Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

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Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

Shado-cabinet

I have just seen this episode on the DVD Boxset.  I have read on the UFO FAQ that despite initial interest by CBS-syndicated channels to order a second season of UFO they had eventually declined to proceed with it due to the faltering ratings of UFO season-1 towards the end of its broadcast run in the US.  I wonder if this episode contributed significantly towards that decline in US viewership ratings.  The 'Confetti Check-A OK' episode is easily the worst episode of UFO I have seen so far.

I do not know why Gerry Anderson (who I would deem as the UK's answer to both the creative talents of George Lucas & Gene Roddenberry) thought that an entire episode about setting up of an organisation
fused with a Kitchen-sink drama storyline of a troubled marriage (ala 'Coronation Street') would make for brilliant viewing.  Any such background story for the setting up of SHADO could have been told in a few brief flashbacks contained within 'a present day' scenario where SHADO are battling another UFO infiltration etc.
Instead an entire episode is wasted on a prequel storyline with no effects or action etc. Anderson should have remembered that you will always get late latecomers tuning into a series (based on word of mouth of friends etc) and so every episode has to contain the action & excited that is hinted in opening titles of the series (and UFO, along with the Prisoner TV series, has arguably one of the most exciting opening title sequence in TV history). Instead any potential 'newbie' to the UFO series is going to be turned-off by what looks like a depressing 'Kitchen-sink drama' posing as a hip kids TV show.  Also I am pretty sure that the 'Confetti Check A-OK' episode would have also turned-off the UFO series to many of the US viewers that had been following the show up to that point.  

The main problem with the 'Confetti Check A-OK' episode along with the 'Square Triangle' and 'A Question of Priorities' & 'The Long Sleep' (all of whom are vastly superior episodes to 'Confetti') is that they tend to steer the concept of UFO too far from the constraints of Children's TV into the adult domain of soap opera's like 'Coronation Street'. Whilst Anderson can be praised for instilling some adult concepts  into a Children's TV show; with these episodes in question (particularly 'Confetti') he is pushing the envelope far too much to the point that it is making it hard for the TV companies to schedule the program (as the content is far too adult oriented for kids). That is why episodes like 'The Long Sleep' were not shown by TV companies  in some countries because of this content etc. The fact that basically a kids TV show is contains such over-the-top adult themes is going to turn-off (particularly US) parents who in turn will stop their children watching the show.  Anderson should have taken note of other kids TV shows that are very successful with adults (ie: Doctor Who) when producing UFO as this would have helped cement the show in the centre ground of the adult/ kids viewership where it needs to be if it is going to be picked up by US networks for a second season.  

Despite the fact there is no action or excitement in the 'Confetti Check-A OK' the episode is littered with the most preposterous plot holes :

1) Instead of using the newly-built SHADO headquarters itself (or another secured location) Straker decides to chair an important meeting with all SHADO personnel at one of his employees apartments. A wholly unsecure location that can be bugged by anyone. The fact that all the attendees at this meeting are carrying secret SHADO run books & documentation that should never be taken outside of SHADO organisation in the 1st place is another issue (as they could be either lost or stolen)

2) The point is repeated to the viewer throughout the series that SHADO is a super-secret organisation with many layers of security and yet a mere private detective can somehow 'shadow' SHADO and take pictures of Straker going into & leaving this said apartment is completely ridiculous. Someone important like Straker who runs a proposedly secret organisation would have a 24-hour security detail trailing wherever he goes who in-turn would have arrested this private detective on the spot.

3) The conflict between Straker and his wife over his 'secret work which he cannot talk about' simply does not hold water. In reality Straker's wife would have been vetted by the Ministry of Defence prior to him getting the job of SHADO commander where she would have been given a fake cover story to stop her complaining about Straker being away from home (eg. he is helping the MOD with its spy agencies etc). Also her daily routine would be so wrapped around security procedures (ie: security man guarding the house, driving her to the shops etc) that she would get to understand the clandestine nature of his work (and that he is not sleeping around etc).

4) The fact that Ed Straker, a US airforce intelligence Colonel is suddenly a TV & film executive would look really dubious to those people who know him & are related to him that they would all need to be vetted by the MOD and fed a fake cover story (ie that its all front for the MOD etc) to facilitate this scenario to get them to stop talking & spreading rumours which would draw a lot of unnecessary attention.

5) Given the fact that SHADO was going to be a 10-year project to complete anyway you would think that Straker's boss General Henderson would have allowed Straker 2 weeks off to get married etc without dragging him into a load of bureaucratic meetings etc (that's what adjutants are for, and Straker would have one in place anyway to deal with any meetings whilst he was away etc).  Besides there was nothing to stop Henderson from attending these meetings himself instead of Straker. The sight of
 Henderson in a wheelchair as a result of a UFO attack would have definitely gained a lot of sympathy from the UN security council and steered them towards financing SHADO anyway.

And there are many more plot-holes around this episode that I could have gone into more detail (like why didn't Straker get his mother-in-law & the detective arrested by the MOD for breaching national security etc. That would definitely 'hammer home' to his wife the importance & clandestine nature of his work) but I digress as this would take up too much space.  

To sum up UFO is indeed a brilliant show and is definitely Anderson's best work. And is indeed a pity that it did not get picked-up for a second season. But I think it's episodes like 'Confetti Check A-OK' that had really sunk the opportunity for this to happen.  

