OCTOBER 2026

The Incomparable Sandy Koufax:

Best Retirement Ever

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

This Autumn marks the 60th anniversary of Hall of Fame baseball pitcher Sandy Koufax retiring from the game at age 30.  For Baby Boomers, the life and baseball career of Sandy Koufax is a classic tale of a young man who is a product of the Fabulous Fifties that came to define and dominate his profession in the Soaring Sixties.  His accomplishments on the baseball diamond in just a four-to-five year time frame were so dominant, that even in today's analytic world he is without peer.  What makes this even more interesting is that the legend has grown larger with the passage of time as Koufax is now viewed as a transcendent figure who could play in any era!  Advanced metrics have affirmed that he may have been even better than what is recalled with traditional benchmarks!

It would seem that the legend started to grow immediately with his retirement in late 1966 while still at the very top of his game.  While there are certain athletes (e.g., Jim Brown, Rocky Marciano, Gene Tunney) who retired on their own terms, Koufax's retirement is unique in that he did so after posting his greatest season ever.  His retirement was an event that made the front page of newspapers everywhere.  It was a cathedral-like atmosphere in the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in which Koufax spoke to reporters about his retirement as a single ray of sunlight, angled downward through a ballroom window and illuminated his face. Women were seen weeping while newspaper writers published open letters imploring their sons to grow up like Sandy Koufax.  Koufax retired because he did not wish to incur permanent damage to his left arm.  He had been playing in constant pain during his final two seasons (in which he pitched his team into the World Series in back-to-back years) while having to take pain medication before every start.  It became too much.  Since he had labored for so many years to reach the top of his profession, he chose to exit the game while still on top, and on his own terms.

Koufax was a man known for putting team above self, personal wellbeing and health over fame, and most notably, putting God ahead of the World Series.  During his playing career, Koufax always took the ball when his team needed him (on many occasions with only two days rest).  The traumatic arthritis in his left arm became so painful at the end of his playing days, he could no longer straighten it out as it curved like a parenthesis!  In his penultimate season, Koufax declined the honor of starting Game One of the World Series because it coincided with Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish Calendar -- the Day of Atonement.  By refusing to pitch, Koufax showed himself to be a man who placed faith above his craft.  This single act set an example of having one's priorities in proper alignment for a generation of Baby Boomers.

His retirement from the game just one year later, enabled Koufax to enjoy life on his own terms.  Describing his baseball career as a time between youth and the beginning of a lifetime, Koufax carried a business card identifying himself as a Peregrination Expert as he lived in, and traveled to, a variety of locales.  Along the way he built himself a house, mastered golf and flyfishing, learned to fly by taking lessons in a crop duster, ran marathons and learned to speak Italian.  Yet he still remained connected to baseball as a roving pitching instructor to legions of MLB pitchers --including Cy Young and MVP Award winners-- who aspired to improve their own craft, even as they dominated the field of play.  In sum, Sandy Koufax showed that retiring on top and on his own terms, was an act of integrity that enabled him to live his best life while being a role model to Baby Boomers and the generations that have followed.

What are your memories of Sandy Koufax and his sudden retirement?  What were you doing at that time and why do you think a player who retired 60 years ago still has such a strong hold on the public imagination?  Please share your thoughts by writing to us directly or on the GNN FACEBOOK page.

NOTES:  (1) Photos are from the public domain; (2) Statistics and baseball metrics have been deliberately omitted from this Blog as this information can be accessed from the Baseball Hall of Fame and BaseballReference.com as the purpose of this article was to focus on Koufax as a person and his retirement; (3) Two outstanding biographies to read if you want to learn more about the life and career of Sandy are -- Koufax, by Edward Gruver and Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy, by Jane Leavy.  (4) The subject of Sandy Koufax and his fellow Hall of Fame teammate and friend, Don Drysdale, was covered in a one-hour podcast by yours truly along with Mike Bragg and Gilbert Smith.  The program, which is number 79 in the series,  can be accessed in the archive of Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site shows, available on Mixcloud.com by typing in "Galaxy Nostalgia Network".  It was based on an article that I co-authored with my father, Dr. Vassilios Elias Haloulakos.  If you would like to read it, please send me an email: Haloulakos@gmail.com

 

