Posted on 02/12/2017 1:33:33 PM PST by EveningStar
In the past decade or so, science fiction on television has seen a dramatic uptick in both quantity and quality. Shows like Westworld are keeping critics engaged and audiences coming back for more week after week, but while a number of sci-fi shows over the years have developed significant cult followings, others have become notorious examples of just how bad the genre can be when it isn’t executed effectively. Here’s our look at some of the worst sci-fi shows to ever hit the small-screen. For the record, we’re focusing specifically on live-action series only. So any infamous animated shows won’t be appearing below.
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The movie was great, but the tv show, not so much.
Have to agree with Galatica 1980, truly horrible.
I’ll throw these out too:
The newer star treks. (ducks)
Dr. Who, except for Tom Baker Dr. Who, who was awesome; “magic in space” (ducks) but to be fair, sufficiently advanced tech would look like magic.
The latest Galatica; I did not understand it at all.
But, everyone’s tastes are dift and I can see people loving the shows I hated.
It looks like John Schuck is still around according to IMDB.
He will be Sgt. Enright to me, apparently the only other detective on the SFPD in addition to Commissioner McMillan.
Jenny Agutter made another interesting movie, “Walkabout” (1971).
“An American Werewolf in London” (1981) wasn’t bad, either.
“He’s not Sci-Fi, he’s Sci-Fa (Science-Fascism).”
Should be Science-Fascist, my bad.
I think you’re referring to Starblazers. In Japan, it’s called something like Space Battleship Yamato. In the show, the UN (or whatever) raises the Yamato from the ocean floor and refits it as a space battleship to meet threats to the Earth. That show was huge in Japan. There have been several additional movies and series of anime that advances the story after the original A few years ago, they did a live-action movie called Space Battleship Yamato.
…But I’m like you. I’ve only seen a handful of episodes and it’s my store of trivial knowledge about cartoons and science-fiction that I’m able to answer at all!
If you’re into history, there’s a movie the Japanese maid about the _real_ Yamato’s final mission against the US Navy you may want to check out.
Another popular anime that came to the US in the early 80’s was called Robotech. It was an amalgamation of three different anime series artificially strung together as one long series. The first third of the series was much like Starblazers with a space battleship (that could transform into a giant space robot!) full of fighters that went out to defeat an alien menace.
Try watching one of those episodes now (link below), vs. going on what you might remember as a kid. It was super cheesy and laughable, with the fake dinosaur wandering around, the Cha Ka monkey boy, and those goofy hissing Sleestak lizard men.
Even as a kid I used to laugh at the Sleestak because they waddled around so slowly I couldn't imagine them catching any human who could actually walk, (vs. run) and quickly outdistance them.
(Dame) Jenny Agutter is still lovely in late middle age. She has guest-starred in many programs over the years and had a great part in a mini-series of Edith Wharton’s “The Buccaneers.”
According to Wikipedia, she 64 and still working steadily. On the “bad SF” front, she was in “Amazon Women on the Moon” in 1987.
Star Blazers was one of my favorite cartoons and still is even though it hasn’t aged well.
Robotech has held up a little better and I will binge watch some every now and then.
There is a lady at my office named Dana Sterling. She does not resemble the cartoon version. Every now and then I mention something about hover tanks. She says she will watch it someday.
I asked her to be kind since it was an 80s Japanese import.
The original Star Trek had some revealing William Theiss costumes for the ladies that were’t done that way for a looong time!
Captain Video and His Video Rangers was my childhood fav.
Little did I know what an outstanding roster of writers they had.
Written by
Damon Knight
James Blish
Jack Vance
Arthur C. Clarke
Isaac Asimov
Cyril M. Kornbluth
Milt Lesser
Walter M. Miller, Jr.
Robert Sheckley
J. T. McIntosh
Robert S. Richardson
Maurice C. Brachhausen
There are quite a few left. I think it's easier to just tell you who died.
Michel O'Hare. (Commander Sinclair) Andreas Katsulas (G'Kar), Richard Biggs (Dr. Franklin) Jerry Doyle(Garibaldi), and Jeff Conway (Zack Allen).
Of the original main characters, we still have Sheridan, Molari, Delen and Ivanova. The co starring characters, Talia Winters, Lennier and Vir Cotto are also still alive.
I get her mixed up with Cherie Lunghi, also a British actress who has worked steadily for decades. Look them both up and see if they aren’t dead ringers.
The Oscars 2016 Hollyweirdos and space aliens giving each other awards.
I should have been more specific. The dress in the picture from the movie picture wasn’t in the TV show.
I’m going to throw in Quark. I loved that show as a kid, and remembered it as this genius comedy — then saw some of it a year ago... memories... dashed.
Starred Richard Benjamin and Conrad Bain, I believe. So disappointing.
Anyone remember?
There was nothing subjective about Barbara Bain back in her day. A most attractive and talented woman.
I remember that. Yes, I thought that was funny at the time.
The odd thing about Q is that he’s basically Star Trek’s version of The Great Gazoo. Once you have that parallel stuck in your head, it’s hard not to remember it when watching Q deal with Picard and his crew.
I generally liked the "Q" character. He often pointed out the pomposity of the latest Liberal theme being pushed at the time. Yes, "The Great Gazoo" is a pretty good analogy.
During that time, I’d wager Filmation’s animation was better than Hanna-Barberra’s.
As far as I am concerned Stewart is Lucius Aelius Sejanus!
Seems to be an all too common characteristic of male British actors. What the h3ll happened to England?
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