Posted on - 10-03-2010
Categories: Advertisment, Cast, Episode, Pics, V: The Original - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -

WEBSITE: http://www.theage.com.au/

WRITTEN BY: The Age

DIRECT LINK: http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/tv–radio/applying-a-fresh-twist-to-a-cult-classic/2010/03/03/1267291888909.html

The story behind ’80s sci – fi thriller V has a modern – day relevance, writes Michael Idato..

WANTED: actress willing to eat a rat.. The job ad didn’t quite read that bluntly but actress Morena Baccarin, who plays the alien leader in the inVasion – conspiracy thriller V, admits an appetite for rodents was most assuredly on the wish list when she walked into the casting room..

Scott Peters, the writer – producer of the remake of the 1980s science – fiction thriller V, has promised his redux will touch on some of the iconic moments in the original, including the skin – crawling scene in which the leader of the invading aliens consumes a living rat..

” I don’t feel great about eating a rat,’‘ confesses Baccarin, who is playing the alien leader Anna in the remake..

At the time of our conversation, only a handful of the one – hour episodes have been produced and while no rats have yet been harmed in the making of this television series, Baccarin knows it is coming..

” I’ve been asked if I have any problems with rodents.. I don’t have a huge problem but I don’t really want to eat one..”

The remake, much like the original, opens with the unexpected arrival of enormous alien space ships over 29 major cities around the world.. These ” Visitors,” through the charismatic Anna, claim to come in peace, offering scientific and medical knowledge in exchange for much – needed resources.. But the smiling face of peace masks a more sinister intent: global conquest..

Set against the alien inVaders are a handful of rebels, including FBI counter – terrorism agent Erica Evans ( Elizabeth Mitchell ), who discovers alien infiltration into government, business and religious organisations has been going on for decades; Ryan Nichols ( Morris Chestnut ), a Visitor sleeper agent who is working against his own people; Catholic priest Father Jack Landry ( Joel Gretsch ) and journalist Chad Decker ( Scott Wolf ), who is caught in an ethical abyss between information and propaganda when, in search of an exclusive, he, in effect, does a deal with the devil..

The centrepiece of the show’s marketing is the same as that used to launch the original series almost three decades ago – an iconic image of a huge alien space ship over a city..

Baccarin says the image is powerful because it highlights our vulnerability.. ” It’s so very vulnerable to have something looming over us in the sky, and then Anna appears for her people, out of this looming, destructive thing, and appears to calm everybody down, saying she’s going to help you, to nurture you and everything is going to be fine..”

Which, of course, it won’t.. Those old enough to remember the original mini – series, which aired in 1983, and was followed by another mini – series V: The Final Battle ( 1984 ) and finally V: The Series ( 1984 – 1985 ), will know that behind the smiling facades of rubberised skin is a race of reptiles, intent on stealing the Earth’s resources to replace its own depleted stocks and to remove the human race into frozen storage..

While some of those elements, in broad – brush terms, appear in the remake, the detail is quite different.. Baccarin says the producers deliberately sought to give the new show its own identity..

” I knew about the original V, so I knew what the show was about.. We had a conversation about the character and his initial thoughts were not to make her inhuman or alien but as nurturing and as human as possible,” she says.. ” It was great to get that perspective on it, to know that it wasn’t going to be a certain kind of show, that it was going to be grounded..”

The series has won rave reviews in the US.. The Hollywood Reporter called it ” clever enough for a cult following ” and USA Today ranked it one on its list of top 10 new shows in 2009..

” I would like to say that I have a healthy amount of cynicism,” cautions Baccarin, but ” I’m very excited about the show.. I love the buzz around it. I think people are going to love it, because I love it, but if they don’t, they don’t and there is nothing I can do about that.. We’ve done the best we could and I really stand by the show..”

Much more than its own antecedent, which is largely remembered for its camp touches, including bitchy verbal interplay between the female Visitor commanders, the remake of V owes a greater debt to the 2003 remake of Battlestar: Galactica, which turned a 1970s science – fiction franchise into a contemporary political thriller almost without peer..

