Lost In Space

[Theta Sigma]

I thought I might start this new Lost In Space thread as a result of just seeing the cartoon made in the 1970s.

For people not aware of the cartoon I will let Wikipedia explain:
"Cartoon
In the 1972-73 television season, ABC produced The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie, a weekly collection of 60-minute animated movies, pilots and specials from various production companies, such as Hanna-Barbera, Filmation, and Rankin-Bass -- Hanna-Barbera Productions contributed animated work based on such TV series as Gidget, Yogi Bear, Tabitha, Oliver Twist, Nanny and the Professor, The Banana Splits, and most importantly, Lost in Space. Dr. Smith (voiced by Jonathan Harris) was the only character from the original program to appear in the special, along with the Robot (who was employed in flight control rather than a support activity). The spacecraft was launched vertically by rocket, and Smith was a passenger rather than a saboteur. The pilot for the animated Lost in Space series was not picked up as a series, and only this episode was produced."

Having finally seen the cartoon I find it enjoyable (although no doubt Lost In Space aficionados have a different view of it). It is not to be taken seriously and it is quite fun.

[Theta Sigma]

Last week saw the Family Guy season 2 finale Fore Father which included a Lost In Space sketch which unfortunately did not paint a good picture on John Robinson's parenting skills.

[Theta Sigma]

To Australian viewers:
In The Einstein Factor on October 12, a true or false question was about whether Jupiter II otherwise known as Europa was a moon of Jupiter. One of the Brains Trust Matt Parkinson said it was false because Jupiter 2 being the name of the Lost In Space spaceship. Therefore the Brains Trust chose false. However they were wrong as Jupiter II is indeed the name of one of the moons of Jupiter.

[Theta Sigma]

Found out at IMDb that veteran TV director Harry Harris has passed away recently.

Born on September 8 1922, Harry Harris has directed in his long list of directing credits five episodes of Lost In Space - The Keeper Part 2, His Majesty Smith, All That Glitters, Space Circus & Treasure of the Lost Planet.

His other work included the other three shows that makes up Irwin Allen's 1960s quartet Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Land of the Giants & The Time Tunnel.

He died on March 19 2009 at the age of 86.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0364749/

[Theta Sigma]

In late 2003 a new Lost In Space TV series was in development and in 2004 WB ordered a pilot entitled The Robinsons: Lost In Space and was directed by John Woo.

However despite a big name director in John Woo, WB did not buy the pilot.

I have just seen the pilot for myself:
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. (http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=B5650A43C64FE863&search_query=The+Robinsons%3A+Lost+in+Space)

I found it very enjoyable plus very good direction by John Woo. The atmosphere of it was serious replacing the silliness (but fun silliness) that came to be associated with the original show. It feels more in vein to the most recent version of Battlestar Galactica. (In fact the producers of BSG bought the unsold pilot's set and redesigned them for scenes on the Battlestar Pegasus).
Of the cast Jayne Brook is very good as Maureen Robinson and Adrianne Palicki is very good to look at as Judy.
Differences with its predecessor include there being no Dr Smith but a new member of the Robinson family call David while Penny is a baby.

I think it had a real potential in being a series and too bad the pilot ended the way it did as I would like to have seen what was going to happen next