# Supermarionation! The Gerry Anderson appreciation thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343 "2003-03-10T17:14:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/1 "2003-03-10T17:14:48Z")
I loves me my digital cable. All the way up at Channel 244, there’s TechTV with (are you ready for this) _Thunderbirds_ ! Not only that, but they put in MTV-style popup videos complete with little tidbits about how the show was produced. Brings me back to the days when I didn’t dare miss _Fireball XL-5_ and _Stingrays_ either, and try to keep track of which marionette was used for which character (question: Which ones were reused? I forget), and what cheesy props got reused where, and wouldn’t it have been easier just to use human actors. Yes, I know Gerry did _Space: 1999_ too. Some thoughts: Brains needed a real name. Lady Penelope needed to admit her sexual attraction to her chauffeur, Parker (something in the way he said “Yes, m’lady”) while opening the doors of that bubble-top Rolls meant he knew it, too). John Tracy needed to come down from Thunderbird 5 for some fresh air once in awhile. The swimming pool covering Thunderbird 1’s launch pad should have sloshed over when pulled back. Thunderbird 2 got too much air time - it was just a flying truck! Did International Rescue ever bill for their services? Any other fond memories of the Gerry Anderson Supermarionation shows, people? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/2 "2003-03-10T17:22:56Z")
[5…4…3…2…1](http://www.fanderson.org.uk/fanderson.html) ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/3 "2003-03-10T18:30:29Z")
You don’t seem to have got many responses yet. But never mind. After all, “Anything can happen in the next half hour!” (But I think Gerry Anderson’s finest hour was the live-action _UFO_.) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/4 "2003-03-10T18:42:01Z")
Yeah, well, you never know what topics are going to set people off. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/5 "2003-03-10T18:48:41Z")
**Supercar** The first Anderson/Supermarionation show I ever saw. Apparently there are some videotapes available. Haven’t seen it in ages. I have fond memories (just not terribly clear ones) of **Fireball XL5** , too. I don’t think I watched any of the Anderson efforts – puppet or live-action – after that. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/6 "2003-03-10T19:19:06Z")
When I was a kid, I was absolutely crazy about Marina from **Stingray**. Also, one of the user names I had considered when I signed up here was **Troy Tempest**. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/7 "2003-03-10T19:20:10Z")
Oh, and I’ll second the opinion on **UFO**. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/8 "2003-03-10T19:31:42Z")
Poor Deke Slayton! There was a Walter (Schirra) tracy, a Scott (Carpenter) Tracy, a Vergil (Grissom) Tracy, an Alan (Shepard) Tracy, a Gordon (Cooper Tracy) and a John (Glenn) Tracy. Dang it, it’s not fair. They need to create a Deke Tracy! ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/9 "2003-03-10T21:22:49Z")
I just got my Fireball XL5 boxed DVD set in the mail last Friday. 39 episodes in glorious black and white, and they’re mine, all mine, baby! Ghod, they didn’t even **try** to hide the strings! Ten minutes into the first episode, though, I didn’t even care. \*Anxiously awaiting the release of **Supercar!** I love DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Maci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Maci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maci)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/10 "2003-03-10T22:05:44Z")
I’m watching Thunderbirds even as I type. What is it with the Hood? How are pictures going to help him steal the tech? I never saw this show as a kid, but I’m really into it as an adult and am taping it to show my son when he is old enough. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/11 "2003-03-10T23:32:19Z")
**Interceptors…Immediate launch!!!** ---
**Author:** ![audit1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@audit1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audit1)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/12 "2003-03-11T01:45:41Z")
SUPERCAR, FIREBALL XL5 and UFO have been announced as being new comic book series later this year. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7bcc69/32.png) [@King\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/13 "2003-03-11T04:11:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mjollnir \* > **When I was a kid, I was absolutely crazy about Marina from Stingray** Ditto ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/14 "2003-03-11T04:56:38Z")
**SIG**! I have my old Dinky Toy SPV (Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle) on the kitchen counter as we speak! ---
**Author:** ![Tblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tblue)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/15 "2003-03-11T05:21:48Z")
“Expect the Unexpected”!! (my favourite line from the one with the cute little balls and the evil little cubes - and I can’t remember the name of the show itself.) Thunder bird 2 is the coolest. Anyone ever see “Thunderbirds FAB” - the stage show? (Very very cleverly done, by only two people!) ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/16 "2003-03-11T05:58:53Z")
When I was between the ages of 4 and 8, my dad was posted to England. I can remember watching the _Thunderbirds_ (my brother even had a toy Thurderbird 2–too bad we didn’t keep it!), and _Joe 90_, and _Captain Scarlet_ (my favourite), and a show we referred to as “Father Unwin”, except it was really _The Secret Service_. Lord, I loved those shows. I wanted to be one of the Angels when I grew up. I always felt rather sorry for Captain Scarlet, because he had to die over and over again. The fan page says he was “energetic and popular” when off duty, but to me he always seemed rather isolated because of that ability. I wish TechTV would bring that show back, too. I’ve been watching the _Thunderbirds_, but it isn’t quite the same. Besides, for a super-secret organization, it’s amazing how many outsiders seem to know their given and family names. ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/17 "2003-03-11T11:22:32Z")
Some little nuggets of uselessness: When I was a (latish) teenager, our band name was **The Angel Interceptors**. We were quite average (except for the name, of course). My uncle owned half the company (Anvil films) which did the post-production sound on some of the early series. We used to get all sorts of great stuff as freebies, plus get to see where a lot of the dubbing went on. His name would occasionally come up on the credits as ‘dubbing mixer’. I definitely had the hots for Marina. There. I’ve admitted it. UFO really, really scared me at the time. I can still recall _exactly_ the sound effect they used when one appeared. Yikes. Now I’ve got goosebumps. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/18 "2003-03-11T11:23:51Z")
Cap-tain Scar-let (dum dum dum dum!) ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/19 "2003-03-11T13:10:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Xerxes \* > \*\*My uncle owned half the company (Anvil films) which did the post-production sound on some of the early series. We used to get all sorts of great stuff as freebies, plus get to see where a lot of the dubbing went on. His name would occasionally come up on the credits as ‘dubbing mixer’. \*\* We may have an acquaintance in common - one of the sound editors (Peter Pennell) was a neighbour of mine when I was growing up! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343/20 "2003-03-11T13:12:14Z")
Got a question - what does “FAB” mean? The Tracys said that instead of “Roger” on the radio - were they commenting on each others’ fabulousness? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermarionation-the-gerry-anderson-appreciation-thread/160343.md?page=2)