Space Stars is a 60-minute American Saturday morning animated program block produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and broadcast on NBC from September 12, 1981, to January 8, 1982.
Space Stars was narrated by Keene Curtis and featured five cartoon segments each week: Space Ghost (2 segments, 6 minutes each) The Herculoids (1 segment, 10 minutes) Teen Force (1 segment, 7 minutes) Astro and the Space Mutts (1 segment, 7 minutes) Space Stars Finale (1 segment, 7 minutes)
The cartoons would occasionally cross over into one another. Space Ghost and The Herculoids both had their own respective series in the 1960s. Teen Force and Astro and the Space Mutts were both new segments, although the Astro character was the family dog from The Jetsons.
Opening title narration The opening title narration was provided by Michael Rye and consisted of the following:
Plot and segments Space Ghost
A total of 22 episodes were produced for Space Ghost (two segments aired each week), featuring a new assortment of villains, including an evil version of Space Ghost called Space Spectre (who came from an alternate universe). The Phantom Cruiser and its Scout Ship were also given sleeker and more modernized looks. Space Ghost often came to the aid of the Herculoids and vice versa (as in the original Space Ghost series' "Council of Doom" storyline, where they teamed up for the first time). They also frequently crossed paths with the Teen Force and it appeared that Jan and Teen Force member Kid Comet were dating as well. Gary Owens reprised his role as Space Ghost, but Tim Matheson was replaced by Steve Spears as the voice of Jace, Ginny Tyler was replaced by Alexandra Stoddart as the voice of Jan, and Don Messick was replaced by Frank Welker as the vocal effects for Blip.
Episodes # Title Original air date Summary1 "Microworld" September 12, 1981 The Toymaker has shrunk the planet of Cetia 3 where Jan, Jace and Blip are vacationing and threatens to remove its atmosphere if Space Ghost does not surrender his Power Bands to him.2 "Planet of the Space Monkeys" September 12, 1981 Upon being neglected by Space Ghost, Jan, and Jace, Blip runs away and lands on a planet filled with space monkeys.3 "The Starfly" September 19, 1981 Jan, Jace, and Blip find a Starfly on the Ghost Planet. What they do not know is that Starflies evolve into Starbeasts as one is attacking the Space Transport Ship Ulysses.4 "The Antimatter Man" September 19, 1981 An accident with an anti-matter experiment transforms scientist Dr. Contra into the Anti-Matter Man. Now Space Ghost, Jan, Jace, and Blip must make a perilous journey through the Galactic Core to return Dr. Conta to normal.5 "City in Space" September 26, 1981 To stop for supplies, Space Ghost, Jan, Jace, and Blip stop at a floating city in space that is heading for the sun. When the city ends up getting closer to the sun, Space Ghost turns to Elektra to help get it away from the sun.6 "The Toymaker" September 26, 1981 While on vacation on a distant planet, Jan, Jace, and Blip are captured by mechanical knights and are taken to a spaceship run by the Toymaker. It is up to Space Ghost to save them.7 "Nomads" October 3, 1981 Lord Ibal and his people are attacked by a giant Space Snake and are saved by Space Ghost. Space Ghost later learns that they are really robots seeking to conquer the galaxy with their disguised warships.8 "The Space Dragons" October 3, 1981 A fleet of Space Dragon Ships have been attacking mining operations and stealing Caburite, an extremely powerful element that can be refined into fuel. Space Ghost discovers that the Space Dragon Ships were created by Repto, who plans to use the Caburite in a plot to turn the refined Caburite into fuel for his Space Dragon Ships in a plot to take over the galaxy.9 "Eclipse Woman" October 10, 1981 Eclipse Woman is draining energy from the planet Halcion. With help from Kid Comet, Space Ghost, Jan, Jace, and Blip fight Eclipse Woman to keep her from draining Halcion of its power.10 "Attack of the Space Sharks" October 10, 1981 A pair of shark-like warships are attacking spaceships. As Space Ghost battles them, Jan, Jace and Blip are captured by the Space Sharks and discover that the shark-like Remora and his soldiers from the water planet Liquo have been capturing ships and its passengers for souvenirs.11 "Time Chase" October 17, 1981 Jan and Kid Comet land on Coros IV when it is in its prehistoric state when Kid Comet uses his powers to travel faster than time. At the same time, Space Ghost, Jace, and Blip pursue a space pirate named Barbos to Coros IV and end up going through a Time Arch to Coros IV in its prehistoric state as well.12 "The Haunted Space Station" October 17, 1981 Upon receiving a distress signal from the Outworld Station, Space Ghost, Jan, Jace, and Blip investigate. They soon discover that a Forvalokka (a soul vampire) has turned its crew into zombies that obey his every command and will soon become Forvalokkas themselves.13 "Time of the Giants" October 24, 1981 After capturing the space pirate Krugar, Space Ghost, Jan, Jace, and Blip fly the Phantom Cruiser through a space cloud that shrinks them. Krugar escapes from them when they are shrinking and it is up to a miniature Space Ghost to catch Krugar.14 "The Sorceress" October 24, 1981 The Sorceress plans to use her magic (which is based on technology) to take control of Space Ghost's mind and marry him. It is up to Jan, Jace, and Blip to save Space Ghost.15 "Space Spectre" October 31, 1981 Space Spectre, an evil version of Space Ghost from an alternate dimension, arrives through a black hole into Space Ghost's dimension. Now Space Ghost must defeat Space Spectre and send him back to his own dimension.16 "The Big Freeze" October 31, 1981 Feron is freezing the planet Vanderfor with his freeze ray