May I first say a huge thank you to everyone who always comments on my blog from Alex, Sandra, The great Shady, Pat, Liz, Bluebeard & Elizabeth to Cathy, Denise, Janie, Brittani, Dell, John and the wonderful Joel who loves many of the same films I do. I know I have missed some great blogger buds and, for that I apologise but you are still close to my heart. I have been bad in not replying like I often wish to do but time gets away from me. I always strive to do better but I do read all of them and mark down films I wish to see that you have mentioned. It is the end of a year like no other and the beginning of a new one. Nothing will change right away but, I bet, next year at this time, we will be able to hug people we love. I love this weekly themed series that Wandering Through The Shelves has created and hope it never ends. The last one seems to fit since this year has been quite alien in so many ways, who would have thought? Now let's begin...
1. HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY-1981
I watched this show back in the late '80s or early '90s and found it hilarious and it is, in every sense, a British comedy. There are not that many episodes but they are so unique even if the effects are not that great(not nearly as bad as Blake 7 which I talked about quite a while back) but you don't care because the writing and acting is brilliant. It starts off where a man of no major importance, is saved by some alien before the earth is blown up to make way for an intergalactic freeway. We meet a 2 headed man who has his own spaceship, his lovely assistant and his very depressed robot. It goes from there into one weird but fun episode into another. I still have to see the movie.
2. STAR TREK:THE NEXT GENERATION-1987-1994
I love all the Star Trek tv shows and films except for Depp shit 9..er..Deep Space 9(maybe I should try that one again) and the latest one - STD...yes, I like calling it that.... Oh, ok Star Trek: Discovery. Many people often cite TNG series as their favourite over the original but, for me, it is apples and oranges for various reasons although my heart does follow Jean Luc Picard. He would be the one to broker peace while James T Kirk would take the flag of peace and smack you with it. The first year was a bit shaky trying to figure out the characters, the overuse of music and the smacking over the head with some do-good deeds but there are some gems like when the Enterprise is infected with something very similar to what happened on the original Enterprise as well as the episode where Picard plays a 1940's private eye on the Holodeck only for the Holodeck to "lose control" sort of speak. I love Guinan, played by Whoopi Goldberg, a very old(not looking it) alien who heads ten forward-the place where everybody knows your name. I love Q who lives forever and always creates havoc for Picard and his crew whenever he visits(love the Robin Hood theme episode). The Ship's counsellor, Deanna Troi, went from being a very lack lustre type of character to one of my favourites. Marina Sirtis truly made that character her own. One of my top 3 favourite episodes is when Picard is hit by a tractor beam and is sent to live a whole life time on this planet, finding love, having a family, only to learn that this world will end. To say Patrick Stewart acts well in this is to say the Pope is just a catholic.
3. THE ORVILLE-2017-PRESENT
Seth McFarlane, famous for The Family Guy, Ted etc... created this gem, stars in it and has written many episodes. He clearly loves Star Trek and pays more homage to the famed series than makes fun of it. To me, he understand Gene Roddenberry's idea of Star Trek more than STD ever could. The spaceship is bright, comfortable but it is a ship to explore new worlds. There is a robot, 2 guys who "steer" the ship but can be such idiots, His first mate is his ex wife and the doctor is lusted after by some green amoeba goop voiced by Norm McDonald. It is funny but it has serious overtones as well and has much more depth than STD has. 2 short seasons have already been on and the 3rd has been delayed, partially because of Covid19. I hope the 3rd season will air in 2021 because I miss it.
Happy New Year to all of you no matter if you stay up until midnight or go to bed by 10. We can all bitch about 2020 but let us remember what we do have as we cross into this new year and know that even though roses have thorns, let's not forget the thorns have roses.
Hi, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the mention, dear friend! I always enjoy visiting you here and always appreciate the thoughtful comments you leave for me at Shady's Place. Time management is one of the most challenging aspects of blogging because the more popular and successful you get, the greater the demands on your time.
I have seen TV series #1 - Hitchhiker's Guide. - and enjoyed it. Having watched that clip, I am now thinking about your recent post featuring The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant starring Bruce Dern and Casey Kasem, along with 'Rosey' Grier and Ray Milland joined together as The Thing with Two Heads. Getting back to Hitchhiker's Guide, it might have been the catalyst that sparked my interest in British shows. In the years since I have become an avid fan of British TV as well as Australian and Kiki (New Zealand) productions. Listening to the dialects in those three parts of the world is like learning new languages.
I love Seth M's brand of humor and now you have me eager to watch The Orville. Scott Grimes is hilarious. Mrs. Shady and I are working our way through ER for around the third time and we are now a couple of seasons into the 112 episode "Archie Morris" period. Archie (Grimes) is constantly screwing up in the ER. He sits around, stands around watching others work, goes for snacks, vomits at the sight of blood, never does much to help patients, and when he tries to help the results are usually disastrous. I also enjoyed Adrianne Palicki in her 31 episodes on Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Yessum, it was a tough year, and now we have lost Mary Ann from Gilligan's Island, a bitter pill to swallow because she was a fan favorite and a big part of boomer pop culture in the 60s and beyond. R.I.P. Dawn Wells, one of the many victims of COVID-19.
