Friday, June 5, 2009

Land of the Lost - a 70s classic!

LOTL

Okay, so my family and I have been watching a lot of DVR'd episodes of the 70s classic "Land of the Lost", since Sci Fi Channel has aired three marathons of the show in two weeks time.

A quick synopsis of the show, for those who don't recall it:

The Marshall family, consisting of dad Rick and his kids, Will and Holly, encounter an earthquake while rafting the rapids. Plunging down a waterfall, they go through a strange mist and wind up in the Land of the Lost.

The Land is what Rick calls a "closed universe", meaning it is sort of like a small world unto itself. Strange things live here, and we are left unsure as to how they came to be here. Were they trapped, as the Marshall family was? Or are they natives?

The family goes about trying to stay alive, avoiding hungry dinosaurs and menacing Sleestaks, lizard-like humanoids that hiss a lot and are generally bad news. They also meet another, less dangerous race of beings called the Paku, small, hairy, missing-link type creatures, who are primitive in intelligence, but have developed a language of their own. One, Chaka, becomes a good friend.

Marshalls

The series lasted for three seasons on Saturday mornings, from 1974 to 1976, with a total of 43 episodes. At the beginning of the third season, Rick Marshall was pulled through a doorway in a magical pylon, presumably winding up back home. At the same time, his brother Jack, who had been searching for his missing relatives on Earth, is pulled into the Land and is rejoined with his niece and nephew. Spencer Milligan, who played Rick, supposedly left due to a contract dispute.

This marked a major change for the show, one of many changes the third season had, including a 'dumbing-down' of the stories and premise of the show that ultimately proved too much. It was canceled soon thereafter.

Chaka

Without a doubt, this was a Saturday morning kids show. But it shouldn't be quickly dismissed as JUST a kids show. Where so many of the programs before (and since) were mindless entertainment, this show (and other Krofft Productions programs) tried to be more than that.

You can look at it now and laugh at the effects, consider them laughably cheesy. But at the time, it was good stuff. And anyone who shrugs off the stories as silly hasn't really watched them and paid attention. The writing, acting and production is above par, not just for it's time, but for now, as well. These stories were well thought out, well written and were produced with sincerity for the integrity of it all. The writing may have dropped off in the third season, but the actors were still putting their all into it.

And it shows. Re-watching these episodes with my kids, I had a fear that they would dismiss the entire thing as "too cheesy" or "too old". There were some chuckles over the dinosaurs appearance (it is a post-Jurassic Park world, after all) and some laughs at obvious green-screen type work.

But I was happily surprised. They liked the show. They liked the characters. And they were getting involved in the stories, these old stories from 30 plus years ago were still able to catch and hold onto audience of kids today. That speaks more about the show than I can, really. And they have been using one of the phrases from the show, when expressing something that is a bummer - "Fat rats!" hahaha

Sleestaks

I am struck, as well, by how into their roles the actors were. Spencer Milligan never gave a hint of embarrassment at playing the dad in a show like this. He gave Rick Marshall a brain and a heart and, in my opinion, should have been given whatever raised he wanted for the third season. He deserved it.

Welsey Eure and Kathy Coleman, as Will and Holly, were energetic and talented kids who could act circles around some of the so-called actors on kids shows these days. And I have seen my share of them, thanks to my own kids.

In the first two seasons, the show didn't play down to it's audience. In fact, it is just the opposite. They knew kids were smart enough to follow the plot and to grasp some of the weightier ideas they threw about. And they even went beyond that, since some stories were more than kids minds could grasp, and instead gave them something to think about and to use their imaginations with. That is respecting your audience, and it is too often lacking in kids shows (and adult shows) today.

Dopey

In the early 90s, Krofft attempted a revival of the show, with a different family called the Porters, but it didn't take, lasting only 26 episodes over two seasons. I haven't seen this version since it's original airing, so I can't comment on it's quality compared to the original show. I have heard that the character of Christa, a young woman who grew up in the Land, was originally planned to be an adult version of Holly, but the plan was quickly dropped. Could have made for an interesting story!

Now there is a major motion picture based on the show, starring Will Ferrell as Rick Marshall. I have a bad feeling that this movie is going to be more of a parody of the show than a true, respectful version of the real thing. But, I will wait until I see it for myself to make a decision either way.





One thing I don't care for is that the cameo appearances by Wesley Eure and Kathy Coleman have been cut from the film. From what I have read, the ending was completely re-shot and their scenes were cut. I know it may sound nitpicky, but it would have been a real treat for fans of the old show.

I have also read some of Wesley Eure's blog. He is pretty open about how him and Kathy, and Philip Paley (Chaka), have been treated during the process of the new movie's ad campaign. He isn't bitter, just resigned to the fact that they aren't the stars anymore. That said, I think they could have been treated so much better. Yes, they aren't the stars of the new movie. But they are the stars of the original, and they are loved by many fans still. It is a shame to ignore them, but paraphrasing Eure, that's Hollywood, I suppose.

Regardless, we will always have the original show to watch and enjoy for what it is: good entertainment produced with intelligence and heart. My thanks to all who were involved in it's production, you made something special, loved by more than one generation, now.

Some Land of the Lost links & some videos!

A great, detailed review of the show (and a pic of Enik!)

