Re: Contender for the worst UFO episode: 'Confetti Check-A OK'
Posted by
TRT on
URL: https://www.shado-forum.com/Contender-for-the-worst-UFO-episode-Confetti-Check-A-OK-tp4023823p4023829.html
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.
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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)