Supertrain
Encyclopedia
Supertrain is an American television
drama
/adventure
series that ran on NBC
from February 7 to May 5, 1979. Nine episodes were made, including a 2-hour pilot episode.
bullet train
that was equipped with amenities more appropriate to a cruise ship
. It had luxuries such as swimming pool
s and shopping centers. It was so big it had to run on very broad gauge
single track (not a pair of tracks as depicted in some advertising). Though it had a rated top speed of 190 mph, the train took 36 hours to go from New York City
to Los Angeles
, which would put the train's average speed at around 78 miles per hour, slower than the moderately paced AMTRAK Acela and well below the speeds of bullet trains in Europe and Asia. Much like its contemporary The Love Boat
, the plots concerned the passengers' social lives, usually with multiple intertwining storylines. Most of the cast of a given episode were guest stars. The production was elaborate, with huge sets and a high-tech model train for outside shots.
at the time. The production was beset by problems including a model train that crashed. While the series was heavily advertised during the 1978-1979 season, it suffered from poor reviews and low ratings. Despite attempts to salvage the show by reworking the cast, it never took off and left the air after only three months. NBC, which had produced the show itself, with help from Dark Shadows
producer Dan Curtis
, was unable to recoup its losses. Combined with the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics
the following season, which cost NBC millions in ad revenue, the series nearly bankrupted the network. For these reasons, Supertrain has been called one of the greatest television flops.
ranked Supertrain number 28 on its '50 Worst TV Shows of All Time' list.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
drama
Dramatic programming
Dramatic programming in the UK, or television drama and television drama series in the US, is television program content that is scripted and fictional along the lines of √a traditional drama. This excludes, for example, sports television, television news, reality show and game shows, stand-up...
/adventure
Adventure (genre)
The adventure genre, in the context of a narrative, is typically applied to works in which the protagonist or other major characters are consistently placed in dangerous situations...
series that ran on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
from February 7 to May 5, 1979. Nine episodes were made, including a 2-hour pilot episode.
Overview
The series took place on the Supertrain, a nuclear-poweredNuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
bullet train
High-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
that was equipped with amenities more appropriate to a cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
. It had luxuries such as swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
s and shopping centers. It was so big it had to run on very broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
single track (not a pair of tracks as depicted in some advertising). Though it had a rated top speed of 190 mph, the train took 36 hours to go from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, which would put the train's average speed at around 78 miles per hour, slower than the moderately paced AMTRAK Acela and well below the speeds of bullet trains in Europe and Asia. Much like its contemporary The Love Boat
The Love Boat
The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
, the plots concerned the passengers' social lives, usually with multiple intertwining storylines. Most of the cast of a given episode were guest stars. The production was elaborate, with huge sets and a high-tech model train for outside shots.
Production troubles
Supertrain was the most expensive series ever aired in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the time. The production was beset by problems including a model train that crashed. While the series was heavily advertised during the 1978-1979 season, it suffered from poor reviews and low ratings. Despite attempts to salvage the show by reworking the cast, it never took off and left the air after only three months. NBC, which had produced the show itself, with help from Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows is a gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements...
producer Dan Curtis
Dan Curtis
Dan Curtis was an American director and producer of television and film, probably best known for his miniseries The Winds of War and War and Remembrance, his afternoon TV series Dark Shadows, and the made for TV movie, . Dark Shadows originally aired from 1966 to 1971 and has aired in syndication...
, was unable to recoup its losses. Combined with the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
the following season, which cost NBC millions in ad revenue, the series nearly bankrupted the network. For these reasons, Supertrain has been called one of the greatest television flops.
Reception
In 2002 TV GuideTV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
ranked Supertrain number 28 on its '50 Worst TV Shows of All Time' list.
Episodes
| № | Title | Directed by: | Written by: | Original air date |
|---|
External links
- Supertrain Unofficial Site Supertrain series information including episode guide and airdates.
- Boxcutters ep 270 The Boxcutters podcast takes a look back at Supertrain (includes archive interview material).
- A Highly Critical Review of the first 1:30 of NBC’s Supertrain