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What's this spotlight STARMAN all about?
What's This Spotlight STARMAN All About?
The 1986-87 television season saw something remarkable: an hour-long drama
suitable for family viewing which incorporated these elements:
* Strong-but-gentle male role models.
* A warm father-son relationship; level-headed, respectful parenting.
* Fine writing, directing, acting, production values.
* Humor arising from an affectionate look at our customs and language
instead of insults and one-upmanship.
* Positive attitude toward learning and personal growth.
* Peaceful problem-solving through honest communication.
* An absolute minimum of violence, car chases, explosions.
* Non-sexist, non-racist, non-ageist attitudes.
* Hopeful outlook for the planet and its peoples.
* Spirituality which transcends the barriers of organized religion; an
emphasis on values and ethics rather than a judgmental morality.
* Emphasis on integrity, compassion, courtesy, responsibility,
forgiveness, trust, friendship, and the courage to change one's life
for the better.
* Treatments of numerous social and environmental issues, especially
literacy, endangered species, and care of the indigent and disabled.
The show was STARMAN. Most people never saw it. Many critics panned it
before it even premiered, based on a hastily produced promo tape to pitch
the initial concept (this "presentation tape" fell far short of the
content, consciousness, characterization, and production values found in
the actual series). This discouraged many people from ever trying it, as
did its label of "science fiction." Then, poorly promoted by its network
and shuffled among six lethal time slots (pitted against such shows as L.A.
LAW, MIAMI VICE, THE COSBY SHOW, FALCON CREST, and CRIME STORY), STARMAN
lagged in the ratings and was cancelled in May of 1987.
At that time five people from Texas, California, Minnesota, and Washington
D.C. found each other and then founded Spotlight STARMAN. Totally self-
funded and with no help from any other group, S.S. reached out to find
other "like minds" and located thousands who not only shared an opinion
about the show's importance but were willing to battle all the powers-that-
be to see the show revived. Today:
1) The mailing list includes several thousand names across the U.S. and
Canada and in several foreign countries with especially active
chapters in South Africa and Australia/New Zealand. Some thirty
regional coordinators maintain a network of contact among the
chapters.
2) A quarterly "newsletterzine" BLUE LIGHTS provides a central focus and
publishes news and commentary as well as numerous "special editions"
of fiction, poetry, essays, opinion, puzzles, and letters, all with
illustrations and/or cartoons.
3) There have been many small gatherings and four national conventions:
a) San Diego, CA (Nov. 20-22, 1987) -- raised $3000 for Literacy
Volunteers of America (LVA).
b) Dayton, OH (May 20-22, 1988) -- raised $2000 for endangered
species through the Cousteau Society.
c) Sedona, AZ (March 17-20, 1989) -- just for fun!
d) Winston-Salem, NC (October 13-16, 1989) -- for fun and small
fund-raiser for the Alzheimer's Association.
4) An impressive body of "fan art" -- visual, literary, and musical --
has been created.
5) Members have produced a wealth of merchandise to publicize the show
and campaign (teeshirts, buttons, leatherwork, jewelry, bumper
stickers, stationery, needlework) but most notably:
a) "...ENDLESSLY CREATIVE" a 174-page illustrated cookbook featuring
218 recipes (proceeds benefit LVA).
b) SPOTLIGHT STARMAN WALL CALENDARS FOR 1989 AND 1990 (benefiting
the Peregrine Fund -- an endangered species recovery program).
6) Many members report significant life changes: career decisions;
weight loss; finding new skills and talents; overcoming fears, bad
habits, and negative attitudes; improved self-esteem.
The members of Spotlight STARMAN range roughly in age from 4 to 90 with the
majority between the ages of 30 and 50. They include people involved in
education, medicine, religion, social service, science, business, and the
creative arts, as well as homemakers and students. The sincerity,
intelligence, and persistence of their campaign have impressed many members
of the press, the producers of the show (who at first pragmatically
accepted the show's cancellation), and the beleaguered network itself
(which was, despite its avowals to the contrary, moved to consider a
limited number of new episodes and/or a TV movie, neither of which was
successfully negotiated).
As the campaign stands now, Executive Producer Michael Douglas maintains
his commitment to revive STARMAN on a major network or in syndication, even
if some of the roles must be recast.
Parent company Columbia Pictures TV also expressed its wish to see STARMAN
return and when the network releases its options on the show, can pursue
re-broadcast of the first 22 episodes in syndication, which often leads to
production of new episodes.
Spotlight STARMAN continues to spread the word through PTA organizations,
science fiction conventions, newspaper and magazine articles, and by
sharing videotapes with people who have never seen the show. A favorite
activity is gathering together in large or small groups to brainstorm new
strategies and strengthen the bonding of what has truly become a "family"
sharing a common love and a vision for more conscious TV programming and a
better world in general.
Three of the principal actors involved (Roberty Hays, Michael Cavanaugh,
and Patrick Culliton) have expressed the same sentiment at various times:
"Those of us who worked creating STARMAN felt as if we were a family. Now
that family is extended to include all these people who love the show so
much."
