American's First Time Watching Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy! 😱 | Epic British Sci-Fi Reaction

American's First Time Watching Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy! 😱 | Epic British Sci-Fi Reaction
Join me, as I watch the first episode of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for the very first time! This classic British sci-fi series has a cult following, and I'm excited to dive into Douglas Adams' universe filled with humor, quirky characters, and iconic moments. Watch my genuine reaction as I experience the 1981 TV adaptation that fans have adored for decades. If you're a fan of British TV, sci-fi, or just love reaction videos, hit play and don't forget to subscribe for more classic TV reactions!
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[@TheEclecticBeard]

So for whatever reason more was allowed uncut from the beginning few minutes of the episode than what comes after. I tried uploading it mostly intact and with a little more taken out. This is how it was able to be uploaded. Don't blame me, I tried.

[@Neil_Hyman]

Thank you so much for trying.

[@grantwatt4559]

It didn't take away from your video, nice to see this reaction, it takes me back to when I was a wee guy and my oldest brother watched this! 👍

[@patriciaburke6639]

You say that you have this Series on DVD. If it’s PAL Region:2, can I assume you have a Region Free DVD Player ?

[@josefschiltz2192]

The first time that I came across THHGTTG was on a record in a small SF bookshop in Ipswich in my last year at college in 1981. The owner was sitting at his desk, eating a small banana custard and we sat and listened to it for a while. I knew that I would have to buy this album and it's follow up. The radio series is superb and comes in 'Fits'! Just remember, DON'T PANIC!! Douglas Adams was a close friend of Richard Dawkins and his actress wife Lalla Ward.

[@ennesshay5040]

Thanks for doing the tv series and not the 'terrible' film !!

[@m.s.6545]

Understanding Douglas Adams' humor is the best proof that you are intelligent.

[@paulfranklin8636]

This is closer to the Radio series & Book than the film ever was. Douglas Adams writing was pure comic genius

[@redfog42]

Comic genius? Was it not a docudrama! 😁

[@MrEddHard]

Douglas Adams said that books, radio show and film were all correct just happened in parallel universes

[@slowerthinker]

The 21st century film was really well done, and *brilliantly* cast. I _absolutely loved it_ ... ... until the conclusion which totally ignored the source material and imho *ruined* everything that had gone before, and also would have made it impossible to continue the adaptation. If someone somewhere ever made a cut that removed the offending aspect (i'm not going to reveal spoilers but iykyk) it would be one of my favourite films. It is much easier for those involved to claim that they had Adams' blessing for it all when they started filming it a few years after he died.

[@GoDamnWeird]

Arthur Dent: "What's so unpleasant about being drunk?" Ford Prefect: "Ask a glass of water."

[@natmanprime4295]

wow!!! cant believe youre reacting to this!! legendary show very great stuff

[@flawedgenius]

I love this series so much, glad to see someone reacting to it!! It was originally a radio show.

[@jeanlongsden1696]

I remember watching this back in the early 80's. it was shown on BBC2 at 9 o'clock.

[@Simon-ui6db]

Being a kid when it was on, we had the radio 4 play on cassete in the car, and think i prefered that version.

[@msyoungau]

I remember watching this on ABC at 6:30pm Monday to Thursday in the 80s when I lived in Tamworth NSW.

[@musicandbooklover-p2o]

It even made it to TVNZ, we watched every episode.

[@happisakshappiplace.6588]

When this was made there were no CGI. All the 'book' displays were animated by hand and all the effects were model effects in camera.

[@KiwiHelpgeek]

I was about to post the same thing. They were so very well done when you consider that.

[@tommcewan7936]

Well, there was a little bit of CGI around by 1981, but the BBC certainly didn't have the budget for it, let alone in a TV sci-fi comedy.

[@thedukeofnuts]

@@tommcewan7936 I seem to remember there were quite a few visual effects in Doctor who, although technically not CGI.

