...
the chapter is actually quite praiseworthy of the show itself.it comments on strong writing and specifically the performances of johnathan,nancy,kathryn and lara.
what exactly happened during that time? ~DJ
(i get the feeling mr.hofstede might be a fan). ;)
I still don't get that leviathan storyline... what exactly happened during that time? ~DJ
(i.e., he gave MPI Volumes 67 & 68 only 2 stars respectively - the "Tom Jennings luvs Julia Hoffman but Barnabas won't have it" segments. Grrrr! They deserved 3 stars, just for the presence of Briscoe).
when i posted this i had no idea that mr.hofstede had any other history with the show.i thought it was just a random thing.
so he wrote a book reviewing the show?he's quite funny,i'd be interested to read it.does anyone know where it can be purchased(other than at the fest)?
Here's an amusing excerpt from "The Dark Shadows Collector's Series" by David Hofstede that I bet will forever alter how you view a certain scene:
... "What is it, Josette?" "David's in trouble?" "Is that what you're trying to tell me?" says a desperate Vicki, who sounds like she's in an episode of Lassie. "What is it, girl? Timmy's trapped in the well?" "Arf! Arf" As a result, one of the pivotal scenes in the phoenix storyline becomes unintentionally funny.[/i]
Nothing even remotely worthy of being included among the dumbest things ever done on television.
It was a loopy dip into the waters of Lovecraftian Sci Fi that never should have happened.....but did.
As is well known, I'm a fan of the Leviathans story. Despite the nay-sayers, I continue to maintain that it had some of the best episodes of the series--or at least some of the best scenes. Frid's performance is tight as a drum, the character of Julia is better used than she had been since '67, they bring back Nicholas Blair, Leviathan Liz actually brings some zest back to a character that had been reduced to a sham of her former glory, etc. etc.
I hope he did at least mention the Anna Nicole Show. That terrorized me more than 5 years of DS ever did!
If Mr. Hofstede thinks all this is one of the "dumbest" things in US television history, he ought to take a cruise through the serried ranks of today's "reality" programming. I hope he did at least mention the Anna Nicole Show. That terrorized me more than 5 years of DS ever did!
i think Frid not wanting to be Barnabas anymore cost that show more than any storyline!
I had no idea JF didn't want to play Barnabas, anymore.
Isn't it obvious?.... Barnabas would have gone from Dracula to Sherlock Holmes.LOL but that might have worked Rainey ;)
Can't you just picture him, with Julia as his "Dr. Watson".....solving mysteries all over Collinwood?
Well, minus the cocaince habit ...... ::)
I still don't get that leviathan storyline... what exactly happened during that time? ~DJThat's precisely what those of us who've actually seen it wonder. ;D
I couldn't summarize it if my life depended on it.
Well, minus the cocaince habit ...... ::)
I had no idea JF didn't want to play Barnabas, anymore. That's what it would have been like if Heather Locklear had refused to play Amanda on Melrose Place while it was in its prime. That's one surefire way to send a show careening down the toilet. ~DJ
The Leviathan story should have been a lot more interesting than it was. Jonathan Frid, for instance, was turning in his best performances in ages, the stuff with the kid is deeply creepy, and some of the long-term links with 1897 were fascinating, particularly Julia tracking down Tate.
Problem is, we don't really get that story. It starts, then the writers seem to lose confidence, and begin wildly changing track, with the result being a very random bunch of half-stories that don't really deliver what the early episodes promise.
I think also the writers didn't do much to ease the transition after spending *way* too long in 1897. The show had hit its peak viewing figures during that time, so there were segments of the audience who had never experienced DS in the present day. They make very few concessions for the casual audience - after nine months away, they really needed to restart the present day story afresh and reintroduce the characters properly.
Pity - it was a nice opportunity to get back-to-basics and try a fresh angle. It could have worked great with some subtle tweaks and a little more long-term investment.
(an excerpt from her soon to be published study FIGURING FRID) j/k [crowdhappy]
(an excerpt from her soon to be published study FIGURING FRID) j/k [crowdhappy]
Are you REALLY writing a book? That is way cool, Nancy. I want to read it!
JK => Just Kidding
JK => Just Kidding
Are you REALLY writing a book? That is way cool, Nancy. I want to read it!
There's a really good (and quite positive) essay about the Leviathan storyline here...
It WAS the '70's afterall. Had the show continued for a few more years this could have segued into the fabled DS Disco period quite well I think.
love that picture can't you just see them dancing to More than a Woman next!!
jennifer
next they could have done Urban cowboy!
Well, many thanks for posting that link. I wrote that article years ago for what was supposed to have been a special Leviathans issue of Shadows of the Night print fanzine, and had not a clue that it had found its way to that website, since the editor stopped replying to my emails shortly after I submitted the article to him.
As is well known, I'm a fan of the Leviathans story. Despite the nay-sayers, I continue to maintain that it had some of the best episodes of the series--or at least some of the best scenes. Frid's performance is tight as a drum, the character of Julia is better used than she had been since '67, they bring back Nicholas Blair, Leviathan Liz actually brings some zest back to a character that had been reduced to a sham of her former glory, etc. etc.
Good heavens, no! :o
Besides, I would call such a book "The Amazing, Disappearing Frid: The Greta Garbo of Dark Shadows" ;D
Nothing even remotely worthy of being included among the dumbest things ever done on television. /it was a loopy dip into the waters of Lovecraftian Sci Fi that never should have happened.....but did. Eventually someone at DS woke up, looked around, and said "What the hell....?"....and it all went away again.
As is well known, I'm a fan of the Leviathans story. Despite the nay-sayers, I continue to maintain that it had some of the best episodes of the series--or at least some of the best scenes. Frid's performance is tight as a drum, the character of Julia is better used than she had been since '67, they bring back Nicholas Blair, Leviathan Liz actually brings some zest back to a character that had been reduced to a sham of her former glory, etc. etc.
I admit I didn't get into the Leviathan storyline as a child, but now as an adult I find it very entertaining. [spoiler]It sort of reminds me of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the characters we have gotten to know and love (such as Barnabas, Elizabeth, David) are turned into cold, unfeeling, almost zombie like. And of course we have the non-Leviathan heroes (such as Julia, Chris, Quentin and Barnabas once he broke out of his Leviathan
shell) determined to save the day.[/spoiler]
I have also found that the 1840 and 1841 PT storylines weren't as bad as others have said. Not saying they didn't have flaws, but still I found much to enjoy about them. And as much as I love Barnabas I can't really blame Jonathan for wanting to play another character. After all just about everyone else on the show got a chance to play another character so why shouldn't he?