I remember it being called Project Bluebook - Project U.F.O. (1978) Discussion

[–] corky_im_bloated 16 years ago

I watched the show at around the same age as you and clearly remember it as Project Bluebook as well. The broadcast was from a network affiliate in Western NY. I don't recall the specifics of the intro, although I do remember having the bejeesus scared out of me by that alien in the window scene.

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[–] Andy M. 16 years ago

You are both incorrect. It ALWAYS went out under the on-screen title of PROJECT UFO". What you're remembering is that Project Blue Book was referred to (via dialogue) by the characters in every (or at least nearly every) episode. Also, there was an on-screen caption/disclaimer just before the beginning credits (or the ending credits) explaining what Project Blue Book was all about. Maybe it is this that you are remembering.

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[–] czero101 15 years ago

You are both incorrect. It ALWAYS went out under the on-screen title of PROJECT UFO"

I distinctly remember it as being called "Project Bluebook". In fact, when I found "Project U.F.O." I was not sure it was even the same show, so it looks like YOU are incorrect, smartypants

Its not uncommon for shows to be called one thing and another thing depending on where it was being shown. I live in Canada so perhaps it was called that here, although I'm pretty sure I watched it on a US network affiliate station from Seattle. IMDb even lists "Project Bluebook" as its alternate US title.

Also, the disclaimer at the beginning never mentioned Project Bluebook:

This program is a dramatization inspired by official reports of government investigations of claims of reported sightings of "Unidentified Flying Objects" on file in the National Archives of the United States.

Cz

Evil PURE AND SIMPLE by way of the Eighth Dimension!

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[–] Charodon 15 years ago

I grew up *near* Canada and also remember it being called Project Bluebook. I had never heard of "Project U.F.O." before visiting this page.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] atg_commish 9 years ago

Me either.

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[–] user-322-326156 9 years ago

It was called "Project Bluebook" in NJ. I used to watch it I must have been around 8. When I saw "Project UFO" I thought it was some copycat show. So I'm not sure why it changed from one season to the next. To the guy that says it was always Project UFO - WRONG. Couldn't be anymore wrong.

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[–] Eric-62-2 9 years ago

No, I am completely right on this subject. There was no alternate title in other markets when it aired on NBC and the title did not change during its NBC run. Fact, case closed, end of discussion. Until you provide something other than vague childhood memories from decades ago like some substantive proof for a change, your argument has no credibility.

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[–] user-322-326156 9 years ago

LOL - neither do you. Oh wait, you're right. All the 100's of other people that have mentioned that they NEVER HEARD OF "PROJECT UFO" but only "Project Blue Book" are mistaken. Congratulations! You discovered a world wide phenomenon! We are all going to get together and lobby that you win the Nobel Prize for your great & awesome discovery. Thanks, dum-dum.

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[–] Eric-62-2 9 years ago

Reality check time once again. This issue is about what the show was called during its run on NBC in 1978-79. I have tangible proof in the form of videotapes made during the show's original run (as well as videotapes made during its overseas repeat runs), documentation in the form of TV Guide listings, documented proof in Jack Webb's biography that it was only known by this title etc. If all you want to give us are hazy recollections from decades ago, then I've got news for you buddy. They are no more valuable than the hundreds of people who to this day go up to Dick Cavett and tell him that they saw the program where health expert J.P. Rodale dropped dead after his interview, but the problem as Cavett keeps trying to explain to them is that program never went on the air. It was written about and talked about, but people who sincerely believe they saw it on television are still wrong because the tangible facts prove otherwise. All I'm seeing here is a discovery of something I have seen happen many times before when people think their memories from decades ago are 100% perfect. Now until you produce something tangible like (1) a videotape that does not have the Project UFO title (2) an NBC promo guide from 78-79 that does not use this title or (3) a Jack Webb bio that notes the absurdity of something like this that the show's producer would never stand for in any rational context, I can take your rebuttal for the hollow thing that it is.