[@SirHilaryManfat]

So happy to see this reaction as I don't think anyone else has reacted to the original TV series, which is much better than the movie. The effects are very 80's low budget BBC, but the heart and soul of the radio show and books is in this version. The movie is just a soulless interpretation.

[@dmthandmade5674]

The be clear 'Do you' doesn't mean what you think here. In the British vernacular 'Do you' or 'Do you over' can mean either give you a beating or rob you, or both. Or it can mean rip you off, defraud you in some way.

[@SuperPoodleboy]

Douglas Adams was a master of lampooning ridiculous levels of bureaucracy and logical arguments taken to illogical extremes. Sadly, he had already passed away by the time the movie was made and the production suffered at the hands of executives and producers that did not really understand the humour they were paying people to translate to film. The books, radio plays, and tv series all had Douglas Adams directly involved, so they shine in ways that the movie never could.

[@tommcewan7936]

Don't forget the infamous computer game. Douglas Adams was involved in the production of at least two computer games that I know of, and in both of them his design style was notoriously sadistic. The Babelfish puzzle in the Hitchhiker's Guide text adventure game, in particular, quite possibly traumatised an entire generation, and it remains a byword for playfully cruel gameplay.

[@timaustin2000]

It's worth noting that he passed away during pre-production on the movie and was directly involved until his death. He was directly involved in the script, certainly. I don't hate the movie. It's better than most movies of it's type and there's clearly affection for the source material throughout.

[@andrewobrien6671]

As a young teenager I lay in bed with a transistor radio and an earpice listening to the radio shoe and after all the books. Absolute brilliance from the much missed Douglas Adams. The series of books is a work of philosophy

[@sen5i]

So did I and it was one of those old white mono earpieces

[@andrewobrien6671]

@@sen5i Thats the one

[@drewb3565]

Loved this since listening to the radio version many years ago with my dad, got the entire series on cd, vhs tapes,the books and i never forget my towel - glad to seemed to enjoy it

[@lordbungle6235]

The ships were described as "impossibly huge yellow somethings" that "hung in the air in much the same way that bricks don't"

[@GoDamnWeird]

Massive as office blocks, silent as birds.

[@richardgale1287]

The writer, Douglas Adams, is the only person with writing credits for both Monty Python *and* Doctor Who (...as if that wasn’t apparent anyway).

[@MrJimithee]

Oh dude, BRILLIANT! I grew up with the books, radio and TV show... So glad you're reacting to this version... The belated Hollywood movie just nicked a few of the best lines and butchered the rest!

[@rarajiboo]

I read the first on a plane and couldn’t stop myself from cackling out loud even though everyone was looking at me like I lost my mind!😂😂

[@martinfinn674]

"Life? Don't talk to me about life!" Marvin the paranoid Android.

[@steakandkidney3142]

Like it or loathe it, you can't ignore it.

[@johnboy2562]

"No one even mentioned it. " Arthur Dent 😅

[@tigeriussvarne177]

Best book I ever read, love the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Always remember: Don't panik! ^^

[@MantisEnergy]

Life, the Universe and Everything was the First book I read. Nothing since has approached philosophy on such a general, intergalactic scale.

[@MantisEnergy]

I have yet to find software that presents information as pleasingly as the articles that are delivered here. The glowing text, blips and music, Peter Jones' voice and the simple diagrams make the information very relaxing to take in.

[@tomsenior7405]

For 15 year old me and everyone I knew, Hitch-Hikers was as influential as Python had been a decade before. We had listened to the radio shows so many times as to know them by heart. When this TV version was announced, we were both excited and concerned. Fortunately our worries were for nought. I still enjoy this classic. I hope you enjoy this as much as the traditional stuff from the early 1970s.

[@TurnFullCircle]

watch this when it first came out....watch it again most years...an absolute classic....so glad you appreciate it too...cheers..p.s the books are fantastic ...

