Space Rangers

1 9 9 3 (USA)
6 x 45 minute episodes

Set in the futuristic world of 2104, the Federal Space Rangers in this short-lived CBS series were based out of Fort Hope, a fringe outpost on the planet Avalon, 2,000 light years from Earth.

Despite their location, the space cops had the same problems as their Earth counterparts – low pay, too much paperwork, no respect, budget cuts and a lack of manpower.

Ruggedly handsome Captain John Boon (Jeff Kaake) was a Han Solo clone with the obligatory two-day growth. His sympathetic boss was pint-sized Commander Chennault (Linda Hunt).

The big boss was the unlikeable and sinister bureaucratic representative of Central Command, Colonel Erich Weiss (Gottfried John).

Other members of Boon’s crew included tough-talking blonde pilot JoJo (Marjorie Monaghan, pictured); grumbling half-robot flight engineer Doc (Jack McGee). who Boon called “Tin Man”; a missionary called Zylyn (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa), an alien from the planet Grakka who could sense danger and possessed super-human strength, and ambitious trigger-happy rookie Daniel Kincaid (Danny Quinn, son of Anthony Quinn).

Back at Fort Hope was a science wizard-cum-handyman named Mimmer (Clint Howard, pictured) who assisted Boon and the crew of slingship Ranger 377 (nicknamed “Lizzie”).

Filled with cartoonish special effects, stilted dialogue and mediocre performances, Space Rangers was cancelled after only one episode had aired on American network TV.

Six episodes were produced, but only four were screened in the US – The show’s final two episodes only aired overseas.

Captain John Boon
Jeff Kaake
JoJo
Marjorie Monaghan
Zylyn
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Doc
Jack McGee
Mimmer
Clint Howard
Daniel Kincaid
Danny Quinn
Colonel Erich Weiss
Gottfried John
Commander Chennault
Linda Hunt
Isogul
Richard Grove

Episodes

Fort Hope | Banshies | The Replacements | Death Before Dishonor | To Be or Not to Be | The Trial