Hot Fudge (also known as The Hot Fudge Show) is an American children's television series that was produced in Detroit by WXYZ-TV and distributed by the Lexington Broadcast Services Company. Originally airing only in Detroit beginning in 1974, the show grew in popularity and was syndicated nationally from 1976 to 1980.
Overview
Featuring music, songs, and sketches with live actors and puppets (known as the "Mits"), the show was originally hosted by Arte Johnson. The duo of the bearded musician Larry (Larry Santos) and green fuzzy puppet Seymour (voiced by producer Bob Elnicky) took over after the first season.
Glenn Denver, a puppet parody of John Denver, released an album titled Glenn Denver Sings Country Songs from the Hot Fudge T.V. Show. Three other Hot Fudge albums were released; The Electric Fuzz's Rock 'N Roll from the Hot Fudge T.V. Show, Larry and Seymour Sing Songs from the Hot Fudge T.V. Show, and Hooray For Friendship and 9 Other Hits from the Hot Fudge T.V. Show. All of the albums have been released on CD.
A Hot Fudge episode was submitted to the University of Georgia for a Peabody Award in 1974; though not selected for the award itself, it was retained for the university's Peabody Awards Collection Archives. The show won a Puppeteers of America ACT AWARD in 1976.
Sketches and characters
Holy Moley!: A sketch where a simple-minded man (Ron Coden) tries to outwit problems, but gets socked back.
Name That Feeling: Professor Emotion (Ron Coden) hosts a parody of Name That Tune with puppet contestants watching a video clip of other puppets and trying to guess how they feel. This is shown in two parts with an in-show commercial sandwiched in-between.
Write On!/Newsreel/Unreasonable Report: News sketches featuring Harry Unreasonable, a parody of news anchor Harry Reasoner.
Hot Fudge Gang/The Mits/Happening!: Various sketches featuring children and adults.
Detective Tomato (Ron Coden) giving advice to children then leaving through the door behind him, only to have something happen to him when he goes through.
Elton Seymour: Seymour playing a tune in the guise of Elton John, usually featured at the beginning of the show.
Mr. Nasty (Ron Coden), who loves being booed by his audience, gives tips on how to be as nasty as him.
Amanda Caruthers (later replaced by Yolanda Williams) portraying various characters in sketches, often giving kindly advice to the inquiring puppets.