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[–] user-322-326156 9 years ago

It was called Project Bluebook in N.J., upstate, N.Y., Canada, and various other parts of the U.S.

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[–] Eric-62-2 9 years ago

(Yawn). No tangible proof to offer in response, so we get another example of what Cavett brilliantly dissects.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/03/when-that-guy-died-on-my-show/?_r=0

“Hey, Dick, I’ll never forget the look on your face when that guy died on your show.”

I’d say I still get this about 20 times a year, a high number considering that the event referred to happened in 1971.

I’m never sure exactly how to answer. Let’s call the speaker Don. Usually it goes on:

Don: I’ll never forget that.

D.C.: Ah, you were in the audience?

Don: No, I saw it.

D.C. (uneasy): Well, you see that show never aired.

Don: C’mon, you’re kiddin’ me.

D.C.: It’s true. And you’re just one of a lot of people who are so sure that they saw it that they could pass a polygraph test.

Don: How did I see it then?

D.C.: I hate to spoil your fun, but the only way you might have seen it is if you knew a couple of ABC engineers who ran off a copy that night to take home to spook their wives and girlfriends.

Don (with an expression that says, “Why are you pretending I didn’t see it?”): But I just know I saw it.

D.C. (now trying to comfort poor Don who has had a cherished memory threatened): Maybe I described it so vividly the next night that you thought you actually saw it … and it was in all the papers and on the late news shows.

Don (baffled) : Geez, I swear….

D.C.: See, Don we taped so close to air time that they had to quickly put on a rerun. The family hadn’t been notified or anything.

Don (noticeably crestfallen, not seeing): I see.

As I bid Don goodbye, it’s clear that he is convinced I’m crazy. I mentally recite my favorite two-line rhyme:

A man convinced against his will,
Is of the same opinion still.

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[–] user-322-326156 9 years ago

Again, allow us 2-4 weeks and we'll get your prize sent to you. None of us realized you were the producer of the show and know everything. Actually you know deet-deet (very little). BKTYASCPBRYAADHDB, ;)

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[–] Eric-62-2 9 years ago

If you really had substantive proof, you wouldn't need 2-4 weeks (what stopped you these last few months?). The only thing I and some others in this thread have tried to do is point out some common sense that seems to elude people on a subject like this like yourself.

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[–] user-322-326156 9 years ago

It was called Project Bluebook in N.J. Here's from Wiki dum dum;
"to avoid confusion over the similarly titled show UFO, the show was known as Project Blue Book and had a different title sequence"

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[–] user-322-326156 9 years ago

And here's from another Wiki entry dum dum;

Project Blue Book was the inspiration for the 1978–1979 TV show Project U.F.O. (which was known as Project Blue Book in some countries),

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[–] Eric-62-2 9 years ago

Those who rely on Wiki as their final guide are the ones who are the real dum-dums.

This issue, keep in mind is what the title of this show was on NBC in 1978-79 and nothing else. On that point, you have come up with nothing but unverified recollections of people proving the Cavett adage and then you come up with a lame bit from Wikipeida, noted for being a place with a lot of unverified inaccuracies.

Come up with something substantive like (1) a newspaper TV listing (2) an NBC press guide (3) a Jack Webb bio (4) a videotape from the original run *showing* us this alternate title and I can take you seriously. You're not doing a good job so far.

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[–] user-322-326156 9 years ago

Yeah, remember; it's a conspiracy (much like 9/11 LOL). People doctored Wiki to support "Project Bluebook" and people have started arguments all over the internet (not just here) that where they lived it was "Project Bluebook".

And I know you already know this but just keep it mind please; the moon landings and 9/11 were hoaxes/conspiracies.

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[–] Eric-62-2 9 years ago

This has nothing to do with "conspiracies". It's merely pointing out that (1) memories are imprecise after decades and are not reliable guides when the factual record shows otherwise and (2) Wikipedia and for that matter, IMDB are often loaded with inaccurate information because of uncritically accepting uncited postings by people who are relying too much on memories or other second-hand matters.

