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Origin Story is now a disambig page
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* VerySpecialEpisode: Although these were connected to Spellbinder one-upping his foe (see above TheBadGuyWins entry). Another was an OriginStory detailing Letterman's background and how he became a superhero.
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* VerySpecialEpisode: Although these were connected to Spellbinder one-upping his foe (see above TheBadGuyWins entry). Another was an OriginStory [[SuperheroOrigin origin story]] detailing Letterman's background and how he became a superhero.
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Changed line(s) 102 (click to see context) from:
* LawyerFriendlyCameo: This version of the character participated in the 2014 ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse'' comicbook event, albeit only mentioned as an offscreen character who kept trying to tech the other Spider-Totems proper grammar.
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* LawyerFriendlyCameo: This version of the character participated in the 2014 ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse'' comicbook event, albeit only mentioned as an offscreen character who kept trying to tech teach the other Spider-Totems proper grammar.
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Changed line(s) 102,103 (click to see context) from:
* TheVoiceless: His communiation was via speech balloons, which his friends, adversaries -- and most importantly, the audience at home -- would read.
* SuddenlyVoiced: In the album version, he talks and is voiced by Jim Boyd (who plays Arthur J. Crank and the Blue Beetle ([[ComicBook/BlueBeetle not that one]])-- both characters who don't think very highly of Spider-Man on the show).
* SuddenlyVoiced: In the album version, he talks and is voiced by Jim Boyd (who plays Arthur J. Crank and the Blue Beetle ([[ComicBook/BlueBeetle not that one]])-- both characters who don't think very highly of Spider-Man on the show).
to:
* TheVoiceless: His communiation was via speech balloons, which his friends, adversaries -- and most importantly, LawyerFriendlyCameo: This version of the audience at home -- would read.
character participated in the 2014 ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse'' comicbook event, albeit only mentioned as an offscreen character who kept trying to tech the other Spider-Totems proper grammar.
* SuddenlyVoiced: In the album version, he talks and is voiced by Jim Boyd (who plays Arthur J. Crank and the Blue Beetle ([[ComicBook/BlueBeetle not that one]])-- both characters who don't think very highly of Spider-Man on theshow).show).
* TheVoiceless: His communiation was via speech balloons, which his friends, adversaries -- and most importantly, the audience at home -- would read.
* SuddenlyVoiced: In the album version, he talks and is voiced by Jim Boyd (who plays Arthur J. Crank and the Blue Beetle ([[ComicBook/BlueBeetle not that one]])-- both characters who don't think very highly of Spider-Man on the
* TheVoiceless: His communiation was via speech balloons, which his friends, adversaries -- and most importantly, the audience at home -- would read.
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Typo!
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** As noted in NotQuiteTheRightThing, below, Letterman didn't really save the day at all in Sticky Finances, and Spellbinder considered it a win when Lettermain failed to properly restore the farmer's wagon in What A Dragon.
to:
** As noted in NotQuiteTheRightThing, below, Letterman didn't really save the day at all in Sticky Finances, and Spellbinder considered it a win when Lettermain Letterman failed to properly restore the farmer's wagon in What A Dragon.
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Up To Eleven is a defunct trope
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* ThisLoserIsYou: We've all had trouble pronouncing words. He just took it UpToEleven.
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* ThisLoserIsYou: We've all had trouble pronouncing words. He just took it UpToEleven.
up to eleven.
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Nice Hat dewick
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* NiceHat
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* NiceHat: His detective's fedora.
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* NiceHat: Her pith helmet.
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!! Spider-Man
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!! Spider-ManComicBook/SpiderMan
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TRS cleanup
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* [[AbsenteeActor Absentee Character]]: Letterman is absent from one episode: "A Friend in Need" (which centers around Spellbinder escaping from prison).
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* PrimaDonnaDirector: The absolute epitome of this trope, shouting and emoting like crazy, though, given how inept the performers she worked with were, you can't really blame her.
* ShoutOut: [[NamedAfterSomebodyFamous Named for]] Creator/OttoPreminger, and she wears prominent jodphurs just like Creator/CecilBDemille did.
* ShoutOut: [[NamedAfterSomebodyFamous Named for]] Creator/OttoPreminger, and she wears prominent jodphurs just like Creator/CecilBDemille did.
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* CloudCuckoolander: When not scaring people, he just acted kinda goofy, usually due to a banana obsession. (Like in the Hole In The Bottom Of The Sea song, where everyone else added things with "oa" in their names, Paul added a banana, causing everyone else to take their pictures and leave)
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** The Spidey Super Stories segment "The Beastly Banana" saw Morgan Freeman's recurring Mad Scientist character try to turn Paul into this. He fails mainly because he used so many bananas to lure Paul to his lair that, when offered the banana treated with the Beastly formula, Paul wasn't hungry anymore, giving Spider-Man (and Jennifer of the Jungle) plenty of time to arrive and rescue him.
