"V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09

[Deftones]

so just finished it. liked it. i do find it mildly amusing that there's such an uprising already after the V's had only been there a few weeks (I think 3). Also amusing that FBI and preacher would hook up to help the uprising. Seems like such a bizarre pairing.

[funkyryno]

Originally Posted by Deftones

so just finished it. liked it. i do find it mildly amusing that there's such an uprising already after the V's had only been there a few weeks (I think 3). Also amusing that FBI and preacher would hook up to help the uprising. Seems like such a bizarre pairing.

The guy who was leading the meeting said the V had been infiltrating society for decades. I'm guessing some humans found out the truth, and the resistance started long before the Visitors' official arrival.

[Dr. DVD]

Q: weren't they checking people to see if they were Visitors at the meeting by cutting them? How did Morris Chestnutt's character get by, and how come we never saw Elizabeth Mitchell with a bandage on her head afterward (as she was told she was next for testing)? Those were some pretty nasty cuts!

[gmanca]

Not sure about Mitchell not having a band-aid, but Morris Chestnutt's character came in after the cutting, with all the other Visitors.

[Deftones]

Originally Posted by funkyryno

The guy who was leading the meeting said the V had been infiltrating society for decades. I'm guessing some humans found out the truth, and the resistance started long before the Visitors' official arrival.

Ahhh. Ok, that makes a ton more sense. Must've missed that. Seems far more believable that there'd be a resistance than just after 3 weeks.

[GizmoDVD]

Originally Posted by Michael Corvin

She's 39.

She was probably the same age on Lost last season as well and looked really good. It's like she aged 10 years over the summer.

[Chew]

My Green Bay affiliate has been running a locally produced Packers discussion show during the 7:00 (CST) hour for it's entire run of 5 years, no matter how popular the ABC show may be. That show is usually aired instead at 11:05 the same evening.

For the pilot of V, they've had a note over all advertisements stating the pilot would be played at 11:05 on Saturday.

Today, they announced the Packers show would be cut to 30 minutes for the rest of November and aired at 6:30 instead so that V can air as scheduled.

They must of heard an earful.

Of course, the pilot is still on for Saturday.

[Deftones]

i don't see how a local affiliate could be so stupid as to want to air something other than national programming. they must not like money.

[DJariya]

For anyone who missed it and doesn't want to wait until it comes on Hulu and ABC.com on Saturday. V is available for free on Amazon video on demand. It's in SD and HD.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_2_...abc&sprefix=v+

[Jason]

Originally Posted by Deftones

i don't see how a local affiliate could be so stupid as to want to air something other than national programming. they must not like money.

you must not live in a football town. I'm surprised there's anything on pittsburgh TV other than stiller shit from august through january.

[Chew]

Originally Posted by DJariya

For anyone who missed it and doesn't want to wait until it comes on Hulu and ABC.com on Saturday. V is available for free on Amazon video on demand. It's in SD and HD.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_2_...abc&sprefix=v+

Which is available through my Tivo. Cool

The picture they display on my TiVo screen is from the original, as is the description. Hmmmm. But, the download is correct.

Thanks, DJariya!

[mikehunt]

not sure on this
was definitely a bit rushed, especially for something planned as a series and not a miniseries

[Giantrobo]

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

And the crazy conspiracy theories ("the aliens are causing it all!" ) angle was amusing too. Like we didn't always have lots of problems through human history... Just because crazy cult leader guy says the aliens are causing all of the world's problems doesn't mean it will actually turn out that is the case.

Buuuutttt, apparently in this case...

[Josh-da-man]

Originally Posted by GizmoDVD

She was probably the same age on Lost last season as well and looked really good. It's like she aged 10 years over the summer.

It's probably from all of the radiation she absorbed from Jughead.

[starman9000]

Looks like the ratings were pretty good for this first episode:

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/11/04...orgotten/32634

V rose in the national finals to a 5.2 /14 adults 18-49 rating/share and 14.3 million viewers. It was the first time an ABC scripted show had beat an original airing of NCIS (4.3/11) in over five years (since 10/5/04). The numbers increased in each half hour (5.0/14 to 5.3/14) with adults 18-49 and also with viewers (14.1 million to 14.5 million).