Thank you very much for your friendship and support during 2020, dear BB. I wish you all the best in 2021!
I’m glad you saw Hitchhikers and would love to see those films you mentioned. Bruce Dern as someone’s other head would be a scary thought. Yes, poor Dawn Wells had a rough time the last 3 years and now only Ginger is around...the one who wanted to not be known for Gilligan’s Island.
DeleteSo kind of you to thank all of us. Our lives are all very much different this year and it has been a struggle for sure.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I have not watched any of those TV shows. Closest I can get to aliens is Alf and the occasional mention on X-Files.
May we all have a very Happy New Year!
OMG. How can I forget my favorite??? Doctor Who.
DeleteI was wondering why you forgot about Dr. Who which is not my favourite. A dear friend loves Alf. I love The X-Files.
DeleteHi Birgit - well done on all your Thursday Movie selections for us to ponder and perhaps get to see ... I have loads of films to catch up on - some I hope this next year! Happy New Year and all the best for 2021 ... take care - Hilary
ReplyDeleteI hope you have had a nice New Year’s and can watch a couple of films this coming year.
DeleteYou've given me some fabulous movie ideas Birgit. I always enjoy reading through your lists and getting excited when I actually know a film. I know the first 2 today. Have a fabulous New Year my friend. I hope you stay safe and happy and lots of good things. Hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteI’m glad you like reading all of these and hopefully, watch a few,
DeleteHappy New Year. Let's hope 2021 is a good one.
ReplyDeleteA good half if not more will still be like 2020 and let’s pray nothing happens on January 20th since the Republicans are siding with that moron. I hope you had a lovely New Year’s.
DeleteBirgit I had noticed that you haven't been commenting as usual and was concerned that something was awry. Glad it's just that time gets away from you, doesn't it from us all! Hope you are able to get back into the swing of commenting though, I do enjoy reading your replies. :-) This year has been a dog for us all and no foolin' but next year surely has too be better. At least in the States where I am we only have to wait less than a month to have a grown up once again running out country!.....of course what that orange swamp insect will do in the interim is anyone's guess. Be well and have a terrific New Year!
ReplyDeleteNow onto you picks. I haven't seen any of them! Well I suppose somewhere along the line I saw an episode of whatever of the thousand off shoots of the original Star Trek this is but I was only ever an infrequent watcher of the first show and never of any of the follow ups.
I've heard of Hitch-Hiker's Guide but never tracked it down. The last is completely unknown to me.
I had to reach wwwaaayyy back to when I was a kid for my first two and the third is one I liked alot but as usually with shows I really take to it lasted only one year!
The Jetsons (1962-1963)-Meet George Jetson…his boy Elroy…daughter Judy….Jane, his wife….they’re the modern space age fam-i-ly. Fun animated series is a sort of futuristic spin on The Flintstones.
Lost in Space (1965-1968)-The five members of the Robinson family-Professor John Robinson (Guy Williams), wife Maureen (June Lockhart), and their three children: Judy (Marta Kristen); Penny (Angela Cartwright); and Will (Billy Mumy) set off on a mission to an Earth-like planet in another galaxy accompanied by U.S. Space Corps Major Donald West (Mark Goddard) as co-pilot. Once cryogenically frozen the controls of the ship are sabotaged by foreign agent Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris) who becomes trapped on the ship and the next thing you know they are all “Lost in Space”!
Life on Mars (2008)-New York City police detective Sam Tyler (Jason O'Mara) is struck by a car in 2008 and regains consciousness in 1973. As he struggles to adapt to his new circumstances without tipping his hand he butts heads with Gene Hunt (Harvey Keitel) his chief of detectives and a determined policewoman Annie Norris (Gretchen Mol) who is fighting the inherent sexism of the era. As time passes Sam begins to suspect that not only may he be in another time but another dimension as well.
Happy New Year Joel! Yes, I was so busy and sore at the end of the day that I just had to rest. I read all your posts and love all your choices and was almost close t choosing what you chose. Same this week. I almost went with the Jetsons and Lost in Space. The Jetsons were fun and loved Astro. George reminded me of Dick Van Dyke for some reason. Lost in Space is one that I watched, along with Gilligan’s Island(R.I.P. Dawn Wells) as soon as I came home from school. My mom would sayto please watch something else since I had seen the episodes so many times but ...nope, had to watch them. I missed Life On Mars but I recall wanting to see it because I like that type of show. There was another one made with that guy from The Sopranos that didn’t make it. Let’s hope I continue to respond every week...every!!,
DeleteI've not seen any of your picks. I guess I've seen every original Star Trek episode multiple times, but I gave up on the franchise in later incarnations. Actually I can't recall too many shows about aliens right now, but there were a few that I enjoyed. Now if I could remember them.
