Saturday Supercade
Video games were exploding in popularity in the 1980s. Characters from several of the more popular games were featured in "Saturday Supercade," a weekly cartoon series perhaps most notable for being Donkey Kong's first starring appearance in a cartoon series. The famous gorilla starred in his own segment, this time as a well-meaning but slow-witted (and sometimes easily manipulated) gorilla who had escaped the circus; his trainer, Mario, and then-girlfriend Pauline (of whom Donkey Kong had a huge crush), tried to capture the large ape. Other segments included "Donkey Kong Jr.," the famous gorilla's young son who was aided in his search by his human friend, Bones; "Frogger," about an investigative amphibious reporter for the Swamp Gazette; "Pitfall," featuring the adventures of Pitfall Harry, his pet mountain lion Quickclaw and his niece Rhonda as they traveled through the forest in search of treasure; and "Q*Bert," about the misadventures of a teen-aged orange creature. The latter two segments were shown on alternate weeks during the first season. During the show's second season, only "Donkey Kong" and "Q*Bert" returned. Two new segments included "Kangaroo," about a young mother kangaroo and her son, Joey, who were constantly harassed by a quartet of mischievous monkeys; and "Space Ace," a teen-ager who fought aliens plotting to invade Earth.
- 1983-1985
- 2 seasons
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- Animation, Family, Action & Adventure
- TV-G
Video games were exploding in popularity in the 1980s. Characters from several of the more popular games were featured in "Saturday Supercade," a weekly cartoon series perhaps most notable for being Donkey Kong's first starring appearance in a cartoon series. The famous gorilla starred in his own segment, this time as a well-meaning but slow-witted (and sometimes easily manipulated) gorilla who had escaped the circus; his trainer, Mario, and then-girlfriend Pauline (of whom Donkey Kong had a huge crush), tried to capture the large ape. Other segments included "Donkey Kong Jr.," the famous gorilla's young son who was aided in his search by his human friend, Bones; "Frogger," about an investigative amphibious reporter for the Swamp Gazette; "Pitfall," featuring the adventures of Pitfall Harry, his pet mountain lion Quickclaw and his niece Rhonda as they traveled through the forest in search of treasure; and "Q*Bert," about the misadventures of a teen-aged orange creature. The latter two segments were shown on alternate weeks during the first season. During the show's second season, only "Donkey Kong" and "Q*Bert" returned. Two new segments included "Kangaroo," about a young mother kangaroo and her son, Joey, who were constantly harassed by a quartet of mischievous monkeys; and "Space Ace," a teen-ager who fought aliens plotting to invade Earth.
Season 1 Episode Guide
13 Episodes 1983
Episode 1
The Ms. Fortune Story/Mississippi Madness/Trucknapper Caper/Pitfall's Panda Puzzle
Sat, Sep 17, 1983
In the Donkey Kong segment, "Mississippi Madness", the chase for the big ape Donkey Kong leads Mario and Pauline down south.
Episode 2
Gorilla Gangster/Sheep Rustle Hustle/Spaced Out Frogs/Amazon Jungle Bungle
Sat, Sep 24, 1983
The Donkey Kong segment is called "Gorilla Gangster". The Donkey Kong Junior segment is called "Sheep Rustle Hustle". The Frogger segment is called "Spaced Out Frogs". The Pitfall Harry segment is called "Amazon Jungle Bungle".
Episode 3
The Who-Took-Toadwalker Story/Banana Bikers/Disc Derby Fiasco/Rocky Mountain Monkey Business
Sat, Oct 1, 1983
The Frogger segment is "The Who-Took-Toadwalker Story." The Donkey Kong segment is "Banana Bikers." The Q*bert segment is "Disc Derby Fiasco." The Donkey Kong Jr. segment is "Rocky Mountain Monkey Business."
