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.

Another World 50th Anniversary: The Romance Novels

Today is the 50th Anniversary of ANOTHER WORLD, that soap that I followed for most of it's 35 year run on NBC. Today I present several romance novels inspired by the series.

The first, Another World by Kate Lowe Kerrigan was published in 1978. With an amazing new logo and wonderful cover art, this novelization was successfuil enough to spawn a sequel.Published later that same year, Another World II picked up right from where the first ended. It went back to press with a new cover for it's second printing.
Classic.In 1986, a line of novels called Soaps & Serials was launched and Another World was included in the line-up. The 14-book series adapted storylines from 1967 to 1976. Each book had it's own subtitle.

When Felicia Gallant came to Bay City - she brought her history of being a romance novelist along with her. Among her fictional titles were the classics : The Bride of Bombay, Doctor's Desire, Ebony Heartbeat, Embers in the Snow, Fallen Females, Gardenias for Gwendolyn, Gone with the Dawn, The Heart That Heals, Into the Fire, The Lady and the Laborer, Lust in the Kremlin, The Manly Heart, Moonlight Desires, Paradise Delayed, Passion's Progress, Savage Love, Torrid Tundra Nights and White Snow in Hell.  In the real world, actress Linda Dano teamed with writer Rebecca Flanders to create Dreamweaver, a Harlequin Romance. A novel idea!

Another World 50th Anniversary: Opening Titles

Debuting on May 4, 1964 - the daytime soap ran for 35 years before the network brass finally decided to ax it. If  the show was still on, it would be celebrating it's 50th anniversary on Monday. To mark this occasion, I will be devoting my blog to my memories of ANOTHER WORLD.

I was less than a  month old when AW premiered, but I think I remember my mom and grandmother watching the show from the very first black & white episode.

When I was old enough to understand what a TV was, I think I was mesmerized by the updated color opening titles. The interlocking circles in various shades of purple and blue was both pretty and comforting. Here, see for yourself:

This opening and theme song were a constant during the 1970s when AW was at its peak of popularity. They were replaced in 1981 by an odd science-fiction inspired opening that lasted throughout most of the 80s.

A new theme song sang by country music diva and AW fan Crystal Gayle and Broadway star Gary Morris debuted in 1987 along with flashy new graphics featuring cast members. It was updated occasionally as new actors joined the show and others left. 

The final opening from 1996 was bold attempt to make AW look like the primetime hit, ER.

I have watched other soaps over the years (mostly on NBC), but somehow no matter how bad AW got (and boy, did it get pretty bad) – I never gave up on it. I guess it was part of my life for so long that it kinda had a life of it's own. There are some days when I wonder whatever happened to the folks of Bay City, characters who felt like family to me. Then I remember, it was just a TV show with actors who got paid to perform scripts written by a team of writers...and then I get sad.

Another World 50th Anniversary: Super Couples

In my previous posts I've mentioned some of the super couples of ANOTHER WORLD. I've touched upon Sandy & Blaine, Catlin & Sally, Michael & Donna, Sam & Amanda, Ryan & Vicky and even Matt & Donna. But there are some fan favorites which need further examining.Dashing construction magnate Steve Frame (George Reinholt) romanced lovely nurse Alice Matthews (Jacquie Courtney).The two were married on AW's 10th anniversary in a lavish hour-long special. Included above are Liz Matthews (Irene Dailey), Russ Matthews (David Bailey), Jim Matthews (Hugh Marlowe), Robert Delaney (Nicholas Coster) and Iris Carrington (Beverley McKinsey).Alice's brother Russ (played Sam Groom here) was snared by bad girl Rachel Davis (Robin Strasser). But Rachel didn't want Russ...Rachel (now Victoria Wyndham) wanted Steve!

And Rachel won Steve - by getting pregnant with his child.

After Steve "died" ( he came back in the 80s played by David Canary), Rachel, the shrew was tamed by the love of publisher Mac Cory (Douglass Watson).

