I celebrate the release of the entire series of Route 66 on DVD. It has long been one of my favorite shows ever since I first watched it in the 1980's on Nick-at-Nite. I was sad when they took it off in 1987. Although the series was originally aired on CBS-TV during my lifetime, I was a young child at the time and have no memory of it. The Cruelest Sea of All has remained in my memory ever since I first saw it and it has been my favorite episode ever since. I will be visiting the area of Florida where filming took place (Weeki Wachee Springs and Crystal River) in less than a month from now and have long wanted to do so. Route 66 is the only show of its kind, in that it was filmed all over the USA and even in parts of Canada. It remains a unique and worthwhile series to this day. While some may view it as being very dated, it offers a look at the early-to-mid 1960's and with each episode you not only meet new characters (many played by well-known stars of the day and many by later to become well-known stars) but also ride along with Tod and Buz and later Tod and Linc as they travel the roads of America in a classic Corvette. No show has ever compared to Route 66 before or since and it is doubtful that any ever will. To me Route 66 is much like The Fugitive in one sense, the main characters in both shows travel from place-to-place, meeting new people and getting into new situations, but for different reasons. It remains unique however that Route 66 filmed each episode on real locations all over the country. And finally, to me Route 66 in this context represents the highway of life, as the main characters travel and meet new people and have new experiences.