The original V played on an allegory of fascism and borrowed some themes – including the marginalisation of scientists and the removal of citizens to internment camps – from Nazism and World War II.. The remake takes that a step further, rolling religious fanaticism and terrorism into the thematic mix..

Baccarin is cautious to brand the show a political drama.. ” The politics isn’t the heart of the story and in a way I think people are tired of politics, a little tired of television making big statements. Television is entertainment, at least the way we’re doing it,” she says..

” That said, these are wonderful characters and character stories, and there are political statements which deepen the show and make it about something..”

Posted on - 10-03-2010
Categories: ABC, Actor / Actress, Advertisment, Articles, Cast, Character, Interview, Morena Baccarin, V: The New Series, V: The Original - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -

Designed a few years back resembling London during the Great Purge of ‘99..

Posted on - 03-02-2010
Categories: FanArt, FanMade, V: The Original, V: The Second Generation - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -

The Jace Hall Show Season 3 is about to commence featuring a heap of celebrities and our very own Jace Hall (V: The New Series Executive Producer ).. The trailer features our very own Jane Badler ( Diana from V: The Original ) who recreated that special scene, Laura Vandervoort ( Lisa from V: The New Series ), Morris Chestnut ( Ryan from V: The New Series ),  Logan Huffman ( Tyler from V: The New Series ), Randy Jackson, Stan Lee, Seth Macfarlane, Ice – T, Zack Levi, Dolph Lundgren and Carl Weathers ( I’ll break you! ), Tom Green, and many more!

The video also has a sneak peek of the debut music track from the upcoming Jace Hall album ” Video Games Ain’t Bad For You..”

Posted on - 22-01-2010
Categories: Actor / Actress, Advertisment, Jace Hall, Jane Badler, Laura Vandervoort, Logan Huffman, Morris Chestnut, V: The New Series, V: The Original, Video - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -

Not getting enough V? Well VisitorsAmongUs.com has the answer for you! V: The Online Comic..

V: The Online Comic ” The Summit,” is an eight – page comic story which is hosted over at VisitorsAmongUs.com.. Written by John T. Caliber and drawn by Pat Carbajal, it is the first in a series of proposed storylines set in the V universe..

As to the story’s genesis, writer John T. Caliber explains:

” The title of htis short story is ‘ The Summit..’ I had it dashed out in my notebook for years, intending one day to use it as the basis of a V comic book mini – series I would have both written and illustrated.. When Ed [ Gross ] gave me the oppotunity to script a V one – shot for Visitors Among Us, I decided to salvage the old title and see what might in response spring from my imagination.. The original ‘ The Summit ‘ comic book mini – series’ premise was grand, breathtaking, something only achievable with a comic strip’s unlimited budget.. Ironically, the version to finally adopt the title is a relatively intimate affair, an enjoyable novelty..”

The art for the final version of ” The Summit “ was done by artist extraordinaire Pat Carbajal.. Here is an example of the first page from V: The Online Comic ” The Summit..”

Be sure to head over and check out the V: The Online Comic ” The Summit..” Also show your support by leaving some feedback with Ed.. Who knows? We may get more issues..

Posted on - 18-11-2009
Categories: FanArt, FanMade, Online Comic, Pics, V: The Original - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -

WEBSITE: Post-Gazette.com

WRITTEN BY: Rob Owen

DIRECT LINK: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09305/1009348-67.stm

It’s been almost 25 years since NBC canceled the first V following two miniseries and a single season of weekly episodes.. The show’s breakout star, actress Jane Badler ( One Life to Live ), played the evil Diana, a guinea pig – swallowing, nostril – flaring, lizard – skinned space Nazi in a red jumpsuit..

After V, Badler turned up in The Highwayman and in a 1988 – 90 revival of Mission: Impossible, which was filmed in Australia.. Then she fell off the American pop culture radar.. Badler stayed in Australia, got married, raised a family and acted in some Australian stage and screen productions while putting together a cabaret act and releasing her first CD..

With a new V about to premiere on ABC, Badler may be poised to return to the American public eye if the new show invites her to appear as a guest star.. She reached out to V producers and met one for lunch in Los Angeles two months ago..

