HIGHLA-L Digest - 31 May 2005 to 2 Jun 2005 (#2005-56)
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There are 9 messages totalling 360 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. HIGHLA-L Digest - 29 May 2005 to 30 May 2005 (#2005-54)
2. Season Six DVD Commentary: Patient Number 7 (3)
3. the stuff we were talking about...yeah, kinda OT (2)
4. Season Six DVD Commentary: Patient Number 7 (2)
5. Actors and their characters :::was Season Six DVD Commentary: Patient
Number 7
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Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2005 00:27:35 EDT
From: Highlandmg@aol.com
Subject: Re: HIGHLA-L Digest - 29 May 2005 to 30 May 2005 (#2005-54)
Hi
_Sci Fi Chats_ (aol://2719:3-1899-Sci%20Fi%20Chats/) Well time has come and
the last OFFICIAL HOSTED CHAT will be held with Jill and Denise as hosts.
(WE still be chatting but with out the official hosts) So please if you were
one of the chatters please come to the last Official chat same room. wonders
what AOL wants to drive folks away
Love
Mary
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Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2005 09:23:10 -0400
From: Heidi <heidi@bronze.lcs.mit.edu>
Subject: Re: Season Six DVD Commentary: Patient Number 7
From: "R. Shelton"
I've listened to all the commentary's for the movie & TV show DVDs I
have so far, and I've never heard anyone criticizing each other
either. That's a bit weird.
>From the replies I've gotten, it does seem to be somewhat unique to
the HL commentaries. Thanks everyone for the answers. Can you picture
what would happen if they made those same comments (especially the
ones against AP) at a HL con in a room full of fans?
=}{=
(heidi@bronze.lcs.mit.edu)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2005 09:39:50 -0400
From: Heidi <heidi@bronze.lcs.mit.edu>
Subject: Re: the stuff we were talking about...yeah, kinda OT
From: Jen <data@cyberg8t.com>
That's why we have endings like in Highlander, or Hercules,
even Xena: the camera is panning back, no longer following the
character's life, but their journey continues.
Having HL end that way was much better then if they had suddenly
tried to tie everything up or change things (like Forever Knight's
last few episodes). As for the others, didn't they kill Xena at the
end of the series? I didn't watch the show much but I remember
reading something about the character being killed off.
The Methos Chronicles could have easily been done, but from what I
understand, TPTB didn't see that a gray character such as Methos
could be the lead of his own show. It might have been a good thing
that a Methos show was never made if they would have ended up
buthering up his character as badly as they did Amanda's. *sighs*
I would have liked to have seen a Methos series but I wonder what
they could have come up with that would have gotten enough of an
audience to keep it on the air. Since he tried to avoid fights or
get involved with people it's hard to picture him as a series
lead. I know fans have talked about the idea of Methos and Joe
sitting around telling stories, but that would just make him a
narrator rather then a character. I don't think having a story
every week about an Immortal we've never seen before and wouldn't
see again would go over very well. We saw some of that with the
spinoff tryout episodes, and those had the benefit of having the
ongoing character of Duncan in them.
This has a spoiler for the season finale of NCIS that aired last week
so don't read futher if you don't want to know what happened.
From: "T'Mar"
I hate when a character leaves and *might* come back, because
then the audience is left hanging.
I've been reading some of the comments about them killing off `Kate'
on NCIS and am kindof suprised at the reactions. The previews and
commercials said they were going to kill one of the agents, and
with there only being three or four it really wasn't much of a
suprise who. But alot of people seem to be going nuts saying it's
completely unreasonable and they Really want it to have been dream
sequence, a fake setup, not really fatal, have the character transfer
away, or any number of other really overdone cliche ways to write
out a character. I can understand being sorry if a character you
like is killed off, but some of these people seem to be going over
the top. If it's done in a way and fits the show and character, adds
to the story, and the actor/actress is leaving anyway (which seems
to be the case), it can be alot more interesting then just having
the character leave and an episode or two later be forgotten about.
In this case it seemed similiar to killing Richie on HL. With SK
wanting out, Richie could have just gone away and things would have
gone on as always. Or if someone else killed him there'd maybe be an
episode or two for Duncan to find/kill them, and then things would
be back to mostly normal. But by not taking the boring typical
route, the characters become more memorable and adds to the story-
line. HL would have been better leaving the Ahriman sifi element
out of the mix though. But on NCIS, killing Kate off means they're
likely to have somewhat of an ongoing thread for a bit. And since
Ari did it, it ties to an existing storyline. (and well it gives
them more of a reason to keep bringing Rudolf Martin back which is
a good thing.)
