Not so much what, but how. She seemed far too lined and weary-looking for a (at the time) 38 or 39-year old, had oily, lank hair that she constantly had to brush out of her eyes, talked in a “I’ve just inhaled a joint all the way down to my socks” cracked giggly voice and in general just came across as really really really goofy or a nutcase waitng for a room at the asylum. Hard to describe. Perhaps I sounded too judgemental, I really shouldn’t.
When she starts speaking Pakuni (Chaka’s language–she seems to have a picture-perfect memory), watch out!
…David Gerrold didn’t get credit? Then why was his name in the credits as “story editor” and as author or co-author of a great many scripts? And is it really necessary to use spoiler boxes to avoid spoiling a TV series that went off the air not quite a quarter century ago? :dubious:
And yeah, “Sa-ree-sa-ta-ka” was Pakuni for “Sleestak.” The Kroffts serve up the entire Pakuni language in David Martindale’s Pufnstuf & Other Stuff, a sort of guidebook to the weirdy-assed world of the Krofft’s television careers.
Yes, of course he got credit as Story Editor and for the scripts he wrote. I was referring to (perhaps unclearly) the fact that he did not get a “Created By” credit as he really should have.
According to my copy of Pufnstuf & Other Stuff, the series was created by Allan Foshko and Sid Krofft. Foshko expresses considerable pride in how he wrote the original treatment, developed the concepts, and so on. Sid remarks about how he really liked Star Trek, and took pains to secure some of their writers for LOTL. The book credits Gerrold as having written three episodes, and as being the story editor for the first season.
It is also made pretty clear that Foshko and the Kroffts go way back.
I will not argue with Sir Rhosis, since I don’t know diddly about this stuff, aside from this book in my hand here, which was written with the aid of the Kroffts. But considering that the show was made around the time McDonalds was beginning the Great Screwing Of The Kroffts (i.e., hiring them as advertising consultants, then firing them and developing an in-house ad campaign based on Pufnstuf characters), I sure would hate to think of them sticking it to Gerrold like that. Hypocritical.
Sir Rhosis, would you kindly elaborate on your knowledge, to ease my ignorance and feed my curiosity?
Master Wang-Ka, first allow me to say that I really hope you do not feel that we are arguing, as that is not my intent. Perhaps disagreeing, but “argue” is too strong of a word for me, especially considering the subject matter–a kid’s show, enjoyed by some adults. I post at the Straight Dope only for fun, I find my BBQ Pits and Great Debates in “real life.”
That said, all my knowledge is second-hand, coming from a couple interviews that Gerrold gave. I believe they used to be at the LOTL fansite that someone linked to earlier, but I will not swear to it. Basically, they just say what I said earlier–Grrold claims he was given the collage and told to make a show. He states that it was he who was responsible for bringing in the well-known writers, also (btw Theodore Sturgeon is often credited with an episode, but I can’t remember if he actually got a credit, or if it was his then-wife, Wena, who was credited).
So, to sum up, I don’t even have the cites that you have, all I have are the memories of a couple interviews. I do recall also that Gerrold seemed to say the Krofft Brothers pretty much got in his way of making the show even better, they clashed a lot, he walked at the end of the first year, so says he.
So, Master W-K, it seems I really can’t help your LOTL knowledge quotient very much.
I’m sorry; I meant *“I am not disagreeing with you or calling you a liar.” * Unlike some folks, I don’t feel qualified to argue with someone unless I know the facts. In this case, I don’t. I took the book’s word for it, and until reading your post, assumed that was all there is to it.
I know for a fact that Gerrold is well acquainted with several of the LOTL writers, particularly D.C. Fontana, Larry Niven, and Walter Koenig. I would not be surprised to find that he knew guys like Norman Spinrad and so forth, as well. Seems logical that he’d bring these writers in to help spruce things up and collect an easy paycheck.
I had never heard that the producers just threw him an idea and that he fleshed it out from the word go, and that said producers then took all the credit and kudos, but it would not surprise me; I’ve heard plenty of similar stories before. In particular, Harlan Ellison seems to have this problem with producers – he’s stuck for an idea, he writes a crappy script, and lo and behold, a producer rewrites it and saves the day, sometimes winning an award!
Oddly enough, these same producers never seem to manage the trick more than once… as opposed to Ellison, who’s cranked out plenty of award-winning scripts and stories, and continues to do so today. Guess it’s just the stress and strain of Hollywood that got Ellison all bumfuzzled, and in need of these clever producers to save his butt, hm?
