DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
General Discussions => Current Talk Archive => Current Talk '24 I => Current Talk '13 II => Topic started by: Gothick on October 09, 2013, 05:05:09 PM
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A friend sent me a note this morning saying there's a rumor on the Internet that the Me-TV network, which shows many classic TV shows (some of them, such as THE ROGUES from around 1965-66, previously unknown to me, but excellent, quality television), has signed a deal to run DARK SHADOWS, the original 1966-71 series.
If true, this would be an EXCELLENT showcase for our series, and make it even more popular. With series such as AMERICAN HORROR STORY and THE VAMPIRE DIARIES constantly referring to DS in their publicity (and in at least some cases, plotlines), I think young people are curious, and often wind up becoming very enthusiastic viewers of our show.
Let's hope this will be confirmed via official news release soon.
G.
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It would be wonderful, if true. [hall2_smiley] Though most rumors on the Internet need to be approached with a grain of salt. And considering the sticking point to getting DS back on TV has been that WorldVision has been asking too much money for the show, one does have to wonder if MeTV can afford it? Or perhaps, miracle of miracles, WV has dropped its asking price?
I suppose we'll see...
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That would be wicked! But take note that even though MeTV shows the credits at the end of each show, I've noticed certain cast members listed that we don't see on the show. Meaning, they are cutting content for commercial time.
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But since DS was originally broadcast as a daytime show, the episode runtimes were a bit shorter than for prime-time shows. Each episode runs about 21 minutes, I believe, so that should allow enough time for running commercials/promos without cutting content. (Of course, what should be and what is are two different things...)
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Me-TV, based here in Chicago, has a reputation for continuing to stay true to its original mission, unlike Sci-Fi and TV-Land. It would be an ideal home for DS, although I wonder whether the network is ready to rerun a daytime serial, as opposed to the classic sitcoms and dramas that comprise its roster.
Let's hope the rumor proves to be true! I'm imagining John Karlen and KLS doing promos, the way Betty White, Carl Reiner, Dick Van Dyke, Ed Asner, Paul Peterson, and other stars have already done for their old shows.
Ben
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P.S.: A post I saw on www.sitcomsonline.com (dated 7/23/13) suggests that Me-TV is planning to add DS to its schedule but that a date has yet to be set. No further posts have been added.
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[candle_in_skull_2]
It would be nice, but all I can find about this is message board rumors.
Nothing from ME, no press releases, nada.
I'll believe it when it happens.
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This link was posted on a Me-TV board a little while ago; it's a blog post specifically about the DS rumors:
http://www.bubblews.com/news/906415-the-return-of-dark-shadows
It's interesting how popular mid 1960s series continue to be. Another post on the same board is about reruns of Mr. Ed and Patty Duke running on a network called Antenna, along with I Dream of Jeannie. It would be interesting to know what the demographics are with respect to the audiences--aging boomers or are some of the young hipsters who enjoy style elements of the 1950s and 1960s tuning in as well.
G.
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I'm just glad Me-TV is still around, and has that committment to its original purpose. Thanks Ben. Hi from someone vaguely around Chicago.
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This link was posted on a Me-TV board a little while ago; it's a blog post specifically about the DS rumors:
http://www.bubblews.com/news/906415-the-return-of-dark-shadows
Wow, that was way back at the beginning of August. And not to put a damper on the possibility that MeTV might add DS, but the announcement that came out back in the summer after that post was made was that beginning on some date in September MeTV would be adding Gilligan's Island and F Troop, which are now a part of their line up, and maybe some other comedy. I forget exactly because when I saw the shows they weren't anything I was interested in adding to my already full TV viewing habits (not that I don't like shows like Gilligan's Island and F Troop - I just don't have time to fit them in). But if that was the announcement that the blog post refers to, there was no mention whatsoever of DS.
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Sorry, MB, I failed to check the date on that blog post. Ah well.
The original email from my friend said that what he heard mentioned 2014 or even 2015 as start dates so perhaps the network is simply in negotiations with World Vision for the rights. Who knows. I'm not aware of the current status of DS with respect to Netflix streaming; for the younger audience that is a fairly good option for it.
I know it's OT, but I saw an F Troop episode about ten years ago and the racism of the portrayal of American Indian people really threw me for a loop. But then, it was also the era of HOGAN'S HEROES and all the fun of living in a Nazi concentration camp...
G.
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The good thing is that if DS were to ever become a part of the MeTV line up, we would certainly be alerted, most likely via some official announcement through ShadowGram. [hall2_smiley]
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The Hakawi were a sort of loser Indian tribe much as the fort was a loser fort, so I don't think any generalizations about anyone were being made, G........
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I read that Dark Shadows may be coming to MeTV. For me this would kind of suck because though the Mercer County portion My Cable System Comcast of Central NJ gets ME TV as a sub channel of Allentown, PA but the Middlesex county portion of the system dose not get any MeTV affiliate. FiOS and DrecTv have MeTV on WZME from Bridgeport, CT. But i hear they preempt quite a bit of MeTV's schedule with informercials. Maybe i can just keep pace with MeTV using my DS DVDs.
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I omitted that Station in Allentown, PA that has the MeTV sub channel is WFMZ 69
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DLA I have a buddy who gets Me-TV which isn't on his cable roster via some kind of antenna he positioned on the roof, I think. I know people here in the Boston areas who watch via a new form of rabbit ears. So, there are work arounds.
I luckily own every episode on DVD. My interest in the topic is mainly along the lines of allowing younger generations the opportunity to see the show and potentially carry the torch forward. Those of us who watched back in the Sixties--sometimes whimsically called "the Ancient Blood"--aren't getting any younger. alas.
