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1!!!The series (1965-66)
2
3* ActingForTwo: David Graham voices Gordon, Brains, Parker and Kyrano. Ray Barrett voices John, The Hood, and the Duchess of Royston.
4* CharacterCelebrityEndorsement: Not just back in the series's heyday in the 60s, but even in much later decades, demonstrating the show's staying power in UK pop culture:
5** Lady Penelope appeared in a rather sexist ad for Swinton car insurance, in which she was shown as utterly incapable of driving FAB 1 on Parker's day off.
6** Not as sexist, but even weirder, a DVLA ad in which Parker fails to pay FAB 1's road tax, and Lady P reacts by cutting his strings.
7** A Kit Kat advert which shows the classic title sequence, until the narrator says "Thunderbirds are go!" and, to his irritation, Thunderbird 1 fails to take off because Scott is having a break.
8** Brains body-popping to "Rhythm is a Dancer" in an ad for Drench bottled water, with the drink (and modern video effects) making him far more mobile than he'd ever been in the show. (Tagline: "Brains perform better when they're hydrated.")
9** One Specsavers ad for reaction lenses saw Virgil and the Hood involved in a jet-pack chase through some underground tunnels. When they emerged into the sunlight, Virgil's visor went dark while the Hood was dazzled, causing him to crash in a fiery explosion worthy of the series.
10** Lyons Maid's ice lollies had a major Creator/GerryAnderson deal in the sixties. In addition to Lady Penelope advertising the Fab, their other "space age" lollies were tied to other Supermarionation programmes: Zoom was ''Series/FireballXL5'', Sea Jet (and Super Sea Jet) were ''Series/Stingray1964'' and Orbit was ''Series/CaptainScarletAndTheMysterons''.
11* CommonKnowledge: The famous countdown intro was performed by Brian Cobby. Actually, no, it was done by series regular Peter Dyneley, who voices Jeff Tracy, and sounds like it. Cobby even claimed to have done the voice himself, but this was rubbished by Anderson in a fan magazine Q&A.
12-->''Does anyone really believe that we'd hire a different actor to record those eight words in preference to the talented team of artists we'd already assembled to perform in the series? I remember the countdown as being one of the hardest recording sessions as it wasn't just a case of someone coming in and reading out the lines. The actor had to really emote, and only an actor who had been involved in the production and understood what it was about could really do it. No, anyone who's heard the ''Thunderbirds'' countdown knows that it is Peter Dyneley.''
13** It's now believed that Cobby was actually referring to having recorded the countdown for a Thunderbirds alarm clock released in 1992. It can be heard on Website/YouTube and it's certainly not the original Peter Dyneley recording.
14* CreatorsPest: Creator/GerryAnderson hated John Tracy due to his "all-American" quality, among numerous other reasons he has cited over the years, which is why John is so rarely seen in the series.
15* CrossDressingVoices: All the young boys were voiced by Sylvia Anderson and Christine Finn, while Creator/RayBarrett voiced the Duchess of Royston.
16* {{Defictionalization}}: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Rescue_Corps There's an actual International Rescue,]] which began operations in 1985 and named itself after the organization found in this series. That's about where it ends, though; there are (sadly) no Tracy boys and (even more sadly) no ''Thunderbird'' craft to be found. (This could also explain why IR is referred to all but once as "the ''Thunderbirds''" in the 2004 LiveActionAdaptation.)
17* DemandOverload: When Creator/TheBBC began re-running ''Series/{{Thunderbirds}}'' in 1992 (after it had been off the air for several years), stores quickly sold out of Tracy Island toys. As a compromise, ''Series/BluePeter'' came up with a build-it-yourself version.
18* EditedForSyndication:
19** The infamous ''Turbocharged'' version of the series, as well as a prior attempt to air the show on Creator/FoxKids, were both this.
20** International broadcasts of the original series often split episodes into two half-hour segments, as did British broadcasts during its original run in some Creator/{{ITV}} regions. In particular, the now-defunct American network [=TechTV=] also added pop-up trivia to episodes when it aired the series from 2002-04.
