Shows Cancelled Too Soon

In my second in the series of show exposés, we investigate a few shows that were cancelled early in their existence.  Each was dropped for various reasons, and in these brief commentaries I’ll explain some of my suspicions about why they were dropped.  Some people may find my feelings justified, some may deny them, and there were no doubt various other factors involved in each cancellation.  These are purely my opinions, based on my biased viewpoint and personal feelings.  Beyond that, I personally feel these shows deserved to be continued.  So, in no particular order...

Jeremiah:  A month ago, I’d never seen a single episode of this series.  Now, it is quite possibly the best post-apocalyptic series I’ve ever encountered!  The premise stirs the imagination; just think of the world falling apart when everyone past puberty dies of a disease—this is what the world could look like 15 years later.  The characters are well rendered and there is significant growth with them, and the acting is top notch.  There is some nudity/sex in some of the episodes, and they swear about as much as my father does (which is quite a bit), but if you can overlook these adult elements (or if you enjoy them), this show is incredible to watch.  It’s about surviving, rebuilding, and restoring hope.

It sucks that it only ran for 2 seasons.  There was so much more to tell!  I expect this show was cancelled because it was ahead of its time.  In the early 2000’s, there wasn’t as big a fan-base for this sort of dark, gritty future fiction.  Today, we have shows like The Walking Dead that prove there is a larger television market for character-driven dystopian survival stories.  Also, the “adult” elements hindered the show’s marketability.  If they’d gone for a PG-13 effect, they could have sold it to more broadcasters, even if it may have diminished its gritty realism in some respects.

Jericho:  Another post-apocalyptic show that I found quite captivating.  At the time it first aired, the theme may have been a bit too “9/11 Truther” for your average viewer, but now, with the exposure of the NSA spying, government surveillance, drones, and the continuing attacks on American liberties, the premise of factions within our own government conspiring to destroy the country, in order to “reform” it seems far more plausible—frighteningly so.  But, in 2007, it was only a few “conspiracy theorists” willing to buy into this premise, and that likely lowered the ratings.  Today, this show would be more popular.

Stargate Universe:  The final end to the great Stargate saga?  I hope not, but right now it’s looking pretty bleak.  SGU changed everything for the franchise, taking what had been a winning formula of action-adventure sci-fi and seeking to give us a darker, grittier series.  The storyline started out slowly, and after watching the first season I wasn’t all that pleased with it.  We had some good ideas, though also some real dud stories (I swear “Life” is the worst episode of any SG series ever).  Where the first season was lacking, Season 2 succeeded, bringing us back into the sort of imaginative, adventurous Stargate that I enjoyed in SG-1 and Atlantis, albeit with more “edge.”  The last 10 episodes are my favorite of any Stargate series, and I wish they could somehow bring this back, to continue the story.  Alas, that doesn’t seem to be in the cards.

The Job:  Denis Leary’s comedy about cops in New York City.  This show was hilarious, but its timing was wrong.  Its second season was due to air after 9/11/2001, so in the wake of the terrorist attacks nobody wanted to laugh about wacky NYC police officers.  They were “heroes” after that, so the cynical nature of this series was no longer funny for a lot of people.  If this had aired in the 1990’s it probably would have run for a few more seasons, as it should have.

Enterprise:  Well, at least we got 4 good seasons out of this last Star Trek series.  There was a lot to like about this “prequel” show, giving us a glimpse into events before the Federation.  The first couple of seasons were a little slow, and I think they may have tried to emulate the original series too much, giving us a lot of dry, moral lessons.  That all changed with Season 3, and by season 4 we had the perfect blend of action/adventure, think-pieces, and overall Trekkie-ness.  Some people found the third season to be somehow wrong, but I think it worked well (I just would have ended the whole thing differently, erasing the events from history via the temporal effects that went on—the attack on Earth at the end of Season 2 would never have happened because they changed the timeline by stopping the Sphere Builders).

The show’s decline and fall came about due to several factors.  One of those was the dry aspects of the first two seasons. I didn’t find them that dull, but others did, and some of the story elements were only interesting to bonafide Trekkies.  Another aspect, as minor as it might seem, was the theme song.  There was a lot of criticism of it, and there were actually people who boycotted the show over it.  Yes, it might seem ridiculous and petty, but when you have thousands of fans having a fit over you using “sickening soft-rock” instead of the traditional orchestration, it can cause problems.  I believe this alienation of a small percentage of the audience was just enough to diminish the ratings, and thus set the ball rolling for the eventual cancellation.

Believe it or not, there are still people pushing for them to make Season 5 of Enterprise, though I fear that starship has sailed.

Odyssey 5:  Another “adult-oriented” sci-fi show that got cut short with season 1 (and with an annoyingly-unresolved cliffhanger).  This show was a victim of Showtime’s short-sightedness.  There were a lot of fascinating elements to this show, and we were just getting a glimpse of how things were going to fit together with the finale.  I think this show would have been fantastic in its second season, but the first one was more of a set-up toward that end.  Sadly, it didn’t stir enough interest.