This rather silly controversy stems around a single point. The title of this show during its original broadcast run in the US on NBC and nothing else. There is not one single scrap of documented evidence to support the recollections of people who think it was called something else in some markets during its NBC run. But even absent the total lack of tangible proof on that subject, I would suggest that the entire premise is of the absurd variety more worthy of conspiracy belief. Name *one* other show in the history of network television that would be called one thing in one market and another title in another US market etc.? That isn't how things work, and it isn't how a show tries to attract an audience by causing that kind of confusion, and no network programmer would ever allow that kind of thing. Those who want to keep letting their imperfect memories devoid of tangible proof decades later be their sole guide are not even bothering to think clearly about how illogical the whole concept/premise is.

Why some people would prefer to be so stubborn and not realize their memories are not perfect and that they are in fact, fallible human beings (I have learned to discover that things I can seemingly remember vividly from decades ago about a program are not how it actually it was when I get reintroduced to the program), is something that says a lot about themselves as opposed to the issue. In the meantime, the issue of the title of this show on NBC, as confirmed by (1) the tapes (2) the TV listings (3) the promo materials (4) the Jack Webb bios is a settled matter. It was known entirely as "Project UFO" and nothing else during its NBC run of 1978-79.

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[–] Optimus_past_my_Prime 8 years ago

I grew up in Nova Scotia, Canada and I clearly remember the show being called Project Bluebook.

 The Thread Killer 

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[–] Opinion02122 8 years ago

No need for name calling! Seriously!

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[–] mrhasslehoff 8 years ago

Project Bluebook in the UK. I believe it was to avoid confusion with the Gerry Anderson show U.F.O.

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[–] user-322-326156 8 years ago

It was always Project Bluebook in lots of regions. Never was it Project UFO.

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[–] Eric-62-2 8 years ago

It was always Project UFO in the United States during its NBC run. This is what we were discussing before, and some people tried to push the silly argument that it was operating under different titles during its run on NBC in the US.

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[–] JohnnyGage51 8 years ago

The show was definitely called Project U.F.O. in all of the US. It was based on the US Air Force investigation of UFO's which was called Project Blue Book. I wouldn't be surprised if the show was called something else in other countries, as this is common. Another poster commented that it was called Project Blue Book in the UK, to prevent confusion with Gerry Anderson's show. I don't think it was ever run in syndication and called anything different in the US.

Do a quick Youtube search for the Project U.F.O. Intro. I read through half of the thread and gave up. I couldn't believe folks argued so much over it without doing a quick Youtube check. Several episodes are online and folks have titled them bluebook incorrectly, but the show intro still shows "U.F.O." for both seasons.

The characters refer to Project Blue Book in every episode, and the USAF did have Project Blue Book, so it's easy to see why people remember it that way. If Canada aired it with an alternate title, some Northern US folks could have watched it over the air and saw a different title.

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[–] Duncan_Idaho02 7 years ago

No it was not. I watched it both in Idaho and Texas. In both states, where I lived, it was called Project Bluebook.

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[–] JohnnyGage51 7 years ago

All video and documentation show it being televised with the name Project U.F.O. It may have been in your local listings differently, and it's even possible that it was given the Blue Book name if it was ever syndicated. Original airing in the US was Project U.F.O. Word of mouth was probably Project Blue Book because they referred to it in every show.

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[–] SilentJay32 10 years ago

It's 6 years later, but it was called both. The main US broadcast was under the title Project UFO, but it was sold internationally under both that title and as Project Bluebook. Here in Canada, we'd actually get broadcasts with both titles depending on where we lived, and how close to the border it was. Some Canadian stations aired it as Project Bluebook, and we'd also get US stations airing it as Project UFO.

