Yes, Automan and Manimal. I remember them well. They were sort-of second-string favorite shows to me, after Dukes of Hazzard, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers and Knight Rider.
The 80's was a fantastic era for imaginative TV. Yeah sometimes some of the shows bombed, but we got some true classics that are still watched to this day. I'm so glad I got to live through the 80's as a kid.
Hardly anyone remembers this show when I bring it up when we speak of old television shows. This one, The A Team, Manimal, Knight Rider, and Fall Guy. Man I loved those shows.
I love the show when I was a kid. I actually met the guy who played Automan at the Carl Casper custom auto show. It was a traveling car show that we come to my city every year. I came here for several decades until in 2011 I believe they quit doing it. But I met him and he seem like a very nice person.
I remember watching that show when it originally aired, as a young teenager. Already a budding tech geek I loved it and was heartbroken it wasn't renewed for another season. Thank you for this blast from the past.
Wow - blast from the past - thanks Jonathan! I was attending a small private school in the state of Tennessee when this show came out, and often had to stay after class because my Dad would invariably get caught up with work and forget to come pick me and/or my sister up. So after all the other kids had gone, I'd frequently retire to the library and wait about 30 minutes to see if the old man would show, or if I'd have to call and remind him (great opportunity to finish homework in retrospect, lol). On one such occasion, just a day after having seen Automan on TV and trying to convince all my friends that they should watch, I went inside after everyone had left and saw a kid from a couple of grades junior to mine pulling this tall blonde guy around by the arm - and I realized I was looking at AUTOMAN!!! As the kid dragged him through, I heard Automan say, "Ah, so this is the library..." and then the kid pulled him through some doors into the area where the younger kids had their classes. I thought I might get to see him again, and maybe even tell him how much I enjoyed the show - and that car! - but my Dad actually showed up "on time" that day - only a few minutes late - and I never saw Automan again in person. Later I found out that Automan was the kid's uncle or something, but I just thought I'd share, since it was a brief highlight from my childhood. Anyway, hadn't thought about the show for a while, and your video suddenly whisked me back into the past, so thanks for sharing. That program came and went so fast I was beginning to think I imagined the whole thing, lol. Some say the 80's were CHEESY - and they're not wrong - but it was TOTALLY AWESOME CHEESE!!! Maybe they'll put it on Netflix or some other streamer someday. Larson was one of the best thieves in the business, lol.
This also has a special place in my heart. It's a shame they don't make anything like this anymore for this generation of children to watch and remember when they grow up.
They showed Automan on Saturday evening here in the UK on the BBC. I instantly fell in love with it, going as far as writing a fan letter to Glen A Larson and getting a package back with signed photos and an audio cassette of the theme tune. Happy days.
I remember seeing Automan as a kid. I loved Tron, so anything similar to it was for me. I was bummed when the show suddenly seemed to disappear. I had no idea at that time what a cancelled series was.
It's so funny that the effects that made this show so expensive that it contributed much to it's cancellation can be done and far surpassed today by any kid easily just editing on their phone.
It's one of those programmes in the day that despite yourself you just have to love. Nice to have you back with some new content as very much enjoy your channel.
Thanks for making this! I loved this show as a kid. If Hollywood wants to RE-make any TV show....THIS would be the one. Do it as if there was a break for the "team". Chuck and Desi are still alive, so have them reprise their roles. I would DEF watch this! With the technology we have today, this would be an AWESOME show!!
Lol I've got this, Manimal, Matt Houston and Street Hawk lined up for Memory Bubble episodes im gonna cover soon. May knock Automan on the head then. Also, Tin reflective WHAT?! I say! Great video, Jonathan.
I remember this show even though I was only 4 years old, because our space heater toggle button between AUTOMATIC and MANUAL operation read: Auto.Man 😂. Also, I'm the only person I know who remembers this show existing AT ALL, so before seeing this clip actually thought I was possibly lost in some sort of Mandela effect 🙃 Thanks for the confirmation I'm not completely insane!