Firefly:  A must on any sci-fi fan’s list.  Canceling this series was the biggest mistake anyone in Hollywood has ever made.  This show had a solid fan-base when it was on the air for its single half-season, so much so that it justified the creation of a movie to help conclude it.  I have long held the belief that this show was shut down because it was too “anti-authoritarian.”  The characters came off as very libertarian, and not in the cool “mainstream” rebellious sort of way.  That was unacceptable to certain people in charge of programming.  Okay, enough of my conspiratorial rant.  This show should have run for years, not months, and it sucks that it’s gone.

Okay, there you have just 7 shows on my list of cancelled gems.  What are some of your favorite shows that didn’t survive?

Shows Written off a Cliff

Today, I’d like to throw my three cents worth out there about a few old television shows that I felt failed in their latter year(s).  By this, I mean shows that started out decently, but at some point veered off a cliff into a place they never should have gone.  We’ve all seen it happen, and in some cases it can be entertaining to watch, but others not so much.

So, here, in no particular order, are a few shows I feel were written “to death.”

Earth: Final Conflict—This is a show I really enjoyed in its first few seasons.  I was 17 when the first season hit the air, and I found the intelligent nuances of the show to be quite intriguing.  Season two changed to a more traditional action-adventure sci-fi show, and to this day it is my favorite (though Season 2 has yet to be officially released in the US, due to copyright issues).  I didn’t get to see the last 3 seasons when they aired, but purchased the DVD sets ages ago, to finally see the rest of the story.

What I found was that season 3 mostly maintained the spirit and theme of the series, but as we hit season 4, things began to slide a little.  We got into the weird “Taelon energy drain” crap that seemed to be invented out of nowhere, and we ended that season in a spectacular mess, which could have been salvaged in Season 5, if the right writers were on the job.  Sadly, they weren’t, and we ended up with a barely-watchable train-wreck.  A lot of critics claim the show was seeking to be a cheap knock-off of Buffy, and I tend to agree with them.  With the exception of the two episodes where Boone came back, and the finale with Liam Kincaid, this season was total crap.  Grand Canyon-sized cliff!

House—Here’s a series that definitely had its ups and downs.  I thought the first three seasons were excellent, and season four, while different, also had some good points.  Season five felt a bit too “Soap-Opera-ish,” but then season six turned out to be the best of the entire run.  Then... season seven hit.  To begin with, it was quite good, but then later on it plummeted, and it ended in disaster (Cuddy being a bitch, House being a hopeless drug addict; yeah, real original).  It felt like the writers suddenly changed their minds about where they wanted to go, and ended up with a mess they couldn’t fix.  Season eight tried to recover from the end of the previous season, but it wasn’t enough (plus I never liked the contrived Wilson-cancer thread).  It was like the show fell off the cliff at the end of season seven, was airlifted to a hospital, only to limp out of intensive care at the final end of the series.

Frasier—I’m not that big on sitcoms these days (probably because they don’t have many good ones anymore), but when I was younger I remember quite a few, and Frasier was among my favorites.  It generally had intelligent, witty humor, and it was only on rare occasions that things would get low-brow, or that a character would slip out of character.  That was, until season ten.  That’s when the quality of the show really plummeted.  A lot of the humor became dull innuendo or wacky.  In some ways, it seemed like they were trying to morph the show into something else, and it didn’t work.  There were still some good episodes in season ten, and season eleven brought us back to the brilliant comedic writing we saw in the earlier years, but S10 was definitely a cliff dive.

The Drew Carey Show—Another comedy that I really enjoyed in my youth, though today I’m not sure I’d appreciate it as much.  The first five years or so were consistent and funny, but then things started to fall apart, and by the end of the series I wasn’t even watching anymore.

The Gilmore Girls—I hate this show, but my wife likes it, and when we first got married I would watch it with her.  It has been a long time since I had to see it, but I recall us watching the last season when it first aired, and we both had a bit of a “what the...?” reaction to some of the story developments toward the end.  In general, the characters just did some things that seemed inconsistent.  I’d be more specific, but to be honest I’ve done my best to forget it.

Lost—Okay, to be fair, this whole series was a train wreck in some ways, but I enjoyed it.  Though, the last season went from weird fun to “let’s try to sort of explain all the crap we made up over the last five years with more weird crap.”  That was working, and they might have pulled it off if they hadn’t gone with a sappy cop-out of an ending.  Look, you already have a great show with fantastic elements in it.  You could have gone out with an “alternate reality” ending to explain the dual existence thing, but no.  They wimped out at the end, and screwed up what was shaping up to be a great resolution.  Instead of changing the timeline, we got the “we’re all dead” crutch finale.  I’m sorry, but the ending, as sweet and sucky as it was, definitely threw the series off a cliff.

All right, there we have half a dozen shows off the top of my head.  Some people may disagree with a few of my choices, but I’m sure you can think of others to fill out your own list.  So, what shows do you think were written off the cliff?

