37 years ago today...

[greenguy]

viewers tuned in to see how aliens took a regular guy and made him a hero. Sure, the show may have dated FX but the performances are NOT. I've almost made it all the way through all three seasons in the past couple of days, and to me watching the cast is just as fresh as it was when the series premiered in 1981.

On another note, it's the 20th anniversary of my website. My teen years were produced by Stephen J. Cannell, and when I bought my first PC in late 1997 I knew I wanted to do an online tribute to at least one of his TV series. TGAH was my favorite, so that's what I picked. When I started the site with my web pal Max Sommers (I had the collection/info, he had the web design chops) I never thought it would last this long. Max moved onto other things a few years back, so I've been flying solo so to speak, and hope I can make it to TGAH's 50th anniversary.

If you get the chance throw in some episodes today and watch some TV magic.

[HoudiniDerek]

That's awesome!

I was too young for it in its original run, but I used to watch the ACTION ADVENTURE AFTERNOON on FX when the network was new. It had GAH, Wonder Woman, and the original BATMAN series.

I've been on this site for over a decade.

[greenguy]

Yep, TGAH was on FX when the channel made it's debut in 1994. I recorded the whole FX run, even though they were edited for more commercial time.

Thanks for hanging around for so many years HD!

[MelMac]

I've had a lot on my plate this week that I didn't realize it was around time for the GAH anniversary.

It's been interesting to see it on TV again on the Heroes and Icons network, which has good and bad news there.

Good news - we get to see the teasers before the show.

Bad news - apparently they still must play the shows with the "new" music. What was immensely funny to me is that apparently the covers for the original songs on the DVD have now apparently been covered with a new cover in "Classical Gas." (Or at least sounds that way - but I know what "Brass in my Pocket" sounds and there are snippets of LA Freeway's performance at the concert that were not edited to cover the music change. Here - they still show the edited version that's mostly Rhonda's back and it's not that song).

[greenguy]

The teasers! YAY! Just the 2nd and 3rd season...correct?

What about the music in Operation: Spoilsport? Back before Retro TV Network went bankrupt and was airing the series, Spoilsport was the ONLY episode that was running with original music.

[HoudiniDerek]

This is one thing I miss about not having cable. Aside from baseball, I can't watch Retro stations.

[greenguy]

I'm lucky and get I think 11 retro stations over antenna. However, two I would like to get we don't have here. Although they are on our cable system, but I don't have cable either.

[HoudiniDerek]

I don't have an antenna either.

[greenguy]

Was disappointed to see Heroes & Icons airs the series in fake widescreen...UGH.

Chop and zoom in the picture for those people who complain "the picture doesn't fill up my whole screen"

I say broadcast in the format it was meant to be seen, and let those that want their screen "filled up" use the settings on their TV to manipulate the picture instead of forcing everyone else to watch various series as they were NOT meant to be broadcast.

Strangely enough this past Saturday they did NOT air the teaser for Divorce Venusian Style.

[prometheus74]

Sorry for the late reply. Happy 37th anniversary, TGAH, and happy 20th anniversary to your site, Greenguy! I joined this site sometime in 2008, so I've been here a decade this year.

I still love the show. I first saw it on TV when I was around 7 (in 1981) and spoke and understood very little English at that time (my first language is French). But I loved it at that time anyway, eventhough I didn't understand most of the dialogue. At that young age, what I cared about most anyway was the action---and the flying---obviously. lol! And TGAH delivered in spades. Fast forward to around 2007, at the age of 33. I had not seen TGAH since childhood and only vaguely remembered it. I remembered some of the important aspects, like the fact that his powers were in the suit, and that he had difficulty flying, and made less-than-graceful landings, etc., but I didn't remember too much of it. In any case, when I saw the box set in the black metal case at my local DVD store, I decided to take a leap of faith and buy it, not certain at all if I would still enjoy the show as an adult. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I did! And that now that I spoke English fluently, I was enjoying it more than ever before, because now I could enjoy what is arguably the best part of Greatest American Hero----the awesome dialogue and great rapport between the three main characters. As an adult, I could also truly appreciate the laugh-out-loud humor, sarcasm, and irony. I'm a much bigger fan of TGAH as an adult than I ever was as a kid. That $50 purchase turned out to be one of the most lucky leaps of faith I ever made.

[greenguy]

Hey don't be sorry, you made it before the 38th. Congrats on being with us for 10 years!

I always love to read about everyone's first experiences with the series.

[prometheus74]

Thanks, Greenguy! It's great to be here, and to be part of this community. 🙂

[MelMac]

Apr 3, 2018 15:20:57 GMT -5 greenguy said:

Was disappointed to see Heroes & Icons airs the series in fake widescreen...UGH.

Chop and zoom in the picture for those people who complain "the picture doesn't fill up my whole screen"

I say broadcast in the format it was meant to be seen, and let those that want their screen "filled up" use the settings on their TV to manipulate the picture instead of forcing everyone else to watch various series as they were NOT meant to be broadcast.

Strangely enough this past Saturday they did NOT air the teaser for Divorce Venusian Style.

That is odd - they have shown it in the past.

I didn't notice the screen cropping in as much as I have the whole "This is not your town" replaced music they did with the show to save money.

I mean honestly - the replacement in the pilot for "Help Me Rhonda" doesn't bother me that much. It's still sounds '80s enough to pass for being in the show.

The latter for "Rocket Man" and "Space Oddity" however - make absolutely no sense. They'd been better off on both to do instrumental covers.

***************

Even the replacement for "Operation Spoilsport" was at least a decent replacement - had they not kept in Ralph's comment. It's the only one I think they should've paid the royalties for only because of the fact it's mentioned by name.