Article: Pure Fantasy
The latest in TV news.Pure Fantasy
Published: Saturday, August 6, 2005
By Mike Hughes
This fall, the big networks will debut four sci-fi shows and two shows designed to scare. Add in the movies and the cable channels and you have a science fiction invasion.
Why now? Hollywood offers lots of reasons, ranging from philosophy to technology to DVD sales. Still, Shaun Cassidy jumps straight to the big one:
"I think you can answer that question in three words: 'Lost,' 'Lost' and 'Lost,'" he says.
Yes, that's the same Shaun Cassidy who used to sing to screaming teenagers. He's 46 now and has been writing strange TV fantasy for the past decade. "American Gothic" and "Roar" died quickly; "Hollyweird" was pulled before it ever aired.
Now his "Invasion" -- with spooky things happening in hurricane-wracked Florida -- is getting praise, a big build-up and a cozy spot behind "Lost" on ABC's Wednesdays. That's appropriate.
" 'Lost' has changed the climate for shows that don't answer all your questions by the end of every episode," says Cassidy, who adds that it's something he likes.
Ironically, "Lost" doesn't spend much of its time in the sci-fi genre.
"There is a part of 'Lost' that has some sci-fi elements," says Stephen McPherson, the ABC president. "Although, I would argue, very little ....
"At the heart of 'Lost' is great character work. And that's what we like about 'Invasion.'"
In its early weeks, viewers only knew that "Lost" was about survivors of a plane crash on a tropical island. With one exception -- a really big bear or something -- it offered no fantasy; that has crept in slowly, after the show was a hit already.
And that seemed to open the door for other shows with big ideas.
Now they figure it out. It's about damned time.
posted by scifirantergirl @ 4:30 AM
1 Comments:
OMG! I had no idea that Shaun Cassidy was attached to "Invasion." I had such a crush on him when I was younger.
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