Desi Arnaz Jr. In Automan (1983)

This week is shaping up to be all about sci-fi TV shows. In this one, Walter Nebicher (Arnaz) creates holographic superhero Automan (Chuck Wagner), able to leave cyber space and fight crime in the real world. His sidekick is a floating object called Cursor, who draws objects such as cars, clothing and helicopters that become three dimensional reality and can be used by Automan to save humanity. This imaginative concept was only marginally successful because of weak scripts. The visuals were good for the time, resembling those in Tron (1982), with glowing blue elements. Look for Heather McNair as the token female.

This series lasted only 12 episodes and a commercial release DVD has never been made. It can be found on YouTube and various fan sites. Above is the first installment of the pilot episode, uploaded to YouTube by imstillstuckinthe80s.

Obscurity factor: 7 (has devoted cult fans, not on DVD, available on YouTube)

Lou Gossett Jr. In The Powers of Matthew Star (1982)

Continuing in the supernatural realm of aliens on earth, this series tells the story of Matthew Star (Peter Barton), an alien prince living on earth, waiting for his chance to launch a counter attack on the armada that seized power on his home planet. He lives life as an American teenager with faithful guardian, Walt Shepherd (Gossett) protecting him and nurturing his powers.

This series was only on for one season and no DVD release has been announced. The role of Matthew was auditioned for by Tom Cruise and Heather Locklear read for the part of his girlfriend. Above is part one of the pilot episode, which has a few curious differences to the rest of the series as detailed by Matthew at the beginning. It was uploaded to YouTube by sierramoon131.

Obscurity factor: 9 (little known or remembered, except by hard core fans, not on DVD, available on YouTube)

Judson Scott in The Phoenix (1982)

This series, which capitalized on the interest in UFOs in the 1970's explored the idea that aliens visited Earth in the early days of human civilization. Bennu (Scott) is found alive in a casket at an archeological dig in Peru. It's discovered that he is an alien being from the planet Eldebran and he possesses special powers of telekinesis, levitation, astral projection and clairvoyance. His goal is to locate his companion Mira, another alien also somewhere on Earth. He has a nemesis from Eldebran, Yago, who also has powers and a human nemesis who thinks he's a fake and a con man. Only the pilot and four episodes were shot and aired, not enough of the story was produced for Bennu to find Mira.

This rare series fused the mystical and scientific in a distinctly new age way that was very much of its era. It was somewhat ahead of its time as entertainment goes, however, and didn't survive the ratings crunch. There's never been a commercial release DVD of the series, though you can find unauthorized copies if you look. Above is the show open, uploaded to YouTube by fschalk.

Obscurity factor: 10 (almost totally forgotten, not on DVD, hard to find)

Nick Mancuso in Stingray (1985)

Not to be confused with the 60's Thunder Birds spinoff, this 80's detective series was a hybrid of Knight Rider and McGiver. Mancuso plays Ray, a mysterious man who makes it his business to help people by any means necessary. For his help, he accepts no payment, just a promise to return the favor when called upon. This gives him a pool of people upon whom to call when something that must be done - like surgery - is out of his realm of expertise. He dispenses this help, going from town to town, advertising surreptitiously in local news papers, never sharing information about himself, always remaining a shadowy figure with no roots and no attachments. It's sort of what one might have experienced if you never saw what Sam went through behind the scenes between stops in Quantum Leap - without the different time settings, of course.

This series was never as popular or as well known as Knight Rider or McGiver. It did run for two seasons, however, and has been released on DVD. Above are the opening credits, uploaded to YouTube by w0406400.

Obscurity factor: 6 (remembered by some, on DVD, not high in the public consciousness)

Sally Field in The Girl with Something Extra (1973)

In this spooky Sally Field sit-com vehicle we meet Sally (Field) and John Burton (John Davidson), a newly married American couple, normal, except for one small quirk - Sally has ESP. She knows what her husband - and everyone else, for that matter - is thinking... all the time. This, of course causes all sorts of problems and were it not for Field's quirky presence, the show would have been a total loss. As it stands, it's cute in a novel sort of way.

There's never been a DVD release of this one-season show and it's practically forgotten. The only online video I could find of it was this multi-series promo for an episode. It's cued to feature the show and was uploaded to YouTube by skipeastport.

Obscurity factor: 10 (almost totally forgotten, extremely hard to find, not on DVD)

Barbara Feldon & Bruce Dern in Smile (1975)

Obscurity factor: 7

Beauty pageants are the subject of this black comedy by director Michael Ritchie. Brenda (Feldon) is a former winner and the organizer of the Young American Miss pageant in Santa Rosa, California. She's having an extramarital affair with Big Bob (Dern) who sponsors the pageant. The film follows the fortunes of Brenda, Big Bob and the contestants as they compete to win the crown.

MoviePosterShop.com

This film is something of a forerunner of what was to come in film comedy in the 1970's, featuring a comedy style that foreshadows the mega-hit Animal House (1978) but with an ennui more reminiscent of an Altman film. Look for a young Melanie Griffith as one of the contestants.

There's something of a cult following for this film. It's available on DVD and can be found in part on YouTube. The trailer is above, uploaded by robatsea2009.

Obscurity factor: 7 (not well remembered by the general public, has cult following, on DVD)

Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman & Vera Miles in A Howling in the Woods (1971)

Liza Crocker (Eden) heads home to a small town in Nevada to escape a bad marriage. When she gets there she finds her step mother (Miles) and step brother (John Rubinstein) and a whole lot of unexpected hostility from the town folk. What she doesn't find is her father, who she is told, has left on an extended trip to Mexico for an archeological dig. As she attempts to sort things out she learns that a child was recently murdered and begins to feel like she's in some danger herself. Complicating matters, her husband (Hagman) arrives and she must deal with his reaction to her unexpected departure. Will she be able to sort everything out before she falls victim to the murderer herself?

Thanks to Leighton for this find. It's a fine kick-off to October - atmospheric and mysterious. It's interesting to see Eden and Hagman in something so different from their hit sitcom. Look for Lisa Gerritson (Bess from Mary Tyler Moore) and Tyne Daily in small roles.

This film isn't available on DVD, though it's been uploaded to YouTube in full. Part one is above, uploaded by TVTERRORLAND.

Obscurity factor: 9 (almost completely forgotten, not on DVD, available on YouTube)