Space Precinct

Space Precinct
Genre Science fiction, drama, police procedural
Created by Gerry Anderson
Written by Gerry Anderson, Hans Beimler, Michael Berlin, Steve Brown, David Bennett Carren, J. Larry Carroll, Paul Robert Coyle, Peter Dunne, Eric Estrin, Eric Gethers, Sam Graham, Mark Harris, James Hendrie, Chris Hubbell, Carl Jahnsen, Richard Manning, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Philip Morrow, Burt Prelutsky, Nick Sagan, Arthur Sellers, Marc Scott Zicree
Directed by Alan Birkinshaw, Colin Bucksey, Peter Duffell, John Glen, Jim Goddard, Piers Haggard, Sidney Hayers, Silvio Narizzano
Starring Simone Bendix, Lou Hirsch, Richard James, Nick Klein, Joseph Mydell, Megan Olive, Nancy Paul, David Quilter, Ted Shackelford, Jerome Willis, Mary Woodvine, Rob Youngblood
Voices of Colette Hiller, Kieron Jecchinis, Gary Martin
Composer(s) Crispin Merrell
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 1
No. of episodes 24 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Tom Gutteridge
Producer(s) Gerry Anderson
Cinematography Alan Hume and Tony Spratling
Camera setup Single
Running time 45 minutes approx.
Production company(s) Gerry Anderson Productions
Grove Television Enterprises
Mentorn Films
Release
Audio format Mono
First shown in United States
Original release 3 October 1994 (1994-10-03) – 24 July 1995 (1995-07-24)

Space Precinct is a British-American television series that was broadcast from 1994 to 1995 on Sky One and later on BBC Two in the UK, and in first-run syndication in the United States. Many US stations scheduled the show in late night time slots, which resulted in low ratings and contributed to its cancellation.

The series was created by Gerry Anderson and was a mix of science fiction and police procedural that combined elements of many of Anderson's previous series such as Space: 1999, UFO and Thunderbirds, but with an added dash of Law & Order and Dragnet. Anderson was executive producer with Tom Gutteridge. One of the series' directors was John Glen, who had previously directed five James Bond films. There were a number of directors used on the series, but the majority of the episodes were edited by the series editors, Sue Robinson and Jason Krasucki.

Premise

The series is set in the year 2040 and starred American actor Ted Shackelford as former NYPD detective Patrick Brogan, now a lieutenant with the Demeter City police force on the planet Altor in the Epsilon Eridani system. Brogan and his partner Jack Haldane (played by Rob Youngblood) must adjust to living in another solar system, and investigating crimes being committed by aliens as well as humans. Also co-starring was Danish actress Simone Bendix as Officer Jane Castle, Haldane's love interest (Brogan being happily married with a wife, daughter and son who made the move to Demeter City with him). All other major characters were played by actors wearing complex make-up that also included elements of puppetry in order to depict the different alien races.

Characters

Brogan family

Demeter City Police

Humans

Creons and Tarns

Others

Production

The series was one of the highest-budgeted shows Anderson produced, and was relatively popular in Europe. However, in a repeat of the situation that UFO encountered 25 years earlier, American broadcasters were uncertain what to make of the series that looked on the surface to be aimed at children, yet featured adult-oriented storylines and was usually played straight despite the bizarre storylines and make-up. As a result, Space Precinct was often scheduled in late-night/early morning time slots. The subsequent low ratings led to its cancellation after just one season.

Pilot

The idea for Space Precinct predated the series by nearly a decade. In 1986 Anderson produced Space Police, a 55-minute pilot film that featured Anderson regular Shane Rimmer as Brogan. The series failed to sell at that time and the pilot was never broadcast.

The pilot, which has since circulated on video and online, features many differences. Brogan is a much older character than that played by Shackleford, and is a bachelor. His partner - and the only other apparently human character in the pilot - is Sgt. Cathy Costello, who is revealed to be an android capable of shifting between human appearance and a more robotic look for dangerous missions. The aliens featured in the pilot are catlike rather than the more exotic aliens in Space Precinct. The only character other than Brogan to transfer from the pilot to the series is the robot Slo-Mo. The pilot, which is more comedic in nature than the somewhat serious series that followed, combined live action, full-size prosthetics, puppetry, and Supermacromation techniques.

