What began as a one-off experiment in October 1975 has become a beloved local tradition. Doctor Madblood’s Movie, the campy late-night horror comedy show, quickly captured audiences in the late 1970s with its quirky host, offbeat humor, and ragtag ensemble of misfits.
Week after week, fans tuned in to WAVY TV-10 to catch the antics of Doctor Madblood and his crew. In 1980, the show left WAVY and found new life through cable distribution throughout the early ’80s. At the heart of it all has always been Jerry Harrell—the man behind the Madblood persona—who infused the show with local charm and a genuine love of storytelling.
“When we started out, we were just having a blast,” says Harrell. “It was a group of friends, cutting up and playing make-believe. It might have looked like we just turned the camera on while we were goofing off, but in truth, a lot of work went into each show. It was hard work, but always rewarding. We were lucky—we premiered just two weeks after Saturday Night Live started, so people would turn on SNL and stay for us.”
In 2008, after years of airing on various stations and outlets, Doctor Madblood returned to WHRO, where he’s celebrated every Halloween since. Now, in 2025, the good doctor marks his 50th anniversary with a special that breaks tradition: instead of one of his usual “perfectly horrible movies,” he’ll present the 1951 sci-fi classic The Day The Earth Stood Still.
Fan-favorite cast members—including Mike Arlo, Craig Adams, Susie Berry, Jewell Willis, and Susie Passanisi—will join in the celebration.
Don’t miss this milestone event. Tune in Saturday, October 25 at 10 p.m. on WHRO TV 15 or stream it online at whro.org/madblood.