and plans to do the same to all planets in the galaxy in order to colonize them for his people.17 "Devilship" November 7, 1981 When Jace is investigating a shuttle during an investigation, he ends up under the evil control of the Wizard. Now it is up to Space Ghost to free Jace from the Wizard's control.18 "The Deadly Comet" November 7, 1981 The Commander is using remote-controlled comets to attack ships. Space Ghost calls upon Kid Comet to help stop the Commander before he sends a comet towards the Galactic Council.19 "Spacecube of Doom" November 14, 1981 After helping the Herculoids free a mammoth from a tar pit, Space Ghost discovers that a space cube is stealing all the precious metals in the universe. When the Phantom Cruiser is also stolen, Space Ghost discover that the robot Cubus is wanting to save the logical universe with his super computer Ultima and brainwash the creatures of the universe to think logically.20 "The Time Master" November 14, 1981 A Time Satellite fires beams on the planet Glax-3 that turns back time on Glax-3. Space Ghost discovers that Tempus the Time Master is behind this in a plot to harvest Luxor in order to use it to build a Time Shredder.21 "Web of the Wizard" November 21, 1981 The Wizard uses a device to make Space Ghost, Jan, Jace, and Blip see illusions. He plans to have the Phantom Cruiser crash into a planet when it is chasing an illusion.22 "The Shadow People" November 21, 1981 Space Ghost, Jan, Jace, Blip, and Elektra investigate Rombula Station (a floating space refinery) when its people have taken flight from it. They soon discover that the refinery has been invaded by the Shadow People.
The Herculoids
As a departure from the original series, this incarnation of The Herculoids had story direction and content similar to Jonny Quest and Space Ghost. This series takes place on a far-away planet named Quasar in the land of Amzot (the planet was only named as such in this series, though Amzot was first mentioned by name in "The Time Creatures", an episode of the original series). Eleven episodes were produced. Mike Road and Virginia Gregg reprised their roles as Zandor and Tara, respectively. Ted Eccles was replaced by Sparky Marcus as Dorno. Mike Road and Don Messick also reprised their roles as the voices of the Herculoids.
Episodes # Title Original air date Summary1 "The Firebird" September 12, 1981 A volcano erupts on Quasar, revealing a firebird who has taken up residency in the volcano's crater and threatens the Herculoids.2 "The Ice Monster" September 19, 1981 Dorno is feeling depressed when Zandor treats him like a child because of his size and age. At the same time, an ancient robotic monster emerges from a block of ice-and it is indestructible.3 "The Snake Riders" September 26, 1981 Dorno and Gleep discover a plot by the Snake Riders to take over the planet. It is up to the Herculoids to stop their plans for planetary conquest.4 "The Invisibles" October 3, 1981 A chunk of magnilite lands in the Lost Lake of Quasar. Before long, the Herculoids go up against enemies that they cannot see. Zandor soon learns from the Zelos King Zel that his son Eezo and his followers might be the culprits—a theory proven correct when Space Ghost arrives to return the magnilite to space.5 "The Energy Creature" October 10, 1981 A meteorite containing an energy creature lands on Quasar. When it imprisons creatures in its coils, it takes on their forms and properties also.6 "The Purple Menace" October 17, 1981 Glowing purple rocks have brought to life purple vines that cause havoc.7 "The Buccaneer" October 24, 1981 The Buccaneer and his band of pirates arrive on Quasar to look for buried treasure.8 "The Thunderbolt" October 31, 1981 Saiju, a benevolent creature with a voracious appetite, comes upon some electrical-charged rocks and turns into a living electrical monster upon eating them. The Herculoids learn that the effects of those rocks are temporary and try to get Saiju back to normal.9 "Return of the Ancients" November 7, 1981 The descendants/survivors of a highly developed race that was wiped out on Quasar return to the planet after a 1,000-year mission, and they are not too happy to find out that their civilization is gone.10 "Space Trappers" November 14, 1981 The Space Trappers arrive on Quasar and capture the Herculoids for their intergalactic circus.11 "Mindbender" November 21, 1981 While playing, Dorno, Gloop, and Gleep discover and unearth a metal cylinder which contains a big-brained alien. When they release him, he reveals himself to be a member of a race that ruled Quasar thousands of years ago. It is up to the Herculoids to reseal the Mindbender.
Teen Force Teen Force focused on three superhumanly gifted young students who hail from an unknown alternate universe which is located beyond the confines of the mysterious Black Hole X, which serves as a gateway into the universe in which the other main characters from Space Stars exist.
The Teen Force consists of Kid Comet, who possesses tremendous levels of superhuman speed, enabling him move at speeds exceeding the speed of light, and can even move quickly enough to travel through time; Moleculad, who can control his molecular structure for various effects; and Elektra, who possesses the psionic disciplines of telepathy, telekinesis, and teleportation. Accompanying them are a pair of diminutive blue-skinned aliens named Plutem and Glax, also known as the Astromites. Their principal enemy in the series is Uglor, a mutant native and tyrannical ruler of the planet Uris (whose inhabitants are a race of evolved simians) in Galaxy Q-2. Uglor's mutation granted him bird-like wings and the ability to generate destructive energy blasts from his bionic eyes, which allowed him to see through Space Ghost's Inviso-Power and Elektra's telepathic illusions.
Episodes