Shark Bytes

LIS kept jumping the shark but I'll mention a few instances. Finding a rabbit-eared chimpanzee. Dr. Smith going from intelligent person to an idiot. The space hippies on their space motorcycles. But the final blow was the carrot man.

Or maybe it's because Allen and the writers realized that everybody else in the cast was so damn bland!

Not so! Irwin's biggest mistake was not figuring out how to get Judy into a bikini or lingerie for every show. Then the daggone thing would have run for 15 seasons!

"LIS" jumped the shark with the addition of color in the second season.

The first season of "LIS" at least tried every now and again to keep things on a semi-realistic level (and yes, I know there were unrealistic episodes like the space pirate, etc. but it wasn't nowhere near as bad as it would become). The fact that it was in black-and-white aided in the realism by 1) giving the show a documentary feel and 2) hiding lots of weak special effects. Also many of the characters were at least given some time in the spotlight. By the time the show went on to season 2, Dr. Smith and Will had taken over the show, the color exposed exactly how horribly fake the sets were, and the storylines went as far away from realism as you could get (space cowboys, space genies, space department store representatives, etc.). Don't even get me start on the space hippies crap or the giant talking carrot.

I agree with the popular concensus that the show was really about Will, Smith and the robot and wonder if that wasn't Irwin Allen's concept all along. The first season dedicated an episode or two to Penny and that was about it. Angela Cartwright was a beautiful girl and warranted more screen time. I've often wondered why she got special mention in the opening credits if she was of such little value to the writers. Unfortunately her character was written as a dunderhead who was always being over-trumped by Will's superior intellect. Same goes for Judy, who also saw more action during that initial year. After that it was the "Will and Smith Show". Not that I'm complaining. Billy Mumy was an incredible child actor and guest-starred in numerous classics of 60's television. He did great work in this show as did his devious foil, Jonathan Harris. Perhaps positive fan feedback is responsible for their elevated status. Or maybe it's because Allen and the writers realized that everybody else in the cast was so damn bland!

I would have to agree with you guest. As I said earlier, I just watched all three seasons on DVD with my 4 year old. She loved it and I realized that it really became the Will, Robot and Dr. Smith show. I really liked when they had some serious stories, or, finally John and Don has some screen time. I never realized when I was a kid that June Lockhart was barely used, neither was Judy or Penny. It was all about Dr. Smith will and the Robot.
In season 3, I still love visit to a Hostile Planet, even though Smith had to get stupid and they had to dress up the robot. But, other than that, it was an enjoyable show. The other good show during season 3 was Time Merchant. It has its stupidity too, but Smith, who was back on earth, voluntarily got back on the Jupiter 2 to save their lives. It was interesting but what was wiered was that John Robinson does not even thank him for saving their lives, even though he was able to watch the whole thing. I'm stil a big fan of the show and always will be. Now, if I can build a Jupiter 2 and a Robot, my daughter would think I'm the greatest.

As I child, I loved Lost in Space. I own the DVD's, but I can't get past the second season, because I've had Dr. Smith up to here. His character never changes and is so predictable. Plus you know in a heartbeat he'd trade the life of the Robinson's or Major West for his own, or for untold riches.

I don't know who did the casting for the show, but who cast June Lockhart and Guy Williams as husband and wife? I like them professionally, but they didn't go together.

I also find it funny that Maureen is a scientist, but she's totally Timmy's mother again from the Lassie series.

They may as well have had John, Maureen, Don, Judy and Penny get hit by an asteroid and perish, as it became the Will, Dr. Smith and Robot show. The other characters were not necessary.

You can certainly like both shows. you are allowed to like both chocolate & vaniller ice cream! My loyalty is with LIS.

I've had great fun over the past 2 hours reading the previous 15 pages of posts re Lost In Space. This is a show I have always loved, treasured, & admired. Comments: 1)Lost In Space & the original Star Trek should not be viewed as competitors. They are 2 different types of shows : Star Trek is main-line Science Fiction ; whereas, Lost In Space is science-fiction fantasy (or simply fantasy). Lost In Space is also more of a deliberate family-show. I much prefer Lost In Space. 2) Lost In Space is NOT a camp or cartoon show : it does have a camp or cartoon main-character in Dr Smith, &, certainly several of the guest-star aliens & visitors are camp or cartoon, but the Robinson family are not ; furthermore, the serious situations involving food, water, fuel are perfectly serious & credible. A quick but important question : if CBS head Bill Paley hated the show as much as I have read over the years, how in in Earth did the show reach us via CBS in the 1st place? Everything I've read points to Paley as being the 1 person most responsible for sabotaging L I S ' chance for a longer run. The show, according to all reliable sources I've read over the years, had been renewed for Year 4 when Paley deliberately threw a spanner into the proverbial works by demanding a drastic & unmeetable budget-cut for that year (the higher salaries of the returning main characters alone would force cancellation). Was it : 1) Paley was not immediately involved in the show's original acquisition, leaving it to subordinates to vet the show? or 2) Paley liked the pilot & didn't comprehend that the show by necessity would have to evolve beyond the original concept? This was the same Paley with the good taste to provide a stipend to Louise Brooks in her later years. How could he have such good taste in one aspect (Brooks), but not appreciate the delightfully-whimsical L I S ? But it's that other question which I really wish to pose : how did the show slip through to the screen via CBS if Paley was an opponent? Thanks in advance to anyone which can throw light on this mystery for which I have sought an answer for so long. P S, Penny & Judy should have been given much more screen-time : I really liked them! --signed Joe

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THIS SHOW WAS TERRIBLE THEY ALL DESERVED TO BY LOST IN SPACE

THIS SHOW WAS A BIG JOKE

Hey Debbie the Bloop,

I was always disappointed you were never cast on "Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp." You could have taken that show to a whole 'nother level.

Good thing I got that part on Planet of the Apes.

Hey Debbie the Bloop,

I heard you got greedy at contract time and made all sorts of unreasonable demands (top billing, your own trailer, unlimited bananas, etc.)

Also, according to Penny & the Robot, you tried to upstage everyone, kinda like Shatner....

How come I wasn't in season 3?