Goodbye, Number 6.

I'm sure there are lots of us out here.

Wonder if he's requested any inscription on his gravestone?

I don't remember the show, april05, but I do remember a somewhat unlikely tribute to it by the band Iron Maiden back in the 1980s. The first verse is, I believe, taken right from the show.

"We want information, information, information."
"Who are you?"
"The new number two."
"Who is number one?"
"You are number six."
"I am not a number, I am a free man."

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA."

As for the rest of the song . . . well, I was young once, too.

Hey Moose - I'll have to share that with my sister, a metal-head herself (I was the new waver of the family). We've reconciled our musical differences since the 80's. :) - Larry

Dr. Moose you beat me to the punch. Loved Iron Maiden 'back in the day' and still a bit this day.

Odd that only a few hours after Wired published a story about the upcoming remake of the Prisoner he passed away.

http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2009/01/the-prisoner-re.html

http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2009/01/rip-patrick-mcg.html

Hi stevem - thanks for sharing that - great write-ups at those links. I'll likely check out the remake, but McGoohan's acting was one-of-a-kind. I think Harold Pinter, who also died recently, inspired McGoohan, so we're losing some great ones these past few months. - Larry

Back in the late 70's I dated a girl friend who was a founder member of "the 6 of 1" club - a fan club of the prisoner.

Several times I went on 6 of 1 visits to Portmerion and to places they used for filming etc...

There were, and probably still are, a good few thousand members of that club...

Hi Electroman - Thanks for sharing that - too cool that a U.K. club for the The Prisoner even existed! I had no idea!!

Reminds me: A friend of mine, scarf-wearing and all, was recruiting me hard for the Guilderland, NY branch of the Dr. Who club, circa 1982, and I was an avid watcher, but I never completed the form (I guess this is what defined me as a geek in the 80's?). He also went on to become an engineer, and I think now works for the U.S. Air Force. Daleks rule (pun intended)!

Will check out the "6 of 1" club when I come to cool Britannia for a visit some day...

- Larry

#6 (also #1) is finally free. May he rest in peace.

I only remember him being chased by the giant white ball....I loved both programs, I hadn't heard that a remake was in the offing.

Thanks for the posting, saddens me to know we lost another great actor

Can't let this news pass without a musical tribute:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRqVgHz1elU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AL7npkSXZE&feature=related

Many thanks for the links, 3Doug - watched both videos - YouTube is an amazing time machine - thanks for taking me back to the 60's - it's been years since I've seen the intro. to The Prisoner, and first time I can remember seeing this Johnny Winters video. Thanks again! - Larry

Well a lot of us think CR4 can be the "Watercooler" site that us "single" workers can use before we go back to work.

Whut, we aren't allowed to play too?

Yes, as a "Boomer" I really enjoyed the British imports along with "The Avengers" series. I have both "Secret Agent" and "The Prisoner" on DVD. Just for kicks last year I ordered vanity plates for my convertible KAR-12QC (KAR-120C was already taken) As an aside, like to comment on Ricardo Montalban's passing. A fine actor and from what I understand, a fine gentleman. I'll never forget his roll as the doomed infantryman in "Battleground". They'll both be missed. Maybe TCM will do a "TCM Remembers" on them, hope so.

Hi joltnjny -

Thanks for sharing about your purchases - good to know the original Secret Agent and The Prisoner are available on DVD.

I feel the same way about Ricardo Montalban. Now that I'm a bit older, I can admit my guilty pleasure. I also enjoyed him on Fantasy Island and in Star Trek's "Wrath of Khan".

For this engineer, Brit-invasion-era cold war dramas and sci-fi, along with the American space program and those strict nuns in Catholic school, were key motivators for me in pursuing a career in science/engineering.

It's nice to express my gratitude here in an engineering forum. It's also good to know that the young, potential engineers in India, China and elsewhere have the same opportunity I had to enjoy Patrick McGoohan's acting on DVD or via download on iTunes and similar sites.

- Larry

Yep 12 years of the Sister's of St. Joseph prepared me for ANYTHING, LOL

Another sad loss - hadn't heard of this.

Just got to share one more item - never knew McGoohan was on the Simpsons (from Wikipedia):

"In 2000, he reprised his role as Number Six in an episode of The Simpsons, "The Computer Wore Menace Shoes". In it, Homer Simpson concocts a news story to make his website more popular, and he wakes up in a prison disguised as a holiday resort. Dubbed Number Five, he befriends Number Six and escapes with his boat."

I've got to seek this Simpsons episode out on DVD!

- Larry

Oh man. It's a real Doozy. Very much an homage.