Hands down this was my favourite TV show as a kid .. I was so disappointed that there were so few episodes. thanks so much for doing an episode on this show.
I remember this tv show! I was around 12 years old and all my buddies and I used to enjoy it! It was shown on tv every saturday at 7p.m . We grew up with this awesome Production.
I remember this show came on while I was in college. The one part that I have a distinct memory of was when the car would make right angle turns. I always thought that the normal humans inside should be killed by the force but...it was just a TV show after all. Thanks for the memories, Jonny!
I grew up with this show too and like many that were canceled too soon this was one of them. In manimal there was a trailer for it where he turns into a shark and goes after JR in the pool, all that is left is his stetson with a bit bite taken out of the brim. Thanks for a good video, too bad Desi Arnaz Jr. never got another TV show.
I loved this show back in the day. Fun entertainment with nice effects. Pure '80s joy. Ah when you could watch episodes just for the fun of it and weren't bound to watch from the 1st to the last in order to understand something.
Oh hell yeah Automan! I remember cuz I was a HUGE Tron fan as a kid; I remember the font of the opening credits of Automan was identical to that used in Airwolf!
I would have been super young when this came out, but I would have loved it im sure! Gonna have to see if I can find it someplace to watch it. Thanks for sharing!
Another great retrospective, nobody does it like JonnyBaak! I remember Automan when it was new, strange experience realising how much has been forgotten but I'm getting used to it now haha! Shame this one ended so soon, there was certainly more mileage in the idea. Also 3:18 "Walter inside Automan"?! How have I forgotten that!
didnt catch the premiere but did get watch almost all of the episodes as a kid and it really was an awesome show. trying to find it so that i can download it and watch it again. let see how that works
@@brianstraight9308 Today can make show WITH awesome visual Effects. For zero cost. For free. Today these shows can be made. Ii love these and want to make them
I loved this show; every week automan would drive his car around a 90 degree corner and the baddies would say 'how he make that turn?!' and the baddie driving would then try and take it at the same speed and crash. Was a classic!!
If ever there was a show that needed to be remade, this is it. Imagine this with today's technology and writing styles. I've still got my Automan jigsaw lying around somewhere, I need to find that.
I thought i was the only one that remembered and loved this show! Im very pleased to see your video as i was beginning to think Automan was just a dream i had lol.
This was my very first American Super Hero Exposure on TV set aside Batman (1966) in the 1980s. I would watch this show religiously until ABC killed it. After the series demise, There was rumors that Automan would return in Nightman for a episode. And Nightman was another Glen A. Larson production. Star Trek Voyager should have cast Chuck Wagner as a EMH in a episode or two. This series deserved a two-three season for rerun package. It was a big hit in Europe and South America.
Glen Larson had a major wake-up call when ABC TV & Universal agreed bring back Galactia for a 2nd season. When Mr Larson was told by management of the changes to be made on Galactia , he told them that would hurt the series, especially in reruns. Universal management told Mr Larson that Universal owned the series & could do what they want to the series; he either get with the program or leave. He said he'll stay, trying to save the series but it didn't work. But he was right.
The TV networks really don’t know what makes for good TV, if they understand a show they cancel it or destroy what was great in the first place. Larson was a true visionary, who knew how to make great TV shows.
@@JonnyBaak How true. The producers of Battlestar Galactia in the 2000s did have Mr Larson as a consulting producer. He enjoyed working with the producers of the new series & was treated with much more respect.
I remember watching the pilot for Automan when it first aired... It was pretty awesome. The other show I liked was, "Man From Atlantis," and "The Phoenix!" 70's and 80's were great for Sci-Fi TV and Flicks.
I remember the pilot episode had Automan explaining his nature and what he could do to Walter. Case of the creation knowing more than the creator. This actually mirrors Larson's Mormon faith in some ways.
