Gentle Ben
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Gentle Ben is the name of a book of fiction for children by author Walt Morey, which was later made into a film and television series in the 1960s, as well as made-for-TV movies in 2002 and 2003. The book concerns the friendship between the title character, a bear, and a young boy, Mark Wedloe.
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[edit] Television
[edit] 1960s
The CBS television series Gentle Ben ran from September 10, 1967 until August 31, 1969, airing a total of 56 episodes. The show stars a young Clint Howard (Ron Howard's brother) as Mark Wedloe, and chronicles his adventures with a lovable 650-pound American black bear.
Musician and voice actor Candy Candido provided the voice of Ben. Actor Patrick Newell ("Mother" in The Avengers) wore a bear suit to portray Ben. Dennis Weaver played Mark's father, park ranger Tom Wedloe. Beth Brickell had the role of his mother, Ellen. The series was produced by Ivan Tors. The series also changed the locale from the book's Alaska to Florida.
Although the bear character in a subsequent television series, Grizzly Adams, is also named Ben, there is no connection between the bears.
[edit] 2000s
Gentle Ben (also know as Gentle Ben: The Movie and Gentle Ben: Terror on the Mountain) was first shown on 25 March 2002, although some cable airings list it with a 2003 date.
Gentle Ben 2 (also know as Gentle Ben: Danger on the Mountain) was first shown on 5 January 2003. It was known as Gentle Ben: Black Gold for the UK release.[1]
[edit] Cast
The following characters were in both films.
- Dean Cain as Jack Wedloe
- Corbin Bernsen as Fog Benson
- Ashley Laurence as Dakota
- Reiley McClendon as Mark Wedloe
- Cody Weiant as Ashley June Benson
- Bonkers as Ben (the bear)
- Collin Bernsen as Kyle
- Gil Birmingham as Pete
- Jack Conley as Cal Stryker
- Jeanne Cooper as Rowland
- Martin Kove as Cully
- Holly McClendon as Samantha
- Bob Norsworthy as EPA Inspector
- J. Karen Thomas as Ms. Washborough
- Damian Valencia as Sheriff Rivers
The 2002 film also stared:
- William Katt as Gittis
- Stephen W. Bridgewater as Norwood Malone
The 2003 film also starred:
- E. Scott Corly as Scott
[edit] Popular culture references
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Gentle Ben was referenced in the "Homer: Bad Man" episode of The Simpsons, in which the bear hosted a talk show but was tranquilized after attacking the production staff when they encroached on the food table. The show referenced Gentle Ben a second time in "Lisa's Sax", when in the opening of the show, Marge and Homer sing a parody of "Those Were the Days" (the opening song from All in the Family), with lines like "Watching shows like Gentle Ben." The show referenced Gentle Ben a third time in the episode entitled "My Fair Laddy", originally airing on February 26, 2006. In the episode, Lisa Simpson reads a book entitled Genteel Ben's Guide to Etiquette. The cover of the book includes a picture of a bear wearing a monocle.
Gentle Ben was mentioned in the Garfield comic strip at least once.
Gentle Ben is mentioned in the "Diagnosis: Jimmy" episode of the FOX series The Lone Gunmen.
On Just Shoot Me!, Nina Van Horn attempted to quit smoking, so her pharmacist gave her drugs to counteract the nicotine withdrawal; one of the ingredients was "the kind of tranquilizer they gave Gentle Ben so he could act with that little boy." She remarked that the drugs made her "incredibly amorous."
On Nickelodeon's Pete & Pete, Elder Pete takes up a job as range boy for his father's driving range. Pete dresses up as a bear in order to disguise himself from his peers so he is not run out of town. Pete references an episode of Gentle Ben where Gentle Ben saves the young boy from a mine shaft, risking his life, in order to convince his father that he should be allowed to dress up as a bear.
Brian Regan's Brian Regan Live album includes a 40-second comedy routine about the show.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Gentle Giant at the Internet Movie Database (1967 pilot film)
- Gentle Ben at the Internet Movie Database (1967–1969 series)
- Gentle Ben at the Internet Movie Database (2002 TV movie)
- Gentle Ben 2 at the Internet Movie Database (2003 TV Movie)
