Hot Wheels (TV series)

Hot Wheels, an American animated series, aired on ABC from 1969 to 1971 with Mattel Toys as its primary sponsor. The show was built around Mattel's line of scale-model cars. It made a deliberate effort to present itself as "pro-safety," highlighting the careful, responsible driving of its main racing club members in contrast to the dangerous behavior of their opponents.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) received complaints from rival toy companies, including Topper Toys, who argued the program was essentially a half-hour advertisement. The FCC agreed, ordering stations to count part of the broadcast time as commercial airtime. ABC disputed this, claiming no prior deal existed with Mattel and that Hot Wheels cars were never advertised during the show itself. The National Association of Broadcasters supported the network, and the series continued for one season.

The story centered on high school student Jack "Rabbit" Wheeler, who led the Hot Wheels Racing Club. The voice cast included Bob Arbogast as Doc Warren, Melinda Casey as Janet Martin, Susan Davis as Ardeth Pratt, Casey Kasem as Dexter Carter, Nora Marlowe as Mother O'Hare, and Michael Rye as Jack "Rabbit" Wheeler. Episodes included "Big Race," "The Family Car," "Fire Fighters," "The Jewel," "Fake Out - Stake Out," "The Buggy Ride," "Four Wheel Time Bomb," "Hit and Run," "It Takes a Team," "Ardeth the Demon (Ardeth the Highwayman)," "Like Father, Like Son," "Avalanche Country," "Danger Around the Clock," "Tough Cop," "Hotter Than the Devils," "Underground," "Rough Ride (The Test)," "Race to Space," "Monkey a-Okay," "Diamonds Are a Girls Worst Friend," "Big Heart, Little Hearts," "Get Back on That Horse," "Hitchhike to Danger," "Dragon's Tooth Peak," "The Doc Warren Trophy Race," "Show-Off," "Drag Strip," "Mata Hari Ardeth," and "Slicker-Slicks."