Of course, it's completely understandable to believe that nothing can ever come close to recapturing the same magic of the original DS. But at the same time, there's no reason not to believe that something different, but possibly equally special could potentially be created - not to replace the original - but to coexist alongside it. That's the way I see the '91 series, and I'm hoping a WB DS might turn out to be something even more interesting. After all, valuable lessons were learned with the '91 series, and one can hope that a WB DS would both build and improve upon them...

Very much agreed, MB. Although I'll be the first to acknowledge -- and bitch about -- many of the problems inherent in the 91 DS, I'm still a fan. Not to mention an unabashed fan of NoDS. I'm one of those who would probably prefer to see a next-generation-style DS rather than yet another retelling, but at the same time, I'm very excited about the prospect of a new one, regardless of the form it takes. Who knows, this one may put the 91 series to shame and find the longevity it deserves. Or it may not. But I'll stay cautiously optimistic until the show itself proves itself worthy or unworthy of following.

--Mark

I absolutely loved Angelique's emergence from the fire in the 91 DS. It was actually quite frightening, made all the more intense by Willie's panicked reaction to it -- I think it was the first moment in the show where I decided Jim Fyfe wasn't so bad after all.

--Mark

I'm a Law and Order junkie. I'll have to watch out for this one!

--Mark

I watched this thing the other night with my daughter, who astutely described it as a train wreck she couldn't turn off. Silly, silly, silly, yet occasionally engaging. The actresses playing the Angels' really nailed them, appearance-wise, especially Christina Chambers as Jaclyn Smith. Lauren Stamile made for a convincing Kate Jackson, despite such an exaggerated accent, and what can one say about Kristina Helfers except that she -really- had the hair down pat.

Loved the whole 70s ambiance -- masterfully done.
The whole thing had the air of parody about it, though, and I dunno if I could sit through it again.

Wait a minute... three gorgeous women playing three gorgeous women... Yeah, I could sit through it again.

--Mark

I saw Secret Window tonight too. Johnny Depp and John Turturo were much better than the movie as a whole. It was reasonably close to the story, which, as I said, didn't do a lot for me; but Depp was fabulous, a bit surly, with some inspired lines. And I kinda liked the ending, which I'll not spoil here. I'll give it a C for content, an A+ for casting.

--Mark

I don't think a Barnabas younger than mid-thirties would ever quite sit right with me. So much of the character is his erudite manner and wordliness that no one younger (even if they've lived a couple of centuries) properly exudes. The whole idea of Barnabas having a kid sister has never worked for me, and if I'd had my way, I'd have made her his daughter from a wife (or lover) whose life had ended in some unpleasant fashion, leaving him heartbroken over her loss, all the more devoted to his daughter, and both ecstatic and somewhat guilty over finding a new love in Josette, complicated by his foolish affair with Angelique. To me, such a scenario seems so much more rational and less taxing on the imagination.

--Mark

I thought I was the only one who liked the original Sam Evans. In the long run, David Ford ended up being a great replacement for Mark Allen.  But, I adored  Allen's philisophical and cryptic musings too! He left the show way too soon. He looked the part of a run-down alcoholic artist with the wild hair and secrets to hide!

I've often believed that the original players for certain roles, even if they were short-lived, had it all over their replacements. Through his longevity in the series, David Ford became the Sam Evans I think most fans identify with; but Mark Allen may have been the more interesting actor in the role. Not to demean Ford at all, because I really like him and appreciate his contribution (I don't think Allen would have fit the role of Andre DuPres so well), but I completely agree that his more tormented and world-weary Sam Evans made for an engaging aspect of the show that I would love to have seen continued.

Same could be said for George Mitchell as Matthew Morgan. Though Thayer David probably is, was, and always will be the most charismatic, versatile, and appropriately utilized actor in the show, as Morgan, he was almost a letdown after Mitchell's eccentric, rather manic character. In regard to Morgan, my emotional response to the two actors was that I admired David's ability to portray the character with some aplomb; Mitchell's screen presence made me genuinely nervous.

--Mark

My favorite actor playing one of my favorite writers!!

Only the name, not the character, is similar. I shouldn't wish to be in Mort's shoes.

(Hey ya know, they should pay you something)

Why, yes they should, shouldn't they? But wait... if I had to pay all the people whose names have found their way into my tales, I'd have had to file for bankrupcy a long time ago...

--Mark