Amazon Pilots

So, last week Amazon released a new batch of television show pilots.  The idea behind this is to give viewers the chance to rate the shows to help determine which one(s) become continuing series.  Last year, they only did comedies & kid shows, but this time they’ve thrown in a couple of dramas.  I haven’t watched the kid programming (despite the fact that I have 4 kids, it’s not my thing), but I will give my analysis of the adult shows.

First of all, they’re all rated “mature,” and each one has foul language.  Several have brief nudity, as well.  Why?  Just because they can, it seems.  Most of it isn’t too offensive, though I’ll mention the instances where it is.

Let’s start with the best first.  "Bosch" is a gritty detective series based on the books of Michael Connelly (which I’ve never read).  It is very well acted, with intelligent storylines and enjoyable characters.  I think the F-word is thrown around a little too often here, but other than that it is an excellent show. I would recommend it, and I really hope Amazon chooses to continue this series.

The other “drama” series is “The After,” created by Chris Carter, best known as the creator of the X-Files.  This series is much like his other work, dark, enigmatic, and suspenseful.  While I liked the idea of the world reaching some kind of apocalypse, I found the characters a bit unlikeable.  The main character is a wannabe French actress from New York who is in LA for a job she doesn’t get when the world falls apart.  She ends up with a group of people, most of whom are assholes (pardon the expression, but they are).  There’s the sleazy lawyer played by Adrian Pasdar, a drunken foul-mouthed Brit, a gay clown (literally, a party clown who is homosexual), a high class hooker who starts talking about the bible and divine justice (because we all know every prostitute is a bible thumper at heart, pffff), an uber-rich old lady, a black escaped convict who was “wrongly accused,” and a lady cop.  Overall, I thought the acting was good, but the writing needs a little refinement, so the characters are a little more appealing.  It’s worth watching, but not as good as Bosch.

Now, for the comedies, none of which is stellar.

"The Rebels" is probably the best of the comedy attempts, with Natalie Zea of Justified fame in the role of a rich widow who inherits her husband’s floundering NFL team.  There are some humorous moments, but overall the show seemed a bit too low brow in some respects.  Example, they have a cocaine snorting monkey that starts shooting people.  The players also act stupidly, and sometimes it is funny, sometimes not.  Overall, it has potential, but it needs refinement.

"Mozart in the Jungle" is a very dry comedy about classical musicians in NYC, who are apparently a bunch of horny, dope smoking, alcoholic party kids.  They have one older lady (maybe mid-thirties) who has flashbacks of getting screwed, as she’s apparently “tried out” every kind of male musician there is.  This could be a good show if they tried to do more of a “Frasier” thing with it, but at present it’s too sleazy and dull.  I would not recommend it.

Last and very least is “Transparent,” which I found utterly boring.  The whole premise of the show is summed up in the title; the elderly father in this show discovers he wants to be a woman (transsexual+parent=Trans-parent, get it?).  But beyond that, this show has nothing of interest.  The characters are very unpleasant.  The son is a music producer who likes to sleep around with teenagers, one of the daughters is a gold digger who used to be a lesbian in college, and the other daughter is depressed and out of work, relying on daddy’s money to get by.  Overall, I would never want to see these characters again.  I think this is the worst of the Amazon pilots, which of course means there’s a good chance that it will be the one they pick up.

Well, there you have my off the cuff analysis of the shows.  Bosch is the only one I would definitely enjoy on a regular basis in its current form, and at present it has very good reviews from Amazon customers, but so do all of the shows, oddly enough.

Now, how the hell do I get the West of the Warlock pilot made for this contest?  Maybe someday...

West of the Warlock TV Project Update

Well, it’s been a couple of years since I first put together the pilot script for “West of the Warlock,” and in that time I’ve gotten some nibbles, but not enough to get me anywhere near production.  It is incredibly hard to find anyone who'll bother to look at a script, it would seem.  Unless you’re connected (or actually in Hollywood knocking on the doors of industry professionals) it is hard to catch a break.

A couple of things have happened, though, and I feel it’s important to post this update, so people don’t forget that I’m still here.  Maybe someone "in the biz" will actually stumble upon this blog and take an interest in my Fantasy Western.

I did have a production company ask about seeing the script.  It was through a TV pitch marketing website, and the company, Cross Genre Entertainment, never got back to me.  They were supposed to contact me to arrange delivery of the script, but they went silent after requesting my contact info.  That was a big let-down, as the biggest hurtle with this project is getting anyone to actually read the thing.

Since that initial let-down, I have shown the script to some independent reviewers and to a certain pseudo-professional who wasn’t in a position to do more than comment.  Most of the comments were positive all around, and the only major point that was made is that I should have a shorter pilot.

The initial script I had put together was a “double length” version, basically the first and second episodes merged as one.  I did this because Joella Talus didn’t appear in the first episode (it being an adaptation of “A Dwarf at High Noon,” which pre-dated Joella).  For this reason, I added the second episode to the pilot, to introduce all of the main characters, Dwarven gunslinger Ron Grimes, Warlock sheriff James Doliber, and Elvish widow Joella Talus.  This might work in production someday, but at the initial pitch stage I've realized I need a scaled-down version.