Does anyone else agree? What do you guys think of this episode?
TRT
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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

TRT
Wow. That’s quite a beating.

I think Confetti Check A-OK is one of the stronger episodes. If I had to pick a least favourite episode, it would be either Long Sleep, which I find to have a paper thin premise and be badly paced, or Sound of Silence which has some irritating characters, though that one has grown on me more recently.

UFO was never intended to be kids TV. Just because it’s Gerry Anderson doesn’t mean it’s Stingray or Thunderbirds! I recall catching a glimpse of a first run episode as a child when I came downstairs feeling ill just after 11 o’clock at night. The first run was definitely late night, sitting neatly in the Dracula slot.

I do agree that the private eye following Ed around should have resulted in SHADO security picking up on a problem, but we’ve no idea if this kind of “breach” was what caused SHADO security to split off into the agency that it became, detached from SHADO itself almost and answerable to the Commission, not Straker.

TRT





On 9 Jul 2020, at 15:53, Shado-cabinet [via SHADO] <[hidden email]> wrote:


I have just seen this episode on the DVD Boxset.  I have read on the UFO FAQ that despite initial interest by CBS-syndicated channels to order a second season of UFO they had eventually declined to proceed with it due to the faltering ratings of UFO season-1 towards the end of its broadcast run in the US.  I wonder if this episode contributed significantly towards that decline in US viewership ratings.  The 'Confetti Check-A OK' episode is easily the worst episode of UFO I have seen so far.

I do not know why Gerry Anderson (who I would deem as the UK's answer to both the creative talents of George Lucas & Gene Roddenberry) thought that an entire episode about setting up of an organisation
fused with a Kitchen-sink drama storyline of a troubled marriage (ala 'Coronation Street') would make for brilliant viewing.  Any such background story for the setting up of SHADO could have been told in a few brief flashbacks contained within 'a present day' scenario where SHADO are battling another UFO infiltration etc.
Instead an entire episode is wasted on a prequel storyline with no effects or action etc. Anderson should have remembered that you will always get late latecomers tuning into a series (based on word of mouth of friends etc) and so every episode has to contain the action & excited that is hinted in opening titles of the series (and UFO, along with the Prisoner TV series, has arguably one of the most exciting opening title sequence in TV history). Instead any potential 'newbie' to the UFO series is going to be turned-off by what looks like a depressing 'Kitchen-sink drama' posing as a hip kids TV show.  Also I am pretty sure that the 'Confetti Check A-OK' episode would have also turned-off the UFO series to many of the US viewers that had been following the show up to that point.  

The main problem with the 'Confetti Check A-OK' episode along with the 'Square Triangle' and 'A Question of Priorities' & 'The Long Sleep' (all of whom are vastly superior episodes to 'Confetti') is that they tend to steer the concept of UFO too far from the constraints of Children's TV into the adult domain of soap opera's like 'Coronation Street'. Whilst Anderson can be praised for instilling some adult concepts  into a Children's TV show; with these episodes in question (particularly 'Confetti') he is pushing the envelope far too much to the point that it is making it hard for the TV companies to schedule the program (as the content is far too adult oriented for kids). That is why episodes like 'The Long Sleep' were not shown by TV companies  in some countries because of this content etc. The fact that basically a kids TV show is contains such over-the-top adult themes is going to turn-off (particularly US) parents who in turn will stop their children watching the show.  Anderson should have taken note of other kids TV shows that are very successful with adults (ie: Doctor Who) when producing UFO as this would have helped cement the show in the centre ground of the adult/ kids viewership where it needs to be if it is going to be picked up by US networks for a second season.  

Despite the fact there is no action or excitement in the 'Confetti Check-A OK' the episode is littered with the most preposterous plot holes :

1) Instead of using the newly-built SHADO headquarters itself (or another secured location) Straker decides to chair an important meeting with all SHADO personnel at one of his employees apartments. A wholly unsecure location that can be bugged by anyone. The fact that all the attendees at this meeting are carrying secret SHADO run books & documentation that should never be taken outside of SHADO organisation in the 1st place is another issue (as they could be either lost or stolen)

2) The point is repeated to the viewer throughout the series that SHADO is a super-secret organisation with many layers of security and yet a mere private detective can somehow 'shadow' SHADO and take pictures of Straker going into & leaving this said apartment is completely ridiculous. Someone important like Straker who runs a proposedly secret organisation would have a 24-hour security detail trailing wherever he goes who in-turn would have arrested this private detective on the spot.

3) The conflict between Straker and his wife over his 'secret work which he cannot talk about' simply does not hold water. In reality Straker's wife would have been vetted by the Ministry of Defence prior to him getting the job of SHADO commander where she would have been given a fake cover story to stop her complaining about Straker being away from home (eg. he is helping the MOD with its spy agencies etc). Also her daily routine would be so wrapped around security procedures (ie: security man guarding the house, driving her to the shops etc) that she would get to understand the clandestine nature of his work (and that he is not sleeping around etc).

4) The fact that Ed Straker, a US airforce intelligence Colonel is suddenly a TV & film executive would look really dubious to those people who know him & are related to him that they would all need to be vetted by the MOD and fed a fake cover story (ie that its all front for the MOD etc) to facilitate this scenario to get them to stop talking & spreading rumours which would draw a lot of unnecessary attention.

