Years ago I thought I read some article that claimed a situation comedy was "considered" which would have featured Jonathan Harris and the costume/prop Robot (B9) from "Lost in Space". the premise would have presented Harris as the head butler and the family whom he serves presents him with a robotic assistant. Harris sees the Robot as a potential threat to his position, so the two continually butt heads with the wordplay being similar to that on the earlier series.
If this reads as a bit familiar, well, it has been done at least once. "The Addams Family" presented an episode in which Gomez and Morticia honestly try to help Lurch by building him a mechanical assistant, performed by Robby the Robot of "Frobidden Planet" fame. Of course, that was a "one off" with Lurch violently dismanteling Robby (off camera) by the end of the episode.
It is with that in mind that I will admit this may be nothing more than show-biz myth, or more likely fannish "wishful thinking" years later the fact. As in, "Wouldn't it have been cool if..." But I feel confident I really did read something about this, that some producer, maybe Irwin Allen himself, considered this notion shortly after "Lost in Space" ended.
Such would have had two debatable advantages over LiS. One, being a comedy, you'd "go into it" expecting something silly or absurd. Two, even if the head butler were selfish and conniving, odds are his antics would not threaten the very lives of the family he serves, a constant issue in LiS that make some people wonder, "why didn't Don just kill the schnuck and make it look like a tragic accident?!"
Anyway, has anyone else read anything about this or am I just becoming more delusional with age?
For "shiggles", I used Poser to compose a "publicity" type portrait featuring the two in a mansion foyer and Harris dressed a bit more dapper than he did on LiS.
Sincerely,
Bill
If this reads as a bit familiar, well, it has been done at least once. "The Addams Family" presented an episode in which Gomez and Morticia honestly try to help Lurch by building him a mechanical assistant, performed by Robby the Robot of "Frobidden Planet" fame. Of course, that was a "one off" with Lurch violently dismanteling Robby (off camera) by the end of the episode.
It is with that in mind that I will admit this may be nothing more than show-biz myth, or more likely fannish "wishful thinking" years later the fact. As in, "Wouldn't it have been cool if..." But I feel confident I really did read something about this, that some producer, maybe Irwin Allen himself, considered this notion shortly after "Lost in Space" ended.
Such would have had two debatable advantages over LiS. One, being a comedy, you'd "go into it" expecting something silly or absurd. Two, even if the head butler were selfish and conniving, odds are his antics would not threaten the very lives of the family he serves, a constant issue in LiS that make some people wonder, "why didn't Don just kill the schnuck and make it look like a tragic accident?!"
Anyway, has anyone else read anything about this or am I just becoming more delusional with age?
For "shiggles", I used Poser to compose a "publicity" type portrait featuring the two in a mansion foyer and Harris dressed a bit more dapper than he did on LiS.
Sincerely,
Bill
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