Gonna Party Like It's SPACE:1999

From 2009...but updated today!

I've never been a real sci-fi geek, but I know what I like. In terms of films, I always preferred LOGAN'S RUN over STAR WARS. So freeze me in carbonite. On TV, I liked the original STAR TREK, but can say I've ever even watched any of the revivals. I just never found them that appealing. Sorry. I'm not saying they're bad, I just didn't feel the need to watch 'em. I also can honestly say I've never watched any of the BATTLESTAR GALACTICA shows - old or new. I know how the recent show is supposed to amazing and all that, and I may get around to watching it one day - but I just don't have the bandwidth right now. I did absolutely love V - at least the miniseries before it became a weekly, but the ABC revival didn't interest me much. I mean once you know that they're lizards, what's the point?

As a kid, I was quite a bit obsessed with the short-lived British import, SPACE: 1999. My recollections of the show are a bit cloudy, but I do recall that I loved the way it looked, but was a bit bored by the talkiness of the show. After all I was 11 years old at the time.

SPACE: 1999 ran for two seasons from 1975-77. In the show's storyline, there is a totally catastrophic nuclear/lunar accident that takes place on September 13, 1999 (16 years ago today!) that knocks the moon out of its orbit and flings the inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha into the far stretches of outer space. Then the fun begins!

The first season opening title sequence is one of the best in all TV history.

For some reason they decided to mess with greatness and create another totally awesome open sequence for season two. Still great, but not nearly as powerful as the first.

Then-married US TV stars Martin Landau and Barbara Bain (both of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE fame) headlined the show in an attempt to make the show seem more "American".

The show was produced in the UK by sci-fi powerhouses Gerry and Sylvia Anderson (THUNDERBIRDS, UFO, etc.) and distributed internationally by Lord Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment.

Who doesn't get douche chills when they hear or see the famous ITC logo animation?

The syndicated series aired on Sundays at unusual time period of 6:30 PM on WPIX in New York for the two original seasons, with reruns airing in various time slots over the next few years.

Also starring were in season 1 was Barry Morse and the stunning Catherine Schell joined the cast as the fabulous shapeshifting alien Maya in season 2.

Guest stars included international names like Christopher Lee, Joan Collins, Peter Cushing, Judy Geeson, Ian McShane, and Sarah Douglas.
SPACE:1999 was visually the coolest TV show up till that time, with sets, costumes and special effects on par with feature films of that time period.

Apparently the Blu-ray transfers of the show are pretty great - will have to check it out someday soon.

Random TV GUIDE Ad: FASHIONS IN SEWING

I love this ad. Imagine if someone pitched a SEWING show that would air TWICE daily at 1:30PM an 11PM to today's TV's executives!

Random TV GUIDE Ad - She's The Sheriff

Random TV GUIDE Ad - Geraldo Double Feature

More Random TV GUIDE Ads - 9 to 5

Just got home from seeing the great Dolly Parton at the Hollywood Bowl. Her final (before the encore) number for the evening was the theme from 9 TO 5 - one of funniest movies ever made. The movie was later adapted into a TV series for ABC starring Rita Moreno (in the Lily Tomlin role), Valerie Curtain (in the Jane Fonda role) and Dolly's own lookalike sister Rachel Dennison as Doralee. After ABC axed the show it lived on in syndication with Sally Struthers replacing Moreno (oddly, I had seen Struthers & Moreno on Broadway in a version of THE ODD COUPLE). Jeffrey Tambor originated the Dabney Coleman role, only to be replaced by BOB NEWHART's Peter Bonerz and UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS legend Jean Marsh took over the supporting role of Roz. Other actors who came and went during the six-year run included Edward Winter, Leah Ayres, Herb Edelman and Nicholas Coster. The show was rarely repeated and has never been released on VHS or DVD. Wonder if Rita Moreno actually wears a Wonder Woman costume in this episode.

More Random TV GUIDE Ads - Bush Doctor

KOOL-TV presents A Liberty Mutual Special, BUSH DOCTOR starring Hugh (WYATT EARP) O'Brian, Katherine (FALCON CREST) Justice and Jack (British Guy) Hedley. No, its not the story of an elderly gynecologist - it's a heart wrenching tale of redemption and inner strength brought to you by a global insurance company. This 1982 oddity is the second of three BUSH DOCTORs listed on IMDB. The first is a 1954 short and the last is a 2011 feature film currently in pre-production. I guess a great title like this screams to be used again and again.

Selections from My Library: RITUALS

RITUALS was an attempt to create a successful syndicated daily soap opera. It premiered on September 10, 1984 and ran for exactly one year. Charlene Keel's novel was loosely adapted into the series, which boasted a cast that included a James Bond, Ginger from GILLIGAN'S ISLAND, Mary Hartman's husband, Ronald Reagan's daughter and Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington! Top that, CELEBRITY APPRENTICE!