5) Given the fact that SHADO was going to be a 10-year project to complete anyway you would think that Straker's boss General Henderson would have allowed Straker 2 weeks off to get married etc without dragging him into a load of bureaucratic meetings etc (that's what adjutants are for, and Straker would have one in place anyway to deal with any meetings whilst he was away etc).  Besides there was nothing to stop Henderson from attending these meetings himself instead of Straker. The sight of
 Henderson in a wheelchair as a result of a UFO attack would have definitely gained a lot of sympathy from the UN security council and steered them towards financing SHADO anyway.

And there are many more plot-holes around this episode that I could have gone into more detail (like why didn't Straker get his mother-in-law & the detective arrested by the MOD for breaching national security etc. That would definitely 'hammer home' to his wife the importance & clandestine nature of his work) but I digress as this would take up too much space.  

To sum up UFO is indeed a brilliant show and is definitely Anderson's best work. And is indeed a pity that it did not get picked-up for a second season. But I think it's episodes like 'Confetti Check A-OK' that had really sunk the opportunity for this to happen.  

Does anyone else agree? What do you guys think of this episode?


If you reply to this email, your message will be added to the discussion below:
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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

SHADO
Your premise that UFO was "posing as a hip kids TV show" is all wrong. The show was never intended for children.


On Thursday, July 9, 2020, 10:11:39 AM CDT, TRT [via SHADO] <[hidden email]> wrote:


Wow. That’s quite a beating.

I think Confetti Check A-OK is one of the stronger episodes. If I had to pick a least favourite episode, it would be either Long Sleep, which I find to have a paper thin premise and be badly paced, or Sound of Silence which has some irritating characters, though that one has grown on me more recently.

UFO was never intended to be kids TV. Just because it’s Gerry Anderson doesn’t mean it’s Stingray or Thunderbirds! I recall catching a glimpse of a first run episode as a child when I came downstairs feeling ill just after 11 o’clock at night. The first run was definitely late night, sitting neatly in the Dracula slot.

I do agree that the private eye following Ed around should have resulted in SHADO security picking up on a problem, but we’ve no idea if this kind of “breach” was what caused SHADO security to split off into the agency that it became, detached from SHADO itself almost and answerable to the Commission, not Straker.

TRT





On 9 Jul 2020, at 15:53, Shado-cabinet [via SHADO] <[hidden email]> wrote:


I have just seen this episode on the DVD Boxset.  I have read on the UFO FAQ that despite initial interest by CBS-syndicated channels to order a second season of UFO they had eventually declined to proceed with it due to the faltering ratings of UFO season-1 towards the end of its broadcast run in the US.  I wonder if this episode contributed significantly towards that decline in US viewership ratings.  The 'Confetti Check-A OK' episode is easily the worst episode of UFO I have seen so far.

I do not know why Gerry Anderson (who I would deem as the UK's answer to both the creative talents of George Lucas & Gene Roddenberry) thought that an entire episode about setting up of an organisation
fused with a Kitchen-sink drama storyline of a troubled marriage (ala 'Coronation Street') would make for brilliant viewing.  Any such background story for the setting up of SHADO could have been told in a few brief flashbacks contained within 'a present day' scenario where SHADO are battling another UFO infiltration etc.
Instead an entire episode is wasted on a prequel storyline with no effects or action etc. Anderson should have remembered that you will always get late latecomers tuning into a series (based on word of mouth of friends etc) and so every episode has to contain the action & excited that is hinted in opening titles of the series (and UFO, along with the Prisoner TV series, has arguably one of the most exciting opening title sequence in TV history). Instead any potential 'newbie' to the UFO series is going to be turned-off by what looks like a depressing 'Kitchen-sink drama' posing as a hip kids TV show.  Also I am pretty sure that the 'Confetti Check A-OK' episode would have also turned-off the UFO series to many of the US viewers that had been following the show up to that point.  

The main problem with the 'Confetti Check A-OK' episode along with the 'Square Triangle' and 'A Question of Priorities' & 'The Long Sleep' (all of whom are vastly superior episodes to 'Confetti') is that they tend to steer the concept of UFO too far from the constraints of Children's TV into the adult domain of soap opera's like 'Coronation Street'. Whilst Anderson can be praised for instilling some adult concepts  into a Children's TV show; with these episodes in question (particularly 'Confetti') he is pushing the envelope far too much to the point that it is making it hard for the TV companies to schedule the program (as the content is far too adult oriented for kids). That is why episodes like 'The Long Sleep' were not shown by TV companies  in some countries because of this content etc. The fact that basically a kids TV show is contains such over-the-top adult themes is going to turn-off (particularly US) parents who in turn will stop their children watching the show.  Anderson should have taken note of other kids TV shows that are very successful with adults (ie: Doctor Who) when producing UFO as this would have helped cement the show in the centre ground of the adult/ kids viewership where it needs to be if it is going to be picked up by US networks for a second season.  

