Happy New Year all. Here are some newly-released items to kick off 2022.
Go to the Specials, Pilots, Miniseries and Movies page
First up is material from the Flint Dille Collection, supplied by owner Steve Chu. Concerning the "forgotten son" of Super Sunday: Bigfoot And The Muscle Machines.
Backstory
SST Muscle Machines was a toyline of battery-operated monster trucks, first released by Milton Bradley subsidiary Playskool in 1983. Starting out with the titular Big Foot - licensed by Bob Chandler, owner of the real-life vehicle.
In 1984, Playskool added licensed trucks Orange Blossom and Black Gold to the toyline, along with several other accessories. That year, Hasbro bought out Milton Bradley, thus acquiring SST Muscle Machines.
1984 also saw the debut of The Transformers on weekend syndication, to huge ratings. Seeking to keep those weekend ratings going as Transformers was scheduled to make the jump to weekday afternoons in the 1985 season. Griffin-Bacal introduced the Super Sunday concept: A trio of five-part miniseries, broken down into their individual 7-minute Acts and aired as an anthology series over 15 weekends. With plans to re-edit those 15 shorts back into TV movies for syndication and home video release.
Needing "Boys Action" toylines that could be quickly developed into shows. Hasbro looked to SST Muscle Machines, as well as fellow Milton Bradley acquisition Robotix. To accompany their new fashion doll line in development: Jem.
The Show
Ron Friedman was tasked to develop a show to promote the SST Muscle Machines toyline. On March 5th, 1985 he turned in a "beats" outline and character lineup. Detailing a group of drivers and mechanics led by Yank Justice, known as the Rolling Rodeo. The story would detail the Rodeo's run-ins with the corrupt Judge Skullheart who practically controlled the county through bribery, extortion and abuse of power. Along with his rogue's gallery of sheriffs, biker gangs, mercenaries and other hired thugs.
Included with this outline are three additional story premises. As well as plot breakdowns and character summaries written up by Elise Goyette, Production Co-Ordinator for Sunbow in New York