Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills

Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills
Opening Title Card
Created by Jim Fisher
Jim Staahl
Starring Leslie Danon
Richard Nason
K. Jill Sorgen
Rugg Williams
Voices of Glenn Shadix
Ed Gilbert
David L. Lander
Composer(s) Michael Turner; Steve Griffen, Gryphon Music Services
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 40
Production
Running time 27 minutes
Production company(s) DIC Entertainment
Distributor DHX Distribution (currently)
Release
Original network USA Network
NBC
Original release October 3, 1994 – December 8, 1995

Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters From Beverly Hills, sometimes abbreviated as TTAFFBH, is an American television series which was produced by DIC Entertainment and aired on the USA Network and NBC during the 1994–1995 season.[1] Reruns of the show later aired as part of the Cookie Jar Toons block on This TV from 2011 to 2012.

Synopsis

The show was set in Beverly Hills, California. The four central characters of the show were teens selected by a blob-like alien named Nimbar to fight off the monsters sent by the evil Emperor Gorganus. Gorganus is intent on conquering Earth because it is the focal point for a network of "Power Portals" that would facilitate conquest of the galaxy. In the first episode, Nimbar recruits the four high school students and with a touch by his "finger" gives them each a tattoo, based on a constellation in the celestial sphere. When their tattoos flash, this means Nimbar needs them and a power portal appears that they can pass through to enter his chamber. Nimbar is the Head Protector of the Power Portals. As such, he served as a Zordon-like mentor.

The teens could then stand atop platforms called "Transo Discs" and transform into "Galactic Sentinels" with super powers. When they put their hands together in an interlocking square they form the ultimate Galactic Sentinel called Knightron.[2]

In one episode, there was a replacement for Laurie when she was injured badly by Predaraptor. He is known as Orion in sentinel mode, his true form. His civilian name was unknown in his duration on Earth. But when Nimbar pronounced his name in an utteration of slurs and gurgles, he stated with a sneer "Just call me Rick." He was played by Kevin Castro who also played Tanker in the related series Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad.

They frequently could be seen in a coffee shop owned by Drew's aunt Nichole Nash.

One interesting difference between the two shows is that in this show, people noted they were missing. When Drew's aunt confronted her about this and Drew revealed her secret, she brought her to a psychiatrist to help with her "delusions." It also differed from similar shows in that the heroes were not good friends and in that they sometimes had trouble getting along.

The show also featured at least one episode that made a jab at the "monster of the day" convention by showing how tactically unsound the practice is for conquering a planet. Gorganus went on vacation in that episode. His chief henchman Lechner tried to conquer Earth in his absence, and when the monster he sent was about to be destroyed, he recalled it and sent another moments later. The heroes were nearly defeated until the main villain returned and re-implemented the "monster of the day" formula.

It should be noted that the Galactic Sentinels must not reveal their true identity to anyone. In the event that someone happens to follow them through a power portal, they will end up being subjected to the Memory Fader once the monster that Emperor Gorganus sends is defeated.

Characters

Galactic Sentinels

The Galactic Sentinels are champions of Nimbar who can be summoned to him when the tattoos bestowed upon them flashes:

  • Laurie Foster (played by Leslie Danon) – Smart, sensible, and very organized. As Scorpio (Scorpio played by Teresa Fahl) she has light green armor. Her weapon is a slim bladed sword. Laurie was the original leader of the Galactic Sentinels before Gordon took the mantle
  • Gordon Henley (played by Richard Nason) – The Leader of the Galactic Sentinels, although not very likable at first, he quickly earns his title. He becomes Taurus (Taurus played by John Wilson), donning a black outfit. He wields a staff as his weapon.
  • Drew Vincent (played by Jill Urbach, credited as K. Jill Sorgen) – Drew is the smart tough girl who works at the coffee shop the kids regularly hang out in. She becomes Centaur (Centaur played by Teresa Davis), wearing the purple outfit. She uses a battle axe as her weapon.
  • Swinton Sawyer (played by Rugg Williams) – Swinton is the brains of the group. He wore glasses and was African-American; unlike the other teens. He wears a yellow suit and holds the power of Apollo (Apollo played by William Glenn). His weapon is a small unnamed double-bladed weapon.
  • Rick (played by Kevin Castro) – In one episode, Rick is an alien in human form and former warrior for Nimbar. He is cold, distant, and after being the sole survivor of his destroyed planet, he is full of anger toward Nimbar and the other guardians. He holds the power of Orion which he uses on the fourth transo disc when Laurie is unable to fight. His name is too complicated for humans to speak so he insists that Nimbar call him "Rick". His suit is silver and his fellow Sentinels were Leo, Draco, and Ursa who were badly defeated by Predaraptor.
  • Knightron – A powerful knight who is the combination of any four Galactic Sentinels. In order to form Knightron, the sentinels must put out their tattooed arms to make a square. He is the Ultimate Galactic Sentinel that wields a sword and a shield. However, Knightron's power is "finite" and the Galactic Sentinels are only to form him as a last resort. Knightron never actually speaks in any of the installments, and the name of the stuntman who wore the armor was never revealed in the credits. According to the show's fight coordinator, Robert Chapin, stunt actors Jim Kratt and Deron Mcbee alternated wearing the armor.