Despite the fact there is no action or excitement in the 'Confetti Check-A OK' the episode is littered with the most preposterous plot holes :

1) Instead of using the newly-built SHADO headquarters itself (or another secured location) Straker decides to chair an important meeting with all SHADO personnel at one of his employees apartments. A wholly unsecure location that can be bugged by anyone. The fact that all the attendees at this meeting are carrying secret SHADO run books & documentation that should never be taken outside of SHADO organisation in the 1st place is another issue (as they could be either lost or stolen)

2) The point is repeated to the viewer throughout the series that SHADO is a super-secret organisation with many layers of security and yet a mere private detective can somehow 'shadow' SHADO and take pictures of Straker going into & leaving this said apartment is completely ridiculous. Someone important like Straker who runs a proposedly secret organisation would have a 24-hour security detail trailing wherever he goes who in-turn would have arrested this private detective on the spot.

3) The conflict between Straker and his wife over his 'secret work which he cannot talk about' simply does not hold water. In reality Straker's wife would have been vetted by the Ministry of Defence prior to him getting the job of SHADO commander where she would have been given a fake cover story to stop her complaining about Straker being away from home (eg. he is helping the MOD with its spy agencies etc). Also her daily routine would be so wrapped around security procedures (ie: security man guarding the house, driving her to the shops etc) that she would get to understand the clandestine nature of his work (and that he is not sleeping around etc).

4) The fact that Ed Straker, a US airforce intelligence Colonel is suddenly a TV & film executive would look really dubious to those people who know him & are related to him that they would all need to be vetted by the MOD and fed a fake cover story (ie that its all front for the MOD etc) to facilitate this scenario to get them to stop talking & spreading rumours which would draw a lot of unnecessary attention.

5) Given the fact that SHADO was going to be a 10-year project to complete anyway you would think that Straker's boss General Henderson would have allowed Straker 2 weeks off to get married etc without dragging him into a load of bureaucratic meetings etc (that's what adjutants are for, and Straker would have one in place anyway to deal with any meetings whilst he was away etc).  Besides there was nothing to stop Henderson from attending these meetings himself instead of Straker. The sight of
 Henderson in a wheelchair as a result of a UFO attack would have definitely gained a lot of sympathy from the UN security council and steered them towards financing SHADO anyway.

And there are many more plot-holes around this episode that I could have gone into more detail (like why didn't Straker get his mother-in-law & the detective arrested by the MOD for breaching national security etc. That would definitely 'hammer home' to his wife the importance & clandestine nature of his work) but I digress as this would take up too much space.  

To sum up UFO is indeed a brilliant show and is definitely Anderson's best work. And is indeed a pity that it did not get picked-up for a second season. But I think it's episodes like 'Confetti Check A-OK' that had really sunk the opportunity for this to happen.  

Does anyone else agree? What do you guys think of this episode?


If you reply to this email, your message will be added to the discussion below:
http://shado-forum.com/Contender-for-the-worst-UFO-episode-Confetti-Check-A-OK-tp4023823.html
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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

SHADO
Sorry, my post was meant for Shado-cabinet. 

On Thursday, July 9, 2020, 10:28:35 AM CDT, SHADO [via SHADO] <[hidden email]> wrote:


Your premise that UFO was "posing as a hip kids TV show" is all wrong. The show was never intended for children.


On Thursday, July 9, 2020, 10:11:39 AM CDT, TRT [via SHADO] <[hidden email]> wrote:


Wow. That’s quite a beating.

I think Confetti Check A-OK is one of the stronger episodes. If I had to pick a least favourite episode, it would be either Long Sleep, which I find to have a paper thin premise and be badly paced, or Sound of Silence which has some irritating characters, though that one has grown on me more recently.

UFO was never intended to be kids TV. Just because it’s Gerry Anderson doesn’t mean it’s Stingray or Thunderbirds! I recall catching a glimpse of a first run episode as a child when I came downstairs feeling ill just after 11 o’clock at night. The first run was definitely late night, sitting neatly in the Dracula slot.

I do agree that the private eye following Ed around should have resulted in SHADO security picking up on a problem, but we’ve no idea if this kind of “breach” was what caused SHADO security to split off into the agency that it became, detached from SHADO itself almost and answerable to the Commission, not Straker.

TRT





On 9 Jul 2020, at 15:53, Shado-cabinet [via SHADO] <[hidden email]> wrote:


I have just seen this episode on the DVD Boxset.  I have read on the UFO FAQ that despite initial interest by CBS-syndicated channels to order a second season of UFO they had eventually declined to proceed with it due to the faltering ratings of UFO season-1 towards the end of its broadcast run in the US.  I wonder if this episode contributed significantly towards that decline in US viewership ratings.  The 'Confetti Check-A OK' episode is easily the worst episode of UFO I have seen so far.

I do not know why Gerry Anderson (who I would deem as the UK's answer to both the creative talents of George Lucas & Gene Roddenberry) thought that an entire episode about setting up of an organisation
fused with a Kitchen-sink drama storyline of a troubled marriage (ala 'Coronation Street') would make for brilliant viewing.  Any such background story for the setting up of SHADO could have been told in a few brief flashbacks contained within 'a present day' scenario where SHADO are battling another UFO infiltration etc.
Instead an entire episode is wasted on a prequel storyline with no effects or action etc. Anderson should have remembered that you will always get late latecomers tuning into a series (based on word of mouth of friends etc) and so every episode has to contain the action & excited that is hinted in opening titles of the series (and UFO, along with the Prisoner TV series, has arguably one of the most exciting opening title sequence in TV history). Instead any potential 'newbie' to the UFO series is going to be turned-off by what looks like a depressing 'Kitchen-sink drama' posing as a hip kids TV show.  Also I am pretty sure that the 'Confetti Check A-OK' episode would have also turned-off the UFO series to many of the US viewers that had been following the show up to that point.  

