From 1976: One for the weekend... the TV TIMES paperback (a brand extension before anyone had coined the phrase) adapting Thames TV's THE TOMORROW PEOPLE.
I can't say that I've read the paperback but, thanks to DVD, I've discovered the original series over the last decade or so and really enjoyed it (especially the lawyers-be-dammed commentaries by the cast which are thin on technical details - don't expect a Ken Johnson style outing full of insights - but thick with barbed comments) for its lo-fi Teddington austerity production values.
Prior to the DVD's, I was more familiar with the early 1990s version which came and went during the dying days of the Thames ITV franchise. The recent American version initially seemed like a triumphant return but became increasingly dumb as it lurched towards cancellation at the end of its only season. It was the "V" reboot all over again. Sadly. But, to their credit, they did get their monies worth out of their subway train interior set by reusing it almost every episode.
Hi Slow,
ReplyDeleteYou often cover these kind of "passing-of-an-era" events--did you know Teddington Studios is being demolished and replaced with flats? Appreciate it's outside of London, but wondered if you might be able to do a photo shoot of the changes.
I used to live just down the road in Strawberry Hill, but moved at start of 2014 or I'd help you out!
As ever, your blog is compelling reading. Did you see my comment on Batman Monthly, by the way?
Hi there.
DeleteI had managed to miss your response to the UK BATMAN post. That's really interesting and says a lot about DC corporate stratergy at that time.
As you'll see, I did have something planned for Teddington Studios. I've had the pictures 'on file' since sometime last year. I hope you enjoy them.
I've got a couple of these books somewhere - one with a black cover and an orange one too. Liked the series a lot but it was on ITV which was frowned upon by my parents (!)
ReplyDeleteI finally stumbled upon an issue of GEEKY MONKEY in a newsagent and the articles on dr who and the force awakens made it a must buy. Sadly , it didn't scan at the counter and therefore I couldn't buy the mag. Go figure that one out !
ReplyDeleteIn other news , there is yet ANOTHER marvel graphic novel collection out now and a ' build R2-D2 ' series is on the way after a test market as seen here :
http://www.jedinews.co.uk/news/news.aspx?newsID=25742
Grrr. How frustrating! GEEKY MONKEY is inconsistantly racked by WHS anyway: Some stores display it with the genre magazines, others with the computer magazines and some with the men's lifestyle magazines. Which can make finding copies a bit of a challenge. I hope it's not denting sales as it's a really good magazine which I look forward to each month. The new issue of STARBURST is out today... and it's so weighty that it confuses the scales on the self-service tills.
DeleteThe new MARVEL hardback partwork is the 'black edition' relaunched from the original first issue. Confusingly, new issues are still shipping as well. Sure to create collector and retailer confusion.
ANOTHER SW partwork? Along with the helmets (hohum), reference guide and Falcon build-a-ship. They are making the most of it. I still think they should do hardback collections of the strips.
Apparently, in Japan they are publishing a Build-a-Thunderbird 2 partwork. Remains to be seen if it ever makes it to the home market.
I may do a ' trawl ' of other stores in search of it but so far, that's the only place that had the mag. And I almost missed it since they had it behind other titles. Maybe I can still get it next week, fingers crossed !
ReplyDeleteSounds like an extra - sized issue of STARBURST, another title which is hard to find here in Dublin. My local newsagents always gets it but recently, he has dropped other genre mags such as SCI-FI NOW and SFX, hope he keeps getting SB.
My advice for any magazine hunter is " shop around and keep your eyes peeled ! "
*** MARVEL TO PUBLISH ADAPTATION OF THE FORCE AWAKENS ***
ReplyDeleteas seen here :
http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/exclusive-marvel-publish-star-wars-force-awakens-comic-adaptation
My wish is granted. It always puzzled me as to why this never appeared in PREVIEWS but obviously, it was held back ( like the novel ) to avoid spoilers before the movie's release.