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Tugs (TV series)

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TUGS was a show made by producers of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, Robert D. Cardona and David Mitton.

Tugs is all about two tug teams, called the Star Fleet and the Z Stacks, around Bigg City Port, towing in ships like the ocean liners Duchess, Princess Alice and Vienna along with freighters (Tramp Steamers) like Izzy Gomez, a ship who likes to get into port for free, from South America and Johnny Cuba, a notorious smuggler, possibly from Australia.

The Star Fleet is owned by Captain Star. He has the Star Tugs: three harbour tugs - O.J., who is the oldest of all the tugs, but very wise, Warrior, the strongest tug but not too bright, and Big Mac, one of the strongest tugs who is a leader, a railway tug Top Hat, who is stuck up and hates dirty work, two switchers Ten Cents and Sunshine, and Hercules an ocean going tug. They were a good crew, the best in the port about trust and friendship.

The Z Stacks are owned by Captain Zero. It contains Zorran, Zebedee, Zak, Zug, and Zip. They tend to use devious, underhanded methods (Such as pushing them onto sand banks) to try and stop the Star Tugs. They are rather cunning, but not too bright as seen in several episodes - mainly Bigg Freeze and High Tide.

There are also several other characters, such as Grampus, a midget navy submarine, Bluenose the naval tug, Lord Stinker the garbage barge, and Lillie the lightship who is responsible for guiding ships into port and Hercules' girlfriend.

Even though the Star Tugs and Z Stacks compete for jobs and contracts, they sometimes join together to save each other or help each other out, most notably in the episode Munitions were a naval transport, Krakatoa, goes up in flames, causing a horrific dockyard inferno and both fleets work together to stop the fire.

There was once talk of a second series, but nothing was done, and the models and sets were sold to Britt Allcroft, whose company used the models (Albeit heavily modified) for Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends in the year 1991 onwards. TUGS has thirteen 15 minute long episodes and a rather large fanbase for such a relativily obscure children's show.

There is currently a campaign to get TUGS onto DVD.

Episodes

TUGS spanned for thirteen separate episodes, which dealt with a range of ideas and plots that involved the use of drama and special effects. Many typical 'rules' of the 'talking transport' genre (see Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends) were broken. Many believe that TUGS is by far much darker and mature in contrast to Thomas, especially in its current state.

A Note on Episode List: There is no set episode list for the series, though it mainly compiled around the Castle Vision video releases, which provided the episodes in sets of two and three. The main structure is centered around the 'death' of Big Mickey (see Character list below), who 'died' in Munitions. The latter had a minor role in High Tide, so it is safe to presume that the episode came before Munitions. Many believe that Bigg Freeze is in fact the final episode, due to its warmth and conclusion, which appeared to round the entire series to a finale and closure.

Notes for the series:

  • "Trapped" is the only episode not to feature Warrior.
  • Warrior made a cameo in "Jinxed" and "Quarantine".
  • "Ghosts" was the spooky themed episode of the season.
  • "High Tide" was the only episode to include Zak as the main character.
  • Ten Cents and Sunshine appeared in every episode.

Characters

The Star Fleet

The Z-Stacks

Other Tugs

  • Bluenose
  • Fire Tug
  • Boomer
  • Billy Shoepack
  • Sea Rogue
  • Sea Rogue's Uncle
  • Burke & Blair
  • The Pirates - A pair of villianous tugboats who slipped into Bigg City Port with the intension of stealing loaded barges that could be sold off illegaly for trade. To increase their security, they used Sea Rouge as their decoy, and to make sure that he performed their bidding, they took his uncle hostage and threatened to sink him if Sea Rouge disobeyed them. With the unexpected help of Zip and Zug, the Star Fleet and Sea Rouge were able to capture the pirate tugs and hand them into the authorities. The pirate tugs were mysterious-looking vessels with black paint and a distinguishable pair of green-tinted spotlights. They are known among fans as 'The Green-Eyed Things'.
  • The White Fleet - A fleet of tugboats who came to Bigg City Port during the midst of winter. They came from 'northern waters' in search of an iceberg, and travelled about the harbour at night with engines 'off', listening for cracking ice. They were mistaken by the Star Fleet, Zorran and Izzy for being the undead phantoms of a tug fleet that sank in the great storm of 1912. After an eventful night, Hercules revealed the truth behind the White Fleet. Since then, the Star Tugs found they could laugh it off, but never forgot the night when fog nearly turned them crazy.

