#thestarlost — Public Fediverse posts

A long time ago, a lived in a place where we had cable TV. We didn't actually subscribe to any channels, but once in a rare while the cable company would give us a little taste. In this particular case, it was of the #SyFy channel. My friend and I consumed all of it, which is when I was introduce to #TheStarLost - a short running, single season Canadian #scifi series from the early #70s.

The premise is simple - our heroes run into trouble in their own little dome world, and discover that they're in fact not on a planet, but being evacuated from a dying Earth to somewhere far far away, along with numerous other isolated domes.

There has been a bit of an accident though, so they find themselves on their own, on a strange enormous star ship, which unfortunately is on a collision course with a star.

It's slow. 70s slow. But given that my own life is currently a little chaotic and somewhat stressful, this is the soothing oil that calms the water.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Starlost

…and no, I didn’t say “Throwaway Thursdays.”

What can you say about the Starlost? It’s infamously awful. It was the brain child of Sci Fi legend Harlan Ellison, but it was abandoned by its creator before the first episode was completed.

Is that Harlan Ellison’s notorious intolerance of any changes to his work? Or perhaps there was something to his ire towards what the show was to become?

From 2010 to 2014 we meticulously — if less than reverently — analyzed each and every episode of science fiction’s most infamnous train wreck.

Each episode has been digitally restored and you can check them out and subscribe here or at Apple Podcasts.

@HippieScubaSteve

There is an even worse episode of The Starlost, ‘The Goddess Calabra, written by Ursula LeGuin no less, guest starring John Colicos and Barry Morse.

What was it about Greek theatre references that made 60s and 70s scifi television go so wildly awful?

https://youtu.be/L0Cq1T7vKUc

#TheStarlost

@allstartrek

I will add that I am still working out the kinks of extracting my Scrivener files into the Wordpress site.

Some of the seemingly arbitray formatting is driving my batty.

#TheStarlost

In 15 years of the Fusion Patrol podcast, we have looked at 100s of science fiction episodes from programs I LOVED as a kid, but as an adult, I realize how lacking they really were.

A few months ago, I started working on the first book in a series going back and giving my take at some of these disappointments in the form of an episode guide.

I'm releasing the chapters monthly online starting today with the 1st 3 chapters.

May I introduce: Betrayed by #TheStarlost

https://fusionpatrol.com/betrayed-by-the-starlost/

@lxskllr
Somehow this poster made me think instead of John Colicos guest starring appearance, with Barry Morse (of Space 1999 fame) in the appalling 1973 ‘The Starlost’ episode ‘The Goddess Calabra.

How an episode credited to Ursula LeGuin, on a show conceived by Harlan Ellison and with Brian Aldiss as science consultant could be so truly bad is one of the enduring questions of this show.

It’s still a cult classic though.

#JohnColicos #TheStarlost #70sSciFi

https://reflectionsonfilmandtelevision.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-starlost-50th-anniversary-goddess.html

@MirrorAyako @allstartrek @kcarr2015

I am always happy when I read #NewWarriors. Since this is the first time reading these comics, it's just makes the experience even better #Nova #NovaPrime #TheStarlost #Xandar #Firelord #AirWalker #Rage #NightThrasher #Silhouette #Justice #Firestar #Speedball #Marvel #DarickRobertson #FabianNicieza

@agenderfox

That’s a lot of Trek! I have watched it all as it came out with the exception of a few episodes in 1966 before the neighbour kid pushed me to try it in TOS season one. So, I am always impressed by younger newcomers who systematically binge to catch up.

Understand your love of ‘The Magicians’. :packetcat_smile:

I’d like to recommend however that you give ‘The Ark’ a try if you haven’t been already. Its second season finale just ran on Syfy US last week, and will be on Peacock as of this week. ‘The Ark’ is a Dean Devlin creation that appeals to a lot of Star Trek, Stargate and classic sci-fi television fans. Like 90s Star Trek, it’s getting better as it goes on. Hopefully, it will be renewed for more seasons.

Outside the US, it’s available in many countries but across a diversity of services. Check out the hashtags below to see if you might have it.

I am in the process of setting up a new group chat bot account for ‘The Ark’ that interested people in the fediverse will be able to follow.


There’s also interest in a group rewatch/watch and discussion here. I’ll be setting up a schedule in a few weeks. Input will be welcome!