Villains

  • Emperor Gorganus (voiced by Ed Gilbert) – The primary antagonist of the series and ruler of the planet Meleculah. Emperor Gorganus is intent on conquering Earth because it is the focal point for a network of "Power Portals" that would facilitate conquest of the galaxy. He views the battles between his monsters and the Galactic Sentinels through a microscope-like device. The character was played by the show's pyrotechnic director, Josh Culp (son of Robert Culp).
    • Lechner (voiced by David Lander) – Emperor Gorganus' pet bird and henchman. He tends to irritate Emperor Gorganus with inquiries and questions yet grovels and reacts with statements when Emperor Gorganus threatens him. Emperor Gorganus tends to use Lechner as his scapegoat.

Monsters

These are monstrous mercenaries with various abilities that Emperor Gorganus sends to Earth for various tasks. Emperor Gorganus can reconstruct his monsters if they are destroyed, modify the monsters' powers, strengthen them, or even transfer the powers of one monster into another. The following monsters have been used:

  • Ninjabot – Ninjabot is a robotic samurai-like monster. Armed with a katana that could shoot energy bolts. Played by stunt actor Gary Kasper.
  • Neuragula – A brain monster. It has two hemispheres: one controlling emotions the other controlling intelligence. Its most distinguishing ability would be its ear-piercing screech. It could shoot laser beams, shoot energy prisons, and could mind control its victims.
  • The Sorcerer – A masked wizard who is one of Emperor Gorganus' most cunning and nefarious monsters. He can use magical attacks and can teleport.
  • Voldek – An electrical knight monster that could produce static electricity. Played by stunt actor Gary Kasper.
  • Slaygar – A toxic waste monster.
  • Octodroid – Octodroid is an octopus-themed monster. He has the ability to turn freshwater into saltwater, drain the moisture from others, and attack with his tentacles.
  • Isolus – A female ice-elemental monster. Besides her usual ice attacks, she wields a sword and shield with her sword also able to shoot ice beams. Played by Mary Reid, who was also one of the original Red Sonjas at Universal's live Conan show in the 80's.
  • Culebra – A cobra-like monster who can breathe heat.
  • Predaraptor – A dinosaur-like monster that is nearly indestructible. He creates a light above the ridge of his head before he emits a deadly beam.
  • Snake Trooper – A snake monster. He can shoot lasers from his hands. Played by actor Terence Rotolo.

Other characters

  • Nimbar (voiced by Glenn Shadix) – Nimbar is a gelatinous blob with high intelligence that calls the teens together, controls and retains their powers and opens portals to and from Earth at will. Nimbar is the Head Protector of the Power Portals and he grants his soldiers tattoos with which to communicate and open portals near simply by swiping an arm-like extension over their wrist. He has failed in the past to protect a world from Gorganus and will stop at nothing to insure Earth does not meet the same fate.
  • Diane Henley (played by Dani Douthette) – Gordon's mother and the Mayor of Beverly Hills. In "The Ghost Warrior," she temporarily learns that Gordon is Taurus until the Memory Fader is used on her after the Sorcerer's defeat.
  • Nicole Nash (played by Janna Lowell) – Drew's aunt who is a movie star. She also owns the Coffee House where the Galactic Sentinels hang out.
  • Janessa Francks (played by Megalyn Echikunwoke) – Laurie's friend and Swinton's love interest. She finds out early on that they are the Galactic Sentinels, but doesn't tell she knows and figures ways to cover them when they go on a mission.
  • Roland Sawyer (played by Charles Walker) – Swinton's father. In "Mind Games," he planned to transfer Swinton to Billwood Academy until Drew as Swinton asserted himself.
  • Sam (played by Jeff Doucette) – The manager of the Coffee House that Nicole owns.
  • Pixel (voiced by Debi Derryberry) – An alien from Hunab Ku that appears in "The Opiate from the Future". Her kind has the ability to predict the future and must be in a light source in order to communicate with anyone. Emperor Gorganus had captured her in order to predict his future until Pixel tricked Lechner into letting her out. The Galactic Sentinels rescue her from Slaygar as she tells them to form Knightron. When asked by the Galactic Sentinels if they will be able to defeat Emperor Gorganus, her predictions come up as yes and no. After Slaygar is defeated, Nimbar uses his technology to portal the rock that Pixel is in back to Hunab Ku.
  • Dr. Bradford Clamtin (played by Beans Morocco) – A psychiatrist who appears in the two-part episode "The Psychiatrist". He is called in by Nicole Nash to do some therapy on Drew when it is claimed that Drew has compulsive lying syndrome. He does discover the truth about the Galactic Sentinels during their fight with Snake Trooper. Before he can start his new book about his encounters, Drew subjects him to the Memory Fader, causing Dr. Bradford Clamtin to forget what he has seen and being called in by Nicole Nash.

