PROOF - Robots On TV - Plot Summaries: 'A'

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Robots On TV - Plot Summaries: 'A'

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The Addams Family (1964-66)

A comedy series based on a newspaper comic strip, depicting the adventures of a family of complete weirdos: rich, dapper train-wrecker Gomez, his spectre-like wife Morticia, bald electric-powered Uncle Fester, and dysfunctional kids Pugsley and Wednesday. And not forgetting Lurch (the unfeasibly tall and deep-voiced butler), Thing (the disembodied hand) and cousin Itt.

The Addams Family Meet the VIPs (1964)

Not strictly a 'robot' story, but in this episode a group of visiting Soviet digitaries mistake Lurch for an American robot.

Lurch's Little Helper (1966)

To help Lurch with all his housework, Gomez builds him a robot... unfortunately, the robot's better at it than Lurch.

The robot which Gomez builds is none other than "Robby" from Forbidden Planet.

The Advanced Guard/The Colony (1998)

A scouting party of aliens (all with suspiciously human names) land on Earth with the intention of experimenting on humans to gather data in preparation for an invasion fleet, which is closely following them. The aliens use robot bodies, and can transfer their consciousnesses into and out of the bodies at will.

The Adventures of Don Quick (1970)

A six-part satirical series, based on Cervantes' Don Quixote. Featuring Don Quick of the Inter Galactic Maintenance Squad, and his faithful sidekick Sergeant Sam Czopanzer (ouch). On every planet he lands, Quick sees himself as Earth's representative, and sets about righting non-existent wrongs, with (sometimes) comical effect.

People Isn't Everything (1970)

After landing on Ophiuchus, Don and Sam entrust their spaceship to the first friendly face they see. Unfortunately, the face is Skip's... a castaway robot who's a little too fond of a drink.

The Adventures of Superman (1952-58)

The Daily Planet's ace reporter Clark Kent - mild mannered and slightly chubby with it - is Superman... faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and (with the aid of a discretely placed mini-trampoline) able to leap tall buildings with a single bound!

The Runaway Robot (1953)

Horatio Hinkle invents a robot (Hero) which is stolen, then used in a robbery.

The Gentle Monster (1958)

Professor Pepperwinkle invents a kryptonite-powered robot (Mr McTavish) which a villainous crook is eager to acquire.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985-89)

A series of often quirky tales. Based on (and containing remakes of some of the episodes of) the original series which ran in the 1950s and 60s.

The Romance Machine (1989)

I know little about this episode, but I believe it features a 'fembot' (i.e. a female robot). If anyone has any definitive information on this episode, please email me.

The Android Affair (1995)

Karen, a young doctor, is asked to perform a tricky operation on an advanced android - Teach - who has never 'blanked' (had his memory erased). Sympathetic towards Teach, Karen takes him into the great outside world, where she finds somebody has mysterious plans for them both.

Annihilator (1986)

When they realize he's aware of their existence, humanoid killer robots stalk a newspaper reporter... and replace his girlfriend with a robot look-alike.

Are You Afraid of the Dark ? (1998)

A series in which each episode documented one of the nightly meetings of the Midnight Society, a group of children who gather around the camp fire to tell each other ghost stories. One of the episodes, though, featured 'robot' toys (see below).

The Tale of the Virtual Pets (1998)

Two girls discover that the Diggers - the latest 'virtual pets' - seem to have minds of their own, and that playing with them can have deadly consequences.

Ark II (1976-79)

A children's show in which - after the Earth has been ravaged by environmental disasters - a small band of technologically adept 'samaritans' travel around in their motor-home (the Ark), helping whatever groups of survivors they come across.

The Robot (1976)

One of the Ark crew - Samuel - builds a robot to assist them, but the robot has its own purposes in 'life'.

Assassin (1986)

A former agent is called back from retirement by an intelligence agency to track down and stop a secret robot which is killing government officials. His task is not made easy, in that the robot is almost invulnerable, is human looking and is specifically designed as an assassin.

The Avengers (1961-69)

The Avengers began life as a straight-forward crime thriller/secret agent series, but from season four onwards (coinciding with the arrival of ultra-sexy high-kicking Emma Peel as suave, unflappable spy John Steed's accomplice), it delved deep into the realms of science fiction and fantasy. (Oh boy, how I miss it!)

The Cybernauts (1965)

Dr. Armstrong, a crazed scientist, has invented karate-chopping robots - the Cybernauts - and is using them to murder leading industrialists. Steed investigates, and uncovers the plot, during which Dr. Armstrong is killed by one of his own inventions. When Mrs Peel is threatened by one of the Cybernauts, Steed - realizing that it is programmed to kill whoever is carrying a special radio-transmitter pen - attaches the pen to another robot... the two robots then destroy each other.

Never, Never Say Die (1967)

Steed and Mrs Peel investigate when a 'corpse' refuses to stay dead, and continues to walk around destroying radios. The 'corpse' is a look-alike for a scientist (Dr. Frank N. Stone, no less). When they investigate, Mrs Peel and a local doctor (Dr. James) are abducted by the scientist and replaced by 'replicants' - robotic copies invented by Dr. Stone. Steed, realizing the replicant doctor is a fake, rescues them, and Dr. James then uses a transistor radio to disable the replicants.

Return of the Cybernauts (1967)

Steed and Mrs Peel are once again threatened by the deadly Cybernauts, this time controlled by three scientists in the pay of the brother of the dead Dr. Armstrong, the Cybernauts' original inventor.

