The Starlost

[Overmind One]

Oh wow...I just downloaded all 16 episodes of The Starlost, and I remember watching it when it was being aired on TV. What a great premise, and what awful execution. The writing was actually pretty damned good! This was a serialized show, and I think if it had been given more money for production it could have been GREAT.

But the show when looked at today is...well....amateurish in execution. Almost everything is green screen, and really bad green screen even for 1973. I mean, this is on the level of ME doing shit with green screen and my cellphone camera.


Having said that, the stories for each episode and the overall premise was brilliant. The writing was good, but the actors and the scenes were so distractedly cheesy looking that it couldnt be taken seriously. It should have been. If done today, it could be a blockbuster series.

If you decide to watch this, keep in mind that this is NOT eye candy in the least. But if you just take in each story and try and see the vision that they wanted to portray, it becomes very enjoyable. Raw storytelling, almost like a play.

All of the episodes are on YouTube, and this is the first episode:


The show died in disgrace, and was universally panned by critics and watchers alike, but if you can forgive the horrible green screen, you will find it entertaining. Many consider this show one of the worst science fiction shows ever created. You have to understand that this show came out AFTER Star Trek TOS ended by a few years, and it looked like that.

But the show has it's fans, and Im one of 'em.

 

[YJ02]

Oh wow...I just downloaded all 16 episodes of The Starlost, and I remember watching it when it was being aired on TV. What a great premise, and what awful execution. The writing was actually pretty damned good! This was a serialized show, and I think if it had been given more money for production it could have been GREAT.

But the show when looked at today is...well....amateurish in execution. Almost everything is green screen, and really bad green screen even for 1973. I mean, this is on the level of ME doing shit with green screen and my cellphone camera.


Having said that, the stories for each episode and the overall premise was brilliant. The writing was good, but the actors and the scenes were so distractedly cheesy looking that it couldnt be taken seriously. It should have been. If done today, it could be a blockbuster series.

If you decide to watch this, keeo in mind that this is NOT eye candy in the least. But if you just take in each story and try and see the vision that they wanted to portray, it becomes very enjoyable. Raw storytelling, almost like a play.

All of the episodes are on YouTube, and this is the first episode:


The show died in disgrace, and was universally panned by critics and watchers alike, but if you can forgive the horrible green screen, you will find it entertaining. Many consider this show one of the worst science fiction shows ever created. You have to understand that this show came out AFTER Star Trek TOS ended by a few years, and it looked like that.

But the show has it's fans, and Im one of 'em.

And it had in it an actor from 2001;a space odyssey-maybe upping expectations

I tried to watch it, but

as I said elsewhere

I kept falling asleep

and the acting and the timing or whatever was just so "Land of Lost-ish"

and
ep 1 amish in space
ep 2 the walking dead in space
ep 3 they enter a 'world' that is seemingly populated by homosexual men wearing bright and tight clothing who are constantly doing exercise
ep 4 "Colonel Pornstache and the Space Sex Kittens"

I could take no more

The entire series is on Youtube and it is own has whole eps, so no irritating hunting for "s1, ep2, part 5" kind of stuff

 

[Gatefan1976]

Hmm..........

So good concept, bad execution??
Sounds like another show we all know and loathe.

 

[Bluce Ree]

Hmm..........

So good concept, bad execution??
Sounds like another show we all know and loathe.

What show? Is the show called "Everything currently on Syfy"?

 

[Overmind One]

Hmm..........

So good concept, bad execution??
Sounds like another show we all know and loathe.

Yep...and in my opinion, the storytelling was better than Suckgate Uniturd too. At least in this show, the protagonists who started out as dullards in Cyprus Corners were pushing buttons, shorting out Iris control panels and talking about time dilation and space by episode three, when in SGU episode three, they were just getting past the closet quickie scene.

 

[Bluce Ree]

Yep...and in my opinion, the storytelling was better than Suckgate Uniturd too. At least in this show, the protagonists who started out as dullards in Cyprus Corners were pushing buttons, shorting out Iris control panels and talking about time dilation and space by episode three, when in SGU episode three, they were just getting past the closet quickie scene.

Aside from the ship backdrop, how far into SGU were we before we got actual scifi? The most vivid memories of that show for me were using the stones to go back home and party.

 

[Overmind One]

Aside from the ship backdrop, how far into SGU were we before we got actual scifi? The most vivid memories of that show for me were using the stones to go back home and party.

Second season, episode 7 "The Greater Good". That is when they started talking about the "structured background signal" AKA The God Channel .

We discussed it here: http://www.gatefans.net/gforums/threads/alrighty-where-is-the-destiny-going-anyway.24464/

In Starlost, by episode three our protagonists had accepted that they are on a giant ark travelling through space, that it was off course and that navigational course changes needed to be made. They knew how to use the Central Computer, how to open the Iris doors to the biospheres, and because they were all SMART, they learned quickly when confronted with new challenges.

 

[YJ02]

Yep...and in my opinion, the storytelling was better than Suckgate Uniturd too. At least in this show, the protagonists who started out as dullards in Cyprus Corners were pushing buttons, shorting out Iris control panels and talking about time dilation and space by episode three, when in SGU episode three, they were just getting past the closet quickie scene.

