Stand by for action!

Andrew · April 13, 2003, 02:24:57 PM

Taking a break from yard work and sanding cabinets. Wanted to talk about the wonderfully cheesy series "Stingray" by Gerry Anderson. I recently picked up the DVD box set (time to part with my LDs) and have been watching one twenty-five minute episode per day or so.

First off, I have to say that the crazy situations and plots are awesomely funny. They would be right at home in a classic Adam West "Batman" episode. In the first episode, Troy Tempest (the hero) is put on trial by the ruler of an underwater city. What does the trial consist of? There is this big dumb fish in a tank that the underwater people worship as a god. If the fish turns away from Troy within one minute, he is guilty and will be killed! Hahahaha! The whole scene is pretty much Troy waving his hands in a "good fish, good fish" motion. Then it turns away at the last minute. Homer Simpson: "Stupid fish!"

In another, the mute mermaid (webbed feet) woman is tied to a stone. Suspended above the stone is a swordfish! The swordfish has a rope tied around its tail that has a candle burning through it. If the mermaid does not talk (the bad guys do not know she is mute) the flame will burn through the rope and the swordfish will drop.

Fearless Freep · April 13, 2003, 02:45:25 PM

In another, the mute mermaid (webbed feet) woman is tied to a stone. Suspended above the stone is a swordfish! The swordfish has a rope tied around its tail that has a candle burning through it.

Rube Goldfish?

StatCat · April 13, 2003, 07:15:21 PM

Always enjoyed Captain Scarlet but I seriously have never sat through an episode of his other shows. Stingray I think is the first one he did right?

Flangepart · April 14, 2003, 10:39:00 AM

He he he he....for some reason, when i hear the theme music, the drum part makes me visulise some british guy furiously banging on bongos, while dressed in suit and tie...i don't know why, i just do.
Weird and colorful, thats The Anderson universe. With theme songs that sound like 60's love songs...on a kid show....never understood that....

Andrew · April 14, 2003, 10:43:10 AM

StatCat wrote:

> Always enjoyed Captain Scarlet but I seriously have never sat
> through an episode of his other shows. Stingray I think is the
> first one he did right?

It appears that "Supercar" was his first series, followed by "Fireball XL5" and then "Stingray." I knew that there was at least one show before "Stingray."

JohnL · April 14, 2003, 04:38:22 PM

When we first got SciFi, they used to air these shows in the mornings. Of course that was before they decided to fill up the schedule with stuff that was cancelled like 6 months ago.

The Burgomaster · April 14, 2003, 05:33:51 PM

I recently bought the Captain Scarlet box set . . . it's classic stuff. Supermarionation is definitely a topic worth discussing.

Pete B6K · April 16, 2003, 08:37:51 AM

As a kid I used to watch 'Thunderbirds' all the time. There's a whole lot of scope for mockage in that programme.

It seems theres a live-action film coming out in 2004.

Pete

Flangepart · April 16, 2003, 10:33:43 AM

Garry Anderson...Good!
Oh, yeah. The MST potential is not to be missed.
"Live Action" Thunderbirds? Thats just don't sound right....Its ain't normal, i tells ya!