H.R. Pufnstuf To Return To Nickelodeon With First New Special In Over 40 Years

The original H.R. Pufnstuf series, like several from the era, only lasted for one season of 17 episodes back in 1969, but that run has since given rise to an icon of children's entertainment that has endured through syndication and pay-TV spots ever since, affording its titular character a kind of cross-generational clout to which few others can lay claim.

It should be bolstering news, then, for more than just those who grew up during and in the immediate wake of H.R. Pufnstuf's original run that the series — or, at least, its characters — will make a return to Nickelodeon in 2016 for a one-off special episode of preschooler series Mutt & Stuff titled H.R Pufnstuf Comes To Mutt & Stuff!.

Speaking to The Wrap, series co-creator Marty Kroftt expressed surprise at the positive reaction he had experienced since making the announcement, and hinted that there could be further TV appearances — or possibly even a movie (still) — in the works.

"This is a guest appearance on our series Mutt & Stuff," Kroftt told The Wrap. "We had been developing Pufnstuf as a movie and a possible series, but gearing towards a movie. So it's a guest shot and then, all of a sudden, who knew everyone wanted to know about Pufnstuf?

"Well, I knew, but … I got up at three in the morning to get a glass of water, and ABC News had a whole thing running across the bottom of the screen that said 'Pufnstuf' and I said, 'My god, it's the middle of the night. Look at what we created."

Although "there's an opportunity" for Pufnstuf and friends to make more than a single appearance on Mutt & Stuff — or maybe even get their own series — at the moment, Kroftt says, it's just the one, especially as work continues on the long-rumoured feature film, which first got tipped to happen at Sony back in 2000, though that was eventually dropped. It became a prospect again in 2008 but, so far, nothing concrete has developed.

"We developed it a number of times and kind of struck out with the writing," Kroftt said. "We're going to work on it again; in fact, we're at it now.

"I can't talk about what it is, but there are some things in the wind. And the possibility of a series; there's been several companies that have talked about wanting Pufnstuf. From Amazon to probably Nickelodeon. Don't take that as literal; it hasn't happened yet."