Bring ‘Em Back Alive

"Bring 'Em Back Alive," the riveting adventure television series, burst onto the scene with Bruce Boxleitner taking the lead as Frank Buck, accompanied by the talented Cindy Morgan and Ron O'Neal. It graced our screens from September 1982 to May 1983, whisking us away to the vibrant backdrop of Singapore. This show bore the unmistakable influence of "Tales of the Gold Monkey" and sought to capture the same magic that had propelled "Raiders of the Lost Ark" to stratospheric heights.

Interestingly, Frank Buck, the character portrayed by Boxleitner, had roots in reality. He was a bona fide big-game trapper who achieved legendary status in the 1930s. The very title of the show, "Bring 'Em Back Alive," was borrowed from the book Buck penned. He even graced the silver screen in a 1932 adaptation of his own book, cementing his legacy. Serial aficionados will fondly remember him as the star of "Jungle Menace."

Back when this series made its grand debut, I was positively brimming with excitement. It happened to coincide with the release of "Tales of the Gold Monkey," and in my youthful enthusiasm, I envisioned a golden era of Indiana Jones-style television adventures ahead. Little did I know that reality would take a different turn.

The networks' collective infatuation with the adventure genre didn't quite translate into the ratings bonanza they had anticipated. Consequently, both "Bring 'Em Back Alive" and "Tales of the Gold Monkey" made swift exits from the small screen. Of course, it didn't help matters that these shows were pitted against formidable competitors like NBC's top-10 hit, "The A-Team," and ABC's top-30 darlings, "Happy Days" and "Laverne and Shirley."

While my personal preference leaned toward "Tales," I'll forever hold a special place in my heart for "Bring 'Em Back Alive." It introduced me to the remarkable world of Frank Buck and, in a delightful twist of fate, granted me the informal TRON reunion I had secretly longed for by uniting Bruce Boxleitner and Cindy Morgan once again.

So, here's to the opening credits of a show that should have been a long-running adventure saga.