This is a great example of the sad state of children’s programming we see today. With the exception of shows such as "The Magic School Bus" there is nothing to inspire kids the way this and Reading Rainbow and all the other great shows that made the world around you look so incredible. Thank you so much to everyone involved with the Children’s Television Workshop for igniting my love of science and showing me the how amazing the world around us really is.
This was when public TV actually meant something. All these good shows then dissapeared and public TV has become nothing more than a tool of the government to brainwash the masses.....
I loved this show! (The original, not subsequent generations of it) Funny, I dont remember Lisa & Trini being so hot back then ;-) As for Mark, all he did was get in the way.
I remember coming home after school, and spending the afternoon with the public TV line-up. Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, The Electric Company, then 3-2-1 Contact. Public TV made a lot of nerds of us all, but we're proud of that fact.
Wow...soo cool. I watched this show over and over again and no one else I knew even heard of it. I got into countless fights with an older "brother" who thought that the show was sooo stupid and would come in and just turn it off on me constantly.
He is now in and out of jail due to multiple DWI's and the like and I work as a Network Engineer. While he studied beer and pot I studied science, physics and later computers and networking. What a horrible influence this show obviously was, lol.
@kmaxxmusic Surprisingly, two or three people from 3-2-1 were in the '79 movie "The Warriors." Trini was a shopkeeper and Marcelino Sánchez (Bloodhoud Gang) was one of the Warriors. I think there may have been one other. This always struck me odd as a child.
@WonkaVator72 Wow, that's crazy! That movie fascinated me as a kid too. Your info adds to the cult status of "The Warriors"! Now I gotta go re-watch it, lol
oh god trini! you're the most beautiful thing on the planet! i've been madly in love with you since i was 5 or 6 years old. i'm 35 now and still smitten! where are you baby? call me!
@urbtube1 Good luck finding her, she would be a bit older now. She did have a part in "The Warriors" but it was a very small part and she only had one line, "What about the money you owe!"
so she needs to goto her bed room with that creepy guy to play a trick on her friends? he is stepping up those stairs pretty fast... first pedo on the tv
Trini was to trick Marc and Lisa into thinking Stan is a robot. Unfortunately, later, Marc and Lisa are not easily fooled, and Trini confesses that Stan is really a human that makes cool (and really loud) sound effects.
Wow, I used to watch this a lot but that first episode was so different. I even subscribed to its magazine. Wait, what was he doing to that gal in the locke room (looked dirty)? Hmm, no Apple 2?
Watching this show EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL is what gave me a foundation to answer 80% of ALL of my science test questions/homework assignments from 7th grade all the way through 12th grade... I MEAN it... and because they ran the episodes over and over throughout the years, there was constant memory re-enforcement...
I saw the first episode aired ... I remember all this too ... I was 10 in 1980. funny when I was young ... I thought things would keep getting better and better ... LOL! Thangs just keep getting crappy-er and crappy-er :)) Music especially got worse.
I leanered so much from this program as a kid. Now you pbs kids broadcast all day. I just think it is not as good as 321 contact and other programs at the time like reading rainbow. Is it just becuase I am old, Or was the programming just simply better. What do you guys think ?
hey guys, if you love 321 contact....check out my hip hop version of the song. I'm an Emcee from Roanoke, VA. I make real hip hop. Type in the search box: Akeem - Come In Contact. I did an interpolation version of the song for my upcoming EP that's coming out. MAKE SURE TO RATE, COMMENT, LIKE, THUMBS UP THE SONG AND GIVE ME YOUR OPINION. THANK YOU!
hey guys, if you love 321 contact....check out my hip hop version of the song. I'm an Emcee from Roanoke, VA. I make real hip hop. Type in the search box: Akeem - Come In Contact. I did an interpolation version of the song for my upcoming EP that's coming out. MAKE SURE TO RATE, COMMENT, LIKE, THUMBS UP THE SONG AND GIVE ME YOUR OPINION. THANK YOU!
this content has no monetary value. if the owners had any respect for the spirit that created this content, they'd release it to the public domain for the enrichment of all.
That "moog?" synth at the start is so cool. Yeah, I really wish television especially kids television was more down to earth like this. Didn't they always show you things in the real world in each episode of this show? They did that sometimes on Mr. Rodgers, and Sesame street. Cool! Thank you for posting this!
Yes, it does. They were put in "The Case of the One Ton Jewel, (in the credits for the week), but due to time constraints, they put in "The Case of the Educated Pig" instead.
@pressmin Actually Jimmy Pop and Daddy Long Legs had a group called "Bang Chamber 8" and they changed their name to the Bloodhound Gang in Reference to "The Bloodhound Gang", they aren't actually the same people. Its one of the Many Musical Myths like Manson used to be on Wonder Years.
