Re: Foster Abducted

Anthony Appleyard wrote: "That's nothing compared to what happened to him in
a Countdown comic-strip UFO
story called "The Snatch" (novelized in the SHADO Library, at
http://www.shadolibrary.org/library/stacks/works/snatch.htm ). There, he was
abducted to the alien homeworld, where he stole a UFO and flew himself back
home, and brought two other abductees back with him."

Thanks for the reply, I'll definitely check that out. As i was musing over
the Foster abducted issues I was thinking of how many think only recent
weekly series have any kind of "story arc" wherein one episode leads into
the next. While UFO may not have done so as intently as St. Elsewhere or
X-FILES it seems to have done a good job of pioneering the concept whether
intentional or not. Look at the episodes ORDEAL and SURVIVAL. Foster was a
target for capture and then salvation by the aliens. One has to wonder why
him? Then you have the answer in KILL STRAKER, Fosters probably the one with
with the best chances of succeeding at such a mission and the aliens knew
it. Maybe I'm reading more into this "trilogy" because of distant memories,
but with UFO you saw and learned more about each of the characters with
every "self-contained" episode.

"Bill" wrote:
> Look at the episodes ORDEAL and SURVIVAL. Foster was a
> target for capture and then salvation by the aliens. One has to wonder why
> him? Then you have the answer in KILL STRAKER, Fosters probably the one with
> with the best chances of succeeding at such a mission and the aliens knew
> it. Maybe I'm reading more into this "trilogy" because of distant memories,
>

I think so to be honest - firstly, Ordeal turned out to be a
dream, and it's fairly clear from Survival that it's strictly
a 'personal' thing between the Alien and the Human stranded
on the Moon in similar circumstances.

James

Hi Bill - could I jump into this discussion both feet first? I read the
postings by both you and Anthony and wondered if maybe the stories dealing
with the abduction, etc of Foster's character was done to make maximum usage
of Mike Billington as the younger, handsome actor? After all, Alec Freeman
was even closer to Straker in terms of friendship and knowing his
personality. I have read somewhere that George Sewell was only available for
so many of the UFO episodes and afterwards, his "space" was sort of filled
by both Wanda Ventham and Mr. B. As Gene Roddenberry often comments, some
storylines came out of what was expedient for the producers at the time!

Pam

In a message dated 12/4/00 10:52:22 AM, [hidden email] writes:

<< I have read somewhere that George Sewell was only available for
so many of the UFO episodes and afterwards, his "space" was sort of filled
by both Wanda Ventham and Mr. B. >>

Howdy!!!

I read that Lew Grade did not like George Sewell's face and had Gerry find a
replacement.

Victor

[hidden email] wrote:

>
> I read that Lew Grade did not like George Sewell's face and had
> Gerry find a replacement.
>

Really? If that's true, he didn't succeed. Freeman is actually
my favourite character in UFO, and I think the contrast in the
styles between him & Straker makes for interesting chemistry
between the two most senior SHADO personnel.

James

>> I read that Lew Grade did not like George Sewell's face and had
>> Gerry find a replacement.

What I have heard is that ITC New York didn't like George Sewell's
face, and because of that Michael Billington was brought in. George
Sewell's eventual replacement for the final 9 episodes with Wanda
Ventham doesn't appear to have anything to do with someone not
liking him -- during the 7 months that had passed while waiting
for a place to film, George found jobs starring in MANHUNT and
PAUL TEMPLE, and was simply no longer available to be in UFO.

--
Marc Martin, [hidden email]

Marc Martin wrote:

> What I have heard is that ITC New York didn't like George Sewell's
> face, and because of that Michael Billington was brought in. George
> Sewell's eventual replacement for the final 9 episodes with Wanda
> Ventham doesn't appear to have anything to do with someone not
> liking him -- during the 7 months that had passed while waiting
> for a place to film, George found jobs starring in MANHUNT and
> PAUL TEMPLE, and was simply no longer available to be in UFO.
>

Another tenuous Anderson connection there then, as I believe
Paul Temple and Captain Scarlet shared the same voice - but I
think it was a good idea to bring in the Foster character
anyway - much more headstrong than Freeman and leaving the
way open for episodes like Kill Straker and .. what's the
one where he disobeys orders to launch a Moon module - anyway,
hopefully you know what I mean. Lots of dramatic friction.

It must have been around this time that George Sewell got the
leading role in Special Branch, or maybe that was a couple
of years later.

James

James Gibbon wrote:

> Another tenuous Anderson connection there then, as I believe
> Paul Temple and Captain Scarlet shared the same voice - but I
> think it was a good idea to bring in the Foster character
> anyway - much more headstrong than Freeman and leaving the
> way open for episodes like Kill Straker and .. what's the
> one where he disobeys orders to launch a Moon module - anyway,
> hopefully you know what I mean. Lots of dramatic friction.

And of course ...... that great sauna scene. <wistful siiiiiiiiiiiiiigh>

-- Y

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Marc wrote:

>>> I read that Lew Grade did not like George Sewell's face and had
>>> Gerry find a replacement.
>
>What I have heard is that ITC New York didn't like George Sewell's
>face

Hmm.. typical.. faceless.. TV-network "supremo's" (sorry, is
that supposed to be a capital "S"?..)

Sign them up, before they can cause any more damage.

MIG <g>
--
Rob

I never thought of it that way - but now ya mention it, Sewell does have a
"Charles Bronson" sorta face! It works for me! Pam

Subject: Re: [SHADO] George Sewell


Well tah very much for laying that myth to rest. seven months is a long
time for an actor to be kept on hold for a particular role.

Sheila