The main problem with the 'Confetti Check A-OK' episode along with the 'Square Triangle' and 'A Question of Priorities' & 'The Long Sleep' (all of whom are vastly superior episodes to 'Confetti') is that they tend to steer the concept of UFO too far from the constraints of Children's TV into the adult domain of soap opera's like 'Coronation Street'. Whilst Anderson can be praised for instilling some adult concepts  into a Children's TV show; with these episodes in question (particularly 'Confetti') he is pushing the envelope far too much to the point that it is making it hard for the TV companies to schedule the program (as the content is far too adult oriented for kids). That is why episodes like 'The Long Sleep' were not shown by TV companies  in some countries because of this content etc. The fact that basically a kids TV show is contains such over-the-top adult themes is going to turn-off (particularly US) parents who in turn will stop their children watching the show.  Anderson should have taken note of other kids TV shows that are very successful with adults (ie: Doctor Who) when producing UFO as this would have helped cement the show in the centre ground of the adult/ kids viewership where it needs to be if it is going to be picked up by US networks for a second season.  

Despite the fact there is no action or excitement in the 'Confetti Check-A OK' the episode is littered with the most preposterous plot holes :

1) Instead of using the newly-built SHADO headquarters itself (or another secured location) Straker decides to chair an important meeting with all SHADO personnel at one of his employees apartments. A wholly unsecure location that can be bugged by anyone. The fact that all the attendees at this meeting are carrying secret SHADO run books & documentation that should never be taken outside of SHADO organisation in the 1st place is another issue (as they could be either lost or stolen)

2) The point is repeated to the viewer throughout the series that SHADO is a super-secret organisation with many layers of security and yet a mere private detective can somehow 'shadow' SHADO and take pictures of Straker going into & leaving this said apartment is completely ridiculous. Someone important like Straker who runs a proposedly secret organisation would have a 24-hour security detail trailing wherever he goes who in-turn would have arrested this private detective on the spot.

3) The conflict between Straker and his wife over his 'secret work which he cannot talk about' simply does not hold water. In reality Straker's wife would have been vetted by the Ministry of Defence prior to him getting the job of SHADO commander where she would have been given a fake cover story to stop her complaining about Straker being away from home (eg. he is helping the MOD with its spy agencies etc). Also her daily routine would be so wrapped around security procedures (ie: security man guarding the house, driving her to the shops etc) that she would get to understand the clandestine nature of his work (and that he is not sleeping around etc).

4) The fact that Ed Straker, a US airforce intelligence Colonel is suddenly a TV & film executive would look really dubious to those people who know him & are related to him that they would all need to be vetted by the MOD and fed a fake cover story (ie that its all front for the MOD etc) to facilitate this scenario to get them to stop talking & spreading rumours which would draw a lot of unnecessary attention.

5) Given the fact that SHADO was going to be a 10-year project to complete anyway you would think that Straker's boss General Henderson would have allowed Straker 2 weeks off to get married etc without dragging him into a load of bureaucratic meetings etc (that's what adjutants are for, and Straker would have one in place anyway to deal with any meetings whilst he was away etc).  Besides there was nothing to stop Henderson from attending these meetings himself instead of Straker. The sight of
 Henderson in a wheelchair as a result of a UFO attack would have definitely gained a lot of sympathy from the UN security council and steered them towards financing SHADO anyway.

And there are many more plot-holes around this episode that I could have gone into more detail (like why didn't Straker get his mother-in-law & the detective arrested by the MOD for breaching national security etc. That would definitely 'hammer home' to his wife the importance & clandestine nature of his work) but I digress as this would take up too much space.  

To sum up UFO is indeed a brilliant show and is definitely Anderson's best work. And is indeed a pity that it did not get picked-up for a second season. But I think it's episodes like 'Confetti Check A-OK' that had really sunk the opportunity for this to happen.  

Does anyone else agree? What do you guys think of this episode?


If you reply to this email, your message will be added to the discussion below:
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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

Shado-cabinet
Hi SHADO

I know that Gerry Anderson wanted to steer the show towards an adult audience but its roots is definitely based in Kids TV. Just look at the emphasis on futuristic vehicles & uniforms, its practically like a commercial for prospective toy company to make merchandise on it. And from looking at the extras on the DVD boxset there was a lot of dinky toys, jigsaw puzzles, and models, and even a hardback annual publication based on the show (All of these would have been signed-off by Gerry Anderson and the Toy companies prior to the TV series being produced) so it was a definitely a kids show (albeit with some adult themes - perhaps too much when you look at episodes like 'Confetti', 'Square Triangle', 'Question of Priorities', and 'The Long Sleep').  