Episodes

  1. In the Beginning.... - Emperor Gorganus makes his plans to conquer Earth and sends Ninjabot to attack Earth. Nimbar selects four teens to be his champions and become Galactic Sentinels.
  2. The Note - Drew writes a note to make Gordon think Laurie likes him to prove he just follows rules. Meanwhile, Emperor Gorganus sends Neuragula to Earth.
  3. How Time Flies - Emperor Gorganus sends the Sorcerer to speed up time on Earth which causes some problems for the Galactic Sentinels.
  4. Switch - The Galactic Sentinels accidentally switch genders, changing bodies and lives during their fight with Voldek.
  5. Perceptions - Swinton gets advice from everyone on how to talk to a pretty girl. Meanwhile, Emperor Gorganus sends Slaygar to pollute the Earth.
  6. Three Cheats to the Wind - Drew works on her essay of Les Misérables. Meanwhile, Emperor Gorganus sends Octodroid to change the Earth's freshwater into saltwater.
  7. The Quitter - Neuragala uses his powers to turn Laurie into a selfish brat causing her to quit the Galactic Sentinels leaving the others powerless to stop Neuragula.
  8. Commitments - Drew and Gordon pose as a couple when they use the bracelet belonging to Gordon's mom to save the world.
  9. Mind Games - The Galactic Sentinels bring the Sorcerer's wand which causes Nimbar to act strangely and causes him to disband the Galactic Sentinels. Meanwhile, Swinton tells the others that his parents plan on transferring him to the Billwood Academy.
  10. The Spy - Emperor Gorganus sends Isolus to Earth disguised as a foreign exchange student named Ilse Lang.
  11. The Brain Drain - Gorganus Sends Neuragula to drain the minds of the people on Earth.
  12. A Nightmare on Rodeo Drive - Emperor Gorganus sends the Sorcerer to bring the nightmares of the Galactic Sentinels to life.
  13. The Rat - Gordon ends up having his mind transmodified into Swinton's mouse Darwin upon going through the Power Portal with it at the same time. Meanwhile, Emperor Gorganus sends Culebra to raise Earth's temperature.
  14. The Cover-Up - Emperor Gorganus sends Octodroid to capture a Galactic Sentinel. He manages to successfully capture Swinton and now the others have to find a way to rescue him while trying to cover-up where Swinton is to his father.
  15. Bully For You - An attempt to restore Swinton's confidence by disguising Gordon as Culebra backfires when the real Culebrea appears and almost destroys the Galactic Sentinels.
  16. Trust - Laurie, Gordon, and Swinton read from Drew's diary when it comes to her family life. Meanwhile, Emperor Gorganus sends Voldek to knock out Earth's electrical grid.
  17. The Y Files - Two government agents arrive in Beverly Hills and consider it as Ground Zero for all extraterrestrial sightings. Meanwhile, Emperor Gorganus sends Isolus to Earth's desert in order to plunge the Earth into the next Ice Age.
  18. The Chocolate War - Thanks to Emperor Gorganus and Culebra, a friendly competition gets out of hand and threatens the ability of the Galactic Sentinels to form Knighttron.
  19. The Monster Among Us - Gordon misses out on the date of a lifetime as Emperor Gorganus and Octodroid replaces Taurus with a look-alike android.
  20. The Universal Hitchhiker - Drew learns a lesson in believing in others when she redeems a fallen Sentinel call Orion that ends up saving the Galactic Sentinels from Predaraptor.
  21. Deja Vu - The Galactic Sentinels have to live a party life over and over until they get it right and destroy Neuragula who has trapped them in a time loop.
  22. The Ghost Warrior - Emperor Gorganus sends the Sorcerer to Earth disguised as Taurus in order to make a public appearance in a plot to lure out the Galactic Sentinels.
  23. The Opiate from the Future - Emperor Gorganus sends Slaygar to capture Pixel, an alien from Hunab Ku whose kind can predict the future. When the Galactic Sentinels rescue Pixel, the Galactic Sentinels hope to use Pixel in their advantage during their fight against Emperor Gorganus.
  24. The Leech - The Sorcerer places a Mind Leech onto Drew in order to find out the identities of the Galactic Sentinels. The Mind Leech ends up causing a personality change in Drew.
  25. Gordon Cries Wolf - Gordon's white lie gets him in trouble when he ends up involving Laurie when he overhears that a student named Brad is going to ask her out and then diss her. Meanwhile, Emperor Gorganus sends an upgraded Isolus to destroy the Galactic Sentinels.
