Who here remembers the TV show "3-2-1 Contact"?

Cafe Society
1

At dinner with some friends tonight, I happened to mention this show and was surprised that not one of the eight people I was with could recall it.

It ran on PBS in the early 80s, and was produced by the Children’s Television Workshop (the same good folks who brought you “Sesame Street” and “the Electric Company.”) “3-2-1 Contact” however spotlighted science rather than grammar or reading skills.

The basic premise had three college age kids who met in a science lab / student lounge type room and they would discuss or introduce scientific topics. But rather than having them give dry lectures, the three kids would be doing typical young adult stuff and scientific principals would get worked into the conversation. A typical set-up would be the kids cooking a meal, and getting some of the recipes wrong. That would lead to a discussion of how & why certain foods blend together when cooked, and how cooking is essentially chemical reactions between the different food components.

There would also be trips outside the lab to show scientific principles in the real world.

The last five minutes of each show had a show-within-a-show called “the Bloodhound Gang.” The Bloodhound Gang (or more precisely “the Bloodhound Detective Agency”) were like a trio of Encyclopedia Browns who solved crimes using science.

I loved this show as a kid, but it seems to have been forgotten about. Did anybody else used to watch this?

2

It’s the reason
It’s the moment
When everything happens
3
2
1
CONTACT!

That was a great show.

3

I watched it, but I don’t really remember anything except the theme song.

4

I hardly remember the show, but I remember the Bloodhound Gang.

Mostly the theme song.

Wherever there’s trouble, we’re there on the double,
We’re the Bloodhound Gang.
If you’ve got the crime, we’ve got the time,
We’re the Bloodhound Gang.

5

I remember it very well. It was a successful show down under, where I grew up.

I also watched Square One, which was about mathematics.

6

I used to watch it all the time. I remember really liking this show, but can’t remember much about it. Did the actor who played Geordi on Star Trek: the Next Generation host some episodes?

7

That was Reading Rainbow. And LeVar hosted every episode.

… Grife, now I have the Reading Rainbow theme stuck in my head. With the Bloodhound Gang theme. ;_;

8

I loved Square One. I also watched 321 Contact, but I remember less about it.

9

Loved it. Brought it up in the I Miss Omni Magazinethread.
Opening theme.

10

I watched it all the time.

11

It was my favorite show on TV, bar none. I also subscibed to the magazine. Together, they laid the basis for most of what I know about science.

12

Logo reminds me that 70s sci-fi was all about hexagons.

Anybody remember Slim Goodbody?

13

UM Don thanks for making me feel OLD! :smiley: Cause, yes I DO remember -3-2-1 Contact!

14

Oh, hell yeah I remember “3-2-1 Contact.” That was my favorite show as a kid and a big influence on my inquisitive and curious nature. Loved the theme song and the episode (it may even have been the first one), where they go through and show the recording process for the theme song.

Looks on Youtube Sure enough, here it is, and it was the first episode. That was my first exposure to witnessing the behind-the-scenes action of multitrack recording, and it left quite an impression on me.

15

Speaking of childerns’ science TV shows, anyone remember The Edison Twins? Canadian, I think.

16

I totally remember 321 Contact, and Square One. I grew up with Sesame St, Reading Rainbow, Lambchop, Ghostwriter, The Elephant Show . . . I remember Square One had a corner called “Mathlock” which was a parody of Matlock.

17

I watched every episode, and also got the magazine. I’m now working on a PhD in molecular biology. There must be a connection.

18

I do remember 3-2-1 Contact but it wasn’t my favorite show. It wasn’t even my favorite science show. Newton’s Apple was my favorite science show.

19

I only remember the theme song and Bloodhound Gang theme. I didn’t watch it much.

20

I remember. I was a little older than the intended audience, but not too old that my crush on Lisa / Trini was creepy.

I can still picture the electron microscope images

Brian