Two Old Farts Talk Sci-Fi

Galaxy Quest is the second of two films starring Sigourney Weaver that Troy and David are looking at, with Special guest Rachel A. Rosen. The movie did OK with its original release, back in 1999, but has earned a cult following ever since. It is loved by both the fans of SFFH but also industry professionals. There are a number of powerful, emotional moments in the movie. The movie has a lot of heart.Troy and David and Rachel got so carried away with a discussion of the film, that they had to break the discussion of Galaxy Quest into two episodes. This is the first of the two episodes. They begin episode 1 talking about their first experience seeing the film, and then go into a bit of a history of the production. As with many films, there were a number of different actors or actors that were first considered for various roles.CREW OF THE PROTECTORTim Allen - Jason Nesmith / Com. Peter TaggartSigourney Weaver - Gwen DeMarco / Lt. Tawny MadisonAlan Rickman - Andrew Dane / Dr. LazarusTony Shaloub - Fred Kwan / Tech Sgt ChenSam Rockwell - Guy Fleegman / Crewman #6Daryl “Chill” Miller - Tommy Weber / Lt. LoredoThermiansEnrico Colantoni - MathesarMissi Pyle - Laliari ( Lolly Ari)Patrick Breen - QuellekRain Wilson - LahnkJed Rees - TebRobin Sachs - Sarris (the villain)Justin Long - Brandon, lead nerd.= = =Rachel A. Rosen is the guest for this two-part (now three-part) episode that looks at two films starring Sigourney Weaver.PT. 1 Troy and David and Rachel look at the movie Alien, including their first experiences seeing it, their favorite moments, the lasting impact of the movie, and take a close look at some of the more impactful moments in the movie. Please stay until the end of the episode, after our closing music, for some additional content.PT. 2 Our next episode, episode 10 of season 7, to be dropped on June 30th, 2026, will be an episode looking at Galaxy Quest, which also starred Sigourney Weaver. Rachel joins Troy and David to look at a film that both fans and non-fans of episodic science fiction series like.PT. 3 Our following episode will be our second episode to look at Galaxy Quest, episode 11 of season 7, to be dropped on July 31st, 2026., Rachel joins Troy and David.By Grabthar's hammer, by the suns of Worvan, what a movie!RACHEL A. ROSEN https://rachelrosen.ca/ From her website: "I’m an activist, graphic designer, and for my sins, a high school teacher. Through magic dark as Vantablack, I have somehow conjured the time to write a book series, The Sleep of Reason. If you’re looking for more disaster wizards, check out my first novel, Cascade. I’m part of the Night Beats artist collective, so if you like my ideas, you can subscribe to my newsletter." Rachel also has the second book in the series, "Blight".https://rachelrosen.ca/index.php/a-homepage-section/Rachel A. Rosen has been a guest for two previous shows:"Queer SFFH" LINK [Season 5 Episode 13, April 20, 2024]"Alien (Sigourney Weaver PT.1)" LINK [Season 7 Episode 9, May 31, 2026]We hope you enjoy the show!

The Planet of the Apes TV Series premiered in 1974. After the success of the Planet of the Apes movies, a TV series was given the go-ahead. The series lasted one year, and just 14 episodes. Roddy McDowell was signed on, but playing a different character, Galen. Here is the cast: Roddy McDowall … Galen = 14 episodes, 1974 Ron Harper … Alan Virdon = 14 episodes, 1974 James Naughton … Pete Burke = 14 episodes, 1974 Mark Lenard … Urko = 11 episodes, 1974 Booth Colman … Zaius = 6 episodes, 1974 Ron Stein … Gorilla Guard / … = 4 episodes, 1974 One of the concerns with the series, and most POTA fans were not happy with, was the appearance of a dog at the beginning of the first episode. From the Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) there was an interstellar disease that eliminated dogs and cats, and that was when humanity started to have apes as pets. Troy and David look at the pilot episode, and discuss some of the differences in it and the movies, and what are considered its best episodes.

