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Herc's Seen SciFi's EUREKA!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
I am – Hercules!!
It’s a “Men In Black” meets “Northern Exposure” sci-fi hour, from two writers named Andrew Cosby and Jaime Paglia, about a “secret” town Harry Truman and Albert Einstein started so America’s most brilliant scientists could live next to each other and create defense miracles.
Sounds like the best show ever, yes? As it happens, not so much. The characters all feel like shadows of better characters, the comedy isn’t strong (and needs to be when the series resembles “Black” and “Exposure” this much), the plot crushes credulity, there’s a Wesleyesque genius kid to save the day, and the pilot’s central crisis is one of the dullest doomsdays ever. (On the plus side, lead G-girl Salli Richardson-Whitfield could not be hotter.)
But what matters Herc’s opinion?
Variety says:
… The idea itself - a secluded hamlet occupied by scientific geniuses, which the government keeps sequestered from the world - is pretty damn good, even if the execution doesn't quite live up to it. All told, Sci Fi's experiment with a "Northern Exposure"-like drama can't yet be labeled an unqualified success, though further testing might be required. …
The Hollywood Reporter says:
… owes more to Disney than to Serling. It has a calculated family appeal, two-dimensional characters, reliably happy endings and an aversion to taking anything too seriously. It can be pleasant - even charming at times - but not much more than that. … Writers Andrew Cosby and Jaime Paglia have tapped into an interesting concept but stopped short of making Eureka the fullblooded capital of weird science it could become. Without a harder edge, the weekly crises in Eureka will seem like little more than the wacky work of a nutty professor. It's fine to be mildly entertaining, but "Eureka" could have been more.
TV Guide says:
… a divertingly original but awfully precious comic fantasy … Part of the fun of Eureka comes in watching Carter settle in to a place where the fantastic is taken for granted … So far, the show is more likable than memorable, but there are worse places to spend a midsummer's night. …
Entertainment Weekly gives it a “B-plus” and says:
… Somewhere in the Northwest (Oregon? Washington? let them fight it out) lies this Geniusville, where Truman, Einstein, and a host of other big giant heads founded this center of U.S. innovation among tall trees and nice weather.
USA Today gives it three (out of four) stars and says:
… There's a mystery to be solved and a few shocks to deliver, but mostly the show aims for clever, knowing and mildly funny. Generally it hits the mark, thanks in large part to Ferguson and an attractive, diverse cast including Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Debrah Farentino and Joe Morton. As often happens with sci-fi shows, tonight's extended pilot asks you to overlook some blatant logical lapses and an oddly rushed resolution. Still, if you've been searching for some hot-weather diversion, Eureka may be the place.…
The Washington Post says:
… "Ah, there's this machine and a missing formula and science stuff I can't explain," Carter replies. The same might go for viewers when it comes to the plotline. But an episode involving a "Men in Black"-like memory-wiping machine is a bit easier to follow for those who are less than science-savvy. In the end, it's Eureka's townsfolk who keep the common viewer intrigued.…
The New York Sun says:
… The minor issues that plague "Eureka" could easily overshadow the larger problem, which is its very existence. … Nothing in the two-hour movie that launches "Eureka" tonight at 9 p.m. suggests anything new or fresh or provocative. It's amusing without being fun, oddball without being weird, strange without being different. If it finds an audience, it will only be among those who want to repeat old thrills instead of seeking new ones.
The Boston Herald says:
… How many geniuses does it take to make a good show? “Eureka” has a town full of them and it’s not enough. … Sci Fi should be commended for upgrading its production look over its typical “Stargate” Wal-Mart mash. In comparison to that franchise, “Eureka” might well as be a Peter Jackson epic. But there’s not a lot of dramatic tension and not nearly enough weirdness to bring you back. If “Eureka” intends on sticking around, it better smarten up.
9 p.m. Tuesday. SciFi.
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character on TNG. Although he did redeam himself in the excellent epsiode The Game.
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I think the Boston writer is comparing the shitty, cheap, town-destroying products of Wal-Mart with the similar overall production value of the Stargate series. S owhy don't you shut your ignorant fucking mouth, mmmkay?
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...of his, how much spittle do you suppose actually lands on his monitor and keyboard. I don't think I've ever encountered a more hypersensitive, angry soul. As for the Wal-Mart crack, it's actually quite amusing in the context of the Stargate vs. BSG vs. Farscape debate that erupted in the last talkback where Stargate's name was invoked. I forsesee more angry talkbacks directed at that one line than anything resembling commentary or speculation on Eureka. Let's watch the fun.
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If memory serves, which will be reason alone to watch.
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you said it brother! Thank God we don't use all-encompassing prejudicial labels like those Stupid Notheastern Liberal Elitist Bastards!
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As the Italians say.
