3-2-1 Contact

Gallery

This info take from IMDB - http://us.imdb.com/Title?0190169
"3-2-1 Contact" (1980)
[TV-Series 1980-1992]

Directed by
Ozzie Alfonso
Christopher Dixon

Writing credits
Michael Winship (writer) (episodes)", "3-2-1 Contact Extra: Bottom of the Barrel (1991)", "3-2-1 Contact Extra: Secrets of the Code (1991)")

Credited cast:
Nan-Lyn Nelson .... Vikcy Allen (segment: "Bloodhound Gang, The" 1980-1985)
Marcelino Sánchez .... Ricardo (segment "Bloodhound Gang, The") (as James Marcelino)
Seth Greenspan .... Skip (segment: "Bloodhound Gang, the" 1983-1985")
David Quinn .... Himself
Stephanie Yu .... Stephanie Yu - also hosted 3-2-1 Classroom Contact
Z. Wright .... Z. Wright
Ginny Ortiz .... Trini (1980)
Kelly Pino .... Kathy (seasons 2-4)
Debra Allison Shapiro .... Herself (as Debra Allison Shapiro)
Liz Moses .... Lisa (season 7)
Anitha Abdul Hamid .... Anitha (1985) (as Anitha Hamid)
Ericka Pazcoguin .... Maggie (1986-1988)
Damaris Carbaugh .... The Bloodhound Gang Theme Singer (voice)
Benjamin H. Carlin .... Paco (1983-1986)
Al Dana .... 3-2-1 Contact Theme Singer (voice)
Frank Gomez .... Miguel
Leon W. Grant .... Marc (1980)
Arte Johnson .... Introduction
Hank Martin .... 3-2-1 Contact Theme Singer (voice)
Tish Rabe .... 3-2-1 Contact Theme Singer (voice)
Ruth Sherman (I) .... 3-2-1 Contact Theme Singer (voice)
Tannis Vallely .... Mary (1985-1988)
Todd A. Rollie ....
Hopey Fitzpatrick ....

-----------------

Sonia's commentary about the show:

I admit that I'm slightly partial to the earlier seasons of 3-2-1 Contact more than the later ones, especially the last few seasons of the show. The first season, which was repeated for about 2 years before they began season 2, was literally engraved into my head. The set and 'characters' somewhat resembled an offbeat science version of The Electric Company, so I felt right at home with Mark, Lisa, and Trini ^^; who all spontaneously discussed science in the clubhouse every day! Looking back, I admit the first season is rather farfetched, corny, and dated, but that's what I loved about it all from the animated shorts to the celebrity guest appearances of my favorite early '80s stars! Probably the one annoying thing I didn't like about season 1 was that many of the clips of Mark, Lisa, and Trini's adventures were repeated into the ground and some were only shown once throughout the entire season O~O!

When seasons 2 and 3 introduced the new gang of Paco, Miguel, Tina, and Cathy, I think =/. Sorry, my memories of seasons 2 and up are a bit fuzzier than season 1 since I haven't watched those seasons in a while, yet. I remember I was a bit distraught by the cast change, but as I got to know the Paco gang (as I call them) more, I found myself liking them just as much as Mark, Lisa, and Trini. Paco, especially, had several quirks that made him adorable, like his banana obsession, hee hee ^-^! The main plots for each episode were also more 'realistic' than the ones from season 1, so the show didn't have that corny look anymore. I was also relieved they finally got more varied clips to show instead of re-showing the same old ones over and over again. The also let the gang travel to more exotic locales than they did for the first season as well!

Season 4 and 5 was, in my opinion, a bit sad for me at least --;. Paco still remained, but the rest of his gang had disappeared and were only to be seen in the clips they filmed. One of Paco's new companions was that girl from Head of the Class who portrayed herself as an annoying nerd. It became the Paco show, with Paco as host O~O! I still liked Paco, but I missed the realism of the previous 2 seasons.

As the show progressed even further, a new gang was introduced (i.e. the David clan). This time, they took realism to another level with all the kids using their real names with each other. If the gang EVER met, they just hung out together in a NY diner, discussing small talk and other whatnot. The show didn't seem cohesive anymore for me --;, but the clips and subjects got even more exotic (i.e. Japan, Antarctica, Malaysia, France (since a public television station in France co-produced the show), etc.). There was much more to see and learn, but no base back in NY. The kids were just off and running everywhere exploring O~O, and the show just became a clip segment show. It was still fun to watch, but part of me lost interest in the 'adventures' of this new gang since there was no base back in NY for the audience to really know the personalities of each kid. I guess I felt distanced from them, unlike Mark, Lisa, Trini, or the Paco gang. They didn't seem to be average kids anymore. They were more like reporters in a news show.

Near the end of the run, they tried to bring back the old Paco magic with the introduction of a girl, whose name I forgot at the moment O~O, who later went on to do the 3-2-1 Contact: Extra shows. I still watched (and recorded) just for interest and completeness sake, but the magic of the early years was gone --;!

I can't remember exactly when The Bloodhound Gang was eliminated from the run, but I missed them a lot as well. I know I was confused by the constantly changing 3rd member of the Gang in the first season (i.e. Cuff or Zak), but in the later seasons, I was relieved they finally settled on a permanent 3rd member who actually contributed a lot more to the cases and team balance than either Cuff or Zak (who basically just hung out with Vicki, the brains of the team, and Ricardo, the amateur magician and photographer).

----------------------------------

posted on alt.tv.nickelodeon by Tony Calguire <calguire@tcfreenet.org>:

Yes, I remember that one, too. "Trini" had a bit part in the movie "The
Warriors", along with the curly-haired latino boy from The Bloodhound
Gang, who was one of the stars.

----------------------------------