Herbie, the Love Bug, also known as Herbie the Matchmaker, is a short-lived TV series that aired in 1982. It is based on Walt Disney Productions popular Herbie film series about a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle (a.k.a VW Type 1 or 1200) with a mind of its own.
It was cancelled after five episodes and for the next fifteen years would mark Herbie's last new appearance in either television or film; he would next return to television in the 1997 film, The Love Bug.
Synopsis[]
Jim Douglas and Herbie have retired from racing and now works as instructors at a driving school. They stumble upon a bank robbery in progress. They manage to thwart the crime and rescue a young divorcée named Susan MacLane, a teller and the mother of three children, Julie, Matthew, and Robbie. They soon begin to fall in love, much to the consternation of her ex-boyfriend, Randy Bigelow. His attempts to break them up are in vain; they get married in the fourth episode.
Episodes[]
Only five episodes were produced for the show and lasted for only two months until it was cancelled on April 14, 1982.
| # | Title | Airdate | Summaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Herbie the Matchmaker" | March 17, 1982 | Jim has pulled Herbie off the track. Where is he now? Teaching a driving school with major help from Herbie! They get involved in stopping a bank robbery and rescuing the beautiful teller, Susan, from her hostage situation. As gratitude, she signs her daughter, Julie, up for driving lessons. Jim falls head over heals for her only to find out she is temporarily engaged to Randy. |
| 2 | "Herbie to the Rescue" | March 24, 1982 | Susan leaves Randy at the alter only to land Jim into a hostile situation as Randy decides he needs to be eliminated from the picture. His first idea is to get the bank to loan him money to save his driving school, his plan: force him out of business. In the meantime, Matthew and Robbie feel they are the reason Jim and Susan aren't working things out and plan to run away. |
| 3 | "My House is Your House" | March 31, 1982 | Jim and Susan plan to tie the knot. He assures her that his racing days are over but after another race car driver taunts him into doing one more race. Susan has second thoughts! |
| 4 | "Herbie, the Best Man" | April 7, 1982 | Randy, still persistent to stop Jim and Susan's wedding, hires a private detective to scoop up something awful on Jim that will change Susan's mind! When it fails, he sends Herbie to an auto crusher unless Jim can save him and get to his wedding on time. |
| 5 | "Calling Dr. Herbie" | April 14, 1982 | Jim and Susan decide they need a bigger family car. They leave Herbie at the car lot while they take the new one for a spin. He has a temper tantrum and intentionally destroys a fire hydrant. Jim, unable to pay for the damage, reluctantly has to leave Herbie impounded until he can raise the cash. Meanwhile, Robbie becomes hospitalized and Herbie escapes from the impound in order to see him. |
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
- Dean Jones as Jim Douglas
- Patricia Harty as Susan MacLane
- Richard Paul as Bo Phillips
- Claudia Wells ass Julie MacLane
- Nicky Katt as Matthew MacLane
- Douglas Emerson as Robbie MacLane
Guest Cast[]
- Larry Linville as Randy Bigelow
- Bryan Utman as Jason
- Natalie Core as Mother Bigelow
- Kipp Lennon as Raymond
- Elvia Allman as Mrs. Fumstrom
- Wally K. Berns as Bagley
- Dana Elcar as Warden
- Richard Bakalyan as Detective O'Brien
- George Lindsey as Wally
- James Karen as Minister
- Andrea Howard as Diane Darcy
- Jay Varela as Mr. Diaz
- Stanley Brock as Repossessor
- Howard Platt as Larry
- Alejandro Ray as Sergio
- Warren Berlinger as Walker
- Lee Bryant as Elizabeth
- Richard Bull as Dr. Williams
- Robert Lussier as Minister
- Stu Gilliam as Policeman #1
- Richard Caine as Father
- James Emery as Policeman #2
- Agatha Kincaid as Mrs. Gurney
- Paul Tuerpe as Policeman
- Kat Sawyer as Miss Schaeffer
- Derek Barton as Policeman #1
- Kirk Cameron as Youngster
- Wyatt Johnson as Policeman #2
- Blake Marion as Patrolman #1
- Gerry Black as Patrolman #2
- Lee Paul as Rainey
- Johnny Graves as Boy
Gallery[]
Promotional Images[]
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.jpg "Herbie, the Love Bug photography (5).jpg (288 KB)")
.jpg "Herbie, the Love Bug photography (6).jpg (257 KB)")
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.jpg "Herbie, the Love Bug photography (8).jpg (124 KB)")
Screenshots[]