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** In another, the narrator declares Letterman good as "gold". Spellbinder removes the "g", leaving "old" and turning Letterman into an aged version of himself. Letterman summons what little strength he has and takes a "b" from his sweater to make "bold", restoring him to his youthful condition.
** As noted in NotQuiteTheRightThing, below, Letterman didn't really save the day at all in Sticky Finances, and the Spellbinder is perfectly happy with the result.
** As noted in NotQuiteTheRightThing, below, Letterman didn't really save the day at all in Sticky Finances, and the Spellbinder is perfectly happy with the result.
to:
** In another, "Silver Threads Among The Bold", the narrator declares Letterman good as "gold". a "bold" hero. Spellbinder removes the "g", "b", leaving "old" and turning Letterman into an aged version of himself. Spellbinder falls off the platform Letterman summons what little strength he has is standing on, dropping the "b", and takes a "b" from his sweater allowing Letterman to make "bold", pick the letter up and re-add it to "old", making it "bold" again, restoring him to his youthful condition.
** As noted in NotQuiteTheRightThing, below, Letterman didn't really save the day at all in Sticky Finances, andthe Spellbinder is perfectly happy with considered it a win when Lettermain failed to properly restore the result.farmer's wagon in What A Dragon.
** As noted in NotQuiteTheRightThing, below, Letterman didn't really save the day at all in Sticky Finances, and
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** Example: "Sticky Finances," where Spellbinder turns a man's "money" into "honey." To de-liquefy the assets, Letterman only has "bal" available, forcing him to turn the "honey" into "baloney." The annoyed man asks, "What am I going to do with all this baloney?" Letterman sheepishly replies, "Open a delicatessen?"
** In "What A Dragon", a farmer was driving a horse-drawn covered wagon filled with things he wanted to sell. Spellbinder turned it into a dragon, and while Letterman did succeed in turning it back into a wagon, it was a little red wagon with all of the farmer's crops and horse still gone. The Spellbinder was happy with this result, too.
** One that falls into a bit of FridgeHorror: in "Hands Full", the Spellbinder turned a school bus into an octopus, and Letterman was only able to turn it into a platypus. While all the kids were safe, the bus driver disappeared when the bus became an octopus and didn't come back when it was turned into a platypus
** In "What A Dragon", a farmer was driving a horse-drawn covered wagon filled with things he wanted to sell. Spellbinder turned it into a dragon, and while Letterman did succeed in turning it back into a wagon, it was a little red wagon with all of the farmer's crops and horse still gone. The Spellbinder was happy with this result, too.
** One that falls into a bit of FridgeHorror: in "Hands Full", the Spellbinder turned a school bus into an octopus, and Letterman was only able to turn it into a platypus. While all the kids were safe, the bus driver disappeared when the bus became an octopus and didn't come back when it was turned into a platypus
to:
** Example: "Sticky Finances," where Spellbinder turns a man's "money" into "honey." To de-liquefy the assets, When Letterman only arrives, he didn't bring any letters with him, so he has "bal" available, to take letters from a nearby sign (which contained no m's), forcing him to turn the "honey" into "baloney." The annoyed man asks, "What am I going to do with all this baloney?" Letterman sheepishly replies, "Open a delicatessen?"
delicatessen?" before flying off.
** In "What A Dragon", a farmer was driving a horse-drawn covered wagon filled with things he wanted to sell. Spellbinder turned it into a dragon, and while Letterman did succeed in turning it back into a wagon, it was a little red wagon with all of the farmer's crops and horse still gone.The Letterman shrugged and said "You can't win 'em all", and the Spellbinder was perfectly happy with this result, too.
result.
** One that falls into a bit of FridgeHorror: in "Hands Full", the Spellbinder turned a school bus into an octopus, and Letterman was only able to turn it into a platypus. While all the kids were safe, the bus driver disappeared when the bus became an octopus and didn't come back when it was turned into aplatypusplatypus.
** In "What A Dragon", a farmer was driving a horse-drawn covered wagon filled with things he wanted to sell. Spellbinder turned it into a dragon, and while Letterman did succeed in turning it back into a wagon, it was a little red wagon with all of the farmer's crops and horse still gone.
** One that falls into a bit of FridgeHorror: in "Hands Full", the Spellbinder turned a school bus into an octopus, and Letterman was only able to turn it into a platypus. While all the kids were safe, the bus driver disappeared when the bus became an octopus and didn't come back when it was turned into a
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Changed line(s) 63 (click to see context) from:
** As noted in NotQuiteTheRightThing, below, Letterman didn't really save the day a all in Sticky Finances, and the Spellbinder is perfectly happy with the result.
to:
** As noted in NotQuiteTheRightThing, below, Letterman didn't really save the day a at all in Sticky Finances, and the Spellbinder is perfectly happy with the result.