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[–] atg_commish 9 years ago

It was called Project Bluebook in Minnesota, so I suspect they are correct.

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[–] KimberlyShaw 15 years ago

While the series was based on & set in the world of Blue Book investigation, the title of the series was always "Project: U.F.O." during its' run on NBC, and that information came from both the Webb site & the excellent guide to network programs. If the series was re-edited into bad tv movies later at some point, who knows what it may have been called.

"There's my buttercup!"

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[–] mmmenger 15 years ago

Well, I also remembered this as "Project Blue Book"...but after seeing a photo (http://www.glowingdial.com/images/William_Jordan_auto.jpg) of one of the stars...signed by them...with Project U.F.O. written by them...I gotta admit it was called "Project U.F.O."

But you also have to wonder, if they had called it Project Blue Book, maybe it would have lasted longer than 2 seasons. I mean with sooo many people remembering it as that, when it wasn't called that at all...who knows?

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[–] KimberlyShaw 15 years ago

Too bad it didn't last longer. When X Files came on, it reminded me of this old series.

"There's my buttercup!"

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[–] atg_commish 9 years ago

It was always "Project Bluebook" when I watched it on NBC.

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[–] Andy M. 9 years ago

Sorry, but if you watched it on NBC, your memory is mistaken. The ON-SCREEN title on EVERY NBC episode was PROJECT: UFO. That's also how it was listed in TV Guide, and is also how it was sold in at least some countries (the 1990s UK rebroadcasts retained the original PROJECTL UFO titles).

Now, the on-screen CHARACTERS constantly said IN DIALOGUE that they were working on "Project Blue Book", but that was NEVER the official, on-screen title of the series during its original run on NBC. That is a fact.

There's no way NBC would have shown it to part of the country under one title and they show it to others under a different one.

Now, I can't speak for Canada and other foreign countries where it might have been re-titled, but I have video recordings that prove you wrong.

There are also MANY off-NBC video clips on YouTube (including network promos) which clearly identify the show as "Project UFO" both in on-screen captions and the announcer's voice. Just search Project UFO NBC and you'll see.

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[–] gapete 15 years ago

You got another vote from me, I distinctly remember it being called Project Bluebook. Like someone else said, I had never heard of "Project UFO" until I got to this page. When I looked at it in the search engine I was thinking this couldn't be it, but it was. Don't know how they got off calling it Project UFO.

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[–] mecahill 15 years ago

I'm from the Boston area and when this show was on when I was little, (late 70's), I remember distinctly it was called "Project UFO." It's funny because no one around my age seems to remember this show. I thought it was pretty cool and a good idea.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] super_stonic 15 years ago

Same here. It was called Project Bluebook, at least for people in the northeast PA area. The intro was different as well, as someone else mentioned. I distinctly remember one cllp showing some sort of "wheel" craft next to a car. Does anyone know which episode that was?

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[–] rogerslocum2000 15 years ago

funny. i grew up in northeast pa and saw every episode first run and remember it distictly as "project ufo"

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[–] tween_us 15 years ago

I distinctly remember one clip showing some sort of "wheel" craft next to a car. Does anyone know which episode that was?

Not sure if this is what you're remembering, but I found the following on Wikipedia:

"The opening montage showed flying saucer diagrams and schematics, while a minor-key version of 'Ezekiel Saw the Wheel' played. A voice-over (narrated by Webb) then spoke:

'Ezekiel saw the wheel. This [UFO diagrams] is the wheel he said he saw. These are Unidentified Flying Objects that people say they are seeing now. Are they proof that we are being visited by civilizations from other stars? Or just what are they? What you are about to see is part of (a) 20-year search.'

Incidentally, the business about Ezekiel is more suggestive of the ancient astronauts theories propounded by Chariots of the Gods or The Bible and Flying Saucers than anything the Air Force ever did.

