Jesse Douglas Movies

Having sustained serious injuries in a rodeo accident, a comatose Race Bannon is rushed to Questworld to be revived. Unfortunately, the Quest team had reckoned without their old nemesis Jeremiah Surd, who caused the accident in the first place, and who intends to get even with his lifelong enemy, Race, now that the poor man is unconcious and helpless. Technically the 39th episode of The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, "To Bardo and Back" is listed in most sources as the 26th and final episode of season one -- even though it was telecast on January 2, 1997, well into the series' second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Estella Scheele asks the Quest team (minus Jessie) to locate her missing grandfather, a famed ornithologist. The heroes are unaware that Estella actually hopes to locate the legendary "city of gold" El Dorado, and she doesn't care who perishes in the attempt. A startling finale caps this beautifully rendered episode. Bandit, Jonny Quest's faithful bulldog, makes his first Real Adventures of Jonny Quest appearance in "In the Realm of the Condor," which made its American TV debut on August 28, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In Tanzania, Quest team members Jonny, Jessie, and Hadji receive a summons from "beyond" to protect a pachyderm named Ndovu as it makes its final journey to the elephant's graveyard. En route, our heroes run afoul of poachers who intend to rob the sacred burial site of its rich ivory deposits. Parent alert: There are several deaths in this episode, though the actual violence is held to a minimum. "Ndovu's Last Journey" was first telecast on August 30, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Benton Quest and Race Bannon are invited to attend a phenomenology conference in the Himalayas, little suspecting that the conference is a sham created by their old enemy Jeremiah Surd. With Quest Compound apparently unprotected by adults, Surd leads his henchmen on an assault of the Quest team's Maine headquarters -- and also enslaves the mind of Jonny's friend Hadji. With no other choice, Jonny and Jessie pretend to be their fathers, Benton and Race, in order to foil Surd's mad scheme. "Assault on Questworld" first aired on September 4, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Questworld computer system picks up extraterrestrial warnings to stop a series of American space-defense experiments before they begin. Unfortunately, the Quest team learns all too late that the experiments have already been set in motion by the Vice President of the United States -- actually an alien in disguise. Boasting an excellent display of 3-D animation (some of its computerized, but most done the old-fashioned way), "Alien in Washington" made its first cable-TV appearance on September 6, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Philosopher's Stone, which is said to have the power to turn base metals into gold, is located by Dr. Quest, only to be stolen by Quest's duplicitous partner. The villain then kidnaps Jonny, Jessie, and Hadji, intending to use their Purity of Heart to activate the precious Stone. Those celebrated conjurers Faust and Merlin make "cameo" appearances in "The Alchemist," which was first telecast in the United States on September 10, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In Borneo on an archaeological expedition, the Quest team confront the legendary Amok creatures, so named for their ability to attack from several directions at the same time. But there's even more danger at hand in the form of a band of mercenaries, who, hired to destroy a native tribe, add the Quest team members to their list of potential victims. Somewhat reminiscent of the "classic" Jonny Quest episode "Monster of the Monastery," "Amok" originally aired on September 13, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Belle Bonnet was a notorious but basically well-intentioned female outlaw, who, in the 19th century, stole a wagonload of gold in order to finance a Native American school. Lost in the caverns of the Southwestern desert, Belle's ghost still stands guard over her purloined gold. Psychically beckoning Jonny Quest to the treasure, Belle materializes before a huge subterranean lake -- and that's only the beginning of the "fun". "The Ballad of Belle Bonnet" originally aired on September 19, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Quest team arrives on Easter Island, where they come across the remnants of an ancient alien aircraft. All evidence indicates that the alien occupant was the "missing link" who accelerated the evolutionary process. Enter the team's ubiquitious adversary Jeremiah Surd, who intends to conduct an experiment to reverse evolution throughout all mankind. "The Secret of the MOAI" first aired on September 24, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In his never-ending efforts to destroy all Mankind, Ezekial Rage hatches a scheme to destroy the polar ice caps. To this end, Rage steals a tiny but super-powerful nuclear device. To thwart the villain, the Quest team must harness the hitherto untapped powers of the Aurora Borealis. An appropriatley colorful denoument caps (no pun intended) the flashback-laden "Future Rage," which initially aired in the United States on October 29, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A major oil company intends to drill in the Florida Everglades, but its efforts are stymied by a band of unseen saboteurs who leave behind an ancient Viking sword. The Quest team investigates the possibility that a hidden community of ancient Norse warriors is responsible, but the bad guys are a bit more "contemporary" than originally suspected. A highlight is Race Bannon's battle with a surly alligator. "Alligators and Okeechobee Vikings" was first broadcast on November 1, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The old Hanna Barbera cartoon adventure series Jonny Quest was given a new coat of paint -- and infinitely better animation -- in this daily, half-hour cable-TV offering, co-produced by Japan's Pacific Animation and several Korean cartoon firms. The basic characters -- spunky teenager Jonny Quest, his scientist dad Benton Quest, his muscular teacher-guardian Race Bannon, his mystical best pal (and now adoptive brother) Hadji, and his little dog Bandit -- remained intact, as did the original series' globetrotting-adventurer premise. This time around, however, there was whole new cast of voiceover actors, including (during the first season, at least) J.D. Roth as Jonny and George Segal as his dad. Also, there was a typically '90s emphasis on computer technology; in fact, Dr. Quest was now described as a "computer genius," ready and willing to use the vast resources of his Quest Foundation, and the limitless opportunities afforded him by his new virtual-reality domain Questworld, to battle the forces of evil. The scripters also broadened the appeal of the series by adding a strong, positive female character, Jessie Bannon, the teenaged daughter of Race Bannon (whose estranged spouse Estella Velasquez also showed up on occasion). Premiering August 26, 1996 and running until April 16, 1997, the 52 episodes of The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest were first-run simulatenously on three different Ted Turner-controlled cable services: TBS, TNT, and The Cartoon Network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide