FORGOTTEN TELEVISION: PROJECT U.F.O. (1978-1979)

PROJECT U.F.O. (1978-1979) – Jack Webb’s Mark VII Ltd. produced this short-lived wonder which dramatized selected cases from the U.S. Air Force’s real-life Project Bluebook, which investigated reports of Unidentified Flying Objects.

Don’t go into this series expecting wild alien races or X-Files-level conspiracies and cover-ups. Typical of Jack Webb productions, the investigations were purely procedural and very dry, with the only fantastic elements coming in the reenactments of what the U.F.O. “witnesses” CLAIM they saw. The investigators could often debunk the sightings in a professional, unemotional way. 

The only bone thrown to fringe true believers in alien visitations was when the investigators were stumped and would classify a U.F.O. sighting as “a true unknown.” Simply meaning they could not explain it, not that they were saying that the sighted object was an alien spaceship.

For skeptics like me, that kept the show grounded enough in reality that it didn’t insult the intelligence of viewers.

However, Jack Webb giveth and Jack Webb taketh away. The downside of Webb’s “just the facts, ma’am” approach has always been the way it reduces his main characters to stiff, personality-free robots.

The leads were William Jordan as Major Jake Gatlin, and Caskey Swaim as Sergeant Harry Fitz. Edward Winter joined the cast later as Captain Ben Ryan.

STANDOUT EPISODES: 

THE WASHINGTON D.C. INCIDENT – Gatlin and Fitz investigate a Virginia woman’s claims that an alien object landed on her farm and communicated with her as well as an incident in which a pilot’s death seems to have been caused by his pursuit of a U.F.O. Also starring Anne Schedeen, Frances Reid and Psychotronic Hall of Famer Hoke Howell. 

THE JOSHUA FLATS INCIDENT – An eleven-year-old child turns out to be the most authoritative witness out of an entire town at the center of a U.F.O. incident. With Barbara Luna, Jim “Jock Ewing” Davis and Mills Watson.

THE FREMONT INCIDENT – Gatlin and Fitz probe reports about military aircraft firing on a U.F.O. and the supposed recovery of wreckage from the other vessel. Also starring Gary Crosby, Rod Perry, and Kim Hamilton.     

THE HOWARD CROSSING – A Wyoming ranch family claims that an alien spaceship landed on their land and the crew attacked the family. With Leif “Big John” Erickson, Virginia Gregg, Malachi Throne, Peggy Webber and Vince Howard.

THE MEDICINE BOW INCIDENT – Our heroes investigate pilots who claim that a U.F.O. chased them through the sky, and a loon claims the government is covering up his report of being abducted by a U.F.O. Anthony Eisley, Joan Freeman, Kenneth Mars and Edward Winter – as a different character – guest starred.

THE NEVADA DESERT INCIDENT – A U.S. Air Force pilot claims he encountered four flying objects and their Mother Ship. He sticks to the story in the face of career and marital ruin. With Scott Hylands, Adrienne Larussa, Donna Douglas and Andrew Duggan.

THE FOREST CITY INCIDENT – Necking teenagers claim they saw a U.F.O. Meanwhile, a duck hunter produces a photograph of what he believes to be a U.F.O. Also starring Cindy Eilbacher, Stephen Hudis and Vic Perrin.

THE DESERT SPRINGS INCIDENT – Our stars investigate when two men claim a U.F.O. followed them all through America’s southwestern desert. In the B-story, a wacky woman claims aliens visited her and offered to take her to Venus. With Angus “The Tall Man” Scrimm, Daina House and Jack Sheldon.   

THE FRENCH INCIDENT – Gatlin and Fitz travel to France to probe the reported abduction of a Presidential Envoy’s son by a U.F.O. With Eric Braeden, Marie Grimm and Kip Niven. 

THE WATERFORD INCIDENT – A Wisconsin hunter claims he shot an alien robot with his bow and arrows. Meanwhile, students at a military academy use a dangerous substance they believe came from a U.F.O. Also starring Anthony “Luke” Geary, Craig Stevens and Dr. Joyce Brothers. 

THE DOLLHOUSE INCIDENT – An unstable man claims he was visited by aliens who offered him some extraterrestrial “bread” in exchange for some water. The man secretly kept some of the substance given to him. With David Hedison, Linda Foster, Marta Kristen and Tiiu Leek. 

THE ROCK AND HARD PLACE INCIDENT – Gatlin and Fitz come under scrutiny when they themselves are among the many witnesses to a U.F.O. sighting over a restaurant. Also starring Elaine Joyce and Robert Ginty.

THE ST. HILLARY INCIDENT – Our heroes wind up in the middle of a U.F.O. sighting – and promised return – by a pair of nuns. Their Archbishop pressures them to change their story. With Pamela Franklin and Valentin de Vargas.   

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