Let's face it - by the time most shows are cancelled, most
of the audience isn't watching anyway.
Or in the case of Andromeda, alot of us were rooting for them to
kill off the lead character long before the end of the series since
people would have started watching again after that. For those of
you who liked the early seasons and didn't know, Robert Hewitt Wolfe
(creator/developer, original head writer) has now posted what his
general plan for the series had been before they fired him and
changed the direction of the show. It's on his site (www.rhwolfe.
com) and he's answering questions and filing in more details in
the General Media Discussion section of www.exisle.net.
=}{=
(heidi@bronze.lcs.mit.edu)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2005 10:00:54 -0400
From: Judy Schneider <judyas77@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Season Six DVD Commentary: Patient Number 7
>From: Heidi <heidi@bronze.lcs.mit.edu>
>
> From: "R. Shelton"
> I've listened to all the commentary's for the movie & TV show DVDs I
> have so far, and I've never heard anyone criticizing each other
> either. That's a bit weird.
>
>From the replies I've gotten, it does seem to be somewhat unique to
>the HL commentaries. Thanks everyone for the answers. Can you picture
>what would happen if they made those same comments (especially the
>ones against AP) at a HL con in a room full of fans?
>
Another thing that drives me nuts about the HL commentaries is that Bill
Panzer and David Abramowitz seem to be unable to distinguish between the
actor/actress and the character. One of them said "Tessa wanted to leave
the show". No, Tessa did not. Tessa probably would have been upset if she
knew she was going to die. Alexandra Vandernoot wanted to leave the show.
Alexandra was happy that Tessa wasn't going to be on the show. Having the
character die was the best way to accomplish that and still keep with the
established parameters of the show.
<stepping off my soapbox now>
Judy, the Chocolate Slayer judyas77@hotmail.com
"I never met a chocolate I didn't like"--Deanna Troi
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2005 10:30:36 -0400
From: Wendy <Immortals_Incorporated@cox.net>
Subject: Re: Season Six DVD Commentary: Patient Number 7
Rachel:
> I've listened to all the commentary's for the movie & TV show DVDs I
> have so far, and I've never heard anyone criticizing each other
> either. That's a bit weird.
Heidi:
> From the replies I've gotten, it does seem to be somewhat unique to
> the HL commentaries. Thanks everyone for the answers. Can you picture
> what would happen if they made those same comments (especially the
> ones against AP) at a HL con in a room full of fans?
It does seem to be unusual but I have to admit it's refreshing <g>.
The inane love-fests portrayed on most commentaries gets to be a bit
much. "He was brilliant" "No, you were brilliant" "The director was
inspired" "He made me a better actor" "No, you made me a better
director" :::gag:::: I understand that TV is a business with a relative
few players and no one knows when they might have to work with someone -
so there is a need to stay positive no matter what. OTOH, we all know
that actors/producers/directors/etc are real people and therefore there
must be occasions when they act badly, do stupid things, screw up, etc
and it is interesting to hear a director admit that an actor was less
than perfect or hear an actor say that another actor was a pain to work
with.
As for the comments "against Adrian", I don't see why D.A. show be
tarred and feathered by HL/AP fans. He was speculating about what
happened to season six and Adrian's role in that debacle. As the lead
actor, surely Adrian bears *some* responsibility? He certainly got the
credit when things went well. I'm sure Adrian was tired. I'm sure
Adrian was ready to move on. I'm sure Adrian could be insistent about
wanting things done the way *he* wanted things done. I'm certainly
willing to believe that Adrian thought he was a star- maybe thought he
was a star *outside* Highlander. Those would all be normal reactions for
an actor who had had a series on TV for 5 years. They are also things
that could make it hard on TPTB trying to keep the series on for a sixth
year. D.A. was being honest...which is what I would have hoped
commentaries would be used for - at least occasionally.
Wendy (I'd like secondary unedited commentaries.)("He was drunk the
whole time")("She slept with every actor on the set- twice!")("He
couldn't direct a flea circus")("She always smelled like cabbage.")("He
kept hitting on Stan.")("Wears a toupee.")("Really bad face-lift")("He
had the habit of wandering around in black fishnet stockings and nothing
else.")
Immortals Inc.
immortals_incorporated@cox.net
"Weasels for Eternity"
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2005 16:48:36 +0200
From: T'Mar <tmar@sifl.iid.co.za>
Subject: Re: Season Six DVD Commentary: Patient Number 7
>(I'd like secondary unedited commentaries.)("He was drunk the
>whole time")("She slept with every actor on the set- twice!")("He
>couldn't direct a flea circus")("She always smelled like cabbage.")("He
>kept hitting on Stan.")("Wears a toupee.")("Really bad face-lift")("He
>had the habit of wandering around in black fishnet stockings and nothing
>else.")
