Re: RESPONSIBILITY SEAT

Hi, just had a few comments about that episode. It was well done, but it
seems like Straker takes off after Jo Fraser for not much of a reason. Yes,
she'd come back to his office for her purse and *might have* gotten Ford's
voice on tape calling for "Commander" Straker. But how much of a security
risk is that? So is that meant to show RHIP (Rank Has Its Privileges) that
he goes off for the rest of the day after a pretty girl, or is this to
remind viewers that this character still has vulnerabilities (the poor
thing's LONELY!) although he has the appearance of being so extraordinarily
unflappable.

Saw this one last week on the DVDs...wow! It's so clear and the color is so
good. I also noticed that my local station that showed reruns of UFO made
quite some cuts in certain episodes, so I had some "new" stuff to see.

I enjoyed the commentaries on a few of them too, and wish there had been
more. Why didn't they pair up Ed Bishop with another actor, say, Dolores
Mantez on "Subsmash," or Wanda Ventham on "Timelash" ? If they had paired
Gerry Anderson with someone else too it would have been good. When the
commentators had someone to bounce off of, one would remind the other about
something and there was more to talk about.

One more question from A Returning Fan. Is there much UFO fan fiction out
there? Is it mostly on the web or in paper 'zines?

~Cathy

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> I enjoyed the commentaries on a few of them too, and wish there had
> been more. Why didn't they pair up Ed Bishop with another actor,
> say, Dolores Mantez on "Subsmash," or Wanda Ventham on "Timelash" ? > If they had paired Gerry Anderson with someone else too it would
> have been good. When the commentators had someone to bounce off
> of, one would remind the other about something and there was
> more to talk about.

Ed asked for a lot of money to do the commentary for SUB-SMASH,
and I don't think either Carlton or A&E wanted to spend that much
again for a second commentary from him. As I understand it, the
commentary tracks for KILL STRAKER and TIMELASH cost a lot less,
because the commentators agreed to do them for much less money.
Also, the guy who produced the A&E commentaries (Jeff Smart)
agreed with your idea that two people are better than one,
which is why both of his commentaries feature two people.

For a series that was not expected to sell well (and didn't,
as far as I know), I think getting 4 commentary tracks is
actually very good! Plus, considering the money it must
have cost to remaster the episodes, I think we UFO fans
were extremely lucky with this DVD release!

Marc

Don't get me wrong, I was VERY pleased with the UFO DVDs!! I just
really enjoyed the commentaries and wished there had been more. But
the clarity, the color, even the sound quality was so light-years
better than what videos I had, it all made them worth the money.

> Don't get me wrong, I was VERY pleased with the UFO DVDs!! I just
> really enjoyed the commentaries and wished there had been more. But
> the clarity, the color, even the sound quality was so light-years
> better than what videos I had, it all made them worth the money.

Well yes, I wish there were commentaries on ALL the episodes, but
the companies who make these DVDs aren't quite as obsessed with
the release as we are! It's a pity that the commentaries that
have been done at previous conventions (e.g, Peter Gordeno
and Ed Bishop on IDENTIFIED at Century 21 and Mike Billington
and Ed Bishop on KILL STRAKER at a Cult TV convention) weren't
recorded and used on these DVDs.

Marc

I actually started to watch all the episodes again yesterday and was amazed
at the clarity of the images. I mean you can make out the actors' pores and
the fabric patterns in their costumes and I don't even have anything
resembling a home theater system!

A few thoughts on RESPONSIBILTY:

1. Jo Fraser has enough cleavage for two or three people.
2. I believe the moonbase personnel's helmets change color when the camera
cuts from behind them to in front.
3. Those great Russian red uniforms.
4. The "bedrom scene" is played very well by both actors, but I couldn't
quite make out what Straker is told on the phone (by design?)
Is she a con artist, prostitute, Jehovah's Witness...what?

Brian

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CONTENTS DELETED

Hi, Amelia,

Tuesday, March 18, 2003, 8:05:14 PM, you wrote:

b> There's quite a bit of it in paper zines, some people have their own UFO
b> fan-fic websites, (both canon and non-canon )

Now that's an interesting statement.

Usually, when I hear the term "canon" in reference to fictitious
universes, it means "Part of the officially designated continuity of
the universe."

For the most part, in reference to TV series, it refers to the
broadcast episodes, and only such books, stories, or derivative works
that are specifically recognized by the producers.

Is that the case here? (That is, are there stories there that have
been specifically recognized by Gerry and/or Sylvia Anderson -- where
they said "Yes, as far as I'm concerned that really happened to those
characters"?

Or are you using the word "canon" differently than I'm used to?

(On re-reading this, it sounds like I'm challenging you. I'm not, I'm
just really interested in understanding, because if it _IS_ the case
that one or both of the Andersons have "certified" fanfics as
"canonical," that would just be the coolest thing that ever happened.)

--

Jonathan Andrew Sheen

http://www.leviathanstudios.com
Leviathan of the GEI (Detached.)
[hidden email]

"What'dya expect? I'm a New Yorker!"
-Anonymous New York Firefighter, 9/12/01

Brian Lindstrand wrote:

> 4. The "bedrom scene" is played very well by both actors, but I couldn't
> quite make out what Straker is told on the phone (by design?)
> Is she a con artist, prostitute, Jehovah's Witness...what?

