It’s a Deep Dark Secret -the Realm of “The Mole People”- Tonight!

Tonight on MeTV, it seems appropriate that, on Earth Day, we will be heading below the surface of the earth -going to deep depths with some archeological explorers who actually begin heading upwards- only to end up deep down in the realm of an underground civilization – surrounded by its pale population, as well as- the "Mole People"!

The movie begins in way that might remind you of a high school educational film -as Dr. Frank Baxter provides a lengthy and somewhat lethargic lecture about the various theories of what lies below the earth’s surface. Once this mercifully concludes, we follow an expedition where a handful of archeologists make an unexplainable discovery- a shard of pottery that seems completely out of place up in a high-altitude mountain range. The confusion grows when it’s revealed that it came from a mountain peak that is even higher up!

The explorers decide head up to that peak, in spite of the treacherous climb, in order to try to find a solution to this riddle – and, after painfully working their way upwards (via a heaping helping of stock footage), they are stunned to find the remains of some ancient uncharted city! Even with their vast knowledge, the archeologists can’t explain how such a place exists at that lofty an elevation. As they wander the area, one of their party falls through the crumbling rock surface into a chasm so deep, his associates can't even see the bottom!

They decide to rappel down into the chasm- with the descent proving fatal to one member of the party. More bad luck- once down there, a cave-in traps the remaining group far below the earth’s crust. The survivors try to discover some sort of passage that might lead them back up to the surface. They wend their way through the subterranean tunnels in darkness- until they come face to face with an unknown underground race, who take them prisoners!

They discover their captors are descendants of the ancient Sumerians. Their eons of existence so far underground without any light has caused them to evolve into an albino state- with pale skin and eyes totally unable to stand bright light. They have conquered a mutant race of mole men who have most likely always been subterranean dwellers- but now have become slaves to the Sumerians, who constantly mistreat the bizarre creatures, and have forced them to labor endlessly.

The leaders of the pale folk threaten the unfortunate visitors, but the wily surface dwellers cleverly pull off the ruse that they are actually emissaries of the gods, sent from the heavens far above. This halts the brusque treatment by the Sumerians, who cautiously treat them with some respect, unwilling to risk upsetting their gods, though they are harboring suspicions about these emissaries of their deities. The explorers also prove their godliness with the awesome weapon they possess- a flashlight!? Yes, that most frightening of all weapons whose bright beam is actually painful to the underground race and causes great apprehension among them.

To appease these immortals from above, the Sumerians offer a feast of their underground comestibles, heavy on the mushrooms, as well as offering them the gift of a servant girl the men have defended. Her name is Adel (or, Adad, if you read the credits) -an attractive young woman they refer to as “marked”, since she is far less pale than the others- and seems to be the only blonde in their underground civilization (which must not have an equivalent of Miss Clairol).

Explorers Roger and Jud, in their assumed identity of being on a mission from gods, explore the underground city, trying to learn as much as they can about the civilization- and, even more importantly, a way to escape from it. They witness a grisly sacrificial rite- in which victims are offered to the gods by being placed in a compartment where they are exposed to “the Eye of Ishtar”- which leaves those sacrificed as charred husks!

Meanwhile, the High Priest has serious doubts about whether they truly have any connection to the gods. He is also worried about losing the power he has over the populace to these brash newcomers- leaving him with only one alternative-stealing their flashlight. Sounds more like revenge at summer camp, but more danger arises for our archeologist pals when additional proof surfaces that they are NOT immortals! Will the surface dwellers survive this revelation-and will the class differences between the Sumerians and the mole men erupt into an underground civil war?

The title creatures of this 1956 film certainly join Universal’s Gill Man as the most recognizable of the 50s Universal monsters. We’ll discuss the cast of familiar actors- including John Agar, “Leave It to Beaver’s” Hugh Beaumont , “Batman” butler Alan Napier, and veteran Gill Man nemesis Nestor Paiva. We’ll discuss the make-up design for the mole people, and, as part of our Sven shtick- present the beloved “Svensurround” version of “Leave It to Beaver” (using footage from this flick)!

In addition, you’ll see a vintage interview we did with actor Lance Henriksen from a Flashback Weekend event- in which he has some fun with me by giving me a hard time! And, yes, some auditions for the Spawn of Svengoolie- and even more!

"The Mole People” surfaces on MeTV tonight at 8 pm eastern/pacific, 7 central- if you need to find the exact time and channel in your neck of the woods, feel free to check your local TV listings or go to www.metv.com and click on "where to watch". Thanks to our fans on Twitter, we have been trending high among the most discussed topics Saturday nights during the show- and you can join in! Tweet along in real time using the hashtag #svengoolie ! Chicago viewing area fans get a second look at “This Island Earth” at 11am on our main local station, CW26.

Make sure you check out the latest new merchandise in the Svengoolie store- some awesome hot and cold beverage tumblers- and be watching for even more super summer Sven stuff coming soon!

Meanwhile, join us tonight to see how low you can go -with the Mole People!