[Chew]

Enjoyed it

I'm happy a lot of the little elements from the original were still retained: the youth peace corps, the Visitors claiming to want water, dozens of ships over the major world cities, manipulating the media, etc.

Hopefully, a series can be maintained though.

[paradicelost]

Originally Posted by DGibFen

There is a difference between the intent of the shattering Jesus crucifix in V and the intent of the urine-splashed Jesus painting in CYE. The crucifix played into the rest of the show, and helped to paint an overall picture (sorry for the punnish comparison) of how indeed the aliens have taken over all things on the earth - even devotion (that could be considered religious), as the Mitchell character later stated to the priest. There is, in a sense, a purposeful execution of the symbolic idea. I am sure there will be some that will take some offense; personally, I don't in this case.

Mind you, the idea that a painting of Jesus is crying is taken as a sign from God - as well as other "miracles" that have occurred such as Mary in mold, in a chip, etc. - is foolish in its own right. But the CYE gag is quite crude in execution. What person would have a picture of Jesus next to a toilet in a restroom, knowing that there would be the potential for (accidental or intended) defacement by urination/defecation? (A less than thoughtful one, I assume.) But following that up with the eventual revelation that David did urinate - if by means of "splashback" - on the picture, leading the mother to contemplate suicide, adds another layer of insult to a Christian viewer. Of course, CYE has never been consistent with good taste and restraint in its seven seasons, and that joke would fit in with the larger idea that Larry is basically a selfish idiot. I think the joke would have not been so offensive - and therefore, not have gained as much attention - had it been, say, saliva flying out of his mouth when he accidentally tripped over something.

It's the implied intent of meaning within each sequence, if I can manage to wrap this up, that differentiates why similar-esque situations in V and CYE could be viewed in a positive or negative light, depending on the viewer.

I agree.
I also found it somewhat symbolic because many Christian Scholars dismiss aliens because the bible is pretty clear about Jesus dying for all of mankind's sins. If aliens were out there then God clearly would have known about it and Jesus would have had to die more than just one death(something like that its been awhile since i've read it). The young priest even mentions something similar to this belief to the older priest. And the Cross doesn't just fall, it shatters. So when the alien ships first appear our idea of Jesus and his death are somewhat shattered. Plus like the above quoted post, the Visitors represent a new messiah(savior) that requires our devotion, Jesus is no longer needed. That was my take on it anyway.

[JuryDuty]

Originally Posted by paradicelost

I agree.
I also found it somewhat symbolic because many Christian Scholars dismiss aliens because the bible is pretty clear about Jesus dying for all of mankind's sins. If aliens were out there then God clearly would have known about it and Jesus would have had to die more than just one death(something like that its been awhile since i've read it). The young priest even mentions something similar to this belief to the older priest. And the Cross doesn't just fall, it shatters. So when the alien ships first appear our idea of Jesus and his death are somewhat shattered. Plus like the above quoted post, the Visitors represent a new messiah(savior) that requires our devotion, Jesus is no longer needed. That was my take on it anyway.

I also agree for these reasons. I didn't take offense at the crucifix shattering. It was a bit shocking, but I realized this was clearly a metaphor for what was happening when the Visitor's arrived. And this was confirmed through the priest's conversations through the rest of the show. I like the layer of religious questions arising because of the aliens arising. It makes for some thought-provoking TV.

The stuff you mention on CYE on the other hand (which I haven't seen) just sounds a bit tasteless and offensive.

[dave-o]

Watched it last night...some thoughts:

-When did Scott Wolf morph into Michael J. Fox? (and yes I am going to hell, b/c upon seeing him I said to my gf, "hey look, the Visitors must have a cure for Parkinson's")...

-Great special effects, absolutely horrendous dialogue and writing...hopefully that improves. There were just too many times that I laughed at a line when it was not intended to illicit laughter.

-Why does every show have to have an annoying teenager in it? Why oh why?

-Loved Alan Tudyk and Mitchell, thought Wolf was quite unconvincing as a journalist (it's like he didn't even make an effort to prepare by at least developing a good "tv anchor voice"...)