With this in mind, I had an epiphany last night.  I realized how I could incorporate Joella in the very end of the first normal-length episode, and so I rewrote the ending toward that end.  I now have a 48 page pilot script (I know, still a few pages long, but there is a scene or two that can be trimmed if needed), and all 3 principal characters appear, culminating in a complete setup for the series.

So, what’s my next move with this project?  I really can’t say at the moment.  I’m hoping to find someone in the film business who would like to take a look at the script, but it’s hard in a flooded marketplace, and even harder where a lot of studios are only looking to rehash old material.  I am not a filmmaker, either, so I don't have any connections. I’m a writer with some franchises that could be very marketable if anyone would only give them a chance.  I write a damn fine script, too.  If there’s anyone out there who wants to make a Western series with Fantasy elements placed in the historical setting of 1880’s America, then drop me a line.  Industry professionals can contact me at mtiediting (at) inbox.com 

For those who want to know what this television script is based upon, pick up a copy of West of the Warlock.  The pilot is an expansion on “A Dwarf at High Noon” which is the prologue of the book (2nd Edition), and the second episode is based on the “Unintended Consequences/Marriage of Inconvenience” storyline in Episodes 2 & 3.  I also have part of the subsequent episode scripted, which will basically be “Into the Thick of It & Vendetta Ride.”

I could easily write the entire first season of this show by myself, but there’s plenty of room for other writers to join the team if we ever get that far.  Come on, somebody give this show a chance!

Amazon Comedy Pilots

Last week, I got one of those Amazon emails that draw your attention to some special feature or offer they have.  In this instance, they were asking for people to view and review their new comedy tv show pilots, and since it was free I thought, why not?  So, over a few days, I took the time to look at the eight pilots, and gave my opinion on seven of them.  I'll now take a moment to go over my impression of each proposed series.

Before giving my assessments, I will say that I am very surprised that every single pilot has received more 5-star reviews than non-5-star reviews.  Even the best of these shows only rated 4 stars in my book, and I honestly can't tell what people are basing their votes on.  Are they really that easily entertained, that they think this stuff is the best of the best?  Or are they just so eager to pump up a few select shows that they're inflating their vote?  I think the latter is probably true.

Also, note that most of these shows have a lot of cursing in them.  It seems the writers went wild with f-bombs and the like, since these aren't on the air yet.  If any of these shows went on network tv, they'd just edit that out, I guess.  You have been warned.

Now, on with my three cents worth on each of the series.

Alpha House:  This one was weak satire, which did little more than make fun of Republicans.  The humor wasn't my cup of tea, and I think a more balanced approach would have made this a more promising pilot.  I could see this running half a season (at most), but by then even the Bill Maher fans will get bored with the clichéd jokes and stereotyped characters.  John Goodman's renown would be the only thing that could make this thing stay afloat for more than a few episodes.  A 2-star effort.

Betas:  A comedy for computer geeks.  The humor in this one was more subtle and serious.  To be fair, this show seems more suited to being a 1-hour drama program, rather than a comedy.  The first ten minutes or so were very dull for me, but after that it really picked up, and I started to get a fondness for the characters (except that mid 30's washed-up stoner guy).  This also has a brief shot of a naked lady in it, but the stoner guy was just chatting to some online hooker, so I guess that's okay (not).  I think if this was expanded to the hour (aka 40-45 minute) format, we'd have more time for character development, and thus the show would be able to flourish.  3-stars, with room to grow.

Browsers:  Comedy + musical?  This is the one show I couldn't get through.  The musical numbers just threw me off, and prevented me from enjoying the show.  It's a novel idea, but I wouldn't watch it.  No star-rating given, since I couldn't even get through the show to review the whole episode.

Dark Minions:  An animated comedy which was only half made.  They use that stop-motion animation technique, and I guess the creators didn't want to waste time making an entire episode until they had a contract for a full series.  However, what's there is intriguing.  It's a sci-fi comedy that could devolve into the next Futurama, or flourish as an animated cross between Family Guy and Red Dwarf, with some Douglas Adams thrown in.  In its present form, it seems a bit juvenile, and the drug usage is a little stupid. (I never got the idea of dope in space, how is that funny?)  The characters were a bit two-dimensional.  3-stars.

Onion News Empire:  A parody of the mainstream media, this one was fair and balanced.  There are some really funny moments, and bit of character development, and a few really outrageous elements tossed in.  Of all the Amazon pilots, this one felt the most professional, in my opinion.  It also had a lot of really good talent, most notable in my book being William Sadler (is he really that fat these days, or is that just a costume?).  I gave this one 4-stars.

Supanatural:  This one is a parody of the supernatural/horror/Ancient Aliens genre.  The main characters really grated on my nerves; a couple of divas with bad attitudes who work in a mall and on the side save the world from the paranormal.  The storyline was amusing, and the evil doomsday skull really stole the show.  If they spent some time making the ladies more likeable, this could fit in with the growing number of adult animated series, but in its present form it only rates 3-stars.

