"It was the most expensive series ever done at that point, and was considered very high-tech with its special effects. Suddenly Star Wars came out while we were on hiatus, and we looked like the old Buck Rogers series, where they had cigarette smoke blowing out the back of the rocket ship. Star Wars just totally reinvented space movies and TV series. It made us look so bad overnight! That first season was very successful, but literally during the course of that summer hiatus, we became out-dated, and didn't even come back."
- Gregory Harrison discusses the events leading up to the cancellation of the Logan's Run TV series in 1977 with Talkin' Broadway's Jonathan Frank.
What in the world is he talking about? Logan's Run premiered in the fall of 1977 after Star Wars had come out. It didn't even last a full season. More likely what he remembers is that the show was in production before Star Wars came out and they thought it looked great, but by the time it actually aired, the show looked dated compared to Star Wars. I still think it looked okay for TV at the time, but the stories were weak.
ReplyDeleteNeal P, thank you for stating exactly what I was thinking about the timeline of STAR WARS released May 1977 and then LOGAN'S RUN on CBS September 1977-1978. I agree too, that the series looked good for '77-'78 in which we also had SPACE ACADEMY on Saturday mornings.
DeleteSGB
The show was already in the red before it started, since a whopping 9 million dollars was paid just for the rights to "Logan's Run". The show's effects weren't dated in 1977. It's unique use of video to film effects (for lasers and forcefields, etc.) allowed for some of the most elaborate effects until today's CGI. The matte paintings are still impressive. Of course, the show is dated today because of the 70's fashions and haircuts. Quark would be a better example of 'embarassing' effects (though they are still entertaining).
ReplyDelete'Man Out Of Time' and 'The Crypt' were both strong episodes. A few more like those and the show might have lasted longer. Best, Zokko
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