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New link for Easy Reader's first appearance
Changed line(s) 27,28 (click to see context) from:
* PunnyName: A double pun: he's named for both ''Film/EasyRider'' and the Music/JimiHendrix song "Ezy Ryder". (His [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9eX2ajK3A4 original appearance]] was as a Jimi Hendrix {{Expy}})
to:
* PunnyName: A double pun: he's named for both ''Film/EasyRider'' and the Music/JimiHendrix song "Ezy Ryder". (His [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9eX2ajK3A4 com/watch?v=NjEuZB2U8aQ original appearance]] was as a Jimi Hendrix {{Expy}})
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** As noted in NotQuiteTheRightThing, below, Letterman didn't really save the day a all in Sticky Finances, and the Spellbinder is perfectly happy with the result.
Changed line(s) 66 (click to see context) from:
* NotQuiteTheRightThing: Sometimes, even Letterman whiffed when trying to restore order and foil Spellbinder. Example: "Sticky Finances," where Spellbinder turns a man's "money" into "honey." To de-liquefy the assets, Letterman only has "bal" available, forcing him to turn the "honey" into "baloney." The annoyed man asks, "What am I going to do with all this baloney?" Letterman sheepishly replies, "Open a delicatessen?"
to:
* NotQuiteTheRightThing: Sometimes, even Letterman whiffed when trying to restore order and foil Spellbinder. Spellbinder.
** Example: "Sticky Finances," where Spellbinder turns a man's "money" into "honey." To de-liquefy the assets, Letterman only has "bal" available, forcing him to turn the "honey" into "baloney." The annoyed man asks, "What am I going to do with all this baloney?" Letterman sheepishly replies, "Open adelicatessen?"delicatessen?"
** In "What A Dragon", a farmer was driving a horse-drawn covered wagon filled with things he wanted to sell. Spellbinder turned it into a dragon, and while Letterman did succeed in turning it back into a wagon, it was a little red wagon with all of the farmer's crops and horse still gone. The Spellbinder was happy with this result, too.
** One that falls into a bit of FridgeHorror: in "Hands Full", the Spellbinder turned a school bus into an octopus, and Letterman was only able to turn it into a platypus. While all the kids were safe, the bus driver disappeared when the bus became an octopus and didn't come back when it was turned into a platypus
** Example: "Sticky Finances," where Spellbinder turns a man's "money" into "honey." To de-liquefy the assets, Letterman only has "bal" available, forcing him to turn the "honey" into "baloney." The annoyed man asks, "What am I going to do with all this baloney?" Letterman sheepishly replies, "Open a
** In "What A Dragon", a farmer was driving a horse-drawn covered wagon filled with things he wanted to sell. Spellbinder turned it into a dragon, and while Letterman did succeed in turning it back into a wagon, it was a little red wagon with all of the farmer's crops and horse still gone. The Spellbinder was happy with this result, too.
** One that falls into a bit of FridgeHorror: in "Hands Full", the Spellbinder turned a school bus into an octopus, and Letterman was only able to turn it into a platypus. While all the kids were safe, the bus driver disappeared when the bus became an octopus and didn't come back when it was turned into a platypus
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* SuddenlyVoiced: In the album version, he talks and is voiced by Jim Boyd (who plays Arthur J. Crank on the show).
to:
* SuddenlyVoiced: In the album version, he talks and is voiced by Jim Boyd (who plays Arthur J. Crank and the Blue Beetle ([[ComicBook/BlueBeetle not that one]])-- both characters who don't think very highly of Spider-Man on the show).
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Everythings Better With Monkeys has been turned into a disambiguation. Zero Context Examples and examples that don’t fit existing tropes will be removed.
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* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: With her sidekick Paul.
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->'''Portrayed by:''' Jim Boyd
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->'''Portrayed by:''' Skip Hinnant
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->'''Portrayed by:''' Judy Graubart
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->'''Portrayed by:''' Creator/MorganFreeman
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->'''Portrayed by:''' Creator/HattieWinston
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->'''Portrayed by:''' Luis Avalos
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->'''Portrayed by:''' Creator/RitaMoreno
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->'''Portrayed by:''' Jim Boyd
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->'''Portrayed by:''' Creator/RitaMoreno
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Added DiffLines:
->'''Portrayed by:''' Zero Mostel
Added DiffLines:
->'''Portrayed by:''' Danny Seagren
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misuse
Deleted line(s) 73 (click to see context) :
* Evil Foreigner: Of the evil Arab variety. That he was from the Middle East led to criticism, including (most notably) from Jack Shaheen, a professor emeritus from Southern Illinois University, who in his essay "The TV Arab" said that the character was a negative stereotype of Arabs and contrary to the Children's Television Workshop's realistic portrayal of minorities.
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Changed line(s) 73 (click to see context) from:
* EvilForeigner: Of the evil Arab variety. That he was from the Middle East led to criticism, including (most notably) from Jack Shaheen, a professor emeritus from Southern Illinois University, who in his essay "The TV Arab" said that the character was a negative stereotype of Arabs and contrary to the Children's Television Workshop's realistic portrayal of minorities.
to:
* EvilForeigner: Evil Foreigner: Of the evil Arab variety. That he was from the Middle East led to criticism, including (most notably) from Jack Shaheen, a professor emeritus from Southern Illinois University, who in his essay "The TV Arab" said that the character was a negative stereotype of Arabs and contrary to the Children's Television Workshop's realistic portrayal of minorities.
