"STINGRAY": 'Ether' (#1.04) - Teaser Trailer

This is the 30-second Pre-Title Teaser Trailer from the episode 'Ether' (#1.04). This trailer has the distinction of introducing the show's unique approach to editing such television episode teasers, in that it is edited to suit the music-only soundtrack, therefore not relying on or featuring any dialouge or sound-effects for dramatic value.

It was also the first episode to feature special behind-the-scenes photographs during it's End Credits, that were taken on-set during filming. This was a special feature implemented in all subsequent End Credit segments, with each episode's photos chronicling the production crew's activities on their weekly different sets and locations.

Aditionally, this was executive producer Lawrence Hertzog's first script for the show, and director David Hemming's first episode of the series. Hertzog went on to write 'Abnormal Psych', 'Less Than the Eye Can See', 'Playback' and 'Autumn', while Hemmings would go on to direct a further 4 episodes, including the 1st Season Finale 'That Terrible Swift Sword'. It was then when production began on the 2nd Season, beginning with it's Premiere episode 'The Greeter' (in which Hemmings also guest-starred), that he became a producer on the series, and directed the episodes 'Playback' and 'Echoes'.

Hemmings was at the time alternating from directing on both "STINGRAY" and Stephen Cannell's other NBC series "THE A-TEAM". His first directing assignment for U.S. television was 2 years prior, on Donald P. Bellisario's aerial action thriller series "AIRWOLF", of which 'Ether' guest star Ray Wise not only guest-starred in that show's 3rd Season episode 'Hawke's Run', but also guest-starred on "THE A-TEAM", in a 4th Season episode also directed by Hemmings, entitled 'Lease with an Option to Die'.

The director though is better known as one of the great British cinema actors of the 1960's, thanks to his leading role in the fashion photography movie "Blowup", and memorable roles in the likes of Ridley Scott's "Gladiator", "Mean Machine" with Vinnie Jones, and Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York".

"STINGRAY" was an action/crime drama/detective series, that ran from 1985 to 1987, on NBC in the United States, then later in the UK on the leading satellite and cable channel SKY One. The show starred Nick Mancuso (of "Under Siege" and "Under Siege 2: Dark Territory" fame), and was created by Stephen J. Cannell (of "The A-Team" and "The Rockford Files").

Written by: Lawrence Hertzog
Directed by: David Hemmings

Original NBC Airdate: March 25th, 1986

Guest stars include:

Ray Wise (Leon in Paul Verhoeven's 1987 sci-fi action thriller "RoboCop", and for television, Leland Palmer in "Twin Peaks", Vice President Hal Gardner in "24", and The Devil in "Reaper"). Wise is also one of two connections between "STINGRAY" and the original "RoboCop" movie, as his co-star, Kurtwood Smith, guest-starred in the 1st Season episode 'Sometimes You Gotta Sing the Blues' (#1.06).

© 1986 Stephen J. Cannell Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Distributed, under licence by said production company, by Visual Entertainment, Inc.

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