I remember this, along with "Bloodhound Gang." Bloodhound Gang was a business, and made some degree of sense, but "321 Contact" was weird to me because there was no reason why these "kids" had such a fancy "Clubhouse" with no reason or purpose, other than they liked science and would just drop by, maybe have a friend with them. I really liked it though.
Out of curiosity I read the Wiki article. Production notes say it was supposed to be a college room called the "Workshop" although I could have sworn they referred to it as their clubhouse.
Later it was supposed to be set in someone's basement, still strange since no one appeared to actually live there.
I loved this show..remember when it came on, was so excited..and I wound up missing the first episode..but made sure to watch them after that! I was kinda partial to Lisa.. watching that bit with Bell Labs was a bit of nostalgia, as that early research is integrated into the equipment I work with.
Wow! Thank you so much for posting this. I was 8 years old when the show first aired, and it has always been one of my favorites. In my opinion, it has one of the best theme songs ever written. In fact, the song has been stuck in my head for nearly 30 years. I never even knew that this footage of the recording session existed. What a treat! Hopefully, the show will be released on DVD one day so I can share it with my kids. Thanks again!
OMG. Such memories. I watched this show all the time growing up. Awesome how they showed them putting the intro together! That was back when they used real bands and real musicians instead of all this computer-generated noise.
@robertstinnett it sounds very good for its time, a lot like ELO, a lot of analog patches...no DX7 or Korg M1...those were still 3-4 years away. ELO had a lot of violin/brassy sounds like "midnight blue" at the time...that's what the segment reminded me.
I had hoped that Bowzer would be on the show for the whole time it aired (I was a big fan of his... still am) I remember the end of the week he was on:
Bowzer (holding a tuning fork) :This is a tuning fork
Screamin' Scott (the guy w/him) And with it you can eat tuning spaghetti!
Me too I have a whole library of this show and I would upload them but i do not have the equipment to do that. also haven't watched them in years and i hope the the data is still intact
Ginny Ortiz "Trini" played the clerk at the stand where Luther and his gang stole things. Marcelino Sanchez who was "RIcky" in the Bloodhound Gang segments; played "Rembrandt" one of the Warriors that actually made it back to Coney Island. Marcelino died in 1986 of Cancer. He was 28.
NEAT! i don't know why but for some reason i was thinking about this show today. i didn't think i'd find any results. thanks so much for this! you really made my day!
Ah, brings back the memories of my childhood. I used to hate this show with passion (since it was the show on PBS which displaced my favorite Zoom show), but looking back at what show tried to accomplish, I am thankful that there was such a useful edutainment being aired.
I can't help but be reminded of "Theme From 'Shaft'" when I hear the guitar parts though. Damn right.
I love this show!! I know it was on for a while but this was the cast I remember. I vividly remember the episode where Marc visited Bell Labs & the computer said "my name is Marc." that & one showing a guy make gasoline out of corn or something LOL! PBS did good work back then & hopefully that continues. Now what happened to Marc Trini & Lisa???? I can find nothing on them!
i love this show much, it was so much better than sesame street or mr rogers, this show was the best, i want dvd collection now! come on PBS!, why did they drop the ball on this?
It's very cool that they began the series with the recording sessions for the theme song! PBS should make new episodes, or at least put the old ones together on a DVD.
Ha! After 16 years, I remember the song PERFECTLY. But I do remember a couple of episodes... how a baby was born (I remember watching it at least... I know my mom went berserk and wouldn't let me tell anyone about it, NOW I know why), Gondwana, I remember an episode on memory, their episode(s?) on colors, the Bloodhound gang solved a mystery with their knowledge of electric circuits... quite a few. Dang, I can't remember what I ate this morning but I remember that. LOL
Ah, that was nice. Just for a moment I was a kid again. Now that there's digital TV, how about starting up "PBS Classic" so that I can spare my daughter all of the creepy computer-animated stuff that's popular today.
This was at a time when they were still using actual musicians to make music. Parents should make their teenagers watch this so they can know that once upon a time people made music not machines :) : 0
I had a subscription to the 3-2-1 Contact magazine AND the Electric Company magazine, not to mention Highlights and Boys' Life. Those were good times.
Man, this is it. I watched this show without fail every day. I remember this segment because it was all music and sound and when was a kid (about 5 or 6) all I wanted was music and sound (and Robotech). I didn't understand what a multi-track studio was or quite what was going on, but it made it's impression as I am now playing and recording music at home 25 years later. Good stuff, many thanks for posting!!!
I am thinking that I remember that every week had a different theme. One week it was SOUND, the next week it was LIGHT/DARK, the next ASTRONOMY, etc. I remember they were doing geology and ran a time lapse montage of what the earth would look like in a million years (or so) and they played some kind of low key gothic classical music. That segment BLEW MY MIND !!
