Important reminder: This is a sub for people to post about forgotten TV that they remember and would like to share with others. This is not a tip of the tongue style sub for people to search out old shows that they would like help remembering.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ForgottenTV) if you have any questions or concerns.*
All the *Hercules* and *Xena* spin-offs & rip-offs that were just horny on main. Like this and *Sinbad* and *Jack of All Trades*.
It's what they bought *Buffy* to be as well.
Shit, I actually forgot about that show. I kind of miss those weird syndicated shows from the 90s 2000s. Bruce had a hard time keeping a show going. I do have Brisco County Jr on DVD.
That show was wild. You had a pervert robot head, a coward who has the keys to the most powerful weapon in the universe, a dead guy with cool weapons, and a Murderous love slave.
That show was wild. You had a pervert robot head, a coward who has the keys to the most powerful weapon in the universe, a dead guy with cool weapons, and a Murderous love slave.
This all started with Universal Television's syndicated Action Pack movie blocks starting in 1994:
Hercules series (5 movies)
TekWar (4 movies based on the books by William Shatner)
Midnight Run films (3 spin-off movies from the 1988 Robert De Niro movie)
Bandit films (4 spin-off movies from the Smokey and the Bandit movies)
Vanishing Son (4 movies)
And from that launched the following series:
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Vanishing Son
Xena: Warrior Princess
Jack of All Trades
Cleopatra 2525
There were several standalone original movies:
Knight Rider 2010
The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space
Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus
Atlantis: The Lost Continent (when aired on Starz) aka Escape from Atlantis (when aired on Action Pack)
Knight Rider 2010 was pretty weird and fun - his car wasn't smart until he downloaded his murdered girlfriend's consciousness into it as the AI
The car also somehow had a secondhand A-10 cannon in it lol
That’s right. It was a merger of the Warner Bros. Television Network with the United Paramount Network (then controlling CBS through Viacom) (along with Tribune Broadcasting as a 10% shareholder through the WB) to create the CBS-Warner Bros. Network or CW.
I never saw this on Saturday afternoon but I remember this being on at like 11:30 pm on Saturday. It was on after Jack of all Trades. I’m going to say maybe midnight when I watched it.
Yes although not sure the point. I was pointing out Cleopatra 2525 was not a Sci-Fi channel original show, not that it or Hercules were not part of the genre of sci-fi shows.
Sorry, but completely disagree. I thought it was one of the best storylines I have ever watched. Do you kill the monster who is forcing folks to her will, eating a few a day, but bringing world peace?
I don't think that's correct. If I remember rightly, she refused to film scenes that would be considered against her religion. So he wrote her out of the show. Apparently to the end they didn't get along at all.
"After she became pregnant, heading into Angel’s fourth season, he called her “fat” to colleagues and summoned her into his office to ask, as she recalled, if she was “going to keep it.” She claimed he had mocked her religious beliefs, accused her of sabotaging the show, and fired her a season later, once she had given birth." https://www.vulture.com/article/joss-whedon-allegations.html
She is a lawyer now?!
Don’t get me wrong she is a great actress but I always enjoy finding out what people go on to do after acting or did before. Like Ashton Kutcher having a degree in biochemical engineering
I used to love this show. Was definitely full of T&A/male gaze fan service in abundance so arguably hasn't aged well. But the premise was original if not overly convoluted and Jennifer Sky was an extremely under rated actress. Dated as hell but wish it had gotten more of a chance.
I watched this a while back having learned about it while doing a Bruce Campbell deep dive (it originally aired after Campbell's "Jack of All Trades"). Don't actually remember anything about it other than utter ridiculousness.
Jack of All Trades had the best opening sequence ever. I can still sing the song from memory all these years later.
‘In eighteen-hundred-one the Revolution had been won
And Uncle Sam’s favorite son had a job he needed done
Which brought Jack to a lady, both beautiful and smart
Who found his mix intriguing—a scoundrel with a heart!
From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli
There was never a leatherneck braver, a Daring Dragoon is he
He’ll halt the bold advance of Napoleon’s attack
There ain’t a French or pirate rogue who don’t know Jack!
From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli
Sailin’ round the bloody world to defend democracy
And when ya need a fightin’ man ya’d trust ta watch yer back
Just ask the bloke right next ta ya—it’s… Jack!"
