Ah, the memories of youth.
“Get on board, step inside,
Soaring for a magic ride,
Roaring toward the other side,
Where only rainbows hide…”
When I was a young Geek, I remember sitting in front of the TV every morning before school and singing along to the greatest children’s show of all time. I had friends on that show, friends who would teach me things that Mr. Rogers and Big Bird couldn’t, or wouldn’t, teach me at all. Things like, how to properly insult a friend without them actually getting angry with you. Or teaching me what makes a practical joke both practical and funny. Or helping me understand that so called ‘real’ news programs should be a lot more cynical if they wanted to be funny.
Of course, I’m talking about The Great Space Coaster.
Gary Gnu, Goriddle Gorilla, Edison Elephant, Baxter, Speed Reader, Roy, Fran, Dan, and the evil M.T. Promises made each day a joy. My favorite parts of the show were the Gary Gnu G-News show and whenever Goriddle would play a practical joke on Edison. Damn, I really didn’t like Edison, with his hand-held trunk, satellite dish ears and obsessive-compulsive dusting. I always thought the other cast members should have just killed him and had space elephant steaks for the rest of the year.
Mmmmm… Space elephant steak. [drool]
Well, I’ve been doing a little research on the show lately to find out if there are any toys or other paraphernalia that I could purchase and thus revisit, however pathetically it might be, my long-lost youth. I haven’t found any items to buy yet, but I have found out some startling facts about the people on the show that I thought I’d take a moment to share with all of you.
No, no. Don’t thank me now. That look of stoic, martyred tolerance in your eyes is more than enough.
Remember ‘Fran’? You know, the almost cute but not quite good looking girl from the show? Yeah, she was my first TV crush, too. And I’ve always thought she was dead, you know, like how everyone thinks Mickey Rooney is dead until he shows up at the Academy Awards? Well guess what? I found out that Fran’s not dead and is in fact alive and well and doing an off-off-Broadway show! Not only that, but if you’ve ever heard the commercial for Sleepy’s mattresses then you’ve heard her singing!
That’s right; she sings the Sleepy’s song.
“Trust Sleepy’s, for the rest of your life.”
I also found out that her real name isn’t Fran, it’s Emily Bindiger. But you know what? She’ll always be Fran to me. Fran of the sky blue colored shirts and bright yellow suspender pants. Fran of the wild, untamed hair held back with banana clips and scrunchies. Fran, who I always believed was sharing a secret smile with Edison Elephant and his long, thick trunk.
Oh, how my adolescent loins yearned for Fran and her wicked, evil ways.
I also found out, much to my chagrin, that the voice actor of Goriddle Gorilla is none other than my archenemy, Kevin Clash. For those of you who don’t know, Kevin is also the voice of Elmo of Sesame Creep Street fame. I really hate Elmo, but now that I know Kevin was also the voice of Goriddle maybe I should be a bit more lenient towards him and his new alter ego.
Nah, Elmo’s still a frickin annoying piece of crap.
Well, I’m still looking for merchandise from the show, or even something made recently that is based on the show, like those new Muppet Show figures I’m seeing everywhere. Haven’t found anything worth my money yet, though. Woe is me.
“On the Great Space Coaster, whoa-oh-oh,
On the Great Space Coaster, off we go…”
Oh man, I really miss that show.
“The show only ran for five years, from 1981-86, but it left a strong impression on those who watched it, many of whom still can’t (or won’t) pronounce the word “gnu” correctly.”
Thanks GeekMan. I couldn’t imagine why i had never heard of this show. Now I know. I’m clearly about twenty years older than you. In 1981 I was busy drinking my way through my final year of college.
A quick visit to Fran/Emilys’ site reveals that she had done a song on the Cowboy Bebop Soundtrack as well. (C’mon Geek!! ANIME!!) If it’s the song Im thinking of.. Its the worst track on the album.
A right pile of pig poo I says.
Chalk me up on the GSC fan list. Speed Reader was my favorite skit that I can remember (I may have been six or seven at the time). Electric Company was a close second, if for nothing else but Spider-Man and The Bloodhound Gang.
I’ve never heard of that show before.
Good thing, too. Sounds scary. O.o
Loved great space coaster growing up. I really liked the little tv like thing that they would whip out and show little cartoons or whatever on. I like the little cartoon that was just a line and made an outline of the guy walking, then the line would end and the guy would be all like, Where did the line go? and stuff. Yeah and that smart assed elephant thing was always a little creepy to me.
As much as I liked the show, though, it’s sad that everything is so derivative. Take another look at the yesterdayland site and tell me that these parallels don’t exist:
Baxter = Winnie the Pooh
Goriddle Gorilla = Tigger
Edison Elephant = Eeyore
Knock Knock = Rabbit (or Owl. or Kanga. Let’s just call it an amalgam.)
And don’t even get me started on the exercise in archetypal looting that is Harry Potter.
1. There was most definitely a line of “Great Space Coaster” toys. There were dolls based on three or four of the main characters – Goriddle for sure and a few others. The toys were only on the market for a very, very short time — a few months, maybe weeks. In fact, I only saw them at Toys-R-Us once. They were gone by the time I went back. Needless to say, none of the toys ever wound up in my possession.
2. My strongest memory of the show was a guest appearance by Kathleen Turner, done right around the time of “Romancing the Stone.” (Goriddle joshingly referred to the movie as “Loving the Rock.”) Goriddle also once opened up a hamburger stand and tried to copy McDonald’s “Over One Million Sold” slogan. Someone (parhaps Kathleen Turner herself) explained that this was dishonest. He then refined the slogan to: “Over 1 Sold!” Funny, huh?
