I own videotapes older than you

Okay, so that's not going to be true for everyone reading this, but I bet that at least some of you were born after spring 1987, right? That's when the contents of the videotape I watched today were aired.

I had intended to watch "Stones of Blood" (all thisbluespirit's fault, by the way), but it turned out that while the videotape was labeled with that episode, it had been taped over. In spring 1987. I was able to date the contents very well, because there were references to upcoming air dates in April, and an episode of "Starman" on the tape. Yes, that's right, Starman, the television series, which only aired for one season (in 1987).

So then of course I had to sit down and see what the hell else was on this mystery videotape. It turned out to contain the last three episodes of "War Games," about 5 minutes of the last episode of "The Sea Devils," the opening credits to "Earthshock," and all of "The Deadly Assassin." Obviously my local PBS station was bouncing around between Doctors at the time (not unusual), and there was a fair amount of taping and re-taping going on, for which I blame my brother, mostly -- "War Games" sounds like him -- but then again, I suspect that "Starman" was my fault. I used to have a crush on Robert Hays.

"Starman" was hilariously bad -- pretentious, hokey sci-fi -- but I'm sorry I wasn't able to see "Stones of Blood." Although most likely that is hilariously bad too, seeing as my brother and I relegated the videotape to the "can be taped over" pile. At least the combination of "War Games" and "Deadly Assassin" was an interesting one, especially in light of "End of Time." Gallifrey and the Time Lords have really changed quite a lot over the years, haven't they?

I own videotapes older than you

Okay, so that's not going to be true for everyone reading this, but I bet that at least some of you were born after spring 1987, right? That's when the contents of the videotape I watched today were aired.

I had intended to watch "Stones of Blood" (all thisbluespirit's fault, by the way), but it turned out that while the videotape was labeled with that episode, it had been taped over. In spring 1987. I was able to date the contents very well, because there were references to upcoming air dates in April, and an episode of "Starman" on the tape. Yes, that's right, Starman, the television series, which only aired for one season (in 1987).

So then of course I had to sit down and see what the hell else was on this mystery videotape. It turned out to contain the last three episodes of "War Games," about 5 minutes of the last episode of "The Sea Devils," the opening credits to "Earthshock," and all of "The Deadly Assassin." Obviously my local PBS station was bouncing around between Doctors at the time (not unusual), and there was a fair amount of taping and re-taping going on, for which I blame my brother, mostly -- "War Games" sounds like him -- but then again, I suspect that "Starman" was my fault. I used to have a crush on Robert Hays.

"Starman" was hilariously bad -- pretentious, hokey sci-fi -- but I'm sorry I wasn't able to see "Stones of Blood." Although most likely that is hilariously bad too, seeing as my brother and I relegated the videotape to the "can be taped over" pile. At least the combination of "War Games" and "Deadly Assassin" was an interesting one, especially in light of "End of Time." Gallifrey and the Time Lords have really changed quite a lot over the years, haven't they?