DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
General Discussions => Current Talk Archive => Current Talk '26 I => Current Talk '07 I => Topic started by: Taeylor Collins on February 04, 2007, 10:36:03 PM
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I am new here. Hello I am Taeylor. I discovered DS in about 1986 through my moms old record! I loved the music. A couple years later, I of course found out about the 1991 version and watched and was hooked. I was terribly upset when it was cancelled. So for me that was my first (visual) DS experience! Then after that I was so hungry for more DS I started watching the original and love it just as much.
I was wondering if anyone thinks after 2004's failed pilot (which I was so excited about, the WB should have worked on it and fixed it, why through 6 million down the drain??!!?!) there will be another incarnation in the future! I really hope so. I know DC is gone, and some will probably think it will never happen, but I would LOVE to see a new successful version! But I would want it done right! What about you guys??? Thanks for having me on the boards. I love it here!
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Welcome Taeylor! I hope you enjoy yourself here.
I think a lot of us were disappointed that the 2004 DS was rejected, I would have at least liked to have seen the pilot. And yes throwing 6 billion bucks down a rathole was stupid but I guess they do this every day. I could make better use of that kind of money.
I liked the 1991 DS, but having grown up with the original, being a "ran home from school to watch DS" kid, nothing else can compare. It's a shame that the 1991 DS ended after only 12 episodes, especially with that cliffhanger at the last.
What characters and storylines do you like in the original DS? How much of it have you seen?
Alondra
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I would always compare it to the original. I hate to see it if they went over the same old ground again. Now if they moved forward they might not have to replace Barnabas and the other charactors the way that we remember them. That might be better. There is only one Barnabas. I was one of the run home from school kids too!
Welcome Taylor ;)
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Welcome to the DS forum Taeylor!! You are bound to have fun if you are a DS fan! ;D
My first exposure to DS was back in the last 60's, after it had been on for years. I remember the story with Barnabas and Quentin as main characters/heros. I also fell in love it the original and no others compare. I was pig-headed in the 90's and refused to watch the revival because I couldn't imagine anyone else being Barnabas Collins except Jonathan Frid. Thankfully, a few years ago a friend lent me her videos of the first 6 episodes of the 91 revival and keeping an open mind [this time] I enjoyed it. Since it was a rehash of the original Barnabas/Josette/Victoria story, it wasn't new to me but they did make some changes that were interesting. When the DVD version of the Revival came out, I bought the set to add to the complete DS DVD collection I now own.
Your question is would I want another new DS series? Personally, I'd like to see new stories instead of rehashing the old ones that were already done by the original cast. I'd like to see the setting in present time, with the children and grandchildren of the original Collins and having the children from the past be the adults now. Another idea I'd love to see materialize would be for the story to start in 1971, after Barnabas, Julie and Prof. Stokes return from their trip in the past, and see what happened. There are so many great fanfic stories about this already that some could be great for a TV series. [book2]
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Welcome Taeylor! 8)
I would like to see a Next Generation DS set in modern times (perhaps flashbacks could be to eras that weren't visited on the original show, like the 1920s or 1860s so that we wouldn't have to worry about re-casting Judith or Joshua). However, I dislike remakes and have no desire to see another version of Victoria on th train or Barnabas being released from his coffin.
ProfStokes
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Welcome to the forum, Taeylor! Hope you have fun posting here.
I must confess I never warmed up to the 1991 series....I never cared much for the new actors (except Jean Simmons and Joanna Going). Another problem I had with the revival was there just wasn't enough character development in the twelve episodes that was aired. It was all gore, but little substance.
Don't get me wrong, it's not that I'd be against another attempt to bring DS back on the air, but they would have to #1 find the right actors for the characters this time and #2 do a better job of fleshing out the characters and the storylines than the 1991 show did.
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Hi Taeylor. I too, extend my welcomes.
I recently viewed a number of clips of the 91 series on You Tube and was quite impressed by it. I've heard many negative reviews of it, and was discouraged from watching it. I'm planning on picking up a copy for viewing sometime in the near future.
I saw the 04 Pilot, and it DID have problems. It was interesting, but upon reading a little more into the 91 series, it seemed to be VERY similiar to the pilot of that series, so not much was missed I guess if you didn't see it. (BTW--I wrote up a complete synopsis of it in my 06 fest report, that's on this board-- I believe it's in the Calendar/Events 06 section. I'd link it myself but it wouldn't work because I have IE7 (blast!) and IE7 don't mesh. lol Maybe one of the Gods will help me out *wink*)
I liked the 04 pilot, except for the last scene, and agree that it was a HUGE HUGE HUGE waste of time and money to dump 6 mil. into it and never make anything of it. It came out rather well and I would've liked it to continue.
I agree with the others who have said that DS needs to be updated. The kids--David, Amy, Hallie, etc etc--need to grow up and be the adults. DS: The Next Gen, basically. I'm writing a pilot script myself for fun right now based on that very idea, and if I EVER get it done, I plan to post it online and hopefully people will read it and say whether they like it or not.