3. I also remember a puppet called Harry Unreasonable, obviously based on CBS newsman Harry Reasoner. I was one of the few kids who watched both “60 Minutes” and “Great Space Coaster,” so I figured that joke was meant specifically for me.
4. I’ve wasted my life.
I loved The Great Space Coaster! I wish they could bring it back! There’s a petition online @ http://www.petitiononline.com/TGSC to get The Great Space Coaster back to Syndication. I don’t remember Goriddle meeting Kathleen Turner at his Hamburger Stand and Kathleen turner saying it was dishonest. I remember Kathleen Turner meeting Gary Gnu and stroking his head saying, Gary Gnu, you need a Shampoo! I loved Fran AKA Emily Bindiger, especially the episode where she makes Goriddle into a Scarecrow!
Where can I find a picture of Gary Gnu? I have searched everywhere!!
All my friends think I’m crazy when I bring up The Great Space Coaster. It seems lost in the world of TV Memories…so sad. But I’m glad to see that I’m not alone out there – there are other people who’s day was not determined by the sun and the moon rising and falling, but by the daily dose of the Great Space Coaster. While Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Rogers had the attention and admiration of my peers, it was Gary Gnu and Speed Reader who were part of my daily dreamworld. Thank you, GSC…for making my childhood a little bit brighter…
The “No g’news is good g’news” phrase has stayed with me all these years. I didn’t remember the name of the show and no one I know had even watched it. Aside from Gary Gnu I don’t remember any of the other characters. I would love to GSC is come back in syndication even though I certainly feel dated…
Emily Bindiger AKA Francine was so Beautiful! I remember when she sang a song on TGSC that went “To Be A Dancer”! She has such a Pretty Face! Did she ever Tickle Goriddle on the show? She said to The Caterpillar Magician Baffle, “Of all the creatures in outer space, you’re the cuddlest”She has such a Beautiful Voice! Does anybody remember when the Beautiful “Linda Gray” AKA “Sue Ellen Ewing” of Dallas guest starred on “The Gary Gnu Show”? Or when Goriddle met The Beautiful “Sally Struthers”? Or when Goriddle met the Very Attractive Kathleen Turner at his Hamburger Stand? Please sign Bring Back The Great Space Coaster Petition @ http://www.petitiononline.com/TGSC. It already has 1,007 Signatures!
Does anybody remember the time Francine decided to take all of Goriddle’s Bananas because Goriddle stole Baxter’s Father’s Bananaman Videogame for his Birthday Party? How many Practical Jokes in all did The Beautful, Talented Francine A.K.A. Singer “Emily Bindiger” Play on Goriddle Gorilla?
Francine A.K.A. “Emily Bindiger” used to rub Goriddle’s Tummy a lot to be affectionate. She used to wear lots of rings on her fingers.She used a Hammer with a piece of wood to make Goriddle into a Mockery Scarecrow!
Does anybody remember when The Beautiful Singer/Guitar Player”Emily Bindiger” A.K.A. “Frannie” used to Tickle Goriddle’s Tummy and you would see a Ring on Her Finger while She Tickled him? Was it a Silver Ring or a Gold Ring? I Loved Emily’s Pretty Face and Beautiful Long Dark, Brown Hair!
What were Frannie A.K.A. “Emily Bindiger” and Goriddle Gorilla talking about before She Tickled him? Did she Tickle him on The Tummy? You could see a Silver or Gold Ring on Her Finger while She Tickled him. Happy Holidays to everyone this Year!
Dear texas, what is your favorite Great Space Coaster Episode with Frannie and Goriddle? Do you remember The Bananaman Episode? Or when Frannie found Goriddle on top of The Great Space Coaster Ampitheater pretending to be King Kong? Do you reember the episode where Frannie made Goriddle into a Mockery Scarecrow in Edison Elephant’s Corn Garden? Do you remember Fran Tickling Goriddle’s Tummy and seeing a Gold or Silver Ring on her Finger while She tickled him?
Did Goriddle have a Secret Crush on Frannie A.K.A. Beautiful Brunette Singer “Emily Bindiger”? I’m Catholic, but I hope Pretty “Emily Bindiger” has A Very Happy Hanukah this Year!
Did Goriddl Gorilla have a Bigger Crush on Pretty “Sally Struthers” A.K.A. “Gloria Bunker Stivic” of “All In The Family” or on Attractive “Linda Gray” A.K.A. “Sue Ellen Ewing” of “Dallas?” Did Linda or Sally Tickle Goriddle like The Beautiful “Frannie” A.K.A. Singer “Emily Bindiger” did? Merry Christmas to everyone in the world! And a Very Happy, Healthy, Safe New Year to everyone! The Bring Back The Great Space Coaster Petition @www.petitiononline.com/TGSC has 1,323 Signatures now!
Happy New Year to The Beautiful Singer “Emily Bindiger” A.K.A. Francine! She Has such a Pretty Face! And She Has A Beautiful Singing Voice! Does anybody remember the episode where She found Goriddle Gorilla on top of TGSC Ampitheater pretending to be King Kong? Goriddle almost fell off of the top of The Ampitheater! How tall is Emily Bindiger? Is She 5ft. 4in.? Did Goriddle ever tell Her that he was Ticklish when She was Tickling him? Does anyone remember The Ring She wore on Her Finger while She was Tickling him? Was it a Gold or a Silver Ring? Was it done as a Fast or a Slow Tickle on Goriddle’s Tummy? Happy New Year to everyone! May it be A Happy, Safe, Healthy New Year for everyone!