21* ExecutiveMeddling:
22** A positive example when Lew Grade ordered the series be made with hour-long episodes. This required the series to delve into more sophisticated plot and characters to make up for the time, which made the series a cult classic.
23** Sadly, a negative example from Lew Grade, and an unintentional one at that: The show was axed from airwaves after Grade's rather unsuccessful trip to America, where all three major networks were bidding on the show. Thanks in part to Grade's playing each network off the other and trying to raise the price, when one network dropped out, [[FollowTheLeader the others followed suit]], and Grade felt that without American involvement the show was too expensive to produce.
24** Further series were denied after ''Film/ThunderbirdsAreGo'' and ''Film/Thunderbird6'' bombed, although this still had [[Series/CaptainScarletAndTheMysterons some positive effects]].
25** ITV holds the rights to the series and refused to return them to Gerry Anderson or allow him to either remake or continue the series à la ''Captain Scarlet''. By 2011, this was resolved, allowing [[WesternAnimation/ThunderbirdsAreGo the new series]] to proceed.
26* FakeAmerican: All voice actors (save Virgil's, who quit after season one) were either British, Australian or Canadian, while most of the main cast was (implied to be) American. The Tracys were going to be British but then it was settled that they would be primarily American was so that the series would fair well in the U.S. because at that time the U.S. wasn't that accepting of British T.V. Sadly, the series became obscure in the U.S. and to make matters worse, the most attention anything related to the name of "Thunderbirds" was the [[InNameOnly 2004 film]].
27* KeepCirculatingTheTapes:
28** Six episodes were edited into a trio of [[CompilationMovie compilation films]] for American broadcast in the early 1980s. While the remaining episodes were later released with no major edits, the only way to see the outstanding six for a considerable period were to tape them during the 1990's reruns, or import copies from countries where the episodes were released unedited (such as Australia).
29** After securing the rights to the series in 1999, Carlton hastily remastered and released ''Thunderbirds'' on DVD and VHS. Unfortunately, while the films were replaced with their original counterparts, every episode featured new (and sometimes incredibly loud) sound effects. In the case of "Trapped In The Sky" and "The Perils Of Penelope", both were given new title cards.
30** Even the Blu-Ray releases weren't immune to pruning. When ITV was having the HD masters created from the original 35mm film prints, it deliberately created both 4:3 and 16:9 versions, as it is easier to sell HD archive programming to other broadcasters if it is 16:9. ITV subsequently chose to use the 16:9 versions for the UK Blu-ray release, but the North American Creator/ShoutFactory releases, along with the Japanese and German ones, use the 4:3 versions with original mono soundtracks. While the 16:9 versions inevitably lose picture information from the top and bottom of the frame, by being true close-up optical scans of the 35mm prints they do provide a closer look at the details of puppets, sets and props.
31* TheOtherDarrin:
32** Virgil was voiced by David Holliday in Series 1 and Jeremy Wilkin afterwards.
33** John Tracy and the Hood were voiced by Ray Barrett up through ''Thunderbirds Are GO''; for ''Thunderbird 6'', Barrett was replaced by Keith Alexander as John and Gary Files as the Hood.
34* ScrewedByTheNetwork: According to ITC themselves, Fox Kids' hacking to bits of the show was the reason why it failed and was taken off the schedule after about a month. (Still didn't stop them from creating the ''Turbocharged'' version.)
35* ScrewedByTheLawyers: [[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057790/alternateversions Apparently]], the reason why the Fox Kids and ''Turbocharged'' version were redubbed was because Music/MichaelJackson had the rights to the original music and vocal tracks, having purchased them in the mid 80s. (You might be wondering how ''that'' happened. When Jackson purchased the rights to Music/TheBeatles' catalog, it included the rest of ATV Music-ATV having been Lew Grade's Creator/{{ITV}} station in London and the Midlands. ATV and Creator/ITCEntertainment were fused at the hip during the era, and hence presumably it came under ATV's music dept. which then got bought by Jackson.) However, it seems all that legal stuff got cleared up by the late 90s and all further releases have had the original music/voice tracks (though several sound effects are still dubbed over, but not in every episode).
