a superhero for wordaholics

letterman (the younger brother of david letterman) first appeared in animated skits on the electric comapany in 1972. he was voiced by gene wilder (willy wonka) and his adventures were narrated by joan rivers (also willy wonka).

a typical segment shows his arch enemy (an arab stereotype) called spell binder (voiced by zero mostel) using his magic wand (stored beneath his turban) to change a key letter in the word (e.g., “custard” to “mustard”). bedlam ensues—the people who were enjoying flavorful custard suddenly and unknowingly begin eating red-hot mustard, causing them to turn red and burn from the mouth. enter letterman (in his all-too-literal varsity sweater getup) who restores the altered letters much to spell binder’s dismay.

actually, now that i think about it, the true hero of these episodes is not the doofus do-gooder, letterman BUT the witty trickster, spell binder.