It's widely agreed upon that since DC is dead that DS has a better chance of coming back and being better than it was before. DC was terribly protective of his "baby" and wanted to rehash the same old story time and time again, which is why it became so dry after a while. So, now that's he gone and can watch over from above, it's more likely that a new production team and writers will be able to take bigger leaps with the overall story.
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Where did you see the pilot Brandon?
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i would love a new DS..
either the traditonal re-hash or a next-gen series would be enjoyable.
maybe do a version that finally reveals Victoria's parentage...
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Was Vicki's parentage even an issue in the 91 series?
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(BTW--I wrote up a complete synopsis of it in my 06 fest report, that's on this board-- I believe it's in the Calendar/Events 06 section. I'd link it myself but it wouldn't work because I have IE7 (blast!) and IE7 don't mesh. lol Maybe one of the Gods will help me out *wink*)
Click the link, then scroll halfway down the post to the heading:
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The Pilot--...
;)
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Thank you, Midnite *bows ever-so-graciously* I knew you'd come through!
And to dom-- Saw the pilot at the 06 Fest. I'm sure they'll screen it at this years fest too. If I'm not mistaken they screened it at the 05 fest as well.
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I have no objection to it though a rehash of the same plot would be dull. I watched the earlier part of the revival but thought the casting and direction was bad so I didn't keep watching it. I saw the WB pilot and it was fine. As long as viewers understand there wasn't editing permitted at the time of the original series' airing, I would like to see the original back on the air in several markets.
Nancy
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Thanks for answering my question, B. I saw it in '04. I was wondering if they had changed it because it was a pretty rough draft we saw in Tarrytown. I'll check out the link Midnite provided to read if it was the same in '06 as it was in '04.
PS - I like your optimism re: an '07 fest.
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Was Vicki's parentage even an issue in the 91 series?
I saw the 91 series and I don't remember Vicki's parentage ever coming up or being an issue.
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I saw the 91 series and I don't remember Vicki's parentage ever coming up or being an issue.
However, it was planned as a future story - and it was also planned to reveal that Liz was her mother.
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And another two thank yous.
I read Brandon's pilot synopsis and it seems like there was a lot more shown than I remember from the
'04 showing. But I couldn't swear to it.
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Welcome to the Forum, Taylor!!
I have mixed feelings on a new series - I was very excited when it was in the planning stages, but in many ways I think it would be better to just leave things as they are.
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Sorry, Taeylor - I saw afterwards that I spelled it wrong!! :)
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Personally I wouldn't be too interested in another series. The original was a perfect mix of characters, stories, and settings. Just slapping the same character and place names on a new show and rehashing the old plots can't recapture that special magic that makes me watch the original. But I'm sure I'd give it a chance, just to see what it would be like. The other thing is, with so many episodes of the original to buy on DVD, it'll be a grand accomplishment just to collect the entire original series and I'm sure that once I've got them all I'll be pretty satisfied and not yearning for yet more Dark Shadows in my life.
Welcome to the board, BTW!
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Hello Taeylor, and welcome! I didn't like the 91 revival when I first viewed it and was gleeful when it was cancelled. It was too much of a re-hash of the old show and HODS, plus Ben Cross as Barnabas?? Hmmm, I don't think so. ;) I like Cross, but not in that role. I found that, because it WAS a re-hash, I kept comparing it to the original and it continued to fall flat. Then I viewed it again about 5-6 years later (I'd taped it and still have those tapes) and pretended that the original didn't exist. I liked it better the 2nd time, but still prefer the original.
Now, having said that, I *did* enjoy the WB pilot, which was shown in it's entirety at the 2005 Hollywood and 2006 Brooklyn Festivals, (Dom, what we saw in Tarrytown was only a partial viewing of the WB pilot) but like Brandon I thought the ending was hystercally bad! But overall I liked it and would have been open to it continuing.
Like everyone else here I'm all for a new DS provided they MOVE FORWARD. A next generation w/the kids grown up would work for me, or just continue where the old show left off. I like the idea of flashbacks to explain things to new fans/viewers, sorta like the way Lost has their backstory flashbacks of the crash survivors lives before boarding their doomed Oceanic flight. I also like the idea of either flashbacks or time traveling to earlier periods like the 1920's/30's/40's/50's and the 1860s. It would be interesting to see the Collins' dealing w/the Civil War. ;)
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I was totally opposed originally to the idea of a remake, but Alec Newman's performance as Barnabas in the 2004 pilot made me think that it could be fun IF it were done as a start-from-scratch exercise rather than a remake tout court.
Just my personal opinion, but I think we are in the final years of series television on the regular networks. I'll be surprised if ten years from now there are ANY drama series in production for the Big 3 (or is it now the Big 4--or 5??). I would guess that HBO and Showtime and a couple of those other networks would be able to keep things going because of how they are structured. A series of DS movies similar to the Donald Strachey movies on the "here" network might be fun. Again, that would underline the difference between this version and the classic show which was a daily serial and had some of the leisurely rhythms of old Victorian storytelling in its pace.
