Shark Bytes

Clint Howard was cute compared to Dawn Lyn (Dodie from My Three Sons) who was voted the Fugliest child star of all time.You would agree if you saw her today.

What made it even funnier was the Simpson's parody this show as Gentle Ben as a Mid-90's talk show host. Ha! what a smack in the face to all of those ex-child TV Star's who had Talk shows.

That hideous little cretin, little Clint Howard, should have been the one being walked on the end of a chain. And if anyone is wondering what he's doing now. He drives race cars under the name of Todd Bodine.

This show jumped because Clint Howard was not that appealing a kid actor.

Face facts. Some kids (like his brother, the great Ron Howard) look good in front of the camera, others (like Ken Weatherwax from The Addams Family) do not.

Clint Howard does not.

Just for the record, I don't hold it against him. Hell, I'm one ugly mother too!

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I loved GENTLE BEN when I was a kid. This quiet domestic drama about a boy in living in the Florida everglades with his pet bear was very entertaining in my opinion. Dennis Weaver and Beth Brickell (whatever happened to her?) were good parent figures and Clint Howard was charming as young Mark. However, Howard lost all his charm and acting ability when he grew up, or haven't you seen COCOON or THE WATERBOY? He's only working now because big brother Ron is one of the biggest director/producers in Hollywood who can write his own ticket and cast whoever he wants. GENTLE BEN was a harmless family drama that never jumped the shark.

I saw one episode of the show where the narrative ended about five minutes early, and then suddenly a musical short of "Mark" singing while walking on the beach started. It was some dumb song about the adventures of a little boy, with a chorus that went something like, "Su-per man, a red ball-oon. Su-per man,.." or something like that. Clint Howard was still in character as Mark, because the 2 parents from the show were standing by with dorky smiles on their faces. And, all were looking right at the camera, as if to tell us all that they are actors, and not a fictitious TV family. It had nothing to do with the show.

AS far as I see it, this show never jumped because it was always the same. The family were a little eerie, sure, but I always remember that I wished I lived in the everglades as where I lived there was nothing like it. And I agree about the boat with the huge engine. I wish I had one of those beauts even now! What year was this crazy escapade made in anyhoo?

I guess the mom was TPTB's answer to those that bemoaned the lack of female input in 'Flipper' but what a useless character she was! I mean, the one time she ever did anything besides nag her husband and son was when she took her son's Cub Scout troop camping and wound up having to be rescued from a hurricane. .. by The Bear!

Oh my God, simply scrolling down to reveal the words "Gentle Ben" brings me out in a cold sweat. To employ the US vernacular, THIS SHOW SUCKED!!! I longed for the episode in which Ben regressed from the perfect pet to psychotic killing machine and ripped that annoying kid's head clean from his body before eating "mom and dad" and taking that (admittedly quite cool) boat/hover thing for a joy-ride. However this episode never came. Quite the worst piece of moralizing, sickly-sweet bile that ever crossed the pond.

That boat was the greatest. Most of us saw nothing like it until "LIVE AND LET DIE"

The show was modestly fun for me as a kid. I'd always roll my eyes when my parents would complain that Mark never got punished for some of the situations he would get himself and Ben into. They never realized that if Mark had been an obedient boy, it would have sucked what little excitement there was, right out of the show. Having never seen his work on Gunsmoke, I came away from this show thinking Dennis Weaver couldn't act, and could never be a star (then came McCloud). Anyone noticed that the bear in Grizzly Adams had the same name? Wonder what's the connection between a massive, fierce forest creature and a soft name like Benjamin?