
Far-Out Space Nutsmusic by Michael Lloyd / arranged by Reg Powell

Cast: Bob Denver (Junior), Chuck McCann (Barney), Patty Maloney (Honk), John Myhers (Falco), Paul Wexler (Motron #1), Robert Dunlap (Motron #2)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Far-Out Space Nuts

Dangerous Game

Far-Out Space NutsA strange space vortex appears in the path of the lander, and when Barney and Junior investigate, a werewolf-like creature boards their spaceship. They are taken to Salana, a woman who tells them they will compete in games and play to win…or face spending eternity as her living trophies. Her wolf-like minions, Lycos and Lobos, are free to pursue them and ensure that they are not victorious. And simply not playing, as Junior suggests, isn’t an option.

teleplay by Sam Locke and Paul Roberts
story by Duane Poole and Dick Robbins
directed by Al Schwartz
Far-Out Space Nutsmusic by Michael Lloyd / arranged by Reg Powell

Cast: Bob Denver (Junior), Chuck McCann (Barney), Patty Maloney (Honk), John Caisse (Lobos), Lynn Cartwright (Salana), Mickey Morton (Lycos)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Far-Out Space Nuts

Secrets Of The Hexagon

Far-Out Space NutsWhen Barney accuses Junior yet again of being a useless idiot, Junior is vulnerable to the new intergalactic con man who offers him the ability to turn his fortunes around. But this scam artist isn’t selling space snake oil: he’s offering something called the Hexagon, which can fulfill nearly any wish its owner desires. And the asking price? The space travelers’ lander. When Barney and Junior discover that they’ve been had, the race is on to out-scam the scammer.

written by Earle Doud & Chuck McCann
directed by Wes Kenney
Far-Out Space Nutsmusic by Michael Lloyd / arranged by Reg Powell

Cast: Bob Denver (Junior), Chuck McCann (Barney), Patty Maloney (Honk), Rudy Diaz (voice of the Hexagon), Howard George (Flam), Gus Peters (Tride), Hal Smith (Komak)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Far-Out Space Nuts

Captain Torque Space Pirate

Far-Out Space NutsCaptain Torque’s attempts to find an intergalactic treasure map have proven far too dangerous for his inept henchmen. He decides to enlist the help of the next two fools he happens across, and naturally Barney and Junior are the easiest choices. To ensure their cooperation, captain Torque holds their spaceship hostage…with no guarantee that he’ll give it back even if they do accomplish the mission he has given them.

written by Earle Doud & Chuck McCann
directed by Walter G. Miller
music by Michael Lloyd / arranged by Reg Powell

Far-Out Space NutsCast: Bob Denver (Junior), Chuck McCann (Barney), Patty Maloney (Honk), Rudy Diaz (Captain Torque), Gus Peters (Henchman), Hal Smith (Intergalactic Patrol)

Notes: Many online resources place a comma in this episode’s title; the on-air title as broadcast contains no punctuation. Junior accidentally calls Captain Torque “Captain Turk” numerous times.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Far-Out Space Nuts

Vanishing Alien Mystery

Far-Out Space NutsA meteor storm forces Barney, Junior and Honk down on a derelict space station. They find that Lantana has also docked there, as have many others, for the reading of a space will. The deceased promises his entire fortune, including the station itself, to all present, and implores them to ignore legends that the station is haunted. But when the visitors to the station begin disappearing, one by one, it looks like someone wants to be the sole surviving benefactor of that space will…

written by Jack Mendelsohn
directed by Wes Kenney
music by Michael Lloyd / arranged by Reg Powell

Far-Out Space NutsCast: Bob Denver (Junior), Chuck McCann (Barney), Patty Maloney (Honk), Eve Bruce (Lantana), Mitchell Young-Evans (Spector), Michael Hawes (Zomar), Stan Jenson (Crakor)

Notes: Possibly the only instance of anything resembling continuity in Far-Out Space Nuts, this episode features a Gromek (It’s All In Your Mind), a Pippet (Flight Of The Pippets, a Crystallite (The Crystallites), and Lantana herself (The Robots Of Pod).

LogBook entry by Earl Green