And lets not forget there was also a weekly comic strip (the excellent Countdown whose issues I am currently reading) which was published during the initial broadcast run of UFO which also contained the likes of 'Dastardly & Mutley',  'Thunderbirds' and 'Doctor Who',  so it was a definitely a kids show at it heart. Anderson should have modeled the UFO show a bit more on the 'family viewing formula' of the likes of Star Trek & Dr Who. If he did this, and produced UFO with less filler 'kitchen-sink drama' episodes like 'Confetti' then the show would have had a much longer shelf-life (which it is deserved to as I think it is a better show than Dr Who or Star Trek IMHO)

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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

Shado-cabinet
In reply to this post by TRT

Hi TRT

Thanks for your thoughts. Well I knew UFO was a kids TV show when I first saw it in the saturday afternoon slot in the late 1980s.  But as I watched later episodes I did get the idea that they were steering it more towards an adult audience (definitely with episodes like the 'Square Triangle').

As I mentioned in another reply on this thread I still think Anderson should have reigned in a bit on these adult themes and modeled the show on more family-friend serials like Doctor Who and Star Trek etc.


I do like the 'Long Sleep' but I agree it is a very flawed episode (I think they should have filmed the episode based on original script whose transcript I have read on this site as it was better than the filmed episode). That said the 'Long Sleep' should not have been the episode to close the UFO series on. In my opinion the last episode should have went out with a bang with the Aliens blowing up the moonbase (probably as part of a huge infantry attack on the moon etc), leaving the show to end on a cliff hanger on whether who in SHADO survived and who didn't etc. This would have certainly helped the show in getting picked up for a 2nd season in the US. I also didn't like the plotholes in the 'Long Sleep' particularly the scene where Tom (the guy who gets brainwashed & recruited by the aliens) inexplicably changes into his 1970 clothes when he dies (WTH?).  I will write more on this when I review the episode on this forum on a later date but I do think that 'Confetti Check A-OK' is the worst UFO episode so far IMHO.
TRT
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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

TRT
In reply to this post by Shado-cabinet
Which is exactly what he did with Space:1999. One gets the impression that he gave up with the adults only idea on the back of exactly what you said... all the merchandising aimed at children. I don't think futuristic design was a preserve of children's tv by the way. The similarity in style with earlier shows was purely down to them using mostly the same crew.
The series certainly wasn't produced with that kind of marketing in mind. 

Sent from my iOS device

On 9 Jul 2020, at 19:00, Shado-cabinet [via SHADO] <[hidden email]> wrote:

 Hi SHADO

I know that Gerry Anderson wanted to steer the show towards an adult audience but its roots is definitely based in Kids TV. Just look at the emphasis on futuristic vehicles & uniforms, its practically like a commercial for prospective toy company to make merchandise on it. And from looking at the extras on the DVD boxset there was a lot of dinky toys, jigsaw puzzles, and models, and even a hardback annual publication based on the show (All of these would have been signed-off by Gerry Anderson and the Toy companies prior to the TV series being produced) so it was a definitely a kids show (albeit with some adult themes - perhaps too much when you look at episodes like 'Confetti', 'Square Triangle', 'Question of Priorities', and 'The Long Sleep').  

And lets not forget there was also a weekly comic strip (the excellent Countdown whose issues I am currently reading) which was published during the initial broadcast run of UFO which also contained the likes of 'Dastardly & Mutley',  'Thunderbirds' and 'Doctor Who',  so it was a definitely a kids show at it heart. Anderson should have modeled the UFO show a bit more on the 'family viewing formula' of the likes of Star Trek & Dr Who. If he did this, and produced UFO with less filler 'kitchen-sink drama' episodes like 'Confetti' then the show would have had a much longer shelf-life (which it is deserved to as I think it is a better show than Dr Who or Star Trek IMHO)




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TRT
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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

TRT
In reply to this post by Shado-cabinet
Also....
Much of Confetti Check was filmed about 10 minutes walk from my house. 

Sent from my iOS device

On 9 Jul 2020, at 19:31, TRT 1968 <[hidden email]> wrote:

Which is exactly what he did with Space:1999. One gets the impression that he gave up with the adults only idea on the back of exactly what you said... all the merchandising aimed at children. I don't think futuristic design was a preserve of children's tv by the way. The similarity in style with earlier shows was purely down to them using mostly the same crew.
The series certainly wasn't produced with that kind of marketing in mind. 

Sent from my iOS device

On 9 Jul 2020, at 19:00, Shado-cabinet [via SHADO] <[hidden email]> wrote:

 Hi SHADO

I know that Gerry Anderson wanted to steer the show towards an adult audience but its roots is definitely based in Kids TV. Just look at the emphasis on futuristic vehicles & uniforms, its practically like a commercial for prospective toy company to make merchandise on it. And from looking at the extras on the DVD boxset there was a lot of dinky toys, jigsaw puzzles, and models, and even a hardback annual publication based on the show (All of these would have been signed-off by Gerry Anderson and the Toy companies prior to the TV series being produced) so it was a definitely a kids show (albeit with some adult themes - perhaps too much when you look at episodes like 'Confetti', 'Square Triangle', 'Question of Priorities', and 'The Long Sleep').  