Episodes

No. Title Directed by[1] Written by[1] Original air date Production
code[1]
1"Protect and Survive"John GlenPaul Mayhew-Archer3 October 1994 (1994-10-03)2
Brogan's informant Slik Ostrasky is murdered by Tylan Gershom, a smuggler of illegal Xyronite immigrants, and the only witness is slimy Melazoid business executive Armand Loyster. Brogan and Haldane are assigned to offer Loyster protection until he can testify at Gershom's trial. But Gershom plans to ensure that Loyster never reaches the courtroom.
2"Enforcer"Sidney HayersMarc Scott Zicree10 October 1994 (1994-10-10)3
On Skall Street in Demeter City, members of the infamous Hydra Gang are found dead – their hearts shredded but not a single mark on their bodies! Accompanied by an orphaned alien girl, a new enforcer has taken over and the Skall Street traders soon discover that the Hydras have been replaced by something far worse.
3"Body and Soul"Sidney HayersStory by: Mark Harris
Teleplay by: Marc Scott Zicree		17 October 1994 (1994-10-17)6
Caught in the radiation field of Merlin's Asteroid, a prototype spaceship created by recluse industrialist Alden Humes returns to Altor after being lost in space for twenty years. Brogan finds a body on board, opening an investigation into a homicide that took place two decades ago. As he tracks down the killer, Brogan is haunted by the ghost in the machine.
4"Double Duty"Colin BuckseyJ. Larry Carroll &
David Bennett Carren		24 October 1994 (1994-10-24)1
A drug war is raging in Demeter City and a professional assassin is taking out the competition. The sole survivor of an attack on drug baron Oturi Nissim (Nickolas Grace) is a pretty alien girl, Aleesha Amyas, who is taken into protective custody. Suddenly the killer is loose in the Space Precinct House and Orrin is its first victim.
5"The Snake"John GlenJ. Larry Carroll &
David Bennett Carren		31 October 1994 (1994-10-31)5
An alien extortionist and explosives expert, known only as The Snake, threatens the executives of Brett Interplanetary. Precinct 88 becomes a task force to track him down and Jane becomes reacquainted with her old ECPF colleague Bill Gray. Then the Snake reveals his next target – the Princess, an Omega Class tanker en route to Altor with two hundred million gallons of liquefied hydrogen!
6"Time to Kill"Alan BirkinshawHans Beimler &
Richard Manning		7 November 1994 (1994-11-07)7
A routine sweep on a counterfeiting operation goes horribly wrong for the officers of Precinct 88 when they are suddenly attacked by an unstoppable Cyborg and Took is caught in the crossfire. The Cyborg has Brogan marked for death and, one by one, Brogan's colleagues fall victim to the creature.
7"Deadline"John GlenDavid Bennett Carren
& J. Larry Carroll		14 November 1994 (1994-11-14)8
Brogan and Haldane discover a capsule containing the body of a Tarn male. The autopsy reveals that the tarn is missing vital organs, removed with surgical precision, and Brogan and Haldane find themselves on the trail of organ leggers from Danae – vicious killers who murder for profit and target Brogan as their next donor!
8"Seek and Destroy"Jim GoddardJ. Larry Carroll &
David Bennett Carren		21 November 1994 (1994-11-21)10
With the discovery of Aladine-50, a vaccine against creon fever, the importation of Earth dogs is all the rage in Demeter. Then three executives of Demeter Dogs Inc. are killed in mysterious circumstances and Brogan uncovers a plot that heralds an invasion of Altor by the Omera, an army of nomadic alien killers!
9"The Power"Sidney HayersSam Graham9 January 1995 (1995-01-09)9
Jane and Took are assigned to protect a shipment of Luxorian Ice, a vital part of Solartek's new solar power system which offers a safe alternative to hyper fusion. Meanwhile, Brogan and Haldane investigate the death of reformed jewel thief Vella Sugoi and discover a connection that leads to a deadly struggle for control of Demeter's lucrative energy franchise.
10"Illegal"John GlenMark Scott Zicree16 January 1995 (1995-01-16)11
