Episode 1
Quark
26m
An expanding enzyme cloud threatens to destroy the galaxy.
Episode credits
Directed by Hy AverbackWritten by Buck HenryGuest stars Buck Henry
TV series
Quark
1977TV-PG1 season6.8 / 10
Quark is an American science fiction situation comedy starring Richard Benjamin broadcast on NBC. The pilot first aired on May 7, 1977, and the series followed as a mid-season replacement in February 1978. The series was cancelled in April 1978. Quark was created by Buck Henry, co-creator of the spy spoof Get Smart. The show was set on a United Galaxy Sanitation Patrol Cruiser, an interstellar garbage scow operating out of United Galaxies Space Station Perma One in the year 2226. Adam Quark, the main character, works to clean up trash in space by collecting "space baggies" with his trusted and highly unusual crew. In its short run, Quark satirized such science fiction as Star Wars, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Flash Gordon. Three of the episodes were direct satires of Star Trek episodes. The series won one Emmy Award nomination, for costume designer Grady Hunt's work in the episode "All the Emperor's Quasi-Norms, Part 2". The complete series was released on DVD on October 14, 2008.
Availability
Not streaming in United States
Quark premiered May 7, 1977. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Synopsis
Quark is an American science fiction situation comedy starring Richard Benjamin broadcast on NBC. The pilot first aired on May 7, 1977, and the series followed as a mid-season replacement in February 1978. The series was cancelled in April 1978. Quark was created by Buck Henry, co-creator of the spy spoof Get Smart. The show was set on a United Galaxy Sanitation Patrol Cruiser, an interstellar garbage scow operating out of United Galaxies Space Station Perma One in the year 2226. Adam Quark, the main character, works to clean up trash in space by collecting "space baggies" with his trusted and highly unusual crew. In its short run, Quark satirized such science fiction as Star Wars, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Flash Gordon. Three of the episodes were direct satires of Star Trek episodes. The series won one Emmy Award nomination, for costume designer Grady Hunt's work in the episode "All the Emperor's Quasi-Norms, Part 2". The complete series was released on DVD on October 14, 2008.
Season 1 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Where to watch Quark
Episode 2
May the Source Be with You
47m
Perma One is in a state of emergency as Gorgon has created the ultimate weapon to defeat the United Galaxy. Quark is given the secret weapon (The Source) by Palindrome. Quark must believe completely in The Source in order to defeat Gorgon.
Episode credits
Directed by Hy AverbackGuest stars Barbara Rhoades, Daina House
Episode 3
The Old and the Beautiful
26m
Expecting his usual garbage assignment, Quark is excited to hear that The Head has given an ""extended romantic interlude"" with Princess Carna of Kamamor. Troubles ensue when the crew encounters a stray space baggy carrying a virus which ages Quark 2 years for every hour.
Episode credits
Directed by Hy AverbackGuest stars Kirstie Alley, Ann Prentiss
Episode 4
The Good, the Bad and the Ficus
26m
While on a routine mission, the ship is accidentally pulled into a black hole, which splits the crew into ""good"" and ""evil"" counterparts, with the exception of Ficus, who remains the same because ""there are no good or evil plants, there are just plants"". After Quark confronts his evil self on a nearby asteroid, he defeats him and sends the evil crew back through the black hole. As the evil crew is being sent back we hear evil Adam Quark say ""Keep your deflectors up do-gooder! You haven't seen the last of this face!""
Episode credits
Directed by Hy AverbackWritten by Stuart Gillard
Episode 5
Goodbye Polumbus
25m
Quark and his crew are sent on a suicidal mission to Polumbus to discover why no one has returned alive. Quark and his crew fall prey to their fantasies as part of a feindish plot by the dreaded Gorgons to drain the minds of the United Galaxy's most brilliant scientists. In this episode, Quark encounters a beautiful dream girl, Ficus encounters a teacher, the Bettys encounter clones of Quark, and Gene/Jean encounters Zoltar the Magnificent. In order to save his crew Quark must destroy the obilisk and free the ""clay people"".
Episode credits
Directed by Hy AverbackGuest stars Ann Prentiss, Richard Devon, Denny Miller
Episode 6
All the Emperor's Quasi-Norms (1)
25m
On a typical mission Quark is captured by Zargon the Malevolent, who tries to learn from Quark what ""it"" is and where to find ""it"". Meanwhile, the Zargon's daughter, Princess Libido, has fallen in love with Ficus. Ficus agrees to a meeting with Princess Libido and teaches her to ""pollinate"", which is how plants love. Meanwhile, Andy and Gene/Jean escape and disguise themselves as Gorgon scientists and Gene/Jean is asked to give a lecture on ""it"".
Episode credits
Directed by Bruce BilsonGuest stars Susan Backlinie
Episode 7
All the Emperor's Quasi-Norms (2)
26m
Ficus sacrifices himself and marries Princess Libido to save his crew. Meanwhile, Quark and the Bettys are sent down to the planet to be eaten by a Lizigoth, but are saved by The Baron. Quark is able to return to the Zargon's ship, where Quark and Ficus bid farewell.
Episode credits
Directed by Hy Averback, Bruce Bilson
Episode 8
Vanessa 38-24-36
24mfinale
For Holiday Number 11 Quark is given a new ship computer (Vanessa) by Palindrome, which will have complete control over the ship. Vanessa tries to destroy Quark and his crew to prove her superior to Quark. Quark is able to disable Vanessa and throw her down the garbage hatch. In the last scene we see Vanessa drifting through space and singing ""Born Free"".
Episode credits
Directed by Hy Averback
Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026
Available now in United States
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More about Quark
Cast
Richard BenjaminAdam Quark
Tim ThomersonGene
Conrad JanisPalindrome
Richard KeltonFicus PandorataPatricia BarnstableBetty
Cyb BarnstableBetty
Alan CaillouThe Head
Bobby PorterAndy
Credits
- Created by
- Buck Henry
- Written by
- Buck Henry, Stuart Gillard
Production details
- Status
- Ended
- Series type
- Scripted
- Episodes
- 8
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
NBCUnited States- David Gerber ProductionsUnited States
Columbia Pictures TelevisionUnited States
Themes
futuresatiresitcomspacespacecraftspoof