THE MARTIAN HAS LANDED...

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MY FAVOURITE MARTIAN was a TV show that lasted for three series (or seasons, as our U.S. readers refer to them) between 1963-'66 on American TV.  It must also have aired in Britain to be one of the strips in TV CENTURY 21, but Scotland seems to have missed out in that regard.  Not only have I never seen an episode, I don't know anyone in my neck of the woods who's seen one either.

The TV show (starring RAY WALSTON and BILL BIXBY) may have been inspired by the 1960 JERRY LEWIS movie VISIT To A SMALL PLANET, which had a similar premise, but it seems to have been specifically created to cash in on the popularity of sitcoms featuring unusual characters with extraordinary abilities.  (BEWITCHED and I DREAM Of JEANNIE spring immediately to mind.)

Oddly, even though I've never seen the show, My Favourite Martian (and particularly Ray Walston's image) remains one of the fondly-recalled memories of my childhood, due primarily to the strip's presence in probably Britain's premier periodical of the time.  BILL TITCOMBE drew most of the strips, I believe, and demonstrated the artistic skill and versatility for which he is so justly renowned.

Want to see more?  Let me know, pilgrims.

GERRY ANDERSON'S TV CENTURY 21 COVER GALLERY - PART SEVEN...

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Oh, all right then, you've talked me into it, you smooth-talking devils.  Presented for your perusal are another ten covers from perhaps Britain's greatest-ever comic - TV CENTURY 21.  Editor ALAN FENNELL was still in charge at this stage and the comic was still selling well, but that state of affairs wasn't destined to last forever, alas!  However, that was still to come - for the meantime let's just enjoy how things used to be when TV21 was still a force to be reckoned with.