And lets not forget there was also a weekly comic strip (the excellent Countdown whose issues I am currently reading) which was published during the initial broadcast run of UFO which also contained the likes of 'Dastardly & Mutley',  'Thunderbirds' and 'Doctor Who',  so it was a definitely a kids show at it heart. Anderson should have modeled the UFO show a bit more on the 'family viewing formula' of the likes of Star Trek & Dr Who. If he did this, and produced UFO with less filler 'kitchen-sink drama' episodes like 'Confetti' then the show would have had a much longer shelf-life (which it is deserved to as I think it is a better show than Dr Who or Star Trek IMHO)




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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

Shado-cabinet
Hi TRT

You mentioned that parts of  'Confetti' were filmed near your house so I can see why you would have some attachment to that episode. Were there any other UFO episodes that were filmed near you?

BTW do you recommended any good UFO fanfic to read? What is your favourite UFO fanfic story?

I am currently reading the script for each episode (after I view it on the DVD boxset) and I have noticed that there are only a handful of UFO episode scripts on this site.  Do you know where I could find the others? I am really only interested in the 'original' UFO scripts (ie: these are transcripts of the actual scripts that were written before filming and therefore do not contain any of the changes that appear on screen).  I am not really interested in direct transcripts of filmed episodes etc

BTW I will also be writing a few more reviews of UFO episodes very soon on this forum :)
TRT
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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

TRT
Most UFO episodes were filmed near me! I live about 3 miles from the studio… even considering a house next to the studios, but they’re a good £200-250k more than mine! Out of my range.
But Confetti Check… I can LIVE the episode! I, erm, well, it’s rather sad I guess, spent my wedding night in the very same hotel as Ed & Mary.

You’ve already had the fanfic site link. That’s easily the best place. I used to do the Round Robin stories, they were great fun.

Not read the original scripts really… I guess I should if what you say about Long Sleep is true.


On 10 Jul 2020, at 15:54, Shado-cabinet [via SHADO] <[hidden email]> wrote:

Hi TRT

You mentioned that parts of  'Confetti' were filmed near your house so I can see why you would have some attachment to that episode. Were there any other UFO episodes that were filmed near you?

BTW do you recommended any good UFO fanfic to read? What is your favourite UFO fanfic story?

I am currently reading the script for each episode (after I view it on the DVD boxset) and I have noticed that there are only a handful of UFO episode scripts on this site.  Do you know where I could find the others? I am really only interested in the 'original' UFO scripts (ie: these are transcripts of the actual scripts that were written before filming and therefore do not contain any of the changes that appear on screen).  I am not really interested in direct transcripts of filmed episodes etc

BTW I will also be writing a few more reviews of UFO episodes very soon on this forum :)


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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

Marc Martin
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In reply to this post by Shado-cabinet
On July 10, Shado-cabinet [via SHADO] <[hidden email]> wrote:
> I am currently reading the script for each episode (after I view it on
> the DVD boxset) and I have noticed that there are only a handful of UFO
> episode scripts on this site. Do you know where I could find the
> others?

Try looking on this site:

  https://shadoresearchlabs.com

I don't know if all 26 scripts are online or not?

Marc
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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

Lightcudder
In reply to this post by TRT
A wide range of UFO Fanfic can also be found on AO3

https://archiveofourown.org/tags/UFO%20%7C%20Gerry%20Anderson's%20UFO/works

and ffnet

https://www.fanfiction.net/tv/UFO/ (though AO3 is more reader friendly.)
LtCdr: UFO fanfiction and other stuff!

http://lightcudder.com/
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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

Marc Martin
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In reply to this post by Marc Martin
On July 10, Marc Martin [via SHADO] <[hidden email]> wrote:
> Try looking on this site:
>
> https://shadoresearchlabs.com
>
> I don't know if all 26 scripts are online or not?

Oh, I see that site is missing 5 scripts, although that makes it more complete than mine.

These scripts do exist, it's just a matter of someone putting in the time & effort to transcribe them and putting them somewhere where people can find them.  I've been meaning to complete that task on ufoseries.com for awhile, but I always seem to be too busy -- and this year  is worse than ever due to family issues (aging/dying parents).

Marc
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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

Shado-cabinet
In reply to this post by Lightcudder
Hi Lightcudder

Thanks for your email. I have visited your Straker website the other day and I really like it. I love that quote about 'God wishing he was Straker'.  Did you create that quote yourself or is it taken from the UFO series?  BTW I think the banner pics of Straker getting a massage & skinny dipping are cool :)
Its great to see Straker getting his own fansite as I think Straker is probably one of the best characters in the SCI-FI TV genre along with No6 (from the Prisoner), Captain Kirk & Avon (from Blakes 7)

I was looking for UFO fanfic you have written on your site. I cannot seem to find any. The UFO fanfic page only contains the  comments from UFO fans.  I was wondering if you could please provide me a link to your fanfic (if it is not already in the links that you have kindly provided to me). I would love to read your written fanfic because from looking at the praise you get from other UFO fans you appear to be both the best & the most prolific UFO author. I was wondering what do you deem as your own favourite UFO story that you have written as would really like to read that one? Did you read my review (or complaint rather) on my least favourite UFO episode 'Confetti-Check A-OK'?  Do you agree with my comments & what did you think of the Episode yourself? :)  
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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

Lightcudder
Thank you for the nice comments!  To access the stories you need to go to the 'drop down' menus from the tabs along the bottom of the banner.



The banner pics are from various stories - the 'massage' one is actually from The Shepherd novel and not a massage but somethign entirely different. The 'shower' image is also from The Shepherd. The  'skinny dipping' image is from 'No Man Is An Island'. The 'tag line' was actually taken from a book I read years ago. It has nothing whatsoever to do with UFO though!