-I will watch it again b/c I am a sucker for sci-fi. even bad sci-fi...but if the writing and character chemistry doesn't improve soon, I will probably drop it...

[clckworang]

Originally Posted by Chew

My Green Bay affiliate has been running a locally produced Packers discussion show during the 7:00 (CST) hour for it's entire run of 5 years, no matter how popular the ABC show may be. That show is usually aired instead at 11:05 the same evening.

For the pilot of V, they've had a note over all advertisements stating the pilot would be played at 11:05 on Saturday.

Today, they announced the Packers show would be cut to 30 minutes for the rest of November and aired at 6:30 instead so that V can air as scheduled.

They must of heard an earful.

Of course, the pilot is still on for Saturday.

Consider yourself lucky. Whenever our local ABC affiliate preempts something for local programming, they NEVER show what they preempted, no matter what the show is. I called one time to ask if they were going to air the eps that weren't shown and I was told that ABC wouldn't let them air it any other time besides primetime. Right ...

Originally Posted by JuryDuty

The stuff you mention on CYE on the other hand (which I haven't seen) just sounds a bit tasteless and offensive.

And if by tasteless and offensive you also mean hilarious, then you would be right.

[JuryDuty]

Originally Posted by clckworang

And if by tasteless and offensive you also mean hilarious, then you would be right.

LOL well, I guess that's my point. I don't think V was trying to be tasteless and offensive. They were trying to create a metaphor. CYE on the other has WAS going for a laugh, even if some people might find it tasteless and offensive, so the two really can't be compared.

[JuryDuty]

Ken Johnson's thoughts on calling the Visitors "V's": (via Ilana's V Page)

"V has absolutely no connection to the word Visitors.

V is and always has been the universal symbol of Resistance against Tyranny.

I got idea for using V as the title for my original miniseries from seeing Winston Churchill holding up his two fingers as a V in the darkest days of World War II -- and from seeing so many Nazi propaganda posters with a big red V slashed across them.

Leonardo Cimino even states it loud and clear in my original as he says to some teenagers spraying graffiti, "No! -- If you are going to do it, do it right! I'll show you!" -- He takes the boy's hand and guides the spray paint onto a Visitor propaganda poster into a big red V.

"You understand?" he says -- very loud and clear -- "For Victory! -- Go tell your friends!"

Anyone who ever paid an ounce of attention to my original -- or to history -- certainly knows that.

Calling the Visitors "The V's" is pretty silly and not only totally misses the entire point in an effort to sound pseudo-hip, but denigrates the efforts of millions of Resistance fighters, many of whom died heroically in their determination to win and preserve freedom."

Also, change at the top (Variety):

"Just as viewers got their first peek at new sci-fi drama "V" on Tuesday, the show has undergone a change at the top.

Scott Rosenbaum has been named showrunner-exec producer of "V," replacing Scott Peters, who will continue as an exec producer alongside Jace Hall. Also out in the shuffle is exec producer Jeff Bell, who has departed the show.

As part of the change, Rosenbaum has sealed a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with Warner Bros. TV, the studio behind "V."

Change is the latest hiccup in the early run of "V," which has scored rave reviews but halted production after the show's initial four episodes. Series, which bows Tuesday night, returns in the spring with the nine remaining segments of its initial 13-episode run.

Rosenbaum's credits include serving as an exec producer on "The Shield" and "Chuck."

He's repped by UTA."

[Red Dog]

I always thought "V" in the original was meant to refer to both The Visitors and Victory. Otherwise, why did he write them through the whole miniseries (and his own sequel book) as "The Visitors" and not by what their home planet is?

[clckworang]

^ Yeah, I don't see much of a problem with the people on the show calling the visitors "Vs." I mean, we live in a time where a network changed its name to SyFy and people will actually say lol and other Internet abbreviations, not just type it.

[DJariya]

I think that is a little bit of an overreaction by Johnson about the the term. I think the letter V could definitely have an open interpretation of Victory or Visitors. Considering this is a re-telling/update of his work from 25+ years ago, I don't know why he would be bothered by that.

Personally, I want to know if he even bothered watching the Pilot. I met him at a Comic Convention once 1 year ago and asked him if he watched the 3 Hulk TV movies and the old failed V: The Series and he said he never did.