I am a HUGE fan of TV series shown in the 1970s and 1980s.
Oh sure, some of them seemed silly and tried too hard to be hip in their content but most were enjoyable-especially the crime shows and situation comedies.
When the TV series M.A.S.H premiered in 1972 audiences were not sure what to make of it.
Set during the Korean War the series focused on the doctors and nurses assigned to the M.A.S.H (Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals) units.
The show rated at the bottom of the Nielson’s Ratings its first season but when viewers began watching it while other shows were in repeats something amazing happened-it became popular.
So popular in fact that show ran eleven straight years (eight years longer than the Korean War) and its movie length finale episode garnered the highest audience viewing of any show ever-only to be surpassed recently by the Super Bowl.
Recently a friend of mine, who is also a comic book and toy collector, did a little swapping of goodies with me.
M.A.S.H merchandise is difficult to find. A set of figures was produced by Tristar International Inc. consisting of the key characters from the last few years of the series. Several playsets were also produced.
My friend had one of the figures: Hawkeye, and after a few rounds of negotiating I was able to secure the rare blond hair Hawkeye figure in a bubble pack.
The figure is a simple articulated 3 1/2 inch figure attired in army khaki with brown boots. The bubble pack card features the M.A.S.H logo over a helicopter and color photo of the show’s cast along with a printed dog tag with Hawkeye’s name printed on it.
On the back of the card are small photos of the other figures in the set along with the playsets. It’s nothing fancy, but I like it.
Another 1980s TV show I enjoy is Magnum P.I. (the original, not the imposter on TV now) starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum a private investigator who drives a Ferrari, lives in the guest house of his benefactor and hangs around with helicopter T.C., club owner Rick and the estate’s majordomo Higgins and his two Doberman Pincxhers Zeus and Apollo.
The show features some great stories, touches of humor, action, adventure and plenty of intrigue. But what made the show special was the friendship between the main characters.
Kidco produced a Tough Wheels Magnum P.I. Lamborghini diecast.
It’s a perfect miniature duplicate of the car seen on the show. With its bright red color and real rubber tires, a plastic windshield and full black interior the car is one of only a handful of Magnum P.I. toys ever produced.
Another popular detective TV show of the 1980s starred Robert Urich as a tough as nails P.I. whom drove a red 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible. The Vega$ diecast was produced by Corgi.
No comments:
Post a Comment