6:28 Dayman.....ah-ah-ahhhhhhhh......Fighter of the NIGHTMAN......ah-ah-ahhhhhhhh......Champion of the sun.......You're a master of karate and friendship for everyone
I really liked the show, and I think about Cursor all the time. "Yes" "No". This show and The Phoenix, were both favourites of mine that went away as fast as they showed up. I was happy to see the actor from The Phoenix show up not long after in Star Trek II, but for some reason he was NOT in the credits. That still baffles me. I never saw him after that. Nor did I see Desi Jr. again. Oh well. But we still got stuck with a full season of Tales of the Gold Monkey. Blahh. Great cast, awful show.
@@BarnabasCollinsXIII Thanks for sharing his name, without him being in the credits I was never able to do a search on him. Now I can! Thanks. Yeah they were fun shows, but apparently only for us young ones. The grown ups who were in charge of shows coming back had no love for them.
don't forget mr.Merlin that was a cool tv show about a teenager that befriended his elderly neighbor who turned out to be Merlin the wizard and was always getting in to trouble messing around in Merlins workshop of spells. I think it aired around 1981 to 1982 right with along with whiz kids came out in 1984 *edited
Ah, I saw this as a kid, it was shown on TV back to back with Knight Rider. I never really liked Knight Rider, it was wooden Sci-Fi with minimum Sci-Fi, but I loved Automan!
Yes, Automan and Manimal. I remember them well. They were sort-of second-string favorite shows to me, after Dukes of Hazzard, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers and Knight Rider.
we are all here because of our refined good taste, yes sir.
I remember Automan! Alongside the Misfits of Science , this was pure 80's Joy!
Loved this show
Same here!
Misfits of science was super cool🙌🏽💯
You forgot "The Powers of Matthew Star" :)
I loved 'Misfits' b/c I'm the biggest misfit of all!
The 80's was a fantastic era for imaginative TV. Yeah sometimes some of the shows bombed, but we got some true classics that are still watched to this day. I'm so glad I got to live through the 80's as a kid.
Hardly anyone remembers this show when I bring it up when we speak of old television shows. This one, The A Team, Manimal, Knight Rider, and Fall Guy.
Man I loved those shows.
Manimal. I am surprised no one remembers that one either
Damn, I LOVED that show!!
What about “Tales of the Golden Monkey”? An Indiana Jones rip off
@@warrenstemphly5756 Gonna look that one up. Thanks!
I love this show bro. I'm going to go buy it off amazon soon.
I love the show when I was a kid. I actually met the guy who played Automan at the Carl Casper custom auto show. It was a traveling car show that we come to my city every year. I came here for several decades until in 2011 I believe they quit doing it. But I met him and he seem like a very nice person.
I weep for the 70s and 80s, they need to come back.
I remember watching that show when it originally aired, as a young teenager. Already a budding tech geek I loved it and was heartbroken it wasn't renewed for another season. Thank you for this blast from the past.
We could continue Automan today. We have CGI now.
Love this show! It was before it’s time. I hope that they would reboot the show.
I watched every episode of this show in the 80s + Manimal.
Now all we get is CSI / NCIS etc etc.
Wow - blast from the past - thanks Jonathan! I was attending a small private school in the state of Tennessee when this show came out, and often had to stay after class because my Dad would invariably get caught up with work and forget to come pick me and/or my sister up.
So after all the other kids had gone, I'd frequently retire to the library and wait about 30 minutes to see if the old man would show, or if I'd have to call and remind him (great opportunity to finish homework in retrospect, lol). On one such occasion, just a day after having seen Automan on TV and trying to convince all my friends that they should watch, I went inside after everyone had left and saw a kid from a couple of grades junior to mine pulling this tall blonde guy around by the arm - and I realized I was looking at AUTOMAN!!!
As the kid dragged him through, I heard Automan say, "Ah, so this is the library..." and then the kid pulled him through some doors into the area where the younger kids had their classes. I thought I might get to see him again, and maybe even tell him how much I enjoyed the show - and that car! - but my Dad actually showed up "on time" that day - only a few minutes late - and I never saw Automan again in person.