” They know there is a huge amount of fans, and I’m not talking about people in my age group but people in their 30s who watch television and would be very cheated not to have at least one or two [ Cast members ] brought back,” Badler, 55, said.. ” I’m not saying I’m the one, I just know it’s very important to connect them in some way..”

Syfy’s Battlestar Galactica took that exact approach, casting Richard Hatch, a star of the original, in the new BSG as a different character.. It sounds like that’s what might happen with Badler and V, although she said nothing is likely to occur until after the first episodes get on the air and prove successful..

” I definitely think they’re looking for a different character,” Badler said.. ” I don’t think they’re interested in bringing me back in the same guise.. I think they want more of a surprise element so everyone would go, ‘ Whoa!’ I think that’s more interesting to them and having it done so it makes total sense with lots of integrity.. I’m sure I would be a Visitor, but if I was going to be part of a story line maybe I would be a judge or a lawyer, but that wouldn’t be who I really am, it would be something twisted..”

Executive producer Scott Peters echoed that sentiment..

” I don’t want somebody just to walk by in the background,” he said in August.. ” I want to find a really interesting role, an ironic role based on what their old role was.. I want them to have fun doing it.. I think it’s a fun thing to tip your hat to the old show..”

So far, the new V has not lined up any of the stars of the original – Badler, Faye Grant, Marc Singer – to appear.. That may because the show has had to worry about getting its own new universe in order before importing anyone from the first series..

Production has shut down at least once and ABC announced it will air only four episodes this fall, beginning Nov. 3, and save the balance of the 13 – episode order for March.. Entertainment Weekly reported network executives are nervous about the show being perceived as too sci – fi and may even insist the word ” alien “ not be uttered, a particularly preposterous notion that ABC denies..

The new V features another dark – haired female as leader of the Visitors, but Morena Baccarin ( Firefly ), who plays the character, said her Anna is no Diana..

” That character was a little more fascist and a little more truly evil,” Baccarin said. ” [ Anna ] is definitely more contained, more deliberate but warm.. It was important to Scott Peters that this character be warm and not just a robotic alien chick.. People need to be able to relate and feel drawn toward her..”

Syfy will rebroadcast the original V miniseries today at 1 and 11 p.m. and will air the sequel miniseries, V: The Finale Battle, at 5 p.m. Episodes from the V series will air Monday ( 8 am – 7 pm ) and Tuesday ( 8 am – 4 pm ) followed by the original miniseries (4 pm Tuesday )..

Posted on - 02-11-2009
Categories: Articles, Interview, Jane Badler, V: The New Series, V: The Original - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -

WEBSITE: Variety.com

WRITTEN BY: Michael Schneider

DIRECT LINK: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118010630.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

Whether ABC’s frosh drama V succeeds or fails, Kenny Johnson is just happy to see the show back on the pop culture radar..Johnson has technically nothing to do with the new sci – fi drama, which bows this week and comes from exec producers Scott Peters, Jeffrey Bell, Steve Pearlman and Jace Hall..

But as the creator of the original V mini – series in 1983, Johnson knows interest in the new V will also spur nostalgia for his original.. And Johnson, who didn’t retain TV rights to the title, still has big feature plans for his own V remake..

” If the show succeeds, it gives us an opportunity to go out with a one sheet that says, ‘ You like the show, now see the original classic reborn,’ ” Johnson says.. “And if the show doesn’t do well, we can always say, ‘ Here is the V you’ve been waiting for..’ ”

V reps the latest franchise reborn from a Kenneth Johnson Prods. creation.. The scribe has watched in recent years as many of his old smallscreen creations have been given new life, but without his involvement..

Johnson was behind several smallscreen titles that remain iconic TV touchstones: The Bionic Woman, The Incredible Hulk, V and Alien Nation ( Which Johnson adapted from a previous feature )..

” Someone pointed out to me that I was now four for four,” Johnson says.. ” It’s flattering, wonderful to know that things I’ve created have staying power..”

The first two updates, however, have so far missed the mark, while the jury’s still out on the other two..