@StarTrekChat #AllStarTrek #HopePunk #ScienceFiction #Space1999 #TheStarlost #StarShips 
#TheArk #StarTrek #Stargate #StargateSG1 #SciFi #ScienceFiction #SciFiTV #TV #SyFy #CTVScifiChannel #Sky #NowTV #USANetwork #Peacock #fubo #Spectrum #Wow #MagentaTV #CanalPlus #Universal #Entertainment #CTVSciFi

@serge

Dean Devlin’s 20th century sci-fi television homage ‘The Ark’ is bringing us its S2 finale ‘Fortunate’ tonight!

Would love to be running watch parties for this show if there were more than a handful of us here who were regular viewers. Perhaps we can get something going for a rewatch cycle?

https://www.syfy.com/the-ark/season-2/videos/a-tragic-accident-the-ark-s2-e12-sneak-peek

@StarTrekChat #AllStarTrek #HopePunk #ScienceFiction #Space1999 #TheStarlost 
#TheArk #StarTrek #Stargate #StargateSG1 #SciFi #ScienceFiction #TV #SyFy #CTVScifiChannel #Sky #NowTV #USANetwork #Peacock #fubo #Spectrum #Wow #MagentaTV #CanalPlus #Universal #TheIngloriousTreksperts #IndependenceDay #Godzilla

After seeing The Ark’s season 2 penultimate episode* this week, I’m hoping that NBCUniversal greenlights a third season.

It’s a rare low budget Syfy Original that has a second season better than its first.

I’ve already posed the question ‘Why aren’t you watching this?!!’ to Star Trek and Stargate fans who keep saying they’re hankering for an aspirational, upbeat classic sci-fi show and are less concerned with expensive production values or perfect scientific explanations.

If you like Dean Devlin products like Stargate, Godzilla (1998), Independence Day, or listen to ‘The Inglorious Treksperts, I’d be very surprised if this isn’t your thing.

I’d argue that if you liked 60s and 70s sci-fi shows such as Space 1999, The Starlost, Ark II, and the original Battlestar Galactica, you’ll find much to enjoy with this one.

With a bit of digging, I was able to find that it has a broader international distribution than many realize, it’s worth tracking down in your market!

And if you happen to have checked out The Ark since I last posted, I’d love to hear what you think.

*Edited: I keep thinking the season is done as I’m just not thinking of 12 episode seasons anymore.

@StarTrekChat #AllStarTrek #HopePunk #ScienceFiction #Space1999 #TheStarlost
#TheArk #StarTrek #Stargate #StargateSG1 #SciFi #ScienceFiction #TV #SyFy #CTVScifiChannel #Sky #NowTV #USANetwork #Peacock #fubo #Spectrum #Wow #MagentaTV #CanalPlus #Universal #TheIngloriousTreksperts #IndependenceDay #Godzilla

@Doctor_Roo
@theresmiling

@raumpatrouille

Wow. Space Patrol Orion!

I want to know more!

I did not know this existed nor its marionette predecessor Space Patrol. (Nor that the marionette version was released as Planet Patrol in the US. Not sure it ever got to Canada, that was pre cable.)

Does anyone know if there is a version out there with French dub and subtitles? Or just English subtitles?

The early to mid 1960s really were a period of experimentation with science fiction television production everywhere. I can see why this live action version became so beloved with cult status in Germany.

I like the strong presence of women in command (which US network NBC wasn’t ready for in TOS). I can also see how fans of this show in Germany and France would seen Star Trek as similar and be a natural audience for the Trek franchise.

Looking it up, I can see now that some of the experimental video techniques in the 1975 Canadian show ‘The Starlost’, which integrated minaturized sets with live action soundstage overlays in camera, have a direct predecessor in Space Patrol Orion. Would be interested to know what German fans would think of ‘The Starlost.’

#1960s #SciFi #1960sTV #SpacePatrolOrion #CommandoSpatialOrion #TV #Television #TheStarlost #SpacePatrol #PlanetPatrol

@twipped I have seen Another World.

And I enjoyed it for what it was, for the optimism and for some of the strong acting. I also very much liked that they managed to make sense of everything in S2 and stick a landing.

I didn’t see the plots as all that similar though.

I saw both more as different 21st century creators takes of a collection of 1970s humanity-on-its-last-legs-in-space trope shows, none of which lasted long, and made for tv movies. These would include #TheStarlost, #Space1999, #BattlestarGallactica, #ArkII etc.

I’ll grant that both feature young and raw officers trying to keep a ship and crew intact, but otherwise, I feel they are going in different directions. I’ll be interested to see whether you find them quite so similar after viewing S2 of the Ark.

