Welcome Back V - Your Rodents Are Ready!

O' Happy Day!

Settle in quick, for I bring good news and what a way to end another GREAT week.

Forget all of that chatter on the Political front, I mean really what difference does it make? Let us talk of more entertaining ventures...Television.

So, today I had planned to discuss Project Runway (As promised since last June) and we will cover the latest in this on-going Titanic battle later this week.

Now then, I was informed of some news this weekend that one of my long awaited wish list items is finally back on the table at ABC.

Ladies & Gentleman, please welcome the return of V!

V (Short for "The Visitors") was a popular mid-80's Prime time network Sci-fi drama, written and produced by Kenneth Johnson (Bionic Woman, The Incredible Hulk, and Alien Nation), in which aliens (Disguised as everyday humans) would attempt tirelessly to invade, own, control and operate earth....You get the idea.

While on the surface, the aliens appeared attractive, friendly, helpful and cooperative with human circumstances while integrating into human jobs and relationships. Ah, but as the series progressed, it was revealed to viewers that the aliens had another diabolic reason for integration and had voracious appetites for rodents. Alas, the plot emerges.

No Lovable E.T.
Despite the concerns of my parents, I recall watching the show when I was just a kid. Admittedly, I was moderately frightened with the whole 'Hostile Alien' concept of stripping the earth of all possible natural resources, and using humans as a food source for a monstrous ambition. Really, I was too young to watch this show and could not sleep after viewing.

Further, I had just seen E.T. and had not been previously exposed to thought of malevolent alien agenda (No, I had not seen the grotesquely horrible Alien movies until I was much older).

Apparently, I was not alone as a reported 65 Million viewers tuned in to the hour long show each week to watch the hamster loving alien leader Diana (Played by Jane Badler) consume everyone and everything within her reptilian path.

And The Resistance Begins.
Just when you thought all possible hope was lost and forevermore a perilous menacing regime by a power beauty (Brings a smile to my face)...A hack underground resistance movement begins to save the people and the planet by one attractive loner who happens to discover the heinous conspiracy. Infernal plot foiled again by hapless goober...

As many have speculated, the original V Miniseries, paved the way for one season of a V series, and was ahead of its time in terms of scope and budget, which ultimately led to the cancellation of the series in late 1985.

It's not easy being green, scaly and foreign...The new ABC re-make of V (I mean, 'Re-imagining') will be helmed by Scott Peters (The 4400) and will be set in the same, however the story will be a female Homeland Security agent who is dealing with her son's affections for the scaly.

Quite frankly, I have a number of thoughts: First, I readily disclaim that we have not run out of ideas that another remake is needed, nor have we lost creativity.

Having said, I am not convinced that ABC is the best venue for this series. Yes, the effort is appreciated. However, Prime Time network shows need to generate and sustain massive viewership to justify the continued airing of a program. Competition, budgets, and viewers.

The concern is whether or not a mainstream network will be able to make long term commitment and still manage to profit from remade material. Regrettably, a number of remade shows (Bionic Woman, Knight Rider, BH 90210) have proven less than successful - my intention is not to be dramatic, but rather to provide reminder of the obvious.

However, Battlestar Galactica, The Office, American Idol/Pop Idol, Moment of Truth and a number of remade shows and new shows such as Lost, Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, and Grey's are hugely successful (The last 4 being hits on ABC).

Intriguing Terrestrial Conflict or Bionic Failure?
I am moderate (Remember what happened with Bionic Woman - No Bigfoot and Fembots!). For this updated version, I would strongly suggest focusing the initial storylines on the arrival and integration of the aliens into human life. Let's see the beginning of the unfolding devious alien architecture in a two-part miniseries.

As a Board member of the Cool Girl Geek/Tech Genius/Sci-fi club - it could be rather exciting to see new technological upgrades (Diana eating a rodent whole back then was hugely jarring and today the same would look amazing if done properly!).

My final point is that the original story really was an incredible premise and does not need too much over 'Re-imagining' - I will be watching and awaiting 'The Final Battle'....



*The images above from "V" The Final Battle are the provided by Warner Home Video.