The Archie Show: The Complete Series

Almost anybody born in this country around 1960 or so will remember The Archie Show, the brief-lived 1968 animated series based on the popular comic-book characters. The 17 episodes compiled here revolve around those crazy kids from Riverdale High: Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica, and villain Reggie Mantle. Dragging the venerable comic-book property into the rock ‘n roll era meant adding music, so the episodes teem with bubble-gum songs—thanks to music promoter Don Kirshner—including the major hit “Sugar Sugar” by The Archies. Unfortunately, fans of the original comic books will find The Archie Show—created by the Filmation cartoon studio—to be a pallid imitation at best. DVD extras include an interview with producer Lou Scheimer, an interactive jukebox feature, an image gallery, and a booklet. Not a necessary purchase. (E. Hulse)