None of my opinions matter but you did ask. I do feel incredibly fortunate that we have the entire series (minus the one lost episode), and that it has not only survived but even been released on VHS and DVD! That seems truly miraculous.
G.
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Dom-- I was thinking that maybe you only got a partial screening, and Buzz confirmed that thought for me. Thanks Buzz!
Re: The 04 Ending...
If they had've cut out the last, oh, I don't know, 20 seconds of screaming, it would've been just fine. ;)
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Re: The 04 Ending...
If they had've cut out the last, oh, I don't know, 20 seconds of screaming, it would've been just fine. ;)
Agreed, her screaming ONCE at Victoria would have been the perfect ending. ;)
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Thanks Buzz & Brandon for confirming my suspicions. It's always nice to get an answer to a question asked. Now I will make it my life's mission (lol) to see the full pilot. I hope there is a gathering this year and I hope it is shown and I hope I can make it.
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If they had've cut out the last, oh, I don't know, 20 seconds of screaming, it would've been just fine. ;)
There was a second cut of the episode they produced where they did cut that part down to the bone. One scream, and a quick fade to black with the 'Exec producers' credit. Only shown internally though.
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Well, Darren, if the cut down version was what was shown to the WB, then BOO TO THEM for not picking it up. It was fine everywhere else. Fast pace, quickly introduced characters, and set up the beginnings of (what looked like anyway) an interesting storyline.
BOO I SAY!
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I would like to see a Dark Shadows the Next Generation with the same 5 day a week half hour format as the original. It would have both original DS actors plaing thieir original parts. aNd Young Actors playingthe Next Generation on the Collins Family (Carolyn and David's children) and Maggie's Children.
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I had mixed feelings about the '04 series. I was excited and interested to see how it would turn out if picked up, but I was kind of dreading a new DS being a big hit with the kiddos (DS gear selling at Hot Topic, having to constantly explain "Yeah, I dig the original DS, not too keen on the new one though...etc" )
But if it meant that a succesful new DS would get Mr Gross's DS theatrical film restorations in the can and out on DVD, I'd be all for it.
edit* - I think the next generation idea is a great one.
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Welcome Taeylor! I agree with those who said they'd like to see DS: The Next Generation. Rehashing what was already done wouldn't do it for me. As a kid who grew up with DS (I watched it from the very first episode when it first aired), I think I'd always have that series in the back of my mind. I did watch the '91 remake and thought it was well done, but it never really grabbed me. I also saw the pilot for the WB proposed remake in Tarrytown and Brooklyn. The pilot had its good and bad moments, but it was clearly rough, which we all were told before viewing it. It's a pity that fell by the wayside. However, getting back to a new generation, that would be much more exciting. Remember, Star Trek did it quite successfully, and I loved their Next Generation series.
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Thank everyone for all the nice invites. This board seems cool. I have nothing against fandom but haven't been active in it for a while. I have heard some things are political in fandom and at the fest's but I don't know if it's just hearsay. I was just saying the same thing Brandon said. I was telling my bro I thought since DC had passed...a new show may go....Who knows? I would love it!
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A new DS would bring new viewers to the original and keep the franchise going for years to come, which would be a good thing.
But it is time to move forward, as the audio dramas are doing.
Perhaps a next generation of the Collins family could include flashbacks not only to time periods not previously covered, but also to 1840 and the 1960s to tie up
loose ends from the original.
Characters would have to be recast for any such flashbacks, but I'm OK with that.
David
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I'm very happy that the audio tapes are now available! Having some of the original cast do the characters they did on the series is a special gift to the DS fans. It's good to know the stories are continuing in modern day and not rehashing old stories. I believe the stories are written by a few DS fans, right?
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To answer your question, Jackie, yes and no. Or should it be yes? Well, you decide.
The first CD, "The House of Dispair" was written by Stuart Manning, who runs the www.collinwood.net website (which is awesome btw), and if I remember correctly has been a fan for about 10 years or so? Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong there.
The next two, "The Book of Temptation" and "The Christmas Preseance" were written by Scott Handcock, who was introduced to the show by Stuart and became a fan before writing the scripts, or, to be more precise, he got into to get some background to writing the scripts and then perhaps became a fan? Hmm. I don't know.
The last CD, "The Rage Beneath" was written by Scott Alan Woodward. I don't know his story. Maybe if Stuart of Scott H. are lurking around here somewhere they can help clear up anything I may have gotten wrong.
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I vote a perpetual NO! Dark Shadows is what it was. Long live the memories and continued viewing.
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Nothing's ever going to replace the original. Nobody will ever recapture the first fine careless rapture. (A favorite phrase from Browning - too good for me to let it go unattributed.) I could get interested in a new Dark Shadows. Unlike most people here, I could even get seriously interested in a rehash of the same old stories because I like seeing variations on a theme. (The King Arthur legends are fun that way.) But it would never be anything more than a very distant cousin to the original.
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There was a series of comic books released that tied into the 1991 remake . In them there's a scene with Roger talking to Elizabeth about Vicky being her daughter .
I wish they'd release the 2004 DS pilot on dvd , just so we can see it , those of us who can't get to the festivals.