Rachel almost destroyed her happiness with Mac by cheating with Mitch Blake (William Gray Espy).

Rachel and Mac had their times apart, but their love always brought them back together. Mac died off screen when Douglass Watson passed away.Rachel's widowhood led to several short-lived romances, culminating with her unlikely marriage to Mac's nemesis Carl Hutchins (Charles Keating). This time around it was Rachel who tamed the lion.

Another great couple from the 70s were Sam & Lahoma (Jordan Charney and Ann Wedgeworth). This duo proved so popular that they were spun off to SOMERSET. The two were later reunited on THREE'S COMPANY.
Police officer Larry Ewing (Rick Porter) tamed sexpot Clarice Hobson (Gail Brown)–making an honest woman of her.

Cass Wintrop (Stephen Schnetzer) was a great match with Cecile DePoulignac (Nancy Frangione). (See here with John Hutton's Peter Love).
But Cass was also great with Kathleen McKinnon (Julie Osburn), until her death.
After mourning his wife and  a bad experience with Nicole Love, Cass finally found love again with Frankie Frame (Alice Barrett), until she was killed as well.
In the tradition of Larry and Clarice, good guy cop Joe Carlino (Joe Barbara) found love with Paulina Cory (Judi Evans).
And officers Gary Sinclair (Timothy Gibbs) and Josie Watts (Amy Carlson) make a great, sexy duo.

Another World 50th Anniversary: The Hunks of Bay City

ANOTHER WORLD always had it's share of handsome and dignified men of all ages.

Above we see Sandy Cory (Chris Rich), Mac Cory (Douglass Watson) and Jamie Frame (Stephen Yates). Sandy and Jamie often dated and married the same women.
Above: Perry Hutchins (David Oliver) and Carl Hutchins (Charles Keating). Perry was killed accidentally by Vicky Hudson.Above: All the male cast members circa 1982, including Morgan Freeman who played architect Roy Bingham. In the 80s and 90s, dignity went out the door...and pecs and abs became the norm.
Tomas came to Bay City with amnesiac Sharlene Frame. He stuck around and romanced Maggie Cory (the daughter of Sandy Cory and Cecile DePoulnignac).
Scott LaSalle was the son of Reginald Love. He romanced young Cheryl McKinnon, even though they had the same "mother", Mary McKinnon.
Sam Fowler was Mitch Blake's artsy young brother who romanced Amanda Cory.

When Robert Kelker-Kelly returned to AW he came back as race car driver Bobby Reno, who was gifted with the eyes of the late Ryan Harrison - and was paired with Ryan's widow, Vicky Hudson. Through some convoluted circumstances, Bobby turned out to be Dr. Shane Roberts. Then he was killed in a car crash along with Vicky's dad, Michael Hudson.
This is Ryan (and Vicky) before he died and lost his eyes. It was revealed that he was Carl Hutchins' son, making him Perry's half-brother.
Rafael was just basically eye candy. A throw-away character who took off his shirt a lot.
Mark was the third actor to play Nick Hudson, son of Michael Hudson, and the easiest on the eyes.
Cass Winthrop's brother was a doctor with very comforting bedside manner.
Rachel Cory and Mitch Blake's son Matt grew up to be a fine young man - and his cougar-ish girlfriend Donna Love made sure he spent much time shirtless.
Joe Carlino was the good-guy cop that won Paulina Cory's heart.
Another cop, Gary Sinclair was paired with officer Josie Watts (daughter of Sharlene Frame and Russ Matthews).
Iris Wheeler's son Dennis was played by several actors, most notably Chris Bruno.
Dean Frame was an annoying character. There were many more attractive men who passed through Bay City. If you have a favorite that I've left out, drop me a line.

For more hot pix like these visit SoapHunks.net. 

Dave Madden (1931-2014) and Russell Johnson (1924-2014)

Joe Conley (1928-2013)