3-2-1 Contact
3-2-1 Contact is an American science educational television show which aired on PBS from 1980 to 1988. The show, a production of the Children’s Television Workshop, taught scientific principles and their applications. Dr. Edward G. Atkins, who was responsible for much of the scientific content of the show, felt that the TV program wouldn’t replace a classroom but would open the viewers to ask questions about the scientific purpose of things.
3-2-1 Contact was the brainchild of Samuel Y. Gibbon, Jr., who had been the executive producer of The Electric Company for CTW from 1971 to 1977. (Gibbon actually left CTW before Contact’s production began, though he was still credited as “Senior Consultant.”) 3-2-1 Contact was a reworking of the Australian Curiosity Show.
The first season of 65 programs began airing January 14, 1980 on select PBS member stations; it featured a cast of three college students who discussed science in an on-campus room known as the Workshop. The first season came to an end on April 11, 1980, but funds for more episodes were not sufficient until 1982.
When production resumed for the second season, which premiered on October 17, 1983, the show presented a more realistic appearance, as the new cast convened in a suburban basement (these segments were shot at Reeves Teletape, which also housed Sesame Street at the time). This cast continued until October 18, 1985. Ozzie Alfonso was Contact’s new director and Al Hyslop its executive producer.
When the fifth season began on September 22, 1986, a third cast was introduced. However, unlike the previous casts, they did not meet in any specific setting; instead, they appeared in various taped and filmed segments. Episodes continued to be produced through November 1988.
For a time in the mid-1980s, the program was co-produced with the French television network FR3 and featured several new French cast members in addition to the American cast.
From September 1, 1991 until May 1, 1992, an edited version of the series titled 3-2-1 Classroom Contact was produced, specifically for in-school viewing.
It was reported in 1984 that 3-2-1 Contact had an audience of over 7 million viewers and was broadcast in 26 countries including West Germany, France and Spain making their own dubbed-over versions.
Broadcasters wanted the children to record the episodes without being afraid of infringement of copyright violations.
CAST
Liz Moses as Lisa (1980)
Leon W. Grant as Marc (1980)
Ginny Ortiz as Trini (1980)
Liz Gorcey as Jackie (field segments, 1983)
Kelly Pino as Kathy (1983-85)
Frank Gomez as Miguel (1983-86)
Benjamin H. Carlin as Paco (1983-86)
Judy Leak as Robin (1983-86)
Manny Mendiola as Diego (1985-86)
Tannis Vallely as Mary (1985-86)
Candida Romero as Monique (1986)
Abigael Maryan as Chantal (1986)
Ericka Pazcoguin as Maggie (1986-87)
Mary Lopez (1986)
David Drach (1986-87)
David Quinn (1986-88)
Debra Allison Shapiro (1986-88)
Todd A. Rolle (1986-88)
Hopey Fitzpatrick (1987-88)
Stephanie Yu (1987-88)
Z. Wright (1987-1988)