Lost in Space

Lost in Space is an ostensibly science fiction TV series from the 1960s, produced by Irwin Allen. Allen based his space adventure series on a Gold Key comic book, Space Family Robinson, making a few alterations along the way. The first pilot, for instance, did not include the character of Doctor Zachary Smith.

Lost in Space followed Allen's basic philosophy that TV was supposed to be fun, as opposed to educational. His series were all very fast paced, usually at the expense of intelligence.

Some viewers found the show quite beautiful, with full colour special effects and spacescapes courtesy of the astronomical community. Many also found the show quite juvenile, with stories about space cowboys, space hippies, space pirates, space beauty pageants, and, of course, the infamous Great Vegetable Rebellion, featuring one of the few intelligent space carrots in cinematic history. (According to some, several of the show's stars did not appear in the following - and final - episode, as punishment for being unable to keep from laughing during the filming of what they saw as a travesty.) People also complained that it is illogical that the Robinson and their pilot would tolerate the presence of an unrepentant backstabber such as Doctor Smith as he repeatedly attempts to betray them for his benefit.

The science fiction community often points to this show as the perfect example of TV's bad record at producing science fiction, comparing it unfavorably to its contemporary, Star Trek.

The theme music for the opening credits during the show's first season was written by John Williams. (Movie trivia fans say that echoes of this musical score can be heard in Williams' score to the movie Jurassic Park.) The musical theme was changed to a less "serious" score with the following seasons of the show.