Harper's Island -- New 13 week Mini-Series -- "Whap" -- 04/09/09
04-09-09, 02:31 AM
#1
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Harper's Island -- New 13 week Mini-Series -- "Whap" -- 04/09/09
Starring:
Elaine Cassidy
Katie Cassidy
Christopher Gorham (Ugly Betty)
Harry Hamlin (LA Law)
Richard Burgi (Desperate Housewives, 24, Nip/Tuck)
Premise:
HARPER'S ISLAND is about a group of family and friends who travel to a secluded island off the coast of Seattle for a destination wedding. This island is famous for a streak of unsolved murders from seven years ago. Although they've come to laugh and to love, what they don't know is they've also come... to die. As the wedding festivities begin, friendships are tested and secrets exposed as a murderer claims victims, one by one, transforming the wedding week of fun and celebration into a terrifying struggle for survival.
In every episode, someone is killed and every person is a suspect, from the wedding party to the island locals. By the end of the 13 episodes, all questions will be answered, the killer will be revealed and only a few will survive.
Synopsis for "Whap":
Spoiler:
Episode 1 was Directed by Jon Turteltaub
The Suspects/Victims:
http://www.cbs.com/primetime/harpers_island/bio/
I'm soooo fired up for this series. I love a good murder mystery and a good serial drama. It's good to know that this is a self-contained 13 week series with a start and end date.
Last edited by DJariya; 04-09-09 at 02:35 AM.
04-09-09, 07:24 AM
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Harper's Island -- New 13 week Mini-Series -- "Whap" -- 04/09/09
I'm a sucker for these kind of shows. Unfortunately I've been burned before. With that said, I am pumped for this, it has the potential to be a lot of fun.
04-09-09, 07:26 AM
#5
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Harper's Island -- New 13 week Mini-Series -- "Whap" -- 04/09/09
I'm intrigued, particularly since Katie Cassidy is in it. Jon Turteltaub directing this first episode doesn't exactly instill me with too much confidence, though.
04-09-09, 07:27 AM
#6
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Harper's Island -- New 13 week Mini-Series -- "Whap" -- 04/09/09
I am really looking forward to this. But this has a good chance to be awful. Lets hope not.
(yes, I'm admitting to watching Jake 2.0)
04-09-09, 09:27 AM
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Re: Harper's Island -- New 13 week Mini-Series -- "Whap" -- 04/09/09
Regardless, I will definitely be watching tonight trying to figure out who the killer is...I'm gonna have to keep a chart or something so I can remember who's dead, who is creepy and who is totally innocent.
04-09-09, 09:30 AM
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Re: Harper's Island -- New 13 week Mini-Series -- "Whap" -- 04/09/09
Oh good, looks like this is on at 10pm Eastern, so my DVR can catch it. My 9pm timeslot is already packed with Office/30 Rock and Supernatural. Looking forward to it!
04-09-09, 09:45 AM
#13
Re: Harper's Island -- New 13 week Mini-Series -- "Whap" -- 04/09/09
I haven't been following the buzz on this one at all, but I'm kind of excited. Even if I end up not caring for it, I hope this show is a big success. I love the idea of fixed run TV series. One of the things I like about TV is its ability to tell a story over a period of time longer than 2-3 hours. However, history has shown that if successful, TV shows tend to overstay their welcome and stretch things out too far. Imagine if Twin Peaks had been a 13 episode miniseries. I love that show as it is, and think it could have been successful continuing on, but at 13 episodes it could have been perfect.
04-09-09, 12:57 PM
#17
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Re: Harper's Island -- New 13 week Mini-Series -- "Whap" -- 04/09/09
I read the best way to enjoy this show is to have fun with it and not take it too seriously. Also, alot of sites are keeping death charts, which could be fun.
04-09-09, 02:12 PM
#18
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Re: Harper's Island -- New 13 week Mini-Series -- "Whap" -- 04/09/09
I didn't think the first episode was boring, it's just that there are so many characters to try to get to know that it felt cluttered. I'm interested to see how it all pans out. At WonderCon the writer and producer said that no one is safe and they basically had to give out sort of pay or play contracts because actors had other commitments, so no one knew who was going to be around for the next week.
