Man, I remember racing home from school every afternoon just to catch The Super Mario Bros Super Show. That theme song would blast through our TV speakers and instantly transport me to the Mushroom Kingdom. This show wasn't just entertainment – it was the highlight of my afternoons back in '89. If you're anything like me, you probably have fuzzy memories of Mario and Luigi's live-action antics before diving into the animated adventures. But what really made this show tick? Where can you watch it today? And does it hold up after all these years? Let's unpack everything about this Nintendo time capsule.
What Exactly Was The Super Mario Bros Super Show?
Picture this: it's 1989. Mario mania is sweeping the nation after NES took over living rooms. DiC Entertainment teams up with Nintendo to create something wild – a TV show mixing live-action segments with animated adventures. The Super Mario Bros Super Show aired Monday through Thursday afternoons, with Friday featuring The Legend of Zelda instead. Weird format? Absolutely. But man, did it work.
Quick Show Facts:
- Aired from September 4 to December 1, 1989 (65 episodes total)
- Each episode contained a live-action segment and an animated cartoon
- Captain Lou Albano played live-action Mario – dude was iconic
- Featured the first mainstream adaptation of The Legend of Zelda
The Unique Format Breakdown
What made The Super Mario Bros Super Show so memorable was its bizarre structure. You'd get:
| Segment | Description | Runtime |
|---|---|---|
| Live-Action Opening | Mario and Luigi in their Brooklyn apartment dealing with wacky problems | 5-7 minutes |
| Animated Adventure | Mario Bros fighting Bowser in the Mushroom Kingdom | 15-18 minutes |
| Live-Action Wrap-up | Resolution of the apartment storyline with celebrity guests | 3-5 minutes |
Some days I loved the live-action bits – Lou Albano's Mario had this infectious energy. Other times I'd get impatient waiting for the animated segment. Remember that episode with Cyndi Lauper? Pure 80s gold.
Meet the Cast and Characters
The soul of The Super Mario Bros Super Show lived in its casting. Captain Lou Albano wasn't just playing Mario – he WAS Mario to us kids. That wild beard, the suspenders, the Brooklyn accent thicker than pizza dough. Danny Wells played a more subdued Luigi, always cleaning or cooking while Mario caused chaos.
Fun fact: Albano actually appeared as Mario in Nintendo Power magazine features too. Talk about commitment!
| Character | Voice Actor | Notable Traits |
|---|---|---|
| Mario (animated) | Walker Boone | Higher-pitched than live-action Mario |
| Luigi (animated) | Tony Rosato | More fearful than live-action version |
| Princess Toadstool | Jeannie Elias | Often kidnapped but surprisingly sassy |
| Toad | John Stocker | High-pitched and anxious |
| King Koopa (Bowser) | Harvey Atkin | Constantly creating ridiculous monster forms |
Bowser's voice still cracks me up – Harvey Atkin gave him this gravelly New Yorker vibe instead of the menacing game version. Took me years to realize he wasn't supposed to sound like a Brooklyn mobster!
Where to Watch Today (Legally!)
Finding The Super Mario Bros Super Show used to be a nightmare. But things have improved! Here's where you can stream these classics:
- Amazon Prime Video: All 65 episodes available for purchase
- YouTube: Official episodes through Nintendo's channel
- DVD Collections: Multiple box sets available with bonus features
Prices vary but expect $20-$40 for full seasons. Don't bother with sketchy streaming sites – the quality's terrible and Nintendo cracks down hard.
Okay, real talk: watching this as an adult is... interesting. The animation hasn't aged well – we're talking limited movements and reused sequences. And those live-action segments? Let's just say the acting is cheesier than Luigi's cooking. But man, does it bring back memories.
Episodes That Defined the Series
Certain episodes of The Super Mario Bros Super Show stuck with me decades later. Here are the standouts:
Most Memorable Adventures
| Episode Title | Original Air Date | Why It's Special |
|---|---|---|
| "The Bird! The Bird!" | September 11, 1989 | First appearance of Koopa's iconic Monster making machine |
| "Mario of the Apes" | October 9, 1989 | Planet of the Apes parody with actual chimpanzees |
| "The Great BMX Race" | November 23, 1989 | Live-action segment with extreme 80s BMX sequences |
| "Do the Koopa" | November 20, 1989 | Koopa creates a dance craze to hypnotize people |
The Legend of Zelda Fridays
Every Friday, The Super Mario Bros Super Show transformed into a Zelda adventure. These episodes featured:
- Link with his infamous "Excuuuse me, Princess!" catchphrase
- Princess Zelda actually participating in battles
- Ganon as the primary villain instead of Bowser
- Surprisingly faithful adaptations of early Zelda lore
The Zelda cartoons had a completely different art style – darker and more detailed. I always thought they looked better than the Mario animations honestly.