Yes, you're right. Every week had a different theme. This was great because it was not the "bite size" science that you get on TV today. They really explored the themes in depth. They need to bring this series back! I think the people at PBS need to spend a week looking at the old PBS children's shows and realize what made them so special...you could see REAL children your age having fun learning
this was a forgotten fav of mine as well, brought back some memories. I remember there was this one segment, for some reason, just spooked me out, maybe it was because of the music and the dialouge together. But now when i hear Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun", i remember this segment where "Lisa" is talking about how scientists thing that in 7000 years that the sun will expand and devour the four planets including Earth. That just spooked me. I wonder where i could find that one.
that is so freaky. that is the same segment I always remembered and went looking for when I found this. and to see you posted that just a day ago. I remember they showed the horizon with the sun at normal size and then it grew to take up the entire sky. It didn't take much to scare me back then. late 70s-80s was the best time for children's programming IMHO
One of my absolute favorite theme songs of all time is the 3-2-1 contact theme song. It's wonderful to see all the instruments that went into it. I can't find a high-quality recording so I'm sure I'm missing most of the awesome nuances. Such as that acoustic guitar.
And as a musician (and in the midst of recording myself) this is just unbelievably cool.
haha, it's so funny that you say that. I found the theme on LimeWire. I like to listen to it when I run. It's one of the funkiest jams ever - love the Wah pedal the the beginning. I love it!
Me too! This song is awesome to listen to when you run. I feel like I need to be wearing those old school NBA shorts, high socks and a headband to match with the funky 80's beat.
So prove why I'm dead wrong. You have nothing to back up your statement. Your opinions, emphasis on opinion here not fact, is subjective. You like modern television? Well good. Then go watch it until your brain rots and your eyes fall out. I only own a TV to watch the movies in my collection. I prefer to follow more enlightening activies. I also do not seek out 3 month old posts where I was not being addressed. In the end your worthless opinion will not change my view of this matter. Good bye.
This is a great example of the sad state of children’s programming we see today. With the exception of shows such as "The Magic School Bus" there is nothing to inspire kids the way this and Reading Rainbow and all the other great shows that made the world around you look so incredible. Thank you so much to everyone involved with the Children’s Television Workshop for igniting my love of science and showing me the how amazing the world around us really is.
outlaw80401 3 weeks ago
Wow, i use to watch them on french tv back in the early 80's. I thought they were so cool.
aladdintrips 1 month ago
AWESOME! Thanks for uploading.
wsjiii 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
The theme was so good for this first series, and, I remember - the first. episode was about the production of it.
It would be cool - given how much of the session tracks are here (yes, muddled mono, but still), if someone could maybe make a 'remix.'
32 YEARS ago - jeez...
uszoninyc 1 month ago
Comment removed
uszoninyc 1 month ago
I think the whole string section is dead now. so sad
AnissaAcoff 2 months ago
What the hell was that weird shit that dude did at 1:20??? I believe you could get you ass beat for something like that!
mrjamesgrimes 2 months ago
@MrTank2112 oooh yah !
rg2027x 2 months ago
when TV wasn't an insult to your intelligence..
rg2027x 2 months ago
Thank you so much for posting this
KasBeatsProductions 2 months ago
Comment removed
ShinkaHentai 3 months ago
Discotecha
AlexusDivine 3 months ago
This was when public TV actually meant something. All these good shows then dissapeared and public TV has become nothing more than a tool of the government to brainwash the masses.....
...well except when the cooking shows are on.
THEsquirrel3d 3 months ago 2
@THEsquirrel3d What about Nova, Nature and Great Performances?
abehammy 3 months ago
Wow. I forgot just how hot the ladies were on this show. I guess that is why I paid attention in science class.
christansdad 4 months ago
Back when music was played using actual instruments.
mikemusica 5 months ago
@mikemusica - Yes, and recorded using actual tape, instead of this bullshit, invisible, imaginary tape.
xxoxia 3 months ago
Ohh Trini my first crush. Move on to Spike from DJH a little later. Show was definitely the shiznits.
bearfan2008 5 months ago
I loved this show! (The original, not subsequent generations of it) Funny, I dont remember Lisa & Trini being so hot back then ;-) As for Mark, all he did was get in the way.
MrCzechers 5 months ago
this show was great...I watched it all the time as a kid.
bennyvega100 5 months ago
I remember coming home after school, and spending the afternoon with the public TV line-up. Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, The Electric Company, then 3-2-1 Contact. Public TV made a lot of nerds of us all, but we're proud of that fact.
lionofct 7 months ago
Everything today sucks badly. I agree one HUNDRED percent.
brainstate09 7 months ago
How i miss the tv shows back then. everything today kinda sucks.
Sctartaglia 7 months ago
swag
Scromobobe 8 months ago
Wow...soo cool. I watched this show over and over again and no one else I knew even heard of it. I got into countless fights with an older "brother" who thought that the show was sooo stupid and would come in and just turn it off on me constantly.