Anyways, I had a good April Fools Day feel from it. That's enough to make me want to stick around to the end.
04-09-09, 02:38 PM
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Re: Harper's Island -- New 13 week Mini-Series -- "Whap" -- 04/09/09
A review from the S. F. Chronicle...
CBS has no such worries next year about what to do with its shows and wouldn't anyway with the Thursday premiere of "Harper's Island," a 13-episode series scripted in a way that, when it's over, the show itself is killed off.
Well, not literally. But taking a page from slasher movies and murder mysteries, "Harper's Island" is a series about a wedding that takes place on a fictional island near Seattle where one cast member will be killed every episode, finally revealing the murderer in the last episode from a pool of 25 suspects.
It's not a wedding party you'd want to attend, but it might be one you'd want to watch. "Harper's Island" is ghoulish and scary fun (and you'll know for certain that it will end before it gets pulled off the air). In this current television environment, there's something about a finite ending that's appealing - and 13 weeks isn't too much of a commitment, especially if you have a DVR.
"Harper's Island" might end up being a guilty pleasure. It's got blood and sex and intrigue galore, and there are enough red herrings and frightening gotchas to spill the popcorn two or three times an hour.
The writing is just clever enough to probably make the killing-a-week conceit work. And if you're into watching a phalanx of almost-recognizable actors you've seen in work you can almost remember, this is the series for you. Beyond that, it's just plain fun.
"Harper's Island" doesn't aspire to be great art, but its entertainment value runs deep. And who knows, if it becomes a hit, maybe CBS will fashion another limited-run murder mystery. There are plenty of worse ideas - and it beats another reality show.
CBS has no such worries next year about what to do with its shows and wouldn't anyway with the Thursday premiere of "Harper's Island," a 13-episode series scripted in a way that, when it's over, the show itself is killed off.
Well, not literally. But taking a page from slasher movies and murder mysteries, "Harper's Island" is a series about a wedding that takes place on a fictional island near Seattle where one cast member will be killed every episode, finally revealing the murderer in the last episode from a pool of 25 suspects.
It's not a wedding party you'd want to attend, but it might be one you'd want to watch. "Harper's Island" is ghoulish and scary fun (and you'll know for certain that it will end before it gets pulled off the air). In this current television environment, there's something about a finite ending that's appealing - and 13 weeks isn't too much of a commitment, especially if you have a DVR.
"Harper's Island" might end up being a guilty pleasure. It's got blood and sex and intrigue galore, and there are enough red herrings and frightening gotchas to spill the popcorn two or three times an hour.
The writing is just clever enough to probably make the killing-a-week conceit work. And if you're into watching a phalanx of almost-recognizable actors you've seen in work you can almost remember, this is the series for you. Beyond that, it's just plain fun.
"Harper's Island" doesn't aspire to be great art, but its entertainment value runs deep. And who knows, if it becomes a hit, maybe CBS will fashion another limited-run murder mystery. There are plenty of worse ideas - and it beats another reality show.
04-09-09, 03:08 PM
#20
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Re: Harper's Island -- New 13 week Mini-Series -- "Whap" -- 04/09/09
Had no intention of seeing this but with Richard Burgi I will record it as I LOVE the Sentinel show.
Doesnt Elsworth from Deadwood come out?
Doesnt Elsworth from Deadwood come out?
04-09-09, 07:14 PM
#23
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04-09-09, 10:04 PM
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Re: Harper's Island -- New 13 week Mini-Series -- "Whap" -- 04/09/09
Wow, that was a really bad pilot....
I hope this gets better because I wasn't impressed at all....
Too much boring teen drama not enough slasher....
This felt like crappy CW show....
I hope this gets better because I wasn't impressed at all....
Too much boring teen drama not enough slasher....
This felt like crappy CW show....
04-09-09, 10:17 PM
#25
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Re: Harper's Island -- New 13 week Mini-Series -- "Whap" -- 04/09/09
Not really...even if you know the killer, the second spin can be interesting to see if they set it up from beginning, and finding the clues planted (if they did). Or else it's fun to laugh and realize they just spun a wheel every week and finally came to a conclusion.
