Talk:3-2-1 Contact

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Untitled[edit]

Hi everyone, I've done some editing on this page in the past, and I think something needs to be done with this passage:

>>>Funds for a second season were not sufficient until 1982. By then, Ozzie Alfonso was its new director and Al Hyslop its executive producer. When production resumed for the second season, which premiered on October 17, 1983, the show presented a more realistic appearance. The new cast convened at a suburban basement (these segments were shot at Reeves Teletape, which also housed Sesame Street at the time). New episodes continued to be produced through November 1988.<<<

First of all, I don't know what wasn't "realistic" about the show's first season. Is there a better way to describe the difference between the first season and those that followed?

Also, this passage implies that the "suburban basement" setting lasted all the way until 1988. I'm very sure this isn't true. At some point during the mid 1980's, the show was changed to a pure documentary format with no real "setting" at all, but I'm not sure of the exact year/season. If anyone could provide some exact information, I'm sure it would help. Thanks.

<<FWIW I'd also appreciate more info on Paco and the basement crew, since that was my first (memorable) exposure to the program, sometime around 1984...."My name is PACO. The tropics....are HOT!" -shehn>>

I'm almost certain that after the basement setting, it was changed to someone's apartment. I'm not sure it was ever in a "pure documentary format", though. --Micahbrwn 15:37, 2 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Origin of the name[edit]

The lead paragraph had explained it as

the words used to direct a space shuttle or missile countdown launch.

Then it was changed (with no edit summary) to something like

taken from the byegone days when a person pulled on the propeller of an airplane to start the engine. The words coordinated that person's action with the pilot's behavior.

Then it was quickly changed (with summary "reverted edits to something closer to the original text") to its present form of

the countdown used to direct a space shuttle or missile launch, replacing the phrase "lift off" with "contact."

Is anyone basing these explanations on any fact, or just speculating based on how each editor recognizes the phrase? DMacks 05:43, 7 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I'm the user who made the most recent edit in that section.

I don't have it anymore, but I remember having an issue of 3-2-1 Contact magazine (mid-80s, I think) in which a reader submitted a question asking about the origin of the show/magazine's name. The magazine editor replied by making a reference to the "3-2-1 BLAST OFF!!!" countdown used in a space launch, and then stated that the word "contact" was used as a way of showing that the magazine intended to keep young readers in 'contact' with science and technology...or something to that effect. (If anyone has that issue, I'm sure the citation and exact quote would help.)

On the first episode, Trini says in a voice-over that "The show is about people, and things, and ideas...all coming into contact."

At any rate though, I think it's safe to assume that the "3-2-1" in the title is a reference to a space launch...especially since the original opening montage shows a space shuttle about to blast off. I have no idea what that one editor was up to when adding that bit about the airplane propeller. Jphillst 03:48, 8 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Sounds good to me. FWIW, the idea of synchronizing electronic actions, with the final one being to make contact for some circuit in order to start an ignition sequence, is valid and would have been my first guess too (an exact ref instead of "like some expression, but with some changes made"). Which is why I was looking for some sort of officialish explanation of what their actual intent was. DMacks 00:05, 19 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I'm removing this... sentence until someone can provide a reliable source as to the origin of the name. — The Storm Surfer 01:34, 2 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It WAS revealed in a copy of the magazine sometime in the 80's, in one of the "reader mail" sections. I don't know the exact issue (and it may be difficult to find), but it made a reference to the "3-2-1 BLAST OFF!!!" phrase used in a space launch, and then stated that the word "contact" was used instead of "blast off" as a way of showing that the show/magazine intended to keep readers in contact with all aspects of science and technology, not just outer space. I think this seems perfectly logical...in what other context would the phrase "3-2-1" ever be used? Jphillst 04:07, 5 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In propeller aircraft, as the anonymous user suggested. Which would make more sense, as DMacks said. — The Storm Surfer 22:41, 5 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

However, one should also take note that in the original opening montage, just before the final "3-2-1 Contact!" is sung, they show a brief clip of a space shuttle about to blast off. That put together with the mail answer in the magazine makes it seem like a much more likely conclusion. Jphillst 01:58, 6 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In no way is this relating to any propeller aircraft. That makes absolutely no sense especially since they showed a shuttle launching when they said it plus the magazine said it related to a space launch. That's it. It couldn't be anything else. 72.154.166.253 (talk) 06:15, 5 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Storylines[edit]

It's been ages since I watched this show, but I remember really loving the first season. I seem to recall that during the first season they actually had storylines. They would sometimes investigate a scientific problem and learn about it over the course of the week. I seem to recall there was a storyline where Trini was in some race and ends up stranded in the desert. I don't know if anyone remembers this or can fill in the details. I was so young when I watched the show.

I stopped watching the show when they revamped the cast. Did they stop having storylines as a bridge to the various educational tours? Was it just random cast interactions to fill the gaps between educational video packages? Did they have full scientific topic for each episode or did it become more random? I'm not saying the plot/storylines were really deep or the acting was top-notch, but as a child, it did help provide more interest in a science show. RepSchnell 04:06, 23 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The second cast (1983-85) had some storylines too, but the third cast (1986-88) didn't. If you want to discuss this issue any further, I'd encourage you to join the 321 Contact Yahoo group (link found at the bottom of the article.) This talk page should be used only for discussion on how to improve the article. Jphillst 20:44, 23 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Ending date changed[edit]

In order to distinguish 3-2-1 Contact from 3-2-1 Classroom Contact, I changed the ending date on the info box and the opening paragraph from 1992 to 1988. (Classroom Contact was technically a different show.) I also changed the final paragraph in the History section in order to specify Classroom Contact's production dates. Jphillst 16:07, 26 May 2007 (UTC) -- edited by 2601:602:77F:D09D:4472:4A37:F304:F231 (talk) 03:21, 1 July 2017 (UTC) -- edited by 2601:602:77F:D09D:ACEF:7228:20C4:CC94 (talk) 04:49, 2 July 2017 (UTC)[reply]

It would be very good if this article could include more citations. This would in particular help clarify contraversies like this (I see the date has been changed several times). — The Storm Surfer 01:19, 24 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Citing something like a production date seems rather trivial. FWIW, TV.com lists Contact and Classroom Contact as two different shows, so I thought this article should distinguish between them as well. 209.94.161.57 06:18, 26 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

"The Show" section[edit]

I thought the recently-added "The Show" section looked a bit awkward, though it did have some useful information, so I cut out parts of it and put them into the main article. I deleted the part about the "three teenagers and an 11-year-old kid" since that description applies only to the second incarnation (1983-85). —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jphillst (talk • contribs) 19:53, 17 September 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Awards[edit]

IMDB mentions many nominations and awards for this series:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190169/awards. IMDB isn't always correct, but these awards should be added to the article if verified. :)

Also, I recently read several websites about Mary Batten that say she received an Emmy Award nomination for writing (perhaps several episodes of) this series. [1] [2] [3] [4] But when I checked this article and IMDB I don't find any mention of Batten to imply that she is related in anyway to this series. Is the award information true? --PeaceNT (talk) 03:52, 31 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Credits[edit]

What needs to be deleted in the credits section?Relevantsus (talk) 00:31, 15 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]