	The Addams Family (1964-66)
		A comedy series based on a newspaper comic strip, depicting the adventures of a family of complete weirdos: rich, dapper train-wrecker Gomez, his spectre-like wife Morticia, bald electric-powered Uncle Fester, and dysfunctional kids Pugsley and Wednesday. And not forgetting Lurch (the unfeasibly tall and deep-voiced butler), Thing (the disembodied hand) and cousin Itt.
		The Addams Family Meet the VIPs (1964)
		Not strictly a 'robot' story, but in this episode a group of visiting Soviet digitaries mistake Lurch for an American robot.
		Lurch's Little Helper (1966)
		To help Lurch with all his housework, Gomez builds him a robot... unfortunately, the robot's better at it than Lurch.
		The robot which Gomez builds is none other than "Robby" from Forbidden Planet.
	The Advanced Guard/The Colony (1998)
		A scouting party of aliens (all with suspiciously human names) land on Earth with the intention of experimenting on humans to gather data in preparation for an invasion fleet, which is closely following them. The aliens use robot bodies, and can transfer their consciousnesses into and out of the bodies at will.
	The Adventures of Don Quick (1970)
		A six-part satirical series, based on Cervantes' Don Quixote. Featuring Don Quick of the Inter Galactic Maintenance Squad, and his faithful sidekick Sergeant Sam Czopanzer (ouch). On every planet he lands, Quick sees himself as Earth's representative, and sets about righting non-existent wrongs, with (sometimes) comical effect.
		People Isn't Everything (1970)
		After landing on Ophiuchus, Don and Sam entrust their spaceship to the first friendly face they see. Unfortunately, the face is Skip's... a castaway robot who's a little too fond of a drink.
	The Adventures of Superman (1952-58)
		The Daily Planet's ace reporter Clark Kent - mild mannered and slightly chubby with it - is Superman... faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and (with the aid of a discretely placed mini-trampoline) able to leap tall buildings with a single bound!
		The Runaway Robot (1953)
		Horatio Hinkle invents a robot (Hero) which is stolen, then used in a robbery.
		The Gentle Monster (1958)
		Professor Pepperwinkle invents a kryptonite-powered robot (Mr McTavish) which a villainous crook is eager to acquire.
	Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985-89)
		A series of often quirky tales. Based on (and containing remakes of some of the episodes of) the original series which ran in the 1950s and 60s.
		The Romance Machine (1989)
		I know little about this episode, but I believe it features a 'fembot' (i.e. a female robot). If anyone has any definitive information on this episode, please email me.
	The Android Affair (1995)
		Karen, a young doctor, is asked to perform a tricky operation on an advanced android - Teach - who has never 'blanked' (had his memory erased). Sympathetic towards Teach, Karen takes him into the great outside world, where she finds somebody has mysterious plans for them both.
	Annihilator (1986)
		When they realize he's aware of their existence, humanoid killer robots stalk a newspaper reporter... and replace his girlfriend with a robot look-alike.
	Are You Afraid of the Dark ? (1998)
		A series in which each episode documented one of the nightly meetings of the Midnight Society, a group of children who gather around the camp fire to tell each other ghost stories. One of the episodes, though, featured 'robot' toys (see below).
		The Tale of the Virtual Pets (1998)
		Two girls discover that the Diggers - the latest 'virtual pets' - seem to have minds of their own, and that playing with them can have deadly consequences.
	Ark II (1976-79)
		A children's show in which - after the Earth has been ravaged by environmental disasters - a small band of technologically adept 'samaritans' travel around in their motor-home (the Ark), helping whatever groups of survivors they come across.
		The Robot (1976)
		One of the Ark crew - Samuel - builds a robot to assist them, but the robot has its own purposes in 'life'.
	Assassin (1986)
		A former agent is called back from retirement by an intelligence agency to track down and stop a secret robot which is killing government officials. His task is not made easy, in that the robot is almost invulnerable, is human looking and is specifically designed as an assassin.
	The Avengers (1961-69)
		The Avengers began life as a straight-forward crime thriller/secret agent series, but from season four onwards (coinciding with the arrival of ultra-sexy high-kicking Emma Peel as suave, unflappable spy John Steed's accomplice), it delved deep into the realms of science fiction and fantasy. (Oh boy, how I miss it!)
		The Cybernauts (1965)
		Dr. Armstrong, a crazed scientist, has invented karate-chopping robots - the Cybernauts - and is using them to murder leading industrialists. Steed investigates, and uncovers the plot, during which Dr. Armstrong is killed by one of his own inventions. When Mrs Peel is threatened by one of the Cybernauts, Steed - realizing that it is programmed to kill whoever is carrying a special radio-transmitter pen - attaches the pen to another robot... the two robots then destroy each other.
		Never, Never Say Die (1967)
		Steed and Mrs Peel investigate when a 'corpse' refuses to stay dead, and continues to walk around destroying radios. The 'corpse' is a look-alike for a scientist (Dr. Frank N. Stone, no less). When they investigate, Mrs Peel and a local doctor (Dr. James) are abducted by the scientist and replaced by 'replicants' - robotic copies invented by Dr. Stone. Steed, realizing the replicant doctor is a fake, rescues them, and Dr. James then uses a transistor radio to disable the replicants.
		Return of the Cybernauts (1967)
		Steed and Mrs Peel are once again threatened by the deadly Cybernauts, this time controlled by three scientists in the pay of the brother of the dead Dr. Armstrong, the Cybernauts' original inventor.