Notable was the extensive use of miniatures for the UFOs by Brick Price Movie Miniatures (now Wonderworks), usually cobbled together from off-the-shelf model kits."

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[–] uhrhistory 14 years ago

Yikes, a lot of faulty memories here! The show was called "Project U.F.O." from day one. It was never called "Project Blue Book" on the network. It never went into reruns. Blue Book was the code name of the unit the characters on the show worked for. I saw every episode and taped most of them.

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[–] atg_commish 9 years ago

I assure you my memory is not faulty. It was Project Blue Book.

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[–] Eric-62-2 9 years ago

I assure you my memory is not faulty.

I assure you.....it is.

I will leave it to the people who are so determined to insist on something that wasn't so to explain why a network would show a TV series under one title in one part of the country but not in another and thus louse up their entire advertising/promotional department and confuse the hell out of people. Can you name ONE other example of this totally insane policy that would get a network executive who came up with it fired in an instant if he tried to implement it (not to mention ticking off the show's producers. I can just picture Jack Webb getting on the phone and demanding to know why the hell are people mixed up about what the name of his new show is!) being applied with any other TV show?

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[–] Duncan_Idaho02 7 years ago

I assure you his memory is not faulty. I can only attest to the cities I watched it in which were in Idaho and Texas. Both places it was called Project bluebook.

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[–] rickperry2004 13 years ago

The show's title was always called "Project UFO" from the first previews.

I was born in 1966 so I was 12 when it first aired. I faithfully watched almost every single episode and even re-runs.

I always wondered why they called it that instead of just "Project Bluebook". I never like it, but that's why I remembered the actual title.

The real life Air Force name, "Project Bluebook", was mentioned often in the series. I think that's why so many of you remember it that way, but the show title was Project UFO and the characters never said "Project UFO". The title did not make sense but that's what it actually was.

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[–] assimilator47 13 years ago

It was on Belgian BRT television under the name 'Project Bluebook' for sure, in the late 70's.

"If we're going to be damned anyway, then let's be damned for who we really are."

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[–] caswinson 15 years ago

I remember it being called Project Bluebook as well, I lived in NJ at the time and it seems that many in the North East remember it being bluebook ALTHOUGH I do remember a movie out at about the same time called Hanger 18...that referenced Project Blue Book...at the end of the movie they crashed a remotely piloted jet into the hanger to try and destroy the UFO...but it was not damaged at all.

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[–] XJMark 15 years ago

The title (even in the TV Guide) was Project UFO in the Chicago market. Just sayin'

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[–] ldeschane-1 15 years ago

In 1978-1979 I was an engineer at an NBC affliate in the Rocky Mountains. We were very excited about this show because we had three Air Force Bases within 100 miles of our station as well as NORAD just down the road. In Denver, it aired as "Project U.F.O.", but some of the affiates complained about the title and showed the show under differing title. The NE US could have been some of the areas that went with a different title, especially if they were taking it off the Canada feed (pre satellite). A Couple of stations did this with Supertrain and a couplpe of other lame shows in that era. Enjoy the show, whatever it was called.

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[–] omega2064 15 years ago

In Ohio the first episode or two were titled Project Bluebook, but later showing were Project UFO. At a guess, what people saw were test runs and for some reason they opted to change the name before it went into full showing. Its a pretty common thing. Though most places where its done are not aware.

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[–] SirGizz 15 years ago

For what's it's worth.

I loved this series as a kid and here in the UK it was called "Project Bluebook"

I will have to hunt it out and watch it again and hope it is as good now as it was then.

Take care

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] glenn-757-828584 14 years ago

I was the Air Force tech adviser for the pilot which was called "Project Blue Book." I have a copy of the script signed by Bill Jordan and Caskey Swaim. When it went into production the name was changed to "Project UFO." I remember being surprised at the title change when I saw it on TV.
In my role I ended up in an argument with the director which had to be arbitrated by Jack Webb himself. He backed me completely in his profane, perfunctory way.

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