Herbie the Matchmaker
Encyclopedia
Herbie the Matchmaker, also known as Herbie, The Love Bug, was a short-lived situation comedy
that aired on CBS
in the spring of 1982
. The series was based on Walt Disney Productions' popular Herbie
film series, about a Volkswagen Beetle
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.
, who had appeared in two of the films (The Love Bug
and Monte Carlo
), reprises his role of Jim Douglass, Herbie's original owner who now works as an instructor at a driving school. He and Herbie stumble upon a bank robbery in progress. They manage to thwart the crime and rescue a young divorcée named Susan MacLane (Patricia Harty
), who works at the bank and is a mother of three: Julie (Claudia Wells
), Robbie (Douglas Emerson
), and Matthew (Nicky Katt
). Jim and Susan soon begin to fall in love, much to the consternation of her ex-boyfriend Randy Bigelow (Larry Linville
). Randy's attempts to break them up are in vain; Jim and Susan get married in an episode that aired on April 7.
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
that aired on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
in the spring of 1982
1982 in television
The year 1982 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1982.For the American TV schedule, see: 1982-83 American network television schedule.-Events:...
. The series was based on Walt Disney Productions' popular Herbie
Herbie
Herbie is an anthropomorphic Volkswagen Beetle, a character that is featured in several Disney motion pictures starting with the 1968 feature film The Love Bug. He has a mind of his own and is capable of driving himself, and is a serious contender in auto racing competitions...
film series, about a Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
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.
Plot
Actor Dean JonesDean Jones (actor)
Dean Carroll Jones is an American actor. Jones is best known for his light-hearted leading roles in several Walt Disney movies between 1965 and 1977, most notably The Love Bug.-Early years:...
, who had appeared in two of the films (The Love Bug
The Love Bug
The Love Bug is the first in a series of comedy films made by Walt Disney Productions that starred an anthropomorphic pearl-white, fabric-sunroofed 1963 Volkswagen racing Beetle named Herbie...
and Monte Carlo
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo is a 1977 film, the third of a series of films by Walt Disney Productions starring Herbie – the white Volkswagen racing Beetle with a mind of its own.-Plot:...
), reprises his role of Jim Douglass, Herbie's original owner who now works as an instructor at a driving school. He and Herbie stumble upon a bank robbery in progress. They manage to thwart the crime and rescue a young divorcée named Susan MacLane (Patricia Harty
Patricia Harty (actor)
Patricia Harty also known professionally as Trisha Hart, is an American actress. She is known for her starring roles in several short-lived television series, Occasional Wife as Greta Patterson, Blondie as the titular Blondie Bumstead, The Bob Crane Show as Ellie Wilcox and Herbie, The Love Bug...
), who works at the bank and is a mother of three: Julie (Claudia Wells
Claudia Wells
Claudia Grace Wells is a Malaysian-born American actress.Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, she spent her early childhood years growing up in Punto Fijo, Cariubana, Falcón, a Venezuelan city, later graduating from high school in San Francisco, California, where she was also raised...
), Robbie (Douglas Emerson
Douglas Emerson
Douglas Emerson is an American former child actor who played Scott Scanlon on Beverly Hills, 90210 in the show's first and second seasons and played Eddie Beckner in The Blob....
), and Matthew (Nicky Katt
Nicky Katt
Nicholas Lea "Nicky" Katt is an American actor known for his role as unorthodox teacher Harry Senate on David E. Kelley's Fox drama Boston Public.-Career:...
). Jim and Susan soon begin to fall in love, much to the consternation of her ex-boyfriend Randy Bigelow (Larry Linville
Larry Linville
Lawrence Lavon "Larry" Linville was an American actor. He was known for his portrayal of obnoxious, pious, self-important and inept surgeon Major Frank Burns in the television series M*A*S*H.-M*A*S*H:...
). Randy's attempts to break them up are in vain; Jim and Susan get married in an episode that aired on April 7.
Episodes
For the television series, only five episodes were produced:| № | Title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Herbie the Matchmaker" (a.k.a. "The Love Bug") |
17 March 1982 |
| 2 | "Herbie to the Rescue" | 24 March 1982 |
| 3 | "My House Is Your House" | 31 March 1982 |
| 4 | "Herbie, the Best Man" | 7 April 1982 |
| 5 | "Calling Doctor Herbie" | 14 April 1982 |