I’d just kind of hate to think that this was true of the Kroffts. Those guys were among my childhood heroes, you know? On the other hand, it would explain why Gerrold took a hike at the end of the first season…
Wasn’t planning on it, but since you’re so nice about it, I’ll dig around and see if I can find the Gerrold interview I read on-line.
If it takes me more than a couple days, I’ll email you instead of bumping this thread.
Now, it may well be that Gerrold is “misremembering” (cough–lying–cough). I mean, honestly, I still to this day do not buy that he subconsciously lifted the Flat Cats and called them Fuzzies, then renamed them Tribbles. The young man was an SF geek, one does not forget a Heinlein Juvenile and “coincidentally” recreate two or three of that book’s best-known chapters! No way. My opinion, of course.
Best,
Sir Rhosis
FWIW, I hate this f-ing signature thing wherein I have to delete it from automatically appearing. Gonna have to just get rid of the damned thing, I guess.
Okay, it was a booklet of pictures that he says he was given, and not a collage on a poster board, but basically my memory of the interview was pretty close.
He did this twice.
There was another Heinlein book, about a multigenerational space ship whose crew degenerated into savagry, & forgot they were on a ship.
Very interesting interview. One quote gives me pause:
They had a title and a “book.” Huh? A book of what?
On the other hand, I am inclined to believe Gerrold, simply when one compares the original series to the gawdawful thing the Kroffts produced in the early nineties. Ten times the budget, but a fraction of the quality or excitement. Bleh.
At any rate, thanks for the tip; I had no idea Gerrold had ever spoken out about the TV series.
Man, does this thread make me “timesick”. It’s odd- I hadn’t thought about the “Holly falling through a hole into the sky” thing in almost 30 years and INSTANTLY I have the image again.
My favorite episode: Holly discovers the Confederate soldier who painted the ‘Beware of Sleestak’ sign. He has been there in a cave for years like Ben Gunn, fighting off Sleestak with a cannon when they came around.
As for Uncle Jack, I think the only time they explained him was in the latter day themesong:
One time Will had the opportunity to go home (courtesy of Enik) but refused because Will and Holly weren’t with him.
Remember the remake from the 1990s? Godawful schlock. The only thing that could have come close to saving it would have been to reveal that the wild girl was Holly, but nope.
Who else thinks that this could be a fantastic $200 million SCI-FI blockbuster or the basis for a Tolkien like series of novels?
When LotL was in first run I was in elementary school at a very conservative Christian academy where he had feltboard Bible lessons twice a week. I was always struck by the resemblance of the (cheesy lite-brite like now but super cool to a kid) crystals and the breastplate of the Hebrew priests. I always wanted one or the other for my bedroom.
Does anybody remember the show that came on after LotL, Korg: 70,000 BC? (Link with images.) It was a live-action show about a family of Neanderthals that I liked almost as well as LotL, though it has nowhere near the cult following and I haven’t seen an episode in 30 years.
Frickin Sleestaks! Frickin Land of the Lost!
Maybe some shrink can explain the psychology of how paranoid this show can make a child of the 70’s.
You go deeper and deeper into these tunnels where the walls are lined with hibernating lizard-men. Then when your nice and deep in the tunnels they all start waking up and come after you with that eerie hissing.
If your lucky enough to make it out alive there’s a couple of dinosaurs waiting right outside to tear you apart.
And you can’t get home because there these weird pylons that you don’t really understand cause your only 6 years old.
And your only friend is this hairy boy who’s got fangs and a short temper.
Messed me up good that show did. It explains a lot.
I think it was: “Tasted like lobster. Then agin, not like lobster.”
I can’t believe I remember that line. And he offers Holly some whiskey, saying it will put hair on her chest. Of course, she doesn’t want hair on her chest.
Oh, did they ever explain why they moved from the cave on the cliff with dad to the adobe ruin place with Uncle Jack? All I know is that they moved, but I can’t remember why. Probably an earthquake, I guess. I remember they always had to cross this canyon by climbing over a fallen tree about every episode.
And y’know, if it were me, I wouldn’t have gone into the Sleestak caves so often, even if the Sleestak were asleep. Cause they might, oh, I don’t know, wake up? And grab you through the cobwebs, hissing and shooting their crossbow thingies? And then you’d be dead?
