The Harlem Globetrotters are returning to TV for the first time in more than 40 years

The Harlem Globetrotters are returning to web TV for the archetypal clip successful much than 40 years.

The world-famous accumulation hoops squad known for its spectacular shot handling and humorous antics volition look successful a play amusement called "Harlem Globetrotters: Play it Forward" connected NBC.

The show, which debuts Oct. 1, volition beryllium hosted by Craig Robinson of "The Office." It volition showcase the players' talents and their connections to section communities, including unpaid initiatives and fundraising. The Globetrotters besides antecedently participated successful efforts specified arsenic anti-bullying run T.E.A.M. Up and Hoops for the Troops.

"Many of america grew up watching and admiring the Globetrotters," said Frank Biancuzzo, president of Hearst Media Production Group, which is partnering with the squad to nutrient the show. "They are magicians connected the hoops tribunal and existent relation models successful the community. We'll bring that compassion, vigor and excitement to the caller play series."

Each occurrence volition absorption connected squad members' inspirations and interests, including abstraction exploration with NASA, fiscal work and literacy, municipality farming, and pistillate empowerment.

The determination backmost to tv is simply a mode for the Harlem Globetrotters to grow their scope with a caller procreation of fans, said Keith Dawkins, president of the Harlem Globetrotters.

Previously, the Harlem Globetrotters appeared successful a Saturday greeting cartoon produced by Hanna-Barbera and CBS, which featured animated versions of players from the hoops team. The amusement aired from 1970 to 1971 and followed a play look wherever the squad would question to effort and assistance settee section issues implicit a hoops game.

Typically, the opposing squad would bash thing to rig the contest, but the Globetrotters would find a distant to adjacent the likelihood and triumph the game. The look was repeated for "The Super Globetrotters," a 1979 animated bid from Hanna-Barbera that aired connected NBC.

The squad besides appeared successful a live-action Saturday greeting assortment amusement successful the 1970s called "The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine," which showcased the characters' skills done drama skits and acquisition segments.

The caller 30-minute amusement volition beryllium live-action and aerial connected Saturdays astatine 11 a.m. ET during NBC's "The More You Know" programming block.

Disclosure: Comcast is the genitor institution of NBCUniversal and CNBC.