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Reader reaction: Fantasy Island
Glen here...
I thought I'd do something a little different this
weekend, for on Saturday evening, two series
highly anticipated by Coaxial readers made their
debut on network television. MARTIAL LAW, and FANTASY ISLAND.
This page is reserved for viewer "talkback" about FANTASY ISLAND.
The purpose for me opening this page for discussion is not for you
to agree with or criticize my own reviews which were posted on Coaxial earlier this week (although my FI review is available HERE if you're interested).
The purpose of my opening this page for discussion is for readers to voice their *own* opinions
regarding these two shows, to voice your opinions on other people’s thoughts and feedback, etc.
Let your thoughts be as general or as specific as you’d like, but ALWAYS respect other people’s
opinions.
So, scroll down to the "talkback" icon below, and tell the world what you think about FANTASY ISLAND. You don’t have to use your real name, and you can post without including your e-mail address.
But, frankly, deletion of your post is quite simple from my side of the screen, so entries by non-serious participants will be summarily removed from the "talkback".
Got to it, and ENJOY!!!
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Glen here...well, I gotta tell you - I was *very* disappointed by the conclusion of tonight's premiere of Fantasy Island. See, I had reviewed this show earlier in the week, and the tape I saw had a different ending on it. An ending I thought was pretty damn cool. I won't ruin the ending that actually aired - in case someone is waiting to see it on tape or something. But for those of you who *have* seen the show, I thought you might enjoy knowing that the original "tag"...set after the primary events on the island are resolved at the end of the episode...featured a bunch of secret service agents coming into the office run by the little old man and woman. Said agents then bring Bill Clinton into the office, the old man smiles knowing that Clinton is his next client...THE END. Maybe it was too dangerous or over-the-top for them, because it did not get aired in favor of a different & softer ending. But I thought it was cool, and I was disappointed that it did not get seen by the masses.**Glen**
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Very quirky with an underlying story about the island that I'm anxiously waiting to hear. If anything, the pilot left me with several questions regarding Roarke and the gang, their purpose, and who/what put them there.
Only real problem is that with three story lines, they all resolve too quickly and without much development.
But I'll definitely keep watching. I really want to see my questions answered. -
I think it sets a good tone for the series. Not fluffy, like the original, of course I was an avid watcher of the original. More of a back story, and more mystery behind the scenes. And MM is a GREAT pick for Roarke. I think they are off to a good start. Let's wait and see how things progress. Is it a one trick pony, or are we being set up for even better things to come?
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Loved Malcolm, loved the assistants, loved the travel agents and the whole dark, imaginative concept....the stories however....pretty tired stuff, in my humble opinion. It was like Elvis on Black Velvet in a silver Tiffany frame. They've got a great cast of regulars...I hope the changing elements get better...
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I liked it. Quirky enough to be entertaining. McDowell is a wonderful Mr. Roark. A breath of fresh air in an otherwise fetid TV landscape. Now that I've stated this, ABC will probably promptly cancel it...
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This new Fantasy Island is great. As near to perfect as network TV can be allowed to show.
I agree that the stories ended to quick. They should use 2 stories instead of 3.
Also I am happy they didn't use the Bill Clinton ending. It would have drove the show into camp-o-rama.
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Too bad they didn't use the Clinton ending. It would've been ironic having Clinton show up at a travel agency considering there was that controversy involving the White House travel office.
Guess they didn't want to piss off the Clintonistas out there... -
I was rather pleased with "FI" premiere. It was very strange and "odd," but that's what I was expecting. Malcolm is DREAM casting for the title role, and he pulls it off wonderfully.
But I have to say that I was even more pleased (perhaps it was just the surprise) of the next show on ABC, "Cupid." Wow! It blew me away. What a perfect mix (IMHO) of humour, drama, and yes, love story. I hope they can keep up what they've started. Of course, I always say that with pilots. Just like "Martial Law." (Thank God for VCR's, that's all I have to say...I am going to have buy a 3rd VCR when "Xena" starts, since it, FI, and ML all air at the same time here in Los Angeles). -
Fantasy Island was good - certainly it was a lot better than the original. But what followed was the true surprise - CUPID. Witty, well-written, clever, touching, with a sense of style that was unexpected. Just the throw-away lines and visual sight gags were a most welcome surprise. Finally, an intelligent hour of network television. Who'da thunk it?