Episode 4
Hydrofoil and Seek/The Incredible Shrinking Ape/Magnificent 7-Year-Olds/Raiders of the Lost Shark
Sat, Oct 8, 1983
The Frogger segment is "Hydrofoil and Seek." The Donkey Kong Episode is "The Incredible Shrinking Ape." The Donkey Kong Jr. segment is "Magnificent 7-Year-Olds." The Pitfall segment is "Raiders of the Lost Shark."
Episode 5
The Great Scuba Scoop/Movie Mania/The Great Q-Tee Contest/The Ventriloquist Caper
Sat, Oct 15, 1983
The Frogger segment is "The Great Scuba Scoop." The Donkey Kong segment is "Movie Mania." The Q*bert segment is "The Great Q*Tee Contest." The Donkey Kong Jr. segment is "The Ventriloquist Caper."
Episode 6
Gorilla My Dreams/The Great Seal Steal/The Headline Hunters/Tibetan Treasure Trouble
Sat, Oct 22, 1983
In the Donkey Kong segment, "Gorilla My Dreams", the chase for Donkey Kong leads Mario and Pauline onto a cruise ship, where the big ape saves a wealthy woman from two crooked sailors and she plans to marry him.
Episode 7
The Legs Croaker Story/Little Orphan Apey/Q-bowl Rigamarole/The Jungle Boy Ploy
Sat, Oct 29, 1983
The Frogger segment is "The Legs Croaker Story." The Donkey Kong segment is "Little Orphan Apey." The Q*bert segment is "Q-bowl Rigamarole." The Donkey Kong Jr. segment is "The Jungle Boy Ploy."
Episode 8
The Blackboard Bungle/The Circus Daze/Junior Meets Kid Dynamo/Masked Menace Mess
Sat, Nov 5, 1983
The Fogger segment is "The Blackboard Bungle." The Donkey Kong segment is "Circus Daze." The Donkey Kong Jr. segment is "Junior Meets Kid Dynamo." The Pitfall segment is "Masked Menace Mess."
Episode 9
Good Knight, Frogger/The Great Ape Escape/Crazy Camp Creature/Amazing Rollerskate Race
Sat, Nov 12, 1983
When Q-bert and friends are on a two-week break from school, they go to a camping retreat for some fun, but the usual gang of bullies (Coily, Ugg, Wrong-Way, and Viper) tries to create a scary time for them, in segment: "Crazy Camp Creature."
Episode 10
Fake Me Out to the Ball Game/Apey and the Snowbeast/A Christmas Story/The Sabretooth Goof
Sat, Nov 19, 1983
The Frogger segment is "Fake Me Out to the Ball Game." The Donkey Kong segment is "Apey and the Snowbeast." The Donkey Kong Jr. segment is "A Christmas Story." The Pitfall segment is "The Sabretooth Goof."
Episode 11
I Remember Mummy/How Much Is That Gorilla in the Window?/Thanksgiving for the Memories/Gorilla Ghost
Sat, Nov 26, 1983
The Frogger segment is "I Remember Mummy." The Donkey Kong segment is "How Much is that Gorilla in the Window?" The Q*bert segment is "Thanksgiving for the Memories." The Donkey Kong Jr. segment is "Gorilla Ghost."
Episode 12
Here Today, Pawned Tomorrow/Private Donkey Kong/Teddy Bear Scare/The Pyramid Panic
Sat, Dec 3, 1983
The Frogger segment is "Here Today, Pawned Tomorrow." The Donkey Kong segment is "Private Donkey Kong." The Donkey Kong Jr. Segment is "Teddy Bear Scare." The Pitfall segment is "The Pyramid Panic."
Episode 13
Hop-Along Frogger/Get Along Little Apey/Dog Day Dilemma/Double or Nothing
Sat, Dec 10, 1983
The Frogger segment is "Hop-Along Frogger." The Donkey Kong segment is "Get Along Little Apey." The Q*bert segment is "Dog Day Dilemma." The Donkey Kong Jr. Segment is "Double or Nothing."