"Star Fleet", "The Clone Wars", and some melted snow....

Last Monday, "Star Fleet" was released on DVD here. This is a wonderful sci-fi puppet series originally broadcast on ITV in the winter of 1982/83. Basically, it's a "Star Wars" rip off, but with a slightly more adult tone than "Thunderbirds" had. It's very popular amongst sci-fi fans who are now in their 30's, who remember the show with wistful nostalgia. I haven't bought it yet, as Carla said she would buy it for me. Once we've got it in the house, I'll do a mini-review of the DVD. There is a fan site and group on 'Facebook' (yes, I'm a member of both) and there is a brilliant fan website here.

Staying with 'space stuff' (as my mother calls it)....at last, I'm watching the new "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" animated series. Starting from yesterday, 'Cartoon Network' has started to show them every Saturday morning, repeated on Saturday evening. The channel broadcast episodes 1 and 2 yesterday. The series picks up after the film released last summer. Episode 1 features a lot of Yoda doing awesome lightsabre battling (bad luck, battle droids), and the second episode featured the return of General Grievous and his new weapon, a super ion cannon. Great fun stuff, and the animation is superb. I'm looking forward to seeing some characters like Jar Jar Binks return in episode 8. What's also funny are the little 'Lego Star Wars' adverts in between the episodes. Hopefully they should be turning up on 'You Tube' soon.

A proper guide to the series can be found here on the official "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" website. Also, my pal in the USA does regular mini reviews of the episodes, and you can find them tucked away on her Livejournal.

The widespread snowfall across the UK over the last two weeks or so seems to be on the wane now, thank goodness. I can't stand it really, it just gets in the way commuting. Thankfully, it wasn't that bad in this area, as I was only affected for one day, and I was able to work at home anyway. This country doesn't really do extreme weather that well, I guess we aren't used to it.
Have a look at what my pal Joe said about it here.

I've joined Carla when she does the 'Leslie Sansone's Walk at Home' workout. It's really good, as I've found since I've been driving (9 months) I walk a lot less, so this is great for basic cardio fitness. Carla sometimes writes about her fitness regime, and you can follow it here.

Yay! She just said she's going to make koshari today! Lovely! :)

London Film and Comic Con

Last weekend was a busy one! On the Saturday, I popped down to Earl's Court exhibition centre for the latest "London Film and Comic Convention" - one of the many sci-fi collector's events run by my old pal Jason. I've been going to these since the tail end of 1990, and having spent most of the following decade working at them (and spending lots of cash as well!) I'm now an old hand at this stuff. They are still one of my favourite things to do. Even though I don't collect that much merchandise any more, the buzz at the shows is really good as the people who go there *love it*!
The fair was made up of the usual stalls selling film and TV related merchandise, original props on show, people in costume, and special guests selling their autographs and conducting talks to their fans. Luckily, I was able to bump into two pals, Ben and Jamie, and before that have a long catch-up chat with Jason.

I met Jay Benedict (an American actor based in the UK since the mid 1970's, who was at the show mainly to sign pictures from "Aliens") who provided the voice for Shiro Hagen in the early 1980's sci-fi puppet series "Star Fleet". The DVDs come out in September, which is fab as I love that show! As you can see, I got him to autograph my old "Star Fleet" video cover: his signature is now next to Garrick 'Biggs in Star Wars' Hagon, who played Captain Carter. Maybe I can get Liza Ross' signature in the future (she played Lamia.)

I also got to meet director Stanley Long who made the "Adventures" series of sex comedies in the 1970's. The films are now out on DVD (distributed by Mel Gibson's Icon no less!) I bought his book which covers his life in the film industry, and the DVD set. Good silly stuff! It was nice to meet his wife Julie and his brother as well, who were all working on the stand.

There were some other guests stars there including Margot Kidder, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, John Hurt, and director John Landis - all attracting big crowds. I spotted Tim Brooke Taylor and Bill Oddie doing a talk about "The Goodies" as well!

I was going to get David Warner's signature, but he wasn't there on Saturday! Oh well, next time.

When I sort the pictures out, I will blog about the English Heritage 'Festival of History' event that we went to.

"Star Fleet" on DVD at last!

At last, it seems that one of my favourite TV shows of all time, "Star Fleet", will be released in the UK on Region 2 DVD at the end of August.

This was a puppet sci/fi Japanese/European co-production first shown on ITV here in October 1982, so I first saw it when I was a 10 year old sci-fi geekling. And it was simply AWESOME. And like "Battle of the Planets", it still is! Dia-X robot space battles....yay!

I have some "Star Fleet" on video tape already (they were released in an edited format in the late 80s on video rental) but these will be a very nice addition to my collection of stuff!!

* happy....jumps for joy!*