  26. Penny for Your Thoughts - Laurie believes she has the ability to read minds as a Residual Effect from portaling. But what she hears isn't nice and is on the verge of tearing the team apart when they discover the false thoughts were planted by Neuragula.
  27. Turncoat - Given an opportunity by Ninjabot to save Earth forever from Emperor Gorganus, the Galactic Sentinels learn they cannot pass along their problems to somebody else.
  28. Mr. Popularity - After being hit by Wish Dust emitted from Predaraptor's tail, Swinton discovers he should be careful what he wishes for...it might come true...especially if Emperor Gorganus can use it to destroy the Galactic Sentinels.
  29. Winner Takes All - The teens decide to be friends, only to learn friendship has its pitfalls, when Earth is at stake when Emperor Gorganus sends Ninjabot to challenge the Galactic Sentinels.
  30. Beverly Hills 902-Oblivion - The Galactic Sentinels must defend the homefront when it is discovered a Bal Darian Portal Torpedo has been portaled back to the Coffeehouse with them following their fight with Predaraptor.
  31. Ozone O-Mio - Emperor Gorganus sends Slaygar to suck up the Earth's ozone layer while Gordon is busy sucking up to Swinton's father.
  32. The Glitch - While fighting Voldek, the Power Portal develops a malfunction which sends the Galactic Sentinels to some very strange parallel universes where someone else is the Mayor of Beverly Hills.
  33. Emperor for a Day - Swinton tries to take a test that would get him into college. Meanwhile, Emperor Gorganus goes on vacation and Lechner watches over the palace while Emperor Gorganus is away. Lechner almost succeeds in driving Nimbar to the breaking point with Culebra's appearing and disappearing from Earth.
  34. The Impostor - Aunt Nicole's soap opera "Storm and Stress" bases a new character on Drew, and Laurie lands the role. Laurie begins to emulate Drew in an attempt to "get in character." Drew's resentment at this threatens to destroy the Sentinels' team unity when Emperor Gorganus sends Voldek to Earth.
  35. Take Two Galactic Sentinels and Call Nimbar in the Morning - The common cold almost causes the destruction of the Earth when it sweeps through the ranks of the Galactic Sentinels, ultimately afflicting even Nimbar. Meanwhile, Emperor Gorganus sends Isolus to reverse Earth's temperatures.
  36. The Last People on Earth - Gordon tries to find the guy who ripped him off with the fake CD Player. Meanwhile, Emperor Gorganus gives Voldek a Lifeform Compressor in order to collect the people of Earth.
  37. The Primal Scream - Emperor Gorganus attempts to activate a Portal Jammer which will defeat Nimbar. Drew, Swinton and Gordon race the clock to reverse a galactic virus which is de-evolving Laurie into a deranged monster while fighting Slaygar at the same time.
  38. The Psychiatrist Pt. 1 - The Galactic Sentinels face discovery, when Drew has to meet with a psychiatrist named Dr. Bradford Clamtin who wants to institutionalize her! Meanwhile, Emperor Gorganus installs a memory-enhancing chip into Snake Trooper so that he can anticipate the Galactic Sentinels' every move.
  39. The Psychiatrist Pt. 2 - Dr. Bradford Clamtin discovers the truth about the Galactic Sentinels as Snake Trooper begins its next attack.
  40. It's a Gorganus Life - On Christmas, Drew is eager to see It's a Wonderful Life and Nimbar plans to teach the Galactic Sentinels a lesson by placing them in a hologram to show what would happen if Emperor Gorganus had conquered Earth. Emperor Gorganus takes the opportunity to reprogram the hologram so that he can have an advantage when he fights the Galactic Sentinels.

DVD release

On October 1, 2013, Mill Creek Entertainment (under license from DHX Media) released the complete series on DVD in Region 1 for the first time.[3]

References

  1. ↑ The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 935. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
  2. ↑ Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters – The Complete Series, 2013 DVD, ASIN B00F3L8P1C
  3. ↑ "Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters From Beverly Hills DVD news: Announcement for Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters From Beverly Hills - The Complete Series". TVShowsOnDVD.com. 2013-09-09. Archived from the original on 2015-06-11. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
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