Fresh off the success of the Harlem Globetrotters cartoon and recording contract with Don Kirschner, CBS tried again with the world famous basketball team, this time with the real-life Globetrotters, including Meadowlark Lemon and Curly Neal in a variety show aimed at children. Since the show was aimed at kids, it included social messages throughout each episode. One episode I remember featured the Globetrotters singing and included a message in good behavior with the line "Fighting and hitting are not for you." But the Globetrotters were not alone in this valiant attempt at a variety show. There was also young Rodney Allen Rippy and Avery Schreiber as Mr. Evil. Guest stars also appeared on the show, including Arte Johnson and Esther Rolle.
The only basketball reference on the show was a recurring sketch called the "One Minute Beneficial Basketball Clinic", which was always cut off because their minute was up.
To me, the Globetrotters were better suited to the comedy antics on the basketball court, where they still endure, though with new personnel to this day. The Popcorn Machine only lasted one season on Saturday morning before being rerun on Sunday mornings. So long.