[@racheldicker5611]

This is one of my fave shows , surreal and hilarious, stick with it

[@ChannelReuploads9451]

The TV series is only 50% of the content of the book and Radio series. I had the CD Audio Book box set of the entire Radio series. Just simply OUTSTANDING. Radio series was 1978, TV was 1981.

[@busload_uk]

Good choice! It’s a perfectly formulated show…so much of the humour and satire is equally relevant today. Hope you enjoy the rest of the series.

[@musicandbooklover-p2o]

I remember watching this when it came out in the early 1980s, it was on TVNZ and we were all glued to the screen every week. I've just purchased the DVD of the series, can't wait to rewatch it again, from memory the series was incredibly close to the book though it's been years since I read that as well. Always had a soft spot for mice, this tells you why.

[@mark-nm4tc]

Hi Eclectic, glad you've started this. This is the 1981 TV version which covers episodes 1-6 of series 1 of the radio show. Series 2 exists, but never got made for TV. This TV version is close to the original radio show, save for a few 'tweaks', but is about 99% faithful. Only when you finish this, watch the movie if you must, its a bit of a mess and alters the main story too much. Radio series 2 is very funny, but one of the books takes the story back to end of this series, so the second radio series is a bit of a 'dead end'. Adams was working on 'converting' the books into radio seasons when he died in 2001. You can now get all 5 series as ' a trilogy in five parts', I would encourage you to listen to it, its a work of genius. So glad you're doing the 'proper' version and not the movie. BTW...you might recognise the theme tune, its 'Journey of the Sorcerer' by the Eagles from the album One of These Nights.

[@speleokeir]

So glad that you're reacting to the TV series which is much better than the film. Like many BBC TV comedies, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy started off as a Radio 4 comedy in 1978. I was eight at the time and had a piano lesson between 6.00 -7.00PM and my Dad would pick me up afterwards and his would just be starting on the radio. The drive home. was less than 10 mins but my dad and I would sit in the car on the drive listening to it together until it finished. My mother could never understand why it took us so long to get home!😁 Terry Pratchett had a similar sense of humour if you're familiar with his Disc world books.

[@nekite1]

Myself and my wife watched this first time round and found it hilarious. Douglas Adams was a genius. Although he was a different genre, Terry Pratchett's books were equally entertaining.

[@moraysimpson2710]

You're going to love this, Alan. Great choice.

[@happisakshappiplace.6588]

I love this series. Very eccentric humour. I got to see the live theatre Radio Show production of this about 10 years ago. Wonderful book, series and radio show.

[@direnova6284]

I remember reading the book and when the Vogons turn up it said of the ships " they hung in the air exactly like bricks don't" . That phrase has stuck with me for nearly 50 years.

[@BrutusMaximusAurelius]

Never seen this series, but have read the books and seen the movie. Loved them both and if you love this I can highly recommend reading the books.

[@Simon-lt6fe]

Ford Prefect is called that because he didn't research mankind properly. He looked for the most common name but got (at the time) them most common car on the road

[@arwelp]

Yeah, we had one when I was a kid!

[@charlestaylor3027]

My favourite lines - "hyperspace travel is unpleasantly like being drunk". "what's so unpleasant about being drunk". ""Ask a glass of water".

[@bigbird2100]

Great video 👍 This is what I grew up on just so entertaining.😊

[@RoundTheArchives]

Very pleased that you're covering this - think you'll have a great time with it! If you do have access to the DVD set, we'd also point you towards Kevin Davies' remarkable 'Making Of' documentary which is quite frankly the gold standard by which all other DVD features should be measured. Don't want to say much more for fear of spoilers (which might sound a strange thing to say about a documentary!), but it's well worth a look once you've finished the final episode!