Those Who Can't:  A cynical comedy about High School teachers, which has a bit more truth than fiction to it.  Yes, there are obvious exaggerations, and the comedy is sometimes over the top, but it is almost believable at times.  The hippy-like principal is a nice touch, as well.  I give this one a 4-star rating, it being my 2nd favorite of the bunch.

Zombieland:  The series picks up where the movie left off, only with a new cast and less humor.  This felt like a really weak attempt to recreate something that has already been done, and it gets old really fast.  When it comes down to it, this just wasn't all that funny, and it has nowhere to go but down.  Zombies just aren't funny enough to sustain an entire series.  That, and the new actors can't compete with the big-name movie stars who defined their roles (really, who could ever replace Woody Harrelson?).  A weak 2-stars.  I almost want my half hour back for watching this one.  Unless you're a die-hard zombie fan, don't waste your time here.

Okay, so that pretty much sums it up.  Amazon also has five kid show pilots, but I didn't watch those, since I'm not really into that stuff (even though I have 4 young children).  Now it's your turn.  Go over to Amazon and watch a few of the shows there.  See what you think.

Check out all of the Amazon comedy pilots here.

Another Longshot Attempt

Life has been getting busy for me lately, as I continue to write and work at various other jobs and projects.  After the long blogging campaign of April's A to Z challenge, I needed a bit of a break, and as things continue to be hectic at times, I may not always manage to stick to the blog's posting schedule.  It is important to prioritize, and while I do not wish to disappoint those of you who are interested in reading the blog, it can't always take precedence over other things in life.

A couple of days ago, I started work on another exciting project.  You all should know about the West of the Warlock television project by now, which has thus far gone no farther than the production of a script.  Seeking to broaden my chances for cinematic success, I am now working on the pilot script for The Rogue Investigations television project.

Friends and readers have long commented that The Rogue Investigations would make a great tv series, more so than my other works.  The chapters contained within the book are written in episodic format to begin with, so it won't take much to adapt them to scripts.  There are a few things I plan to do differently in the script than what is written in the book, though the general theme will be the same; Zachary McCain and John Rage, with Detective Amanda Alfaro in tow, will investigate the paranormal, seeking to expose the truth behind unexplained phenomena and supernatural entities.

Whether the show will ever be made is anyone's guess, but a longshot is better than no shot.  If I write the script, the option will be there for any executive with the inclination to take a chance on me.  All it takes in this business is the right industry professional to have faith in your work.  With any luck, that right person will discover The Rogue Investigations someday soon.

The Almost Good News

For quite a while I've been alluding to the fact that there's some exciting news coming.  Well, it looked that way, but I've been waiting and the good news just didn't quite come about.  Let me tell you what happened.

Back in December, I joined a television program marketing website, which seems to be one of the best ways to get my script for West of the Warlock in front of the right people.  Hollywood executives don't generally look at freelance material, and unless you're connected you don't have many options.  TV Writers Vault is one of the rare exceptions, where unagented, unknown writers can pitch television projects.

There is a membership fee involved, and it was really more than I could afford at the time, but I figured I'd go all-in and see what happened.  It was still a longshot, but if somebody actually looked at my script, I knew they'd be hooked.  That has long been my greatest problem—getting anyone to read my material.  So, I scrounged up the membership fee and put together a fresh pitch for the West of the Warlock television project.  Then, it was all up to the executives.

In mid-January, I got an exciting hit.  An executive over at Cross Genre Entertainment reviewed my project and requested to see my script.  It was thrilling, and seemed like an answered prayer for a time... until they never contacted me!

You see, the way that TV Writers Vault works is, the executives review the pitches, and if they want to see a script they ask the website to send them the writer's contact info, and then they're supposed to contact the writer directly.  Well, for whatever reason, the people at Cross Genre Entertainment never got back to me.  I don't know if they changed their minds, or what.  All I know is that after a month of waiting, they still haven't contacted me (and they're supposed to do that within 3 days of asking for contact info).

It's really a sad situation, but there is still hope that the folks over at CGE will contact me someday.  The worst part of it is not knowing why.  Why didn't they contact me?  Was it all a mistake?  Did they click the wrong button and never want to read my script to begin with?  Did they try phoning me in the middle of the night and I missed the call?  Did they just plain change their minds?  It is a mystery that may never be answered, since according to the TV Writers Vault terms of service I can't contact them unless they contact me (though, I did post a subtle reminder on their facebook page).

This isn't the end, of course.  There are any number of other executives using the TVWV website who might want to give West of the Warlock a chance, and it's always a remote possibility that some producer will read the book and ask about the filming rights on their own.  The script is just waiting to be read, and it could be a major hit for whatever studio has the foresight and fortune to produce it.

Oh, and if any of you run across a television producer who's looking for a truly original show, don't hesitate to mention me by name!  I've got several projects in the sci-fi & fantasy genres just waiting for the right people to bring them to life.

The West of The Warlock Television Project

As I wrap up the first draft of "The Six-Gun Conjurer," I have begun work on my next writing endeavor.  Over the next few months, in between other projects, I will be writing a series of scripts based on the world and characters in West of the Warlock and its precursor, the short story "A Dwarf at High Noon."

