Those crazy computers and their side-effects
How’s this for retro? In The Incredible Hulk, we had a boffin tinkering with a computer and turned himself into green man. In Automan, we had a boffin tinkering with a computer and made him a blue man. Here, David McCallum’s computer couldn’t decide on colour and made him invisible.
The Invisible Man was a fairly intelligent series, which was probably why it didn’t last very long. Just goes to show that even in the 1970s, it could be a mistake to overestimate the intelligence of your audience. It was supposedly based or suggested by H. G. Wells’ Invisible Man, but since this was the 1970s, he worked for the US Government undercover. (The 1958 British series had the Invisible Man work for British Intelligence.)
The pilot was a lot more human and tragic, before becoming more regular adventure fare, which was the same path as The Six Million Dollar Man. Still, I remember it fondly, and McCallum (whose birthday I share) remains one of my favourite actors.
My Groups
-
Social Justice Updated: 1 minute ago
-
Stuff That Makes You Laugh Updated: 2 minutes ago
-
News of the World Updated: 17 minutes ago
Neighborhood
Explore friends, family, friends & family, or entire neighborhood.
Comments
I well remember The Invisible Man, starring David McCallum, and still feel that if funded properly and given a chance, it would have lasted. From what McCallum has said on the subject, it's short span had more to do with the fact that it was an expensive show, and that he was grateful to leave the role because he felt frustrated with the limitations of the medium back then for such a role, and the difficulties it caused.
It seems to me that many exceptional programs like this, were never given the chance they deseved. Another McCallum program, Sapphire and Steel is a perfect example of this. Do you watch him on NCIS?
But if they did the sequel 25 years on, it would make sense: Sapphire and Steel have been trapped in their gas station hell and have only now found a way to escape.
I wasn’t aware of McCallum’s exact thoughts on The Invisible Man as you stated, but it makes sense.
I do not watch NCIS. I get lost with all the shows that have acronyms for names, so I just put on old DVDs. I did hear that on one episode, someone asked what Ducky looked like when he was young.
‘Illya Kuryakin.’