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* AmbiguousGender: Otto is a male name, but Moreno doesn't pitch her voice any lower than usual, so there's nothing particularly "mannish" about her performance. She comes across as more androgynous than anything else.
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* AlphaBitch: Pandora was one who always tried to get her way.
to:
* AdultsAreUseless: In-universe, Pandora believed this, and thought she was smarter than any grown-up she came across. Unfortunately, she was very rarely right.
* AesopAmnesia: Played for laughs--Pandora never learned her lesson. In "Sneak a Snack," she goes to great lengths to try to steal a cookie before dinner, eventually using a fishing pole to try to snag one. Her mother catches and scolds her, so Pandora promises never to do it again...that is, until she gets a longer rope.
* AlphaBitch: Pandorawas one who always tried to get her way.
* AesopAmnesia: Played for laughs--Pandora never learned her lesson. In "Sneak a Snack," she goes to great lengths to try to steal a cookie before dinner, eventually using a fishing pole to try to snag one. Her mother catches and scolds her, so Pandora promises never to do it again...that is, until she gets a longer rope.
* AlphaBitch: Pandora
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* SuddenlyVoiced: In the album version, He talks and is voiced by Jim Boyd (who plays Arthur J. Crank on the show)
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* SuddenlyVoiced: In the album version, He he talks and is voiced by Jim Boyd (who plays Arthur J. Crank on the show)show).
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Changed line(s) 94 (click to see context) from:
* TheVoiceless: His communiation was via speech balloons, which his friends, adversaries -- and most importantly, the audience at home -- would read.
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* TheVoiceless: His communiation was via speech balloons, which his friends, adversaries -- and most importantly, the audience at home -- would read.read.
* SuddenlyVoiced: In the album version, He talks and is voiced by Jim Boyd (who plays Arthur J. Crank on the show)
* SuddenlyVoiced: In the album version, He talks and is voiced by Jim Boyd (who plays Arthur J. Crank on the show)
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Changed line(s) 26 (click to see context) from:
* CoolShades: Part of his wardrobe.
to:
* CoolShades: Part of his wardrobe.wardrobe starting in season 2.
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* PunnyName: For ''Film/EasyRider''.
to:
* PunnyName: For ''Film/EasyRider''.
A double pun: he's named for both ''Film/EasyRider'' and the Music/JimiHendrix song "Ezy Ryder". (His [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9eX2ajK3A4 original appearance]] was as a Jimi Hendrix {{Expy}})
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* AFriendInNeed: Literally, the name of one of the shorts, and the only one in which Letterman himself does not appear. It centers around Spellbinder escaping from prison ... with the help of a "friend." Created when Spellbinder unbends his bent wand and turns "fiend" into "friend."
to:
* AFriendInNeed: Literally, the name of one of the shorts, and the only one in which Letterman himself does not appear. It centers around Spellbinder escaping from prison ... with the help of a "friend." Created when Spellbinder unbends uses his bent wand as a lower-case r, and turns "fiend" into "friend."
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* PunnyName: For ''Film/EasyRider''.
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* ItAmusedMe: How Spellbinder might view his activities -- harmless fun and nobody gets hurt; just wanted a laugh. Nevermind the fact that he might cause mass death and destruction and throw entire communities into deep mourning ... watching the people wince in pain or take fatal bumps, maulings, squeezings, etc., is loads of fun in the Spellbinder's eyes!
** Letterman once turned the tables on him, however, in a much more harmless manner (natch), by sending a feather toward him to tickle him relentlessly and forcing Spellbinder to laugh uncontrollably, shortly after Spellbinder reveled in watching a condiment factory [=CEO=] be forced to laugh out of control when he was being tortured by the feather. However, this was quickly averted as Letterman, seeing the situation under control, bids the [=CEO=] well and leaves.
** Letterman once turned the tables on him, however, in a much more harmless manner (natch), by sending a feather toward him to tickle him relentlessly and forcing Spellbinder to laugh uncontrollably, shortly after Spellbinder reveled in watching a condiment factory [=CEO=] be forced to laugh out of control when he was being tortured by the feather. However, this was quickly averted as Letterman, seeing the situation under control, bids the [=CEO=] well and leaves.
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Changed line(s) 89,90 (click to see context) from:
!! Spiderman
* HeroicMime: Danny Seagren played this portrayal of Spiderman to a fault this way.
* HeroicMime: Danny Seagren played this portrayal of Spiderman to a fault this way.
to:
!! Spiderman
Spider-Man
* HeroicMime: Danny Seagren played this portrayal ofSpiderman Spider-Man to a fault this way.
* HeroicMime: Danny Seagren played this portrayal of
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!! J. Arthur Crank
* ButtMonkey
* HeWhoMustNotBeSeen: In the first season, he was strictly off-camera as an annoying voice making [[PunnyName crank calls.]]
