I recently picked up this dvd set (price lowered to 19.99 on deepdiscount from about $60) and decided to revisit this series from my childhood. Born in '76, I grew up with Star Wars, BSG, Land of the Lost, and Buck Rogers, etc. instead of the original Star Trek like the older kids. I actually got a chance to meet Erin Gray a couple of years ago and confess my pre-puberty crush to her. Bless her faux-flattered response. Watching it now, I’m amazed how much it’s a product of its time and how much “innuendo” there is. I’m a big fan of the space-operatic “fish out of water” series like Flash Gordon, John Carter, Farscape, and of course, Buck.
I watched the entire series on its original run. When I see it now, I can’t imagine how I sat through it. It’s an awful, awful show by any yardstick. This is just another example of how crazy I was for anything vaguely sci fi in my youth. I’d literally sit through anything. The second season was disappointing even then, but I still watched it.
I saw her 3 years ago at Dragon*Con…I’d still hit it.
I loved the movie, and watched the series religiously. I rented it when it was first released on DVD, and after eagerly re-watching the movie, I started on the episodes…and was slowly worn down. Especially the later “Hawk” episodes. It was definitely a nostalgia crusher for me. I still love the movie, but the episodes themselves just don’t stand up for me. Nick’s take is still accurate: “It was the worst show ever. It was the best show ever.”
Loved watching the reruns when I was a kid. Liked it way better than the old “Battlestar Galactica.” About a year ago I went to take a piss at 3 in the morning and it was on Sci-Fi channel. Watched the whole thing. Big mistake. Quite sucky. The theme is still cool though.
Now I’m afraid to revisit similar shows I enjoyed from back then. “The A-Team” can still amuse me to a degree but what about “The Fall Guy?” WHAT ABOUT “THE FALL GUY?”
Hells yeah. Some of my fondest little tyke memories are of curling up on the couch with my dad and watching “Buck Rogers”. This show, along with “The Incredible Hulk”, were guy time in the Mattioli household.
As I mentioned in another thread, “Buck Rogers” also occasionally scared the hell out of me. No small amount of nightmares were attributable to (1) Buck being bit and turning into a weird centaur/faun thing, and (2) the little blue monster that looked like Papa Smurf if Papa Smurf died, went to hell and came back to kick some ass.
I watched Buck because it was sci-fi and it was on, but even then I knew I was watching crap. If the best the 25th century has to offer is roller disco, well, just keep me frozen, thanks.
That is the best theme ever. I see that “The Fall Guy” is out on DVD but that’s a show I can’t bring myself to buy a whole season of. Wish they had it in “Best Of” packages, or at least just a disc with that shot of Heather Thomas in the bikini.
I will say that Jack Palance and his glowing hands on “Buck” scrared the Capri Sun out of me.
Originally Posted by Moltisanti I will say that Jack Palance and his glowing hands on “Buck” scrared the Capri Sun out of me.
Not to mention he shouted all his lines at the top of his lungs.
For some reason, it wasn’t until I was in the double-digits did I realize that Gil Gerard and Lee Majors were 2 different people.
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Originally Posted by Richard Dickson I watched Buck because it was sci-fi and it was on, but even then I knew I was watching crap. If the best the 25th century has to offer is roller disco, well, just keep me frozen, thanks.
It’s funny, because I imagine your Bender Avatar saying this.
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Originally Posted by Martianman Nick’s take is still accurate: “It was the worst show ever. It was the best show ever.”
The movie/pilot and the first season were quite enjoyable, as far as camp entertainment goes. It didn’t take itself too seriously, and the women were all babes. Yes, Erin Grey was smoking…but I’ll take Princess Ardala.
The second season, with its severe tonal shift, is what killed the show. The more serious tone didn’t fit the cast or the material established. Plus, the stories sucked. Hawk was cool, but he had nothing to do after the first 2-parter but stand around and look angry.
Have you seen Gil Gerard lately? Yeeeeesh…he needs a serious diet. It’s sad.
Originally Posted by Judas Booth The movie/pilot and the first season were quite enjoyable, as far as camp entertainment goes. It didn’t take itself too seriously, and the women were all babes. Yes, Erin Grey was smoking…but I’ll take Princess Ardala. The second season, with its severe tonal shift, is what killed the show. The more serious tone didn’t fit the cast or the material established. Plus, the stories sucked. Hawk was cool, but he had nothing to do after the first 2-parter but stand around and look angry.
Yeah, that about says it. I wish you could buy just the first season.
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century was a terrific series. THis is especially true of season one. Some of the guest stars were Anne Lockhart, Dorothy Stratton ( Playboy Playmate of the year 1979 I think), Markie Post, Jamie Lee Curtis, Pamela Susan Shoop ( A Glen A. Larson Favorite). The less said about year two the better. Count Iblis was played by Patrick McNee. He was a villian in the 2 part episode War of the Gods in Glen A. Larson’s Battlestar Galactica.
Moltisanti You can buy The Fall Guy Season 1 Part 1 or Season 2 part 2 tomorrow as well.
DarkMites, did you ever see Filmmation’s Flash Gordon it is much more like Flash Gordon then the film which came out in 1980. The animated series was one of the best American cartoons I have ever seen. The second season should not be watched though. NBC added a green dragon remenicient of Godzuki as Flash’s sidekick, it was awful. I think Flash Gordon is available for $26 and it is on DVD.
I remember the Buck Roger’s review on this site. It was added salt to the wound when all the captions were of the awful 2nd season after season one’s showrunner was fired.
The single worst episode of any television program has got to be "Space Rockers", guest starring Jerry Orbach as the evil music promoter. "Space Vampire" with the uni-brow is both fun and sad. The second season sounded like a gay version of Charles Nelson Reily.
I saw Gerard at convention a few years ago and he was close to 300 pounds. Erin Gray looked just fine.
Originally Posted by Moltisanti That is the best theme ever. I see that “The Fall Guy” is out on DVD but that’s a show I can’t bring myself to buy a whole season of. Wish they had it in “Best Of” packages, or at least just a disc with that shot of Heather Thomas in the bikini. I will say that Jack Palance and his glowing hands on “Buck” scrared the Capri Sun out of me.
I watched FALL GUY in it’s original run and it was never good. Have no fear, just be aware it sucks.