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...compared to the crapola lineups abc has going now. except for drew carrey (sp?) and spin city, this is the only good thing they have going. too bad its on saturday where no one will see it...
oh, and cupid held my attention for only a little while. -
So did anyone else notice Madchen (aka Ariel)? I was thrilled to see her appear on the screen. What can I say, I've been hopelessly in love with her since Twin Peaks (where she played the waitress Shelly).
Aside from that, I too liked the show, definately wins my Saturday night pick over Martial Law. Like another fella posted, thank goodness for VCRs for Xena, though. -
I had to admit, I rather enjoyed the premiere. Another show that puts people in its place, although set in a much nicer location. I did like MM, but I wished for a further explanation of the supporting cast. If the show had a two hour pilot, I would have the first hour explain the origins of the staff (minus Mr. Roarke; save his origins for the season finale) and then have the fantasies. I'm going to keep watching until the season premiere of "The Pretender", but I think my loyalties will lie with Jarod and Co.
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Not too shabby. Wonderful to see Fyvish Finkel and Sylvia Sydney--lovely gig for a couple of aging actors, sitting around on one set and doing about a half-day's worth of work, huh? McDowell was terrific, as always. I too found the Island's backstory much more fascinating than any of the "fantasies." I wonder that none of the critics have picked up on the Shakespearian elements--I mean, a shape-shifter named Ariel? A mysterious man in charge of a mysterious island where anything can happen? TV critics have never read/seen The Tempest? Deplorable.
Good if I'm not doing anything else Saturday nights, but not good enough to lure me away from The Pretender. Cupid *was* better. And I'm happy they dropped the Clinton ending, in light of the pre-Impeachment hearings. It would have been much too frivolous, IMHO. -
I missed the premeir of FI and didnt want too. Dis anyone here tape it and if so, can you make me a copy? I'll pay for postage and the tape. Mail me - Thanks!
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Glen here...the Clinton thing IS NOT A HOAX, and it was really Glen who posted. Any doubts, drop me an e-mail for confirmation.**Glen**
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I really enjoyed the premiere of Fantasy Island. I was most looking forward to this show for the fall season, and it didn't let me down. Actually, I was expecting a little darker, but I think the tone was absolutley perfect. I agree that the fantasies could have been developed more, but I think i read somewhere that in the future there is only one fantasy per episode. Cupid was also very impressive, I hadn't even planned on watching it, but it was on. Finally, everyone keeps ragging on ABC, but of all the nets, they have the best lineup of new shows. FI and Cupid were both excellent, and I really enjoyed Sports Night and the Hughleys. The interesting thing about these two shows is that they have meaning. In the premiere's they both were pretty funny, but still managed to have a message. This is very strange for sitcoms these days. Maybe now that "The Show About Nothing" is gone, we will start getting more shows about "something" signifigant. I applaud ABC for these four shows with meaning AND fun.
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Wasn't she the girl who thought Jerry and Georges were Gay... not that there is anything wrong it!!
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It was with much anticipation that I waited for Saturday Nights premiere of ABC's Fantasy Island. After reading various reviews that touted the show as "off-beat" and "a TV Guide pick for the season" I knew I had to see for myself. Let me just say, I was not disappointed. Right from the beginning where Guest Star John Mese finds himself drawn into a mysterious travel agency, I found myself hooked.
Despite the fact that I had read the "white suit" gag in at least 3 different sources it still made me laugh and seemed fresh. This was not only because of the show's originality and DARK edge, but because of the off-handed, (with a disgusted edge) delivery of one of my favorite actors Malcolm McDowell (Mr. Roarke). If you're looking for the smiling, charming face of Ricardo Montalban (close spelling?) forget it. This is Mr. Roarke with a major twist. McDowell elicits a chill and the feeling that there is an evil that you don't want to come be on the wrong side of. He has a way of making you feel as if he is looking right through you and doesn't particularly like what he sees. Here he is more of a mature Alex DeLarge from Clockwork Orange than a cheery tour host hoping to give you a good time.
The supporting cast is excellent too and together they add just the right combination of comedy and pathos to make you feel you are sharing a private joke that only a select group of people understand.
If this show stays as consistently good as the premiere it should have a long, happy run with the kind of viewer who enjoys their television a little on the edgy side. There was only one scene that shot off my little, "danger, danger Will Robinson" radar and that was where an island visitor, who seems to have a death wish, actually does manage to kill himself. The eerie scenes where Mr. Roarke confronts him got my hopes on the rise, but when the controlled and cold Mr. Roarke launches into a mini-triad about how "living life" if the ultimate extreme sport I found myself going diabetic. Luckily the show had redeemed itself with the "Jeopardy" scene where a woman wants all encompassing knowledge so that she can destroy her sister publically. In a cruel twist the tables are turned and she comes to learn that not all knowledge is a good thing. Thank goodness this leveled my sugar out.