Later I found out that Automan was the kid's uncle or something, but I just thought I'd share, since it was a brief highlight from my childhood. Anyway, hadn't thought about the show for a while, and your video suddenly whisked me back into the past, so thanks for sharing.
That program came and went so fast I was beginning to think I imagined the whole thing, lol. Some say the 80's were CHEESY - and they're not wrong - but it was TOTALLY AWESOME CHEESE!!! Maybe they'll put it on Netflix or some other streamer someday. Larson was one of the best thieves in the business, lol.
This was my favorite show as a kid, next to Knight Rider.
This also has a special place in my heart. It's a shame they don't make anything like this anymore for this generation of children to watch and remember when they grow up.
And for years I thought I've just dreamed this show :-)
They showed Automan on Saturday evening here in the UK on the BBC. I instantly fell in love with it, going as far as writing a fan letter to Glen A Larson and getting a package back with signed photos and an audio cassette of the theme tune. Happy days.
Do you still have that tape? I've been looking forever for a clean copy of that song, without the lady screaming over it like the TV version.
@@bwc1976 no, I wish, got lost long ago, sorry.
I loved Automan. Begged my mum to let me ditch going to Cubs as the times clashed.
lol I feel you bro.
I remember seeing Automan as a kid. I loved Tron, so anything similar to it was for me. I was bummed when the show suddenly seemed to disappear. I had no idea at that time what a cancelled series was.
I absolutely loved the series and caught the reruns whenever possible.
Remember watching this and Manimal, loved them both. Thanx 😎
It's so funny that the effects that made this show so expensive that it contributed much to it's cancellation can be done and far surpassed today by any kid easily just editing on their phone.
It's one of those programmes in the day that despite yourself you just have to love. Nice to have you back with some new content as very much enjoy your channel.
Thanks so much 😊
Thanks for making this! I loved this show as a kid.
If Hollywood wants to RE-make any TV show....THIS would be the one. Do it as if there was a break for the "team". Chuck and Desi are still alive, so have them reprise their roles. I would DEF watch this! With the technology we have today, this would be an AWESOME show!!
I remember this show. It was before I knew what a cursor was. I also remember my dad laughing at Desi Jr. hitting the car's window when it turned.
Loved this show when I was a kid! I was only 7 and haven’t seen it since, but I remember it well and fondly.
There's a great Toy Galaxy episode on Automan. Well worth a watch.
haha downloading the series now - never heard of it before even when I was younger at the time
I absolutely loved this show. The 80's had so much fun television to watch.
Awesome mate, many thanks for the video. I remember this show fondly and speak about it to friends every so often when we are getting nostalgic 😁
I lovvved this show ! Great job finding this !
I loved automan and manimal got them both on dvd now. Brings back memories of my 20s
Loved this..your lucky
What a trip hadn’t seen this since the early 80s
Thank you for posting 👍
Another show I loved as a kid, thank you
I remember as a young kid when it aired. thank you for this video.
I had forgotten this show!! Wow!!
Lol I've got this, Manimal, Matt Houston and Street Hawk lined up for Memory Bubble episodes im gonna cover soon. May knock Automan on the head then.
Also, Tin reflective WHAT?! I say!
Great video, Jonathan.
Go for it!
C3PO had the same..
future cop.
I did watch automan when the show was out and i miss the tv show and i wish to see automan tv show again
I remember this show even though I was only 4 years old, because our space heater toggle button between AUTOMATIC and MANUAL operation read: Auto.Man 😂. Also, I'm the only person I know who remembers this show existing AT ALL, so before seeing this clip actually thought I was possibly lost in some sort of Mandela effect 🙃 Thanks for the confirmation I'm not completely insane!
@Billy Mustang.
That is an interesting remembrance. It is often things that strike our young minds that remain with us as our earliest memories.
Great content. I also remember seeing this show as a kid. Thanks for bringing back those memories.
This and The Highwayman were awesome when I was a kid!
Hands down this was my favourite TV show as a kid .. I was so disappointed that there were so few episodes. thanks so much for doing an episode on this show.