36* ShortLivedBigImpact: The series was cut short after just 32 episodes, yet it managed to retain a loyal fanbase to this very day, is still regarded as Gerry Anderson's best work, and still has other shows pay tribute to it.
37* TechnologyMarchesOn: A given in the Gerry Anderson shows. You have space stations, hypersonic rocket planes, and a mobile computer the size of a grand piano!
38* ThrowItIn: During filming for the episode "Trapped in the Sky", Elevator Car No. 3 went out of control. The production team decided to include this in the episode, adding a shot of it crashing into a nearby airliner.
39* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
40** Creator/GerryAnderson and later on, whoever happened to own the rights to the original series, had tried multiple times to get the series back on the air; some of the later Anderson-backed projects were rewritten to remove references to this show, but then got cancelled during production for one reason or another.
41** John was originally conceived to be the pilot of Thunderbird 2.
42* WorkingTitle: ''International Rescue''.
43
44!!!The 2004 movie
45
46* AwesomeDearBoy: Creator/JonathanFrakes was excited at the prospect of moving to London, working at the legendary Pinewood Studios, and directing heavyweights like Creator/BenKingsley and Creator/BillPaxton.
47* BoxOfficeBomb: Budget, $57 million. Worldwide gross, $28.3 million.
48* BreakawayPopHit: While the film remains a controversial BoxOfficeBomb, Music/{{Busted}}'s "Thunderbirds Are Go" managed to become one of their biggest hits, reaching #1 in several countries and even remaining a radio staple for years afterwards.
49* CaliforniaDoubling: A big chunk of the film was filmed in Berkshire, England. This includes Wharton Academy in Massachusetts (actually Wellington College) and San Francisco City Hospital (actually Botanica Ditton Park).
50* CelebrityVoiceActor: In the Japanese dub:
51** The Tracys are played by Music/{{V6}} members Masayuki Sakamoto (Jeff), Hiroshi Nagano (John), Yoshihiko Inohara (Scott), Go Morita (Virgil), Ken Miyake (Gordon) and Junichi Okada (Alan).
52** Fermat is voiced by film/TV drama actor Shun Miyazato.
53* CreatorBacklash: While he's proud of the final product, Creator/JonathanFrakes has spoken out about how Universal's decision to pit the film against tentpoles like ''Shrek'' and ''Spider-Man'' destroyed its chances. Frakes has also said that Brady Corbet was miscast as the lead while still praising Corbet's skill as an actor.
54* CreatorCouple: Jonathan Frakes directed the film and his wife Genie Francis appears as a news anchor.
55* CreatorKiller:
56** Creator/JonathanFrakes' career took a huge hit with this film's box-office failure and it took him a few years before he could start working regularly again as a TV director.
57** Screenwriter William Osborne's film career has never recovered from being credited on this '''and''' ''Film/FatSlags'' in the same year.
58* CreatorPreferredAdaptation: Shockingly enough[[note]]or not, considering the previous deteriation of Gerry and Sylvia's relationship[[/note]] co-creator Sylvia Anderson loved the film.
59* DeletedScene: Several of them- the known ones are as follows:
60** An alternate opening with Alan riding a dirtbike.
61** A quick scene showing Virgil piloting Thunderbird 2 during the oil-rig rescue before handing it over to Jeff,
62** Jeff questioning whether or not putting his sons in constant danger is worth it.
63** [[FunWithAcronyms The acronym FAB being explained]].
64** Jeff explaining why he left the Hood in the mine.
65** An alternate version of Thunderbird 2 landing in London.
66** FAB-1 being torpedoed by The Hood's submarine, leading to Penelope and Parker having to use a pedal-powered boat to reach the island.