[@tarl4027]

This was and is an amazing series..so original and funny with great characters .thanks

[@jaydub3867]

Thankyou so much for putting this up. More, more..... I have said this before, your laugh just pulls me into a good place. First heard the radio series on BBC Radio over 40 years ago - oh when times were more innocent :-))

[@InimicalWit]

18:06 That's almost right 💙 Two seasons of the radio drama came first. Later, the 2 books and the 1 TV show. They each have similarities, but also many deliberate differences. Another later, there were 3 more books written. Eventually, the 1 movie was made and more seasons of radio drama, but: instead of continuing the radio drama from where it actually left off, the 3 books were translated into the next 3 radio drama series. it makes for even more confusion in an already ridiculous series of events but they went with it it works, it's great lol 💙💙 it's very confusing to experience one version and then a second version but it's ultimately very rewarding to experience all of it glad you enjoyed this, hope you like the rest of the TV show 💙💙💙

[@moshly64]

The headphones prop @15:16 was used in the OG Dr.Who episode 'The Green Death'

[@EvieDoesYouTube]

They filmed that Who episode in Chislehurst caves, you can still see traces of the glitter they scattered around in there

[@m.s.6545]

For the Patrion watchers ..... the older lady which was sitting in the cafe reading the newspaper was actually the real life mom of douglas adams .

[@chassetterfield9559]

First came the radio, then the first book, then the TV, then the 'film'. Four more books followed, before Douglas Adams changed tack, & starting writing about Dirk Gently & his Holistic detective agency. [ 2 books ]. He also wrote books about environmental matters. He died tragically young.

[@plpepper1488]

Back in 1980 when I first read the book, I thought, 'An electronic book that knows everything?' 'A Babel fish that translates different languages?'......Adams was a great visionary. The original double-album is a great listen and much more animated for certain characters. The follow up, Restaurant At The End Of The Universe, nicely ties this up.

[@josiebridle1947]

I loved the book & the TV series. Thanks for all the fish.

[@fruitbat62]

There is so much to this series. I would highly recommend sitting in a comfy chair with a bottle of something pleasant, closing your eyes & listening to the radio/original broadcast. Each of the 6 series are special, I'm not saying this just because I worked with Geoffrey McGiven before he became Ford Prefect or that Dirk Maggs produced the later series (he is the best audio producer alive, look at his CV.) The love & chaos that went into its inception & creation oozes through each scene, thaat it is still relevantly funny after nearly 50 years speaks for itself.

[@patrickginther8527]

One of the more interesting things about this is that all the computer graphics for the book entries were done with old-fashioned hand-drawn animation.

[@geofftottenperthcoys9944]

Fantastic show, this show made me fall in love with this and the various audio books.

[@slaintejimmy]

The Radio series is top notch.. I've been in the fanclub, ZZ9, 42 yrs, spent a day at WorldCon this year dressed as Arthur, and was dragged onstage at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival when our wee pocket of fans 'slouched' thro' to catch the fun.. You're gonna love it, EB. 😃

[@Phil-m6g]

Thanks for this, took me back and its just as good as when I first saw it.

[@dh88comet]

The graphics were all done by hand by Rob Lord.

[@danielroche114]

I watched this as a kid and got it on DVD a few years still enjoy it fun sci-fi what's not to like

[@PaulSmith-u7f]

Douglas Adams was a genius. The series mimics the book well - don't bother with the movie. The other books in the HHGTTG series are also fantastic. Enjoy the journey

[@iainlittle4735]

As well as reading Hitchhikers, also read The Restaurant at the end of the Universe, Life the Universe and Everything, So Long and Thanks for all the Fish, and Mostly Harmless which arr all about Arthur Dents adventures.

[@ParanormalFun-i1i]

I love Douglas Adam’s humour!

[@drboris01]

On my first ever trip to the USA, I was driving somewhere between Wyoming and Montana, knowing where I was going but not 100% sure where I was... the weak radio signals dropping in and out when the speakers srarkedinto life with the theme from the radio play of Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. Naturally, I had to pull over and listen to the entire episode.

