Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp

Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp is an American action/adventure comedy series that originally aired on
ABC from September 12, 1970 to January 2, 1971. The Saturday morning live-action film series featured
a cast of chimpanzees given apparent speaking roles by overdubbing with human voices.

Plot

Owing considerable lineage to Get Smart, the plot was always played for laughs and featured
Lancelot Link and his female colleague, "Mata Hairi," whose own name in turn was a play on
Mata Hari, in secret agent and spy satires. Link worked for A.P.E., the Agency to Prevent Evil,
in an ongoing conflict with the evil organization C.H.U.M.P., the Criminal Headquarters for the
Underworld's Master Plan. APE's chief Darwin gave Link and Hairi their orders as part of his
"theory," a play on the Charles Darwin (after whom the character had been named) theory of
evolution. CHUMP's monocled chief Baron von Butcher inevitably hatched the latest plan to
endanger the world. The Baron's network of international fiends included his shifty chauffeur
Creto, mad scientist Dr. Strangemind, imperious Dragon Woman, drowsy Wang Fu, singing
sheikh Ali Assa Seen, and the cultured Duchess. One or more would appear in each episode.

A regular weekly feature was chimp TV host "Ed Simian" introducing a musical number by an
all-chimp band, "The Evolution Revolution." An album of these songs was released on the
ABC/Dunhill record label. There were also Lancelot Link comic books and other merchandise,
including Halloween costumes.

The episodes were all narrated, in a mock-sober delivery, by Malachi Throne.

The characters

APE (Agency to Prevent Evil)
Lancelot Link (played by Tongo, voiced by Dayton Allen)
Mata Hairi (played by Debbie, voiced by Joan Gerber) - Her name was a take-off on Mata Hari.
Commander Darwin (voiced by Dayton Allen) - Named after Charles Darwin
Bruce - Official APE courier
CHUMP (Criminal Headquarters for the Underworld's Master Plan)[edit]
Baron von Butcher (voiced by Bernie Kopell) - Modeled on Kopell's character of "Siegfried"
Dragon Woman (voiced by Joan Gerber) - Her name was a take-off on the Dragon Lady
Creto (voiced by Bernie Kopell) - His name was basically a play on the word "cretin."
Wang Fu (voiced by Bernie Kopell) - His name was a play on Kung Fu.
The Duchess (voiced by Joan Gerber) -
Ali Assa Seen (voiced and sung by Dayton Allen) - last name was meant to sound like "assassin."
Dr. Strangemind (voiced by Dayton Allen impersonating Béla Lugosi)

Episodes

There's No Business Like Snow Business
The Lone A.P.E. / Missile Beach Party
Lance Of Arabia / The Doctor Goes A.P.E.
The Surfin' Spy / The Missing Link
Bonana / The Greatest Chase In The World
The Reluctant Robot / The Royal Foil
The Great Great Race / The Great Plane Plot
Landlubber Lance / The Temporary Thanksgiving Turkey Truce
The Dreaded Hong Kong Sneeze / The Great Bank Robbery
The Golden Sword / The Chilling C.H.U.M.P. Chase
The C.H.U.M.P. Code Caper / Weather Or Not
The Evolution Revolution / The Great Water Robbery



 

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