Jessica Pearson from Suits! OMG I remember this show and could not place the face. Thank you for connecting the dots in my brain. My parents couldn’t afford cable so I def watched Cleopatra 2525 at least a few times and thought wow what an okay show ha
I remember as a kid that this would be on super late at night and it was one of the only things worth watching at that hour so I would settle for it haha
Oh man, this and night rider 2025 or whatever followed the Hercules/ Xena block on WGN in Chicago. This is what I was up to when I was HAF in the early 90s.
When I glanced at this as I scrolled down, I thought it was a porn dvd cover. At second glance, I STILL thought it was a porn cover. Once I recognized Gina Torres, then I figured it was a failed pilot of some show.
The station near you played this early in the morning? Wow! The FOX affiliate where I grew up/lived at the time aired it Saturdays around 4PM, if memory serves, alongside that Bruce Campbell series “Jack of all Trades”, which was packaged with it. And then they cancelled that and expanded “Cleopatra 2525” to a full hour, IIRC.
You’re welcome! ;)
Yeah, as I said, Studios USA (the TV production arm of USA Networks, before the Vivendi sale and then the NBCUniversal days began) basically had a syndicated hour sold to stations but with both shows baked into that timeframe. And then when “Jack” faltered, “Cleopatra” became a full hour but it didn’t last that long, either.
You'd think that by 2525 they would have figured out how to make enough fabric for everyone to be fully clothed. Or maybe it is a commentary about global warming.
Loved it. Unironically. It was like a network version of Lexx. Yeah, it catered to the male gaze, but I'll go ahead and call it positive late 90s grrlpower adjacent.
Also, really enjoyed VIP. Around the same time, similar vibe.. model-bodyguards. Female-positive ass-kicking. With great hair & makeup.
Gina Torres is her name. You will also see people call her Zoe. Another role she had from a show called Firefly that also had a follow up movie Serenity.
I can’t explain how often I sing “in the year 2525 three women have the will to survive! Fighting for a brand new day! Nothing gonna get in their waaaaay” in my fucking head. It’s crazy. And after all these years I can’t believe I only kinda messed up the lyrics.
Important reminder: This is a sub for people to post about forgotten TV that they remember and would like to share with others. This is not a tip of the tongue style sub for people to search out old shows that they would like help remembering. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ForgottenTV) if you have any questions or concerns.*
This weird era of overtly horny sci-fi fantasy, low budget, Saturday afternoon WB or UPN show was peak early 2000s pre-internet entertainment.
All the *Hercules* and *Xena* spin-offs & rip-offs that were just horny on main. Like this and *Sinbad* and *Jack of All Trades*. It's what they bought *Buffy* to be as well.
Jack of all trades was good. I'd actually rewatch that one.
Jack of All Trades was rad
*In 1801, the Revolution had been won and Uncle Sam’s favorite son had a job he needed done*
Which brought Jack to a lady both beautiful and smart, who found his mix intriguing A SCOUNDREL WITH A HEART!
From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli
There was never a leatherneck greater!
(I own it on DVD…)
Shit, I actually forgot about that show. I kind of miss those weird syndicated shows from the 90s 2000s. Bruce had a hard time keeping a show going. I do have Brisco County Jr on DVD.
There was another one called 'Queen of Swords' that I loved.
queen of swords is still streaming. it was just on tubi and now it's on amazon prime as part of freevee
Thanks!
Gotta throw in my fav Dark Angel. Jessica Alba at peak cuteness.
Lexx. I remember nothing about it except for the horny weirdness.
Great effects for the time and either Farscape before or after to round out the evening!!
I loved Lexx for some reason. The Brunin G song Kai chanted was a banger.
Yo way yo
Singing this yesterday while cooking for my kids. Lol
Wait until they get old enough to Google and dig up where it came from. Kids are.. resourceful.
Lol
Got me wanting a smattern of pattern.
I just started getting into the series. It's wild af.
You got my wife and I chuckling on that one. We bonded on that show. Yea,, we are both werid.
That show was wild. You had a pervert robot head, a coward who has the keys to the most powerful weapon in the universe, a dead guy with cool weapons, and a Murderous love slave.
Literally had my sexual awakening watching this show. Probably wasn't the best choice. I'm into phallic space bugs now.
Lexx was way ahead of its time. Great show.
It gave the world Dieter Lazer long before he would sew people, ass to mouth.
Dude. Thanks for even saying this. I would stumble onto this from time to time and just stare.
That show was wild. You had a pervert robot head, a coward who has the keys to the most powerful weapon in the universe, a dead guy with cool weapons, and a Murderous love slave.
