‘Land of the Lost’ original series released on DVD
What makes a TV series a cult classic?
In the case of Sid and Marty Krofft’s 1974-76 Saturday morning kiddie show, “Land of the Lost,” it’s cheesy special effects that resemble castoffs from a “Mr. Bill” short and acting so wooden you feel your eyes will get splinters.
In other words, the show is so bad, it’s great.
With Friday’s release of the big-screen -- and PG-13 -- version of “Land of the Lost” starring Will Ferrell and Danny McBride, Universal has released a limited-edition gift-set DVD of the complete series ($69.99), packaged in a very cool vintage lunch box.
It would have been even more retro if it included a thermos.
The TV series starred Spencer Milligan (for the first two seasons) as Rick Marshall, who, with his son Will (Wesley Eure) and daughter Holly (Kathy Coleman), found themselves stuck in a parallel universe filled with furry people named Pakuni, dinosaurs and some vicious lizard creatures called the Sleestak that resemble Gill-man from “Creature From the Black Lagoon.”
Milligan left after the second season -- his character accidentally returned to Earth, leaving the kids behind. Ron Harper joined the series as his brother, Jack.
The series did so well in syndication after its initial run on NBC that the Kroffts did an updated version in 1991 that ran for two seasons.
Milligan continued to act in the 1970s and ‘80s. His last known TV performance was 22 years ago as Ray Gibbons on the ABC soap “General Hospital.”
Eure, who played Michael Horton for eight years on “Days of Our Lives,” is the co-creator of PBS’ animated series “Dragon Tales,” and his company, Games at Sea, produces entertainment for cruise ships. He’s also written several children’s novels, including “The Red Wings of Christmas,” and helped start the AIDS charity Project Angel Food.
Coleman married at 18 and has two sons. One is Alphonzo Robert Bell III, a rap artist who goes by the name of 40 Keys. Now divorced, Coleman had a cameo in the new movie that was edited out.
--
The complete guide to home viewing
Get Screen Gab for everything about the TV shows and streaming movies everyone’s talking about.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