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I liked this show better when it was "Eerie, Indiana."
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(and the Globe is Liberal) makes anchorite's statement even stupider.
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Doctor Who 2005 started off "lacking" yet found its stride near the midway point of the season. Do you think this might do the same?
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because that would quickly become a very tiresome catchphrase.
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"It's Like You Know"
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Like that joke: What did the Italian immigrant say when he discovered the only other person in the room had farted? "You reek-a!" That might be entertaining. Once. Or not.
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Anytime they try to own and develop a show, it is always WACKY instead of science fiction.
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or was his prescence overshadowed by Ashley Judd?
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There, I've destroyed the thread.
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Think about it.
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A town called Eureka located in the Pacific Northwest? Uh, yeah. I used to live about 10 minutes from it (in Arcata). Trust me, NOT full of geniuses.
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It airs at seven on Sci-Fi right before the Eureka premier.
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...then I think you'd have something.
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I never listen to them unless they help me avoid a shitty movie. For that Bosten Harold writer to say that incoherent jibberish helps critics sound even more idiotic. If they get paid to write crap, they'd better start focusing on crap. ___KNEEL___
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tour can be had here: http://tinyurl.com/ox2jo (hat tip, IGN.com). Spoilage abounds, so you're properly warned.
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Which I liked.
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Joe Morton, Rob LaBelle, Garry Chalk AND the fat human version of Anubis from SG-1's "Threads"! What's not to love?
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Is it October yet? Just saw the BSG preview, and it's smokin'.
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He played that Goa'uld who loved to eat and was secretly working a double front with Baal and the Ori. Anyways, this show is pretty good so far. Quirky characters and atmosphere that puts it in it's own category of sci-fi is my idea of fresh entertainment. One character that has popped out is the deputy sheriff (aka Special Forces bitch, 1st Rangers, Fort Bragg?? Pfft. Yah right!). Why is she going all out in being a power-fem? But she is hot and one tough chic (which makes her character more believable), and the show is promising. The critics can shove it, because they don't deserve it. ___KNEEL___
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Poor Max Headroom deserves much better than this.
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... I was asleep after about 45 minutes. And what's with the Marshall's grunge-rock daughter? Is she a time traveller from 1993?? (Naw! Just hopelessly out-of-date writers... they even threw in a Spice Girls reference...sheesh!)
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The Herald is the tabloid paper in Boston. It's the equivalent of the NY Post for Boston. It's both not elitist [because it's deliberately the lowbrow paper] and not liberal [New York City is a pretty liberal place too, but that doesn't stop the NY Post from being a conservative paper, either]. Yes, Massachusetts is overwhelmingly liberal, but that's why the Boston Globe [the liberal paper] is the high-circulation daily and the Boston Herald [the conservative paper] is the lower-circulation conservative alternative tabloid. And Wal-Mart is lowbrow no matter where you live. It has absolutely nothing to do with geography or politics. It's their fucking MISSION STATEMENT to be the discount, low-end retailer. It's no more "elitist" to use Wal-Mart as a metaphor for a bargain-basement approach than it is to use Tiffany's as a metaphor for luxury or extravagance.
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Every statement that can be interpreted as potentially damaging to a corporate entity is going to be taken by anchorite as an indictment of the capitalist system and therefore indicative of an elitist, liberal attitude, just like any expression of disapporval for the war in Iraq or the current administration's foreign policy is going to be taken as an indictment of the American way and an indication of unpatriotic leanings. He's easier to predict than a morning bowel movement and incapable of entertaining a thought that he doesn't believe is his own.
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...in the murder near the end of the episode. *Completely* unnecessary and more likely to draw unwanted attention than to avoid it. It was a poor choice by the character and a poor choice by the writers. I'd rather have this type of "shocker" worked up to over the course of several weeks instead of popped out during the pilot. We *know* they're going to be working the intrigues; we don't need a vilain revealed so quickly.
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Except Stargate has been spending money by the bucketloads lately. I really don't get that comment at all. The amount of CGI work in both SGs premiere's alone probably equal the whole of Eureka's season budget. Christ, did you guys notice the crappy cut and pasting of the storm "effect" over the town? YIKES!
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My bad.
