Saturday Night Showcase: Goldie Gold & Action Jack

Have you ever thought to yourself “I really want to see a show where a girl version of Richie Rich and an Indiana Jones wanna-be reporter battled a snake that turns people into snakemen”? If so…what are you on? Or perhaps you were a writer for 80’s cartoon Goldie Gold & Action Jack, in which case…what were you on?

Tonight we take a look at one of those forgotten shows that only a few people remember.

YouTube being YouTube, the poster had to separate this episode into two parts, and thus shall it be here.

[UPDATE: That one is down, but now a single video version took it’s place.

I have to say that for a cult that is trying to stay unknown, they do a poor job when you have a giant snake climbing one of the biggest and well-known buildings in New York! Just saying.

This came out as one of the shows (not this episode, mind you) on the “Saturday Morning Cartoons” DVDs, but thus far that is the only official release. (Actually, a quick check shows Amazon has a VHS available.)

One of the character designers was Jack Kirby. Yes, THAT Jack Kirby. This series was produced by Ruby-Spears Enterprises. Joe Ruby and Ken Spears used to work for Hanna-Barbera but decided to strike out on their own, producing a number of beloved kids show. (I have a friend who loves Thundarr the Barbarian, and it would take quite a while for me to list my favorites.) Then again, they also produced the Police Academy cartoon, so nobody’s perfect. 🙂

Ah, the things I post to increase readership.

Goldie Gold actually owns Jack’s newspaper, which means Sam works for her as well. Now this is how you make a strong female character without making her an “ultimate badass” type. Not every heroine has to be like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, writers. Goldie is very much a rich girl, but she isn’t spoiled and wants to help people. Granted she has a house the size of a few city blocks (that has the worst security system known to animation) and things like a tub that can run around the house and can turn her foyer into a ski resort. But she’s a good person and can hold her own in a fight.

Insert obvious pun here. He did.

“Action” Jack Travis is Goldie’s best friend (and the closest thing to a love interest you can get on a show for boys that already stars a yucky girl) and works as a reporter for Goldie’s paper. While Goldie is usually the center of attention (she’s hot, rich, and nothing else like Paris Hilton) and uses her gadgets to get out of situations, Jack uses his wits to get out whatever slow-moving death trap the villains lay down for them. Jack also hangs out with Goldie on their downtime, like the aforementioned mansion ski area, but takes it all in stride–well, most of the time.

This show is a lot of fun and probably meant for the older kids on Saturday Morning. There’s sadly not much on TV like it, although Cartoon Network’s The Secret Saturdays at least tried. Hopefully the show gets a full DVD release soon.