* LargeHam
* NiceHat
* PunnyName: A Double Pun, based on director J. Arthur Rank and, in the first season, his propensity for making crank calls as an offscreen voice.
* ThisLoserIsYou: We've all had trouble pronouncing words. He just took it UpToEleven.
!! Fargo North, Decoder
* GeniusDitz
* NiceHat: His detective's fedora.
* PunnyName: For Fargo, North Dakota.
!! Jennifer of the Jungle
* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: With her sidekick Paul.
* JunglePrincess
* NiceHat: Her pith helmet.
* SignatureRoar: ''"Oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi!"''
* SpeaksFluentAnimal: To her faithful companion, Paul the Gorilla.
!! Easy Reader
* CoolShades: Part of his wardrobe.
* [[ExpositoryThemeTune Expository Character Theme]]: "Easy Reader, that's my name ... mmm, mmm, mmm!"
!! Valerie the Librarian
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Her name was Valerie, and she worked as a librarian.
!! Doctor Doolats
* ShoutOut: Luis Avalos patterned his character after Groucho Marx and Dr. Doolittle.
!! Otto the Director
* DeadpanSnarker: Otto has seen it all in her time, and is more and more frustrated with each blown take.
* ExhaustedEyebags: Each segment begins with a hilariously absurd take number (often in the 50s or 60s), and all on simple lines.
* FromBadToWorse: Each take becomes progressively worse, where inept actors flub simple lines worse than the previous take.
!! Paul the Gorilla
* KillerGorilla: Although he really was harmless, several skits had other characters faint or flee upon sight of Paul.
!! Pandora the Brat
* AlphaBitch: Pandora was one who always tried to get her way.
* SpoiledBrat: To a fault.
!! Letterman
* [[AbsenteeActor Absentee Character]]: Letterman is absent from one episode: "A Friend in Need" (which centers around Spellbinder escaping from prison).
* TheBadGuyWins: Several times, although victory was very temporary. Examples:
** Once, Spellbinder managed to get one-up on his foe, once turning "Letterman" into a "Wetterman" (switching out the first letter and causing him to fall into a deep swimming pool). Letterman avoided drowning by finding a "b" and turning himself into a "betterman" (a better man than he was before).
** In "Small Talk" (probably the best known episode), Spellbinder broke into Letterman's home, hid in the attic and -- as Letterman was packing a trunk for a vacation, Spellbinder turned the "trunk" into "junk," then the "junk" into "shrunk." Eventually, the tiny superhero showed resolve and removed the "s" and "r" to turn himself back into a "hunk." Letterman then bends Spellbinder's wand, rendering it useless and causing him to break down in tears.
** Yet another time, Letterman declares he feels "good". Spellbinder changes the "g" to a "w" for "wood", turning Letterman into a talking tree. Spellbinder then proceeds to get a drill to try to drill holes in Letterman. Before Spellbinder returns, Letterman is able to convince a small bird to take a "g" from his front and replace the "w", thereby turning him back into the "feeling-good" Letterman, just in time as Spellbinder attempts to drill into him. The drill breaks and engulfs Spellbinder in the twisted metal.
** In another, the narrator declares Letterman good as "gold". Spellbinder removes the "g", leaving "old" and turning Letterman into an aged version of himself. Letterman summons what little strength he has and takes a "b" from his sweater to make "bold", restoring him to his youthful condition.
* ClarkKenting: Although there is no discernible difference between his "normal" persona and -- after his introduction -- his heroic Letterman persona. Presumably, he is always Letterman.
* HeroicBuild: He was handsome, brave and strong.
* JustInTime: Letterman often shows up just before the situation becomes too dire, saving everyone's necks and ruining Spellbinder's criminal activities.
* NotQuiteTheRightThing: Sometimes, even Letterman whiffed when trying to restore order and foil Spellbinder. Example: "Sticky Finances," where Spellbinder turns a man's "money" into "honey." To de-liquefy the assets, Letterman only has "bal" available, forcing him to turn the "honey" into "baloney." The annoyed man asks, "What am I going to do with all this baloney?" Letterman sheepishly replies, "Open a delicatessen?"
* VerySpecialEpisode: Although these were connected to Spellbinder one-upping his foe (see above TheBadGuyWins entry). Another was an OriginStory detailing Letterman's background and how he became a superhero.
!! The Spellbinder
* ArchEnemy: Of Letterman.
* ChildHater: It seems his ultra-sadistic side is reserved for children, as many of his antics seem to be target situations involving children, putting them in extreme danger. See WouldHurtAChild.
* DeadpanSnarker: Cracks a lot of these one-liners.
* EvilForeigner: Of the evil Arab variety. That he was from the Middle East led to criticism, including (most notably) from Jack Shaheen, a professor emeritus from Southern Illinois University, who in his essay "The TV Arab" said that the character was a negative stereotype of Arabs and contrary to the Children's Television Workshop's realistic portrayal of minorities.
