Meanwhile back in the 21st century...
The year is 2007 and Stuck in the 80s broadcasts its last video of a science-fiction TV show's opening credits. In a freak mishap, the blog controls are frozen and Stuck in the 80s fans are transported back to earth nearly 30 years earlier.
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century was one of my absolute favorite TV shows,
thanks primarily to Erin Gray ("Col. Wilma Deering") and Pamela Hensley ("Princess Ardala"). Of course, there's Gil Gerard too, as Buck Rogers. (Deep down inside, I hope Gil doesn't think badly of his signature TV role.)
Speaking of Erin Gray, her other memorable 80s film appearance is in the Kenny Rogers stock-car flick Six Pack, also featuring a very young Anthony Michael Hall. Gray also had recurring roles on Magnum P.I. ("Digger Doyle") and Silver Spoons ("Kate Summers"). Gray auditioned for the lead role as the female captain in Star Trek Voyager and made it the final five.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
"Meeneemeeneemeenee - good one, Steve."
Best sci-fi cheese evar. I loved this show. And Mel Blanc as Twiki? Genius.
Posted by: Brad | April 29, 2007 at 11:27 PM
My favorite was the "space vampire" episode and Erin Gray succumbing to said vampire (who if i recall correctly did not bite his victims, but instead touched their throats with his pinkie and forefinger extended and "extracted the energy" Quote of the episode: "OOOhhh, Buck, It feels so good" said by the vampirified Wilma in explaination for why she wants him to be her victim. I was, as a youg teenager, mildly aroused by this...and at the time did not understand it..probably in the same way I didn't understand why I felt the way I felt watching Lynda Carter in her Wonder Woman outfit when I was a bit younger. Didn't this start as a movie on the big screen? or am i mis-remembering things? Or was it like Battlestar Galactica and they took the pilot episode and showed it in theaters in "Sensaround"??
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | April 30, 2007 at 09:04 AM
It was indeed a movie on the big screen first. For some reason, they just put the pilot in movie theaters first. They did re-run it on TV to begin the series though, and added a few scenes to help make the transition from film to TV.
They also had to "unkill" Tiger Man -- Princess Ardala's servant, who died in the movie, but was part of the TV series.
In addition, nearly all the footage in the show's beginning credits is from the movie -- not the TV show.
And the full version of the theme song is in the movie. It's "Suspension," song by Kipp Lennon. Great song. I used to own the soundtrack album on LP. "Suspention" score is the tune you hear on the show's credits.
Posted by: Spears | April 30, 2007 at 09:21 AM
>80's Sci-Fi Cheeze at its best!!!
>"Pantherman" replaced "Tigerman" if memory serves...
>Jumped the shark when they added "Hawk"
>Wilma Deering + Puberty is a dangerous combo.
>BTW, Southpark did a great takeoff of it in a 2 part episode last year.
How come nobody has done a remake on the big screen?
Posted by: Hamptune | April 30, 2007 at 03:51 PM