He is now in and out of jail due to multiple DWI's and the like and I work as a Network Engineer. While he studied beer and pot I studied science, physics and later computers and networking. What a horrible influence this show obviously was, lol.
JediWitness 8 months ago 8
Comment removed
Skizzy1976 6 days ago
seeing this again makes me feel old.
japeeper 9 months ago
Ooh those terrible haircuts and moustaches... everyone reminds me of a creepy pr0n0 actor.
Ztinkyy 9 months ago
This show began my journey into Science and an Inquisitive mind.
ChildOL 11 months ago
I think Mark was in the movie, "Beat Street" !! lol
kmaxxmusic 1 year ago
@kmaxxmusic Surprisingly, two or three people from 3-2-1 were in the '79 movie "The Warriors." Trini was a shopkeeper and Marcelino Sánchez (Bloodhoud Gang) was one of the Warriors. I think there may have been one other. This always struck me odd as a child.
WonkaVator72 11 months ago
@WonkaVator72 Wow, that's crazy! That movie fascinated me as a kid too. Your info adds to the cult status of "The Warriors"! Now I gotta go re-watch it, lol
kmaxxmusic 11 months ago
PBS ruled the 70s & 80s with edutainment!!
IceManLikeGervin 1 year ago
This, and Square One TV, are the best shows to ever grace the airwaves of PBS.
They really should bring these classics back, re-run the original episodes, and lets make some new ones.
iwontliveinfear 1 year ago
oh god trini! you're the most beautiful thing on the planet! i've been madly in love with you since i was 5 or 6 years old. i'm 35 now and still smitten! where are you baby? call me!
urbtube1 1 year ago 14
@urbtube1 Good luck finding her, she would be a bit older now. She did have a part in "The Warriors" but it was a very small part and she only had one line, "What about the money you owe!"
YouthFreedomFighters 1 year ago
@urbtube1 The (ORIGINAL) cast WAS great. Tini (Ginny Ortiz), Lisa (Liz Moses), and, Mark ( Leon W. Grant).
I Always loved this series - the first - theme much better than the later ones.
uszoninyc 1 month ago
Grew up watching this, till this very day I think it has the best intro of any children's tv educational series.
lachaquaca 1 year ago
I've been watching the 3-2-1 Contact 1980 theme song "the making of"
TheIntolerantAtheist 1 year ago
That phaser effect on the electic guitar rocks!
Dulcimerist 1 year ago
so she needs to goto her bed room with that creepy guy to play a trick on her friends? he is stepping up those stairs pretty fast... first pedo on the tv
spookylocopv 1 year ago
@spookylocopv lol i thought that too X D
moonmanvic 1 year ago
@spookylocopv Don't be calling him a pedo, I don't know where you got that from.
YouthFreedomFighters 1 year ago
What was the trick Stan and Trini played on Marc & Lisa?
JGCooney 1 year ago
@JGCooney
Trini was to trick Marc and Lisa into thinking Stan is a robot. Unfortunately, later, Marc and Lisa are not easily fooled, and Trini confesses that Stan is really a human that makes cool (and really loud) sound effects.
TVLubber 7 months ago
2:25
bostonkid1979 1 year ago
@bostonkid1979
Wish I could play Violin, that piece is really neat by itself
Jarons20 1 year ago
Still can't get over this section, want as my ringtone, keep playing it over and over
Jarons20 1 year ago
Wow, I used to watch this a lot but that first episode was so different. I even subscribed to its magazine. Wait, what was he doing to that gal in the locke room (looked dirty)? Hmm, no Apple 2?
antdude 1 year ago
@pressmin Any updates? I want to see the other parts!
antdude 1 year ago
i used to love shows like this when i was a youngin
GiggleHz 1 year ago
1:25 "Let's hide upstairs"
Anything you say, Trini ;)
xoxoxo
timed02906 1 year ago
loveitloveitloveit thank you kind sir.
Flogboy 1 year ago
I really want to buy copies of these episodes for my kids or view them through Netflix, but they are not available ANYWHERE!
To the original producers of 3-2-1 Contact: PLEASE release this show to the public for purchase or viewing..
Samuel Y. Gibbon, Jr. - original creator, original executive producer
Dr. Edward G. Atkins - science content
Al Hyslop - executive producer
Ozzie Alfonso - director
Please contact me if you know when this show will ever become available again.
GoodGirlMovieStar 1 year ago
Watching this show EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL is what gave me a foundation to answer 80% of ALL of my science test questions/homework assignments from 7th grade all the way through 12th grade... I MEAN it... and because they ran the episodes over and over throughout the years, there was constant memory re-enforcement...
GoodGirlMovieStar 1 year ago
Could you post the "Trick on Marc and Lisa" ?
