[DAY 6] STINGRAY.
Posted on April 10, 2010 1 Comment
BOOB TUBE AWARENESS WEEK: [DAY 6]
PROGRAM: STINGRAY
INFO: For the 6th and final day of Boob-Tube-Awareness-Week, the following series has been carefully selected to serve as the best of the best of forgotten television. Before we get started, if you’re ever introducing a newcomer to the world of TNUC, just make them watch this intro theme to this massively underrated show and I assure you, this will guide them in the right direction. Stingray stars Nick Mancuso as Ray, who lives in Southern California, devoting his time to helping those who are in trouble. His background is shadowy, all that is known about him is that he advertises anonymously in newspapers, offering a “’65 black Stingray for Barter Only” and including a telephone number (555-7687). Ray does not charge money for his help; instead, he extracts a promise from his client in advance that the client will repay Ray in the future by performing a favor, perhaps easy, perhaps difficult, upon Ray’s request. He is also a skilled driver and accomplished martial artist, and is excellent at covering his tracks and hiding his real identity. Ray’s other talents include a photographic memory, speed reading, the ability to slow down his heart to barely perceptible levels, and a knack for adopting personas including an arrogant surgeon, a tent-revival preacher, a crippled Vietnam veteran, and a grieving husband. If that still doesn’t impress you, he is also a skilled computer hacker, capable of accessing and altering data systems and coordinating information retrieval.
LIFESPAN: July 14, 1985 – May 8, 1987 (2 Seasons).
CHANNEL: NBC.
DVD STATUS: Stingray: The Complete Series is available for purchase at a video outlet near you.
MUSICAL THEME: From watching the intro theme, it’s crystal clear that the music of Stingray plays a large role in the series. Mike Post and Pete Carpenter created the overall score to the show, as well as coming up with music synched to frequent quick-cutting of visuals in time during many episodes. The show also featured music video style interludes, complete with original, script-specific pop songs, usually sung by obscure rock and pop vocalists (think Miami Vice style). Stream + download the opening title theme below, and prepare to have this little number repeating in your head for days, nights, weekends and holidays.
Mike Post – Stingray Theme d/l
[DAY 5] AIRWOLF.
Posted on April 10, 2010 2 Comments
BOOB TUBE AWARENESS WEEK: [DAY 5]
PROGRAM: AIRWOLF.
INFO: Now some readers might be thinking that choosing Airwolf is somewhat of a predictable move for Uncle T. The fact of the matter is, Airwolf is my current obsession and I couldn’t go about my week without including this gripping piece of forgotten television. For those of you who don’t already have Airwolf on your radar, the show stars the underrated Jan Michael Vincent playing one of the greatest character names to ever grace the tube, STRINGFELLOW HAWKE. Hawk is a loner who lives in a cabin outside of Los Angeles, CA in a mountain range resort area. He spends his days alone serenading eagles that fly over his home with his priceless cello (see picture below). Without giving away any spoilers, eventually Hawke starts to operate an advanced, supersonic military helicopter, code name Airwolf, and starts to undergo various flying missions for secretive national importance.
LIFESPAN: January 22, 1984 – August 7, 1987 (4 Seasons).
CHANNEL: CBS/USA.
DVD STATUS: All 4 seasons are available for purchase at a video outlet near you.
MUSICAL THEME: Put it this way, Sylvester Levay’s original soundtrack has become such a wanted item in the past few years that eBay bids were in the region of $350–$510 per set. On March 18, 2000 the bids culminated in a new record for a television soundtrack when a set sold for $715.03 on eBay. This was eventually broken on March 25, 2004 when a Washington-based seller sold his 2CD set for $765.03, and then for a third time $981.74 on the March 10, 2006 declaring the Airwolf soundtrack the ‘Most Expensive Television Soundtrack of all Time’. But fear not of these sky-high prices, the highly recommended score can now be purchased on Mp3 as a 2CD Official Special Limited Edition at AirwolfThemes.com. Stream + download one of the many riveting pieces of Airwolf below.
Sylvester Levay – Airwolf Main Titles d/l
And now, the aforementioned Jan Michael Vincent serenading eagles with his cello:
[DAY 4] THE WIZARD.
Posted on April 8, 2010 1 Comment
BOOB TUBE AWARENESS WEEK: [DAY 4]
PROGRAM: THE WIZARD.
INFO: The actual Wizard of this show is four-foot-tall Simon McKay (David Rappaport), a little person with a vast array of engineering skills which he puts to use as a toymaker. The small fellow was portrayed as that of a refined British intellectual with a wise compassion, and the fun-loving spirit of a child. He previously developed weapons for the US government but grew tired for destruction and violence. Since quitting, he has turned to making toys and clever gadgets for the handicapped. For safety, the government assigned Alex Jaggere (Doug Barr) to protect him from being kidnapped by a foreign power. The pair travels all over the globe during their adventures. Note: Rappaport suffered from severe depression throughout his life and in 1991, he committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest with a shotgun. His body was found in a park days later.