* EvilLaugh: After he changes a key letter to create mayhem and mischief. Often of the rolling-on-the-floor-laughing variety.
* AFriendInNeed: Literally, the name of one of the shorts, and the only one in which Letterman himself does not appear. It centers around Spellbinder escaping from prison ... with the help of a "friend." Created when Spellbinder unbends his bent wand and turns "fiend" into "friend."
* HarmlessVillain and PokeThePoodle: Much of Spellbinder's mischief was, in reality, harmless mischief -- some uncomfortable situations resulted but not too dangerous, and were done for Spellbinder's own amusement. However, there were times where this was dangerously averted, such as turning a school bus into an octopus (and the annoyed octopus squeezes the children hard), or his most despicable stunts: turning a plane (full of children and other passengers) into a plant and causing it to plummet toward the earth, and nearly causing a passenger train (again, full of children) to plummet into a deep ravine.
* HarsherInHindsight: Spellbinder's plant/plane stunt. See HilarityEnsues entry.
* HilarityEnsues: In circa 1975, the year the plane/plant Letterman short was released -- despite the potentially deadly situation faced by the passengers and crew of the plane -- Spellbinder's fun might be seen as quite humorous. (Indeed, Spellbinder thought [[DudeNotFunny the possibility of nearly 100 children, their parents, chaperones, teachers, principal and the flight crew dying in a plane crash ... and the thought of their families plunging into a catatonic state of grief, was quite funny]].) However, this became much HarsherInHindsight after the 9/11 attacks (which, ironically enough, were instigated by Middle Easterners) ... and today, Spellbinder might be shot on sight or swiftly and surely sentenced to death in a federal court. [[note]]The segment has not been seen since the original reruns last aired on PBS in 1985 (and has never been uploaded to video sharing sites), and were not seen in any episodes that were part of the rerun package that aired on Noggin in the late 1990s and early 2000s ... although if it had, that particular episode almost assuredly would have been pulled in the wake of 9/11.[[/note]]
** A similar situation, in a segment titled "Broken Bridge," involved the destruction of a railroad bridge (by Spellbinder removing the "b" from "bridge"). Again, in a pre-9/11 world, this might have gotten a few laughs from those who didn't know better, particularly in the 1974-1976 era. Today and in the real world (since the situation involves removal of infrastructure by non-natural means and a potentially deadly situation), Spellbinder would be arrested immediately and left to rot in prison. [[note]]Unlike the plane/plant episode, this segment was included in an episode aired on Noggin, at least prior to 9/11.[[/note]]
* KryptoniteFactor: Spellbinder, by changing a letter in a word to affect Letterman's situation, temporarily rendering Letterman helpless. (See TheBadGuyWins entry under Letterman for details.)
* ObviouslyEvil: He's an Arab, this is the mid-1970s (when tensions between the United States and Middle Eastern countries hit a new low) ... he's the perfect way to depict the series' antagonist.
* OhCrap: When he tried to shrink Letterman to six inches tall, but Letterman found a way to turn himself back into the muscular hunk he always was, Spellbinder decides it's time to flee ... but doesn't make it. (His wand pays the price.)
* PerspectiveMagic: Spellbinder literally grabs the sun in "A Rolling Bun Gathers No Seeds" -- after turning it into a "bun," of course -- and hurls it toward the earth and a beach wherein he had earlier been banned.
* PrisonEpisode: "A Friend in Need," which ends with Spellbinder's escape.
* TerroristsWithoutACause: In today's post-9/11 world, several of Spellbinder's actions could easily be classified as terrorism, as they involved potential mass death and destruction of infrastructure and aircraft. He worked alone, and his only goal was to amuse himself.
* TickleTorture: Spellbinder tried to put this onto the CEO of a pickle factory (turning "pickle" into "tickle"). Once Letterman restores order, the superhero turns the tables on Spellbinder by sending the feather onto the very ticklish villain. As the narrator enjoys her pickle, an exhausted Spellbinder -- having apparently gotten away from the feather after hours of being tickled non-stop -- finally concedes defeat ... this time.
* WouldHurtAChild: Not only does Spellbinder have no reservations about putting children in life-threatening situations, he revels in it, finding it to be cute and funny. (And in the real world would have him arrested on sight.) Examples include:
** The plane/plant situation (see HilarityEnsues).
** School bus/octopus/platypus (turns a bus into an octopus).
** "The Roar of Rage," involving cage/rage, wherein a lion, irate at being caged and now glad to be free, is about to pounce on a group of second graders.
** "Broken Bridge," involving bridge/ridge. After removing the "b" to create "ridge," a bridge over a deep ridge is removed from a rail line ... far too late for a train loaded with schoolchildren to stop. Letterman shows up in time and restores the bridge.
!! Spiderman
* HeroicMime: Danny Seagren played this portrayal of Spiderman to a fault this way.
* TheVoiceless: His communiation was via speech balloons, which his friends, adversaries -- and most importantly, the audience at home -- would read.
