Monday, April 23, 2007

The Amazing Cosmic Awareness of Duffy Moon

I remember one afternoon in the 1970's this was on to replace the scheduled program for that time slot. It starred Ike Eisenmann (Return from Witch Mountain, Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan) and Lance Kerwin (Salem's Lot, Enemy Mine) It was made in 1976 as one of the ABC Afterschool Specials. I can't remember much about it but one thing that does stick in the mind of people who did see it, is the phrase "You can do it, Duffy Moon!" The other thing is when he thought this phrase he would puff up his cheeks. Now the US readers of this Blog might remember this more than the UK ones, though I have over the years met a few close mates who did remember this show. In fact a search of forums seems to reveal a lot of people out there who thought they were the only one who ever seen this show, so there's probably more people seen it than I thought !

Plot Synopsis
Shorter in stature than most of his classmates in the sixth grade, young Duffy decides to purchase a somewhat mystical book that, according to its advertising, will enable him to "THINK BIG." Among the book's suggestions is to speak in a robotic voice when confronted by an adversity (namely, the school bully). An unexpected incident involving an injured pet crow serves to prove that Duffy doesn't really need a book to tap the inner resources -- and strengths -- that he's had all along.



You can do it, Duffy Moon!

9 comments:

Michael Grant Clark said...

Mark Stirton (the director chap) has been going on about this for years, I thought he'd made it up. Looks a bit pants though.

allen etter said...

Andrew...you are scaring me.

Andrew Glazebrook said...

Scaring or scarring ?! :)

allen etter said...

Well I'm probably scarred emotionally, but scaring was the word. I don't recall that particular afterschool special, but I do remember many others. Thus the scarring. whatever happened to that kid after Star Trek?

paulhd said...

Weird, reading this I didn't have a clue, but something about that quote is incredibly familiar, hmmmm....
I'll file it with barely remembered shows like 'Big John Little John' and that one where Charle Drake and some kid drink green coloured tea and shrink.

Andrew Glazebrook said...

The Charlie Drake thing was 'Professor Popper's Problem' made mid 70's, Todd Carty was in it too.

Moonwatcher said...

Nope this doesn't sound familiar.

TBE said...

Since you're in the UK you might like to know that Ike Eisenmann and Jared Martin of "The Fantastic Journey" will be reunited for the first time in close to 30 years at the cult TV weekeneder this October 2007. For more info go to: http://cult.tv/

Robiscus said...

wow, i don't check your blog for an extended period of time and here you are plucking quotes right out of my long term memory.
my friends and i used to say that to each other ALL the time. It was a multi purpose zinger.
"I gotta get an A on this mid term exam"
"you can do it Duffy Moon!"

(grimaces all around)