#AnotherWorld #Netflix #TheArk #Syfy #SciFi #ScienceFiction #70sTelevision

@mycotropic @TheSpaceshipper Yes, I watched it first run on CTV!

And I recently I recently bought the remastered DVD set which has interviews and BTS footage on how it was made.

I have been looking for someone to rewatch with and discuss.

#TheStarlost #70sSciFi

@Xucaen

I would like to create such a #70sSciFiTV group. There just isn’t one yet. What we need is a critical core of interested participants.

We could set up a bot account that we could tag to boost posts and replies.

The two season live-action #BuckRogersInThe25thCentury definitely belongs.

I would add #TheStarlost, which was quite experimental in its use of staging, and was based on a Harlan Ellison concept. It really was intended to be a serialized limited series but was far before its time. There’s a remastered disc version available from 2008 that has a lot of production information.

There’s also the brief runs of the #PlanetOfTheApes & #LogansRun broadcast shows.

Some of the failed pilots that got released as made for television movies would be fair game too. Roddenberry’s two post Armageddon ‘Dylan Hunt’ attempts - Genesis II and Planet Earth for example.

#television #1970s #SciFi #ScienceFiction #Space1999 #BSG

@Xucaen

There are!

One of the problems with some of the #1970s #SciFi #televisiom shows like #Space1999 is that they are so inconsistently available on streamers. In many countries, they’re often accessible via physical media sales. So, it’s hard to get conversations going let alone a group rewatch.

I did a poll a while back to see how many of us had seen not only Space 1999, but also #TheStarlost , #BattlestarGalactica (original) & #FlashGordon (1979-82). It got some pickup.

What surprised me was that FlashGordon was the most viewed. It really wasn’t at all popular here in Canada.

Do keep trying with the hashtags though, as it’s the only way to build up engagement.

@fuzzface @Photorat @TheSpaceshipper

You’re welcome for the info. Like #Space1999, #TheStarlost is only available on DVD in Canada now.

I’ve been wishing that we could get together a #1970s #Scifi #television group to go through an episode a week or so. But with no broad streaming availability, it’s challenging.

By the way, my avatar is just an inset screencap of the Caitian Lt. M’Ress from #StarTrekTAS. Worth watching also.

@fuzzface @Photorat @TheSpaceshipper The concept was #HarlanEllison’s, but as with #StarTrekTOS’ ‘City at the Edge of Forever’, he had no flexibility modify his concept to something that actually could be produced for #70s television. He also really wanted #TheStarlost to be a limited series - something not viable for North American TV then. So he took his name off.

Brian Aldiss stayed on as science consultant. Ursula LeGuin credited 1 episode.

@KronoGarrett @mklopez The production of #TheStarlost was undeniably under budgeted and problematic, but was also incredibly innovative in terms of use of micro staging and practical effects.

I have the 2008 remastered DVD set which includes some background, documentary-like reflections on the production with the principal cast.

The concept was also solid for a limited series (which wasn’t really a thing in North America in the mid #1970s. Worth a reboot.

@mklopez

Definitely, I’m a #Space1999 booster, but it’s first season episodes could be so very dark.

That said, when we think of #1970s #Scifi #television, bridged between eras, the even less known #HarlanEllison concept #TheStarlost needs to be in the conversation too.

Both were shaped by the #postapocalpyse trend in #sciencefiction. Ellison intended The Starlost as a limited series, & despite disavowing it, it attracted #BrianAldiss & #UrsulaKLeGuin to production.

#TheStarlost season one has just been added to #Cultpix (a specialty streaming library created and curated by Swedish Klubb Super8).

I picked up the remastered 2008 DVD set, & have been working through this #HarlanEllison conceived mid #1970s #sciencefiction #television show.

I’d really welcome discussing the rewatches now that it’s #streaming.

It centres on an #ARK #spaceship, with isolated human groups. 3 Amish-like people discover the rest, ship has lost its crew, in trouble

#SFF #Scifi

@otfrom

Those #SilentRunning biosphere #shipmodels got around. They seemed to have shown up in a few multiship scenes in #90s #StarTrek.

While a different model, a similar build was used for the #HarlanEllison concept of the #ARKship for #TheStarlost in 1975. (It even sounds like some of SilentRunning’s score was reworked for The Starlost’s trailer.)

You note the same narrowing title font from #50s #ForbiddenPlanet that made a bigger splash later the #70s #StarWars.

