Shark Bytes
It was my favorite show during my years as a student at the U. of Wis/Madison. My friends and I used to dream about sailing the Pacific, etc. Since then I was lucky in having done just that; sailed the Pacific and and also been on a large sail-ship, the Windstar. I became a pilot which added to my interest of adventure and exploration. My wife and have have made over 12 cruises now. Next: the fjords of Norway!
The show, which I loved in my youth, was one of the first offering of the budding TV service in Cairo, Egypt where I grew up. That was in 1961 or '62. It was presented in English, no dubbing or subtitles.
When I moved to Paris, in 1962, I was pleasantly surprised it was shown on French TV. It was serialized in 15 minute daily segments and dubbed in French. Not as nice as in the original, but nice.
When I moved to Paris, in 1962, I was pleasantly surprised it was shown on French TV. It was serialized in 15 minute daily segments and dubbed in French. Not as nice as in the original, but nice.
Gardner never went to Princeton, he only did a couple of years at Cornell. I absolutely lived for that show as a little girl growing up in Florida. I'm trying to get an excerpt from the story, "This Fortunate Island" as my son turned one on the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.
I'm only 53 years old and remember the opening lyrics to the romantic theme. "I have known ... adventures in paradise. I followed a dream ... it led me to you."
Loved this show when I was a kid. Haven't seen it since it was shown originally. Exotic locations, romance of sailing the South Pacific.
No, this show never jumped the shark! Loved it as a seventh grader, loved Gardner McKay... Show still is great, you can get some episodes on DVD, but the quality is uneven.. I wish somebody would wise up and restore this one, but it would be a great seller..
It never jumped the shark. I loved it! Of course, according to the dates, I was quite young when it aired and in love with Adam Troy. I finally remembered the show's name and found Gardner McKay's obituary online. I still like the show's premise. (My mom didn't think Gardner was as handsome as I did!)
Series star Gardner McKay was a Princeton graduate. Apparently he was a smart guy, but he wasn't a very strong actor. However, he was very appealing in the role of Captain Adam Troy, and he become a major heart-throb in the 1959-1962 era. McKay apparently hated acting, and shortly after the series ended he abandoned the profession. He went on to become a writer and theater critic and achieved some success in both areas. Gardner McKay died fairly recently, perhaps within the last year. Like Adam Troy, Gardner McKay was a guy to go his own way.
This show never jumped the shark, they never gave it a chance to catch on with people. FOX is notorious for taking chances with stupid shows (Party of five, Melrose Place, etc.) but when they actually have a good show they cancel it. Brisco County Jr was one of the best shows out during that time, and when I can catch it I still do watch it. Bruce Campbell is a great actor, but very under-rated. If you really think about it this show was the one that opened the door for Hercules, Xena and quite a few others with all it's smart alec comments about the future, same thing was constantly done on Herc, and Xena. Show needs to be re-released, would probably do much better now with the over abundance of reality crap we are being submitted too.
It was a great show. Good theme song. "Gardner McKay as Adam Troy, James Holden as Clay Baker" Lots of coves, sharks (not the jumpin kind!) and coconuts. Soldiers of fortune, etc. One great episode where they come upon an island where the people still think it is the 1700's, Pirates and such. It was really neat. I wish there were reruns of this, I would tune in.
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