Powerhouse

For years I thought I had imagined this show, including the theme song, because everyone I mentioned it to had no idea what I was talking about. Sure, they remembered the Bloodhound Gang, but when I asked about Powerhouse their face would go completely blank and they would invariably begin to put distance and heavy furniture between us as I tried to jog their memory.

It was based in a community or youth center, I think. (Bit fuzzy on that one) A group of youths run around solving mysteries, like if The Bloodhound Gang had been fleshed out to a stand-alone show. (If you don't know who they were you're probably not reading this)

One day, out of curiosity, I looked it up and was amazed to find that not only did it exist, but there were other people who had heard of it too! From there the memories came flooding back, although still a little vague and fragmented.

I remember one where someone plants a bomb in Powerhouse not expecting anyone to be there, but the younger kid (Can't remember his name, there's been a lot of good whiskey between then and now) comes back for some reason and gets caught up in the blast. The guy who planted the bomb ends up attending his funeral and confessing everything over the open casket after everyone had supposedly left, and is quite surprised when the kid sit up and says "Exactly" while hitting the stop button on the tape recorder he was holding the whole time.

In its time it was a good kids show featuring moral life lessons like "You can't get something for nothing." or "In twenty years your haircut is going to look ridiculous.". I wish it had gotten a longer run.

Was this show maybe a spinoff of 3-2-1 Contact's The Bloodhound Gang? I watched this show when it was on PBS back in the day. A bunch of kids, ranging in age from about 18 down to 13, would go around and solve mysteries of sorts, traveling around in a spiffy orange Volkswagen bus. I remember the show had a really low-budget look, like it was shot in 16-millimeter. Man, does anybody else remember this program?

Powerhouse was a fun show. I am a native Washingtonian and I was often cast as background. Since the show was shot and produced locally, we traveled to many interesting city locations to set up and shoot scenes. I worked primarily in Washington DC and Alexandria.

Every episode had a variety of cast members, all of whom were fun to work alongside. Occasionally we had guest stars.

With a small-ish budget, the production crew still managed to produce consistently very fine work.

Debra Leonard, costume designer, was great at pulling together wardrobes for each episode that varied accordingly to the plot that week. Debra still works in the DC metro area costuming for a chidren's theatre.

As always, Bonnie was spot on with her casting and she was another friendly, kind backstage production member.

Susan K. Alison.

I am so happy that other people remember this show as well! I loved this show! I remember the one where they had to outsmart the alarm in the museum (I think to save someone their job?). This show had such an impact on me - from the Jewish episode to the one about drinking. Plus, it was empowering to see young kids solve mysteries - Encyclopedia Brown anyone?

I read in someone's comments that they only had 16 episodes? Wow! I do remember watching reruns of this - it was too much fun.

I recognized the woman who ran Powerhouse as a jury foreman on "Law and Order" from years ago, but she had no lines. Did any of the cast go on to act in other TV or movies?

Bring this show to DVD!!!

The Powerhouse Series shown on both PBS and Nickeloden was ahead of its time conquering important issues.

I wish they had made more episodes I miss it very much.

Jason Kravits (LOLO) was such a cute guy. I had such a crush on him.

And the episode where the gang dealt with a disabled teenager was one of the best shows I've seen about differences and tolerance.

Todays kids need to see this show.

They should make a remake for todays youth.

Kids need a show like this on TV because it handled the important issues brilliantly

And I like to see a bunch of inner city youth deal with drugs, AIDS, School violence. racial discrimination