Here's a marvelous and cleverly-edited segment on Gerry Anderson's TV adventure series "The Protectors", which debuted in 1972 and ran for two seasons consisting of 52 episodes. Most people don't associate the show with Anderson, the king of TV animated series. The series starred Robert Vaughn and Nyree Dawn Porter as mysterious, rich adventurers who take on international criminals. "The Protectors" was clearly inspired by "The Avengers" but boasted a larger budget that allowed for filming in exotic locations worldwide. It must be said that Vaughn never cared for the show and bad-mouthed it in a New York Times interview even before it debuted, claiming that the half-hour format didn't allow for compelling plots. Nonetheless, the series was a success and has developed a cult following. Even the end title song, "Avenues and Alleyways" by Tony Christie remains a pop culture favorite in the UK.
Brian VanHooker, writing for the website MEL, takes an in-depth look at the direct-to-video VHS sequels to Disney hits that became all the rage in the 1990s and expanded into the DVD era. They were brought about by the failure of the theatrical sequel "The Rescuers Down Under" and would go on to become an important source of profits for the company. Click here to read.