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First of all, you will never get me to believe that you didn't think the Herald was a liberal paper. You are pretending now that you just happen to think that this is a liberal writer for a conservative paper, but that's bunk. Just admit that you confused the Herald and the Globe and didn't bother to check. It's OK, really. I couldn't tell you off the top of my head if, say, the Cleveland Plain Dealer was liberal or conservative. It's OK not to know. It's not OK to talk smack, and then come up with crack-brained rationalizations when you're corrected. And on the subject of Wal-Mart, I will REPEAT: the quote in question used Wal-Mart as a metaphor for "cheap". This is not a political statement. FUCKING WAL-MART IS SYNONYMOUS WITH FUCKING CHEAP. THEY SPEND MILLIONS ON ADVERTISING TO BE SURE YOU KNOW THAT THEY ARE CHEAP. THEY WORK DAY AND NIGHT TO BE AS CHEAP AS THEY CAN BE. THEY REINVENTED AMERICAN RETAILING BY STRIVING EVERY DAY TO BE EVEN CHEAPER. This means that if someone wants to write about effects so cheap-looking it seems like they came from Wal-Mart, that is a perfectly valid and non-elitist and non-lib'rul metaphor to make. That carries no political content whatsoever. Dope, dope, dope, dope, dope.
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Seriously, we can argue about the quality of the Stargate writing/acting/etc., but the effects have been top notch and costumes, props, and sets are great too. I've personally walked through most of the sets, and unless you look up and see the studio lights, the illusion is very convincing. Here's a little trivia for you all, the SG-1 stargate is made out of fiberglass and the Atlantis stargate is made out of rubber. Well I'm off to SDCC, dunno if I'll be able to post this weekend yet or not, so have a good weekend all.
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The Boston Herald is a right wing Rupert Murdoch tabloid. You don't know fuckall about what you're talking about.
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During the airing, they had a SciFi Channel commercial promoting itself and what was to come. Towards the end, they presented the names of their shows with a voiceover. For example, they mentioned they had "the best show on television" as *Battlestar Galactica*'s title appeared. After that, they said "the longest running science fiction series ever" as SG-1's title appeared. That made me laugh, because SG-1 is not the longest running science fiction series ever anywhere. Although if SciFi was referring to *Doctor Who* - which they do show - they would of course be correct. Too bad they didn't show that title in the commercial.
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Funny, I had no idea!
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I had high hopes and an open mind for it, but garbage like Eureka turned out to be isn't even going to make it all the way through the season. There is really no reason to watch it any more--a quick death is preferable to a lingering one.
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I enjoyed the cast and I hope that the upcoming episodes build upon what was shown. Although I'd be more interested to hear an official announcement concerning *Doctor Who* Season2 and when SciFi intends to begin televising it.
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the pilot episode was decent for a pilot episode.. special effects were dent in comparison to those horrible original sci-fi movies they haunt us with every other month or so... and whoever made the "grunge" daughter comment.....maybe u update ur style based on what everyone else does but some people dont, its called "individuality" , look it up. anyways, the stargate series have awesome effects that get better with each season...personally if all scifis money is going to them, then im happy, there was even more talk about the third stargate series being talked about...and for whoever had the nerve to mention "doctor who" as longest running sci-fi show on television, im sure they meant continuously running, in the usa with the same characters..so stargate sg-1 entering a tenth season is the longest running sci-fi series on american TV.....what is this ? is doctor who like the new nascar or something...if u wanna talk shoddy visual effects and stories, doctor who takes the cake....i cant watch crap because im nostalgic...eureka is even above doctor who, and will prob get better..
on eureka at the beginning of the episode when the marshall and his daughter see themselves pass themselves...anyone else notice it was his rebuilt car from the end of the episode, and the daughter was in the front seat ? -
I honestl thought that Eureka was a pretty successful concept. I really did think it was pretty funny and I thought the dialogue (as Sci-Fi channel Originals go) was done rather well. To many people take these shows a little too seriously. Just sit back and enjoy the story. It doesn't have to be life changing for it to work.
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what ever happened to just enjoying a show for what it is? I'm not expecting Shakespeare, just to go someplace else and have fun for an hour or so. Enough of this 'those cgi clouds looked phoney' or 'that was an obvious green screen shot' The Stargate shows have their own style than say Galactia's. For the time and money spent it's all quality entertainment. The scifi channel's movies however are a different animal...every one i've seen were utter crap in every way. They weren't even 'fun' and if UK's Doctor Who has taught us anything, fun makes up for lesser quality.
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Regardless of whether you count the seasons of SG-1 on Showtime, it still does not match the original *Doctor Who* in terms of "longest running science fiction show ever". SG-1 has 10 seasons; the original Who had 26. And thus whichever intern wrote that should get sacked.
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I can't believe the venom banter. I'm guessing that you guys are angry nerds who don't get much attention. I watched the pilot and while it had flaws, its interesting enough to watch again. And by the way who judges a series on the pilot. Most pilots are difficult to watch. I liked the X-files pilot but loved the series. And my most fav show is Buffy but it didn't start out gang busters either. I'm giving Eureka another chance, I like the characters and want to see where they are going. And by the way, to the person who made the comment about the Spice girls, the point of the sherrifs comment to his daughter is that he is not up on the lingo or whats hip. It's sad the this stuff has to be explained to some people.
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