* ButtMonkey
* HeWhoMustNotBeSeen: In the first season, he was strictly off-camera as an annoying voice making [[PunnyName crank calls.]]
* LargeHam
* NiceHat
* PunnyName: A Double Pun, based on director J. Arthur Rank and, in the first season, his propensity for making crank calls as an offscreen voice.
* ThisLoserIsYou: We've all had trouble pronouncing words. He just took it UpToEleven.
!! Fargo North, Decoder
* GeniusDitz
* NiceHat: His detective's fedora.
* PunnyName: For Fargo, North Dakota.
!! Jennifer of the Jungle
* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: With her sidekick Paul.
* JunglePrincess
* NiceHat: Her pith helmet.
* SignatureRoar: ''"Oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi!"''
* SpeaksFluentAnimal: To her faithful companion, Paul the Gorilla.
!! Easy Reader
* CoolShades: Part of his wardrobe.
* [[ExpositoryThemeTune Expository Character Theme]]: "Easy Reader, that's my name ... mmm, mmm, mmm!"
!! Valerie the Librarian
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Her name was Valerie, and she worked as a librarian.
!! Doctor Doolats
* ShoutOut: Luis Avalos patterned his character after Groucho Marx and Dr. Doolittle.
!! Otto the Director
* DeadpanSnarker: Otto has seen it all in her time, and is more and more frustrated with each blown take.
* ExhaustedEyebags: Each segment begins with a hilariously absurd take number (often in the 50s or 60s), and all on simple lines.
* FromBadToWorse: Each take becomes progressively worse, where inept actors flub simple lines worse than the previous take.
!! Paul the Gorilla
* KillerGorilla: Although he really was harmless, several skits had other characters faint or flee upon sight of Paul.
!! Pandora the Brat
* AlphaBitch: Pandora was one who always tried to get her way.
* SpoiledBrat: To a fault.
!! Letterman
* [[AbsenteeActor Absentee Character]]: Letterman is absent from one episode: "A Friend in Need" (which centers around Spellbinder escaping from prison).
* TheBadGuyWins: Several times, although victory was very temporary. Examples:
** Once, Spellbinder managed to get one-up on his foe, once turning "Letterman" into a "Wetterman" (switching out the first letter and causing him to fall into a deep swimming pool). Letterman avoided drowning by finding a "b" and turning himself into a "betterman" (a better man than he was before).
** In "Small Talk" (probably the best known episode), Spellbinder broke into Letterman's home, hid in the attic and -- as Letterman was packing a trunk for a vacation, Spellbinder turned the "trunk" into "junk," then the "junk" into "shrunk." Eventually, the tiny superhero showed resolve and removed the "s" and "r" to turn himself back into a "hunk." Letterman then bends Spellbinder's wand, rendering it useless and causing him to break down in tears.
** Yet another time, Letterman declares he feels "good". Spellbinder changes the "g" to a "w" for "wood", turning Letterman into a talking tree. Spellbinder then proceeds to get a drill to try to drill holes in Letterman. Before Spellbinder returns, Letterman is able to convince a small bird to take a "g" from his front and replace the "w", thereby turning him back into the "feeling-good" Letterman, just in time as Spellbinder attempts to drill into him. The drill breaks and engulfs Spellbinder in the twisted metal.
** In another, the narrator declares Letterman good as "gold". Spellbinder removes the "g", leaving "old" and turning Letterman into an aged version of himself. Letterman summons what little strength he has and takes a "b" from his sweater to make "bold", restoring him to his youthful condition.
* ClarkKenting: Although there is no discernible difference between his "normal" persona and -- after his introduction -- his heroic Letterman persona. Presumably, he is always Letterman.
* HeroicBuild: He was handsome, brave and strong.
* JustInTime: Letterman often shows up just before the situation becomes too dire, saving everyone's necks and ruining Spellbinder's criminal activities.
* NotQuiteTheRightThing: Sometimes, even Letterman whiffed when trying to restore order and foil Spellbinder. Example: "Sticky Finances," where Spellbinder turns a man's "money" into "honey." To de-liquefy the assets, Letterman only has "bal" available, forcing him to turn the "honey" into "baloney." The annoyed man asks, "What am I going to do with all this baloney?" Letterman sheepishly replies, "Open a delicatessen?"
* VerySpecialEpisode: Although these were connected to Spellbinder one-upping his foe (see above TheBadGuyWins entry). Another was an OriginStory detailing Letterman's background and how he became a superhero.
!! The Spellbinder
* ArchEnemy: Of Letterman.
* ChildHater: It seems his ultra-sadistic side is reserved for children, as many of his antics seem to be target situations involving children, putting them in extreme danger. See WouldHurtAChild.
* DeadpanSnarker: Cracks a lot of these one-liners.
* EvilForeigner: Of the evil Arab variety. That he was from the Middle East led to criticism, including (most notably) from Jack Shaheen, a professor emeritus from Southern Illinois University, who in his essay "The TV Arab" said that the character was a negative stereotype of Arabs and contrary to the Children's Television Workshop's realistic portrayal of minorities.
