Of course, some monsters have managed to adapt quite easily. Take, for example, the case of Robbie the Robot, the charismatic star of classic science-fiction epic Forbidden Planet. Initially work was quite plentiful for Robbie, with frequent cameo roles in a number of exciting TV projects, plus lucrative personal appearances and several high-profile advertising campaigns. Many viewers remember his periodic appearances on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show where he always proved to be a witty and popular guest. However, by the mid-eighties the phone had stopped ringing, the offers had stopped coming in and it looked like Robbie's career was over.

But Robbie the Robot was not ready to retire just yet. There was showbiz in his blood and the thrill of performance still pounded in his heart... Or rather, there was showbiz in his oil and the thrill of performance still pounded in his sump. Whereas some performers in his position might be content to slip into retirement - emerging every now and then to promote an autobiography or two - Robbie worked hard to forge a second career as a song and dance man. When he eventually broke the box office with his record breaking Broadway production of A Chorus Line, it was the culmination of a lifelong ambition. In fact, it was an emotional time for the whole cast. Co-star Millicent Swain has particularly vivid memories of the closing night. "Robbie had me in tears," she said. "He stood on my foot."

Gort scrapes through to a disappointing third place at the Sydney Olympics