That is, a number of folks pitching movie or TV ideas pitched them as something or other . . . in space! No, we’re not talking about Pigs . . . in Space. Nor are we talking about Jews . . .  in Space. Which is not to disparage those pitches. They’re both excellent ideas, though one can imagine that maybe the two groups shouldn’t be traveling on the same spaceship. Anyway, here we go:

5. Casablanca in space = Babylon 5: Drama aboard a space station that, like Casablanca, serves as a more or less neutral city in the midst of a war, and opposing sides meet there to gather intelligence but remain unable to engage in outright skirmishes.

4. Wagon Train in space = Star Trek: Think about it.

3. Swiss Family Robinson in space = Lost in Space: They were even named “Robinson”! But instead of Friday, they had a robot, and instead of natural disasters, they had Dr. Smith.

2. High Noon in space = Outland: Yup.

1. The Thing in space = Alien, and you know it’s true.

OK, E-Versers, be warned. You’ve probably read all of these books, but in case you haven’t the plot will be revealed in under three seconds (per book).