SEPTEMBER 2026

Mark Moseley: The Only Full Time Placekicker to Win the NFL MVP Award

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

This month with the start of a new NFL season, we honor Mark Moseley - a unique Galaxy Good Guy who is the answer to a trivia question (see the title of this article) that will likely stump even the most avid pro football fan at any Game Day party across America or overseas.  Moseley is quintessential "old school" when it comes to gridiron play: a straight on placekicker who kicked in adverse playing conditions that included using the ball that was in play (not a special ball set aside only for kicking situations).  Originally drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles (1970) and then released one year later, Mosely then signed with the Houston Oilers only to be released again (1972).  Out of football for two years, Moseley worked year-round installing septic systems and coaching high school sports before signing with the Washington Redskins in 1974 at the invitation of Redskin Head Coach George Allen.  By the time he retired from the NFL after the 1986 season, Moseley had recorded an excellent career as a place kicking specialist: successful on 300 out of 457 attempts (65%), successful on 482 out of 512 extra point attempts (94%) and scoring a total of 1,382 points.  During his playing career, Mosely led the NFL in field goals made four times while ranking 5th in both field goals and extra points upon retirement.

But what made Moseley unique, and was the foundation of becoming a Super Bowl Champion, was becoming the only full time placekicker to win the prestigious MVP award (while also being named UPI NFC Player of the Year) in 1982.  Moseley attributed his historic award to very special circumstances and the needs of his team.  In no particular order, here are the factors that aligned perfectly:

> Being in the right place at the right time - The 1982 season was shortened to nine games by a player's strike.  This created an opportunity for a special teams player to have a magnified impact since there was not enough time for offensive players (quarterbacks, running backs and receivers) to post MVP-level metrics.

> Clutch performance and team needs - Washington had a young team whose offense struggled in the "red zone" and in sustaining momentum over the course of a game.  Thus the burden for keeping the Redskins in games fell upon Moseley and he responded by setting two NFL records - 23 consecutive field goals and 95.2% success rate.  He also made several game-winning kicks, including one in a gusty snow storm that clinched the NFC East Division crown for the Redskins.

In what can be described as a "skewed" season, Moseley was clearly the most valuable player for his team.  And in the playoffs that followed, he made four of eight field goals but made BOTH field goals plus three extra points for the Redskins in a Super Bowl win over the Miami Dolphins.  Appropriately, Mosely's final NFL appearance was in a championship game.  He joined the Cleveland Browns mid-season in 1986 and in the AFC Championship game made both of his field goals and extra points for the Browns, only to see the Denver Broncos tie the game in the closing seconds and then win in overtime.  A clutch performer and good team player to the end, Moseley achieved even greater success after retiring from the NFL.  He owned two restaurants and later became the director of franchising for Five Guys Enterprises where he helped the "pop and sons" fast food chain to grow from five locations to over 1,500 restaurants worldwide.  With five children and 13 grandchildren, Moseley has remained a role model of patience, persistence and perseverance as he repurposed his NFL playing skills into being successful in both personal and professional terms.  His commitment to excellence in mastering the intricate fundamentals of place kicking translated into having the same attention to detail in the restaurant business where among his many responsibilities Moseley would also clean tables and straighten chairs, thus showing that no job large or small is unimportant.

As we embark on another exciting season of NFL football, this great American game is now played overseas as well as in the USA while being accessible through multiple media venues.  The season that now runs from September into early February offers lots of compelling human interest stories along with stellar statistical performances.  Now more than four decades later, Mark Moseley's MVP season remains unique and symbolizes that value goes beyond numbers.  Moseley's MVP win is not about personal dominance but rather the alignment of special circumstances (strike shortened season), a team in need of his services and his ability to step up with clutch, record setting performances -- all of which make him the only pure placekicker to win the MVP award.  In a special teams role that remains a ruthless merry-go-round, Moseley has earned his place as a Galaxy Good Guy.  Please join us in saluting his place of honor while welcoming a new NFL season!

 

AUGUST 2026

1946: A Great Year Under the Stars!

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

Every August the TCM (Turner Classic Movies) channel features a month-long dedication to classic films and memorable performers under its banner "A Summer Under the Stars."   In that same spirit the Galaxy Nostalgia Network takes this opportunity to celebrate the 80th anniversary of 1946 - a landmark year for classic films.  We realize that making lists of favorite films, books, sporting events and other such topics is largely subjective.  However, we thought it might be fun to give a "sniff of the cork" by citing five (5) classic films for your viewing consideration along with the invitation for you, our wonderful GNN audience, to submit your favorites from 1946 either by writing directly to us or via the GNN FACEBOOK page.