LIFESPAN: One season from 1986-1987 of 19 episodes total.
CHANNEL: CBS
MUSICAL THEME: Arthur B. Rubinstein, who’s previous work includes WarGames, composed the opening theme.
DVD STATUS: Negative. But I hear that 20th Century Fox Studios is very aware of the show’s worldwide fandom, and the havoc these Wizard fans will reek if their beloved four-foot-tall genius doesn’t receive a proper DVD release soon.
[DAY 3] RING RAIDERS.
Posted on April 7, 2010 1 Comment
BOOB TUBE AWARENESS WEEK: [DAY 3]
PROGRAM: RING RAIDERS.
INFO: In the future of 1998, the world is threatened by the evil Skull Squadron. To combat this threat, an international air force consisting of the greatest planes and pilots of all time is assembled. They are the Ring Raiders. Stationed on the Air Carrier Justice, they travel through time to protecting goodness and justice. A handful of pilots are selected as ‘Ring Commanders’ to train and supervise the hundreds who remain. Ring Commanders are identified by their special signal ring, through which they can summon (or be summoned by) a fellow Ring Raider in times of need. The catchphrase ‘THE COMMAND IS IN MY HAND’ was used when characters wished to transform their planes, using their rings to make them more powerful. Note: today’s selection of Ring Raiders was a tough selection between David the Gnome and Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors being considered as well.
LIFESPAN: September 16, 1989 – October 14, 1989. Only 5 Pilot episodes were shown to the masses.
CHANNEL: Unknown.
MUSICAL THEME: The musical genius behind Ring Raiders is a familiar character named Skuki Levi. Levi holds the world record for composing the most television theme songs. To many, the intro theme is the most memorable aspect of Ring Raiders. It’s a pelvis-thrusting, fist-clencher with profound lyrics that just won’t let go. You can listen to the theme by playing the above video or stream a finer quality version here.
DVD STATUS: Negative as of yet but rabid fans have demanded a proper release for many years. Only the episode ‘Ring of Fire’ was released as an American VHS tape and included a special silver-painted Ring Raider plane.
[DAY 2] THE PHOENIX.
Posted on April 6, 2010 1 Comment
BOOB TUBE AWARENESS WEEK: [DAY 2]
PROGRAM: THE PHOENIX.
INFO: During an archaeological expedition in Peru, a golden sarcophagus that bears the eal of a Phoenix (the ancient symbol of earth) is discovered. In Los Angeles, the sarcophagus is opened and an extraterrestrial being, an ancient astronaut named ‘Bennu of the Golden Light’, is awakened-before his time. Possessing extraordinary powers, which he derives from the sun, and unsure of his assignment on Earth, Bennu escapes from his captors and begins a search to find Mira, his partner from the planet El DeBrande. Mira, it is learned, is the woman who knows Bennu’s earthly mission, which is to EFFECT THE EARTH’S FUTURE. Note: the pilot episode can be viewed in full here.
LIFESPAN: Only lasted a month in 1982. A 90-minute pilot and four regular episodes were broadcast.
CHANNEL: ABC
MUSICAL THEME: Unknown
DVD STATUS: Only on bootleg at the moment, which will be in the hands of TNUC very shortly.
BOOB TUBE AWARENESS WEEK: [DAY 1] STREETHAWK.
Posted on April 5, 2010 1 Comment
Today marks [DAY 1] of the first annual TNUC Boob Tube Awareness Week. There’s no use tapping the top of the television or adjusting the antennas. That won’t help. The sudden interference of fuzzy frequencies you’re experiencing at the moment are brought to you by Uncle T.
Starting today and continuing for the remainder of the week, a certain someone will be invading your living rooms and sprawling out on your pea-green sofa (with one hand on your sister’s thigh). For the next 6 days we’ll select out of a rare, less-talked-about pile of television shows to showcase and shed some light on. Stay tuned.
BOOB TUBE AWARENESS WEEK: [DAY 1]
PROGRAM: STREETHAWK.
INFO: A former amateur dirt-bike racer, Jesse Mach, is secretly chosen to test a top-secret project—an all-terrain attack motorcycle capable of speeds in excess (when hyperthrust activated) of 300 mph. Backing the motorcycle was a computerized command system that allowed its operator to provide the motorcycle’s rider with real-time information from various sources and to autopilot the motorcycle during high-speed runs after clearing traffic along its route.
LIFESPAN: Janurary 4th, 1985 – May 16th, 1985 (13 eps)
CHANNEL: ABC, Mondays. 9:00PM Eastern/8:00PM Central
MUSICAL THEME: Tangerine Dream composed the theme, titled ‘Le Parc (LA Streethawk)’ and appears on their album Le Parc. Stream + download the theme below.
DVD STATUS: Available for purchase currently in most countries and has a US release date of July 13th, 2010.
Tangerine Dream – Le Parc (Streethawk Theme) d/l
uncletnuc.com 