Land of the Lost (1991 TV series)
Land of the Lost is a half-hour Saturday-morning children's series that originally aired on ABC during the early 1990s. It lasted two seasons, and helped bolster the now cult classic original, the latter of which is now available on DVD. A line of merchandise including action figures and a noise-making replica of Shung's crystal was released.
Show Synopsis
A remake of the cult 1974 series Land of the Lost by Sid and Marty Krofft, the new Land of the Lost saw advanced special effects and a lighter, less survivalist-oriented tone. Although debated, it is considered by most to be an inferior copy of the original series.
The series ran for twenty-six episodes spread over two seasons, with each season consisting of thirteen episodes. It featured the Porter family - father Tom, son Kevin and daughter Annie - trapped in a parallel universe after their Jeep Cherokee fell through a time portal while exploring the backcountry. They soon meet another human, a beautiful "cave girl" named Christa who also came from the United States during the twentieth-century. Christa became trapped in the "land of the lost" when she was very young and grew up alone.
Intelligent natives of the land of the lost include chimpanzee-like Pakuni and the lizard-like Sleestak, and there are many species of dinosaurs filling the jungle. A paku named Stink and a baby dinosaur named Tasha were befriended by the Porters. Acting as antagonists were a trio of exiled Sleestak criminals named Shung, Keeg and Nim. Shung is their leader and possesses a powerful crystal wand. Another major obstacle faced by the Porters was a one-eyed T-Rex named Scarface, who lived near the area where the family made their home, and frequently chased after them in an attempt to eat them.
A sorceress named Keela with genuine magical powers was introduced in the second season and appeared in two episodes. Another character added in the second season was Namaki, a strange fish-like human who befriended Christa when she was just a little girl.
Characters
Main Characters
- The Porter Family
- Tom Porter: the father. Played by Timothy Bottoms.
- Kevin Porter: the son. Played by Robert Gavin.
- Annie Porter: the younger daughter. Played by Jennifer Drugan.
- Tasha: baby Parasaurolophus who lives with the Porters. Played by Ed Gale, voiced by Danny Mann.
- Christa: Beautiful cave-girl, says "Acuba Ne" as a way of saying either "hello" or "goodbye". Played by Shannon Day.
- Stink: The Paku friend of Christa. Played by Bobby Porter.
Others
- Keela: sorceress.
- Namaki
- Princess: A Triceratops who is sometimes used as transportation for Christa and Stink.
- Spike: A Stegosaurus on whom Shung once used his crystal to make him fight with Princess. Sometimes fought with Scarface the Tyrannosaurus.
- Other Dinosaur Inhabitants
- Parasaurolophus: One Parasaurolophus was Tasha's birth mother, but was killed by Scarface.
- Apatosaurus
Villains
- Scarface: A Tyrannosaurus who lives in the area, has a scar through his right eye, hence his name. Frequently chased the Porters, trying to make a meal out of them. Because of his reputation of being a carnivore, Scarface is an enemy to everybody in the series, including the Sleestaks.
- Sleestaks
- Shung: Leader of the Sleestaks. He owns a crystal sword that can perform telekinetic feats and control minds, but there is a price for the power; it gradually corrupts the mind of its user, as Annie discovers in The Crystal. Played by Tom Allard.
- Keeg: Played by Brian Williams.
- Nim: Played by R.C. Tass.
- Pteranodon: Once tried to make a meal of Kevin when he was looking for a birthday present for Christa.
- Magas: Enemy of Keela.
- Cyborg: A creature who is an even match for Scarface. Has a red eye to target and shoot his prey.
Crew
- Directors - John Carl Buechler, Anthony Bona, Jeff Burr, Len Janson, Frank De Palma, Ernest Farino, John Strysik, Gabe Torres
- Writers - Phil Combest, Jules Dennis, Janis Diamond, Len Janson, Chuck Menville, Richard Mueller, Gary Perconte, Michele Rifkin, Marianne Sellek, Reed Shelly
- Producers - Chiodo Brothers/Sid and Marty Krofft
- Executive Producer - Jerry Golod
- Music - Kevin Kiner
Episodes
Season one
- Tasha - September 7, 1991
- Something's Watching - September 14, 1991
- Jungle Girl - September 21, 1991
- Shung the Terrible - September 28, 1991
- The Crystal - October 5, 1991
- Wild Thing - October 12, 1991
- Kevin vs. the Volcano - October 19, 1991
- Day for Knight - October 26, 1991
- Flight to Freedom - November 2, 1991
- Mind Games - November 9, 1991
- Heat Wave - November 16, 1991
- The Thief - November 23, 1991
- Power Play - December 7, 1991
Season two
- Sorceress - September 12, 1992
- Dreammaker - September 19, 1992
- The Gladiators - September 26, 1992
- Opah - October 3, 1992
- Life's a Beach - October 10, 1992
- Future Boy - October 17, 1992
- Siren's Song - October 24, 1992
- In Dinos We Trust - October 31, 1992
- Annie in Charge - November 7, 1992
- Go Ahead, Make my Day - November 14, 1992
- Cheers - November 21, 1992
- Sorceress' Apprentice - November 28, 1992
- Misery Loves Company - December 5, 1992
Note: In the episode 'The King is Dead' of Family Guy, Peter Griffin sings the theme song to 'Land of the Lost' during his tryout to be in the play 'The King & I'.
