“It’s just lucky for her that an alien came through that door instead of her husband.”
Created by: Gerry Anderson, Sylvia Anderson
Run time: 50 Minutes
In the past, the future was funky. And we all owe thanks to Gerry Anderson for his funky contributions to television in the 1960s and 70s.
Most are familiar with his iconic “Supermarionation” series Thunderbirds. This well loved mix of action, sci-fi, and animatronic puppetry has made many appearances over the years in reruns and cable marathons. UFO takes the groovy 1960s puppet aesthetic from Thunderbirds and applies it to a 1970s alien invasion show set in 1980. The results are spectacular, as expected.
SHADO (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defense Organization) is a secret agency tasked with defending Earth from a constant barrage of alien intruders, all while wearing nehru jackets, silver jumpsuits, and tight miniskirts. Just like the 80s we remember. Their headquarters is hidden below a movie studio, so occasionally a cowboy or Roman gladiator will pass through the scene on their way to work.
Watch the opening credits below to see what 1980 looked like in 1970.
Watch free on Tubi TV and Archive.org. Buy on Amazon.