The year 1946 matters because it marked the first year of the post-World War II era.  The films released at that time reflect societal trauma, ambivalence, moral ambiguity plus a desire for hope and escapism for a generation that for nearly two decades was shaped by a prolonged economic down cycle (i.e., the Great Depression) and World War II.  The major films of 1946 captured the nation's mood and popular culture through superb storytelling and memorable performances that have left a lasting influence on the generations that have followed.  As such, there are films that serve as time capsules for post-war America that clearly illustrate the way we were.  The themes addressed by these films continue to resonate in our popular consciousness, thereby making them transcendent if not perennially relevant.  In no particular order here are five (5) films for you to consider adding to your watch list so you may create your own "Summer Under the Stars."

>  The Big Sleep -- One of Hollywood's most famous couples both on-and-off screen -- Bogart & Bacall -- truly shine forth with style and chemistry as a private detective navigates through a labyrinth of blackmail, murder, deceit and gambling while romancing his client's eldest daughter.

 

> The Best Years of Our Lives -- Tracking the lives of three World War II veterans (played by Frederic March, Dana Andrews and Harold Russell) from different walks of life all returning to the same hometown.  The themes of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD), love, disability and shifting societal attitudes are addressed in a heartwarming but realistic manner.

 

>  It's A Wonderful Life -- James Stewart as a compassionate man who literally sacrifices his heartfelt dreams to help his family and community, only to eventually confront a crisis that causes him to question his self-worth, until his guardian angel shows him the profound, lasting impact of his life.

 

> The Postman Always Rings Twice -- Lana Turner as a femme fatale and John Garfield as a restless drifter combine lust, fate and betrayal in a film noir that defines the genre.

> The Stranger -- A war crimes investigator (played by Edward G. Robinson) tracks down a fugitive Nazi (played by Orson Welles) to a small American town, where under a new identity the fugitive is a respected teacher engaged to a Supreme Court justice's daughter!  The themes of justice and the horrors of the Holocaust are intertwined under the skillful direction of Welles (who uses the same techniques he pioneered for his 1941 classic Citizen Kane).

Obviously this is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but rather a starting point.  Honorable mentions for classic 1946 films that members of our GNN audience might recall include, but are not limited to: My Darling Clementine (John Ford's account of the Gunfight at the OK Corral), Gilda (featuring Rita Hayworth in a sultry film noir set in Buenos Aires) and Cloak and Dagger (with Gary Cooper as an American scientist recruited by the Office of Strategic Services to uncover nuclear efforts by the adversary).

We hope you enjoy your Summer Under the Stars and look forward to you sharing your favorite films from 1946 as we journey back to get a glimpse of what our parents and relatives experienced during their coming of age!

 

JULY 4, 2026

HAPPY 250th BIRTHDAY USA!

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

For Baby Boomers, the primetime broadcast "The Red Skelton Hour" on January 14, 1969 is especially memorable as the legendary comedian took the stage to share his sentiments about The Pledge of Allegiance.  The nationwide reaction was so powerful that in June of that same year, thousands of elementary schools across the United States incorporated this into commencement ceremonies for students who were graduating and preparing to enter junior high (aka middle) school.  In honor of our nation's 250th birthday, the Galaxy Nostalgia Network (GNN) presents Mr. Skelton's tribute to the Pledge of Allegiance.  First, we will present the text of the Pledge, and then share the transcript of Mr. Skelton's tribute plus include the web link so our GNN audience may view/listen for themselves.  We wish all of you a Happy 4th of July!  Enjoy this heartwarming recital in both written and video formats!

Text of The Pledge of Allegiance

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

From “The Red Skelton Hour” – January 14, 1969

Original composition by Richard “Red” Skelton

SOURCE: https://sites.rootsweb.com/~allcdar/redpledge.html

Red Skelton's copyrighted Pledge of Allegiance is presented here for the benefit of all Americans from the official Red Skelton Website. 

" When I was a small boy in Vincennes, Indiana, I heard, I think, one of the most outstanding speeches I ever heard in my life. I think it compares with the Sermon on the Mount, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and Socrates’ Speech to the Students. We had just finished reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and he [Mr. Lasswell, the Principal of Vincennes High School] called us all together, and he said, “Uh, boys and girls, I have been listening to you recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester, and it seems that it has become monotonous to you. Or, could it be, you do not understand the meaning of each word? If I may, I would like to recite the pledge, and give you a definition for each word:

I -- Me; an individual; a committee of one. 
Pledge -- Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity. 
Allegiance -- My love and my devotion.
To the Flag -- Our standard. “Old Glory”; a symbol of courage. And wherever she waves, there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts “Freedom is everybody's job.”
of the United -- That means we have all come together.
States -- Individual communities that have united into 48 great states; 48 individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided by imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common cause, and that’s love of country --
Of America. 
And to the Republic -- A Republic: a sovereign state in which power is invested into the representatives chosen by the people to govern; and the government is the people; and it’s from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands
One Nation -- Meaning "so blessed by God." [Under God] (1)
Indivisible -- Incapable of being divided. 
With Liberty -- Which is freedom; the right of power for one to live his own life without fears, threats, or any sort of retaliation.
And Justice -- The principle and qualities of dealing fairly with others.
For All -- For All. That means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.