There were two SF series in the late 1970s that both had theatrical releases: Battlestar Galactica, and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Both were produced by Glen A. Larson. Troy and David look at the theatrical films, and compare and contrast these, and how they fit in with the televised series.CAST OF BATTLESTAR GALACTICA:• Richard Hatch as Captain Apollo (Waltons, Love Boat, Kung Fu…)• Dirk Benedict as Lieutenant Starbuck (A Team)• Lorne Greene as Commander Adama (CAN) Bonanza, New Wilderness• John Colicos as Baltar (CAN) (Star Trek, Night Gallery, The Changeling)• Jane Seymour as Serina (Somewhere in Time, Dr Quinn Med. Woman)• Rick Springfield as Zak Adama (Jesse’s Girl song, General Hospital)• Ray Milland as Sire Uri (born 1907! 100s of classic films)• Maren Jensen as Lieutenant Athena• Noah Hathaway as Boxey• Herbert Jefferson Jr. as Lieutenant Boomer• Tony Swartz as Flight Sergeant Jolly• Laurette Spang as Cassiopeia (Emergency, Isis, SMDM, Happy Days)• Terry Carter as Colonel Tigh• Patrick Macnee as The Imperious Leader / The Narrator• Anne Lockhart as Lieutenant Sheba (daughter of June Lockhart)CAST OF BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY:Gil Gerrard as Buck RogersErin Grey as Wilma DeeringTim O’Connor as Dr. Elias HuerFelix Silla as the body of TwikiMel Blanc as the voice of TwikiPamela Hensley as Princess ArdalaHenry Silva as KaneJoseph Wiseman as King DracoDuke Butler as TigermanCaroline Smith as Delta SectionTroy and David talk a bit about the merchandising.They also do their recurring segment, "How it all ends"where Troy and David come up with their versions of how series end, especially the shows that were not given a chance to end on their own terms.

