In the early 80’s, Nickelodeon aired a TV show that is truly forgotten. There are no clips on YouTube and barely anything on the IMDB about it.
That show was WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF NEXT?
Apparently it was a Canadian TV show, also known as SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL. It aired in Canada between the years of 1976 and 1979. That means that by the time Nickelodeon got it in the early 80’s, it was long out of date.
It was hosted by Joseph Campanella and Tiiu Leek, one of the most memorable names on TV. How could you forget Tiiu?
WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF NEXT aired weekly, I think Nickelodeon aired it on weekends. It was basically the two of them talking about what the future was going to be like. They would talk about new technologies, innovations, and that sort of thing. At the end of each segment, if I remember correctly, one of the two would state “What will they think of next?”
I remember one episode talking about how one day, you would be able to go on your computers and look at the showtimes at your local movie theatre, or see what stores were in your local mall. I watched this in amazement, not knowing that computers would be able to do such things. This was in the days even before the Commodore 64, where they were just hooked up to your TV to type text in.
I had completely given up hope for this technology to ever happen. Years later, after the internet, did I remember that Joseph Campanella and Tiiu Leek had predicted it years before. What visionaries!
The show was gone from Nickelodeon soon after.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
FORGOTTEN TV: WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF NEXT? (Early 1980's)
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29 comments:
Oh wow... I remember this show. I used to watch it all the time when it aired in Canada. You're right, there is no info online about this show which is a shame. It was pretty cool for its time.
I remember this show too. I think it aired at 4:00 right before You Can't Do That on Televison. (Or did it? "I don't know." *green slime*)
Before each commercial break they would run a fast scoll of really interesting facts about science and I remember trying to write them down with the help of my little brother so I could review them later. (I was such a dork.)
I also thought it was interesting because the host also played the father who was divorced from Bonnie Franklin on "One Day at a Time."
I'm glad that others remember this! I thought it might be too obscure.
I remember this show as well It was one of my favs when I was 9. It would be interesting to watch them again and compare the predictions of the outcome of tech with the reality.
Oh, I used to love that show!!
I saw it in New Jersey. It was mostly a compilation if industrial videos, with Joe C at the helm. Tiuu Leek [sp?] was the first SI babe, then came the keen Kerry Keene.
Geek stuff and babes... What WILL They Think of Next???
I'm so glad that other people are looking for this show. I have been thinking about it lately, and was really disappointed there are no clips on YouTube. I remember one episode where they talked about futuristic plastic discs that could be read by lasers, and could contain music, movies, etc. Wow. What will they think of next?
Aw this was the best show evar. I ran upstairs to tell mom that one day there will be computers in every home. Then dad bought a Vic 20 and I was sold. I loved the way Joseph Campanella would seem to laugh the words "what will they think of next?" and then we would watch That's Incredible and Battlestar Galactica. Good times!
I truely loved that show. I was born in 69' and I was just akid when I saw it on Nickelodeon. I'm glad you posted something on it. Those were the days. Cable TV was new for us then and I also remember the Nickelodeon commercial where the clown looks into the real nickelodeon to watch a film. lol.
i watched this in canada when i was 2.5 to 5 years old and LOVED it! the animations were my favourite, of course! i'm trying to track down the theme song, but i haven't had much luck yet (one of the best theme songs ever!). i remember the end credits had a time code or something counting down and the edge of the sceen changed from one colour to another. GREAT show!
I also have fond memories of the show and would like to show it to my wife (she's 35). I went looking for it specifically to find a slow motion video of a wax candle being fired from a shotgun through a piece of 3/4" plywood with almost no destruction of the candle - at least that's how I remember it. If anyone knows were I can get copies of the show, or that specific video I'd be much obliged.
I watched this show too. It was on Bellingham KVOS TV as well as CHEK TV out of Victoria or Vancouver.
This show was on before sctv on Saturday evenings
On ckvu Vancouver as well probably early to mid eighties
I would love to find some eps via bittorent
I would imagine it has a lot of kitsch appeal now
OMG! I've been looking around on the net for years for any reference of this show... and I too, was unlucky. I remember the bubbles at the end (2 of them had their faces in it) of the show hovering around the screen as the credits scrolled through. I was only born in 74 but I watched it whenever I could... I would love to see another episode if possible. I remember once they talked about magnet's under the roads to move cars along and I also remember them talking about putting reflectors on the street that pointed the lights to the sides so animals wouldn't dart accross in the evening...
What will they think of next...
This was one of my favorite shows as a kid, though not all of the stuff on it was believable. I remember one episode in which they told of a technology that could turn a two dimensional picture into a life size, three dimensional foam model. They spoke of a car as an example, noting that the front and back of the foam car would look the same. I still hum the theme music to myself every now and then. I wish this show was available on DVD.
When I was a kid I loved that show. I actually pictured a Star Trek like scene somewhere with people working on all this futuristic stuff, and they would make a TV show on the side to educate the public (I was about two years past Santa Claus at the time). But it was a great show, and the fact that a kid would voluntarily watch it regularly and learn stuff proves it. It would be great to see the intro again, I liked the song.
Your freaking me out Ken, thats was my Friday night tv staple aswell.
good times indeed!!
I remember this show and ...in Search of being two of my favorites as a child outside of Toronto. The theme music (if I remember it correctly) reminds me of Boards of Canada (which I guess would be fitting considering it was probably made by a Board of Canada). I would love to find it somewhere
I think that if morphed into "How It's Made," which has been going strong on Discovery Channel for 14 years.
I reslly like this series.I too wish it was on a DVD.I'd sure buy it even if the information would be dated.Maybe someone should start a new show,based on the same subject matter.Love to see it.
Aaron here again!
Why don't we all pull together (resources) and actually see if there is a copy out there that we could share. I live for projects like this so contact me if you want to start to work on this.
I also would buy the DVD even though it would be outdated. I grew up in the Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax area and would do anything just to watch a couple of episodes again of Science International. Let's organize something to see who would buy them. - Dino
I'm still looking... but no luck. I'll keep you all posted.
Aaron
p.s. just thought of something. what if we contact the TV station??
I remember this show, the theme song was nostalgic--daaa daaa daaa or something but every Sunday evening at 6 it seems EVERYONE was watching. I use to think it was just me till others quietly fessed up. What a visionary show.
The theme music lives on in my head. I remember the exact melody. It does sound like Boards of Canada would find inspiring.
I remember one episode where deaf people could communicate over the phone. I still don't get that one :)
It's nice to know many people (Canadians especially) remember this great show.
I'm from Jamaica and i remebered it as well...as a kid about 4 i really loved the animation and could not find any vids on youtube either......wow
tada dadaa da da dada daa daa da da da da dada da.....
I can't keep on seeing the responses because they are only getting me more insterested in a lost cause :(
we have to find out if there is an episode somewhere somehow????
I haven't had luck with the tv stations but maybe I'm doing something wrong.
There are three vids on YouTube. Search for Science International. Two are snips from the show and the other is just the theme song.
Aaron here again.
Look at what I found for all of us tonight!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF8vLUEp29E
Have fun and remember to post more here if you find them.
Aaron
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