Yes they did 'speak' those tech sounding words-however, where did they learn them? It wasn't in Amish Village

And they never-at least as far as I went-asked Mr Irritation computer how to actually do anything

I think back then that a lot of sci fi got away with just sounding like "science'-it wasn't until later that people started demanding more science-or something like "How did these hicks learn that?" kind of questioning

Strangely, for all of its popularity I think SW's made more people "question" the sceince-ness of what they were watching

does that make any sense?

 

[Tripler]

Am I having Deja Vu or have we spoke about this show before somewheres else perhaps ??? ??? ???

 

[YJ02]

Am I having Deja Vu or have we spoke about this show before somewheres else perhaps ??? ??? ???

Yup-in the OUTER LIMITS 2.0 thread

Nope-you are not crazy yet (guess the toxicity of your park hasn't had any effects yet)

 

[Overmind One]

Yes they did 'speak' those tech sounding words-however, where did they learn them? It wasn't in Amish Village

And they never-at least as far as I went-asked Mr Irritation computer how to actually do anything

I think back then that a lot of sci fi got away with just sounding like "science'-it wasn't until later that people started demanding more science-or something like "How did these hicks learn that?" kind of questioning

Strangely, for all of its popularity I think SW's made more people "question" the sceince-ness of what they were watching

does that make any sense?

You havent watched the entire series. I dont blame you, but when this show was being aired I never wanted to miss it. Yeah, the effects were cheesy, and those tight-ish clothes the guys and girls wear along with their hair styles are pure Free Love 1970s. Before AIDS, before the Moral Majority and Jerry Fallwell, and before extreme homophobia and feminism. But at the time, it was entertaining and I still find the stories well written even today. It's sad that it wasnt done properly because the premise is AWESOME. It has not been re-imagined in another series (as far as I know). The science in THIS show is real science...much moreso than SGU or Star Wars.

 

[Gate_Boarder]

You havent watched the entire series. I dont blame you, but when this show was being aired I never wanted to miss it. Yeah, the effects were cheesy, and those tight-ish clothes the guys and girls wear along with their hair styles are pure Free Love 1970s. Before AIDS, before the Moral Majority and Jerry Fallwell, and before extreme homophobia and feminism. But at the time, it was entertaining and I still find the stories well written even today. It's sad that it wasnt done properly because the premise is AWESOME. It has not been re-imagined in another series (as far as I know). The science in THIS show is real science...much moreso than SGU or Star Wars.

As a historical fact, the studios supposedly sued the writers of the series because "Starlost" was being filmed during one of those long writer strikes. The writers didn't want to produce anything, which might account for some of the very interesting things that happened on the series after the writers got back to work.

So far the closest thing that has come to a reboot of this show would be 'Stargate: Universe'. The new 'Ascension' mini-series might suck up some of 'Starlost' ideas, but I cannot see a group of 1963 people head out to space without alien help.

 

[YJ02]

You havent watched the entire series. I dont blame you, but when this show was being aired I never wanted to miss it. Yeah, the effects were cheesy, and those tight-ish clothes the guys and girls wear along with their hair styles are pure Free Love 1970s. Before AIDS, before the Moral Majority and Jerry Fallwell, and before extreme homophobia and feminism. But at the time, it was entertaining and I still find the stories well written even today. It's sad that it wasnt done properly because the premise is AWESOME. It has not been re-imagined in another series (as far as I know). The science in THIS show is real science...much moreso than SGU or Star Wars.

I just didn't see how the characters gained their education for all the techno speak they were throwing around--I mean you don't go from the plow to astro physics without a few days in a classroom

The show does have a cool looking ship though!

 

[Overmind One]

Yup-in the OUTER LIMITS 2.0 thread

Nope-you are not crazy yet (guess the toxicity of your park hasn't had any effects yet)

Yep, the Outer Limits 2.0 thread. I broke it out into a new topic with this thread because Im doing a rewatch of the show and it deserves it's own thread.

 

[Overmind One]

As a historical fact, the studios supposedly sued the writers of the series because "Starlost" was being filmed during one of those long writer strikes. The writers didn't want to produce anything, which might account for some of the very interesting things that happened on the series after the writers got back to work.

So far the closest thing that has come to a reboot of this show would be 'Stargate: Universe'. The new 'Ascension' mini-series might suck up some of 'Starlost' ideas, but I cannot see a group of 1963 people head out to space without alien help.

Stargate Universe was about a derelict ship who acquired a crew using a device which put them on it with more than a little knowledge of what they were going to expect (a ship, built by Ancients which was intended to be boarded by travelers using the 9th chevron address). It was about a group of trained individuals trying to master the ship and discover it's purpose.

Starlost was about a giant ark ship created from interconnected "worlds" (biospheres) which have been separated from each other and have little or no knowledge that they are on an ark. Although, it is clear that some of the biodomes were populated by personnel who DID know, but were not in charge of the ship. It was damaged and is now on a collision course with a star.

Not remotely similar.