Tildon Alreeuh, an illegal immigrant from Sagania, saves Brogan's life in a shooting incident, and Brogan learns that his saviour's son, Nillim, is being held by snuff fight promoter Coe Barner. With immigration officials breathing down their necks, the officers of Precinct 88 go undercover at one of Barner's bouts to rescue Nillim, but Brogan soon finds himself fighting for his life.
11"Divided We Stand"Alan BirkinshawArthur Sellers30 January 1995 (1995-01-30)12
Jane and Took investigate the theft of a tarn egg-sac from Demeter Memorial Hospital while Brogan and Haldane are assigned to the protection of underworld crime boss Vinny Artak, who is running for city council. When Artak is gunned down in front of them, Brogan and Haldane find themselves under investigation and learn that Vinny Artak just won't stay dead.
12"Two Against The Rock"Peter DuffellPaul Robert Coyle6 February 1995 (1995-02-06)13
Haldane and Jane escort Houdini, the most notorious escape artist on Altor, to asteroid A5 – the maximum security penitentiary known as "The Rock". But on their arrival at the asteroid, the two officers are horrified to discover that the prisoners have taken over and mass murderer Eric Volker is the new warden.
13"Takeover"John GlenJ. Larry Carroll
& David Bennett Carren		13 February 1995 (1995-02-13)14
When Brogan and Haldane are accused of the cold blooded murder of Naxus Simi and subjected to an Internal Affairs investigation, the officers' reliability as prosecution witnesses in a case against crime boss Vanus Olverais is called into question. But Brogan and Haldane find there is far more at stake when Jane gives damning evidence against them.
14"Predator and Prey"Sidney HayersNicholas Sagan20 February 1995 (1995-02-20)15
Following the death of an officer from the 79th Precinct in Demeter's most fashionable nightclub, Brogan and Haldane are teamed with Lt. Verro Walker in a search for a serial killer. Walker is a loose cannon, but may hold the key to the killings when Jane discovers similarities with a string of mysterious homicides that took place nearly a hundred years before.
15"The Witness"Peter DuffellEric Gethers24 April 1995 (1995-04-24)16
Small-time crooks are turning up dead on the streets of Demeter City and a search begins for the prime suspect Mas Maharg, spotted at the scene of the second murder by Romek's new partner Morgan. Then Fredo's daughter Estes is taken ill and Brogan realises that she has been picking up the killer's thoughts with her paramental eye.
16"Hate Street"Piers HaggardSteve Brown1 May 1995 (1995-05-01)17
An outbreak of race riots and hate crimes against Xyronite immigrants is being co-ordinated by Burl Flak, wanted for murder on Danae. Brogan and Haldane are assigned to find Flak and stop the killings, but their investigations are hampered by the appearance of Erika Brandt, a bounty hunter intent on claiming the price on Flak's head, who just happens to be one of Brogan's old flames.
17"Friends"Peter DuffellStory by: Carl Jahnsen
Teleplay by: Chris Hubbell,
Philip Morrow & Carl Jahnsen		8 May 1995 (1995-05-08)18
When computer hacker Reeve Pataki is taken into custody at the Precinct 88 station house, his resourceful friends in the Karel Tarik Brigade infiltrate the station's mainframe to arrange his escape. Their attempt fails, so the KTB resort to kidnapping, holding Jane hostage aboard a derelict space platform. Haldane makes this case personal because if Pataki is not released within one hour, Jane will die!
18"Smelter Skelter"Peter Duffell &
Silvio Narizzano		Arthur Sellers15 May 1995 (1995-05-15)19
Sally and Liz are violently threatened during an armed robbery at the Jewellery Centre and Brogan takes a personal interest in tracking down the culprits. His investigations lead him to mining operator Alvin Zann, who plans a daring raid on the orbiting Bank Of Altor with a small beam accelerator – an unstoppable weapon capable of punching a hole in the very fabric of the universe!
19"Flash"Alan BirkinshawJames Hendrie29 May 1995 (1995-05-29)4