Now let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance: I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said, "That is a prayer" -- and that be eliminated from our schools, too? "

Footnotes

(1) The phrase "Under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954 at the request of President Eisenhower, among others. Mr. Skelton's story refers to events that took place prior to 1954. 

(2) All photos & images are from the Public Domain. 

Here is the web link to a high quality YouTube version of Red Skelton's tribute to the Pledge of Allegiance:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUTjwQUvP0Q

 

JUNE 2026

60th Anniversary for

Classic TV Series Mission Impossible

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

For seven seasons (1966-1973) CBS aired Mission Impossible -- an American espionage TV series created by Bruce Geller (while financed and produced by Desilu Productions) -- that highlighted a small team of covert government agents using creative techniques to combat Cold War adversaries, organized crime, 3rd world dictators, corrupt industrialists and on occasion, rescuing or helping each other in distressful personal situations.  The series boasted a lively opening instrumental theme song composed by Lalo Schifrin plus a now legendary if not stellar cast -- Steven Hill (team leader in Season One), Peter Graves (team leader for the six remaining seasons), Martin Landau and Barbara Bain (Seasons 1, 2 and 3), Greg Morris and Peter Lupus (all seven seasons), plus Leonard Nimoy (Seasons 4 and 5), Lesley Ann Warren and Sam Elliott (Season 5), Lynda Day George (Seasons 6 and 7) and Barbara Anderson (recurring in Season 7).  The show won 10 Primetime Emmy Awards (including two for Outstanding Drama) and 3 Golden Globe Awards (including one for Best Drama).

This year marks the 60th anniversary for this storied Classic TV franchise and also the 30th anniversary for the Tom Cruise motion picture franchise.  Each primetime TV episode was noted for essentially being an action-packed mini-movie (although there were several two or three part story arcs during its seven year run) that was not resolved until the final seconds of the episode!  Usually the "Mission Impossible" team would be shown making their getaway or exit in a nondescript truck or sedan with the episode ending in a freeze frame.  The clarity and concision was aided by a now iconic opening scene in which the team leader would pick up a hidden tape recorder (or sometimes a phonograph record) accompanied by photos and information describing the mission.  The episodes were characterized by clockwork precision plus multiple elaborate deceptions in which cast members were in disguise and usually having to be prepared to handle unexpected, oft random events that might otherwise jeopardize the success of the mission.

The template for the core regular "Mission Impossible" members was established in Season One.

> Barbara Bain as Cinnamon Carter, an actress and top fashion model;

> Martin Landau as Rollin Hand, master disguise artist and magician;

> Greg Morris as Barney Collier, electronics whiz and mechanical genius;

> Peter Lupus as Willy Armitage, a world champion weightlifter.

Of note is that the agents' fame in their respective private careers never compromised their identities during their various missions around the globe.  Occasionally there would be guest stars playing agents with highly specialized skills to augment the core group.

Although there were a few episodes that gave the viewers a glimpse into the personal background of the various agents, the focus of each episode was on the caper or mission.  There was minimal character development so that seeing the agents as "blank slates" would make them more convincing in their undercover work.  The agents were very rarely seen in their "real lives" so that the story was the priority!  With the advancements in computer graphics and special effects in the decades following the show's cancellation in 1973, it is easy to conceptualize how this great concept could be leveraged into the big-screen box office success it became starting in 1996 and running to this present day with marquee stars and exotic locales.

Two important items that distinguished this classic TV series and made it such a lasting great success:  First, the original premise of Mission Impossible drew inspiration from Jules Dassin's 1964 film Topkapi (featuring Peter Ustinov in his Academy Award winning performance) for its innovative, highly detailed and methodical layout of an elaborate heist.  Mission Impossible obviously switched its focus away from criminals but it featured the same formula of a lively musical score, precision clockwork and minimal dialogue as its agents operated in time pressure situations fraught with physical and psychological dangers.  The second item that differentiated Mission Impossible was its use of elaborate means in which the outcomes were guided in such a manner that the criminal adversaries often ended up being at odds with each other, thereby neutralizing themselves or incriminating themselves so that traditional law enforcement agencies could arrest them as our heroes exited the scene having accomplished their mission!  The clever use of disguises, electronic gadgetry and psychology created dissension among the criminals and they would self-destruct.

In celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Mission Impossible, we not only recommend taking time to watch or rewatch this classic TV series via streaming or DVD, but invite you, our wonderful audience to share who your favorite actors are from this series by posting to the GNN FACEBOOK page or writing to us directly with your recollections and special memories.

NOTE:  All photos are from the Public Domain.

 

MAY 2026

"A Radio Friendship for the Ages"

Red Barber & Bob Edwards

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

Hall of Fame Baseball player Jackie Robinson once said that "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."  Robinson emphasized that the true measure of a life is not self-glory or personal gain but rather the positive influence one has on others. This statement is especially true when examining the role that Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster Red Barber had in helping to shape Jackie Robinson's life story for a national audience showing Robinson to be a symbol of honor, dignity and perseverance.  Barber recognized Robinson's strength of character along with his broad impact in breaking down societal barriers -- notably the color barrier in Major League Baseball -- that would forever alter the game and America.  Barber's baseball broadcasts were warm and respectful while serving as a template for objective reporting.  Bob Edwards, in his book Fridays With Red, observed that "He [Barber] never said the word 'black' or 'brown' or 'Negro' or 'colored.' He just said 'Robinson' in the same way he would say 'Stanky,' 'Reiser' or 'Casey.' Robinson was just another infielder."  Both Robinson and Barber affirmed that each helped the other in professional, personal and spiritual terms.  Barber's baseball broadcasting career (Cincinnati Reds 1934-38, Brooklyn Dodgers 1939-53 and then the New York Yankees until his retirement in 1966) offers a unique prism to view baseball and American history as communications technology (radio and television) altered the landscape of the nation.  During this period it was noted that a person could walk up-and-down the various New York City neighborhood streets and never miss a pitch as Barber's Southern accented voice seemed to emanate from every residence and business throughout the great metropolis.

But what catapulted Barber from legendary voice of the game to a national icon (and finding a whole new listening audience) was his professional broadcasting renaissance through his collaborative work with NPR (National Public Radio) host Bob Edwards that aired every Friday morning from 1981 till Barber's passing in 1992.  Edwards, a Peabody Award-winning member of the National Radio Hall of Fame, teamed up with Barber for a weekly four-minute conversation beginning New Year's Day 1981 that spanned over 600 Fridays until Barber's passing October 22, 1992.  While sports was a recurring topic, what made this program so universally popular was how the conversations would invariably move into a wide variety of subjects including but not limited to cats, gardening (especially Camelias), passages of Holy Scripture (usually Psalms), music, books, plays and so forth.  Barber was extraordinarily knowledgeable on these subjects and was able to weave a historical perspective into most if not all of his conversations with Edwards.  Moreover Barber was able to produce what we would term as a seamless stream of consciousness in a clear, concise manner that fit nicely into the four-minute time slot!  One such example cited by Edwards occurred in 1984 as Barber went from Geraldine Ferraro to Mary, Queen of Scots to golf to French cadets to caddies to Scotland to St. Andrews to the British Open with time to spare!

A special hook-up was installed in Barber's Tallahassee, Florida residence so that he and Edwards (based in the NPR Washington DC studio) could have their weekly four-minute conversation broadcast live!  The technology and gentlemanly style of both radio professionals made it seem as if it was a simple conversation between two friends seated in the same room!  Over the ensuing years, listeners would hear Barber describe the antics of his pet cats playing in his garden while learning about the habits of felines and the nuances of the flora surrounding his home.  Barber was a lay reader in the Episcopal Church and his frequent references to passages of Holy Scripture were integrated into his weekly conversations in a manner that showed him to be spiritual rather than religious.  As such, and given his objective reportorial style, people from all walks of life and religious denominations enjoyed Barber's wisdom, historical perspective and ability to create imagery for his audience.  In this new venue, Barber was still having a positive influence on others as he did in his baseball broadcasting career.