Loved Automan, Manimal and a british sci fi series called Chocky as a kid. But my main favorite was V-The mini series. Thanks for the nostalgia trip!
Loved watching that show.
I did not know about this show. What a bummer.
I still have Chuck Wagner’s autograph from world of wheels.
I remember this tv show! I was around 12 years old and all my buddies and I used to enjoy it! It was shown on tv every saturday at 7p.m . We grew up with this awesome Production.
I remember this show came on while I was in college. The one part that I have a distinct memory of was when the car would make right angle turns. I always thought that the normal humans inside should be killed by the force but...it was just a TV show after all. Thanks for the memories, Jonny!
I grew up with this show too and like many that were canceled too soon this was one of them. In manimal there was a trailer for it where he turns into a shark and goes after JR in the pool, all that is left is his stetson with a bit bite taken out of the brim. Thanks for a good video, too bad Desi Arnaz Jr. never got another TV show.
Bless you for hunting down these classic shows! Automan brings back long forgotten memories. And I can still remember that theme song. Love it!
I loved this show back in the day. Fun entertainment with nice effects. Pure '80s joy. Ah when you could watch episodes just for the fun of it and weren't bound to watch from the 1st to the last in order to understand something.
Oh hell yeah Automan! I remember cuz I was a HUGE Tron fan as a kid; I remember the font of the opening credits of Automan was identical to that used in Airwolf!
I would have been super young when this came out, but I would have loved it im sure! Gonna have to see if I can find it someplace to watch it. Thanks for sharing!
Another great retrospective, nobody does it like JonnyBaak! I remember Automan when it was new, strange experience realising how much has been forgotten but I'm getting used to it now haha! Shame this one ended so soon, there was certainly more mileage in the idea.
Also 3:18 "Walter inside Automan"?! How have I forgotten that!
To this day, if you're in my car and I say "left turn, Automan", you'd better brace.
@Darik Datta.
Lol
What happens if you say, "Right turn Clyde?"
I remember it too. I was born in 1977. Thought it was on more than a season.
Oh God no..
Brilliant, one I’d forgotten about, and I think I saw this before I saw TRON so that must’ve confused me back then.
I remember this show I loved it
Had never heard of this one, but it looks like it was a fun -- and fairly technically ambitious, for network TV -- show!
didnt catch the premiere but did get watch almost all of the episodes as a kid and it really was an awesome show. trying to find it so that i can download it and watch it again. let see how that works
I picked up the series on the SHOUT Factory DVD set, it's a great series! (It could stand a re-make)
I Love those short lived Larson shows.
Wants to make it as far from Tron as possible....proceeds to copy many features from Tron. I had forgotten about this show! Thanks for the upload.
Great show! And the Main character was funny as hell!
This show was so awesome. I was around 11 years old then.
It cost a million per episode? Why, that's outrageous! Isn't that right, cast of "Friends"?🙄😄
Friends made that money back in spades.
@@brianstraight9308
Today can make show WITH awesome visual
Effects. For zero cost. For free. Today these shows can be made. Ii love these and want to make them
As kids Automan and Manimal was our favorite
I loved this show; every week automan would drive his car around a 90 degree corner and the baddies would say 'how he make that turn?!' and the baddie driving would then try and take it at the same speed and crash. Was a classic!!
Not forgotten in our household
I watched every chance I got.
Thank you, I could not remember the name of the show
If ever there was a show that needed to be remade, this is it.
Imagine this with today's technology and writing styles.
I've still got my Automan jigsaw lying around somewhere, I need to find that.
I thought i was the only one that remembered and loved this show! Im very pleased to see your video as i was beginning to think Automan was just a dream i had lol.
Nice work Jonny!
Oh i loved automan as a kid
Brilliant stuff. I was just the right age for Automan. Good video.
I really liked the show and wish it lasted longer then it did.
Do an episode on the Mighty Orbots !
I don't remember this show, but I was also very young in 1983.
I was just talking to a friend about this show the other day. It was on TV and then it wasn't and then no one ever mentioned it again.
