In 1985, NBC aired a four episode series called OCEANQUEST. It was a reality TV series, long before reality TV had taken over the airwaves.
1980 Miss Universe Shawn Weatherly was the star. The show followed her as she trained to become an underwater diver. It began with her training, and then took her around the world to interesting places to dive.
While in Cuba, she visited with Fidel Castro. Imagine him appearing on a summer reality show today (“Fidel, you have been voted out of the Big Brother House.”).
In Antarctica was the only time Shawn wasn’t able to complete her assignment. If I remember correctly, she chickened out of diving due to the temperature. I couldn’t blame her.
The man behind the series, and featured on camera, was Al Giddings. He was a notable underwater cameraman, who shot sequences for THE DEEP, FOR YOUR EYES ONLY and THE ABYSS among others.
The show ran for four episodes, from August 18, to September 15, 1985. It was nominated for an Emmy.
I don’t know how popular the show was. I don’t believe it ever aired other than that one summer. It never made it to VHS or DVD.
There was a popular poster of Shawn inspired by the show that I remember seeing in record stores for years after.
Shawn would go on to star in the first season of BAYWATCH. She has pretty much left the business and one site claims she is working in real estate.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
FORGOTTEN TV: OCEAN QUEST (1985)
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4 comments:
Believe it or not, somewhere in this world there are VHS tapes with this series on it, and it lasted more than four episodes! I know because when I was a young boy my father brought me a whole bunch of tapes of this show, which he got through work... he had worked for the boating industry and they used a bunch of his company's boats in the films. My brother and I would spend hours after hours watching these again and again! GREAT stuff back then! :)
I used to have these tapes in the 80's,, I no longer do. I desperatly want this series again. If anyone knows where I can get them
coloneldundee@gmail.com
thankyou
Oceanquest was my first memory of reality Tv. We only have some partial episodes on vhs. It was such a great series. I keep looking trying to find where to order or watch it streaming.
I have a couple episodes that I've been carrying all my life...this was one of my favorite shows...been trying to get the whole set...I've got the humpback whale episode X2, Antarctica and part of Truck Lagoon...all on one tape...want to transfer to dvd in case anything every happens to it, cause I love it...I'm 33 now and I remember waiting to see the show every week...Found this post under Forgotten TV...LOL...I never forgot...I watch it with my girls...If I ever win the lottery...my dream is to hire Al Giddings for a year...I want him to teach me what he knows...he's inspired me all my life...it all started with Ocean Quest
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