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.

And the Youtube link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1ss-NGpudo

I always love it when Angelique summons one of her victims and that delicious music plays... "Let the wind carry my voice to you..."

G.

And for any who need it, watch the episode which begins with a lovely intro recited by Grayson Hall, here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfB7Elmh5hA

It always seems strange to me whenever the script has people referring to Angelique as a "girl."  It's bad taste to refer to a woman's age in public, but when this show was aired, 30 was but a memory for the beautiful woman who incarnated Our Favorite Witch.

G.

Did she get much screen time?  I don't recall the character at all.  Of course it was, what, seven years ago that I had the one viewing of the thing...

G.

Judah Zachery was supposed to have had a coven.  I think it met in Bedford Maine.  I remember Julia pronounced coven with a long o like the word "cove" with an n attached.

During the Gerard storyline in 1840 there was talk of Judah's coven being revived.  The lawyer character played by Humbert was supposed to be a surviving descendant member of the original Bradford coven, I believe.

It was kind of amusing how every time a lawyer appeared on DS, he seemingly turned out to be a devil-worshipper of some kind or other...

The original concept for Angelique was that she had learned some herbal lore and spellcraft, presumably from her mother; she was a type of what today would be called a Hedge Witch, solitary apart from any family members who might have instructed her.  It wasn't until she showed up in 1968 that we began to get all the frou-frou about the Devil, presumably as a result of ROSEMARY'S BABY.

G.

For those who need it, the episode can be viewed here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbMCVyMqil0

I LUV Grayson's chic grey suit... exquisite... did she wear it in any other episode?

"I don't know if I can go through with this ... madness."  I wonder sometimes if cast members quoted that line at one another sometimes in rehearsal.

G.

Yeah, pretty limp stew.  I can imagine Alex going through the motions and at the end of the day thinking, "you really need to find a better way of spending your time, girl."

and I'm a huge fan of the 1968 storyline.  But this...

The writing for Angelique is so awful, too.  IMO the audience should always feel an air of menace or potential threat when Angelique is onscreen. Here she sounds like a petulant parlor-maid.  Not good.

G.

I saw the news about the renewal and smiled, then heard that only 13 episodes were ordered for the first season, and my smile faded.

I wouldn't be surprised though if shorter seasons become the norm.  It may be a strategy for the survival of drama (and other) series on television in today's market.

I was really surpised years ago when I got hold of an ADDAMS FAMILY episode guide (from the classic 1964-66 series) and saw that there were something like 30 episodes per season.  Then a few years later I was going through a Peter Gunn episode guide and learned that in 1958-59, around 36 episodes was "a season."

Times have certainly changed!  Aren't you glad! 

(and I'll just comment that watching Sleepy Hollow on iTunes on an a la carte basis is WAY preferable to watching a "free" broadcast laden with pop-ups, banners, studio logos, and INCESSANT commercial "breaks".

G.