Now, I'm sure people would pay MORE money to get those kinds! I would! :)
Or we could have *fan* commentaries. Can you imagine what you (Wendy) or
Nina or someone would do to an episode? I'd be riveted, I really would!
Kept hitting on Stan? Who could blame him? Hehehee...
- Marina.
\\ "You've heard it said that living well is ||>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> //
// the best revenge? Au contraire - living || R I C H I E >> \\
\\ forever is the best revenge." - Lacroix ||>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> //
//===============tmar@sifl.iid.co.za===========|| \\
\\=============Chief Flag Waver and Defender of Richie============//
"What about the fact they thought we were gay?"
"Adds mystery." - Wesley and Angel; 'Expecting' (Angel)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2005 16:48:40 +0200
From: T'Mar <tmar@sifl.iid.co.za>
Subject: Re: Season Six DVD Commentary: Patient Number 7
>Another thing that drives me nuts about the HL commentaries is that Bill
>Panzer and David Abramowitz seem to be unable to distinguish between the
>actor/actress and the character.
It's not solely BP and DA, though. Watching the Stargate commentaries (also
some Angel and Buffy ones), I find that not only do the TPTB do it, even
the *actors* sometimes get it wrong. They'll say, "And I did this..." when
they're clearly referring to something they did as that character. They will
talk about themselves as though they are that character.
I remember, years ago, when people would interview Leonard Nimoy. He
would *never* answer for Spock. People always had to *ask* Spock, then he
would answer. And he still talks about Spock in the third person. Most
actors don't do that.
I do like Peter DeLuise, though. It's well-known that people refer to
Richard Dean Anderson as "Rick", but Peter *always* remembers to say RDA's
full name every time he talks about him as an actor. Awww. And he keeps
saying, "He's so damn handsome." Well, you can't really argue. :) If I
didn't know PdL was married, I'd wonder about him! ;)
- Marina.
\\ "You've heard it said that living well is ||>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> //
// the best revenge? Au contraire - living || R I C H I E >> \\
\\ forever is the best revenge." - Lacroix ||>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> //
//===============tmar@sifl.iid.co.za===========|| \\
\\=============Chief Flag Waver and Defender of Richie============//
"What about the fact they thought we were gay?"
"Adds mystery." - Wesley and Angel; 'Expecting' (Angel)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2005 10:55:42 EDT
From: Degruy@aol.com
Subject: Actors and their characters :::was Season Six DVD Commentary: Patient Number 7
<<They will talk about themselves as though they are that character.>>
A lot of actors I know do that. When I am doing stage I normally remember
very little about the performance itself as I always try to think and act as
the character would. A lot of the time when asked about an improv I did my
reaction is mostly "I did what? I will have to try to remember that for next
time."
But most TV actors are doing takes over and over again so it is easier to
remain aware of yourself. When you are on stage there is no "cut. Let's do
that again from the entrance."
Edward deGruy
Student of Humanity
@}----------
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in
a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside,
thoroughly used up, totally worn out, & loudly proclaiming- "WOW!! What a Ride!" -
Bill Hicks
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2005 20:48:35 EDT
From: Bschep@aol.com
Subject: Re: the stuff we were talking about...yeah, kinda OT
Remember Quantum Leap? How the main character (you know, the guy in Star
Trek: Enterprise) leaped into various historical events... The Methos Chronicles
could have been something like that (with flashbacks rather than leaping)...
only the narrated stories could have flash backs -- with Methos very much
involved --- and sometimes the as bad guy... We could maybe have seen him evolve
as an imortal -- form a conscience.. something like that... What do you
think?
B
In a message dated 6/2/05 8:41:50 AM, heidi@BRONZE.LCS.MIT.EDU writes:
> I would have liked to have seen a Methos series but I wonder what
> they could have come up with that would have gotten enough of an
> audience to keep it on the air. Since he tried to avoid fights or
> get involved with people it's hard to picture him as a series
> lead. I know fans have talked about the idea of Methos and Joe
> sitting around telling stories, but that would just make him a
> narrator rather then a character. I don't think having a story
> every week about an Immortal we've never seen before and wouldn't
> see again would go over very well. We saw some of that with the
> spinoff tryout episodes, and those had the benefit of having the
> ongoing character of Duncan in them.
>
------------------------------
End of HIGHLA-L Digest - 31 May 2005 to 2 Jun 2005 (#2005-56)
*************************************************************