It's About Time (TV series)
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| It's About Time | |
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 The opening title for It's About Time TV program, which ran on CBS from September 1966 to April 1967. |
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| Format | Science fiction sitcom |
| Created by | Sherwood Schwartz |
| Starring | Frank Aletter Jack Mullaney Imogene Coca Joe E. Ross |
| Theme music composer | Gerald Fried George Wyle Sherwood Schwartz |
| Country of origin | USA |
| No. of episodes | 26 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes per episode |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | CBS |
| Original run | September 11, 1966 – April 2, 1967 |
It's About Time is an American fantasy/science-fiction comedy TV series that aired on CBS for one season of 26 episodes in 1966–1967. The series was created by Sherwood Schwartz, and used sets, props and incidental music from Schwartz's other television series in production at the time, Gilligan's Island.
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[edit] Premise
Two astronauts, Mac (Frank Aletter) and Hector (Jack Mullaney), travel faster than the speed of light, resulting in being sent back in time to prehistoric days. There, they have to adjust to living with a cave family led by Shad (Imogene Coca) and Gronk (Joe E. Ross). (In the pilot Coca's name was credited as Shag; when CBS censors realized that in England the term 'shag' was common slang meaning "to have sex", they changed her name to 'Shad'.) Their children were 18-year-old Mlor (Mary Grace) and 14-year-old Breer (Pat Cardi). The chief of the tribe, Boss (Cliff Norton) and his right-hand man Clon (Mike Mazurki) were always suspicious of the astronauts.
During the first few weeks on the air, ratings were impressive, but soon plunged. Show creator Sherwood Schwartz came to the conclusion that three factors were the cause of the decline in audience interest:
- Repetition of the astronauts being in danger from dinosaurs, clubs, spears, volcanoes and cavemen.
- An unattractive look to the show (i.e. caves, dirt streets, etc.)
- The cave dwellers speaking a primitive form of English that was difficult to listen to.[1]
[edit] Back to the 1960s
For the aforementioned reasons, the series was retooled starting with the January 22, 1967 episode. Essentially reversing the premise which had been followed the first half of the season, the astronauts repair their space capsule and return to 1967, with Shad, Gronk, and their children in tow. The prehistoric family must begin adjusting to life in the 1960s, reacting to the unfamiliar surroundings, and setting up home in 20th-century New York City. For example, one episode had Gronk and Shad learning to write their names and signing them for many salesmen who brought "presents", which had to be paid for.
[edit] Theme song
The show's theme song explained the premise of the show. When the show was re-tooled mid season, the lyrics and opening animation were also changed to explain the new premise.
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Theme Song - Version One: Opening: It's about time, it's about space, Closing: It's about time, it's about space, |
Theme Song - Version Two: Opening: It's about time, it's about space, Closing: It's about time, it's about space, |
[edit] Cultural references
- The punk rock band X incorporated some of the theme's lyrics into their song "I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts" for the album More Fun in the New World, as a commentary on the direction of eighties music: "Glitter-disco-synthesizer night school/All this noble savage drum, drum, drum/Astronauts going back in time to hang out with the cave people/It's about time/It's about space/It's about some people in the strangest place."
- Electronic musician Venetian Snares samples the show's theme song extensively in his song Einstein-Rosen Bridge.
[edit] Episode list
| Episode | Title | Original Airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "And Then I Wrote 'Happy Birthday to You' | September 11, 1966 |
| 2 | "The Copper Caper" | September 18, 1966 |
| 3 | "The Initiation" | September 25, 1966 |
| 4 | "Tailor Made Hero" | October 2, 1966 |
| 5 | "The Rainmakers" | October 9, 1966 |
| 6 | "Me Caveman—You Woman" | October 16, 1966 |
| 7 | "The Champ" | October 23, 1966 |
| 8 | "Mark Your Ballets" | October 30, 1966 |
| 9 | "Have I Got A Girl for You" | November 6, 1966 |
| 10 | "Cave Movies" | November 13, 1966 |
| 11 | "Androcles and Clon" | November 20, 1966 |
| 12 | "Love Me, Love My Gnook" | November 27, 1966 |
| 13 | "The Broken Idol" | December 4, 1966 |
| 14 | "The Sacrifice" | December 11, 1966 |
| 15 | "King Hec" | December 18, 1966 |
| 16 | "The Mother-in-law" | December 25, 1966 |
| 17 | "Which Doctor's Witch?" | January 1, 1967 |
| 18 | "To Catch a Thief" | January 8, 1967 |
| 19 | "20th Century Here We Come" | January 22, 1967 |
| 20 | "Shad Rack and Other Tortures" | January 29, 1967 |
| 21 | "The Cave Family Swingers" | February 5, 1967 |
| 22 | "To Sign or Not to Sign" | February 19, 1967 |
| 23 | "School Days, School Days" | February 26, 1967 |
| 24 | "Our Brothers' Keepers" | March 5, 1967 |
| 25 | "The Stone Age Diplomats" | March 12, 1967 |
| 26 | "The Stowaway" | April 2, 1967 |
[edit] See also
- Encino Man, a 1992 film about an unfrozen caveman
- Iceman, a 1984 film about an unfrozen caveman
- Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer, recurring character on Saturday Night Live from 1991 through 1996
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- It's About Time at the Internet Movie Database
- It's About Time at TV Tome
- 'It's About Time' Opening on YouTube
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