Catacombs Reference LibraryTV Heroes
Catacombs Reference LibraryReviews from TV Zone, "the monthly magazine of cult television", an early 1990s UK genre magazine
TV Zone Special 45 (April 2002), "TV Heroes" p4-5. Eramo has also written for Starlog, Dreamwatch, and Infinity
Steve Eramo is one of TV Zone's longest-serving and most valued contributors. He has interviewed everybody in the whole world.
Back in the early Seventies I, like a lot of other people, discovered a certain syndicated TV show called Star Trek. It didn't take long before I was hooked on the adventures of Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise. However, that was before Space: 1999 came along. The night its first episode, Breakaway, aired in the Boston area I thought I'd watch, not as a casual viewer but as a cynical Trekkie. I mean, nothing could replace Kirk and company, right? Boy, I was wrong! Space: 1999 wasn't bad at all. Yes, the characters were a bit stiff, but they were brand new, as were the sets, costumes, aliens, stories - everything! Above all, it was a British-made programme, and although I was a loyal Trekkie, it was years before that The Avengers had made me a devout Anglophile. So I stuck with Space: 1999 and became more and more enamoured of the show. My favourite character was Alan Carter (Nick Tate), although I also had a soft spot for Sandra Benes (Zienia Merton). I Sat there watching as Moonbase Alpha was attacked in War Games, when the first baby born on Alpha quickly grew into a formidable-looking Julian Glover, and when Commander Koenig and his people were being engulfed by the deadliest soap bubbles ever seen on TV in Space Brain. Talk about good, clean fun - no pun intended! Of course, I was thrilled when the series was renewed for a second season, especially as it was said to be "bigger, better, more exciting than ever!"
When Space: 1999 returned for Year Two I was a bit surprised. Things had changed. Main Mission was now Command Centre, Professor Bergman, Paul Morrow and David Kano were gone, and the stories had become more comic book-like in nature. Also, all the characters were running around with these newfound emotions. Nonetheless, I kept tuning in and enjoyed the second season for what it was. I loved Catherine Schell as Maya, although I stayed loyal to Zienia and Sandra, and liked seeing other new faces including Tony Anholt (Tony Verdeschi), John Hug (Bill Fraser) and Alibe (Alibe Parsons). There were some good episodes (The Exiles, The AB Chrysalis, Seed Of Destruction), a couple of clunkers (Brian the Brain, New Adam, New Eve), and one or two action-packed romps that were simply a treat to watch (The Beta Cloud, Space Warp). The series provided me with two years Of pure TV enjoyment. Above all, I have Space: 1999 to thank for opening up the world of writing for me. When I was 12 years old I began publishing the very first newsletter on the show, Alpha Newsletter. It ran it for eight years and had 500 subscribers around the world. To this day, I remain friends with many of the show's cast, including John Hug, his longtime girlfriend Dee Hart and Sarah Bullen (Main Mission/ Command Centre staffer Kate), all three Of whom inspired me to write. professionally. I'll always have a special place in my heart for Space: 1999.