Other Vessels

  • Lillie Lightship; a special and much-loved lightship, placed at Dender Rocks to warn shipping of potential hazard. The Star Fleet have the contract to provide her with the nessesary fuel to keep her light shining. She appeared for the first time in a small cameo role Sunshine, although she had more important roles in later episodes, particually Regatta, in which she was hit by a blinded tramp steamer that made a hole in her side. She was saved by Grampus, and repairs at Lucky's Yard allowed her to view the annual regatta. Lillie's light failed for a second time in Bigg Freeze, which meant that the Star Fleet needed to find another source to guild Hercules into the astury with the liner Vienna. Hercules appears to have 'a special place in his heart' for Lillie.
  • Grampus; a 'midget' submarine owned by the navy. He is a close friend with the Star Fleet and has helped them out in various situations. He appeared for the first time in Pirate, in which he helped to prove Ten Cents' (Star No. 1) innocence. In Regatta, he was nearly blown up by the navy having been branded as 'too old' for further service, but he was swiftly rescued by the Star Fleet. On the same day, he was bought by Captain Star and joined the Star Tugs as their eigth member.
  • Izzy Gomez; a large tramp steamer from South America and a regular sight in Bigg City Port, bringing in large loads of imported banannas. Distinguishable by his South American accent and sombrero, Izzy is infamous for trying (and failing) to bribe tug boats into giving him a cheap tow into port. He has landed himself in various troublesome situations, but once redeemed himself by testifying on Sunshine's behalf when the latter of accused of sabotaging a liner docking operation. During his time in Bigg City Port, Izzy has been subjected to ghosts and potential sinking. He is close close friends with Warrior (Star No. 5) of the Stars, and appears to have a love/hate relationship with Zorran (Z Stack No. 1)
  • Johnny Cuba; a notorious and violent tramp steamer gangster from Australia, he made his first and only ground-breaking appearence in High Winds. Cuba had arrived at Bigg City Port to make plans with fellow criminal friends during a period of strong and troublesome tempest weather. He threatened Zebedee (Z Stack No. 2) and manipulated him into helping him into the port. Cuba sent Zebedee on an erand to steal a barge of coal, and threatened to sink him if he landed either of them in trouble. Due to a fued between Cuba and Captain Zero that occured in the past, Zebedee was placed in an awkward and dangerous situation, until Hercules' (Star No. 6) discovered Cuba's hide-out behind an old dock. Zebedee strike up the courage to trap Cuba and have him sent in for questioning.
  • Lord Stinker; an aged garbage barge, infamous for carrying a heavy stench, who works mostly with Warrior (Star No. 5). He is a quick thinker and once devised a masterous plan to save a train from disaster, which gained him a newly founded respect from Top Hat (Star No. 4). He has made numerous appearences, noteably High Tide, Warrior, Munitions and Regatta.
  • Frank & Eddie; a pair of twin railway barges (also known as car floats) who work with Top Hatt (Star No. 4), used for the transportation of railway stock across the port. They are very quick-witted and are among the few that can deal with Top Hat's superiority.
  • Mighty Moe; Bigg City Port's largest floating crane, used for salvage operations. Appeared for the first time in Jinxed, in which his crane-horse jammed whilst lifting Boomer out of the water.
  • Little Ditcher; an A-Frame, one of the smaller floating cranes to be found in the port. He is sometimes used for dredging up-river at Mitsville. Appeared for the first time in Trapped, and has made numerous appearences in various episodes.
  • Scuttlebutt Pete; a dredger and a notorious gossip. He believes in ghosts, and enjoys resurfacing superstition among the boats of the harbour during long periods of fog. He appeared for the first time in Pirate when his infamous trait of craft was revealed, and later in High Winds.
  • Nantucket; a dirty old tramp steamer and a notorious villian. Made his first and only appearence in Quarantine, in which he attempted to foil Sunshine into taking him into port by pulling down the checkered quarantine flag. After his plan was foiled, he was sentenced by the Coast Guard to a further forty days in quarantine along with Zorran.
  • Krakatoa; the naval tramp steamer who made her first and only appearence in Munitions. She was destroyed and sunk after a fire errupted on the dock in the middle of a loading operation that involved both fuel and munitions.
  • Coast Guard; a small vessel who acts as customs officer for the port. He often stands at the entrance to the estuary ready to question and check incoming shipping before clearence. On other occassions he stands by and over-looks large-scale operations, such as demolition and quarry work. He also doubled as a 'one-man' police-force. Despite his size, he has heavy influence and authority over the vessels of the port. He has made numerous cameo appearences, but had minor speaking roles in High Winds and Quarintine.
  • Coast Guard's Messenger; a small motor boat with a shrill whistle, he appeared only briefly in Regatta to inform the Star Fleet of Lillie Lightship's predicament, having been sent by the Coast Guard to deliever the message. The same small vessel doubled as the 'mad' speed boat that caused the accident in Quarantine.
  • Pearl; an oyster barge, she made her only brief appearence in Warrior, working with Sunshine and Little Ditcher out in the estuary.
  • Old Rusty; possibly a naval tramp steamer, he made only a brief appearence in Warrior, anchored out in the estuary.
  • The Fulton Ferry; a paddle-driven ferry boat used for freighting vehicles and goods across the harbour. It appeared in various episodes, but was finally named in Quarantine, when it was temporarily sunk in the middle of the port after hitting a fire barge towed by OJ. It was later salvaged by Mighty Moe.
  • The Liners; The Duchess, Princess Alice and Vienna each played various roles in selected episodes, requiring the services of the Star Fleet.
  • The Shrimpers; appearing in various episodes, they had a note-worthy role in Ghosts, when a group of four or five were accidently led into a mud-bank whilst following Warrior back to port, using him as a guide through the fog.
  • Spy Submarine; appeared in the Buzz Book spin-off 'Nothing to Declare'. Foiled by Johnny Cuba.