That's right, George Lazenby, Tina Louise, Greg Mullavey, Patti Davis and Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs joined daytimers Christine Jones, Kin Shriner, Mary Beth Evans and Philece Sampler in an ambitious attempt to bridge the gay between daytime and prime-time soaps. Well, it didn't last - though it did become popular in France when it resurfaced in 1989 under the title LA LIGNE DE CHANCE ("CHANCE LINE").

Get Well Soon, Mary

Love this weird TV GUIDE ad from the syndicated run of MARY TYLER MOORE. Looks like someone pasted Mary's head on Juliet Prowse's body. and placed her in some thoroughly modern chair. Thinking of the great Ms. Moore as she recovers from brain surgery.

Don Kirshner 1934-2011

Nancy or The Strange Tale of Fritzi Ritz

Sorry for all the reruns lately, but chances are that newer readers have not seen many of these older posts. So while I gather up info and images for new stuff, please continue to enjoy some Dougsploitation classics.
Fritzi Ritz began life as a popular light comic strip created in 1922 by cartoonist Larry Whittington. It's heroine was a glamourous single lady, a flapper named Fritzi.

In 1925 a 20-year-old Ernest Paul Bushmiller took over the strip.Bushmiller's introduction of Fritzi's sassy niece Nancy (in 1933) brought even more fans to the strip.In 1938 Bushmiller introduced Nancy's raggamuffin friend Sluggo.Later that year, Aunt Fritzi's name was dropped from the title of the daily strip, which continued on as Nancy.Ernie's clean, bold style, and his skill of constructing surrealistic site gags propelled the strip to new heights. Nancy and Sluggo became pop culture icons, appealing to kids and their parents as well. Sluggo was soon just as famous as Nancy–or even more so, as witnessed by this rare two-pack doll set.Poor Aunt Fritzi's Sunday strip continued for a few more years before being completely taken over by Nancy.

Fritzi continued to appear in Nancy to attract male readers with her charming figure.

But it was Bushmiller's clever gags that transformed Nancy a comic strip classic.

So, Fritzi Ritz, who had once been a funny pages star, was relegated to being a bit player in the strip where she had once been the star.And Nancy and Sluggo's colorful friends soon populated the strip - forcing Aunt Fritizi into comic books to get some quality time - though she shared the bill with her unattractive beau Phil.
Fritzi's solo book continued into the 1940s.
United Feature Syndicate also launched Tip Top Comics, where Nancy's strips were reprinted alongside other UFS stars. 

When the series moved to Dell Comics, the other features eventually included Charles Schultz's Peanuts.

A Nancy and Sluggo book was soon launched.

After a stint with St. John Publishing (1955-57), Dell Comics became the home of Nancy and Sluggo. It was assigned it to popular Little Lulu cartoonist John Stanley. 

Dogs always played an important role in Nancy's adventures. As witnessed here:

After moving to Gold Key Comics, the title ended in 1963, and Nancy never again appeared in comic books.In 1942, Nancy was licensed by Terrytoons, the studio that produced the popular MIGHTY MOUSE and HECKLE & JECKLE animated shorts.Sadly, Terrytoons only produced three NANCY cartoon shorts. (Titles: School Daze, Nancy's Little Theater and Doing Their Bit.) It took Nancy almost 30 years later to return to the world of animation–on Saturday mornings!

In 1971, Filmation's ARCHIE'S TV FUNNIES on CBS welcomed Nancy as one of its segments — rotating with other comic strip characters like Broom-Hilda. The format was revisited in 1978 on NBC under the title FABULOUS FUNNIES - without The Archies involvement.

Bushmiller won the National Cartoonist Society Humor Comic Strip Award for 1961 and in 1976, he was awarded the Reuben Award for the Best Cartoonist of the Year from the National Cartoonists Society.

Bushmiller continued writing Nancy with Al Plastino and Will Johnson handling the art chores. He died in 1982, and the strip was taken over briefly by Mark Lansky, who died in 1983, opening the door for Jerry Scott's modern make-over of the strip. Scott ignored Aunt Fritzi during most of his run - but when left in 1995, the new team, brothers Guy and Brad Gilchrist, returned to Bushmiller's beloved style and use of sight gags.
Even still-sexy Aunt Fritzi returned - to more prominent role in the strip!And mildly dramatic themes sometimes come into play.

Fritzi Ritz and Nancy - together again. Also In 1995, Nancy, along with Brenda Starr and several others, was part of the "Comic Strip Classics" series of commemorative stamps. You can get your daily dose of Nancy here.