A few observations:

(1) You can't "save" a television program that's never even been on the air.  The network's decision was clearly part of a programmatic shift in the direction of material they perceive as being more where the market is moving now.  I doubt whether they did more than glance at the NWBDS pilot by the time it was finished since they had made these programmatic decisions separately from the process of generating the pilot.

(2)  Reality TV shows *are* scripted.  I imagine the writers who are getting jobs are the ones who (besides having the right personal connections--that's how H'wood has ALWAYS worked) are good at coming up with the situations/concepts that non-actors can parrot successfully.

(3)  Far from "dying" I think the Dark Shadows "franchise" is enjoying adequate success, given that we're talking about a television show that is nearly 40 years old (ugh, you don't know how old that makes me feel!).
Not only has the entire series been steadily in print on VHS format for the past decade. it is now enjoying a success on DVD to the point where MPI is accelerating the schedule for the release of the episodes.  The honoring of Dan Curtis at the TV Museum, the spate of articles around the pilot, and the fact that TV Guide is running a piece about the original series in a week or two, all shows a lot of health, as far as I can tell.  Of course I hardly have my finger on the pulse where today's entertainment scene is concerned.  I am afraid I do not have the stomach for that.

Let's hope we see the return of the original episodes to broadcast television in the near future.  I would think the events I have outlined above would be enough to show how "viable" (as we used to say in the 70s) the property still is.

G.

Wow, Darren, what a great project!  From the bottom of my dark little heart, I thank you!

I haven't seen ANY of the DVDs yet, though I am contemplating purchasing at least one set (the one with the Julia/Tom Jennings storyline).  That storyline included a notorious technical defect which appeared to originate in the master tape.  I believe it happened in the episode where Julia comes stumbling in like a wino at the tail end of a bender babbling about "Tom."  As I recall it, there's this shrill beep that lasts about 2 or 3 seconds at one point as the action is moving from the foyer into the drawing room.  I wondered whether that scene got snipped in the interests of "tidying up" the DVDs.  (sorry, I don't know the technical lingo)

I discussed this at one point with Richard Holt--there's a post from him buried in the archives about this scene, and how it originated in the master tape.  I think he may have checked with somebody at MPI about it.

That happens to be one of my favorite episodes, and I'll be upset if I learn that it now circulates in a trimmed version.

G.

Thanks for that, darling.

[spoiler]I thought that at this point in the game, the journo was being exceptionally kind in describing Boreanaz' character as a "youthful-looking 250-year-old vampire."  Tuning in occasionally this past year, I've been shocked at how worn-out DB has looked.  I hope everything is OK with his life and health.  I well remember the first time he showed on on BtVS and how charming and beautiful he was.  sigh.
[/spoiler]

Midnite darling, I am soooo THERE.

G.

Well, the birthday scenes were doing the Quentofi mind/body switch period (one of my favorite eras in DS--soooo deliciously loopy, and Selby had such fun playing the ruthless, hedonistic Quentofi), which makes it October rather than Sept. I believe.

The episode guide Ann Wilson compiled for the DS Memories book would have the definitive answer.

G.

Isn't Alec Newman Scots?  I think that explains why he "has the English accent down."

I did watch and I saw some of his work in the Dune thing.  I think he is very talented but I still cannot imagine him as Barnabas.  It sounds from the current buzz as if I'm not going to have the chance anytime soon, anyway.

Although the MB said one did not need to have watched Angel to "get" Newman's character, I'm afraid I still found his actions in the story an incomprehensible muddle.  He looked fabulous, though, especially when he was cleaned up.

Is Newman showing up again next week?  I'm afraid I have had all I can take of "Angel."

G.

Just curious--what is a Saturn award?

I've never heard of it before.

I am afraid that, in any case, I do not take awards and award shows very seriously.  There seems to be a high school varsity element in all of them...