[@stuarthumphrey1787]

The ford prefect was a type of car back in the day, so not so inconspicuous at all 😂

[@BongbongA99]

I think all the 'graphics' stuff was done on 16mm film like cartoons. It must have taken ages. The series gripped me right from the start way back when it was originally broadcast in the UK. Keep enjoying!

[@williefxdl1]

Listened to radio show when I was 17 teen was fantastic

[@senhowler]

I just realized that Ford's argument about Arthur being "presumed" to block the bulldozer whether he's there or not is basically the same argument for the "Filibuster" rule in Congress.

[@martinskartland]

A trilogy so good it required 6 books! Love this TV adaptation, I think it's much better than the later movie version.

[@Ayns.L14A]

The Ford Prefect is a line of British cars which was produced by Ford UK between 1938 and 1961 as an upmarket version of the Ford Popular and Ford Anglia

[@thisiszaphod]

The TV version of the radio series that became a film of sorts- from a series of books. The genius of Douglas Adams and his humour. And how I got my nickname - back in the heady days of the late 1970s - the coolest dude at college. Enjoy, Alan! 42.

[@weedle30]

Memories of reading this on the 8.14am Dartford via to London Bridge, Waterloo & Charing X train…. and screaming with laughter in my head as I tried to not embarrass myself by laughing out loud and trying hard not to PANIC! 🫨😂

[@richardscales9560]

A strong influence on my sense of humour when I was a teenager. Genius

[@MantisEnergy]

Douglas Adams was a friend of Richard Dawkins- I think he's the "Oolon Coloophid" described at the start.

[@ange1098]

A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ show, intellectual comedy at its best

[@craigorr9713]

The radio series was the original medium for the story. Then came the books, then the TV show. They were all great, but the radio series was the best medium.

[@johnsharp6618]

I always thought the tv series was far better than the film they made years later

[@GoDamnWeird]

The only guns to appear in it are good, honest, decent hardworking Kill-O-Zap Ray Guns in the over-worked hands of underappreciated Galactic Police and B Ark security personnel. No pandering to demographics, none of the language dumbed down to spoil the humour. As an 80s fan of the books, radio play (scripts okay, I own a copy) and the TV show, the movie always disappoints me...and I've still watched that 4 or 5 times.

[@andrewwoodward7579]

Excellent adaptation. I remember the radio transmission and the books are great

[@Fast_Eddy_Magic]

Ford Prefect was the name of a car. At that time, it was the most popular car in England for 5 years in a row. So when he did his research, and found all those 'people', all named Ford Prefect, they were all cars. It's like, if here in the US, someone said, "Hi. I'm Ford Escort."

[@Thenerdywalrus]

Douglas Adams was a genius and his comedic style feels personal, like the joke he wrote is just for you. I share his birthday (and possible his deathday, I'll find out in 10 years)

[@Jamie_E_Pritchard]

You certainly have his humour, lol

[@samartzis2000]

Boy am i glad you're reacting to my all time childhood favourite 🇺🇸 🇬🇧

[@Sion67Productions]

I'm SO glad you decided to watch this. It's one of my favourites. And this version is better than the new movie that came out

[@jasonyoung7705]

favourite characters, Wowbagger and Agrajag (but they're not in the TV version). also Vroomfondel and Majikthise.

[@goannaj3243]

This is one of my favourite shows, but the book is even better.

[@patriciaburke6639]

The Ford Prefect was a product of Ford U.K. produced from 1938 till 1961. My Father in Law had one back on the day, a small car, but, cute! Keep watching you will enjoy this Series. It will also answer the question we all ponder on, at some time: ‘The Meaning Of Life.’

[@cliffhomewood]

Interestingly my favourite jokes from this episode; man is ashamed of his ancestors and never invites them home for dinner and the God trilogy, what God did wrong etc, didn't raise a laugh from Alan but when he kicked him was good to see Alan laugh. Enjoy the ride man, enjoy the ride. It's a wild tale

[@andrewcoates6641]

Oh and always remember your towel, and the Question of the secret at the end is not as it seams.

