I was wondering if I'd been the only one to think it was kind of icky when Carolyn was talking of Roger as if he were Bobby Sherman or something.  However it does work, seeing as how the Collins family was never very normal.  The really put the 'funk' into dysfunctional.  (sorry, bad, but couldn't resist)

Really appreciated your pointing out how Vicki never seems to sleep.  Even in these early episodes, way pre-Barnabas, everything important at Collinwood seems to happen in the middle of the night.

Such a bittersweet tribute to a man who probably never fully realized in life how much pleasure he'd given to those of us who knew his work on Dark Shadows.  He will be missed.

Thanks, MB.

Wow, these pics really make me sad that the new version will never see the light of day.  Everyone looks perfect for the characters they're playing, esp. since it's an updating of the original.

And I'm with whoever it was that mentioned how attractive the original cast was - Alex Moltke was a raving beauty, as were KLS, Lara Parker, Kate Jackson and several of the other women.  While some of the gents might not have been the stunners that Briscoe, Selby and yummy Jerry Lacy were, they weren't too shabby either.  Jonathan Frid's voice alone gives me shivers...

  I find the Vicki's trial sequences and Vicki/Peter romance to be among the most snooze-worthy moments in DS history. 

Totally in agreement with you on this, Gothick!  Although 1795/96 overall is just magic, the trial and the romance are sooooo boring.  But then the other time travel (1897, 1840) sequences suffer from the same problem.  They start off with a bunch of really great and interesting ideas, but once they've peaked they just kind of peter (pun intended) out.

I have also kind of wondered why the Countess stayed on so long.  Particularly after Josette's death, there doesn't seem to be any purpose to her being there.  Perhaps like her lookalike Dr. Julia Hoffman, she's the house guest that just never leaves.

And just what the hell happened to Andre DuPres?  He wasn't even around much after the wedding got cancelled.  I certainly don't remember seeing him any time immediately prior to or after Josette's header off Widow's Hill.

It IS very strange that with all the deaths at Collinwood, nobody seems to be in mourning for more than an episode or two.  Seems totally inappropriate for a rich family of the time.

I think that part of the reason nobody from later generations ever thought it was weird that so many family members died so close together was that Joshua rewrote the family history so that posterity wouldn't see how freakish the events of that time appeared. 

With Millicent gone nuts, Daniel only a child and Ben slavishly devoted to the good memory of "Mr. Barnabas," there pretty much wasn't anybody around to contradict Joshua's version of events.  If you'll remember, Naomi's headstone claims a much later date of death for her than 1796, as it must have been.

Makes you wonder how much of what we learn about history has a similar subjective spin on events.

It's too bad that other Angel fans have to be so vindictive about Dark Shadows.  You have to remember that a large portion of the fanbase of Angel are teenagers, which (no offense), not exactly a group known for showing restraint about their dislikes.

Personally, I'm a big fan of both shows.  Even if the new Dark Shadows makes it to the air (yeah, right),    I simply don't understand how it is to blame for Angel's cancellation.  Isn't that the fault of the suits over at the WB?  And isn't that patently obvious to all?

Wonder what the Angel fans will have to say if they hear Dark Shadows wasn't picked up for the fall schedule.

- Cassandra Blair (who is only ever cheered up these days when she actually turns off the television.

I'm a big fan of Buffy and Angel, and of course you know how I feel about Dark Shadows!  Have to say I'm surprised there isn't a total overlap in the shows' fanbase - for those of you who haven't seen either of the 'Buffyverse' shows, give them a chance in syndication - they're really quite good, some of the best things that have ever been on television, IMO.

That being said, it's encouraging to hear from Kristin Veitch (of E! Online) that the WB suits think DS has "vast potential."  But it's also frustrating to learn that so many Angel fans are blaming DS for their show's cancellation.  I mean come on!  Even if it is true that Angel is being cancelled to make room for new shows, of which DS might be one, ultimately it's the network execs who are to blame for cancelling the show, yes?

My big worry is that the overcaffeinated Angel fans will start some kind "boycott Dark Shadows" campaign that will ruin the show's chances, should it make it on the fall lineup.  Maybe I'm being overly dramatic, but they're a pretty motivated (and persistent) group.  Wish I knew what to do to encourage those folks to give DS a try.  If the new show is anywhere near as fun and inventive as the original, it'd be right up their alley.  Maybe it's time to send another nice email to Kristin...

Stuart, I've seen Don Warrington in two or three episodes of Manchild, and I am more than inclined to agree with you.  He has the range, he has the gravitas, and his voice is perfect.  He would be a fabulous Professor T. Elliot Stokes, and if the opportunity arose, can you imagine what he could do with the parts of Ben Stokes or Count Petofi?!? 

Was just watching an episode with Carolyn Groves as Vicki last night.  She seemed to combine both the gentility of Moltke with Durkin's more forceful persona.  I think she'd have been quite good if she'd been allowed to continue as Vicki.  As for Durkin, IMO she'd probably have been a good Vicki if they decided to take the character to the darker side, as Moltke wanted them to do.  Any thoughts?