Whiz Kids TV Show

Television Show Summary for Whiz Kids

Television Show Summary

This 80's TV show is about Richie, Ham, Jeremy and Alice, four Los Angeles teenage computer hackers who are amateur detectives in their spare time.

TV Show Plot For Whiz Kids

The TV show Whiz Kids featured a group of Canyon High computer geeks who used computer technology to fight crime in their suburban California neighborhood.

Richie Adler lived with his mother and sister while his father worked on the road. Richie's father sent him some out dated pieces of electronic and computer equipment, which the boy used to develop "RALF" - his talking computer system complete with modem and webcam. He then used this computer to aid in the teens detective work.

Other Whiz Kids TV series characters were: Farley, the teens reporter friend who asked them for help on stories he was working on; Neal Quinn, Farley's brother-in-law, the police department's computer expert, who would provide police info to the Whiz Kids.

The show aired at a time when computers were not used by the masses. The teens of Whiz kids could truly be the first television computer nerds.

CBS aired 18 episodes of Whiz kids for one season. The show was produced by Philip DeGuere, also the creator of the Simon and Simon TV show.

Cast of Whiz Kids TV Show

Richie Adler - Matthew Laborteaux
Hamilton Parker - Todd Porter
Jeremy Saldino - Jeffrey Jacquet
Llewellen Farley, Jr. - Max Gail
Alice Tyler - Andrea Elson
Cheryl Adler - Melanie Gaffin
Lt. Neal Quinn - A Martinez
Irene Adler - Madelyn Cain
Ms. Vance - Linda Scruggs
Carson Marsh (1984) - Dan O'Herlihy

Trivia for the TV Show Whiz Kids

Comments

I Love this show

I don't know why, but I really love this show. It's a bummer that it isn't available "officially" on DVD, but you CAN buy it at www.vintagevsds.com. The quality of the dvd isn't the best, but it was made from old VHS copies off the air so it is what you would expect, but I am grateful to be able to see it at all.

Anyways, if you like movies like "Wargames" or "Cloak and Dagger" you will probably like this television series so you owe it to yourself to give it a try!

:)

#1 - Adept Rapier - 04/17/2007 - 23:28

Mr.

Please advice supplier of "Whiz Kids" dvd 1983

#2 - TIM DUNCUMB - 12/21/2007 - 15:38

The reason why i took up the drums

It was an excellent show and the reason why i took up the drums after watching ham parker blasting round the kit on the opening credits

I have about 4 episodes still to this day on vhs cant throw them away. Should have lasted more than 1 season and after 20 years its about time it came out on dvd..

#3 - david stephenson - 08/24/2008 - 03:54

I remember the series well - was there a scene where Richie changed the motorway sign to read 'Rhino on the loose' or something?

If anyone wanted to upload the files to www.humyo.com it would be much appreciated

#4 - faceless - 12/03/2008 - 20:21

Reason I got into computers

This show is the reason I am in IT right now. I started programming after watching this show. I watched this one religiously. I wanted to be a hacker so bad..lol.. I started on my Commodore Vic 20.

#5 - Dee - 02/13/2009 - 07:12

Yes!!

This kids inspired to many of us, i am software developer, thanks to them, please where can buy this TV serie.

#6 - Kaliman - 02/17/2009 - 14:25

My life have been change since that movie

I love computers and I'm in computer business just because I watch these tv movies. It inspired me and what I can say is that all was like fiction in the past but now all can be done with a simple PC. Thank you for this great movies. I wish they can sell dvd's. I'll be the first to buy it.

#7 - steve suard - 07/17/2009 - 01:48

OMG i'm actually watching this show right now i have all 18 episodes plus the cross over episode with simon and simon the quality is not very good but watchable and the sign said elephant on the loose i think, its a real shame that they only made 1 season as i loved it maybe they should remake it but actually still do it in the set in the 80's and have the original stars make guest appearances after all they made a comedy show set in the 70's. got go richie's dad just sent him a robot kit and has just brought a cmos decoder chip so he can find out who is accessing the lapd computer..

#8 - Steven Copson - 09/07/2009 - 00:20

yeah, the premise for this show sounds TOTALLY realistic. a group of four young kids from los angeles that just happen to be COMPUTER HACKERS are also PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS in their SPARE time. jeez the 80's were such a WEIRD time.

#9 - graphicartist2k5 - 10/21/2009 - 11:44

A fan from Argentina

I watched the show during the 80's in Argentina, I was just starting what you call Junior high in the US, and my mom purchased a small Spectrum Sinclair in 82 then my brother and I, started writing applications, then the next year they started airing Whiz-Kids (the series was called “El Chico de las computadoras” and I was completely fascinated with the show, now I am a Computer Engineer as many of the kids that watched that show. 80’s were awesome!!

#10 - Eric - 11/17/2009 - 14:24

Hello from germany

I never saw this show, it was running only one time in germany on rtl plus back in 1989, today rtl, but as child I had the audiobooks and would love to see it someday, also in english.

#11 - 80er Bit - 11/27/2009 - 12:06

Computers & Mozart!

Like this friend from argentina my father bought to me first a ti 99a and then a msi msx. today I have a desktop, a netbook and a BB. And I still remember the theme of "whiz Kids" wich was a very special version of concerto 21 from the genius Mozart! than you for your article.

#12 - kurt - 12/31/2009 - 07:49

Whiz Kids

Want this TV Series for a long time now. Even interested if someone has it on VHS or if somebody can tell me where to get it.
Thank you so much

#13 - Patrick - 08/30/2010 - 02:35

awesome show

I had just read the novelisation of "wargames" and then this show came out when i was young I loved it I bought my first computer a sinclair ZX81 with a memotech 16k ram pack I was hooked on computers then. It cost £39.99 UK and was a special promotion in the UK retailer/newsagents WH Smith I had other computers after a dragon 32, vic-20,sinclair 48k spectrum, commodore C16, sony hit bit msx,commodore 64, amiga and atari ste/fm. Those were great days i used to read practical computer weekly in the UK, my grandad even liked the show.

#14 - Paul - 10/10/2010 - 18:56

little house on prarie

didnt mathew laborteaux used to be in Little house on the prarie too?

www.flickr.com/photos/airtorbay/

#15 - paul - 10/10/2010 - 18:58

Argentina in the 80's

I loved this show so much. In Argentina it was actually called "La Pandilla de la Computadora" or the Computer Gang. I noticed someone else from Argentina comment and I got all nostalgic. I wore glasses and played with a commodore 64 ALL DAMN DAY and still managed to get laid and score a wife after I grew up, but computers have always been my passion! Hope they release this proper in dvd before I die!

#16 - Brian - 11/27/2012 - 19:44

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