[@zetectic7968]

The TV series was good but edited down from the radio series. The radio series are great & well worth a listen to.

[@midnightzathras6870]

If you like the unique humour of Douglas Adams you should also check out his other creation "Dirk Gently holistic detective agency" . I like both the British and American versions but they are very different from each other.

[@tarl4027]

Definitely. The show was bizzare but great

[@skasteve6528]

I loved the books, never saw the TV show but the books were great.

[@cliffhomewood]

I'd go Doctor Who myself, City of Death, Pirate Planet and Shada all written by Douglas Adams

[@davidcollishaw2771]

paved the way for Red Dwarf a few years later. proof a sci fi comedy could work.

[@lightwoven5326]

My girlfriend of the time's Father's company did the graphics for the TV series. As a matter of interest is that there was a short-lived stage show. The first one, all of the seats were small ' hover craft'. It didn't last long when it went to full production. Shame as the laser show before the blowing up of the computer bank was awesome.

[@UnionAlley]

You need to read the books. They are laugh out loud funny. It's a trilogy in 4 parts!

[@redfog42]

I loved this back in the day. I adore the books!

[@DavidSmith-cx8dg]

This tv version has the Classic radio cast with the exception of Sandra Dickinson .The radio series covered all of Douglas Adams books and is a terrific listening great . At the time the graphics were unique and complimented the late , great Peter Jones narrative as the book . Glad you've chosen to watch this rather than the movie which has its good points , but for me this is best .

[@DavidSmith-cx8dg]

Everyone needs to know where their towel is .

[@GoDamnWeird]

Sorry to correct you, but Geoffrey McGivern played Ford for seasons 1 & 2 of the radio play and the LPs. However, David Dixon is my personal favourite rendition of the character as I saw the TV show before I bought the Records. The LPs feature the full original radio cast. Mark Wing-Davey's performances throughout... Belgium, man. Pure Belgium! "Zaphod Beeblebrox, this is a very large drink. Hi."

[@DavidSmith-cx8dg]

A long time ago so thanks for that . Oddly perhaps my favourite is the second series which ended up as one of Zaphods fantasies when it resumed to follow the books .

[@jasonduncalf420]

Well now, what a great choice. Please watch the whole series.

[@danic9304]

omg this is my childhood

[@emitlevart7155]

"Time is an illusion" - Einstein. "Time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so" - Douglas Adams.

[@stevebills5716]

Fantastic to see you reacting to this!

[@Tonyblack261]

Radio is the best medium for Sci-Fi.

[@Simon-lt6fe]

To this day, that intro tune lives rent free in my mind

[@emucat1]

As a one-off series the whole family sat and watched it, think it was Sunday night.

[@laurahyland5020]

I loved Ford Prefect, he was my favourite character

[@stuartspencer2161]

Loved this show as a kid. I could be wrong, but I believe it was originally a radio series, then television, and followed by the novel, as it was continuously a work in progress. The movie I felt to be really lacking in comparison. Douglas Adams was a brilliant writer, and his works are very much in the same vain as Monty Python, for it's ridiculous nature.

[@neuvocastezero1838]

The book explains how Ford is able to convince the foreman to lie in front of the dozer, and what's going through the foreman's mind at the time.

[@michaelhicks2599]

but the graphics is part of the comedy it is not taking itself seriously

[@andyp5899]

The American equivalent of Ford Prefect would be calling yourself Toyota Corolla or Chevrolet Impalla

[@Ayns.L14A]

A brilliant show enjoy bud.....

[@andyp5899]

My first intro to H2G2 was the radio series. If I remember correctly the TV show had he same cast.

[@ART_MONKEY]

I loved this as a kid, the robot is soooo funny