Glen you were right on base with this one. I think that it will be a cult hit and will take a little while to pick up speed (ala Twin Peaks). My only hope is that ABC gives it a fair shot and sticks with it. In the end I'll think they'll be glad they did.
Lancaster
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It was excellent. But not dark enough -- should have let the daredevil die and stay dead. Next - what was the point of his wife telling him that there was no spell -- we already believe in the supernatural element. Finally - they took great pains to distance the show from the old one -- including mixing up the order of such classic lines as "my dear guests, I am Mr. Roarke, your host." So what was the point of the hokey "who's that, boss" sequence. Couldn't think of any more original way to do that? O.K. I'm done.
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After the WAY cool opening of the show, I took a hit off my pipe and passed it to my girlfriend. As I exhaled, I said, "He better say it....he better say it." My gf was confused, but has learned to stay out of my geek-fits. Then, with an edge of disgust that made me howl with laughter, it came..."Smiles, everyone. Smiles."
This show is going to rock. They managed to keep what may be the coolest premise for a show ever, tweak it, and make it even better without taking themselves so seriously that they forgot to have fun.
My impresssion of the assistants is they are all dead and working off a penance of some sort. At one point Cal says to Harry, "Stress'll kill you."
Harry replies, "Very funny." just my impression.....could very well be wrong.
And Cupid caught me and my girlfriend quite by suprise. Almost a romantic twist on the X-Files formula, huh? I loved it. Now, my gf sticks by me through FI and then she gets to watch a romantic show that I can stomach!! cool!!
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All in all, a good promise. But, and I have seen it here said a couple of times, FI needs to limit itself to 1 or 2 stories per ep. I would have liked to see less of the dardevil story and more of the sisters. The other warning is that I would like to see FI take the risk of not ending every story happily. Although I liked the twist on the know it all story, they still had to include the scene at the end with the sisters working towards reconcilation. Leave it dark. Establishing FI and Mr. Roake as mysteries is an excellent. Don't reveal to much about them either. Assume an intelligent audience and leave some of the imagination to us.
Finally, my favorite part was Mr. Roarke, to Cal "Hey, Quasimodo (spelling, I know), two rings is enough!" At that part, I felt that this show has some promise. -
I liked the premier, but think the show has some growing to do. The cast was great, and there's lots of potental for developing the tidbits of story we got about the regulars, but the guests' stories were too predictable and shallow. I'm all for limiting it to 2 guests and more indepth storytelling. It had a brighter, more colorful Sandman-esque sort of feel. Loved Malcolm McDowell! And, yes, some of us out here did pick up on the Shakespeare references. As for Cupid - I think it had a much stronger premier episode than FI - can't wait to see how that one develops!
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My reaction to the FI premiere was mixed, to say the least...I did like MM as Roarke...nice edge to him there...but I do think the new show is making the same mistake the old one did...trying to do too much in one show. They had...what...four fantasies to deal with in that hour? That means each individual story had to be written in some sort of "shorthand", if you will, with no time for good character development. The characters (the customers, in this case) MUST be believable! If not...if they're reduced to just one-note cardboard cutouts, as these were, this show is not gonna make it...at least not with me. My advice: cut it down by half! Focus on just one or two stories, and write them well. I think FI would be a much better show for it. (And I agree, "Cupid" was a nice surprise.)
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OK....
Obviously, they need to limit the number of sub-stories/fantasies and thereby hopefully develop them more... right now they'd be shooting 66 stories per season! It'd be bound to get kinda repetitive...
Loved the cast! The servants are far too cool. In my opinion, this is the best example of fantasy on TV in years. Maybe ever... the entire mood on the island definitely hinted at something bigger... in large part because of the implications of servanthood vs voluntary service.
The coolest thing will be if they let the characters and plots of the islanders develop naturally throughout the show, and don't fall into the obvious temptation to write shows about them... just to let the ideas be hinted at for quite a while, subtly and from the side. -
Hell yah this rocks, limiting it to two fantasies a week sounds like a good plan. There is so much potential in this show I get goosebumps just thinking about it. ...Oh and have all the white suits burned, geeze I'm in full geekness, put me down as a positive for this show.