JGCooney 1 year ago
The brother at 3:25 is the mega pimp. He's got the groove, the head-bob, and all that. I dig it.
jedispy 1 year ago
Us late generation X'ers had the best television ever. This is a fact proven by science (321 Contact for example)
jedispy 1 year ago
I saw the first episode aired ... I remember all this too ... I was 10 in 1980. funny when I was young ... I thought things would keep getting better and better ... LOL! Thangs just keep getting crappy-er and crappy-er :)) Music especially got worse.
robfergusonjr 1 year ago
I leanered so much from this program as a kid. Now you pbs kids broadcast all day. I just think it is not as good as 321 contact and other programs at the time like reading rainbow. Is it just becuase I am old, Or was the programming just simply better. What do you guys think ?
ocpud2999 1 year ago
if you listen, the intro at 1:04 on sounds like the opening chords to Goodbye Stranger by Supertramp.
Hmmm....:)
jaecht83 1 year ago
Is this series on DVD? It should be.
jaworskij 1 year ago 2
This was my Very Very favorite show growing up!
mrmattlakin 1 year ago
Trini's friend, was pretending to be a robot, from NASA. He did all kinds of voice impersonations. He was a story, on the NBC show "Real People".
14DaveHunter 1 year ago
That blonde dude with the beard has the ugliest shirt I've ever seen!
roboeclipse 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
hey guys, if you love 321 contact....check out my hip hop version of the song. I'm an Emcee from Roanoke, VA. I make real hip hop. Type in the search box: Akeem - Come In Contact. I did an interpolation version of the song for my upcoming EP that's coming out. MAKE SURE TO RATE, COMMENT, LIKE, THUMBS UP THE SONG AND GIVE ME YOUR OPINION. THANK YOU!
akeemhobson1 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
hey guys, if you love 321 contact....check out my hip hop version of the song. I'm an Emcee from Roanoke, VA. I make real hip hop. Type in the search box: Akeem - Come In Contact. I did an interpolation version of the song for my upcoming EP that's coming out. MAKE SURE TO RATE, COMMENT, LIKE, THUMBS UP THE SONG AND GIVE ME YOUR OPINION. THANK YOU!
akeemhobson1 1 year ago
Trini is so hot!! I had a crush on her when I was 6.
delgriffith1 1 year ago
@delgriffith1
The babes on 3-2-1 should have worked at hooters!
happy7117 1 year ago
@delgriffith1
Never mind Trini - Lisa was where it was at!
uktransplantedyank 1 year ago
I never knew there were violins in the 321 Contact theme song.
matleyz 1 year ago
@matleyz the intro music at 1:04 (not the contact song) sounds like a Supertramp sound. The actual theme, as you see, is a bit different.
jaecht83 1 year ago
3 2 1 contact turns 30 and so does pac man
groovesatx 1 year ago
Isn't that the SNL drummer?
TRENZ2 1 year ago
lol ... When i first saw this when I was 11, I thought Marc was retared, he sounded like with the computer voice ... lol
robfergusonjr 1 year ago
The segment; starting at :42 with Marc, Lisa, and Trini, was occasionally shown at the end of the Friday credits.
zymaymyn 1 year ago
this content has no monetary value. if the owners had any respect for the spirit that created this content, they'd release it to the public domain for the enrichment of all.
jonathanomgitsme 1 year ago
Here is part two of 3-2-1 Contact's hosts thru its 7-year run:
1987 (season 6): Maggie, David D., David Q, Debra, Todd, Hopey, Stephanie, & Z. Wright
1988 (season 7/last year): David Q, Debra, Todd, Hopey, Stephanie, & Z. Wright
SuperAV21 2 years ago
Here is part one of 3-2-1 Contact's hosts thru its 7-year run:
1980 (season 1): Lisa, Marc, & Trini
1983 (season 2): Miguel, Robin, Kathy, Paco, & Jackie (field segments only)
1984 (season 3): Miguel, Robin, Kathy, & Paco
1985 (season 4): Miguel, Robin, Kathy, Paco, Mary V., & Diego
1986 (season 5): Miguel, Robin, Paco, Mary V., Diego, Monique, Chantal, Maggie, Mary L, David D., David Q, Debra & Todd
SuperAV21 2 years ago
This is the program that launched the scientific careers of thousands of youngsters who watched it many years ago.
asdf242010 2 years ago
Thank you SOOOO much for putting this up! I really miss this show. I used to watch it EVERY day!
SataiDelenn 2 years ago
That "moog?" synth at the start is so cool. Yeah, I really wish television especially kids television was more down to earth like this. Didn't they always show you things in the real world in each episode of this show? They did that sometimes on Mr. Rodgers, and Sesame street. Cool! Thank you for posting this!
Aestros909 2 years ago
Does 3-2-1 Contact #101 Have The Bloodhound Gang in it or which program has the first appearence and what is the case called?
