No New "V" Mini-Series?
07-14-04 | 03:04 PM
#1
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DVD Talk Legend
No New "V" Mini-Series?
From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Okay fans - send your pleas for a new Mini-Series to the following:
Jeff Gaspin (note, two addresses for Jeff Gaspin)
President, NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Cross-Platform Strategy
900 Sylvan Avenue
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
3000 W. Alameda Avenue
Burbank, CA 91523
Jeff Zucker
President, NBC Universal TV Group
30 Rockefeller Center
New York City, NY
I'm going to try and get in contact with Ken Johnson to get "his side" of the story...I find it hard to believe he didn't come up with a good script - the man's a heck of a good writer.
A year ago NBC announced plans to develop a new three-hour TV movie based on the '80s sci-fi franchise "V," about alien lizards in human disguise that come to Earth. Then NBC decided it would be a four-hour miniseries. Now "V: The Second Generation" is in development limbo.
Jeff Gaspin, NBC's miniseries and movies chieftain, said there was not enough newness to the most recent miniseries draft by "V" creator Kenneth Johnson.
"I just don't think it was different enough from the original, frankly," Gaspin said. "It wasn't as innovative as the original. It felt like a good sequel if we'd done it immediately after [the original], but in the 20 years that other space operas have come and gone, it doesn't feel as fresh as it did 20 years ago."
Gaspin shopped the property to Sci Fi Channel, which now shares ownership with NBC following the NBC-Universal merger, but executives there were not interested in the "V" revival in its current script form either. Gaspin's not giving up yet, hoping Johnson will develop a whole new story.
"I would like to do something with that property," he said. "I think there are other chances and better options."
Jeff Gaspin, NBC's miniseries and movies chieftain, said there was not enough newness to the most recent miniseries draft by "V" creator Kenneth Johnson.
"I just don't think it was different enough from the original, frankly," Gaspin said. "It wasn't as innovative as the original. It felt like a good sequel if we'd done it immediately after [the original], but in the 20 years that other space operas have come and gone, it doesn't feel as fresh as it did 20 years ago."
Gaspin shopped the property to Sci Fi Channel, which now shares ownership with NBC following the NBC-Universal merger, but executives there were not interested in the "V" revival in its current script form either. Gaspin's not giving up yet, hoping Johnson will develop a whole new story.
"I would like to do something with that property," he said. "I think there are other chances and better options."
Jeff Gaspin (note, two addresses for Jeff Gaspin)
President, NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Cross-Platform Strategy
900 Sylvan Avenue
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
3000 W. Alameda Avenue
Burbank, CA 91523
Jeff Zucker
President, NBC Universal TV Group
30 Rockefeller Center
New York City, NY
I'm going to try and get in contact with Ken Johnson to get "his side" of the story...I find it hard to believe he didn't come up with a good script - the man's a heck of a good writer.
07-14-04 | 03:32 PM
#3
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DVD Talk Legend
"I would like to do something with that property," he said. "I think there are other chances and better options."
I won't speculate any more until I hear back from Ken...
If anyone knows the e-mails for Gaspin and Zucker, please post them...I could only find mailing addresses on them.
07-14-04 | 07:09 PM
#5
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DVD Talk Legend
Got this short reply from Ken tonight:
We're still awaiting a status report from NBC.
07-15-04 | 09:48 AM
#8
DVD Talk Legend
"I just don't think it was different enough from the original, frankly," Gaspin said. "It wasn't as innovative as the original. It felt like a good sequel if we'd done it immediately after [the original], but in the 20 years that other space operas have come and gone, it doesn't feel as fresh as it did 20 years ago."
The only way I can translate this is "We know that V is really popular, but we just want to use the name V, but we don't really want V". (See Enterprise and Battlestar Galactica for recent examples.)
Idiots.
07-15-04 | 10:25 AM
#10
DVD Talk Limited Edition
I say put it on Sci-Fi. NBC just doesn't seem to be the place to show it.
I am surprised at the people saying they look forward to it. Normally it is a whine fest of people yelling "leave the origonal alone". "no origonal ideas" or "they are raping my childhood".
I am surprised at the people saying they look forward to it. Normally it is a whine fest of people yelling "leave the origonal alone". "no origonal ideas" or "they are raping my childhood".
07-15-04 | 10:33 AM
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From: Directionally Challenged (for DirecTV)
Originally posted by resinrats
I say put it on Sci-Fi. NBC just doesn't seem to be the place to show it.
I am surprised at the people saying they look forward to it. Normally it is a whine fest of people yelling "leave the origonal alone". "no origonal ideas" or "they are raping my childhood".
I say put it on Sci-Fi. NBC just doesn't seem to be the place to show it.
I am surprised at the people saying they look forward to it. Normally it is a whine fest of people yelling "leave the origonal alone". "no origonal ideas" or "they are raping my childhood".
I think the fact that the series was so lacking and how KJ is back at the controls, fans are salivating over the possibilities.