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I would love to see a little background of what happened to the "old" Mr Roarke. Just a glimpse, nothing too revealing on the "new" one.
BTW, Roddy McDowell played the devil, twice I think, in the original series. His dark suit, a negative image of Roarke's. -
Grade: F
I was really disappointed in this show after hearing about all of the big changes that were supposedly going to take place. It was obvious within the first 20 minutes that the writing is horrible and the new "darker" Mr. Roarke refers more to his clothing than his character. The differences between the new and old Roarkes are superficial. I expected a truly malevolent being who wanted to punish those who visit the island, not just teach them a cute lesson. There are only the briefest hints of what the show could be in the hands of , say, Glen Morgan and James Wong (X-Files & Milennium). Imagine a show where some weeks not everyone makes it off the island alive or some return broken and defeated, not with a new positiove attitude of how gosh-darn lucky they truly are. Mr. Roarke could revel in his triumphs and grow furious at those who do learn a lesson. All the while Roarke's assistants would try to aid the visitors and thwart Roarke's plans while remaining in fear of his discovering them. That's what I hoped for but all I got was the same crap. Thankfully, "Cupid," which follows it, is a well-written, entertaining show that holds great promise. -
This has been the best of the new series so far. No lie here, McDowell was outstanding as the new spin of Mr. Roarke, the series has a lot of promise in terms of redefining the series, and the writing of the pilot was sharp and clever. Not to be missed, and I rarely liked the original series.
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Liked it a lot, BUT... I thought those morals were kinda obvious, don't you think? Today's audience doesn't need to have their sermons directed to them on a silver platter. Leave a little suspense to it eh? However, the potential is huge and this WAS only the pilot.
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I liked it & think they can really make it work even better...I liked Merano's suggestion of a Shakespearean theme of Tempest. It also has a Hamlet theme of the R & G characters...2 sarcastic but dedicated sidekicks: )
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Alright, here's how The Rock feels. The show was great, and The Rock did read that the number of fantasies per show is being cut to 2 after the premeir. That was a complain they got alot of, so it was changed. And about Cupid, that show has a ton of pontential. Jeremy Devlin(The Rock thinks that's his last name), is one of the funniest guys around on TV right now. He made Ellen slightly barriable, and looks to be ready to take off with his own series. Let's hope ABC dosen't can these like they have canned everything that goes on their Saturday schedule(excluding The Practice).
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Why I'm totally sold on this show:
1. "The Tempest" references
2. Louis Armstrong
3. It really is a lot darker than the original, which I never liked even at age 10.
Why I'm still going to tape the Pretender and Profiler (and watch FI and Cupid when I'm home):
1. Sappy "Touched by a Devil" endings
2. Three fantasies get spread too thin
3. In particular, the "old girlfriend" fantasy was a totally archetypical old-FI story and SUCKED.
Cupid came off better overall (I can't believe what a great role it is for Piven, who alone can save this from turning into "Aearly Aedition"), but I see more potential in FI since the "is he or isn't he" aspect of Cupid can only go on for so long without becoming tedious. The "shrink becomes Psyche" plot seems a little transparent as well, but I'm willing to give it a chance.
To whomever was asking, in later episodes of The Pretender they did add in sequences where he'd be seen "cramming" for his roles, but it was pretty superficial. Still an entertaining show, but at times it seems like they haven't completely thought their story arc through. If it starts dragging around fall sweeps I could easily switch to FI.
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The old FI show wasn't exactly life-changing television, but it did have it's charms, and it had a big mystery: how did Mr Rourke fulfill fantasies? Was it magic? was he God? an angel perhaps?
They spent quite a while throwing subtle hints, and keeping you guessing.
This new show just settles for cheap camera gimmicks, and computerized special effects, and there IS NO MYSTERY.
Right off the bat we see that Rourke is some supernatural being.
He even goes so far as to say "it can be quite tiresome to know everything" or something like that.
I was so disappointed. The dialogue sucked. The interaction between the staff was very corny, and the storylines were so lame, they left no room for a downward slide (at least I hope not!)
It didn't even have the benefit of the beautiful island girls to distract you!
Overall... it just plain sucked. -
My first experieince was last night's show.
It kept me, and gave me plenty of smiles.
I thought the effects were a little overdone,
in fact subtlety was not excersised much in
any aspect (it could use it). But it's a keeper.
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I don't know if anyone's still reading this talkback, but I had to note that I was pleased with this past week's FI -- they let one of the fantasizers die -- although it was a bit of a cop out -- she would have died anyway...
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