Other Characters

  • Captain Star; the narrator of the Tugs series, and a veteran sailor who owns the Star Fleet. He takes great pride in his fleet, but he knows that it is important to be hard on them in order to succeed.
  • Captain Zero; Captain Star's main rival, owner of the Z-Stacks/Zero Fleet. Very little is known about him, although it is often implied that he has a criminal gangster background. He is always looking for ways of getting ahead of Captain Starr, and will often resort to 'devious' ways in order to do so.
  • Garbage Corporation; owner of the Garbage Corporation yard. Organises the 'Municipal Garbage Corporation' float for the annual regatta. He appears in a famous scene from Regatta.
  • Quarry Master; owner of the rock quarry. Appears briefly in Warrior.
  • Sally Seaplane; a sea plane, friend of the Star Fleet who have the contract to provide her fuel. Sunshine appears to have a slight crush on her. She appears only briefly in a selected number of episodes.
  • Jack the Grapper; a garbage scooper who works at the Garbage Corproation quay for loading Lord Stinker. He assisted in the organisation of the 'Municipal Garbage Corportation' float for the annual regatta. He appears in a famous scene from Regatta.
  • Puffa; a steam locomotive who works on the dockside railway at Bigg City Port. Used for a variety of freighting tasks within the port and at the docks up river. A trusted friend of the Star Fleet and Warrior in particular. He has two note-worthy appearences in Up River and Munitions.
  • Big Mickey; described as 'the yard's biggest crane', he was once stationed at the steel works quay for loading and unloading operations when the Star and Zero fleets were competing for the steel company contract. He was later transfered to the naval dock for the loading of the naval tramper Krakatoa. He was destroyed in the fire that same night. He has two note-worthy appearences in High Tide and Munitions.
  • The Buoy; one of several bell buoy's to be found across the port. Appeared very briefly in Pirate, having been 'silenced' by the pirates in order to make their escape.