Formatting a script is far different than writing a novel, and it is quite a learning process.  I'm using several authoritative resources to aid me, and it seems scriptwriting is much easier than crafting a book.  It's like writing a detailed outline with dialog.  Once I had the formula down, and got used to the new formatting, things moved right along.

I envision this to be a television series, though it could serve as a miniseries, or the first few episodes could be merged into a stand-alone movie, as well.  There's no sense limiting my options, as it'll be difficult to break into Hollywood at any rate.  I have high hopes but low expectations.  Still, having a slim chance at getting this project optioned is better than no chance, which is what I'll have if I don't write a script.

This isn't something that has come out of nowhere, as I've thought about doing a script for many years with different stories.  Too often over the years, I've sat down and watched television, only to think, "What crap!  I can write better stuff than this!"  So, it's high time that I did.  The "Dwarf at High Noon/West of the Warlock" universe is one that I feel has the best potential for television or cinema.

I've already written the "Pilot" episode.  We'll see what happens.



The first of many!



House M.D. (Season 1 DVD) –Review

I'll admit I'm not big on "medical dramas."  I couldn't stand ER, and generally yawn at the glut of doctor shows flooding the airwaves.  So, what I'm about to say about House M.D. might come as a surprise.  I really quite enjoy it.  Why?  Perhaps because it is quirky, and not another General Hospital wannabe.  The main character (played by the very talented Hugh Laurie) is so misanthropic at times he adds genuine flavor to a show that might otherwise be pretty drab and clinical.  That, and the medical cases the show handles are so bizarre it can spark the imagination.

Until recently, I hadn't really given the show that much attention.  I watched a stray episode here or there over the years, yet in a recent impulse buy I decided to pick up the first season on DVD (hey, it was only $25 at Walmart, so it wasn't a big investment).  After sitting down to watch this first season, I enjoyed myself and broadened my horizons.  Bully for me!  Now I have to save up to get the other sets.  So much entertainment, so little disposable income...

In my opinion, the first season of House M.D. is the cream of the crop when it comes to medical shows.  Even if you aren't a big fan of this mainstream sub-genre, this show is worthy of your time.  4 out of 5 stars.

Doctor Who: Series Six, Part One (DVD) -Review

I bought this newly released DVD set last week, so I'll give my usual, brief commentary about it.

Coming off the success of Series Five, Doctor Who's new season kicked off with a story I felt was a bit over the top.  The two-part premiere left me wondering if things were going to be on a downward slope this season (sorry, the Doctor meets Richard Nixon?  That really didn't do it for me).  Fortunately, the premiere two-parter was followed up by a fresh batch of stellar episodes that returned us to the greatness we saw last year.  By the seventh episode (which concludes this first half-season), I was totally riveted again, and now I can't wait to see what the second half has in store.

One big plus this half-season concerns the new revelation about River Song.  The ambiguity of her character was starting to wear a little thin, and it was high time for some answers.  Boy, did we get them in the big finale!  I'm sure not everyone will appreciate the shocking plot twist, but I for one welcomed it, and think it's amazing.

The biggest letdown for me was the Silence/Silents.  They're an interesting concept, but they just didn't do it for me (kind of like Nixon, they didn't pique my interest that much).  I find myself hoping the human race has killed them all off by now, and we never see them again (I know, wishful thinking on my part).  I'm sure a huge slew of fandom loves them, and Steven Moffat probably has them planned for bigger and better things later on.  I'll cross my fingers and hope for a better feeling the second time around.

Extras were pretty slim on this DVD set, so don't buy it for that.  Get it because you want to watch these incredible episodes commercial free whenever you want!

Overall, this first half of Series Six gets a 4.5 rating from me.  It's not quite as good as Series Five, but close.

The Walking Dead (Season 1) -Review

I've been a bit under the weather since Saturday with a particularly nasty cold virus, so I'm throwing this together at the last minute.  I have a few pre-written posts in reserve, but none that fit the Wednesday Reviews feature, so this one is fresh and raw—kinda like my throat!

I had the chance to see the first season of "The Walking Dead" a while back.  I'm not usually big on zombies, or horror in general, though this series has a lot more to offer than your average gore-fest.  It's not so much a horror story, as a post-apocalyptic tale of survival, and there is serious character development present throughout.  Yes, there is still plenty of bloody violence, and zombies get shot in every episode, so those who like the more traditional form of zombentertainment will no doubt enjoy this, as well.

Another thing to appreciate is the attempt to explain the zombie apocalypse through scientific means.  Though the first season doesn't get too in-depth, and there are still a lot of unanswered questions, it is clear there is a sci-fi explanation behind the walking dead.  They didn't just crawl out of the grave to eat people, and there isn't magic afoot.  I expect the plausible cause will continue to evolve as the series goes forward.

The series started out as a comic book, though I haven't read it...  What?  Right, sorry, they're "graphic novels."  Hey, the industry started calling them that when I was a kid, trying to make them sound grown up or classy, but they're all still comic books!  There's nothing wrong with that.  Anyway, I haven't read the original story, and therefore get to watch the suspenseful surprises of this intriguing series without any foreknowledge of what's to come.

