A case for Professor Chase

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Television series
German title A case for Professor Chase
Original title Manimal
Country of production United States
original language English
year 1983
length 45, 60 (pilot) minutes
Episodes 8th
genre Action series , science fiction , crime series
production Glen A. Larson
Donald R. Boyle
music Paul Chihara
Alan Silvestri
First broadcast September 30, 1983
NBC (USA)
German-language
first broadcast		 November 4, 1990 on Sat.1
occupation

A case for Professor Chase (orig. Manimal ) is an American television series from 1983. It consists of eight episodes (including the pilot). The German first broadcast was on November 4, 1990 on SAT.1 .

content

The main motif of the series is the ability of the main character, Prof. Jonathan Chase, to transform himself into animals and thus support the police investigation in animal form. He is a college professor and special advisor to the New York Police Department. At his side are the charming detective Brooke McKenzie (Melody Anderson) and his friend Tyron C. Earl (Michael D. Roberts).

Episodes

  1. Pilot ( Manimal )
  2. Illusions ( Illusion )
  3. The Wolf Girl of Sultanpur ( Female of the Species )
  4. Holiday with obstacles ( Night of the Beast )
  5. Cheating at the Racetrack ( High Stakes )
  6. A hundred dollars too much ( Night of the Scorpion )
  7. The secret of the walrus tooth ( scrimshaw )
  8. The Legend ( Breathe of the Dragon )

Jonathan Chase

Chase inherited the ability to transform into an animal from his father. "His fate led him to the most remote corners of Africa and to the pristine peaks of the Himalayas," says the opening credits of the series. “His father left him a grim legacy. He has the ability to cross the line that separates humans from animals and animals from humans. ”In the course of the episodes, Chase uses this ability again and again. Mostly he turns into a black panther or a hawk. But you can also see him in the shape of a horse, the legendary golden bear, a bull, an elephant and a giant snake.

In a few steps, the viewer can see how Chase mutates into an animal (hair, claws, etc. grow) From today's point of view, the special effects are kept very simple and therefore involuntarily funny. It is also unclear where Chase's clothes stay when he transforms, and where he "conjures up" them again afterwards. Despite these minor flaws, these transformations represent the cult climax of the individual episodes.

Trivia

  • In the episode "Under the Dragon" , Walter Nebicher ( Desi Arnaz junior ) from the Automan series could be seen walking past the Chinese restaurant. In fact, both series were filmed at the same time (from different angles).
  • Professor Chase appeared again in the late 1990s in a crossover with the Night Man series , which was also developed by Glen A. Larson .
  • In the pilot, Ty was played by Glynn Turman instead of Michael D. Roberts .
  • The Foo Fighters refer to the series with their song "Wind Up" from the album "The Color and the Shape".
  • In the first preview for the series, the back was fin of a great white shark can be seen as JR Ewing (Star of Dallas attack). Since the series ran at the same time as Dallas, this was a reference. Simon MacCorkindale had previously played in Jaws 3 .
  • In one episode, the German actor Wolf Roth (also known as Jessner's assistant from the Finke - Tatort ) played a Russian agent.

publication

The series was first broadcast in Germany on November 4, 1990 on Sat.1 and for the last time in 1995 on Kabel 1 .

Web links