Scorbing Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 You guys remember this show on NBC back in 1985? I just got all the episodes on DVD at Amazon for $10.00. The character was very interesting. Too bad it didn't last long. It was really a cool series. Ray, who lives in Southern California, devotes his time to helping those who are in trouble. His background is shadowy; all that is known about him is that he advertises surreptitiously in newspapers, ostensibly offering a "'65 black Stingray, for Barter Only To Right Party" and including a telephone number (555-7687). Those wishing to enlist his services, presumably having learned the ad?s real meaning by word of mouth, can call him for help. It is not clear if "Ray" is even his real name, or if simply a nickname he has taken on based on the car he drives, the same one described in the advertisement. In the pilot, he does say it's short for Raymond, but it's unclear if he's being honest or it's a cover. In the episode "sometimes you gotta sing the blues" he does identify himself to Police as Charles D. Stroke, and invites identification by fingerprint. However, it is not made clear if this is a real name, or part of an elaborate cover. In subsequent episodes, the name 'Charles D. Stroke' is not used. Ray does not charge money for his help. Instead, he extracts a "favor" from his client in advance that the client will repay Ray in the future by performing this favor, perhaps easy, perhaps difficult, upon Ray?s request. This favor must be given by the client. The favor can involve the current case on which he is working, or a future case. As the series begins, Ray has apparently extracted favors from many previous clients. This allows him to call in a variety of favors during the series to help his current clients. In one episode, for instance, when he poses as a doctor and is called upon, as part of his cover, to perform surgery, he calls in a favor from a former client who is a physician; the former client secretly takes Ray?s place in the operating room and performs the surgery. Ray is a skilled driver and accomplished martial artist, and is excellent at covering his tracks and hiding his real identity. On several occasions, clients and government authorities believe that they have discovered who he really is, but in the end they find that they are mistaken. Often it seems that Ray either is or was affiliated with a secret government agency, perhaps the CIA, but this is never conclusively proven. In "Abnormal Psych" an unnamed opponent with ties to the U.S.intelligence community claims to have "created" Ray, and in "Anytime, Anywhere" it's clear he served in Vietnam in some capacity. When the license plate for his Stingray is run through a computer it lists many different addresses and owners. Two of the most notable were ?1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC? (the address of the White House) and the motor pool for the Governor of California. Ray's other talents include a photographic memory, speed reading, the ability to slow down his heart to barely perceptible levels, and a knack for adopting personas including an arrogant surgeon, a tent-revival preacher, a crippled Vietnam veteran, and a grieving husband. He is a skilled computer hacker, capable of accessing and altering data systems and coordinating information retrieval. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stingray_(NBC_TV_series) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasondefaoite Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 When I saw the title I thought you meant this one ... theyarecomingforyou 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nebula2020 Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 When I saw the title I thought you meant this one ... And me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theyarecomingforyou Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 I don't see how they were allowed to use the same name as the famous puppet-show from the 1960s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scorbing Posted August 13, 2012 Author Share Posted August 13, 2012 No. This one: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rappy Veteran Posted August 13, 2012 Veteran Share Posted August 13, 2012 I don't see how they were allowed to use the same name as the famous puppet-show from the 1960s. that's what came to my mind at first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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