Forgotten TV: ‘Future Cop’ (1976)

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Future Cop, 1977. 'Looks human. Talks and acts human...but he's not.'

Today, we shine a spotlight on a mostly-forgotten, short-lived TV series from 1976-77 known as Future Cop.

Future Cop first aired in May of 1976 for a single episode and returned in March, 1977 for a brief, six-week run. The show starred Ernest Borgnine and John Amos as the veteran (human) cops and Michael Shannon as Haven the android. Joan Collins was a guest star in “The Kansas City Kid” episode of April, 1977.

Sci Fi writers Ben Bova and Harlan Ellison sued Paramount for taking their idea and eventually won a $337,000 payment. Future Cop was re-configured slightly and returned in March, 1978 for a single TV movie appearance, this time entitled Cops and Robin, before fading away forever.

Not only did Future Cop predate Robocop by almost a decade it also seems quite similar to my childhood favorite, Holmes & YoYo, from the same, 76-77 timeframe.

‘Future Cop,’ 1976

Future Cop Wiki, IMDb

Taxi: Watch full episodes online

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Taxi, 1978. Latka & Louie BFF!

Got a hankerin’ to visit with your old friends at the Sunshine Cab Company in NYC? If so, you may be interested to learn that you can watch a good number of Taxi episodes for free over at CBS.com.

I just spent a pleasant half hour watching episode #3, “Blind Date”, which originally aired in September, 1978. Drive on over and indulge. (And, no, I’m not getting any kickbacks from CBS for letting you know this. Consider it my good Bionic deed for the day.)

Watch full Taxi episodes at CBS.com.

Trailer Tuesday: The Outlaw Josey Wales

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Clint Eastwood in The Outlaw Josey Wales, 1976. 'He lives for revenge.'

If you’re in the mood for a quality western from the 1970s you might want to take in a viewing of Clint Eastwood in The Outlaw Josey Wales.

The film, based on a book by Forrest Carter and released in June of 1976, was directed by Eastwood himself and co-stars Chief Dan George and Sondra Locke. Eastwood called the movie one of the highlights of his career. Check out the theatrical trailer below.

The Outlaw Josey Wales Wiki, IMDb

Music for Monday: Bay City Rollers, ‘I Only Want To Be With You’

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Bay City Rollers (Les, Pat, Woody) sing 'I Only Want To Be With You', 1977

Another Monday has rolled around and that means it’s time for another fine 70s tune to get your day pumping. Tuck into the Bay City Rollers performing “I Only Want To Be With You” which hit #12 in the USA and #4 in the UK after its release in the fall of 1976.

This televised promo dates from late ’76 or early ’77 as we see Pat McGlynn on guitar. McGlynn, only in the band for a few months, was a replacement for Ian Mitchell, who was a replacement for original Roller, Alan Longmuir. Did you follow all that? OK, enjoy.

Earth Day 1970s: EPA’s ‘Documerica’ photos

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How’s your Earth Day going? I hope you’re having a good time and raising a glass to ol’ Mother Earth.

Last year I wrote a bit about the very first Earth Day in 1970 and provided you with news footage from the day. This year I’d like to point you at a collection of photographs over at HuffPost. From 1972-1977 the Environmental Protection Agency set up a “Documerica” program and tasked photographers with documenting issues of environmental concern.

Below, you can grab a look at a few shots from the 70s. Hop over to HuffPost for a look at “Then & Now” comparisons.

Lower Manhattan, NYC, May, 1973



Boston, Mass. Logan Airport construction. May, 1973



Boston, Mass. April, 1973



Boston, Mass. Circa 1970s



Cleveland, Ohio. July, 1973

70s Spots: Cap’n Crunch’s Cinnamon Crunch cereal

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Jean LaFoot brings you Cinnamon Crunch cereal - mid-70s. 'How did such a bad guy guy come up with such a good cereal?'

In the early to mid 1970s Quaker Oats unleashed the delicious Cinnamon Crunch cereal on the public. As the official line goes, Cinnamon Crunch was created by bad guy pirate and Cap’n Crunch nemesis Jean LaFoot. Turns out LaFoot’s cereal was yum-tastic. Enjoy a healthy TV spot.

Cinnamon Crunch 70s box. Pic courtesy of 'jeffrey' at MrBreakfast.com