LOL! I think she is out for dirt - you know, for a scandal rag? She's
freelance, so she has to have something juicy to get noticed.

-- Y


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Jonathan Andrew Sheen wrote:

> Is that the case here? (That is, are there stories there that have
> been specifically recognized by Gerry and/or Sylvia Anderson -- where
> they said "Yes, as far as I'm concerned that really happened to those
> characters"?
>
> Or are you using the word "canon" differently than I'm used to?

No, not officially recognized - canon means presenting the characters as
they were represented on the actual show. Non-canon is more like
crossover stories, alternate universe stories or having Straker be an
alien - that sort of thing ....

> (On re-reading this, it sounds like I'm challenging you. I'm not, I'm
> just really interested in understanding, because if it _IS_ the case
> that one or both of the Andersons have "certified" fanfics as
> "canonical," that would just be the coolest thing that ever happened.)

<snort>

Some of us hope the Andersons never find our stories. <giggle>

-- Y

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Yuchtar zantai-Klaan | [hidden email]
I am not a number! I am a FREE FAN!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
"So, Scully, is this boyish display of
agility turning you on at all?"
-- Fox Mulder
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
http://yuchtar.users4.50megs.com/
http://home.earthlink.net/~nunzie945

>Some of us hope the Andersons never find our stories.<giggle>

Interesting comment coming from someone who "knows" someone who story ideas
are being adapted into the comic books that surely the Andersons will see
soon.

James K.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[hidden email] wrote:

> >Some of us hope the Andersons never find our stories.<giggle>
>
> Interesting comment coming from someone who "knows" someone who story ideas
> are being adapted into the comic books that surely the Andersons will see
> soon.

Oh, well, I don't mind if they see THOSE!
<waving hand dismissively>
It's certain OTHER stories I hope no one finds ...
<snicker snort>

-- Y

--
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
Yuchtar zantai-Klaan | [hidden email]
I am not a number! I am a FREE FAN!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
"So, Scully, is this boyish display of
agility turning you on at all?"
-- Fox Mulder
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
http://yuchtar.users4.50megs.com/
http://home.earthlink.net/~nunzie945

CONTENTS DELETED

--- Yuchy wrote:
>
> Oh, well, I don't mind if they see THOSE!
> <waving hand dismissively>
> It's certain OTHER stories I hope no one finds ...
> <snicker snort>

Oh well, I know which ones you mean... *sigh*
I read one of these. *rolling my eyes*
Oh, Girls... *shaking head, grinning*
Naughty Girls you are... *vbg*

I hope for you, too, the Andersons will never find them!

Chrissi
*waving sweetley to Yuchy*

> So, take Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Sherlock running around pointing out
> facts about possible suspects from the most minute of detail with Dr. Watson
> astonished 'By jove, Holmes! You're right! ' and assisting the pipe smoking
> genius is canon.

I think that the pipe and the deerstalker are actually both items
introduced by Basil Rathbone.

Dave.

Marc Martin wrote:

>
> Ed asked for a lot of money to do the commentary for SUB-SMASH

That surprises me, because to me at any rate it's evident that
he didn't do a lot of preparation for it.

"Brian Lindstrand" wrote:

> 1. Jo Fraser has enough cleavage for two or three people.
>

You're exaggerating. You could get two people down there, definitely
not three.

Yuchtar wrote:

> No, not officially recognized - canon means presenting the
> characters as they were represented on the actual show. Non-canon
> is more like crossover stories, alternate universe stories or
> having Straker be an alien - that sort of thing ....
>

I think the term 'based on canon' should be used, rather than
'canon' then, because fanfic stories clearly can't be the
latter.

Thanks! I mean, it seems like they are making a genuine connection and then
Straker goes back to cold mode after the phone call. I was a bit confused
because he already didn't fully trust her, so what additional info would
make more of a difference?

As to Straker and Ford warmth, watching "Identified" again, there is that
funny scene where Ford gets chewed out for making a mistake. I say funny,
because Straker launches into some of the most obvious expository dialogue
I've ever heard and Ford really should have known better. I was watching it
and wondering if this is for Ford's benefit or mine?

Brian

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Yours (viewer) -- yea, I sorta cringe a bit when I see that scene -- why not
just put up posters behind his desk to explain SHADO? :)

Also -- I would have to agree with James -- fan-fic can't be called "canon" --
'based on canon' would be more accurate.

Anthony
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Lindstrand" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2003 9:04 AM
Subject: Re: [SHADO] Re: RESPONSIBILITY SEAT
<snip> I was watching it
> and wondering if this is for Ford's benefit or mine?
>
> Brian

> > Ed asked for a lot of money to do the commentary for SUB-SMASH
>
>That surprises me, because to me at any rate it's evident that
>he didn't do a lot of preparation for it.

I blame Ed's commentary on the producers of it -- they obviously
didn't brief him well, or prepare him with a list of topics to
discuss in case he had nothing to say about that particular
episode. With the commentaries for Sylvia/Wanda/Mike/Alan, Jeff
Smart asked me for a list of possible things for them to discuss,
and I came up with lots of topics, many of which were on the
the commentary. For example, on the TIMELASH commentary,
they do very little talking about the episode itself.