Two Old Farts Talk Sci Fi continues its exploration of SFFH TV shows from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. This episode is the first of a 2-part look at The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. Many who loved The Six Million Dollar Man enjoyed its iconic look, and also the slow motion. and especially the opening segment. Martin Caiden wrote Cyborg. TSMDM & BW were based on the novel. Caiden TSMDM had a few television movies that were very successful. The series went on from 1974 - 1978. Harve Bennet came in, and became the producer for the show. He made a number of changes to the show. ABC went to the top of the ratings. One of the earlier TV movies had a very James Bond flavour, and this was not what Martin Caiden wanted. Harve Bennet came in and restored the show to what it should have been. EPISODES WE LOOK AT IN DETAIL IN PT. 1: Title: The Six Million Dollar Man "The Moon and the Desert" TV MOVIE from 1973 of The Six Million Dollar Man original air date: Mar 07, 1973 IMDB Rating = 6.5 Title: Day of the Robot season 1 episode 4 of The Six Million Dollar Man original air date: Feb 8, 1974 IMDB Rating = 7.7 Title: Rescue of Athena One season 1 episode 8 of The Six Million Dollar Man original air date: Mar 15, 1974 IMDB Rating = 6.8 Episode synopsis for The Moon and the Desert (from Wikipedia) Steve Austin is an astronaut who has made three Moon landings. In a test flight accident caused by a malfunctioning center stick, his right arm is severed, his left eye is blinded, and both legs must be surgically amputated. Steve Austin’s personal physician, Dr. Rudy Wells, has theorized about the creation of a cyborg through the installation of bionic parts. He is persuaded by an OSI agent to reconstruct his patient/friend with the understanding that Steve Austin will subsequently work for the OSI. Dr. Wells apprises Steve of the plan, but is met with much resistance as Steve Austin mentally struggles to cope with his injuries, the installation of artificial components, and the future obligations that will be involuntarily thrust upon him. Following surgery and lengthy rehabilitation, Steve Austin reluctantly accepts an assignment to rescue a hostage in Saudi Arabia. Episode synopsis for The Day of the Robot (from Wikipedia) In an attempt to steal a top secret anti-missile device, Steve's associate and friend Major Sloan is kidnapped and replaced with a robot. Steve must discover the impostor, and keep the device from being stolen and sold to the highest bidder. Noteworthy Moments: First occurrence of the "fft-tt-tt" sound effect, later used for Steve Austin's bionic legs and arm, used here for some (but not all) of the Fred Sloan robot's powered arm swings. Episode synopsis for The Rescue of Athena One (from Wikipedia) Steve is launched into space to rescue two astronauts stranded in a crippled space capsule. However, when his bionics begin to malfunction due to space radiation, the return trip to Earth becomes endangered. Note: The first of four appearances that Lee Majors' then-wife, Farrah Fawcett Majors, made on the show. She appeared in each season except the final one, playing a different character each time. = = = The cast (by order of appearances) of The Six Million Dollar Man: Lee Majors as Col. Steve Austin… [99 episodes] Richard Anderson as Oscar Goldman [99 episodes] Martin E. Brooks as Dr. Rudy Wells [45 episodes] Lindsay Wagner as Jaime Sommers… [9 episodes] Alan Oppenheimer as Dr. Rudy Wells… [9 episodes] Quinn K. Redeker as Frank… [6 episodes] Than Wyenn as Ambassador Mahmound… [5 episodes] John de Lancie as Diver… [5 episodes] The cast (by order of appearances) of The Bionic Woman: Lindsay Wagner as Jaime Sommers… [58 episodes] Richard Anderson as Oscar Goldman [58 episodes] Martin E. Brooks as Dr. Rudy Wells [46 episodes] Ford Rainey as Jim Elgin [9 episodes] Sam Chew Jr. as Mark Russell [8 episodes] Jennifer Darling as Peggy Callahan [7 episodes] Martha Scott as Helen Elgin [6 episodes] Lee Majors as Col. Steve Austin [6 episodes]

We continue our all-TV season, and recognize Harlan Ellison, who wrote a series of essays on TV, referring to TV as a 'glass teat'. Two Old Farts Talk Sci Fi looks at Richard Matheson, and since this season is the TV season, we look at the stories he wrote that became part of the ABC Movie of the Week. We do a deep dive on the history of TV movies, the ABC Movie of the Week, and specifically the movies that Richard Matheson wrote, which were: "Duel" and "The Trilogy of Terror" and also "The Night Stalker (1972 film)". The movies, the theatrical ones, back in the day, that played on TV, cost a lot for the TV stations to play, the rights owner, representative or distributor charged a premium on recent films, for them to appear on TV, and in some cases the networks would bid against each other for the rights to have a movie played on their station, so most films that appeared on TV were older films. There were, occasionally, made for TV movies, but by the late 1960s, TV studios decided to produce, on a regular basis, original TV movies, more as a cost-saving measure. They controlled production costs, and did not have to bid against other networks. Often these movies were shot in 14 days or fewer. DUEL Troy and David first look at DUEL. a 1971 movie, written by Richard Matheson, and directed by Steven Spielberg. They look at the sound, Dennis Weaver's acting, the diner, the reptiles. The decision by Spielberg not to have a big explosion at the end. The great first line (and following lines) in the story that appeared in Playboy: At 11:32 am Mann passed the truck. Here are the first two camera shots of the shooting script from DUEL: THE NIGHT STALKER The second ABC Movie of the Week that Troy and David look at is The Night Stalker. This is the first of two TV movies that preceded the TV Series, the other is The Night Strangler. The Night Stalker influenced a generation, included Chris Carter, who created The X-Files. There was something about the shouting matches between Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin) and Tony Vincenzo (Simon Oakland). The heartbreaking ending, where Gail Foster (Carol Lynley) and Kolchak are separated. David, in a senior moment, says "Jason" instead of Janos Skorzeny. (ya-noss score-zen-knee). Troy mentions the unusual choice of free-form jazz music that is used in the fight scenes. THE TRILOGY OF TERROR The third ABC Movie of the Week that Troy and David look at is The Trilogy of Terror. This is a movie that has three separate horror stories, the third of which is the one that we all know and love. Richard Matheson wrote all three stories, but other writers wrote the screenplays for the first two stories, and Matheson insisted on writing the screenplay for the third segment. Karen Black played the lead role(s) in all three segments.

