UP FROM THE ASHES: BAD Sci-Fi TV and BIG Sci-Fi Ideas!!!

Sep 14 2024 18 ep. 67 mins 7
UP FROM THE ASHES: BAD Sci-Fi TV and BIG Sci-Fi Ideas!!! Podcast artwork

50 years ago, a show some have called the worst science fiction TV show of all time premiered! That show: THE STARLOST.Now we’re going back 50 years in time to take another look at THE STARLOST to see if it deserves that reputation. Every week we’ll take a look at another episode and discuss the big ideas they explore!

  TV & Film  Fiction
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“Space Precinct”: The Starlost Ep. 16 – UFTA 017

Sep 14 2024 72 mins  
It’s the FINAL episode of The Starlost! And . . . what a note to go out on. In other words: it’s bad. Ben is joined by Alexandra Gilchrist, author of Song of the Stars and Baptism by Fire to talk about the series finale and how it ends not on a note of finality, […]

“The Beehive”: The Starlost Ep. 15 – UFTA 016

Jul 18 2024 85 mins  
It’s another episode of The Starlost, and this time we are joined by comic book writer, musician, and podcaster J.S. Earls! “The Beehive” earned an apology from Ben to J.S. Earls because he felt bad about subjecting a friend to this atrocity of televisual terribleness. . . This episode is, possibly, one of the worst […]

“Farthing’s Comet”: The Starlost Ep. 14 – UFTA 015

Feb 15 2024 68 mins  
It’s another episode of The Starlost, and this time we are joined by SyFy tv movie writer and novelist Greg Mitchell! “Farthing’s Comet” is full of drama! (Difused drama, but still drama!)It’s full of action! (Poorly paced, but still action!)It’s full of music! (Inapropriately toned, but still music!)It’s full of outer space special effects! ( […]

“The Return of Oro”: The Starlost Ep. 13 – UFTA 014

Dec 13 2023 72 mins  
It’s the return of Walter Koenig! It’s the return of Oro! AND . . . it’s the return of Parker J. Cole!!! Our favorite historical romance writer is back to talk about the one true recurring character, Oro, AND the one character who wasn’t even needed in this episode and had us scratching our heads, […]

“The Implant People”: The Starlost Ep. 12 – UFTA 013

Dec 06 2023 77 mins  
Join Ben Avery and guest host Rob Southgate as they explore an episode of The Starlost that starts out feeling par for The Starlost, takes a turn toward interesting, and then fumbles the ending in spectacular fashion! In this episode we talk about:* Lord of the Rings* Metropolis* Babylon 5* J. Michael Straczynski* Harlon Ellison’s […]

“Astro-Medics”: The Starlost Ep. 11 – UFTA 012

Nov 30 2023 78 mins  
Join Ben Avery and guest host Allan Reini as they talk about a terrible hour of television. Just awful. In this episode we talk about:* Ringo Starr* How Astro-Medics COULD be a better show* How this episode is the worst we’ve seen so far* It is. It really, really is . . . Please support […]

“Mr. Smith of Manchester”: The Starlost Ep. 10 – UFTA 011

Nov 23 2023 75 mins  
Join Ben Avery and guest host John Harju as they talk about an hour of television that’s . . . actually not bad??? Social commentary and pathos and character development are actually present??? What’s this? In this episode we talk about:* Envoronmentalism* The Cold War* The Vietnam War* The benefits of a Ben Bova* Monty […]

“Gallery of Fear”: The Starlost Ep. 9 – UFTA 010

Nov 16 2023 63 mins  
Join Ben Avery and guest host Kerry Nietz, author of AMISH VAMPIRES IN SPACE, as they talk about a rogue computer that wants to use our trio of heroes to become a “real boy”. This unusual episode of THE STARLOST has some interesting ideas and some poor execution . . . which perhaps means it’s […]

“Circuit of Death”: THE STARLOST Ep. 8 – UFTA 009

Nov 09 2023 74 mins  
Join Ben Avery and gust host Dave Goulet, a screenwriter friend of Ben’s from Toronto, as they talk about psychic shrinking and telekinesis so our heroes can fix a computer. Because that’s truly the only way to fix a computer. Right? Right??? They also take some tiem to chat about Canadian children’s television . . […]

“The Alien Oro”: THE STARLOST Ep. 7 – UFTA 008

Nov 01 2023 77 mins  
Join Ben Avery and returning guest host Nathan Marchand for a conversation about the seventh episode of THE STARLOST, in which our heroes meet Checkov! Or is it Spock? It’s Walter Koenig, anyway, Harlan Ellison’s first choice to play Devon! He’s the alien. The alien Oro. In this episode we talk about:* Casablanca* The only […]