California Fever

Yes we got the California Fever TV series down in New Zealand in 1979-80. I was 12 yrs old and realised there was no God in the universe when we saw 16 yr old kids in the US driving hotted up cars like that to school. Vinnie had a metalflake painted '70 Firebird with fat cragars, Ross had the customised Ford van which was later replaced with some kind of mad max lookin' 4x4, Laurie had a beat up 69 fastback Mustang. The 4 on the floor kids hung out at Ricks Place (Lorenzo Lamas) which looked to be shot at Newport Beach by the wharf. Was there a year or 2 ago, wondered if it was the location, good ice creams there anyway. Pretty straight line show story and acting wise, young disco bunnies (hehe) cool cars, lamo bands etc. However had an appealing cheese factor, and a couple of believable actors cast. Would be keen to see again as was a great time capsule for the times... flare kitted vans, disco, polyester tees, beaches, crusin, even some illegal drag racing. Like Chips they would always be helping out some poor sod, and squeezing in the latest California fad every episode. Would particularly like to see the first episode (may have been the pilot) which featured some authentic cruise night footage which may have been shot on Sunset or Van Vuys, was hoping for more of that action throughout the series. Appeared to capture the perception of the southern Cali vibe of the late 70's. Deserves 8 out of 10 just for petrolhead appeal.

This show was really bad, but I totally love it none the less. It is an awesome 70's guilty pleasure show. The acting is nonexistent and the writing is horrible, but the episode with Rex Smith is classic and Jimmy McNichol's car is killer.

It is a fun watch if you can find it but it for most people it is not worth tracking down.

The other reviewer on this show was mistaken as Jimmy McNichol was not in Soap. That was Jimmy Baio. Lorenzo Lamas was in this but his horrific acting makes you wonder how he ever found work later on Falcon Crest. Morgan Brittany who was in two episodes later went on to have a great role in Dallas and was one of the few people in the show who seemed at all believable in her character and even that was a stretch.

Still, this show is priceless.

I finally found someone else who saw this show. No one I ever ask has any idea what I'm talking about. I have never even heard of this show coming up during a trivia game.

I was only about 7 or 8 at the time it aired, so I remember very little. I knew it was about a bunch of teens on a California beach, southern California I later assumed, but was never sure.

I do recall part of the theme song, "California here I am and I love you. I've got the fever for you!" I just remember that being sung over and over again. I still remember the tune of the theme song.

It is good to know that a few careers seem to have been started with this show however brief it was with way less than one season.

California Fever aired when I was 8. I loved the show but at 8 I really didn't grasp the concept of shows getting cancelled, it was just gone. The cool cars, the beach, the great music (at the time it was great music and in every episode..lol), what more could ya ask for as a kid. For a long time I thought Rex Smith was the Star of the show until the internet came along with all the answers. I've been trying to find the show for over 30 years, on vhs, and then dvd, and now streaming or for download. It always bums me out when the shows from my childhood whether short lived or not just can't be found.

Outside of featuring an actor from "Kids from C.A.P.E.R.", Cosie Costa, I don't know why I chose to watch this, but I was fifteen and not as hip as you, I guess.

The leads had a band in this episode. While riding in their car the quartet decides to call themselves "Four on the Floor". Their song had lyrics that seemed only to repeat the phrase, "Are you satisfied? Satisfied!"

In any case, there is a rival band called "Rest Room", an instrumental band who are not only awful, but with a name like that, we are obviously meant to dislike. Why else would a band call itself "Rest Room"? For that matter, the title of the series is rather vague, too. It seems that it was named only to make for snappy ad copy("Catch California Fever on CBS!"). Late but not lamented.

McNichol was better served in "Soap".