My only major complaint regards the length of the season.  It's so short, you can hardly call it a "season."  I really hope that AMC can find the money to make the next season a little longer.  Hey, they could give us at least ten episodes a year, right?

I'll rate the first season 4 out of 5 stars.  It's very well done, the acting is spot-on, and the stories are very engaging.  Let's see more shows like this!

Stargate Universe (Season 2 DVD) -Review

I received the Stargate Universe Season 2 DVD set last week (Amazon Pre-Order), and have had the chance to watch all twenty episodes, and most of the bonus material.  After watching season 1, I wasn't sure how this next installment would fare, but I'm pleased to see it surpassed my greatest expectations.

The first season was a little drab compared to the other Stargate series.  Though it had some high points with episodes like "Space," and "Time," there were duds like "Life."  It wasn't as exciting as SG-1 and Atlantis were from the start, and the characters took longer to develop.  Other than that, there were times where I couldn't empathize with the lead characters.  Colonel Young wasn't a very good leader in the beginning, and Lieutenant Scott was too much of a horn dog to respect.  Chloe didn't have much of a purpose to begin with, and Rush was easy to hate until the revelations of "Human" gave him an understandable back story.  Yet, by the end of Season 1, the characters were fleshed out enough, and they were enjoyable to watch for the most part.

Where the first season may have come up short, the second season sought to make up for it, and I think they did a great job.  Though there were still a few slow episodes, most of them were stimulating, both from a cerebral viewpoint and a raw action/adventure stance.  The last 10 episodes were exceptional, bringing the show up to the same entertainment standards of SG-1 & Atlantis (or perhaps even higher).

I hate that Universe has been cancelled, and I really wish it would come back someday.  The way the second season ended, there is great potential for that to happen if anyone ever dares to try, though in these financially uncertain times I don't know if that will ever come to pass.  Who knows, in 3 years, maybe someone will revive the series and pick up where they left off.  I would do it if there was any possible way.  Hey, MGM, I can make you money, try me!  If given the chance, any number of creative people could save Stargate Universe, but will they ever be given that chance?

Overall, season 2 of SGU gets 4 out of 5 stars.  The back ten get a full five stars, but there were still a few weak points in the first half; nothing horrible, though there were other seasons of Stargate that I liked a little more.

Wanted: Dead or Alive (Review)

I'm not much for 50's television, though last summer I found the first season of this old Western series starring Steve McQueen sitting at Walmart for $5. I figured it wasn't much of an investment, and McQueen was a great actor, so I decided it was worth the limited expense.

For a half-hour, low budget television show made during the golden age of the medium, this show isn't too bad. The acting is halfway decent and the plots are generally interesting, if not always original. It was reminiscent of those short western movies John Wayne did in the 1930's.

There are some prop issues, one of which I couldn't let pass. McQueen uses a sawed-off 1892 Winchester as his weapon of choice, but his belt is full of big, menacing-looking cartridges (possibly .45-70 Govt., or 50-110 Express). This is not the ammo for his rifle. The '92 took short pistol cartridges (.25-20, .32-20, .38-40, or .44-40). It is annoying to any gun aficionado to see a character wielding an 1892 Winchester and lugging around rounds for an 1886 Winchester. It would be equivalent to someone pumping kerosene into a gasoline-powered car.

There is also the timeline issue. We have some episodes with events that seem to take place well before 1892, so the weapons being used aren't chronologically accurate. They should have given McQueen an 1873 Winchester (a rifle widely used throughout the Wild West days), or an 1876 if they wanted him to lug around bigger cartridges. Again, this is a typical flaw of a lot of "early" westerns. You see John Wayne carrying an 1894 Winchester in a lot of movies that take place in the 1870's! The people in Hollywood didn't know a thing about weaponry back in those days, and figured one lever action was the same as any other. For shame!

Wanted: Dead or Alive was one of the better shows of the 1950's that I've seen, but as I said, I'm not a big fan of those early programs. They were the prototypes, a raw and untested form of entertainment limited by funding and the cultural mindset of the day. I'll give this 3 out of 5 stars. It'll prove to be a fun diversion for those of you who enjoy the Western genre, though don't expect anything fancy or unexpected.

Doctor Who: The Complete 5th Series (Review)

Yes, at long last, I'm ready to tell you what I think of Doctor Who: Series 5.

First of all, I have been a Doctor Who fan for all of my life. I remember watching the original series on PBS every Saturday afternoon/evening when I was growing up. I suppose it is one of the reasons I became a writer of Science Fiction in particular. The fantastic idea of time travel and outer space adventures was ingrained into me from birth.

I purchased the 5th Series on DVD when it came out last November. I was understandably curious to see in what direction the series would be going, with a new head writer and a new Doctor. I had some concerns, as change can sometimes be disastrous for a popular television series, and Doctor Who was already dropped in the late 80's after popularity dwindled (John Nathan Turner did pretty much kill the show toward the end there). The wrong stories and the wrong actors could send Doctor Who back into hiatus, and I wondered if this would be the case.

