Comtemporary Sci-Fi shows - Solarnauts !

[EnRNOfficer]

Hello Fanderson !

Being born in 1968, I came to the worlds of Mr. Anderson later than some, but vividly remember Space 1999 and the later series in first run plus all the revivals of previous series throughout the 70's and 80's.

I have been researching for my own interest contemporary series in the same vein that were around at the same time - I am sure many are aware of Space Patrol for example. But then, I came across this :

http://homepages.tesco.net/~space.patrol/SpacePatrol/After2.htm

Solarnauts ! I have seen the pilot (and only episode) and I have to say, several years before UFO, its all very Dan Dare and stiff upper lip, a bit low budget... but really worth a watch. I am sure you can find it around if you look hard enough !

I would like to propose a thread for the next convention - TV shows that were contemporary to Mr. Ansderson's productions - even some cursory research by myself shows a lot of stuff thats well worth a look and to me, not being around in the 60's, I find it fascinating. Just look at how the X files spawned a veritable cornucopia of similar productions in the early 90's for example. The 60's / 70's / 80's were no different it seems.

What do people thinK ??

[Derek Eaton]

I would like to propose a thread for the next convention - TV shows that were contemporary to Mr. Ansderson's productions - even some cursory research by myself shows a lot of stuff thats well worth a look and to me, not being around in the 60's, I find it fascinating.
What do people thinK ??

Interesting idea - I don't think I have ever seen this. Would be interesting to see how this could be developed for a convention thread.

[DukeDexter]

Solarnauts ! I have seen the pilot (and only episode) and I have to say, several years before UFO, its all very Dan Dare and stiff upper lip, a bit low budget... but really worth a watch. I am sure you can find it around if you look hard enough !

Solarnauts reminded me of Phoenix Five - what little I remember of it, that is. Seeing this stuff makes you realise how far UFO was ahead of its time, whether it's acting, direction, design or whatever. Very interesting to look at stuff that attempted to follow Century 21's style, as well as anything that may have influenced the Andersons... I've often thought Terrahawks and Star Fleet have a lot in common.

[Technodelic]

Solarnauts reminded me of Phoenix Five - what little I remember of it, that is. Seeing this stuff makes you realise how far UFO was ahead of its time, whether it's acting, direction, design or whatever. Very interesting to look at stuff that attempted to follow Century 21's style, as well as anything that may have influenced the Andersons... I've often thought Terrahawks and Star Fleet have a lot in common.

Phoenix Five is dire but... I watched it avidly when on LWT in the mid 1970s!

In some ways its a bit of a live Fireball XL5 - captain, young pretty female, robotoid - but instead of an aging professor we get a cadet.

Some episodes are available online. Funky theme too! :p

Edit: This clip, in b/w, actually uses the same stock music as in an episode of Space:1999!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nygC5FVxvX8

[EnRNOfficer]

OK - for me its something of a passion as its easy (have become aware of most of the shows on the second or third showing) to see the way Mr. Anderson's productions have mainly influenced, but also drawn influence, from other contemporary shows. I think it would be really interesting to have a presentation at the next convention that showcases such shows and does a bit of compare and contrast. Perhaps picking a number of shows, presenting the history and the obvious correlation of them ? Maybe having the Fanderson community vote to have one such episdode shown in full during the con ?

I have to say that this doesnt have to be limited to just TV - for example I'll always remember 2000AD - which was a very clever comic because it took (at least initially) all of its inspiration from classic and pre existing, SCI-FI. Just one example is "Ro-Busters" - come on, if that wasn't Thunderbirds.......

I have a lot of ideas on this and would love to invest some time in getting this prepared if Fanderson thinks its worth doing.

Phoenix 5 ? Nah, I was a Captain Zep – Space Detective kind of guy - now tell me how many anderson influences were in that show !!

[Kern]

...psssst. Slarnnauts on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUDSmPVfSCE

[DukeDexter]

I suppose it would have to include films as well as TV series... and perhaps the odd book or two? If you're talking influences on Space1999, you'd have to include Solaris and 2001 for starters. Doppelganger is on the outskirts of the Twilight Zone. Overall, I think there's more thematic influence on Century 21 from contemporary events than drama - cold war, development of magnetic tape, heart transplants and all the rest. :)

[Derek Eaton]

...psssst. Slarnnauts on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUDSmPVfSCE

Enjoyed this - Derek Fowlds years before he appeared in Heartbeat, looks like conventional laptops on the desks at the base and looks almost like seats covered in egg boxes on the ship. Thanks for sharing

[Picasso61]

Enjoyed this - Derek Fowlds years before he appeared in Heartbeat, looks like conventional laptops on the desks at the base and looks almost like seats covered in egg boxes on the ship. Thanks for sharingI agree - an excellent show and a great pity it didn't get beyond this pilot episode.

[Technodelic]

How about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbGsBeuQDZo

;)

[DukeDexter]

How about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbGsBeuQDZo
;)

'The Commander' has gone a bit overboard with the make-up - is he related to the Orion slave girl in Star Trek? :)

[Technodelic]

'The Commander' has gone a bit overboard with the make-up - is he related to the Orion slave girl in Star Trek? :)

No but she was green with envy! ;)

[DukeDexter]

No but she was green with envy! ;)

I quite like the way he's painted green yet they've left him with a totally conventional haircut, sideparting and all. :) Reminded me of watching Colditz recently where David McCallum had his usual 'pudding bowl' haircut instead of short-back-and-sides - as if anyone in the RAF had hair that long in 1941! :D

[Technodelic]

I quite like the way he's painted green yet they've left him with a totally conventional haircut, sideparting and all. :)

I thought he was blue... but he looks a bit like a 'real' Steve Zodiac with that chin & hairstyle. Minus the moustache, of course...

And isn't Professor Parsafoot a bit Matthew Matic?

:p

[EnRNOfficer]

Well, if you are talking Lou Scheimer productions..it has to be this.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNMJRFGuXL0

OK, back to the main thread of the convo... so taking the initial idea, we have contemporary history, TV shoes, Films, Literature....what else ?

And a Merry Xmas to you all !

[Technodelic]

Well, if you are talking Lou Scheimer productions..it has to be this.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNMJRFGuXL0

Ugh, it's like something Fred Freiberger would produce...

:p