In 1989, Viacom Enterprises (learn: Paramount) launched “The Tremendous Mario Bros Tremendous Present!,” a collection which acquired 65 episodes. Now, it will really feel like we’re pranking you, however all the things you are about to learn is 100% true: “Tremendous Present!” options live-action segments through which Mario (Lou Albano) and his brother, Luigi (Danny Wells), run their very own plumbing enterprise. If that seems like a sitcom, properly, you are not far off. We’ll come again to this in a second.

“Tremendous Present!” additionally options animated segments, through which Mario and Luigi are transported to the Mushroom Kingdom through a busted bathtub drain. As soon as there, the collection extra precisely resembles the video video games. Within the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario and Luigi should battle alongside Princess Toadstool (Jeannie Elias) to thwart the depraved King Koopa (Harvey Atkin) — aka Princess Peach and Bowser respectively. Right here, “Tremendous Present!” is much less of a sitcom and extra of a regular animated serial. It is all villains and heroes and flavor-of-the-week plots that normally wrap up earlier than the episode ends. Typical Saturday morning stuff. 

You also needs to know that “The Tremendous Mario Bros Tremendous Present!” featured animated segments primarily based on one among Nintendo’s different huge online game franchises, “The Legend of Zelda.” (That is probably not related, it is simply cool a cool factor to notice.) The live-action bits embody a hilariously hokey intro theme through which Albano and Wells groove to a rap beat whereas a disembodied voice proclaims “Evil Koopa and his Troopas are as much as misbehavin’. They kidnapped the princess, Mushroom Land wants savin’.” 

With bars like that, how might Nintendo not convey them again for a brand new coat of paint?