I'm talking about this:

http://ufoseries.com/

Now that I have the new TV/cable setup I've been DVR'ing this every night, it's amazing looking in HD, and I totally love 1970's view of what 1980 was going to be like.

Definitely prompted some toy buying, too, got a die-cast Skydiver coming to me.

It's funny, I would have loved this show as a kid and killed for toys from it. Guess I'm living that out as an adult.

Loved this show as a kid.

Used to have a diecast Green Interceptor.
You could shoot off the nose missile.
Damn I thrashed that toy.

Think it ended up at a charity trash and treasure : (

Also had a Space 1999 Eagle Transporter.

directTV?

It's on VOOM HD Network's Family Room channel:

http://www.voom.com/

They showed the first episode last night ("Identified"), one I hadn't seen before. Chock full of cheesecake! I hope they release these on BluRay in this format, it looks fantastic.

They also show Thunderbirds in HD before UFO but I'm really not a fan of it.

UFO is a popular British television science fiction series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. The Andersons had previously scored hits producing children's science fiction series, using marionettes as the characters, with a heavy reliance on miniature work and explosive visual effects provided by Derek Meddings. These included SUPERCAR, FIREBALL XL5, THUNDERBIRDS and CAPTAIN SCARLET.

After the production of the live action feature film, JOURNEY TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE SUN, the Andersons felt ready to move away from the marionettes for their next series -- aimed at an older audience. UFO was very adult in approach -- sometimes very dark -- and many episodes featured adult themes such as adultery, homicide, divorce, and drug use.

The series excels in its visual effects, characters, teleplays and terrific score by Barry Gray. For some, Silva Anderson's "futuristic" costume designs are dated (civilian clothing), while others are iconic (the Moonbase Operative "uniforms" and wigs). But, don't let these elements detract from the straight-faced approach and generally solid British acting.

Ed Bishop, an expat American actor, plays the Commander of SHADO (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organisation), a secret multinational organization formed to protect the Earth from invasion by extraterrestrials. SHADO is operated behind the cover of the Harlington-Straker Studios movie studio in England, where former United States Air Force Colonel and astronaut, Ed Straker, poses as the studio's chief executive.

After 26 episodes, Lew Grade, the head of ITC and Century 21 Productions, decided, as he did with several other Anderson series (most notably THUNDERBIRDS and CAPTAIN SCARLET), to leave the series without a concluding episode, despite the requests from America's CBS network (who syndicated the series in the US, where it was a ratings winner), for a another 26 episodes.

Anderson's ideas for this un-produced Second Season of UFO were put to use in creating their next series, SPACE: 1999.

Here's a great resource for information and details on UFO:
http://www.ufoseries.com/

One more thing: people are CONSTANTLY drinking and smoking in this show, especially while on the job. No qualms about the entire team getting congratulatory cigars and lighting them up around the sensitive computer equipment.

This is awesome! The old Dinky toys from the series are killer, and not too expensive on ebay. Reissues have come out recently. UFO, along w/ Space 1999, were late Gerry Anderson (of Thunderbirds fame) projects for ITV in the UK. Love this stuff, Andersons designs always had a sort of practical look to them, almost aligned with Kow Yokoyama's M.ak.

Holy shit, they reissued the Dinky stuff? Links, please!

Roger, that's what people did back then -- smoke. Even around sensitive computers. Hell, how do you think we beat the USSR to the Moon? As for Gerry Anderson diecasts, if you're in the States, you need look no further than FAB Gear:

http://www.fabgearusa.com/

I know about Fabgear, I ordered a Skydiver display base from there. But where can I find Dinky reissues? Googling turns up nothing.

One of my favorite shows as a youth. For years afterward I would rave about this, and no one had any idea what the hell I was talking about. It would be a kick to see it again.

This is why i love these shows I watched Journey To The Far Side Of The Sun for the first time a couple weeks ago.I really dug the minatures,fashion,music & martinis.Cool flick.

I always though those purple hair wigged girls were smoking hot as a kid.... yum!

Konami also put out some very nice trading kits

Well, some other people here might be interested in FAB Gear... As for your question on Dinky reissues, you should be asking Habbit, not snapping at me!

I had no idea that site existed.I learn somethin new everyday here

I'M NOT SNAPPING AT YOU!

;p

(Fabgear's prices are somewhat high, though. I saved $25 on Skydiver by getting it off of eBay instead of from them, and Fabgear sends no ship notification or anything. The only reason I used them was to get the exclusive display stand for Skydiver, which it should have had anyway.)

Yeah, while FAB Gear's prices are somewhat high (what imported toy shops aren't?), it gives folks a general idea of what's available, all collected in one place, and can be used as a springboard for smart shoppers who now know what to look for. FAB Gear also sponsors some cool guest appearances -- they had UFO's Antonia Ellis, who played Moonbase Operative, Lt. Joan Harrington, at Comic Con in 2004: http://fabgearusa.com/antonia_ellis.html