Recently I discovered one of my streaming channels had an old science fiction television show that I used to love watching. I remember back in the mid-70s tuning into watch Space: 1999 every Saturday night. There was really no show like it at the time.
Space: 1999 was a British science-fiction television show which ran from 1975-1977. The premise of the show is about a base on the moon set in the year 1999 where the Earth stored its nuclear waste. An explosion knocked the Moon out of orbit and hurled it into space becoming a virtual spaceship which encountered various worlds and beings.
At the time, it was the most expensive series produced for British television. There was a total of 48 episodes in the series but there were major differences between Season 1 and Season 2. While they had a big budget for their first season, changes in production resulted in a radically smaller budget for the second season. There were also changes in cast. Barry Morse - who played fan favorite Victor Bergman - was unable to agree on a new contract and left the series. New characters were introduced and the series struggled in the ratings and failed to survive for a third season.
Martin Landau and Barbara Bain were the lead characters on the show as Commander John Koenig and Doctor Helena Russell. Landau and Bain were married in real life and had previously starred on Mission: Impossible.
Although the series never had a true ending, a fan-backed seven-minute film in August 1999 called "Message from Moonbase Alpha" featured Zienia Merton who played Sandra Benes in the series. In the film she delivered a final message to Earth from Moonbase Alpha as the remaining inhabitant were evacuating to a new planet.
Space: 1999 was a lot like Star Trek but it was the moon instead of a starship which was the vehicle for the 311 people on Moonbase Alpha to encounter the unknown in outer space.
The theme song intro to the show was also something I liked. It was very well done and very catchy. I have found myself re-watching the series and even though the technology of producing science fiction shows have become more advanced, it is still nice to relive it.
For more information about the show: http://www.space1999.org