* EvilLaugh: After he changes a key letter to create mayhem and mischief. Often of the rolling-on-the-floor-laughing variety.
* AFriendInNeed: Literally, the name of one of the shorts, and the only one in which Letterman himself does not appear. It centers around Spellbinder escaping from prison ... with the help of a "friend." Created when Spellbinder unbends his bent wand and turns "fiend" into "friend."
* HarmlessVillain and PokeThePoodle: Much of Spellbinder's mischief was, in reality, harmless mischief -- some uncomfortable situations resulted but not too dangerous, and were done for Spellbinder's own amusement. However, there were times where this was dangerously averted, such as turning a school bus into an octopus (and the annoyed octopus squeezes the children hard), or his most despicable stunts: turning a plane (full of children and other passengers) into a plant and causing it to plummet toward the earth, and nearly causing a passenger train (again, full of children) to plummet into a deep ravine.
* HarsherInHindsight: Spellbinder's plant/plane stunt. See HilarityEnsues entry.
* HilarityEnsues: In circa 1975, the year the plane/plant Letterman short was released -- despite the potentially deadly situation faced by the passengers and crew of the plane -- Spellbinder's fun might be seen as quite humorous. (Indeed, Spellbinder thought [[DudeNotFunny the possibility of nearly 100 children, their parents, chaperones, teachers, principal and the flight crew dying in a plane crash ... and the thought of their families plunging into a catatonic state of grief, was quite funny]].) However, this became much HarsherInHindsight after the 9/11 attacks (which, ironically enough, were instigated by Middle Easterners) ... and today, Spellbinder might be shot on sight or swiftly and surely sentenced to death in a federal court. [[note]]The segment has not been seen since the original reruns last aired on PBS in 1985 (and has never been uploaded to video sharing sites), and were not seen in any episodes that were part of the rerun package that aired on Noggin in the late 1990s and early 2000s ... although if it had, that particular episode almost assuredly would have been pulled in the wake of 9/11.[[/note]]
** A similar situation, in a segment titled "Broken Bridge," involved the destruction of a railroad bridge (by Spellbinder removing the "b" from "bridge"). Again, in a pre-9/11 world, this might have gotten a few laughs from those who didn't know better, particularly in the 1974-1976 era. Today and in the real world (since the situation involves removal of infrastructure by non-natural means and a potentially deadly situation), Spellbinder would be arrested immediately and left to rot in prison. [[note]]Unlike the plane/plant episode, this segment was included in an episode aired on Noggin, at least prior to 9/11.[[/note]]
* KryptoniteFactor: Spellbinder, by changing a letter in a word to affect Letterman's situation, temporarily rendering Letterman helpless. (See TheBadGuyWins entry under Letterman for details.)
* ObviouslyEvil: He's an Arab, this is the mid-1970s (when tensions between the United States and Middle Eastern countries hit a new low) ... he's the perfect way to depict the series' antagonist.
* OhCrap: When he tried to shrink Letterman to six inches tall, but Letterman found a way to turn himself back into the muscular hunk he always was, Spellbinder decides it's time to flee ... but doesn't make it. (His wand pays the price.)
* PerspectiveMagic: Spellbinder literally grabs the sun in "A Rolling Bun Gathers No Seeds" -- after turning it into a "bun," of course -- and hurls it toward the earth and a beach wherein he had earlier been banned.
* PrisonEpisode: "A Friend in Need," which ends with Spellbinder's escape.
* TerroristsWithoutACause: In today's post-9/11 world, several of Spellbinder's actions could easily be classified as terrorism, as they involved potential mass death and destruction of infrastructure and aircraft. He worked alone, and his only goal was to amuse himself.
* TickleTorture: Spellbinder tried to put this onto the CEO of a pickle factory (turning "pickle" into "tickle"). Once Letterman restores order, the superhero turns the tables on Spellbinder by sending the feather onto the very ticklish villain. As the narrator enjoys her pickle, an exhausted Spellbinder -- having apparently gotten away from the feather after hours of being tickled non-stop -- finally concedes defeat ... this time.
* WouldHurtAChild: Not only does Spellbinder have no reservations about putting children in life-threatening situations, he revels in it, finding it to be cute and funny. (And in the real world would have him arrested on sight.) Examples include:
** The plane/plant situation (see HilarityEnsues).
** School bus/octopus/platypus (turns a bus into an octopus).
** "The Roar of Rage," involving cage/rage, wherein a lion, irate at being caged and now glad to be free, is about to pounce on a group of second graders.
** "Broken Bridge," involving bridge/ridge. After removing the "b" to create "ridge," a bridge over a deep ridge is removed from a rail line ... far too late for a train loaded with schoolchildren to stop. Letterman shows up in time and restores the bridge.
!! Spiderman
* HeroicMime: Danny Seagren played this portrayal of Spiderman to a fault this way.
* TheVoiceless: His communiation was via speech balloons, which his friends, adversaries -- and most importantly, the audience at home -- would read.
