Talk:UFO (TV series)

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TV This article is part of WikiProject British TV shows, an attempt to build a comprehensive and detailed guide to British TV shows on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, you can edit the article attached to this page, or visit the project British TV shows, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion.

Please consider joining the project! HowardBerry 19:22, 11 November 2005 (UTC)


One could get quite nostalgic over this article! One thing that particularly strikes a viewer of the DVDs is how practically everyone at SHADO smokes like a chimney in this series, you wouldn't see that in a modern SF series... The "Century 21" fashions were quite of their time too, with the crew of SkyDiver (male and female) all wearing string vests, and they never did explain why all the female crew of Moonbase had to wear purple wigs, but the males didn't... -- Arwel 22:42, 29 Mar 2004 (UTC)

Yes, there should probably be a bit about the fashions in the article, along with the car designs and other fascinating future predictions, like racial prejudice just fizzling out. If only. Lee M 03:50, 18 Apr 2004 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Purple hair origins

One of the episodes featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000 was of the 1969 film Moon Zero Two. In it, a lunar hotel employee has the same metallic purple wig that adorns the female Moonbase personnel of UFO. When I saw this, I checked IMDb for connections between the two productions. The closest thing I found was that Moon Zero Two director Roy Ward Baker worked with Gerry and Sylvia Anderson on their popular live-action TV show The Protectors three years later, two years after UFO started. It occurred to me that one of these shows might have gotten the idea from the other, if these folks knew each other in 1969 or before. Any thoughts? — Jeff Q (talk) 04:11, 30 Mar 2005 (UTC)

It's possible. UFO also reused sets and costumes (and actors!) from a film the Andersons made in 1968-69 called Doppleganger (aka Journey to the Far Side of the Sun), but I've never seen it so I don't know if the purple hair appears in that film. 23skidoo 13:57, 30 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Neither Gerry nor Sylvia have (to my knowledge) cited a particular inspiration for the wigs. (I thought there was particular mention of the wigs in Gerry's bio, but I can't find it.) I suspect it is more likely simply to be a case of parallel exposure. They both had the knack of picking up current social emblems in language and style. Sylvia, in particular, had a habit of taking current clothing trends and extending them. Part of the hippie culture of the time was wearing bizarre wigs. Wouldn't surprise me if another production designer was influenced in similar manner during the same period. Cain Mosni 11:24, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] You-foh vs. you-eff-oh

I recent edit indicates that the pronounciation "you-foh" is the British way of saying UFO. I've never heard of this -- to my knowledge the Brits go "you-eff-oh" like everyone else. Can someone back this up? 23skidoo 18:19, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

Indeed when I saw the edit today, I wondered what on Earth the person who stated that it was British was on about! Being a Brit, having a father that works with astronomy, space and science-fiction, and having seen plenty of Brit sci-fi, I can honestly say that I have never heard one single person (outside of this show) pronounce U.F.O. as "you-foh". In Britain it is pronounced "you-eff-oh". PeregrineAinsleyWotenuff 22:34, 26 October 2005 (UTC)
And I see Khaosworks has reverted the edit. I had a feeling it was a little fishy but, even though I consider myself fairly well-versed in various British terminology and spellings, I thought I'd seek additional input in case this was something that wasn't on my radar. Cheers! 23skidoo 05:21, 27 October 2005 (UTC)
Added a note on pronunciation: The originator of the term, USAF Captain Edward J. Ruppelt suggested "U-Foe", and this was the preferred pronunciation in official USAF usage, though hardly universal. This is mentioned in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unidentified_flying_objects#Modern_UFO_era . As the term moved into the mainstream, "You-Eff-Oh" became the standard. So the series is actually using a bit of authentic military jargon here. -- 201.78.233.162 23:06, 26 June 2006 (UTC)
That's a cool piece of trivia. Well done! 23skidoo 23:15, 26 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "Nuclear missiles"?

I don't want to make an edit without being absolutely sure, but I don't recall any episode specifically saying the Interceptors used nuclear missiles. Can anyone confirm either way?

I am absolutely certain you are correct, but can't cite reference. Going from memory for the moment, I think you'll find it's in the very first episode "Identified" where there's a lot of exposition and not a lot of intricate story. I don't have the time to watch it to find out, right now. Cain Mosni 11:28, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ripe for revival

Considering the success of the new Battlestar Galactica and Dr Who, I'm surprised no-one has thought of bringing UFO back to the small screen. In spite of it's shortcomings, the original series was imaginative and groundbreaking. It just needs updating a bit, perhaps it should be set in the 2080s :-)

There's always lots of rumour about it, if you move in the right circles. There's even (unsourced) rumour floating around at the moment. Cain Mosni 11:29, 27 June 2006 (UTC)
There was a serious revival attempt in 1996, with Ed Bishop apparently on-board. See the ufoseries.com website for details —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.161.176.101 (talk) 02:10, 27 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] "Automatic doors"

The article says that the gull wing doors of the cars had to be opened manually by a guy just out of shot and gives the episode "Court Martial" as an example of when this perosn could be seen. I've just watched that episode and couldn't see anything (as Straker and George Sewell get out by the electronics shop). Could someone tell me where he is and when or post a pic? Thanks

Please sign your comments. Just a quick note that posting an image would violate fair use. Sorry... 23skidoo 21:03, 1 September 2006 (UTC)
Posting a picture would violate laws? These laws are sick and should be changed.IceHunter 18:44, 23 March 2007 (UTC)
Not laws, but Wikipedia image use rules. They're spelled out at Wikipedia:Image use policy, though the policy is revised from time to time (for example we used to be able to use publicity images in biographical articles, but not anymore.) 23skidoo 18:57, 23 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] X-COM Ufo:

The game X-Com seems very much inspired by this series. A team of people flying around the world chasing UFO's? Come on :) IceHunter 18:44, 23 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Gaffes

In the episode "Survival", after Foster is separated from the rest of his team at the site of a UFO landing, the others try to raise him on the radio, and getting no answer, simply return to base. That is so... negligent! Why wouldn't they investigate and try to find Foster alive or find his remains? Clear set-up to allow them to have Foster alone and found by the alien.

In "Ordeal", Foster seems to be abducted by aliens, but it turns out to be merely a dream. Wow! What a detailed dream! Foster even dreamt about Sky 1 missing in its shot, SHADO personnel finding the spa staff dead, Straker angry about Carlin missing the UFO, the UFO turning and crashing, Dr. Jackson commenting on the primitive conditions at the moon base. Reminds me of the original version of "Invaders From Mars" when the boy had a detailed dream about the army loading tanks onto a train and such. GBC 01:00, 4 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:UFOTVDVDnew.jpg

Image:UFOTVDVDnew.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

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If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 04:36, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Airdate source?

What list is being used for the airdates on the episode list. A statement I wrote (which is still there) indicates that the Gerry Anderson book shows several different airdate variations, but this is no longer reflected in the chart. 23skidoo (talk) 20:33, 10 January 2008 (UTC)