JGCooney 2 years ago
Yes, it does. They were put in "The Case of the One Ton Jewel, (in the credits for the week), but due to time constraints, they put in "The Case of the Educated Pig" instead.
pressmin 2 years ago 2
@pressmin Actually Jimmy Pop and Daddy Long Legs had a group called "Bang Chamber 8" and they changed their name to the Bloodhound Gang in Reference to "The Bloodhound Gang", they aren't actually the same people. Its one of the Many Musical Myths like Manson used to be on Wonder Years.
OldAge80s 1 year ago
I remember this, along with "Bloodhound Gang." Bloodhound Gang was a business, and made some degree of sense, but "321 Contact" was weird to me because there was no reason why these "kids" had such a fancy "Clubhouse" with no reason or purpose, other than they liked science and would just drop by, maybe have a friend with them. I really liked it though.
floooky1 2 years ago
Out of curiosity I read the Wiki article. Production notes say it was supposed to be a college room called the "Workshop" although I could have sworn they referred to it as their clubhouse.
Later it was supposed to be set in someone's basement, still strange since no one appeared to actually live there.
Oh well, cool show.
floooky1 2 years ago
Anyone have the complete program #101, also who plays Stan?
JGCooney 2 years ago
I do. Why?
pressmin 2 years ago
@pressmin
How many of many of the episodes do you have, and is it only because you recorded them yourself? It is extremely elusive.
BenjaminWirtz 1 year ago
@BenjaminWirtz I have 4 tapes of 3-2-1 contact mostly 1980 version.
pressmin 1 year ago
@JGCooney
Stan Lemkiul played himself in this episode, according to TV.com.
TVLubber 7 months ago
Thanks to whoever posted this! My childhood...
thehooperwarren 2 years ago 4
back when shows were good....I barely remember it, though
ashcatash5 2 years ago 4
they should put these on DVD i would buy them
xwerefoxx 2 years ago 4
OMG! I remember this episode. I must have seen it a hundred times as a kid.
I "blame" this show
for turning me into
a computer-electrical engineer. ;-)
harleykman 2 years ago 16
I loved this show..remember when it came on, was so excited..and I wound up missing the first episode..but made sure to watch them after that! I was kinda partial to Lisa.. watching that bit with Bell Labs was a bit of nostalgia, as that early research is integrated into the equipment I work with.
Force2007 2 years ago
How was that show ridiculous?
CineslingerPictures 2 years ago
God Trina was smokin hawt!
Thebrad0US 2 years ago 2
@Thebrad0US Actually, it's TRINI with an "i" not an "a:.
mratfauver 1 year ago
Hard to believe this is almost 30 years old now. Still holds as much substance as it did back then too.
Bluetailvappy 2 years ago
yea im 39 and i remember watching it in grade school it was on in the mornings at 10 am
xwerefoxx 2 years ago 3
This was my everyday after-school TV.
After this was Dr. Who.
What a combination!!!
billy2bob 2 years ago
I remember this show. Damn I was young then.
oleold 2 years ago 2
Wow! Thank you so much for posting this. I was 8 years old when the show first aired, and it has always been one of my favorites. In my opinion, it has one of the best theme songs ever written. In fact, the song has been stuck in my head for nearly 30 years. I never even knew that this footage of the recording session existed. What a treat! Hopefully, the show will be released on DVD one day so I can share it with my kids. Thanks again!
gweempose 2 years ago 3
OMG. Such memories. I watched this show all the time growing up. Awesome how they showed them putting the intro together! That was back when they used real bands and real musicians instead of all this computer-generated noise.
robertstinnett 2 years ago
@robertstinnett it sounds very good for its time, a lot like ELO, a lot of analog patches...no DX7 or Korg M1...those were still 3-4 years away. ELO had a lot of violin/brassy sounds like "midnight blue" at the time...that's what the segment reminded me.
jaecht83 1 year ago
At 6:09, did she say: contract?
melshorse 2 years ago
It sounded like she said contract. lol
jtomally9681 2 years ago
that's funny, i thought they had pulled the song out of thin air.
and wow, i had a big crush on trini when i was a kid.
the end is funny with bowzer, "the reason you heard something is cuz it vibrates...", cut.
ms9 2 years ago
That dude with the beard looks like a total pedophile.
geniusiknowit 2 years ago
Judging a book by it's cover, eh?
jtomally9681 2 years ago
LOVED this show; at least with the original cast.. i was 11 at the time it came out and was crazy about Lisa and Trini.
iof69 2 years ago
dude where is the rest of it
CK2012 2 years ago
i remember just running around singing this song when it would come on,ah the memories and did you see BOWSER at the end SHA NA NA
twenty2082 2 years ago 2
I had hoped that Bowzer would be on the show for the whole time it aired (I was a big fan of his... still am) I remember the end of the week he was on:
Bowzer (holding a tuning fork) :This is a tuning fork
Screamin' Scott (the guy w/him) And with it you can eat tuning spaghetti!
