1.) So, The Starlost. This short-lived, early '70s TV production is regularly declared to be one of the worst science-fiction series ever made.

This is true. However . . .

2.) Few people in the industry purposefully set out to make crap. The Starlost was created by Harlan Ellison. Ben Bova was the science consultant. One script was written by Ursula K. Le Guin. The effects were done by the legendary Douglas Trumbull.

So what happened?

3.) Back in the early '70s, the original Star Trek was breaking syndication records. The networks all wanted a Trek clone, something that could run a few seasons and then be sold into lucrative syndication.

4.) Harlan Ellison conceived a series about the EarthShip Ark, a vast starship carrying the survivors of the doomed planet Earth in sealed biospheres. After an accident cripples the Ark, the biospheres are sealed.

5.) Centuries later, a small group of young people from the repressive biosphere of Cypress Corners emerge and discover the Ark is on a collision course with a star and will be destroyed in a few years unless they can find the Ark's backup bridge.

6.) The problems emerged in the execution. To get Canadian government subsidies, the show was filmed in Canada, a co-production of NBC and CTV. To save money, it was shot on film, rendering Trumbull's planned effects work less than impressive.

7.) Chromakey effects had to be used with video, forcing the production to use static shots.

8.) Scripts were rewritten and dumbed-down. Furious, Ellison took his name off the production, using his pseudonym "Cordwainer Bird" instead.

9.) The Starlost limped along for 16 episodes before it was cancelled. Ben Bova even wrote a satirical novel about his experiences making the series.

10.) Over the next few weeks I'll delving into the depths to explore just how The Starlost failed and what, if anything, it managed to get right.

11.) I'll leave you with the words of Harlan Ellison: "In the hands of the inept, the venal, and the corrupt, The Starlost became a veritable Mt. Everest of cowflop."