So how bad was the NBC miniseries “The Martian Chronicles” (1979)? I suppose it depends on who you ask.

Ray Bradbury, who wrote the original stories, first collected in 1950, hated it. The all-star, three-night event, produced at the height of television’s “miniseries fever,” was all set to kick-off the NBC season. But then Bradbury mouthed off to the press, and the executives got cold feet. All at once, the show was yanked from the schedule, and its debut took place far, far away, seen complete on the BBC, and elsewhere in a heavily-edited theatrical version. After the dust had settled, “The Martian Chronicles” was dropped quietly back into the NBC line-up where it was thought it might do the least damage – just before the guaranteed ratings juggernaut of the Winter Olympics.

I don’t want to tip my cards too soon, but having re-read the book recently, I have a few issues with the adaptation myself. Roy Bjellquist and I will convene for another heady discussion, on the next “Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner,” this Friday evening at 7:00.

Then we figured we might as well make it an all-Mars weekend. So we’ll join up again on Sunday to talk about “Robinson Crusoe on Mars” (1964).

Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner is live-streamed on Facebook every Friday and Sunday at 7 pm EDT.

https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner/

When the movies inspire me to drink, take me to your liter!