Far Out Space Nuts

Lore & Background

The show's opening sequence provides the setup of its fanciful premise: While loading food into various compartments to prepare a rocket for an upcoming mission, Barney instructs Junior to hit the 'lunch' button, but Junior mistakenly hits the 'launch' button. The rocket blasts off and takes them on various misadventures on alien planets. Typically, in each episode, their fictional rocket would be captured by aliens (one being played by John Carradine, who so impressed Denver with his acting skills during a scene that he was left speechless and missed his cue, requiring another take) and taken to some strange planet, or the spaceship would merely land somewhere. Then, either Barney and Junior, or the ship, would be taken away by the strange creatures on the planet. After some weird mission was carried out, the two astronauts would be reunited with the spaceship and be off on their next mission.

Reader's Guide

Far Out Space Nuts represents a minor but notable entry in the Krofft brothers' catalog of children's television. As one of only two Krofft series produced exclusively for CBS, it holds a specific place in network history. The show's premise—two bumbling astronauts accidentally launched into space—follows the Kroffts' pattern of whimsical, low-budget adventure. Its 15-episode run and subsequent syndication from 1978 to 1985 as part of the 'Krofft Superstars' package allowed it to reach a wider audience alongside six other Krofft series. The casting of Bob Denver, then 40 years old, as the grey-haired Junior, and Chuck McCann as Barney, provided a comedic duo familiar to audiences of the era. The inclusion of John Carradine as an alien guest star added a touch of veteran Hollywood presence. While not a landmark series, it exemplifies the Kroffts' approach to children's programming and the era's fascination with space-themed comedy.

Did You Know?

• The show was one of only two Krofft series produced exclusively for CBS, though the other, 'Pryor's Place,' was produced by Richard Pryor's company, not by Sid & Marty Krofft.
• John Carradine played an alien in one episode; his acting so impressed Bob Denver that Denver missed his cue, requiring another take.
• The spaceship used was a fictional rocket, not a NASA lunar module.

Production & Broadcast History

Far Out Space Nuts occupied a distinctive niche in the Krofft production catalog. Airing in 1975 for a single season comprising fifteen episodes, the series was one of just two Krofft productions created exclusively for CBS, the other being the 1984 show Pryor's Place. This made it a rare entry in what was otherwise a franchise closely associated with other networks. The show's initial run was brief, but its afterlife proved considerably longer. From 1978 through 1985, reruns were broadcast in daily syndication as part of the 'Krofft Superstars' package, which bundled Far Out Space Nuts alongside six other Krofft series. This syndication run gave the show a second life in front of audiences who may have missed its original 1975 broadcast, cementing its place within the broader Krofft universe of children's programming.

Premise & Episode Structure

The show's narrative engine was established in its opening sequence, which set up the series' central conceit in a charmingly simple way. While the crew was loading food into various compartments to prepare their rocket for an upcoming mission, Barney would direct Junior to press the 'lunch' button. Junior, true to form, would accidentally hit the 'launch' button instead, sending the vessel blasting off into the cosmos and setting the stage for a string of misadventures on alien worlds. The spacecraft itself was a NASA lunar module, which added a touch of grounded realism to the otherwise fantastical setting. In a typical episode, the ship would either be captured by alien beings or simply crash-land on an unfamiliar planet. From there, Barney and Junior—or the ship itself—would be whisked away by the strange creatures inhabiting that world. After some peculiar mission was accomplished, the two astronauts would be reunited with their vessel and depart for whatever adventure awaited them next.

The Cast & Character Dynamics

The heart of Far Out Space Nuts was its trio of characters, each bringing a distinct personality to the screen. Bob Denver, already a household name, portrayed Junior, a NASA maintenance worker described as grey-haired and seemingly dim-witted, yet possessing a unique cleverness that saved the day when it mattered. At the time of production, Denver was forty years old, which lent an amusing contrast to the child-oriented nature of the series. Chuck McCann played Junior's plump, grumpy co-worker Barney, providing a reliable foil to Denver's more endearing character. Rounding out the crew was Patty Maloney as Honk, a furry little alien companion who communicated not through speech but by producing honking sounds from a horn situated on top of his head. This trio formed the emotional core of every episode, navigating the bizarre alien landscapes together and relying on their individual quirks to overcome whatever challenges the strange planets presented.

A Memorable Behind-the-Scenes Moment

One of the most delightful anecdotes from the production involves veteran actor John Carradine, who joined the cast in the role of an alien. During a scene, Carradine delivered a performance so compelling that it left Bob Denver completely speechless. The impact was such that Denver missed his own cue entirely, and the scene had to be shot again. This small moment offers a glimpse into the creative chemistry on set and the respect Denver clearly held for seasoned performers. Carradine's presence in the series also underscores the Kroffts' willingness to cast well-known, respected actors in supporting roles, elevating the production value of what was, at its core, a children's show. The fact that a major star could be so moved by a single performance that he lost his place in the script speaks to the quality of work being done on the set, even within the constraints of a single-season, fifteen-episode run.