ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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Pow provides veritable plethora of data about two series that dazzled us in the 1960s and one series that none of us is too keen on.

In the post right above Pow's I suggested that they should have teamed up the star of the show with his lovely co-star from in the series he appeared in just one year later!

You know the lady I mean. This dazzling lady.


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I'm sure the ratings would soared!

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The Man from Atlantis: The Death Scouts (1977 TV movie)

Wow, haven't thought about this show in ages, Bud.

Maybe "Woman From Atlantis" with Victoria would have stood a better chance of succeeding. At least with the males.

Noted TV critic Tom Shales wrote that the show was more aimed at the kids than adults.

So that could be one of the reasons it failed to grab an adult audience.

Other issues for this not being an engaging series was the scripting. While some plots had intriguing ideas they were usually poorly executed. Still other plots were s-f cliches that were not done with any fresh or original insights.

Some stories were just absurd such as the episode "Shoot Out at Land's End" where Mark Harris (Patrick Duffy) travels back through time via an underwater wormhole.

He then arrives in the 19th century wild west where he encounters his doppleganger!

That episode didn't just jump a shark; it jumped an ocean.

MFA also could have a Batman TV show camp-style to it which hurt.

The audience wasn't supposed to take it too seriously as the producers & writers would grin and wink at the viewers.

All these factors conspired to sink the show.

I did admire the Cetacean submarine they traveled in for their adventures.

One of the crew of the sub was played by Jean Marie Hon (Jane) who co-starred on the Saturday morning TV show "Ark II."

Since the show was produced before CGI; all of its FX were practical in nature.

Patrick Duffy had to wear painful contacts for his character. Makeup put the webbing between his fingers.
The underwater scenes were shot in large studio tanks.

Duffy had to inhale water into his sinuses in order for his character not to display underwater bubbles.
Ouch!

For me, the series just never peaked my interest with its concept. I did manage to watch a few episodes and had the feeling that the plots were recycled from other s-f shows.

I'm not surprised that this show went under.

But hey, Patrick Duffy said that while shooting TMFA he met a producer who was shooting a series next to TMFA.

The producer offered Patrick the role of Bobby Ewing on the smash hit "Dallas."
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Thunderbirds (1965-66)

Opening Statement: "Thunderbirds" was a Gerry & Sylvia Anderson science~fiction puppet television production which premiered on Thursday, October 07, 1965.

The show ran for two seasons (or two series as they refer to TV shows in England) for a total of 32 episodes.

Twenty-six episode were produced for Series One and six episodes were produced for Series Two.

Two Thunderbirds feature films were also produced.

"Thunderbirds Are Go" debuted on December 12, 1966.

"Thunderbird 6" premiered on July 29, 1968.

Show's Premise : It is the year 2065; retired astronaut & multi-millionaire, Jeff Tracy, has created a covert organization that can perform rescue operations with the finest & most advanced equipment.

International Rescue is based on Jeff's private island---Tracy Island---located near the island of Moyla in the South Pacific Ocean.

The Thunderbird Vehicles. Thunderbird #1 is the spearhead for I.R. Function : It rapidly gets to the disaster area and can travel at 15,000 m.p.h.

T#1 pilot is Scott Tracy, son of I.R. founder Jeff Tracy.

At the disaster scene it is Scott who assess precisely what type of rescue equipment will be required for the operation.

Scott also directs the operation.

Thunderbird # 2 is an enormous cargo aircraft that transports any rescue equipment to the disaster zone.

It has six interchangeable pods with each carrying different equipment.

T#2 can travel at 5,000 m.p.h. and is operated by Jeff's son Virgil Tracy.

Thunderbird #3 is a massive spacecraft that is used for rescues in outer space. It is also utilized to transport personnel & equipment to Thunderbird# 5 which is the I.R. space station.

The pilot for T#3 is Alan Tracy.

Thunderbird #4 is a compact yellow submarine that is utilized for surface and undersea rescues. Gordon tracy is the pilot.

Thunderbird #5 is the massive outer space station of I.R.

It is in a geostationary orbit of the Earth. Its function is to use its highly sophisticated scanning system to monitor any and all broadcasts concerning disasters taking place.

T#5 also serves as a base of operations for T#3 which can dock with T#5 which stores rescue equipment for T#3.

T#5 is manned by John Tracy who rotates shifts with Alan Tracy. Generally though, John is very content to be the primary operator of T#5 as he enjoys the space duty very much.

Wealthy Lady Penelope Creighton~Ward and her valet, Parker, serve I.R. as agents.

They operate the pink Rolls-Royce designated as Fab 1.