07-15-04 | 10:33 AM
#12
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by resinrats
I am surprised at the people saying they look forward to it. Normally it is a whine fest of people yelling "leave the origonal alone". "no origonal ideas" or "they are raping my childhood".
I am surprised at the people saying they look forward to it. Normally it is a whine fest of people yelling "leave the origonal alone". "no origonal ideas" or "they are raping my childhood".
07-15-04 | 03:57 PM
#13
DVD Talk Legend
I think the idea was to pick up where the original mini-series from 1983 left off and totally ignor TFB and the series. Thank goodness!
Last I heard NBC execs really dug the script and asked Ken to expand it further. Doesn't make any sense for them to say we like it, do more, then suddenly decide they don't like it anymore. That extra hour he added must have sucked Donkey balls or something.
Last I heard NBC execs really dug the script and asked Ken to expand it further. Doesn't make any sense for them to say we like it, do more, then suddenly decide they don't like it anymore. That extra hour he added must have sucked Donkey balls or something.
07-16-04 | 08:08 PM
#15
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
I interviewed Marc Singer last month, and he talked about the new V miniseries. The interviews here for anyone who's interested:
http://www.ugo.com/channels/filmtv/features/marcsinger/
There are some hilarious sections. He's quite a hippie, actually. I asked him why Fantasy Entertainment is making a resurgence, and he said it's because we're running out of land on the Earth.
http://www.ugo.com/channels/filmtv/features/marcsinger/
There are some hilarious sections. He's quite a hippie, actually. I asked him why Fantasy Entertainment is making a resurgence, and he said it's because we're running out of land on the Earth.
07-19-04 | 09:31 PM
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From: Orlando, FL
From Ilana's V site... she keeps in touch with Ken Johnson.
Here's what Ken had to say on July 15th....
"Over the years there have been thousands of examples of television network or film studio executives not being in sync with the vision of a project's creator.
Currently I'm in that situation with NBC regarding V. I'm awaiting a definitive meeting with them to discuss the various options. After that, I, my co-executive producer Rob Lee, and my friends at Warners will determine how we want to proceed."
Here's what Ken had to say on July 15th....
"Over the years there have been thousands of examples of television network or film studio executives not being in sync with the vision of a project's creator.
Currently I'm in that situation with NBC regarding V. I'm awaiting a definitive meeting with them to discuss the various options. After that, I, my co-executive producer Rob Lee, and my friends at Warners will determine how we want to proceed."
07-20-04 | 06:57 PM
#19
DVD Talk Limited Edition
This news is disappointing and Sci Fi passed too. Bummer.
I wouldn't be surprised. Just look at the TV Show. It was horrible.
I am surprised with the sucess of Taken and now 4400 that they aren't going ahead with this.
This sounds to me like Gaspin wants the property, he just doesn't want the creator involved with it. In other words, he wants to do a cheap and fast version of "V" rather than (most likely) the epic script that Johnson turned in.
I am surprised with the sucess of Taken and now 4400 that they aren't going ahead with this.
07-20-04 | 10:03 PM
#20
DVD Talk Hero
Re: No New "V" Mini-Series?
Originally posted by Shannon Nutt
From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Okay fans - send your pleas for a new Mini-Series to the following:
From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Okay fans - send your pleas for a new Mini-Series to the following:
WHY!?!?! For once, a network doesn't want to make a crap rehash of a once very good, original show just for money's sake. What on earth would you want them to pursue it for? Just to have it? Come on.
07-21-04 | 10:06 AM
#21
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DVD Talk Legend
Re: Re: No New "V" Mini-Series?
Originally posted by DVD Josh
WHY!?!?! For once, a network doesn't want to make a crap rehash of a once very good, original show just for money's sake. What on earth would you want them to pursue it for? Just to have it? Come on.
WHY!?!?! For once, a network doesn't want to make a crap rehash of a once very good, original show just for money's sake. What on earth would you want them to pursue it for? Just to have it? Come on.
07-21-04 | 10:35 AM
#22
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Considering how NBC took away V from Johnson the first time and made that god awful follow-up miniseries and subsequent TV show, they are in no position to say what is good or bad from Johnson. His absence was sorely felt.
Johnson has been always very good at social commentary with his other works and all that was tossed out after the original miniseries. I'd really like to see what happens to the characters in the follow-up.
Johnson has been always very good at social commentary with his other works and all that was tossed out after the original miniseries. I'd really like to see what happens to the characters in the follow-up.
07-21-04 | 11:41 AM
#23
DVD Talk Limited Edition
WHY!?!?! For once, a network doesn't want to make a crap rehash of a once very good, original show just for money's sake. What on earth would you want them to pursue it for? Just to have it? Come on.
Battlestar Galactica (TV): BSG 3000 reports that now that Universal is owned by NBC, it seems the network is rumoured to be considering airing the BSG miniseries this Fall before the series premieres on Sci-Fi in January of 2005. Apparently, NBC is very pleased with the miniseries and wants to expose its viewers to the production.
Last edited by riley_dude; 07-21-04 at 02:07 PM.