67* DisownedAdaptation: The original series' creator Creator/GerryAnderson, who only saw it on DVD, disliked the film, calling it the "biggest load of crap I've seen in my entire life". He was on record as saying that ''Film/TeamAmericaWorldPolice'' -- a movie he didn't entirely approve of -- was closer in spirit to the original show. Helps the studio didn't even hire him to be a creative consultant, feeling there were too many people in the creative team.
68* ExecutiveMeddling: The reason the film turned out the way it was is due to Universal wanting to [[FollowTheLeader cash in on the success]] of ''Film/SpyKids''. Prior to that, it was stuck in DevelopmentHell.
69* FakeAmerican: Englishmen Dominic Colenso and Lex Shrapnel play the Americans John and Virgil Tracy.
70* FakeBrit: Music/VanessaHudgens (Anglo-Indian Tintin, though she [[NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent doesn't bother speaking in a British accent]]) is American of Filipino, Irish and Native American descent.
71* MissingTrailerScene: A few alternate takes and deleted scenes were in the theatrical trailer.
72* OrphanedReference: TheStinger is TheArtifact from a DeletedScene where FAB 1 got shot down by The Hood with his submarine.
73* ScrewedByTheNetwork: The film was meant to come out in the spring as a fun family film to lead into the summer. However, Universal thought they had a blockbuster on their hands and moved it to a summer release against juggernauts like ''Shrek'' and ''Spider-Man''. Stiff competition and poor reviews led to box-office failure and damaged careers all around.
74* SoMyKidsCanWatch: According to Frakes, Creator/BenKingsley took the role partially on the urging of his kids.
75* StarDerailingRole: Creator/BradyCorbet and Creator/SophiaMyles both saw their careers plummet after this film bombed. Corbet never starred in another major blockbuster again, although he eventually found a comfortable niche working in independent cinema with ''Film/MysteriousSkin'', ''Film/MarthaMarcyMayMarlene'', ''Film/{{Melancholia}}'' and several other films, and saw success as a director with ''The Childhood of a Leader'' and ''Vox Lux''. Myles, on the other hand, suffered another flop with ''Film/TristanAndIsolde'', while transitioning toward television didn't work either when ''Series/{{Moonlight}}'' got a mixed reception.
76* ThoseTwoActors: Brady Corbet and Vanessa Hudgens had been in another film from Working Title the year before, ''Film/Thirteen2003''.
77* TroubledProduction: Had been in DevelopmentHell since the mid 90s. It was originally conceived as a CGI film, inspired by the success of ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory1'' and then later as a vehicle for the Baldwin brothers (with Creator/SeanConnery as Jeff). Creator/GerryAnderson was brought on as a creative consultant but let go when Working Title felt that they had enough people on the creative team already. Eventually it entered production with a much younger target audience in mind. Three major script changes also happened during production; not helping was the film "falling through the cracks" when Seagram (the liquor company) acquired Creator/PolygramFilmedEntertainment (who had started the project during their ownership of the Creator/ITCEntertainment library) and merged it with Creator/{{Universal}}. Creator/JonathanFrakes did manage to knock $3 million off the budget due to his fast shooting style, but that seems to open up another can of worms altogether; outside of the death of a rigger who fell while dismantling a set, and a few cast members getting heatstroke, the filming itself went smoothly.
78* UncreditedRole: The dialogue between Lady Penelope and Parker was written by Richard Curtis which helps explain why their scenes were one of the more praised aspects of the film.
79* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
80** In 1997, a totally different movie was in the works, with [[Film/BillAndTedsBogusJourney Peter Hewitt]] directing. The tentative cast was Creator/JohnathonSchaech and Creator/TomEverettScott as Scott and Virgil, Creator/MattDamon as Alan, Creator/SteveZahn as Gordon, Creator/RowanAtkinson (!) as Brains, Creator/LivTyler as Tin-Tin, Creator/KristinScottThomas as Lady Penelope, and Creator/PetePostlethwaite as Parker; it's unknown who would've been Jeff, but rumor states that Creator/RobertRedford was being looked at. The plot would've revolved around IR being targeted by [[CorruptCorporateExecutive deranged Moonoleum Incorporated director Thaddeus Stone]], who had constructed an orbiting atmospheric extraction device that would transfer Earth's atmosphere to Stone's colony on the Moon, leaving the Earth barren and lifeless. In order to complete his plans, Stone needed to get his hands on Tracy Island's power core, the only generator powerful enough to fuel his extraction device. With assistance from The Hood, Stone learned the location of Tracy Island, kidnapped Alan and forced Jeff to hand over the power core, leading to a race against time to save the Earth- amongst the details were a new rendition of the Skythrust airliner (which would've crashed into Big Ben), a sports car named after the Fireflash and the dramatic self-destruction of Thunderbird 1 after a high speed night pursuit over Tokyo.
81** [[http://groovyfokker.blogspot.com/2013/02/thunderbirds-arent-go-unfilmed-versions.html This article]] explains the film's development, including a planned version by Steven E. de Souza that would've been DarkerAndEdgier, with a [[DysfunctionalFamily strained Tracy family]] and a more morally-ambiguous take on Lady Penelope and Parker. He would've ditched the whole "Stone steals air" plotline because of it being too similar to, of all films, ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}'' (!), instead having Stone using a moon-based weapon to melt glaciers and flood cities[[note]]weirdly enough, this matches elements of Dr. Evil's plots from the second and third ''Film/AustinPowers'' movies![[/note]]. Working Title loved the pitch... then Seagram's merged what remained of [=PolyGram=] with Universal, meaning Working Title's fate, along with the entire project, was now up in the air, to the disappointment of de Souza.
82** Another draft was far closer to this movie, but was full of adult jokes, and instead of the Hood, a man named Aristotle Spode would've been the main villain ([[EarlyDraftTieIn some press releases and info packs about the movie still had his name mentioned]]). It's generally believed that this version would've been even ''worse'' than what we got.
83** A late draft had another intro where Alan dreamt about flying Thunderbird 1, but the dream becomes a nightmare when he crashes into a mountain with a giant effigy of Fermat’s face on it. Ummm...
84** Creator/RosamundPike was a candidate for Lady Penelope, but ultimately the role went to Creator/SophiaMyles; Pike would eventually voice the character in the [[WesternAnimation/ThunderbirdsAreGo CGI reboot series]]. Other possibilities included Creator/SiennaMiller and Creator/AnnaFriel.
85** You know that bit where Parker cheers that England's national football team have won, causing him to be distracted from flying ''FAB 1''? Well, he was originally supposed to cheer on a reported victory of Tottenham Hotspur- they chose that due to the club’s proximity to Wormwood Scrubs prison, Parker’s former "accommodation"- but ultimately it was changed to avoid alienating parts of the British audience (that was bound to happen anyway).
86** The Tracys were supposed to wear color-coded ''baseball caps'' early on, and some were even made, but they didn't go over well in screen tests and were subsequently dropped.
87** They had initially attempted to have Rolls-Royce build a new FAB-1, but BMW (RR Motor Car's owners) said no because they were busy with creating the then-new Rolls-Royce Phantom. Ford took the job instead.
88** An idea for the climax was to have the Mole as piloted by The Hood sever one of the supports of the London Eye and one of its passenger pods would fall in. However, the people who ran it said no, on account of it being a potential terrorist target, and hence was changed to the "[[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture Olympic Monorail]]". Another one was that ''Thunderbird 2'' would have swept through other parts of London, including near the Houses of Parliament and also past the Mayor’s building, blowing all of its windows out. This was also dropped for security reasons, although some trailers do feature a clip of Thunderbird 2 flying around Parliament Square.
89** There was talk about having Sylvia Anderson and Frakes as passengers on the monorail, but scheduling issues prevented Anderson's appearance; Frakes instead cameoed as a cop at the end.
90
91!!!''Turbocharged Thunderbirds''
92
93* PromotedFanboy: Composer Ed Potokar was a fan of the original ''Thunderbirds'' as a kid.
94

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