Camp Candy

Camp Candy was a NBC network animated TV series that starred comedian/actor John Candy providing the voice for an animated version of himself.

The series premiered on September 9, 1989 and aired for 27 episodes on NBC until 1991. It was moved to syndication by 1992 and aired 13 episodes.

The supporting voice cast of the series consisted of Lewis Arquette, Cree Summer, Valri Bromfield and Danny Mann.

Plot

The show is set in a fictional summer camp run by John Candy.

Almost all episodes would begin where John Candy would be trying to show an outdoor skill to some kids, to which he would then say it reminded him of a story, where he would tell of the episode in narration. John was a dedicated leader of Camp Candy, a summer camp that is presumably built by him, and he tries to get various kids to get along.

The children included Robin McClain, a nature-loving African-American girl; Alex Dawson, a redheaded tomboy; Vanessa Carter, a rich & snobbish fashionista; Iggy Jones, a spectacled hypochondriac; his more adventurous younger brother George "Binky" Jones, the youngest member of the gang and Rick Quimby, an arrogant prankster.

The adult characters included Nurse Molly, a nurse, who had a crush on John, but he never seemed to take notice, as he was interested in an attractive redheaded receptionist called Miss Sweetingham.

John's main antagonists were Xavier "Rex" DeForest III, a man who seeks to demolish Camp Candy in order to make way for a condominium and Chester, a dimwitted greaser employed by DeForest. Another antagonist included Hob Nayles, a strict disciplinarian who headed the rival Camp Kickboot and sought to humiliate John, but was really a coward at heart.

Voice Cast

• John Candy - Himself
• Lewis Arquette - Xavier DeForest III
• Valri Bromfield - Nurse Molly
• Danny Mann - Chester
• Tony Ail - Binky (seasons 1–2)
• Tom Davidson - Iggy (seasons 1–2)
• Danielle Fernandes - Robin (season 1)
• Willow Johnson - Vanessa (seasons 1–2)
• Andrew Seebaran - Rick (seasons 1–2)
• Chiara Zanni - Alex (seasons 1–2)
• Brian George - Botch (season 2)
• Gary MacPherson - Duncan (season 2)
• Cree Summer - Robin (season 2)
• E.G. Daily - Alex, Binky, Rick (season 3)
• Katie Leigh - Iggy (season 3)
• Gail Matthius - Vanessa (season 3)
• Candi Milo - Robin (season 3)

Additional voice cast

• Jane Mortifee-Birch
• Don Brown
• Jim Byrnes
• Christopher Candy
• Jennifer Candy
• Garry Chalk
• Babz Chula
• Ted Cole
• Ian James Corlett
• Bob Costas
• Michael Donovan
• Lorena Gale
• Marcy Goldberg
• Phil Hayes
• Mark Hildreth
• Alessandro Juliani
• Terry Klassen
• Maurice LaMarche
• Shane Meier
• Jason Michas
• Richard Newman
• Doug Parker
• Alvin Sanders
• Dale Wilson

Episode List

Season One (1989)

1. The Forest's Prime Evil (9/9/1989) - Deforest the Third intends to level the forest and Camp Candy with it, but He didn’t count on living trees to foil his plan!
2. Small Foot, Big Trouble (9/16/1989) - Robin and the campers try to save a baby Bigfoot from Deforest the Third, who intends to exploit it..
3. The Katchatoree Creature (9/23/1989) - Robin hopes to win the best camp newspaper award, but not with fake stories.
4. Tough as Nayles (9/30/1989) - The campers learn that they were better off with John, than a disciplinarian counselor from another camp.
5. Bird Is the Word/Best Behavior (10/7/1989) - Binky spots a bird, thought to have been extinct. / Deforest III hopes to convince Iggy and Binky to stay at his lakeside lodge until the inspector closes down Camp Candy for two missing campers.
6. Fool's Gold (10/14/1989) - In hopes of saving Camp Candy, the campers with the help of a miner, look for gold to buy a new kitchen for the camp.
7. Sleight of Hand/Thanks, But No Pranks (10/21/1989) - John arranges a talent show, and one of the acts is Iggy struggling with magic tricks. / Rick goes too far with his pranks.
8. Mind Over Matter/Brat Pact (11/4/1989) - John falls for Miss Sweetingham, but… / Deforest III uses Chester to infiltrate the camp after the latter falls in the legendary Fountain of Youth.
9. May the Best Parents Win (11/11/1989) - It’s parents day, but when Vanessa’s parents don’t come, John offers to be Her substitute father.
10. Not So Brave Brave/Opposites Attract (11/18/1989) - The campers encounter a Native American. / Two crooks hide a locked vault in Camp Candy.
11. Indian Love Call/Spoiled Sports (12/2/1989)
12. Rick Gets the Picture/Poor Little Rich Girl (12/9/1989) - Rick’s Uncle George (A Spielberg-like filmmaker) makes a film with the camp as a filming location. / due to a letter torn by the wind, Vanessa thinks She was orphan adopted by her parents, runs away.
13. Christmas in July (12/16/1989) - John and the campers (except Vanessa) celebrate Christmas in July. Meanwhile, Vanessa (In a Christmas Carol way) is shown her past, present, and future.