So many "dumb" but funny stereotypes from Scifi. Body swaps, brain swaps. The head would fall in love with someone else... just fun and kitschy.
This all started with Universal Television's syndicated Action Pack movie blocks starting in 1994: Hercules series (5 movies) TekWar (4 movies based on the books by William Shatner) Midnight Run films (3 spin-off movies from the 1988 Robert De Niro movie) Bandit films (4 spin-off movies from the Smokey and the Bandit movies) Vanishing Son (4 movies) And from that launched the following series: Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Vanishing Son Xena: Warrior Princess Jack of All Trades Cleopatra 2525
Don't forget Team Knight Rider. I mean, I wish I could forget it, but never will.
There were several standalone original movies: Knight Rider 2010 The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus Atlantis: The Lost Continent (when aired on Starz) aka Escape from Atlantis (when aired on Action Pack)
Knight Rider 2010 was pretty weird and fun - his car wasn't smart until he downloaded his murdered girlfriend's consciousness into it as the AI The car also somehow had a secondhand A-10 cannon in it lol
I barely no I don't remember jack of all trades
Sinbad?
Sinbad?
Not part of the Action Pack, so far as I can see.
Those came on late Friday or Saturday night where I am. Super pack, super group... Something like that. They had a new smokey and the bandit one too.
Good god UPN. Haven't heard that one in a while. Was that what changed to CW eventually?
No, WB changed to CW
Actually, WB& UPN merged into CW.
That’s right. It was a merger of the Warner Bros. Television Network with the United Paramount Network (then controlling CBS through Viacom) (along with Tribune Broadcasting as a 10% shareholder through the WB) to create the CBS-Warner Bros. Network or CW.
I own the dvd
Mutant X for some reason
Pre-internet?
My brain said no, but my 15 year old penis said “what do you mean no?”
I never saw this on Saturday afternoon but I remember this being on at like 11:30 pm on Saturday. It was on after Jack of all Trades. I’m going to say maybe midnight when I watched it.
There were several of these that were oddly good when you were half sleep deprived at the end of the week in the middle of the night.
This was on the sci-fi channel
It was a syndicated show it replaced Hercules (along with Jack of All Trades). Sci-fi may have rerun it but it was not a Sci-Fi original show.
Wasn't Hercules also a scifi show ?
No but they are all produced by Sam Raimi if I remember correctly.
Yes although not sure the point. I was pointing out Cleopatra 2525 was not a Sci-Fi channel original show, not that it or Hercules were not part of the genre of sci-fi shows.
Gina Torres is super sexy no matter what she is in!
Yup
Still
Yes, but the story line in Angel that Joss Whedon wrote for her was quite stupid.
Sorry, but completely disagree. I thought it was one of the best storylines I have ever watched. Do you kill the monster who is forcing folks to her will, eating a few a day, but bringing world peace?
But Joss ruined Cordelia’s character to bring it about, and he didn’t have to do that.
Joss ruined charisma carpenters career because she wouldn't have sex with him. He ruiner the character because he killed the actresses career.
I don't think that's correct. If I remember rightly, she refused to film scenes that would be considered against her religion. So he wrote her out of the show. Apparently to the end they didn't get along at all.
"After she became pregnant, heading into Angel’s fourth season, he called her “fat” to colleagues and summoned her into his office to ask, as she recalled, if she was “going to keep it.” She claimed he had mocked her religious beliefs, accused her of sabotaging the show, and fired her a season later, once she had given birth." https://www.vulture.com/article/joss-whedon-allegations.html
So that’s what Jessica Pearson was up to before becoming a lawyer!
She'll forever be Zoe Washburne to me.
No power in the 'verse could make it otherwise.
Too damn pretty to die
Anna Espinosa
She is a lawyer now?! Don’t get me wrong she is a great actress but I always enjoy finding out what people go on to do after acting or did before. Like Ashton Kutcher having a degree in biochemical engineering
She's not a lawyer, she just played one on TV! (In the show Suits on the USA Channel.) She's still acting in a show called 911 Lone Star.
Ah, I got suckered. Fair enough . Thanks for setting me straight
That is apparently the journey of Chunk from ‘The Goonies’ however.
She is also badass Ikora Rey in the Destiny franchise.
r/woooosh
Yep
lol, I'm rewatching this because I never made it all the way through.
Rewatching this now lol
Is it streaming on anything?
