It's not been widely reported here in the UK but GLEN LARSON, TV Super Producer and Show Runner, died of cancer at the weekend. He was 77.
The name probably needs no introduction but, to recap, he was the Hollywood producer that brought us the STAR AGE small (and big) screen juggernauts BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25th CENTURY as well as lesser SF shows MANIMAL, AUTOMAN, THE HIGHWAYMAN, NIGHT MAN and GALACTICA 1980.
His wider body of work included QUINCY M.E, McCLOUD, THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN (he produced the second and third TV movies and although his vision of a super-powered James Bond didn't continue, their success ensured the long-running ABC series), THE HARDY BOYS AND NANCY DREW MYSTERIES, BJ AND THE BEAR and its spin-off THE MISADVENTURES OF SHERIFF LOBO, BATTLES, the pilot for MAGNUM P.I, THE FALL GUY, KNIGHT RIDER, COVER UP, MASQUERADE and many more.
Not all his show's were a success (the much derided MANIMAL only clocked-up six episodes before being dumped) and many were rightly lambasted for being rather-too-obvious knock-offs of successful feature films but they were always great fun and were Star Age essentials.
I'm planning to do more on the man and his work but... in the meantime... here's a compilation of some very memorable title sequences.
thanks for the heads up and what a way to find out this sad news...both he and stephen j cannell pretty much had 70's and 80's american tv sewn up between them...what a legacy...
ReplyDeleteDefinitely.
DeleteI was reading Larson's biog online to prepare for today's post (77 factoids) and I was amazed to see that the vast majority of his shows crossed the Atlantic. I guess he was smart enough to produce shows with international appeal that could be sold to broadcasters for both primetime and off-peak slots without any censorship issues.
must admit slow robot i was surprised to see you post on the space1970 blog...a cross-over of sorts !
ReplyDeleteHehe! Yeah. I really like the SPACE: 1970 blog, it's essential reading.
DeleteI always try to avoid publishing posts on the same material but the STARLOGGED remit is a lot broader and benefits from a British perspective so I think we're complementary rather than competitive.
Like Ed I didn't know about this till just now - a TV legend indeed but I didn't remember that he was behind the Hardy Boys & Nancy Drew Mysteries, I was a fan of the books (and the Three Investigators) and I liked the TV show but it didn't last very long - only one season I think.
ReplyDeleteTHE HARDY BOYS/ NANCY DREW MYSTERIES actually clocked-up three seasons (although poor Nancy was dropped entirely after season two and the final year was only 10 episodes) between 1977 and 1979. It was cancelled the same year as BATTLESTAR.
DeleteThe first two seasons have been released on DVD in the UK... I have them in my collection and they make for a light occasional watch.