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November 22, 2003
The Man From Atlantis
The BBC reports Old Friends' Story is to be aired in China. More important is a tidbit as to the first Western television show to make it onto the airwaves of fascist China.
Counterfeit DVD copies of Friends are already available in Chinese cities, the Beijing Star Daily newspaper said. The Man From Atlantis was the first Western show screened in China in 1980.
I loved this show. All I can remember about it is Bobby from Dallas swimming around in an odd undulating way but I remember the premise was gripping for some reason. I know I kept checking for webbing between my fingers in case I was in fact also from Atlantis.
Scifi drama series. The web footed and web handed (and last remaining survivor from the city of Atlantis) Mark Harris is washed ashore in California, rescued by Dr Elizabeth Merrill, he is then drafted into the Foundation For Oceanic Research (for whom Merrill also works) here he uses his specials talents to tackle all manner of threats to the worlds oceans.
Posted by Ghost of a flea at November 22, 2003 09:48 AM
Comments
I have vague memories of the show. I think it lasted more than one season, did it not? I recall a pretty neat article in "Starlog" that showed how much of the triple-sphere sub they had shown on the inside.
I recall it being better than that underwater version of "Star Trek" that was on a few years ago (SeaQuest???).
And it was a heck of a lot better than "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"!!!
Given how little we know about the ocean, I'm surprised not more science fiction is set there. We've got some good Arthur C. Clarke books, young adult books by folks like Lester Del Rey and a co-written trilogy by Fred Pohl and Jack Williamson, but there's room for a lot more books and movies in that setting.
Posted by: FredKiesche at November 23, 2003 06:54 PM
The deep-sea stuff appeals to me too. My favourite Bond villain hide-out of all time remains the mountain-top Piz Gloria from OHMSS but the underwater base from The Spy Who Loved Me is a close second due to its underwater quality. Also, that underwater Lotus "Wet Nellie"...
Frank Herbert wrote an underwater psychological thriller "The Dragon of the Sea/Under Pressure" that I liked and I just finished perhaps the worst/most fun novel ever, "Ice Station" by Matt Reilly that was, for me, rescued by its underwater elements.
Posted by: Nicholas Packwood at November 23, 2003 07:13 PM
I used to watch the show too but I always had in the back of my mind "What would JR say if he found out?"
Posted by: Kevin at November 23, 2003 08:39 PM
Under Pressure was an excellent book, and it's way overdue for a re-read!
At one point it was optioned to be a movie. Never made, obviously, which may have been a good thing (given how many adaptations come out).
Posted by: FredKiesche at November 23, 2003 11:32 PM
That it had Victor Buono (in one of his last roles) as the main villain more than made up for the turgid plots of MfA. I'd certainly be interested in watching some of the episodes again, though.
Posted by: *** Dave at November 24, 2003 09:44 AM
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