” Bionic “ was given an ill – fated NBC makeover, while ” Hulk “ turned into two lukewarm box office features.. Syfy is plotting another take on Alien Nation..

And then there’s V , which bows Nov. 3 and will run for four weeks before disappearing and then returning in the spring..

Among all his original programs, Johnson says he still receives the most attention for V ..

” Of all the emails I get, V is head and shoulders above the rest,” he says.. ” So many people tell me they first saw V when they were 10 or 12 and they loved the action, the spaceships.. Then they saw it again years later, and discovered that there was so much more going on there than they first realized..”

V wasn’t even originally about aliens, but revolved around a fascist takeover of the United States.. When NBC’s Brandon Tartikoff read the first draft, he told Johnson he didn’t think viewers would understand the concept..

Hence the decision to make it about alien V isitors..

” What it was really about was power and people in power,” he said.. ” It’s funny, when you go back and look at my original V mini – series, there are a lot fewer special effects than people remember.. … My frustration originally was I couldn’t make it look the way I wanted it to look.. We didn’t have the money or even the tools..”

People still recall the lizards and the big spaceships hovering over the nation’s cities, and those two signatures also play a role in the updated V .. That’s why Johnson grew concerned when his credit on the revival went to Writers’ Guild arbitration..

Johnson feared that he was being completely iced out of the revival, while Warner Bros. TV says there was a misunderstanding – claiming the plan was to simply make sure they identified the legally acceptable credit for Johnson ( And avoid a skirmish down the road )..

The Writers Guild opted to give Johnson a ” created by “ credit, and everyone appears to have moved on..

” None of us would be here without Ken Johnson, who did the original V mini – series, which was obviously a phenomenal success,” Peters says.. ” So we owe a lot to him.. In that vein, we wanted to make sure as we moved forward that we made sure that we honored and respected the characters and the themes that that show envisioned and tried not to step on those and introduced brand new characters and brand new themes that would make sense in a post – 9 / 11 world.. So it’s really an honor to be able to take the story forward.. We’re hoping to bring a whole new set of fans as well as the folks who watched it originally..”

Johnson may still prove to be a slight nuisance for Warner Bros. TV, as he pushes ahead with a rival V project for the bigscreen..

” When I discovered that I controlled the motion picture rights to V , I suddenly had a lot of new best friends,” Johnson says.. ” All the major studios, Fox, Paramount, MGM, Warners, wanted to buy the rights with a whole lot of money.. They see it as a $200 million tentpole picture, and want to bring someone else to direct.. I took a deep breath and said no..”

Since he’s watched his smallscreen creations take new life without his involvement, Johnson isn’t interested in letting V go..

” I got into the business to direct and do what I do,” Johnson says.. ” So what we’ve been endeavoring to do is to set up an independent production and produce this movie for $50 million. So I can hang on to the director reins and make sure it gets done..”

Johnson dismisses concerns that viewers might be confused over two separate V franchises at the same time.. He notes that ” Star Trek “ has existed with different worlds on TV and in film at the same time – ditto ” Smallville “ on TV and ” Superman “ on the bigscreen..

” I certainly wish Jace Hall and Scott Peters well on their series,” he says.. ” They’ve been respectful of me and my original work and that’s rewarding in itself..”

But Johnson’s also eager to revisit V the way he wanted to make it..

” There’s a sense that not only do I know the themes, but it’s also because I’ve had that one on one connection with the audience over the years,” he says.. ” I really listened to them and have got a pretty good sense of how to make V work..”

Posted on - 31-10-2009
Categories: Articles, Interview, Kenneth Johnson, V: The New Series, V: The Original - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -

Here is a photoshop designed ” FanArt ” of Anna ( Morena Baccarin ) and Diana ( Jane Badler )..

Posted on - 09-10-2009
Categories: Actor / Actress, Cast, Character, FanArt, FanMade, Jane Badler, Morena Baccarin, Pics, V: The New Series, V: The Original - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -

EW.com has voted V: The Original in 12th place, in the Top 20 Greatest Sci – Fi TV Shows..

Source: EW.com

Posted on - 07-10-2009
Categories: Articles, Kenneth Johnson, Pics, V: The Original - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -