# Help ID this TV show from the late 70's/early 80's! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 28, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-tv-show-from-the-late-70s-early-80s/310249 "2005-06-28T19:21:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-tv-show-from-the-late-70s-early-80s/310249/1 "2005-06-28T19:21:03Z")
I remember a serial-type of show from the late 70’s/early 80’s (I was born in 73). It would have aired Sunday nights, somewhere around 8-9pm (eastern). From what I remember (and I only remember one episode), the host was discussing superheroes. And it cut to an automotive garage/gas station, where a female superhero has been strapped to one of the automotive lifts. Then, back to the host, who starts explaining something about how superheroes can get out of traps like this. I THINK the show aired on NBC, but I could be mistaken on that. I CAN say that it was a network show, as we didn’t have cable back then. Any help? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-tv-show-from-the-late-70s-early-80s/310249/2 "2005-06-28T21:04:56Z")
While that particular scene doesn’t ring a bell, the concept sounds like the 1979 NBC show _Cliffhangers!_ The show was an homage to movie serials. Each one hour episode consisted of three segment, each devoted to an ongoing story. There was [The Curse of Dracula](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078591/combined?fr=c2l0ZT1ha2F8dHQ9MXxmYj11fHBuPTF8cT1jbGlmZmhhbmdlcnN8bXg9MjB8bG09NTAwfGh0bWw9MQ__;fc=3;ft=11;fm=1), [The Secret Empire](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078684/combined) (which was a remake of an actual serial) and [Stop Susan Williams](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078694/combined). An exceptionally cool concept and from what I remember, especially of the Dracula segments, an exceptionally cool show that unfortunately only lasted one season. The first half of the Dracula segments have been repackaged and showed up as a movie (but not the second half which I never understood). ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-tv-show-from-the-late-70s-early-80s/310249/3 "2005-06-28T21:28:54Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > …the concept sounds like the 1979 NBC show _Cliffhangers!_ Completely irrelevant hijack that no one will really care about: That show was the reason I quit Boy Scouts. Its airtime conflicted with the scout meetings. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-tv-show-from-the-late-70s-early-80s/310249/4 "2005-06-28T22:02:07Z")
Heh. [Legends of the Superheros](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0131675/). [Here’s](http://moviepoopshoot.com/comics101/117.html) an article about the show. (Including a still-shot of Black Canary chained to the auto lift.) You’re lucky to have remembered that one episode; only two were ever shown. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-tv-show-from-the-late-70s-early-80s/310249/5 "2005-06-28T22:09:08Z")
> [@SkipMagic](#): > > You’re lucky to have remembered that one episode; only two were ever shown. I have seen a copy of this. You would be luckier if you HADN’T remembered it. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-tv-show-from-the-late-70s-early-80s/310249/6 "2005-06-28T22:19:54Z")
I like my answer better. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-tv-show-from-the-late-70s-early-80s/310249/7 "2005-06-28T22:22:40Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > I like my answer better. According to the people who saw _Legends_, I think everyone should like your answer better. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-tv-show-from-the-late-70s-early-80s/310249/8 "2005-06-29T03:41:00Z")
> [@SkipMagic](#): > > Heh. [Legends of the Superheros](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0131675/). > > [Here’s](http://moviepoopshoot.com/comics101/117.html) an article about the show. (Including a still-shot of Black Canary chained to the auto lift.) You’re lucky to have remembered that one episode; only two were ever shown. Shit, you guys are good. Here’s MY question: If only two episodes were ever shown, how do you know where to look, based off of that little discription I gave? And it’s possible that I’m remembering _Cliffhangers!_, too. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-tv-show-from-the-late-70s-early-80s/310249/9 "2005-06-29T11:47:19Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Shit, you guys are good. > > Here’s MY question: > > If only two episodes were ever shown, how do you know where to look, based off of that little discription I gave? Well, I didn’t at the time, but if one were to Google “superhero chained auto lift” then **SkipMagic** ’s second link is the first thing that comes up. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-tv-show-from-the-late-70s-early-80s/310249/10 "2005-06-29T20:20:58Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > If only two episodes were ever shown, how do you know where to look, based off of that little discription I gave? I read that site every week–or as often has he has new articles. I’d just recently read the article I linked to, so it was still fresh in my mind. Enough so that, when you mentioned the auto-lift and the strapped-down superhero, it was the first place I checked. Otherwise, I would have Googled it and, according to **Otto** , ended up at the same place, anyway.