In today's age of endless chatter via seemingly innumerable digital media outlets, the radio friendship of Red Barber and Bob Edwards is a testimonial to the art of conversation (with clarity and concision) while informing, educating and ultimately inspiring the listenership to find meaning in life's special moments.  If you are interested in learning more about this unique memorable radio friendship here are two books that I strongly recommend.  (1) Fridays With Red - A Radio Friendship, by Bob Edwards and (2) Rhubarb in the Catbird Seat, by Red Barber and Robert Creamer, Afterword by Bob Edwards.  Also a careful search via the Internet will yield various taped segments of several of the original weekly broadcasts featuring Barber and Edwards.  As one who was a faithful listener to this program for 8+ years, I think Baby Boomers will really enjoy this unique look back at history through being a part of a wonderful conversation that remains forever pressed between the pages of our minds.

 

APRIL 2026

A "Spiritual Finale" for

Classic TV Series Lost In Space

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

From 1965-68, every Wednesday evening primetime TV viewers followed the exploits of the Space Family Robinson in the 83 episode sci-fi adventure series Lost in Space (LIS).  When the show went off the air in 1968, it was not given a proper series finale leaving viewers wondering whatever became of our favorite family in space?  While LIS ended abruptly without planned closure, it turns out that there was an episode that aired in its final months on network TV which can be viewed as a "spiritual finale."  The episode titled "Time Merchant" (Episode 77 out of 83 / first telecast on January 17, 1968) unintentionally provides a satisfying thematic conceptual wrap up.  In order to appreciate this, we first must review a synopsis of the story followed by how it functions as a series finale (even though it aired officially before the final network broadcast episode), and therefore repurposes LIS as a mythical or cyclical adventure rather than a serialized narrative!

Synopsis of "Time Merchant"

This episode features Dr. Chronos as the guest villain who can manipulate time and the nefarious stowaway Dr. Smith who uses Chronos' time travel technology to return to Earth before the Jupiter 2 was launched.  The plot twist is that if Dr. Smith DOES NOT stow away, the Jupiter 2 will collide with an uncharted asteroid four months into its journey, thereby destroying everyone on board!  LIS fans will recall that it was Dr. Smith's additional weight that sent the Jupiter 2 off course and his sabotage before the launch that caused the Robinson expedition to become lost in space.  The Robot is sent back in time to make sure that Smith is on board again to restore the "original" timeline.  This creates a closed loop: 

> Smith's sabotage caused the Jupiter 2 to go off course and become lost in space.

> But without this sabotage, the space ship would have been destroyed, killing everyone on board!

> Therefore Smith's stowaway presence as an enemy foreign agent ironically saves the Robinsons.

How "Time Merchant" Functions as a Series Finale

From a narrative perspective, this episode provides a thematic "reset" by returning to the moment of launch.  As such, it implies the Robinson expedition will continue, perhaps more successfully.  With the Robot achieving success in its timeline-preserving role, it ties the fate of the Jupiter 2 to Smith in a manner that essentially reframes the entire series!

Reappraising Lost In Space With "Time Merchant" as its Symbolic Ending

Throughout its three (3) seasons, LIS often embraced paradoxes and whimsical sci-logic rather than adhering to strict continuity.  Given how the series evolved from a serialized, serious sci-fi with multiple story arcs in its first season, to flights of fantasy in its second year and visits to a different planet each week in its final season, "Time Merchant" presents the idea that even though the Jupiter 2 is still lost, the timeline has been preserved thereby saving the mission!  In other words, this symbolic ending is a soft reboot: the timeline is reset while preserving the Jupiter 2 expedition.  The adventure continues but with a new understanding of why things unfolded the way they did during the series run.  A closed loop has been created in which the Robinsons are lost (perhaps for eternity) because Smith unintentionally saved them!  The viewer is left to think that perhaps the Robinsons being lost in space is a cosmic inevitability - eerily similar to the ending of the 1967 book Lost in Space by Dave Van Arnam and Ron Archer, in which the authors frame or set their novel about the Jupiter 2 mission in the show's first season.

If you are a fan of the 1960s Lost in Space TV series, treat yourself to a reunion with the Space Family Robinson by either viewing "Time Merchant," reading the aforementioned novelization by Van Arnam and Archer or listen to Galaxy Moonbeam Nightsite's podcast titled "Man, Moon, Media & Myth", program number 69, available on our Galaxy Nostalgia Network page on Mixcloud, at this link: 

 

https://www.mixcloud.com/GalaxyNostalgiaNetwork/galaxy-moonbeam-night-site-show-69-man-moon-media-and-myth/

 

This program focused on the original, unaired pilot of Lost in Space and how it reflected the scientific protocols of the day while actually having a prescient view of the future.

NOTE: All photos are from the public domain.