ReplyDeleteOne that immediately comes to mind is The Invaders, a Quinn-Martin production from the late sixties. Produced by the same company that did The Fugitive, this show was very similar except it had space aliens chasing the show's hero. I have the entire series on DVD and still enjoy it.
I know there are some others, but that's the one I can actually name.
Have a Happy New Year and a reasonable 2021.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Oh, and not to forget one of my childhood favorites in the vein of comedy shows featuring aliens, there was Ray Walston and Bill Bixby in My Favorite Martian. Haven't seen any episodes since it was on back in the sixties, but back then I was a faithful viewer.
DeleteLee
I have not seen either of your picks but always wanted to. I was hoping someone would choose My Favourite Martian and The Invaders is brilliant.
DeleteBirgit,
ReplyDeleteHitchhikers' Guide Across The Galaxy is sitting on one of our watch lists. Maybe, it's time for us to view it. Tonight might be a good time since we're doing a movie marathon to bring in the new year. Thanks for sharing some great movie reviews. I hope the new year is kinder, safer, and gentler to you, darlin' friend. Thanks for hanging out with me in Blogosphere this year. HAPPY NEW YEAR!! {{hugs}}
Happy New Year to you too and I still have to see the film of Hitchhiker’s. We are rewatch Ing Downton Abbey. Hugs to you!
DeleteI have not seen the Hitchhiker original, but I have read the books and seen the movie. I think I may have even heard the radio version at one point. Very silly, but in a good way.
ReplyDeleteI've seen the other two, of course. If you're a Picard fan, you should check out the new Picard series. Excellent.
Picking just three series would be hard for me as I seem to gravitate towards them with the streaming. There was Runaways and Umbrella Academy and Jessica Jones. But I guess those aren't space, are they?
So, let's go with Picard (which you really should check out). And since you liked Hitchhiker, you should find and watch Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (also by the late, great Douglas Adams). And have you tried Avenue 5? I found it getting silly towards the end of season 1 (and there's only been the one season so far), but I think you might get a kick out of it.
I really like Picard which I think is excellent and glad they brought. Seven of Nine back. Hitchhiker’s is funny. I heard about Avenue 5 and heard it was funny.
DeleteHappy new year, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you !
DeleteHmmmm... the obvious one for me is one of my childhood favourites, Lost In Space. It's already been mentioned by Joel (whose comments are always thoughtful and informative!). The Invaders is another one already mentioned along with Star Trek, X-Files and Dr. Who. Programs like Twilight Zone, and Outer Limits often dealt with aliens. I also remember Space 1999 but I never really got into that one. Oh... and Battlestar Gallactica! A more recent series that received positive reviews and had a cult following was Firefly but I think it only lasted one season.
ReplyDeleteHe is very informative and so fun to talk to via here. Love lost in Space as you know plus all the ones you mentioned and I did watch Space 1999 because nothing else was on. Battlestar Gallactica, the first series I watched which was very hoaky
DeleteI was by earlier, but my electricity went off before I could leave a comment. We got SLAMMED with ice and snow, making 2021's first day seem a bit shaky.
ReplyDeleteEven though I'm a BIG tv fan, the only series I've seen is Star Trek, Next Gen. Wish I'd seen the Hitchhiker's Guide, because I'm always on the lookout for a 42! I'm like your brother and LOVED Firefly. BTW, I call TOS THE OLD SHIT. I was not a fan of Shatner and his pregnant pauses.
Hope you have a lovely new year. I also hope it is joyous, safe, and healthy.
Wow! You had some nasty weather. Firefly is the pick this week. Shatner is famous for those pauses and do you know he did. Record album? Hahahaaaa
DeleteI never saw or read the Hitchhiker's Guide. I watched your clip, and I love how zany it is. I'm missing out. You've pointed me in some really fun directions, my friend.
ReplyDeleteLove to you for a much, much better year than the last.
Hitchhikers is fun and I would love to see it again. This year will be a struggle still but it will be brighter near the end which is always good. Hugs to you.
DeleteThat green gooey goop guy put Seth McFarland up a couple of notches in my book, lol. What an imagination!
ReplyDeleteCheers, Birgit! :-)
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ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Birgit! I haven't seen Star Trek Discovery yet but I did watch Picard and loved it. I'm curious about The Orville, it does look funny, it reminds me of Galaxy's Quest.
ReplyDeleteI missed last week's TMP but I'd pick The Mandalorian, The Expanse and Battlestar Galactica of the mid 2000s.
I did enjoy Star Trek Next Generation and the actors in it.
ReplyDeleteTake special care.
Haven't seen your first pick bust have seen the movie adaptation.
ReplyDeleteI've seen the Star Trek Next Gen though I wouldn't say I comprehend much. I was quite young, my mom would watch so I did too.
I've been a bit of a slacker blogging these days, but I still get around sooner or later. Great picks. I haven't watched the third though. Sounds interesting but he irks me.
ReplyDelete