California Fever

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.

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.

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".

Best I can remember, I liked this show. But I was a silly 14 yr old girl with typical crushes. I loved the cars and the beaches. I enjoyed skating back then and thought that was the best, to get to skate all the time like that. Where I lived at we all met up at the skating rink. I thought one day I'd like to go to California until I found out they had earth quakes and forest fires. But I do remember enjoying the sites of the beach and I thought they must have the best life ever. I did wonder why they never went home? Why their parents wasn't ever looking for them? I'm just sorry all the actors dropped off the face of the earth, more or less I hope the actors are living their best life now. Wouldn't mind watching the episodes again for old times sake.

Although this show was short lived and a very long time ago now, I remember it like yesterday. Probably because at the time "California Fever" was on the air my father had a 1970 Trans Am. Not even close to being as cool as the one in the show driven by Jimmy McNichol. But what I am wondering is.. whatever happened to Jimmy's TA after the show ended? I've searched the web for images of the car but there really aren't any. Just promo shots of the gang posing around the car and not much of it in frame. I have also been researching google and following leads but there isn't any information about the show's super cool Trans Am. I loved the paint job. Please let me know if you have any information.