Places in and out of Bigg City Port

  • Star Dock
  • Zero Dock
  • Lucky's Yard
  • Naval Dock
  • Coast Guard Pier
  • Ballantine's Ferry dock
  • Mitts Ville
  • Dun Tuggin'
  • The Warehouse / Pirate's Hideout
  • Up River
  • Peter Island
  • Dender Rocks
  • Updur Creek
  • Steel Company Dockyard
  • The Canal
  • Munitions Factory Dockyard
  • Municipal Garbage Corporation
  • Stone Yard

Cast

Unfortunately, the cast of TUGS was never credited. Some of their identities are still ambugious. However, thanks to the diligent research of various members of the Clearwater Forum, several have been uncovered;

Hopefully, more will be discovered over time.

Merchandise

There was a good amount of Merchandise out in the 1990's of TUGS including:

  • ERTL MODELS
  • 13 Photo Books
  • 2 Annuals
  • 5 Videos
  • Jigsaws
  • Bed set
  • Board Game
  • Thimbles
  • Card Game
  • 4 Buzz Books
  • Publicity Pack - Ultra Rare!

Salty's Lighthouse

In 1998, Salty's Lighthouse aired in America. Animation were used to depict a boy called 'Salty' and his friends who had educational adventures in a large lighthouse on the coast. As well as black-and-white stock footage that made up various 'music videos', the show also featured Tugs segments that tied in with the animated storyline. These were heavily edited versions of the original 80's show, creating entirely new 'storylines' constructed from scenes and scenerios within the 13 original episodes.

The stories were now set in the modern day (though the architecture was clearly still from the 1920s), and the tugs now had diesel engines (though you could still clearly see steam coming from their stacks). The characters were each given new dialogue and voice actors. Some were heavily modified and even had their names changed;

  • Sunshine became female and was turned into Ten Cents' 'sister'
  • Captain Star, Grampus and Little Ditcher also recieved 'sex changes'
  • The Coast Guard and his messenger were merged into one character named 'Cappy' (despite the fact that both vessels have different appearences).
  • Johnny Cuba was renamed 'Steamer', and went from a violent gangster to being a lonesome tramper who wanted to enter the port to find some friends, but was too big to do so.
  • OJ was renamed 'Otis'
  • Big Mac was renamed 'Big Stack'
  • Zebedee was renamed 'ZB'
  • Burke and Blair became movie producers named 'Mr. Bocco' and 'Mr. Socco'
  • Puffa was renamed 'Stanley'
  • Frank & Eddie were renamed 'Mr. Knight' and 'Mr. Chapman'
  • Lord Stinker was renamed 'Stinky Morris'
  • Billy Shoepack was renamed 'Anthony-George'
  • Lillie Lightship was renamed 'Mrs. Dempsey'
  • Bigg City port was renamed Snug Boat Harbour
  • The TUGS Theme song for Salty's Lighthouse was Different
  • Voices were provided by a voice acting agency known as 'The Ocean Group'. Among them was American actor Ian Corlett, who provided the voice of Ten Cents and ZB and Scott McNeill, who provided the voice of Zorran and Zug. The group are known for their work on various NA dubbed anime.

Trivia

  • O.J., Warrior, Top Hat and Izzy Gomez appeared in some episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine such as Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady, One Good Turn and Special Attraction but without their faces and hats.
  • Two of the Z-Stacks Zebedee and Zip made a cameo without any faces on one episode of Thomas the Tank Engine called Something in the Air.

Review of Tugs

Multimedia

http://biggcity.tripod.com/

http://thomasntugs.proboards34.com/index.cgi - Home of the TUGS on DVD Campaign.

http://www.freewebs.com/tugsmediadock

http://thestardock.tripod.com/index.htm

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