@triptych @mrawdon

Another short lived very American-style #70s #Scifi series definitely. As a DC Saturday morning #Aquaman fan, I was very disappointed when the #ManFromAtlantis wasn’t renewed.

These are hard to track down anywhere.

I recently tracked down #TheStarlost remastered 2008 DVD set and am working through it.

#Space1999 was discontinued on Amazon Prime here in Canada, and there’s no digital purchase option. Not convinced yet to buy the DVDs.

@mrawdon @triptych

#70s #scifi shows don’t hold up well but I give them credit for trying and influencing what came later.

#Space1999 never found the happy medium necessary for mass audiences.

#TheStarlost tried some experimental special effects techniques, but couldn’t achieve what #HarlanEllison envisaged, or deliver the concepts of top writers like LeGuin.

Both are worthy of the #reboot #BattlestarGalactica got. (#BuckRogers was already a reboot.)

@TheSpaceshipper

Thanks for profiling this.

Space 1999 continues to be influential. Its design language shows in 32nd century #StarTrek

#1970s were an interesting period in terms of experimentation with different practical, special and early vfx techniques. Some seem to be reprised in new virtual staging volumes.

e.g., #TheStarlost used a Magicam technique that had actors performing against a background of miniature sets.

5 decades since the #70s, many younger #SciFi and #spaceship fans aren’t familiar. I’m currently running a poll (pinned to my profile) to see which people have seen. Not too much uptake but #BattlestarGalactica leads with #Space1999 second.

Relaunch - due to error in Poll set-up. #humpday #1970s #Scifi #television poll - Pt 1 ‘Lost ( in. #space ) longing for Earth’ trope - Of which of these non #StarTrek shows, have you watched at least one full episode? (Choose all you’ve seen. Choosing more than one should now be possible. Regrets to those who responded overnight.) #Space1999 #TheStarlost #BuckRogers #BattlestarGalactica #ScienceFiction

More #Humpday trivia about 1970s #CTVScifi #HarlanEllison oddity #TheStarlost. For #shipyard & #starship model fans, “The Ark model was ten feet long and carried 37 biospheres. The main body was constructed out of solid wood overlaid with vacuum-formed plastic and model parts. Amazingly the detailed production drawing of the “Starship Ark” showed that the Ark should (have 100s of domes.)”. Worth comparing to #SilentRunning and #StarTrek biosphere #spaceship models.

A final array of connections between 1970s #CTVSciFi show #TheStarlost and other #Scifi 1. Episode 3 actually has #UrsulaLeGuin with the story credit, Barry Morse of #Space1999 & John Colicos of #BattlestarGalactica as guest stars; Episode 10 features guest star #WalterKoenig of #StarTrek.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/most-controversial-sci-fi-show-free-online-april-2021-starlost Inverse on #CTV ‘s 70s #TheStarlost :“Although Ellison was an early proponent of #StarTrek in the 1960s, by the time his Trek episode…finally aired, his relationship with Trek creator Gene Roddenberry was ruined…by the time (he) was tapped to create and write #TheStarlost his reputation for demanding 100 percent creative control over #scifi shows with questionable production values was well-known

This #humpday Wednesday, what legacy sci-fi television shows are engaging you other than #StarTrek? I’ve been working through the 2008 remastered DVD set of the short-lived mid 70s Canadian series #TheStarlost . This post-apocalyptic tale of a generation ship holds up better than I’d expected, and #HarlanEllison ‘s original idea warrants a reboot and completion in my view.

@jbwharris reminded of Heinlein's #orphansofthesky and #TheStarlost. Really enjoying it

Just saw news that Ed Ames has died at age 95. This is obviously not what he's best known for, but here he is as Mr. Smith in the Starlost episode "Mr. Smith of Manchester" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LBvIZXSvyY #EdAmes #TheStarlost

Interesting... Bester's outfit is a lot flashier than usual in this episode! #babylon5 #thestarlost

Time for a proper #introduction!

I'm Tom, I'm a computer programmer, happily married, and I live in northeast PA, USA.

#webcomics - I draw Station V3, at http://www.stationv3.com (since 2003!)

#scifi - Reading & watching. I enjoy shows like #startrek, #doctorwho, #blakes7, #space1999, and even #thestarlost. Finally watching #babylon5.

#music - Rock, especially 60s and 70s. Listening and collecting, especially on #vinyl and #8tracks. I also play #bass and #clarinet (but not bass clarinet!)