G.
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Unfortunately I am too far away from Allentown or Bridgeport to get much of a digital signal from either station even if I had an Antenna on my roof.
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That all depends, DLA75. Digital signals travel much farther than the old analog signals did. And some amplified antennas (even indoor ones) can clearly pick up digital signals from over 50 miles away. I know it's possible because I and people I know have done it (with indoor antennas) with some stations that are not included by our cable companies.
Though, of course, we're getting ahead of ourselves here because there is no confirmed word that DS is coming to MeTV.
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As the crow flies I am around 48 Miles from WFMZ 69.3's transmitter in Allentown, PA and 100 Miles away from WZME 43.1's transmitter in Seymour, CT.
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The Hakawi were a sort of loser Indian tribe much as the fort was a loser fort, so I don't think any generalizations about anyone were being made, G........
You know how the Howkawi got their name, don't you? They picked out a spot and said, "Where the heck are we?"
It is balloon!!!!
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You know how the Howkawi got their name, don't you? They picked out a spot and said, "Where the heck are we?"
It is balloon!!!!
(Why yes I do Janet, thank you very much. Balloon? Heven't seen F Troop since 80ds at least... I remember anticipating its 2nd season as a kid, and the poster they'd send if you if you mailed away for one...)
[skelleton_runs]
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You know how the Howkawi got their name, don't you? They picked out a spot and said, "Where the heck are we?"
Janet the Wicked,
There is another "slightly" more ribald version of that joke regarding the famed "Howkawi" tribe, involving the "Fowkawi" tribe, and the "Where the 'expletive-deleted" are we?" punchline. [hall_rolleyes] [hall_grin]
Of course, the great "F-Troop" was a tremendous spoof of the old West. I especially liked Larry Storch's character, Cpl. Randolph T. Agarn, the pride of Passaic, N.J., who always posed the question much too late in a conversation: "Who says I'm dumb?" [hall_undecided] [hall_angry]
DLA75,
Yeah, I don't get the Me-TV Channel either, but I do get Antenna TV, which, imo, has broadcast "Dennis the Menace" (at the expense of a much better show like "Leave It To Beaver") for far too long.
It's funny, but when I was a little kid, I loved watching "Dennis the Menace." However, now, as the decades have sped by, I find myself more readily relating with the understandably grumpy and curmudgeonly Mr. Wilson, who just wished that little brat next door would move away with his parents to some other town. [hall_angry] [hall_wink]
I understand that Me-TV broadcasts some other classic shows, such as "Hawaii Five-O" and the aforementioned "LITB." I hope we get it here in the mid-atlantic states sometime in the near future.
Gothick,
That nickname of "The Ancient Blood" for DS fans of a "certain" age is tremendous (and, alas, oh so true). [hall_cry] [hall_rolleyes]
The original fans of Dark Shadows, whom the late, great Louis Edmonds would often refer to as the "Dark Shadows kiddies," are now at a point in life where we are discussing our various medical procedures (including colonoscopies, PSA tests, and possibly botox and hair transplant procedures) with one another! [hall_shocked] [hall_cheesy]
Oh, to be eternally young at heart like Ezra Braithwaite and Grandmama Edith Collins! [skelleton_runs] [8_1_209] [baticon]
Bob
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Oh to be brought down by a witch or a vampire or a ghost when the time comes, rather than some boring internal bodily screw-up!
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MT,
I hear you on that one! When my time comes to depart this mortal coil, I want to go up in a blaze of flames, just like the bodacious Bathia Mapes so gloriously did, oh so many years ago! [8_1_231] [candle_in_skull_2] [8_1_214] [hall2_grin]
Bob
PS Happy Halloween!!! [Evil_Pumpkins]
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To you as well Bob... It just hit me that my beloved Halloween emoticons will be gone tomorrow, sniff. I think immolation would be the last way you'd want to go. It doesn't happen quite as fast as with B Mapes...
[skull_winks] [bat7628] [skelleton_runs] [candle_in_skull] [female_skull]
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Me-TV airs old horror movies hosted by Svenghoolie on Saturday nights and film-noir programs on Sunday nights, so Dark Shadows would fit right into their lineup.
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ME airs Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, Boris Karloff Presents Thriller and the Universal monster movies.
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I would love it if DS came to Me-TV! I've been fervently hoping for this to happen! It's a great channel and they keep adding more and more greats shows! DS needs to be on Me-TV!
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Me-TV just acquired 2 Krofft Saturday morning TV shows: HR Pufnstuf and Land of the Lost.
The latter has the same "shot-on-videotape" quality that Dark Shadows has, and the same cheesy special-effects that we all love.
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Me-TV just acquired 2 Krofft Saturday morning TV shows: HR Pufnstuf and Land of the Lost.
The latter has the same "shot-on-videotape" quality that Dark Shadows has, and the same cheesy special-effects that we all love.
Ronny G,
Ah, yes, the beloved "Land of the Lost," a show more than a few young adults/teenagers tuned into on Saturday morning on their local NBC station, after waking up, and trying to recover from an all too late Friday night on the town. [santa_sad] [santa_cheesy]
Actually, I didn't think the special effects on LOTL were that bad. What was it they called the T-Rex on the show, "Grumpy," I believe? [santa_undecided]
And, didn't the young Marshall girl, with those long blonde pigtails of hers, look remarkably like the little girl, who portrayed a very young Carolyn Stoddard on one eoisode of DS? [santa_wink]
Bob