Another executive producer, Jim Hirsch said, "The Spotlight STARMAN people
didn't miss what we were going after, but the critics missed it
completely."* Robert Hays (Starman himself) told STARLOG Magazine,
"Listen, these Spotlight STARMAN people have it all over the critics, and
they can outwrite them, too."* Michael Cavanaugh (the relentless
government agent, Fox) says, "I think even George Fox could take a lesson
in determination from these Spotlight STARMAN people."* Patrick Culliton
(Fox's assistant, Agent Wylie), who has attended the major S.S. events and
knows many of the members well, commented, "It's an unusual group of
fans...teachers, psychologists, artists...who love the show for the right
reasons."*
*quoted from STARLOG #126, #129, and BLUE LIGHTS #3.
Anyone wishing more information may contact the author of this piece, Vicki
Werkley, Box 1029, Lower Lake, CA 95457. For information about the BLUE
LIGHTS newsletter, SASE to Lil Sibley, 4945 "U" Street, Sacramento, CA
95817.
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"SPOTLIGHT STARMAN INTERNATIONAL" IMPORTANT ADDRESSES (8/19/90)
Please send Self-Addressed, Stamped Envelope (SASE)
with all correspondence.
National Headquarters:
P.O. Box 273440, Houston TX 77277-3440
Regional Networking (New members start here) & BEST BUDDIES Newsletter:
Jean Laidig, 784 Holmdel Rd., Holmdel, NJ 07733-1635
BLUE LIGHTS Newsletterzine and Special Editions:
Editorial Office:
Christine Menefee, Editor,
600 Water St. SW#8-14, Washington DC 20024
Subscriptions:
Lil Sibley, 4945 "U" Street, Sacramento, CA 95817
Back Issues, Special Editions:
Linda Ratoff, 28 Marie Avenue., Nashua, NH 03063-3508
BLUE LIGHTS BUDDIES:
Need to receive BLUE LIGHTS issues at reduced cost or for free?
Vicki Werkley, BLB Coordinator, Box 1029, Lower Lake CA 95457
Video Tape Exchange:
Tracy Rhoads, 109 Newport Avenue, Reading, PA 19611
GOOD THINGS FROM THE STARMAN UNIVERSE:
(Catalog of fan-produced merchandise)
Linda Ratoff, 28 Marie Avenue., Nashua NH 03063-3508
"...ENDLESSLY CREATIVE" Cookbook (174 pages, illustrated)
Annemarie Schomaker, 601 Main St. Bldg. 11, Ramona, CA 92065
Spotlight STARMAN Wall Calendars:
(Including illustrations, campaign history, episode guide, trivia
challenge, and birthdays of cast, crew, friends of STARMAN)
Vicki Werkley, Box 1029, Lower Lake CA 95457
FOCUS Newsletter (meditation, dream study network):
Gayle High Pine, Box 83704, Portland, OR 97283-0704
FANZINES:
SONGS OF THE SPHERE:
(series of BL Special Editions edited by Chris Menefee)
Volume 1 - Linda Ratoff (address above)
Volume 2 - Sylvia Wallace, 1931 Gainsborough Rd, Atlanta GA 30341
Volume 3 - Chris Menefee (address above)
Volume 4 (Songbook) - Gayle High Pine (address above)
ENDANGERED SPECIES:
(Portals Press) Mary Ann Johanson, editor
Inquiries c/o Vicki Werkley (address above)
SILVER SPHERES by Jean Stevenson:
c/o Jill S. Wells, 8 S. Dorado Circle #2B, Hauppauge, NY 11788
OUT OF AN ENDLESS NIGHT (Stranger Press):
Inquiries c/o Vicki Werkley (address above)
AMAZING VARIETY:
Bruce Jividen, Box 695, Bountiful, UT 84011-0695
CONVENTIONS:
Newsletters for SAN DIEGO & MIDWESTERN STARMAN CELEBRATIONS; Audio &
Video tapes from Midwestern Celebration:
Lynda Sappington, 1928 N. Sulphur Springs Rd,
West Alexandria, OH 45381
SEDONA Newsletter:
Forthcoming from Chris Menefee (address above)
CAROLINA STARMAN ADVENTURE Newsletter:
Forthcoming from Jean Laidig (address above)
SPOTLIGHT STARMAN OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC; INTERNATIONAL TAPE EXCHANGE
(outside U.S. and Canada); and BLUE LIGHTS PUBLICATIONS DISTRIBUTOR FOR NEW
ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA:
Valerie Bushell, 67 Smythe Rd., Henderson, Auckland 8, New Zealand.
(US correspondents may enclose an IRC -- International Reply Coupon --
available at post offices.)
Spotlight STARMAN is ALIVE AND WELL!
FREE MEMBERSHIP for all who appreciate the STARMAN movie and TV series.
Come join the fun and friendship: conventions; fiction, artwork, music;
a wide variety of publications and merchandise; videotapes and scripts
available.
Spotlight STARMAN International
"WE'RE NOT HISTORY YET!"
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