I havent seen this premise picked up by any show. They could easily do it today, but NOT as a movie. This show is driven by interactions between new characters guaranteed each time a new biodome is accessed, which means serialized episodes. It could be done as a miniseries even.

 

[Bluce Ree]

I just didn't see how the characters gained their education for all the techno speak they were throwing around--I mean you don't go from the plow to astro physics without a few days in a classroom

The show does have a cool looking ship though!

Astrophysicists? Are you sure you watched The Starlost or did you just tune out, mute the TV and superimpose your own dialogue from your mind? The whole premise of the show was that these three were ass-backwards trying to understand what's going on and save the ship.

 

[Overmind One]

I just didn't see how the characters gained their education for all the techno speak they were throwing around--I mean you don't go from the plow to astro physics without a few days in a classroom

The show does have a cool looking ship though!

The ship was equipped with interactive terminals called the Sphere Projector. One could sit in a chair and interact with the (quirky) Central Computer. The CC could tell them any information they asked of it, except restricted information. The Sphere Projector is what told Devon about the ark, the accident and the collision course. All three of our main characters remain those same simple rural folk from Cyprus Corners, but they now know they are on an ark that is on a collision course with a star. It was all very plausible within the premise. Some of the ideas they came up with in the show pissed me off because they were unscientific (the episode where they went into the circuit to repair it). Also, some of the stories were very weak, say...past episode 10. But by that time, you are invested in the main characters (all are likeable) and you just want to see what happens next. Classic episodic science fiction, done on a tattered shoestring budget. I still find it a very worthy item in my collection.

Astrophysicists? Are you sure you watched The Starlost or did you just tune out, mute the TV and superimpose your own dialogue from your mind? The whole premise of the show was that these three were ass-backwards trying to understand what's going on and save the ship.

 

[YJ02]

Astrophysicists? Are you sure you watched The Starlost or did you just tune out, mute the TV and superimpose your own dialogue from your mind? The whole premise of the show was that these three were ass-backwards trying to understand what's going on and save the ship.

I just used the term loosely as I did "space amish (or whatever)"

How did they even know what a computer was, or the keyboard/computer interface he used in the first ep?

My question is how do you go from being a primitive level person to immediately knowing how/ what to do/use to access the computer?

Its just that they seem to have been told to throw around smart/science-y words around -just like a lot of other shows did/do without any explanation on how/why the character would even know the word existed let alone what it meant.

By the way-I think it would make an excellent show if remade today. It seems to have had an effect on other TPTB's like perhaps Glen Larson, The ship and its mission is reminiscent of at least one ship in the TOS-BSG fleet

 

[Overmind One]

I just used the term loosely as I did "space amish (or whatever)"

How did they even know what a computer was, or the keyboard/computer interface he used in the first ep?

He didnt (Devon was the first). He accidentally activated it by touching the interface chair, which was in the first Sphere Projector room he came to (it makes sense it would be located there and at every jump tube intersection). But if you are asking me this, then it means you havent watched it. It shows you exactly how they discovered the computer.

My question is how do you go from being a primitive level person to immediately knowing how/ what to do/use to access the computer?

??? They were only primitive in lifestyle. Their leader used the Creator (a computer) as the center of the religion in Cyprus Corners. Again, this tells me that you have not watched any of this show. . I think you should do that before passing judgement, because they are basic to the show. The computer, unlike in Star Trek, is primarily a visual interface, and the computer is a main character in this show.

Its just that they seem to have been told to throw around smart/science-y words around -just like a lot of other shows did/do without any explanation on how/why the character would even know the word existed let alone what it meant.

Um, no. The science in this show is actual science (mostly), from scientific sources, not made up crap. They did go there a couple of episodes, but not too deeply. Scientific terminology sounds "science-y" because it IS science. They did indeed explain how these characters know what they know, and they dont really know all that much!

By the way-I think it would make an excellent show if remade today. It seems to have had an effect on other TPTB's like perhaps Glen Larson, The ship and its mission is reminiscent of at least one ship in the TOS-BSG fleet

This premise is closer to BSG than to any other show, because it represents the last of a race travelling through space trying to find a home. But it is still only very distantly similar in a most superficial way. I agree, this show would be AWESOME today. But they couldnt make Starlost into a movie. It just would not work, nor should they try and make it work as a movie. It is an episodic TV show. And they CAN use complete unknowns in it. No need for any name recognition.

 

[Bluce Ree]

I just used the term loosely as I did "space amish (or whatever)"

How did they even know what a computer was, or the keyboard/computer interface he used in the first ep?

My question is how do you go from being a primitive level person to immediately knowing how/ what to do/use to access the computer?

They didn't. Their first encounter with technology was a talking interactive computer that answered their questions. Coming from Cypress Corners, they weren't exactly oblivious to civilization, just not familiar with anything outside their environment.

Its just that they seem to have been told to throw around smart/science-y words around -just like a lot of other shows did/do without any explanation on how/why the character would even know the word existed let alone what it meant.

Well, no, not really. They repeated shit they heard and understood what some of it meant as it was explained. You know stuff happened between episodes. I suppose they could have dedicated whole episodes to the dude sitting in front of one of these consoles having conversations with it but the show would have been cancelled in a minute.