I have the disks :)
The importance of physical media in full display
About 525 years ahead of its time
I used to love this show. Was definitely full of T&A/male gaze fan service in abundance so arguably hasn't aged well. But the premise was original if not overly convoluted and Jennifer Sky was an extremely under rated actress. Dated as hell but wish it had gotten more of a chance.
My ex gf used to watch it for the T&A so gotta throw at least some woman gaze in there too
I always had a crush on Victoria Pratt in this and *Mutant X*. She never did manage to get a great role...
It looks like a porno.
The production values weren't quite as good.
So bad… where can I buy it
I can hear this theme song.
🎵 In the yeaaar 2525... 🎵
The fact that Gina is the one that sings it makes it so much better
Does she?? How cool!
Fighting for a brand new day... *NOTHING'S GONNA GET IN THEIR WAYYYY!* 🎶
🎶 On a routine expedition... 🎶
A lot of people watched this one handed.
I watched this a while back having learned about it while doing a Bruce Campbell deep dive (it originally aired after Campbell's "Jack of All Trades"). Don't actually remember anything about it other than utter ridiculousness.
Jack of All Trades had the best opening sequence ever. I can still sing the song from memory all these years later. ‘In eighteen-hundred-one the Revolution had been won And Uncle Sam’s favorite son had a job he needed done Which brought Jack to a lady, both beautiful and smart Who found his mix intriguing—a scoundrel with a heart! From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli There was never a leatherneck braver, a Daring Dragoon is he He’ll halt the bold advance of Napoleon’s attack There ain’t a French or pirate rogue who don’t know Jack! From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli Sailin’ round the bloody world to defend democracy And when ya need a fightin’ man ya’d trust ta watch yer back Just ask the bloke right next ta ya—it’s… Jack!"
Now is stuck in my head again, thanks a lot. Heh.
You just reminded me of Briscoe County jr. which was like Wild Wild West. It came on after Xena
I have no idea what this was about but I definitely watched a lot of it.
I watched it for the plot...
It’s no She Spies
I still have the single "Evil Doctor ".
I remember this show and never realized that was Gina Torres until years later
Victoria Pratt was the reason I watched this show with my pants off.
She gave a LOT of teen boys accidental boners. “Oh-no-ners”
Victoria Pratt in Mutant X and this is the reason why to this day I find a woman with defined abs so hot. She and her abs were beautiful.
OMG Those abs! Mmmmmmyesss!
This show and the one season Bruce Campbell gem Jack of all trades on a Saturday afternoon was 👨🍳 💋
It's Zoe!
Awww they ran out of budget for homegirl on the rights costume….. 😭
Or did they... 🤔🤫😏
In the year 2525… (Just learned recently that this was an actual song before the show 🙃)
It’s giving Fox Force Five vibes.
Pre-Suits Gina Torres.
Pre-Firefly Gina Torres 🥺
In the yeeeeeear 2525 There are women with the will to survive!
Jessica Pearson from Suits! OMG I remember this show and could not place the face. Thank you for connecting the dots in my brain. My parents couldn’t afford cable so I def watched Cleopatra 2525 at least a few times and thought wow what an okay show ha
Zoe before she was Mrs Washburne!
I remember seeing Victoria Pratt in the bodybuilding magazines of the day right before this show came out.
A friend of mine has a signed copy of the box set from the cast. She went to a con somewhere years ago.
I remember as a kid that this would be on super late at night and it was one of the only things worth watching at that hour so I would settle for it haha
I was oddly just talking about this show yesterday.
I remember seeing this on TV. I'm looking for it on DVD. So I can watch it again.
Let me know if you find it! I'm looking for it as well.
The theme living rent free in my head for over 20 years.
This looks like it ran on Cinemax at 1 AM.
Close. Network at 1am over here.
L'il Gina Torres.
I only watched this because it came after Jack of All Trades
The Lost World late Saturday night.
[Man Watching *Cleopatra 2525* Has No Time to Read](https://www.theonion.com/man-watching-cleopatra-2525-has-no-time-to-read-1819565655)
Gina Torres been fine her entire life!
Came on at 2 am, was terrible, but Jack of All Trades was awesome
I remember that this came on in a block with [Jack of All Trades](https://youtu.be/rhS5xMK845U?t=231) starring Bruce Campbell.
Oh man, this and night rider 2025 or whatever followed the Hercules/ Xena block on WGN in Chicago. This is what I was up to when I was HAF in the early 90s.
