Wonderful memories, Doug! I grew up on this show! Yeah, it was truly reflective of 'fantasy sheik' in the Sixties. I think television had evolved. The Fifties was more conventional in story ideas, but with just a dash of imagination and trim effects, the Sixties were ripe for the exploration of fantasy. It would last to the end of the decade. You may not remember, but the story goes that in 1971, the television medium "cancelled everything with a tree in it--including Lassie." Pat Buttram, actor. The only survivors of this move were gothic horror type shows which were popular in the early Seventies. Gritty, urban appeal dramas, comedies, and action programs would dominate the following decade. But for the Sixties? Yeah, fantasy and science fiction were all the rage. I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched were staples in reruns. So was My Favorite Martian. If I'm not mistaken, the concept behind this show was inspired by Jerry Lewis in Visit to a Small Planet. Sometime in the Seventies, with the increasing availability of more and more syndicated shows, My Favorite Martian focus-tested out of common interest. I think Bewitched, partly due to the number of available episodes, lasted longer than its fantasy based contemporaries in syndication. By the EIghties, I don't remember seeing MFM many places in reruns. Still, I loved Bill Bixby and Ray Walston. I wanted more of them. My Favorite Martian boasted over a hundred episodes--hence the long history of syndicated memories for us as kids. (My Mother the Car had only enjoyed only a single run of thirty episodes, thus cancellation and oblivion.) And I rather wished for a finale in which Martin finally returns home to Mars, possibly with Tim O'Hara in tow for a surprise ironic conclusion. But as we know, at that time there were NEVER any real finales to series since no one knew in advance if a show as due to be cancelled. Sadly, Ray Walston rather resented the impact it had on his career. He was so beloved in the role, but fresh opportunities were denied to him for a long time afterwards, while Bill Bixby was able to go from series to series with almost easy success. I guess we can understand Walston's mixed emotions over the legacy of the show. To this day, I can't see MFM being the success it was without the contributions of Ray Walston and Bill Bixby. Great video! Thanks for sharing, Doug!
@@diviningdragon My pleasure. This show meant a lot to me too. Ahhh ..Visit to a Small Planet that's one I forgot in my Jerry Lewis video. I must look at re-visiting that one
Like Crimpers, I don't think I've ever seen MFM, so this is a first for me. Again, it's probably a question of it never being shown in our area. Pity, it looks like good fun. I'd be up for an annual special though. I was more into GA than anything else.
Hi Neville it's funny isn't it. It's never really stopped showing here. It was clearly big in the UK on its first run in the UK to earn a spot on the cover of TV 21 annual I've just guided Crimpers to a RUclips channel called Full Strength Beer , according to him doesn't have any territorial restrictions. Give it a look, they have all 3 seasons. 👍
I loved Bill Bixby in The Magician, and of course I watched him in The Incredible Hulk too. He's very good in the TV movie of Agatha Christie's Murder Is Easy; I watched it again just recently and was surprised by how good it was. But I don't think I've ever seen My Favourite Martian. Unlike Bewitched, it didn't get the re-runs here in the UK. It looks great fun. I shall have to seek it out. Thanks, Doug.
@@crimpleendoubloon Bixby plays it very differently to his later roles and shows great comic timing. If you want to check out some episodes there is a RUclips channel called Full Strength Beer they have uploaded all 3 seasons. I'm not sure if any territorial blocks apply. I really enjoyed The Magician it's such a pity it wasn't successful
@@boomerdoug4242 YES! Full Strength Beer's channel plays unhindered here in the UK. That's my entertainment all sorted for the next few years. Many thanks, Doug.
Wonderful memories, Doug! I grew up on this show! Yeah, it was truly reflective of 'fantasy sheik' in the Sixties. I think television had evolved. The Fifties was more conventional in story ideas, but with just a dash of imagination and trim effects, the Sixties were ripe for the exploration of fantasy. It would last to the end of the decade. You may not remember, but the story goes that in 1971, the television medium "cancelled everything with a tree in it--including Lassie." Pat Buttram, actor. The only survivors of this move were gothic horror type shows which were popular in the early Seventies. Gritty, urban appeal dramas, comedies, and action programs would dominate the following decade. But for the Sixties? Yeah, fantasy and science fiction were all the rage. I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched were staples in reruns. So was My Favorite Martian. If I'm not mistaken, the concept behind this show was inspired by Jerry Lewis in Visit to a Small Planet. Sometime in the Seventies, with the increasing availability of more and more syndicated shows, My Favorite Martian focus-tested out of common interest. I think Bewitched, partly due to the number of available episodes, lasted longer than its fantasy based contemporaries in syndication. By the EIghties, I don't remember seeing MFM many places in reruns. Still, I loved Bill Bixby and Ray Walston. I wanted more of them. My Favorite Martian boasted over a hundred episodes--hence the long history of syndicated memories for us as kids. (My Mother the Car had only enjoyed only a single run of thirty episodes, thus cancellation and oblivion.) And I rather wished for a finale in which Martin finally returns home to Mars, possibly with Tim O'Hara in tow for a surprise ironic conclusion. But as we know, at that time there were NEVER any real finales to series since no one knew in advance if a show as due to be cancelled. Sadly, Ray Walston rather resented the impact it had on his career. He was so beloved in the role, but fresh opportunities were denied to him for a long time afterwards, while Bill Bixby was able to go from series to series with almost easy success. I guess we can understand Walston's mixed emotions over the legacy of the show. To this day, I can't see MFM being the success it was without the contributions of Ray Walston and Bill Bixby. Great video! Thanks for sharing, Doug!
@@diviningdragon My pleasure. This show meant a lot to me too. Ahhh ..Visit to a Small Planet that's one I forgot in my Jerry Lewis video. I must look at re-visiting that one
Like Crimpers, I don't think I've ever seen MFM, so this is a first for me. Again, it's probably a question of it never being shown in our area. Pity, it looks like good fun. I'd be up for an annual special though. I was more into GA than anything else.
Hi Neville it's funny isn't it. It's never really stopped showing here. It was clearly big in the UK on its first run in the UK to earn a spot on the cover of TV 21 annual I've just guided Crimpers to a RUclips channel called Full Strength Beer , according to him doesn't have any territorial restrictions. Give it a look, they have all 3 seasons. 👍
@@boomerdoug4242 Thanks Doug. I'll have a look at that.
I loved Bill Bixby in The Magician, and of course I watched him in The Incredible Hulk too. He's very good in the TV movie of Agatha Christie's Murder Is Easy; I watched it again just recently and was surprised by how good it was. But I don't think I've ever seen My Favourite Martian. Unlike Bewitched, it didn't get the re-runs here in the UK. It looks great fun. I shall have to seek it out. Thanks, Doug.
@@crimpleendoubloon Bixby plays it very differently to his later roles and shows great comic timing. If you want to check out some episodes there is a RUclips channel called Full Strength Beer they have uploaded all 3 seasons. I'm not sure if any territorial blocks apply. I really enjoyed The Magician it's such a pity it wasn't successful
@@boomerdoug4242 YES! Full Strength Beer's channel plays unhindered here in the UK. That's my entertainment all sorted for the next few years. Many thanks, Doug.
@@crimpleendoubloon my absolute pleasure CD . Let me know what you think after a few episodes 👍