This was my very first American Super Hero Exposure on TV set aside Batman (1966) in the 1980s. I would watch this show religiously until ABC killed it.
After the series demise, There was rumors that Automan would return in Nightman for a episode. And Nightman was another Glen A. Larson production.
Star Trek Voyager should have cast Chuck Wagner as a EMH in a episode or two.
This series deserved a two-three season for rerun package.
It was a big hit in Europe and South America.
Glen Larson had a major wake-up call when ABC TV & Universal agreed bring back Galactia for a 2nd season. When Mr Larson was told by management of the changes to be made on Galactia , he told them that would hurt the series, especially in reruns. Universal management told Mr Larson that Universal owned the series & could do what they want to the series; he either get with the program or leave. He said he'll stay, trying to save the series but it didn't work. But he was right.
The TV networks really don’t know what makes for good TV, if they understand a show they cancel it or destroy what was great in the first place. Larson was a true visionary, who knew how to make great TV shows.
@@JonnyBaak How true. The producers of Battlestar Galactia in the 2000s did have Mr Larson as a consulting producer. He enjoyed working with the producers of the new series & was treated with much more respect.
There’s a Auto-man action figure?!..Nerd powers activate!!.Off to EBay I go!!.
Anyone remember 80s cartoon Turbo Teen?! That show and Automan are cut from the same cloth lol!
I don't remember this being on in Britain but I imagine I would of loved it!
Oh I remember this....it was painfully bad
Man, with modern CGI, and good writing (dreaming, I know), a reboot of this show would be amazing.
I remember watching the pilot for Automan when it first aired... It was pretty awesome. The other show I liked was, "Man From Atlantis," and "The Phoenix!" 70's and 80's were great for Sci-Fi TV and Flicks.
the actor reminded me of gil gerard and had screen presence
You got me, you finally found one I don't remember.
I remember the pilot episode had Automan explaining his nature and what he could do to Walter. Case of the creation knowing more than the creator. This actually mirrors Larson's Mormon faith in some ways.
Awesome Jonathan! I love Automan! I’m still watching the DVD set, cheesy as it is :)
6:28 Dayman.....ah-ah-ahhhhhhhh......Fighter of the NIGHTMAN......ah-ah-ahhhhhhhh......Champion of the sun.......You're a master of karate and friendship for everyone
Today this would cost nothing.
Then it was a million an episide.
Today you can make the effects for free. Only cost is actors at the location
Automan was cool. It was my first look at a Lamborghini.
I really liked the show, and I think about Cursor all the time. "Yes" "No". This show and The Phoenix, were both favourites of mine that went away as fast as they showed up. I was happy to see the actor from The Phoenix show up not long after in Star Trek II, but for some reason he was NOT in the credits. That still baffles me. I never saw him after that. Nor did I see Desi Jr. again. Oh well. But we still got stuck with a full season of Tales of the Gold Monkey. Blahh. Great cast, awful show.
@@BarnabasCollinsXIII Thanks for sharing his name, without him being in the credits I was never able to do a search on him. Now I can! Thanks. Yeah they were fun shows, but apparently only for us young ones. The grown ups who were in charge of shows coming back had no love for them.
A strip of blue leds went a long way to making a show back then
That Larson dude sounds like he had one idea and hundreds of iterations of that one idea
This show sound wonderful, I would have loved it and cryed when it stop, the maker was before his time 🤓🦋💜
don't forget mr.Merlin that was a cool tv show about a teenager that befriended his elderly neighbor who turned out to be Merlin the wizard and was always getting in to trouble messing around in Merlins workshop of spells. I think it aired around 1981 to 1982 right with along with whiz kids came out in 1984 *edited
the show is on DVD now
Loved automan
Ah, I saw this as a kid, it was shown on TV back to back with Knight Rider. I never really liked Knight Rider, it was wooden Sci-Fi with minimum Sci-Fi, but I loved Automan!
Maybe people were expecting Tron: The Series and were disappointed that the show was not Tron.