Ark II (CBS 1976-1977, Terry Lester, Jean Marie Hon)

Who started it is a moot point now. Greedy, arrogant leaders pushed a few buttons and changed the world forever. Nuclear war and ecological plundering has torn asunder all that had been created, and now I, Jonah, along with Ruth, a brilliant scientist, and Samuel, our trusty assistant, must restore civilization to this barren planet called Earth. Accompanying us on this journey will be Adam, a chimp I trained myself. Some in the old world would scoff at me- “Hey, Jonah, nice monkey!” they would say, or “Jonah, which one’s the ape?”

They would imply that Adam was somehow inferior to humans- yet when I look and see what humans have done to our beloved planet, I wonder. I wonder what those doubters would say, if only they hadn’t been turned to ash by the mighty blast. I wonder what they would say if they saw Adam, precious Adam, flourishing in a world of their creation. Who’s laughing now, Phillip- WHO’S LAUGHING NOW? ? ? ? ?

I digress. The year is 2476. We roam the Earth (or what is left of it) in our white Land Rover, Ark II. It provides adequate shelter from the harsh elements, but more importantly it houses our lab, which has allowed us to make great strides toward our goal of bringing back life as we knew it. I also have a jet rocket, for additional transportation. Our typical day involves some science, some adventure, and providing all of those people we come into contact with some helpful information about the environment.

Our mission: “To bring the hope of a new future to mankind.” We will do this mostly on Saturdays, but from 9/11/77 to 11/13/77, we will be doing it on Sundays instead. Oh, and from 9/16/78 to 8/25/79, our adventures will be repeats only.

Jonah, Out.

Ark II was a half-hour live-action adventure series set in the year 2476. The Filmation produced series chronicled the adventures of three young scientists and their chimp as they traversed the pollution ravaged earth in an attempt to help rebuild civilization.

production details
USA / CBS – Filmation / 15×22 minute episodes / Broadcast 11 September 1976 – 1977

Creator: Martin Roth / Music: Yvette Blais, Jeff Michael / Producer: Dick Rosenbloom / Executive Producers: Lou Scheimer, Norm Prescott

cast
Terry Lester as Jonah
Jean Marie Hon as Ruth
Jose Flores as Samuel
Adam the chimp as himself

THE EPISODES

1. THE FLIES
An elderly man called Fagin (shades of Charles Dickens) rules the roost over a group of kids but the crew of Ark II realise the boys are danger over some deadly gas they have appropriated.

guest cast
JONATHAN HARRIS as Fagin / TIERRE TURNER as Tick / MALACHI THRONE as War Lord Brack

WRITER: Martin Roth
DIRECTOR: Ted Post

2. THE RULE
The crew have food for thought after meeting a society who have no use for the elderly.

guest cast
PHILIP ABBOTT as Martin / DAVIS ROBERTS as Mr Jackson / DAVID ABBOTT as Jeff / KENNETH O’BRIEN as Rufus

WRITER: Martin Roth
DIRECTOR: Ted Post

3. THE TANK
The Ark crew attempt to stop an old army Tank that is causing trouble in the area.

guest cast
MARSHALL THOMPSON as Baxter / CHRIS NELSON as Zachery / TONY BALLEN as Roman / BONNIE VAN DYKE as Jewel

WRITERS: Mark Jones, Michael Prescott, Robert Specht
DIRECTOR: Ted Post

4. THE ROBOT
Samuel brings in a new addition to the crew – a robot he had made.

guest cast
AL DUNLAP as Brant / ELIZABETH CHESHIRE as Nestra

WRITERS: Chuck Menville, Len Janson
DIRECTOR: Ted Post

5. THE SLAVES
Jonah finds himself enslaved by a group who have made slavery their norm for living.

guest cast
MICHAEL KERMOYAN as Baron Vargas / MICHAEL MULLINS as Gideon / KARL LUKAS as Cyrus / CHARLES WAGENHEIM as Old Slave

WRITER: David Dworski
DIRECTOR: Hollingsworth Morse

6. THE BALLOON
The Ark crew have a battle on their hands to save the lives of a tribe stricken by illness.

guest cast
GUY STOCKWELL as Leader / JOHN BEAL as Grandfather / CHRISTIAN JUTTNER as Ben . DEL MONROE as Masked Man

WRITER: David Dworski
DIRECTOR: Hollingsworth Morse

7. THE MIND GROUP
Jonah and the rest tangle with a group of kids with advanced powers.

guest cast
MALACHI THRONE as War Lord Brack / JOHNNY AVERY as Aaron / DAWN LYN as Bina / BILLY SIMPSON as Caleb

WRITER: Robert Specht
DIRECTOR: Hollingsworth Morse

8. THE LOTTERY
A once rich commune (after years of wastage) finds itself running out of food and other essentials.

guest cast
ZITTO KAZANN as Kane / DAVID GOLDMUND as Steven / ERIC BOLES as Borg / JIM BOLES as Benjamin

WRITER: Phyllis and Robert White
DIRECTOR: Ted Post

9. THE DROUGHT
After a drought hits the area Fagin and his boys attempt to steal a rain seeder from the Ark.

guest cast
JONATHAN HARRIS as Fagin / TIERRE TURNER as Tick / RICHARD BALIN as Witch Doctor

WRITER: Martin Roth
DIRECTOR: Ted Post

10. THE WILD BOY
The crew try to help a young wild boy who is being hunted by several communities.

guest cast
MITCH VOGEL as Isiah / JEAN SARAH FROST as Simone

WRITER: Susan Dworski
DIRECTOR: Hollingsworth Morse

11. OMEGA
Samuel tries to get the better of an all powerful computer.

guest cast
HARRY TOWNES as Marcus / HELEN HUNT as Diana

WRITERS: Bill Danch, JIm Ryan
DIRECTOR: Hollingsworth Morse

12. ROBIN HOOD
The crew meet a self styled Robin Hood and his band of merry men.

guest cast
RICHARD ANGAROLA as Lord Leslie / VICTOR ROGERS as Robin Hood / JOHNNY DURAN as Alan / ALFIE WISE as Big John

WRITERS: Len Janson, Chuck Menville
DIRECTOR: Hollingsworth Morse

13. THE CRYOGENIC MAN
A man from the 20th Century appears out of a time capsule.

guest cast
JIM BACKUS as Arnie Pool / JOHN FIELDER as Norman Funk / CHUCK COMISKY as Jeb

WRITER: Martin Roth
DIRECTOR: Ted Post

14. DON QUIXOTE
The crew do battle with a man calling himself Don Quixote who is detremined to destrot ‘The White Dragon’ that is the Ark.

guest cast
ROBERT RIDGELY as Don Quixote / VITO SCOTTI as Sancho Panza

WRITER: Robert Specht, Len Janson
DIRECTOR: Ted Post

15. ORKUS
The crew think they have found a paradise – but hit problems when, after spending time there, Ruth and Adam begin to grow older by the minute.