My favourite story? I loved writing The Shepherd, but it does need a major re-write (which will be underway later this year)  Many of the earlier ones are typical fanfic and should be taken as very early attempts, but I hope I got better as a writer over the years.

I did read you review - a very comprehensive and well-written account - but CCA-OK is one of my favourite episodes ;)

Hope that helps. Cheers, Ltcdr
LtCdr: UFO fanfiction and other stuff!

http://lightcudder.com/
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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

Shado-cabinet
In reply to this post by TRT
Hi TRT

I'd laugh if both you & your wife signed in as Mr & Mrs Straker in the hotel where they filmed 'Confetti Check-A OK'.

I would definitely recommend reading the scripts. I thought the 'Long Sleep' original script was better than the filmed episode. And I also thought the original script for 'A Computer Affair' (IMHO the best UFO episode I have seen so far) was slightly better than the filmed episode.
TRT
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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

TRT
Nah… Wife wasn’t into UFO. We’re divorced now. 
But that *IS* the hotel where I met Ed Bishop.

On 11 Jul 2020, at 16:24, Shado-cabinet [via SHADO] <[hidden email]> wrote:

Hi TRT

I'd laugh if both you & your wife signed in as Mr & Mrs Straker in the hotel where they filmed 'Confetti Check-A OK'.

I would definitely recommend reading the scripts. I thought the 'Long Sleep' original script was better than the filmed episode. And I also thought the original script for 'A Computer Affair' (IMHO the best UFO episode I have seen so far) was slightly better than the filmed episode.


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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

Shado-cabinet
In reply to this post by Marc Martin
Hi Marc

I am sorry to hear about your personal issues. I do hope that both you & your family are OK.
I would like to thank you for all the hard work you have done in transcribing the original UFO scripts.
I have really enjoyed reading the following episodes so far (ie: Identified, Computer Affair, Dalotek Affair, Close-up, The Long Sleep and Ordeal). I have not got around to reading 'Confetti' as yet (as I do not like the episode anyway) but I probably will in the near.

But thank you once again to both yourself and all the other SHADO fans out there for keeping the UFO series alive :)
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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

Shado-cabinet
In reply to this post by Lightcudder
Hi Lightcudder.

My apologies. It seems that the tablet device that I was reading your website had actually crashed (which is why I could not see any fanfic stories when I clicked on the menu tabs). I have rebooted the device and I can now access them ok.  I have looked at the 'Shepherd' story and it looks great (I love the pics from the UFO series that you have added to the text).  I will bookmark this story to be the first UFO fanfic that I will read.  I am happy to see that the UFO series has really survived thanks to the great efforts of fans like Marc & yourself. I am surprised to see that there is some much UFO material to read out there like the Countdown/ TV Action comics (which I am currently reading), the original UFO scripts, and the UFO Fanfic. Plus I have learned that there is also a comic-book adaption of an unfilmed UFO script ('The Patriot') but I don't know how to purchase it. Have you purchased it yourself? Is it any good?

I have also learned there is an ongoing fanzine call 'Fandersonic' which contains a new UFO comic strip but again I do not know how to purchase this. But it is great to know that there is so much new UFO reading material out there.

BTW have you ever contacted the folks at POWYS MEDIA (who are currently publishing the SPACE-1999 continuation novels which are excellent if you have not read any of them as yet). You might want to see if they are interested in your original UFO stories as they might publish them as sequel novels (they use a 'print-on-demand' service call LuLu to publish their novels. It might be worth checking out as it would be great to read an actual UFO continuation novel :)

Thank you for your kind words about my review re: the 'Confetti' episode (much kinder than the words I actually used in my review of that episode :).

Have you also read my post on the UFO videos that were recently declassifed by the US Department of Defence?  Its the nearest thing we will ever get to see to a real life encounter between SKY-1 and an actual UFO  :)
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Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'

Lightcudder
Hi,

please remember The Shepherd was written quite some time ago and it was published as a 'work in progress'!! I really do need to do some serious editing on it - and bring it all into one novel rather than 5 separate parts.

'Fanderson' is the official fanclub for Gerry and Sylvia Andersons work - they have a facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/11721747151/ and a website https://fanderson.org.uk/  You have to be a member to buy stuff from Fanderson (The quality is excellent though!) but anyone can join the Facebook page

The magazine you are asking about is called 'Andersonic' but the website seems to be inactive for some reason. There is a facebook page though : https://www.facebook.com/andersonicfanzine/

I run a facebook page that lists links to some other useful SHADO related sites:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/870148903191105/

I haven't read any Space 1999 fanfic - I was never really 'convinced' by the premise of the story and the episodes were rather dull (IMO) after UFO. I don't think it would be possible (or even legal) to publish UFO fanfic for profit - and to be honest, I wrote it for other fans, not out of any desire to make money. I will have a couple of copies of Shepherd printed when it's re-edited but those will be personal copies and I'll post the e-book link on my site.

To he honest, I didn't read your post about UFOs! (its been a hectic few days here) I'll check it out later today ;)

Cheers, Ltcdr

LtCdr: UFO fanfiction and other stuff!

http://lightcudder.com/
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