A new drug, HE-11 (also known as "Flash"), has arrived on the streets of Demeter causing spontaneous combustion in its users. While Brogan and Haldane visit Interchem, the pharmaceutical company which originally developed the drug, Orrin and Romek run into trouble when Interchem's chief chemist, Pola Vad Moonacki, is kidnapped.
20"The Fire Within (Part One)[2]"John GlenSteve Brown & Burt Prelutsky26 June 1995 (1995-06-26)21
Pyrist priest Tendall Kalike dies by spontaneous combustion during a ceremony at the Pyrist Temple and the event is witnessed by Took on her first visit to the Temple as a Seeker. Brogan and Castle search for evidence that points to Kalike's death being homicide and suspicion falls on fellow priest Nevik Brok. Teamed with Podly's daughter Samina, Haldane goes undercover at the Pyrist Temple to discover the truth.
21"The Fire Within (Part Two)[2]"John GlenSteve Brown & Burt Prelutsky3 July 1995 (1995-07-03)22
Samina disappears, Haldane resigns from the force to join the Pyrists and a power struggle amongst the priests leads to a third death at the Temple. Then a witness comes forward who claims that Haldane has murdered Samina, and Podly is forced to issue a warrant for Haldane's arrest as the Pyrists prepare for the Day of Immolation – the end of the world!
22"The Forever Beetle"Peter DuffellPeter Dunne10 July 1995 (1995-07-10)23
Pteronarcys Eternicum, a rare beetle capable of cell regeneration, is stolen from Dexkor Laboratories. Brogan and Haldane are assigned to the case and suspect that the theft may be an inside job. But Brogan is preoccupied with nailing drugs dealer Amory Wolf whom he believes is responsible for the death of Tommy Murphy, his oldest friend. Meanwhile, Jane and Took have a run-in with local hero Thunder Cole.
23"Deathwatch (Part One)[3]"Piers HaggardMichael Berlin & Eric Estrin17 July 1995 (1995-07-17)20
The arrival on Altor of a mysterious meteor fragment heralds the start of strange events at Roetem Towers on Krazucki Street where residents are being terrorised into relocation. As Jane and Took look into the disappearance of an alien farmer, Brogan and Haldane find their investigations at Roetem Towers blocked by Military Intelligence, and Brogan realises that something is going on at the apartment building that threatens all life on Altor.
24"Deathwatch (Part Two)[3][4]"Piers HaggardArthur Sellers24 July 1995 (1995-07-24)24
After Major Graffa is possessed by the alien meteor found buried beneath Roetem Towers, Captain Weldon steals the meteor fragment that landed at Butler's farm and goes AWOL. She kidnaps Brogan to enlist his help in recovering the meteor from Graffa, but Carson learns that the meteor is a parasitic alien seed and the meteor fragment is a spore to fertilise it – bringing them together will destroy all life on Altor!

Space Police (1983)

Title Directed[1] Written by[1] Original air date[1] Length[1]
"Star Laws"Tony BellGerry Anderson & Tony BarwickUnaired53 mins approx. (24 mins condensed version)
Lieutenant Chuck Brogan is transferred to the Space Police after 15 years of service in the New York Police Department. Pilot episode for proposed television series Space Police, ultimately reformatted and retitled as Space Precinct. Starring Shane Rimmer as Brogan.

Home releases

Space Precinct was released on DVD in the UK but, as of 2015, is out of print. It was released on DVD in North America on 23 November 2010.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bentley, Chris (2008) [2001]. The Complete Gerry Anderson: The Authorised Episode Guide (4 ed.). Richmond, London: Reynolds and Hearn. ISBN 978-1-905287-74-1.
  2. 1 2 Also edited (at time of production) as a special feature length episode, entitled The Fire Within.
  3. 1 2 Also edited (at time of production) as a special feature length episode, entitled Deathwatch.
  4. ↑ Also known by its on-screen title "Deathwatch Conclusion".
  5. ↑ http://www.TVShowsOnDVD.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=14255
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