Sigmund and the Sea Monsters: Season 02 (1974)

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Several changes are effected for Sigmund and the Sea Monsters as the Saturday-morning Krofft Brothers comedy series enters its second season. The opening episode, "A Genie for Sigmund", introduces zany comedian Rip Taylor as Sheldon, a bumbling genie found hiding in a seashell by the series' title character, lovable pint-sized sea monster Sigmund Ooze (Billy Barty). Also, Johnny Whitaker, cast as Sigmund's human friend Johnny Stuart, curtails his singing sequences this season, though he can still be heard warbling the series' new title song. Plus, Mary Wickes, cast as Johnny and his brother Scott's (Scott Kolden) guardian Aunt Zelda, took a leave of absence to concentrate on her stage work; her replacement is future Gunsmoke regular Fran Ryan, as feisty ex-Marine sergeant Gertrude Gouch. Additionally, the roles of Sigmund's bullying sea-monster brothers Blurp and Slurp, previously essayed by heavily costumed "Krofft Players" Bill Germaine and Fred Spencer, were this year taken over by Larry Larsen and Paul Gale. And finally, the series' production facilities were moved in toto from Samuel Goldwyn Studios to General Services Studios, due to a $2 million fire at Goldwyn which destroyed all of the show's set and most of the props and costumes. This unforeseen disaster also obliged producers Sid and Marty Krofft to cut down the number of episodes taped from 17 to 12. Season Two highlights include the appearance of onetime Brady Bunchkid Eve Plumb in "Now You See 'Em, Now You Don't"; the introduction of Sparky Marcus as Sheldon's bratty nephew genie Shelby in "Cry Uncle", the guest turn by Broadway favorite Peggy Mondo ("The Music Man") as Sheldon's magical mom Shellinor in "Mother Makes Ten", and the pop-up of another familiar Krofft character, H.R. Pufnstuf (here played by Van Snowden), in "Pufnstuf Drops In". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi