Stingray

This series illustrates the point that making a better product does not always guarantee success as the adage about the mousetrap goes. At least not in the world of 80's network TV. This show had excellent directing, acting, cinematography, writing, sets, and the coolest car on the airways. Sadly, due to fumbled advertising and a roving time slot, it just didn't make it. Or maybe audiences at the time just weren't ready for Stingray's intelligent and edgy direction and so passed it up for more down-to-Earth offerings. Whatever the reason for it's downfall, there were a lot of people hooked on the show. Many of my classmates liked it and each week's episode was the buzz of the school. Perhaps the Nielsen ratings messed up the numbers or maybe it just didn't sit well with the disposable income demographic.

I personally think this is a candidate for a DVD release and possible re-discovery. It was my favorite show when it was on the air

One of the things I admired about the show was the quality of the scripts. Not only did the plots vary considerably as to genre (mystery, science fiction, crime drama, psychological drama) but there appeared to be a concerted effort to explore different writing styles and devices.

For example: I recall one episode that was a 'Mission Impossible'-style caper with a unique twist-- the first half of the show was how the caper was SUPPOSED to come off, while the second half was how disastrously wrong it (nearly) turned out. Another show featured a mystery writer who appeared to write what was happening to Ray as it was happening-- that Ray's actions and the plot were under the writer's control, not Ray's.

This was one of my favorite shows. I guess I like stories in which the good guy always makes the "clever" bad guys look like idiots and still make it believable. But then, I'm very easily fooled and was more so when I was 25 and this show was new. Nick Mancuso was convincing and the co-stars were always experienced actors such as Robert Vaughn.

This show had a sleek, polished feel to it and was very artistic in its camera techniques, yet at the same time was accessible and fun. Ray was a very heroic figure and at the same time endearingly vulnerable. You knew if he were real you could trust him, and if you were female you hoped he might spend a little intimate time with you before disappearing again into his nameless existence. I hope desperately that someone will rerun the meager few shows that got made, but until then I cherish my few episodes on tape.

I got hooked on the late night reruns of the show during the late 80s. The show had interesting storylines, an intriguing main character, and some beautiful songs. My favorite songs being "I'll Fly Away", "Ether", and the song from the episode featuring the construction project over the sacred Indian burial ground. I just love rewatching those episodes and I never get sick of those songs.