(Amazing how I remember this after 30 years!)
Katzi 2 years ago
This is a very interesting video; I enjoyed watching the part where they were recording and mixing the theme song.
gifu1960 2 years ago
Awesome song, Surprised it hasn't been sampled by some rapper.
TrueX7 2 years ago 3
I really hope this series turns up on DVD sometime soon.
TVLubber 2 years ago 24
Me too I have a whole library of this show and I would upload them but i do not have the equipment to do that. also haven't watched them in years and i hope the the data is still intact
CK2012 2 years ago
Thank you SO MUCH of posting this - so many memories of a great show!
RussellDreck 2 years ago 5
Hey weren't some of them folks in The Warriors Movie?
chsimmons 2 years ago
Ginny Ortiz "Trini" played the clerk at the stand where Luther and his gang stole things. Marcelino Sanchez who was "RIcky" in the Bloodhound Gang segments; played "Rembrandt" one of the Warriors that actually made it back to Coney Island. Marcelino died in 1986 of Cancer. He was 28.
iof69 2 years ago
I don't remember them calling him anything but "Ricardo" on The Bloodhound Gang.
Many sources say Sanchez died of AIDS related cancer. Nonetheless, it is a tragic loss.
Bpothik 2 years ago
this was by far the best show on tv in the 80's, brings tears to my eyes, such great memories. thx for the great post
p0rnstorejanitor 2 years ago 3
NEAT! i don't know why but for some reason i was thinking about this show today. i didn't think i'd find any results. thanks so much for this! you really made my day!
dquistberg 2 years ago
Ah, brings back the memories of my childhood. I used to hate this show with passion (since it was the show on PBS which displaced my favorite Zoom show), but looking back at what show tried to accomplish, I am thankful that there was such a useful edutainment being aired.
I can't help but be reminded of "Theme From 'Shaft'" when I hear the guitar parts though. Damn right.
synthcat 2 years ago 2
This was actually pretty clever! Great theme too!! Thanks for posting! This made me smile alot!!!
jmarcguy 2 years ago 4
I love this show!! I know it was on for a while but this was the cast I remember. I vividly remember the episode where Marc visited Bell Labs & the computer said "my name is Marc." that & one showing a guy make gasoline out of corn or something LOL! PBS did good work back then & hopefully that continues. Now what happened to Marc Trini & Lisa???? I can find nothing on them!
jmarcguy 2 years ago 3
Yay! Bowser!
malkamusik 2 years ago 3
This is when PBS meant something.
THEsquirrel3d 2 years ago 31
i love this show much, it was so much better than sesame street or mr rogers, this show was the best, i want dvd collection now! come on PBS!, why did they drop the ball on this?
machinegt 2 years ago
Wth?! Was that Brad Garrett at the very end of this clip? lol
dolemike14 2 years ago
It's very cool that they began the series with the recording sessions for the theme song! PBS should make new episodes, or at least put the old ones together on a DVD.
80dw 2 years ago
this shit is dope, this was one of my fav shows, but i never saw this episode and I always dug the theme, very fuckin cool!
dOLOSTIMULUS 2 years ago 4
damn! the only thing i remember about this show was the theme song... and im only 23
Antman1317 2 years ago 2
Ha! After 16 years, I remember the song PERFECTLY. But I do remember a couple of episodes... how a baby was born (I remember watching it at least... I know my mom went berserk and wouldn't let me tell anyone about it, NOW I know why), Gondwana, I remember an episode on memory, their episode(s?) on colors, the Bloodhound gang solved a mystery with their knowledge of electric circuits... quite a few. Dang, I can't remember what I ate this morning but I remember that. LOL
Joey24Boricua 2 years ago
Holy shit, you're right! But seriously, new porn tends to start the same way. LOL
TriaMaxwell 2 years ago
I used to watch this.Wow good memories
hayli711225 2 years ago 2
Its funny, when you watch these old PBS shows, it doesn't look so old.
PeoplesWar 2 years ago
I have a copy of this episode, but it doesn't have the promo at the beginning. Thanks for including it!
TonyDuMont 2 years ago
I looked it up on IMDB, and Mark and Lisa do not appear, neither as actors nor characters.
they don't make shows like this anymore, and it's a shame
Khayd4126 2 years ago 4
i always liked this show but i loved the intro. brings back memories of an easier time.
baileysbay 2 years ago 3
Ah, that was nice. Just for a moment I was a kid again. Now that there's digital TV, how about starting up "PBS Classic" so that I can spare my daughter all of the creepy computer-animated stuff that's popular today.
shvybzik 2 years ago 3
If this show was on DVD which it should be, it would only be Season 1 for me....!!
The hottest girls Lisa and Trini, and Mark....
These are the ultimate college girls any man would want to hang with!!! Or Mark would be a great bud!!
Of course Lisa, Mark, and Trini are not their real names.