Behind the Scenes Secrets
Digging into how The Super Mario Bros Super Show was made reveals some wild stories:
Production Tidbits:
- Live-action segments filmed in Toronto using one apartment set
- Animation outsourced to Korean studios (common for 80s cartoons)
- Celebrity guests included Cyndi Lauper, Captain Lou's real-life friend
- Voice actors recorded all dialogue in just 4-hour sessions per episode
Harvey Atkin (Bowser) once admitted in an interview they had no idea the show would become so iconic. They'd just show up, read ridiculous lines about turtle kings and mushroom people, and cash checks. Wish I could tell him how many kids he entertained.
Cultural Impact and Legacy
The Super Mario Bros Super Show did something remarkable – it translated video game magic to television when nobody thought it could work. Before this, video game adaptations were either nonexistent or terrible. This show proved games could become multimedia franchises.
- Introduced Mario's personality beyond jump sounds
- Established the "damsel in distress" trope for Princess Peach
- Created lasting character dynamics still used in Mario games
- Popularized "Mario Time!" catchphrase
Modern Nintendo games still borrow from this series. Remember Bowser's wrestling obsession in Mario & Luigi games? Direct callback to King Koopa's monster forms.
Common Questions About The Super Mario Bros Super Show
Let's tackle some frequent fan questions:
Why was Luigi obsessed with plumbing?
Every live-action segment showed Luigi fixing pipes or drains. This exaggerated Mario's original occupation from Donkey Kong lore. Plus it gave Danny Wells something to do while Lou Albano goofed off.
Are the DVD releases edited?
Some early releases cut celebrity musical performances due to licensing. Modern digital versions seem complete though. The Zelda episodes are always included in box sets.
How accurate was the show to the games?
Honestly? Not very. The Super Mario Bros Super Show created its own rules. Fire Flowers gave temporary powers instead of permanent. Bowser kidnapped the Princess weekly instead of quarterly. Toad was yellow instead of red. But we didn't care – it was magical.
Why did they replace Mario's voice?
Walker Boone voiced animated Mario while Captain Lou played him live. Simple answer: Lou couldn't voice act. His Brooklyn accent was too thick for animation directors. Boone gave a higher-pitched performance closer to game Mario.
Personal Thoughts After Rewatching
I recently binge-watched The Super Mario Bros Super Show for the first time since childhood. Here's my take:
The good: The creativity still shines. Koopa's monster transformations are legitimately fun. Luigi's genuine sweetness stands out. The theme song remains an absolute banger.
The bad: The sexism didn't age well. Princess only exists to be captured. The animation shortcuts are painfully obvious as an adult. Some jokes land like wet noodles.
But here's the thing – watching it with my kids? They adored it. The bright colors, simple conflicts, and physical comedy still work. Maybe nostalgia blinds me, but the charm cuts through the dated elements. That's why people still search for The Super Mario Bros Super Show decades later. It's messy, weird, and utterly unique – just like Mario himself.
Soundtrack and Music Details
Let's talk about that iconic theme song. The Super Mario Bros Super Show intro remains etched in 80s kids' brains:
- Composed by Haim Saban and Shuki Levy
- Features lyrics about pasta power-ups and turtle fights
- Includes the unforgettable "Do the Mario!" dance instructions
- Full version runs 1:52 but edited for TV openings
Background music constantly recycled tracks from other DiC cartoons. Sharp ears will recognize tunes from Inspector Gadget and Heathcliff. They even reused the Zelda theme in Mario episodes sometimes!
Why This Show Still Matters
In our era of perfect digital animation and cinematic game adaptations, The Super Mario Bros Super Show feels like a charming relic. It represents Nintendo's first real attempt to expand beyond consoles. Without its success, we might never have gotten:
| Later Nintendo Adaptations | Connection to Super Show |
|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros 3 (TV series) | Used similar animation style |
| Captain N: The Game Master | Continued video game crossover concept |
| 1993 Super Mario Bros film | Live-action elements inspired by show |
| Modern Mario animated film | Proved audience still exists for Mario stories |
This quirky series built the bridge between pixels and personality. It gave Mario a voice beyond "It's-a me!" and created shared mythology for Nintendo fans. That's why digging into The Super Mario Bros Super Show feels like uncovering gaming history. You're not just watching cartoons – you're visiting the foundation of gaming culture.
So grab some popcorn (or spaghetti, Mario-style), queue up that theme song, and revisit the Mushroom Kingdom's first television home. Just maybe skip the live-action segments when King Koopa isn't threatening to turn everyone into fungi – some memories are better left fuzzy.
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