Funshine Friday: ‘Far Out Space Nuts’ (1975)

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'Far Out Space Nuts' TV title, 1975

‘Far Out Space Nuts’ TV title, 1975

“I said ‘lunch,’ not ‘launch!'”

Sid and Marty Krofft’s Far Out Space Nuts originally ran on CBS from September, 1975 to September, 1976. 16 episodes were produced.

Junior (Bob Denver) and Barney (Chuck McCann) - the 'Far Out Space Nuts'

Junior (Bob Denver) and Barney (Chuck McCann) – the ‘Far Out Space Nuts’

The show starred Bob Denver (Gilligan’s Island) and Chuck McCann as pea-brained NASA maintenance workers who mistakenly launch themselves into space and crash-land on a distant planet. Patty Maloney played the team’s alien buddy, Honk.

"Honk" if you love aliens

“Honk” if you love aliens

A typical Far Out Space Nuts episode would see the hapless Barney and Junior running from a variety of bizarre aliens and they’d either end up prisoners or escape in the nick of time – only to crash on another strange planet.

I enjoyed the show at the age of eight but have to admit this comedy hasn’t aged as well as some of the other Krofft series. Here’s the intro. Have a gnarly Funshine Friday!

Far Out Space Nuts TV Intro (1975)

Far Out Space Nuts Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Funshine Friday: The Fantastic Four (cartoon series, 1978)

Daily 70s Spot: Running/Jogging promo (1978)

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Fully-clothed streaking aka "Jogging." (Running promo, 1978)

Fully-clothed streaking aka “Jogging.” (Running promo, 1978)

Here’s a healthy Daily 70s Spot and a good way to work off all that Billy Beer. A promotional commercial touting the benefits of running produced by The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Commercial aired in September, 1978. That would make the president Jimmy Carter. Thanks, Jimmy!

Daily 70s Spot #42: Running/Jogging Promotional Commercial (1978)

Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Peter Graves for Natural Light Beer (1978)

Show Toppers: The Fantastic Journey (1977)

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"A party of adventurers journeys through zones of time." ('The Fantastic Journey,' 1977)

“A party of adventurers journeys through zones of time.” (‘The Fantastic Journey,’ 1977)

This edition of Show Toppers focuses on a lesser-known science fiction series, The Fantastic Journey, which ran on NBC from February to June, 1977. Only 10 episodes were produced.

The plot centered around a group of scientists who became shipwrecked on an island after passing through a eerie green cloud in the Bermuda Triangle. There, they met other stranded travelers from various points in time. Some, like Varian, from the distant future, some, like Willaway, from the near past. All were attempting to find a place called Evoland where they could return to their respective eras.

The omnipresent Roddy McDowall as 'rebel scientist,' Jonathan Willaway.

The omnipresent Roddy McDowall as ‘rebel scientist,’ Jonathan Willaway.

Star Trek alum, D.C. Fontana was a story editor on a few episodes of the show and the cast included; Jared Martin (Varian), Carl Franklin (Dr. Walters), Ike Eisenmann (Scott), Katie Saylor (Liana) and Roddy McDowall (Dr. Willaway).

The Fantastic Journey TV Intro (1977)

The Fantastic Journey Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Show Toppers: The Betty White Show (1977)

Daily 70s Spot: Peter Graves for Natural Light Beer (1978)

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Your beer...should you choose to accept it. (Peter Graves, Natural Light, 1978)

Your beer…should you choose to accept it. (Peter Graves, Natural Light, 1978)

“Take a Natural break.”

Daily 70s Spot time. Here’s Peter Graves (Mission: Impossible) for Anheuser-Busch’s Natural Light beer. It’s nice to see Graves pitching in with some heavy lifting while preparing for the beer party. Commercial aired in January of 1978.

Daily 70s Spot #41: Peter Graves for Natural Light Beer, 1978

Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Pepsi Challenge at Tulane University (1977)

Miss Universe: Bob Barker presents the ‘Evening Gown Competition’ (1974)

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Winner, 'Miss Photogenic,' Johanna Raunio of Finland. ('Miss Universe 1974')

Winner, ‘Miss Photogenic,’ Johanna Raunio of Finland. (‘Miss Universe 1974’)

Here’s an enjoyable five minutes of video rescued from the Health & Beauty section of the “Anachronism Files.” Host extraordinaire, Bob Barker presenting a dozen Miss Universe 1974 finalists in the “Evening Gown Competition.” The event took place on July 21, 1974 in Manila, Philippines.

Have a look at the competitors from countries including England, USA, Panama and India and marvel at the early-70s fashions folks around the world found fabulous. Really though, what makes this clip a classic is the groovy music provided by the organist (firing up just before the 3:00 mark). Why pay for a band when one person can create all those wunnerful wunnerful sounds on a Wurlitzer?

And in case you were wondering, the winner of Miss Universe 1974 was Amparo Muñoz of Spain.

Bob Barker Presents the Miss Universe ‘Evening Gown Competition,’ 1974

Daily 70s Spot: Pepsi Challenge at Tulane University (1977)

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"We asked these students at Tulane University to have a little fun conducting their own Pepsi Challenge." (1977)

“We asked these students at Tulane University to have a little fun conducting their own Pepsi Challenge.” (1977)

Your Daily 70s Spot features Pepsi Cola and this one is part of the “Pepsi Challenge” series. The nail-biting “challenge” is a blind taste test between Pepsi and Coca-Cola. This spot was filmed at Tulane University in Louisiana. Spot aired in 1977.

Daily 70s Spot #40: Pepsi Challenge at Tulane University Commercial, 1977

Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Don Adams & Penny Marshall for Hertz Rent-a-Car (1971)