ericrnolan Why, yes. Yes, it was. It ran for a single season in 1974.Was it any good? No. No, it wasn't, judging from its pilot. What we've got here is a poorly scripted, milquetoast rehash of the famous films, which (let's be honest) were themselves high on camp and low on brains.We have little of the charm of the movies, yet all of their cheesiness. A spaceship is not designed through travel time, but still helpfully features an ostentatious "chronometer." Our astronauts never suspect their real location until it is revealed to them — despite the fact that the apes speak modern, Americanized English. Then our square- jawed heroes react minimally to the news that everyone they know or love is dead, along with their civilization. Solving this central mystery is helped by an ancient, plot-convenient textbook, which thoughtfully contains pictures of both human-built machines and apes in cage.Other flaws are more egregious. Roddy McDowall and Booth Coleman both return as apes. Confusingly, however, they do not reprise their film roles — they are actually different ape characters. The humor falls flat. (McDowall's ape is a … nepotist? Or something?) And continuity with the movies is either clumsy or nonexistent.I'd rate this short-lived program at a 3 out of 10 for three things that were neat. One, the ape makeup and costuming is still fun. Two, McDowall is always fun to watch and was a superb actor, even under all that makeup. And, three, this really can scratch your nostalgia itch for popular 1970's science fiction. (Let's dress up and play low- budget make-believe in the Southern California desert, shall we?)

Caps Fan What a shame this didn't catch on in the US the way it did in the UK.That it didn't is something of a surprise, even all these years later, given the enduring popularity of the films. Still, in the brutal world of TV ratings, you have to be a hit straight away and this one just didn't cut it where and when it mattered.The series works all the same, even now. The characters are its main strength, but there are others. An excellent title sequence helps, particularly as the stories it introduces are generally interesting and sometimes moving. Music and scripts are of a high standard and the photography borders on inspired in some episodes.So, why didn't it catch on in the US? Well, here's my theory: it is very low key in tone and approach. Unless you happened to notice it was in the schedule, there was little to catch the eye.One side note: Many fans of the series have puzzled over the identity of the individual who "played" the dead Jonesy in the first episode. Well, since he's not even listed on the IMDb, that seems likely to remain a mystery!Rating: 7/10.

dbdumonteil Keeping from Pierre Boulle's original story not even the proper nouns ,the miniseries is inferior not only to the four sequels which were produced in the wake of Franklin J.Shaffner's unsurpassed classic ,but even to Burton's remake.The story is desultory ,the episodes seem to have been haphazardly made ,and the heroes are not interesting at all.Only the apes make up is impressive but it does not create any surprise seven years after the first opus.Roddy McDowall portrays some kind of Cornelius (renamed "Galen") who has lost his Zira.Besides,the last episode had an open ending,as if they had intended to make more .It was not to be , and who can complain,considering the high quality of the 1967 film?

mike-635 At the beginning of a new century, this series remains one of the finest shows ever produced for television. It's academic appeal, combined with it's superior scriptwriting, easily resulted in a classic work of art. Although action packed, the screenwriters always assumed that the audience had a high degree of intelligence. Typically, this show was cancelled after only 13 episodes. A sad comment on our society, who allowed FULL HOUSE to run over 12 years.