Two Old Farts Talk Sci Fi takes a look at the great television theme songs that are SFFH (science fiction, fantasy, and horror). We have a special guest. Lee McCormack joins us. He was our guest for our 3-part "Galactic Rock" episodes from a few seasons ago. Troy and David and Lee each came up with their own top ten list of theme songs. We hope you enjoy!

Welcome to Two Old Farts Talk Sci Fi. This is our second episode of Season 6. This season is "Two Old Farts Meet the Glass Teat" The late great Harlan Ellison wrote a series of essays about TV for the LA Free Press. He referred to TV as a "Glass Teat." This is our all-TV season. We will look at shows from the 60s, through the 80s and beyond. The shows and the showrunners. PT 1 of Irwin Allen looked primarily at Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and, Lost in Space PT 2 of Irwin Allen will look primarily at The Time Tunnel, and, Land of the Giants Troy presents a history of Irwin Allen, and the second two series we are looking at. Here are some of the things that appear in most Irwin Allen TV shows. These are his trademark elements that Troy mentions: On set explosions On set smoke and fires Actors throwing themselves to-and-fro to simulate turbulence and/or being under attack. Being lost or stranded Cool vehicles Female hotties Child actors Animal companions Nefarious villains Walking vegetables Use of stock footage Great merchandise And a similar design look / opening credits The Time Tunnel only lasted one season, 30 - episodes. How it all ends... Troy and David come up with their own versions of how the Land of the Giants ended.. A lot of series, back in the day, never had an opportunity to plan their end. MASH was able to, and FRIENDS and SEINFELD and BIG BANG THEORY. What did happen to the crew of the Spindrift, according to Troy and David? Listen and find out.

Spaceballs The Star Wars parody (with a bit of Star Trek and Lawrence of Arabia thrown in) may not be Mel Brooks' best film, or his funniest comedy, but it is a film that grows on you with each successive viewing. This episode is released in 2024 on Star Wars day, May the 4th, as in, May the 4th be with you. Dan Miwa joins Troy Harkin and David Clink. Dan, being a first-time guest, is asked about his earliest genre memories, and his first genre love. He is then asked the standard 6 questions for first-time guests: Fave Author; Fave Novel; Fave Shorter Work; Fave Movie; Fave TV Series; and, Fave TV episode. Troy presents a history of the film. Troy and David and Dan do their Dream Cast and their Schrödinger's Cast for the following 6 roles: Lone Starr (Bill Pullman) Barf (John Candy) Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) Dot Matrix (Joan Rivers) (voice) Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) Skroob / Yogurt (Mel Brooks) = = = Dan Miwa Dan Miwa, lover of all things science fiction and psychological fiction, merged his two favourite genres into his novel "Ret". The story takes place on a distant planet, within an alien civilization and follows the life of a little alien through a journey of self transformation. Much of the charm in Ret is how a story with a wild imaginative alien setting can be so relatable at its core. Ret is not only a powerful coming of age story, it's a depiction of human life that holds a mirror to the social challenges we face as a society today. Ret reached #1 in Hot New Release and #2 Best Seller in all his sci fi categories on Amazon. The push for his novel doesn't stop with the written word. Dan is currently working on converting Ret to a graphic novel and screenplay, as well, he is in the beginning stages of writing a prequel to Ret. Ret 2 Zombie Invasion… just kidding.