The automobile carries an array of equipment and is a rolling arsenal for their dangerous missions.
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The Avengers (TV Series 1961–1969)

Opening Statement:
"The Avengers" was a British television show which ran from 1961 to 1969.

Over the years the show morphed into a very different style from its early days.

Series One:1961. Dr.David Keel (Ian Hendry) wants to "avenge'' the deaths of his fiance and office receptionist who were both murdered by a drug ring.

Joining Dr.Keel on the hunt for the drug ring is a mysterious agent by the name of John Steed ( Patrick Macnee).

The interactions between Keel & Steed were tense due to Keel's idealism versus Steed's cold professionalism.

The show's episodes were crime or espionage oriented at this point and serious.

Steed was a rugged individual who dressed in a overcoat.

Series Two~Three: 1962~1963. Ian Hendry left the show in order to pursue a film career.

Patrick Macnee was promoted to the lead of the show and was teamed with a few different actors as co-stars.

It was Honor Blackman though who became his regular co-star on the show.

Her character was the resourceful and scientific Dr.Cathy Gale. Gale was a widow who was an anthropologist who was confident, witty, and a judo expert. Gale would wear striking leather outfits for battle scenes and was not a professional agent like Steed but a ''talented amateur."

Cathy was an expert mechanic, drives a auto & motorcycle expertly, highly-skilled with firearms and can look after herself very well indeed.

There is a tension between Cathy & Steed just as there was between Keel & Steed. Cathy dislikes Steed's cavalier treatment of people.

She is also loyal, honest, compassionate, and a humanitarian who never feels the end can justify the means.

Gale was a new concept and groundbreaking for television at that time. She was the opposite of the helpless and submissive female roles so commonly seen in film or TV.

She was able to keep up with the men just fine in both the mental and physical action arena. You underestimated her at your own peril.

The Steed character was evolving from his first appearances on Series One. Gone was the trench coat he once wore.

Savile Row suits, bowler hat and umbrella. Steed now showed impeccable sartorial splendor in his outfits.

While his clothes were designed by the famous Pierre Cardin; Steed remained a secret agent. His stylish umbrella concealed a sword while his dapper bowler had a steel plate inside.

The hardness of Steed from Series One also disappeared.

Now he had impeccable manners, old~world sophistication, and a playful sense of humor.

Cathy represented a more youthful partner, modern views and the latest fashions.

Steed was more representative of the past with his stereotypical Englishman demeanor and vintage autos.

Series Four~Five: 1965-1968.

"The Avengers" was one of the first British shows sold to the American ABC TV Network for prime-time.

So this is the version of TA that Americans were first introduced to and loved.

Honor Blackman decided to exit the show and Diana Rigg was hired to portray another ''talented amateur'' Mrs. Emma Peel.

The episodes are now lighter and more comedic in tone in this iteration. There is no tension between Steed & Emma as was evident with Steed's earlier partners.

Like Cathy Gale, Emma is independent, smart, and very capable of handling herself in dangerous situations.

Where Cathy was a judo expert it was decided that Emma's fighting skills would be more karate

The easy & friendly banter between Steed and Emma is playful & humorous.

The creators of TA came up with Emma's name when they decided that this new female character should have ''man appeal.''

The show also now had more science-fiction and fantasy elements to it. Spy-Fi.

Diana disliked the leather outfits that the Cathy Gale character had worn for her action oriented scenes.

Rigg insisted on a more comfortable fabric for her athletic wear.

The show was a fun spoof of the espionage genre as well as detective and s-f.

Unhappy with her treatment by the producers of TA, Diana Rigg would leave the show. She and Patrick Macnee would remain lifelong friends.

Series Six : 1968~1969. Linda Thorson joins the show as Steed's fourth partner.

She plays Tara King who is a recently graduated agent.
Young, inexperienced, innocent; Tara is a contrast to the Cathy & Emma characters.

The creators felt that TA should be less of a parody and return to a more realistic style for this iteration.

This final version suffered greatly from the loss of Diana Rigg. Linda's role just never could live up to Emma Peel.

I found it interesting to read about just how TA morphed over time altered their style and cast.

The show that it was in 1961 became different as it went along over the years.

Many long running TV shows don't change all that much even with cast members going and coming.

"Gunsmoke" ran for twenty seasons and was much the same series it was at the end as it had been in the beginning.

I'm not saying that the writing, acting, and directing wasn't good. It simply remained what it always had been within its premise.

"Bonanza" is much the same for its fourteen year run.

Nothing wrong with that. TV shows can be like good old comfort food in that you want what you want without any new frills or dressings.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)