Podcast # 131 is live!

[Rico]

Just got Podcast # 131 up.  Got a new sponsor this week.  Please visit www.audible.com/treks and sign up and download a free book!  It will help support the podcast.  Here's the direct download link for this week's show on "SPACE: 1999!"

Enjoy!

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3?http://www.treksf.com/podcast/TREKSF.COM_131_Space_1999.mp3

[Poodyglitz]

Rico,

I don't know how else to say this, but I think your podcasts are too darned short.  :laugh:

I really appreciated the trip back to "Space: 1999". As I was about 17 when the show premiered here in the States, I was a little too old to embrace it entirely. The premise of the moon being blown out of orbit and people surviving on both sides was too implausible for me. There were other reasons that you'd mentioned as well, such as the monochromatic acting (which matched the monochromatic decor) and weak stories. However, in true Gerry & Sylvia Anderson tradition, the art direction and miniature work was well worth the price of admission.

Not knowing the full story of the show, it was nice to get the full history from you. The epilogue at the end of the podcast was a wonderful touch. I never knew it existed. I agree with you, more shows that end abruptly should incorporate some kind of closure. Even if it's a Quicktime movie on the show's website.

For me, this was not the first oasis in the "Star Trek desert" at the time. As early as 1970 (or 1971), there was another Anderson live action show called "UFO". It too was syndicated and shown on Saturday night in my area. It also had a little more fire in its belly. As a matter of fact, the only show of theirs that was shown on an American network (to my knowledge) was "Fireball XL-5", one of my earliest sci-fi memories. To help fill the "Trekless void" were also shows like "The Champions" (another British show) and "The Starlost" (a Canadian show starring Keir Dullea).

I'll admit, the production values of "Space: 1999" were pretty high. The problem with the Anderson productions were never the look. My theory is that they'd spent so much time doing children's fare (where the stories didn't necessarily have to be more than vehicles for the action sequences), they were not well prepared for live action storytelling. There were other Anderson live-action shows like "The Protectors", with Robert Vaughn -- not necessarily science fiction, not particularly good. But a memorable theme song.

Where the Anderson shows ruled also was in the music department. Barry Gray was Da Man. There are other themes that I think were superior to "Space: 1999", such as, "UFO", "Thunderbirds", "Stingray", "Fireball XL-5" and "The Protectors". In any case, these folks certainly knew how to package a property. The British in general were great in their own right with TV  music. Themes for "The Avengers", "Doctor Who" and "Fawlty Towers" are prime examples.

"Space: 1999" did help to fill the void until season two of "ST: TNG" came along. Another notable aspect of the show was the high ratio of recognizable stars. Martin Landau, Barabara Bain, Barry Morse and Catherine Schell were certainly better known than folks like Ed Bishop. In one of the first clips you played, I heard the voice of the guy who played one of the Tracy brothers in the original "Thunderbirds". He's famous to me.

Thanks again for the trip down memory lane. I'll have to rent the first season DVD to see how the production values hold up. The thing about "ST: TOS" is that despite low production cost, they were able to introduce an exciting new visual sensibilty while telling interesting stories. The only other show that did that successfully (for me) was "The Prisoner". I'll have to chalk up "Space: 1999" as an interesting diversion.

Actually, I never thought any of your podcasts were too long. I'm glad to hear that you're not going to force a form that has no standard of length.

[moyer777]

Hi Rico, I also enjoyed the podcast.  It was great.

I like the longer episodes because more information is presented. 

Keep up the awesome work man.  I look forward to it every week!

Love,

moyer777

[darthcooley]

Excellent Pod Cast. I had forgot all about Space: 1999. I remember getting a Eagle for Christmas. I really loved that space ship but I realy couldn't rember the show. Don't worry about going to long on thr pod cast  you won't hear me complain if you long..

[Rico]

Thanks for the comments folks, it helps me make a better show each week.  As far as the length I will keep it somewhat flexible.  But, I just don't want to go on and on like a few podcasts I listen to lately seem to be doing.  Glad you enjoyed the look back at the very cool "Space: 1999" show.  I think they did some interesting stuff over the two years they were on.

[Poodyglitz]

By the way, cute dog.

[Bryancd]

Forget about the unlikely scenario of an explosion blowing the moon out of orbit, how about a story about the havoc that would invisit upon the earth!!!
I used to love my huge Eagly toy!

[jedijeff]

Great Podcast Rico, and I learned so much about Space 1999 that I did not know. I always like the Podcasts where you talks about these different series, as I always find out interesting facts about the shows.

[Rico]

Forget about the unlikely scenario of an explosion blowing the moon out of orbit, how about a story about the havoc that would invisit upon the earth!!!
I used to love my huge Eagly toy!

I did talk about what losing the moon would do to things on Earth during the podcast discussion.  It would of course have a huge impact on the Earth and it's environment.

[Poodyglitz]

I did talk about what losing the moon would do to things on Earth during the podcast discussion.  It would of course have a huge impact on the Earth and it's environment.

Yes, like decimating it.

Both the impact to the Moon and the Earth were mentioned, as was the suspension of disbelief in such matters.

[Bryancd]

I KNOW it was mentioned, I was just saying that they, as in the Alpha Moon Base folks, never seemed to give a thought about their home being trashed!

[Rico]

Actually it is touched on in the first few episodes a bit.  Especially the premiere episode.  But of course, they are trying to survive themselves and can't really do a lot to help Earth out anyway.

[hughnme]

Fantastic podcast Ricco,my god !what a trip down memory lane.
I was lucky enough to grow up in a suburb of Melbourne Australia and as mentioned in wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_1999

channel 7 here  showed the first season as a preview in 1975,lucky us.
My mate made a scratch built Eagle back then and it looked great, ill have to see if I can dig up a photo to show you all.
Another shock on the wikipedia page was seeing the old starlog magazine, I started buying them from issue 2,didn't have the money for issue 1 at the time.
So i"m guessing i was buying sci fi mags before some of you were born ;D
I'm pretty sure I've still got most of them lying around somewhere.

I also was a big fan of UFO

Keep up the good work sir

[Rico]

I have Starlog #1 and #2 and many, many more still.  I do love visiting these classic shows and movies from time to time.  Glad you enjoyed the cast.

[saunders]

I really enjoyed the podcast.  I grew up in the 70's and have some vague memories of the show, but it pretty much disappeared in my area once the original episodes were broadcast.  I really discovered it on DVD and enjoyed it quite a bit.  I can understand how the pacing and style of the show would turn some people off.  I think the show really has a nice atmosphere, especially in Season 1.  It actually somewhat reminds me of Star Trek: The Motion Picture...maybe with the slower pace, somewhat colorless sets and uniforms...and very talky...but I love TMP too.