More like Liz, Ginny, and Leon!
happy7117 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
whose the bitch in the pink tanktop shes hott
pauleyh 3 years ago
LOVED the theme to this show!
I especially loved the piano. Its simple, but beautiful.
Great post!
mwhite36 3 years ago
This was at a time when they were still using actual musicians to make music. Parents should make their teenagers watch this so they can know that once upon a time people made music not machines :) : 0
natyboops 3 years ago 3
Gotta luv Bowser at the end.
phoneke 3 years ago 2
Did anyone else have a subscription to the 3-2-1 contact magazine?
I did and looked forward to it every month in addition to the TV show!
mainmedic 3 years ago
I had a subscription to the 3-2-1 Contact magazine AND the Electric Company magazine, not to mention Highlights and Boys' Life. Those were good times.
thatsmrdouglas2u 3 years ago
It sounds like the black singer in the black hat keeps singing "contract" instead of "contact".
scottbaino 3 years ago
I noted that too many months ago.
happy7117 3 years ago
Man, this is it. I watched this show without fail every day. I remember this segment because it was all music and sound and when was a kid (about 5 or 6) all I wanted was music and sound (and Robotech). I didn't understand what a multi-track studio was or quite what was going on, but it made it's impression as I am now playing and recording music at home 25 years later. Good stuff, many thanks for posting!!!
kludd28 3 years ago 2
I am thinking that I remember that every week had a different theme. One week it was SOUND, the next week it was LIGHT/DARK, the next ASTRONOMY, etc. I remember they were doing geology and ran a time lapse montage of what the earth would look like in a million years (or so) and they played some kind of low key gothic classical music. That segment BLEW MY MIND !!
WHEN ARE THE DVD"S COMING !!!!!!!
therogueranger 3 years ago 2
Yes, you're right. Every week had a different theme. This was great because it was not the "bite size" science that you get on TV today. They really explored the themes in depth. They need to bring this series back! I think the people at PBS need to spend a week looking at the old PBS children's shows and realize what made them so special...you could see REAL children your age having fun learning
natyboops 3 years ago
Wow. This Was So Awesome. I Wish They Have A Reunion And Bring Those Kids Back (they'll proberly be adults by now).
StefanoFan27.
StefanoFan27 3 years ago
Does anyone have the 3-2-1 contact segment where they were setting up the stage for the rock group KISS? I remember watching that as a kid.
charlestonchewy 3 years ago
It is already posted. Use the search engine on Youtube to find it. If you still can't find it, let me know.
pressmin 3 years ago
this was a forgotten fav of mine as well, brought back some memories. I remember there was this one segment, for some reason, just spooked me out, maybe it was because of the music and the dialouge together. But now when i hear Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun", i remember this segment where "Lisa" is talking about how scientists thing that in 7000 years that the sun will expand and devour the four planets including Earth. That just spooked me. I wonder where i could find that one.
DerekBayRoberts1 3 years ago
that is so freaky. that is the same segment I always remembered and went looking for when I found this. and to see you posted that just a day ago. I remember they showed the horizon with the sun at normal size and then it grew to take up the entire sky. It didn't take much to scare me back then. late 70s-80s was the best time for children's programming IMHO
rtiedeman 3 years ago
I think id be cool if someone could edit that segment where it would play into that Soundgarden video.
DerekBayRoberts1 3 years ago
More like 5 billion years not 7,000 years... but you're close!
joeytwintail 3 years ago
One of my absolute favorite theme songs of all time is the 3-2-1 contact theme song. It's wonderful to see all the instruments that went into it. I can't find a high-quality recording so I'm sure I'm missing most of the awesome nuances. Such as that acoustic guitar.
And as a musician (and in the midst of recording myself) this is just unbelievably cool.
1000huzzahs 3 years ago 3
haha, it's so funny that you say that. I found the theme on LimeWire. I like to listen to it when I run. It's one of the funkiest jams ever - love the Wah pedal the the beginning. I love it!
DaveWhiteInYoFace 3 years ago 2
Me too! This song is awesome to listen to when you run. I feel like I need to be wearing those old school NBA shorts, high socks and a headband to match with the funky 80's beat.
constantine5 3 years ago
NO DOUBT! I haven't seen this footage since 1981. THANKS SO MUCH!
zippyfried 3 years ago
So prove why I'm dead wrong. You have nothing to back up your statement. Your opinions, emphasis on opinion here not fact, is subjective. You like modern television? Well good. Then go watch it until your brain rots and your eyes fall out. I only own a TV to watch the movies in my collection. I prefer to follow more enlightening activies. I also do not seek out 3 month old posts where I was not being addressed. In the end your worthless opinion will not change my view of this matter. Good bye.
destroyahdes 3 years ago
This is awesome! I've always wondered how this theme was put together.
realitywedding 3 years ago
I used to love this show!
funkyhunk 3 years ago