What a relief it was to watch the first few episodes. My fears were quickly quelled, as the stories turned out to be better than ever before. I have to say, this is quite literally Doctor Who at its best, and Matt Smith's portrayal of the Doctor may just be my new favorite! I've been a long-time William Hartnell (1st Doctor) fan, and he'll always be held in high esteem, but Smith is just too good, and he has the advantage of modern production dollars to make his portrayal come off even better.

As I mentioned, the stories this year were exceptional, some of the best Doctor Who has ever had. They had more of a Sci-Fi feel to them, where previous years seemed to put greater emphasis on Horror. Of course, there are always both elements in any Doctor Who story, but things certainly seemed more "fantastic" in Series 5, which is a big plus in my book.

The only thing I wasn't completely sold on was the new Tardis console. I think they went a little too far with it, made it a bit too wacky. Other than that, it was a pretty perfect season. I even liked the Dalek episode that a lot of people have criticized.

Another thing I loved about Series 5 is that it turned Doctor Who into a truly family friendly show again. Call me old-fashioned, but I found the previous years of the new show to be a little too sexualized at times for young children (I'd rather not have my 4 year old watch Captain Jack hitting on every man, woman, and alien he sees, thank you). The 5th Series has virtually no sexuality in it, which brings it back to the kind of show it was originally designed to be.

With great production values, intelligent stories, and great acting, I am giving this one a full 5-star rating. This is Doctor Who at its best!  (Yes, I said that previously, but you can't say it enough!)

If you've never seen the show before, this is a great DVD set to pick up. You can watch these episodes and fully enjoy them without a working knowledge of the greater universe. There are a few old themes and foes that pop up, but you don't need an extensive background in the series to understand what's going on.

Crusoe: The Complete Series (Review)

The Monday after Christmas, a package arrived from Amazon. It was a DVD set I had ordered a few weeks prior, which I had gotten for a serious bargain price. I paid less than $9 with my Goldbox deal of the day, so it was a low-risk entertainment investment.

The set was Crusoe: The Complete Series on DVD, a short-lived television show which ran for only 11 episodes. It was filmed primarily in South Africa, with some bits done in the UK, and overall it was a very fun production, with a lot of swashbuckling, pirates, cannibals, and other exciting island adventure. The writers were very creative, inventing new scenarios each week to keep the stories fun and entertaining. While the storyline did not follow the original book, it was a very well done series, and I'm sorry it didn't run longer. The DVD set has no extras, but the episodes themselves more than make up for it. There is nothing really offensive about this show (no nudity or swearing) so it's suitable for the whole family.

I've seen big budget movies that weren't as good as this series. I can think of a lot of modern blockbuster movies about pirates and the carribean that look like pathetic garbage compared to this intelligent work of cinema. Why this show didn't take off is anyone's guess, but I'd personally wager that an executive at some network didn't like it. Maybe I'm just feeling a little mean spirited today with the conspiracy theory angle, but that's the way a lot of good tv series seem to die. The infamous "powers that be" decide a show isn't "right" for some reason, so they manipulate things to assure its quick demise.

I put this series up there with "Firefly" in the pantheon of slaughtered television shows that should have run a lot longer, but for whatever reason weren't given a fair chance. Unlike that brilliant sci-fi show, however, I don't think they'll be making a movie to conclude Crusoe. At least they left it in a decent place, and not with some cliffhanger.

I would certainly recommend this show for everyday viewing. 4 out of 5 stars.

Review: Odyssey 5

I know I mentioned doing a review for the 5^th Series of Doctor Who, and that's in the pipeline, but I recently had the chance to view the DVD set for Odyssey 5, so I'd like to do this one first.

Odyssey 5 is a show that aired on Showtime in 2002.  The premise is interesting, involving 5 people who survive the end of the world and have their consciousnesses sent back in time 5 years, in order to change history (notice a whole lot of 5's running around this review.  It must be an alien plot).  You can read all the great promo material for this series at amazon.com, so I won't waste time rewriting a synopsis, but get right to my views.

This series had a lot of potential, and if it had run for more than one season, it may have been truly great, but it was sadly cut short, leaving us with an unresolved cliffhanger and a whole lot of ideas.  With that said, there are a couple of stylistic flaws which aided the decline of this series before its time.  1:  The language was excessive.  Every other word was a curse word at times, and it got to the point where it distracted from the show.  2:  The brief scenes of full female nudity weren't really necessary, and they were often stuffed into episodes just because they could put them there.

I personally believe that this series would have lasted at least 2 seasons (or possibly even longer) if not for the adult content which lowered the viewing potential.  From an economical standpoint, this series would have had a lot more profitability if it had been done as a PG-13 format, for the syndication value would have increased.  There are a lot of networks that still don't show R-rated content.

In my estimation, if you liked the X-Files and don't mind a lot of swearing and a few minor scenes containing naked women, you'll enjoy Odyssey 5.  The DVD set is petty cheap, too, so I'd recommend it for the aforementioned folks.  However, I would most certainly not recommend it for anyone with strict morals, or for children.

Overall rating: 3 out of 5.