An awesome fan site - Land of the Lost Dot Com

Tyrannosaurus lex - another cool Land of the Lost site

Wikipedia article all about Land of the Lost

Wikipedia page for the 90s remake show

Land of the Lost fan fiction and more

Offical site for the movie "Land of the Lost"

UPDATE: "Where are they now?" article about the stars of the show!

UPDATE: Great blog from RETROSPACE on the show!!!

Below, the opening theme song!



And here are parts 1 and 2 of more recent interviews with Kathy Coleman and Wesley Eure - Good to see they are still friends!



15 comments:

  1. I don't actually remember this particular series but I loved these old 70's things "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" and films of those ilk, how they got those fins on little lizards to make them look like dinosaurs was genius. No CGI in those days! If Will Farrell is in the movie, I'm guessing it could be a parody. Watched Brendon Fraser doing Journey to the Centre of the Earth in 3D the other day . .still has charm! No sex and no blood!

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  2. ah! grew up on LOTL early on Saturday mornings. if you look back at the list of writers for the episodes it is pretty amazing. we have the first 2 seasons on DVD. my boys love it! don't want to watch the new movie...i don't think i could bear it.

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  3. I was living in Europe when this show was on but thanks to you I am downloading hte first season's torrent. Look forward to plugging this hole in my pop culture knowledge.

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  4. Baino: I have yet to see Fraser's "Journey..." but I want to. It looks fun!

    Brian: I am torn about whether to see the movie or not. Don't want to be sad after seeing a comedy, but I fear I might be with this one!

    Cal: Oh! We seem to like many similar things, so I don't think you will be disappointed. Just remember to place the show in the 70s place in your brain, for the effects and such. The writing and acting, I think, can stand on their own still. PLEASE let me know what you think of it when you do see it!

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  5. I grew up with the Kroft brand of entertainment. This was a favourite. Sure it had cheesy effects( Harryhausen and Edison did far better ); but it's not always about the effects. The new movie? Just from the trailer, I could tell it wasn't the same. Another Hollywood blunder? Perhaps. I think I'll pass on this one and stick with the old episodes.

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  6. Great essay on a great show. You echo a lot of things I've been saying at Retrospace, notably Milligan's ability to make it seem real by playing the role completely straignt. Check out my post when you get the chance here

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  7. K..does Clint Howard play that Cha-Ka character or did they just use him as the model for the creature? They both look similar to me. I know Clint was the litte guy Balok in the Star Trek Episode - The Corbomite Maneuver. I enjoyed my Land of the Lost season one half marathon tonight. You are right about them playing it straight and how much it made a difference in the enjoyment of the show. Ah the 70s.

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  8. Hi! Caffeinated Joe,
    I just checked ot the "Land of the
    Lost" Official website...and all I can say is...LOL!!

    I'am not familiar with the 70s classic series, but I will try to seek it out..that is if it's available on DVD.
    I plan to post a review of the
    "Land of the Lost"
    next week. I hope you don't mind if I link back to your review.
    Tks,
    DeeDee ;-D

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  9. When I was a kid, I used to LOVE that show! Of course there was also Ultra Man and Johnny Socko and hi flying robot! LOL!

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  10. subtorp: Yeah, I am torn about the movie, too.

    Gilligan: Great post! I added a link to your post in this one. We have definite like minds on this show!

    Cal: Well, I have watced Cha-Ka since I was a kid, so I see him as Cha-Ka. But yeah, he does resemeble Clint Howard. Glad you liked the show! Thanks for giving it a go!

    DeeDee: It is a good show. Not sure if I am gonna see the movie, hope you like it!

    otin: Glad you liked the show, too. Never heard of Johnny Socko, though!

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  11. Will Farrell's going to kill it. And I mean that in the bad way. Destroy it. Like McG and Barrymore did Charlie's Angels. Kablooey. Bye-bye childhood memories.

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  12. I want to announce online that I deciphered all of Victoria Fromkin's "Pakuni" made-up language from "Land of the Lost". I've put some really rough-draft major documents online for free at https://app.box.com/s/gh5my7i3ztlet8wmjs2t . I also deciphered Marc Okrand's "Atlantean" from 2001's "Atlantis : The Lost Empire" and have a website "Atlantean Language Institute" and a yahoo group. I deciphered Barsoomian from Disney's 2010 (?) "John Carter" but have yet to put it online. If you want to contact me, join my "Atlantean Language Group" on Yahoo. Apologies for the rants in my Corpus of Pakuni, it was at-times somewhat boring to watch all those episodes back-to-back, kind of like reading a Dicken's novel outside of their original newspaper-serial format. I beg leniency and say that I'll clean up the Corpus for future online presenations. 1 4 2013

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  13. I want to announce online that I deciphered all of Victoria Fromkin's "Pakuni" made-up language from "Land of the Lost". I've put some really rough-draft major documents online for free at https://app.box.com/s/gh5my7i3ztlet8wmjs2t . I also deciphered Marc Okrand's "Atlantean" from 2001's "Atlantis : The Lost Empire" and have a website "Atlantean Language Institute" and a yahoo group. I deciphered Barsoomian from Disney's 2010 (?) "John Carter" but have yet to put it online. If you want to contact me, join my "Atlantean Language Group" on Yahoo. Apologies for the rants in my Corpus of Pakuni, it was at-times somewhat boring to watch all those episodes back-to-back, kind of like reading a Dicken's novel outside of their original newspaper-serial format. I beg leniency and say that I'll clean up the Corpus for future online presenations. 1 4 2013

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