Season Two (1990–1991)

1. Robo-Camp/The Glasnost Menagerie (9/8/1990) - A robot called Robo-Camper is tasked with John’s tasks as the latter takes the campers to a hike. However, when the campers return to see the campsite covered in technology, including the robotic wildlife… / An exchange student comes to Camp Candy.
2. Color War and Peace (9/15/1990) - John tells a tale on why He won’t arrange another color war, which involves teams of campers wearing colored shirts in a week of games.
3. Camp Cuisine/Take the Compass and Run (9/22/1990) - While John takes up being mess hall chef, a camp food critic comes to rate the food. /Iggy unknowingly steals a compass, when Chester steals his money.
4. Candy Springs (9/29/1990) - John, while away in New York, leaves Molly in charge of the camp facing money problems, which she turns into a spa.
5. Wish Upon a Fish (10/6/1990) - The campers, along with Molly’s nephew, Toby, hope to capture a local fish called Old Mossback.
6. Taking the Bully by the Horns/Rock Candy (10/13/1990) - A new camper comes to the camp, and it’s a bully named Bulldozer! / Deforest III tries to stop a concert, in an attempt to shut down Camp Candy.
7. Dear Mom and Dad (10/20/1990) - Alex writes a letter to her parents on how things got out of hand, ending with the burning of the Mess Hall.
8. Stand Up and Deliver/Ruthless Campers (10/27/1990) - Deforest III intends to turn the forest into a highway, but John and the campers arrange a telethon to buy the land, but Deforest III intends to ruin their chances by making false pledges. / Deforest III drops his troublesome nephews, Jason and Freddy at Camp Candy.
9. Camp Candy's Funniest Home Videos (11/3/1990) (NOTE: This was a "clip show" episode.)
10. Robin's Ark (11/10/1990) - It’s Parents day again, and Robin constructs an ark for the animals to go to Eaton Island. (Bambi is mentioned)
11. Candy and the Ants/Smart Moose, Foolish Choices (11/17/1990) - The campers’ picnic is threatened by an army of ants. / A moose finds its way to camp, looking for a suitable mate.
12. One Million Years B.C. (11/24/1990) - John and the campers take refuge in a cavern, containing paintings of the first campers, which tells a story.
13. Jokers of the Wild/Uncle Rexie (12/1/1990)
14. Scare Package (1/19/1991) - Scary things are happening in camp.

Season Three (1992) (aired in syndication)

1. TV or Not TV - The Vice-President visits Camp Candy while Deforest III intends to ruin the visit.
2. Rock and Rest/Rick Van Winkle - The campers form a music band. / Rick falls asleep and wakes up in a forest, full of fairy tale creatures.
3. The Last Word - John and the campers are lost in the forest while confounded by a sarcastic bird.
4. A Ribbeting Experience/The Bamboo Woodpecker - John thinks Iggy turned into a frog by magic. / John plays noir detective to find out who stole his bamboo woodpecker.
5. Wild, Wild Candy - A veteran camper tells the tale of John’s ancestor, in the old west.
6. When It Rains...It Snows - In another attempt to close down Camp Candy, suffering from a heatwave, Deforest III unwittingly causes snow to fall
7. Saturday Night Polka Fever - A polka band takes over the camp.
8. Chester's Millions -Chester hits the jackpot with a lottery ticket.
9. Bee Prepared/Signs of Silence
10. Dr. Tongue's Amazing Adventure/Lucky Dog
11. Wild World of Camping/Total Lack of Recall
12. Battle of the Badges/The Return of the Magnificent Three
13. Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Host, Bobby Bittman