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PEOPLE & ARTSWednesday 14 October

H.R. Pufnstuf, child of the ‘60s, visits Nickelodeon show

LYNN ELBER ly colored look, in an era
marked by hallucinogen-
AP Television Writer ic imagery, that prompt-
ed such speculation.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — H.R. Another stubborn idea,
that the initials “H.R.” sig-
Pufnstuf is coming back to nified hand-rolled (as in
marijuana joint), was also
television, and he’s bring- misguided, according to
Krofft: They stood for Roy-
ing a few old pals and a al Highness, backward,
he said.
1960s vibe along with him. The Beatles, themselves
fending off claims that
More than 40 years after their 1967 song “Lucy in
the Sky With Diamonds”
the debut of the “H.R. Puf- was a veiled reference to
LSD, were among those
nstuf” children’s series, its who found the show in-
triguing.
title puppet character will The group’s manager,
Brian Epstein, called to re-
pay a visit to Nickelode- quest that copies of the
show be mailed to them
on’s new “Mutt & Stuff,” in England, Krofft said, a
request that brother Sid
the cable channel said double-checked years
later when Ringo Starr be-
Tuesday. come his neighbor in Los
Angeles.
Pufnstuf will be joined Starr in turn had a ques-
tion for Sid Krofft, accord-
by Freddy the Flute and ing to Marty: “How many
drugs did you do?” the
Cling and Clang — along Beatle inquired. (Again,
Marty Krofft adds, the an-
with that duo’s cool Res- swer was none.)
The Kroffts have big plans
cue Racer — on a “Mutt & for Pufnstuf and crowd,
with possible vehicles in-
Stuff” episode taping next cluding a feature film and
their own new TV series.
month. It’s scheduled to And the siblings are busier
than expected with “Mutt
air in early 2016. & Stuff,” since its ratings
success prompted Nick-
“Mutt & Stuff,” as the title elodeon to double its
season-one order to 40
suggests, shares family his- episodes. Pufnstuf himself
may return in future epi-
tory with “H.R. Pufnstuf”: sodes. “To make another
hit at this time in our lives,
Both are from prolific chil- I’ve got to give ourselves
a pat on the back,” Marty
dren’s TV producers Sid This photo provided by Sid & Marty Krofft Productions and Nickelodeon shows a scene with Krofft said.
They have more works in
and Marty Krofft. Cling and Clang driving the Rescue Racer with H.R. Pufnstuf riding in the back from the television progress including “Elec-
Nickelodeon’s series for series, “H.R. Pufnstuf.” tra Woman and Dyna
preschoolers, which de- Girl,” which originated as
Associated Press part of ABC’s “The Krofft
Supershow” in the 1970s
buted in July, features a lessons on canine loyalty The reason for Pufnstuf’s our characters,” Krofft, and is being rebooted
with YouTube stars Grace
mix of puppets and real and love. visit? He’s Stuff’s uncle. 78, said in an interview, Helbig and Hannah Hart.
Might other producers
puppies in its dog-school “Mutt & Stuff” is the first Marty Krofft promises that speaking for himself and be resting on their felt-
covered laurels at this
setting. Calvin Millan, the children’s TV show from Pufnstuf will be the same sibling Sid, 86. point? “What am I gonna
do, retire and watch day-
16-year-old son of Cesar the Kroffts since they pro- life-sized, redheaded, Pufnstuf is voiced by co- time television and be
dead in a month?” Krofft
Millan of “The Dog Whis- duced “Land of the Lost,” cowboy-boot-wearing median, actor and activ- replied.q

perer” fame, joins with the 1974-77 series about a puppet familiar to viewers ist Randy Credico. Lennie

friend and larger-than- family’s adventures in an of the show that debuted Weinrib was the puppet’s

life dog puppet Stuff to alternate universe popu- in the late 1960s. original voice.

provide training tips and lated by dinosaurs. “We don’t mess with Just 17 episodes of “H.R.

Pufnstuff” were created

Julianne Moore rallies fellow for its original 1969-71 run
on NBC, but they’ve lived
on in reruns (with MeTV
actors to fight gun violence their current home) and
the memories of fans.
The show proved so indel-

NEW YORK (AP) — Actress ible that a 2007 TV Guide

Julianne Moore is rallying poll of all-time cult favor-

the entertainment industry ites saw it ranked No. 27,

to help end gun violence. sandwiched between

Moore has announced the “Mary Hartman, Mary

formation of the Everytown Hartman” and “Stargate

Creative Council. SG-1.”

She says it’s an effort to or- Some wags may trace its

ganize the creative com- enduring popularity to the

munity to amplify the mes- notion that it was a true

sage of the movement to child of the ‘60s — in oth-

end gun violence. ers words, that “H.R. Pufn-

The 80 entertainers who stuf” had a certain recre-

have signed on include ational drug aura about

Alec Baldwin, Mindy Ka- it.

ling, Yoko Ono, Jennifer Marty Krofft flatly rejects

Lawrence and Spike Lee. In this Sept. 28, 2015 file photo, Julianne Moore attends a that as untrue.
Moore said Tuesday that special screening of “Freeheld” in New York. “If we did the drugs ev-
she and her colleagues erybody thought we did,
Associated Press

are saddened by “the dai- erytown for Gun Safety. The group aims to mobilize we’d be dead today,” he

ly increase of gun violence That organization was voters to support measures said, adding, “you can-

in our beautiful country.” founded by former New such as enhanced back- not work stoned.”

The Everytown Creative York Mayor Michael Bloom- ground checks for gun He suggests it was the

Council is affiliated with Ev- berg. buyers.q show’s surreal and bright-