1970 Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp Saturday Morning

Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp is an American live-action action/adventure comedy television series that aired on Saturday mornings from 1970 to 1971. The show featured a cast of chimpanzees in costumes and human-like settings, with human voices and dialogue overdubbed to match the chimps' mouth movements. Premise: In a world populated entirely by chimpanzees, Lancelot Link, a top agent for the A.P.E. (Agency to Prevent Evil), worked with his partner Mata Hairi to thwart the evil plans of the criminal organization C.H.U.M.P. (Criminal Headquarters for Underworld Master Plan), led by the villainous Baron Von Butcher. Style: The series was essentially a spoof of popular spy thrillers of the 1960s, heavily inspired by shows like Get Smart!, and utilized a low-budget, often absurd comedic style. Production: Creators Stan Burns and Mike Marmer, former head writers for The Carol Burnett Show and writers for Get Smart!, ad-libbed dialogue on set to match the syllables of the chimpanzees' natural lip movements, leading to some of the show's most unique and bizarre moments, such as the chimps breaking into song or nursery rhymes. Music: The show also included musical segments featuring a psychedelic pop band called The Evolution Revolution, in which Lancelot Link (played by a chimp named Tonga) was the lead guitarist. An album of the band's music was released. Legacy Despite its short original run, the show was an immediate hit and developed a significant cult following, leading to merchandise such as comic books, lunchboxes, and Halloween costumes.