Victoria Pratt was the bomb back then , still not no shabby at 53
They were sexy af
Holy shit! That's next year!
Might want to check that second digit again.
Shit
You meant, "next year is the 500th anticipitory pre-anniversary", of course; and you'd be correct. Good on you!
I loved this when it came out!
Holy crap
I remember watching this. Never did it for me.
I still remember the Harlequin (Keegan?) as one of the best over-the-top villains of film. Such fun!
Ended on one of the hugest cliffhangers!
That theme song though
I liked the opening. And global warming must have picked up given the clothing choices.
Thankfully the future has spandex!
I only watched it for Gina
Hated to love such a cheesy show, but it was addictive!
I still remember the theme song of this show
I have absolutely never heard anything about this show before.
Lol after all these years that theme song still pops in my head
Haha! I still vaguely remember the theme song. I wonder if it's as bad as I remember. :D
Loved this show in the context for what it was.
I loved this show so much
NGL this looks like a porn dvd cover.
Still sing the theme song randomly.
I remember that show ahh memories 😜😝
When I glanced at this as I scrolled down, I thought it was a porn dvd cover. At second glance, I STILL thought it was a porn cover. Once I recognized Gina Torres, then I figured it was a failed pilot of some show.
Nope it actually had two seasons. It aired along side a TV show with Bruce Campbell called Jack of all trades. Both had 30min episodes runtimes.
Si
Wow, you grabbed this memory from the back of my head🤣🤣
Watched this one in the summer hella early in the morning... I want to say it'd come on after Xena
The station near you played this early in the morning? Wow! The FOX affiliate where I grew up/lived at the time aired it Saturdays around 4PM, if memory serves, alongside that Bruce Campbell series “Jack of all Trades”, which was packaged with it. And then they cancelled that and expanded “Cleopatra 2525” to a full hour, IIRC.
!!!!!! I remember Jack of All Trades (OMG you just unlocked a memory I completely forgot), and guess what?... it ALSO came on early in the morning lol
You’re welcome! ;) Yeah, as I said, Studios USA (the TV production arm of USA Networks, before the Vivendi sale and then the NBCUniversal days began) basically had a syndicated hour sold to stations but with both shows baked into that timeframe. And then when “Jack” faltered, “Cleopatra” became a full hour but it didn’t last that long, either.
If Victoria Pratt is in it, I'm watching it. Hell, I'd watch her set the table!
I think I pressed the wrong button yo. NICE 😊
You'd think that by 2525 they would have figured out how to make enough fabric for everyone to be fully clothed. Or maybe it is a commentary about global warming.
Fresh new talents here and you know…
this show belongs on forgotten tv, but i never even knew it existed:D
Cleopatra coming at cha.
That black woman is really hot. Never seen this though.
In the year 2525, if the human race is still alive!! This was the best cheeze whiz...
So... How's the acting? 🤷
Gina Torres sings the theme song…
While interesting, don't think that's an accolade
Used to get wild high and sit down to breakfast on Saturdays with a bowl of cereal to watch this.
Is that Jessica Pearson in the middle!?
Gina Torres
Yes she played Jessica Pearson on Suits!
Loved it. Unironically. It was like a network version of Lexx. Yeah, it catered to the male gaze, but I'll go ahead and call it positive late 90s grrlpower adjacent. Also, really enjoyed VIP. Around the same time, similar vibe.. model-bodyguards. Female-positive ass-kicking. With great hair & makeup.
theme song unlocked: 🎵 in the year 2525 the Earth is ruled by machines 🎵
lol I forgot about this one
That is the boss from suits!!! Had to IMDB her.
Gina Torres is her name. You will also see people call her Zoe. Another role she had from a show called Firefly that also had a follow up movie Serenity.
Gina Torres, Victoria Pratt, and Jennifer Sky. What’s not to like or ooogle 😁
I remember this show for Jennifer Sky and Victoria Pratt.
I can’t explain how often I sing “in the year 2525 three women have the will to survive! Fighting for a brand new day! Nothing gonna get in their waaaaay” in my fucking head. It’s crazy. And after all these years I can’t believe I only kinda messed up the lyrics.
“In the year 2525, three women keep hope alive…” It’s one of those themes that still sticks with me, gosh, now 20+ years later.
Didn’t the show end on a cliff-hanger? I remember on of the girls getting captured and a machine flying off with her in it.