"Tru Calling"

While I never quite got into "Tru Calling", I was intrigued by the premise (and possibly I stopped watching because it conflicted with another show). Tru Davies, played by Eliza Dushku of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" fame, was a young woman who discovered that she had the ability to jump back in time 24 hours, and affect the lives of someone who was in trouble (and most likely ended up dead). While the premise certainly drew on other shows ("Quantum Leap", the aforementioned "Nightmare Cafe", "Sliders") it was unique it its own way, and fans certainly weren't happy when the series was given the axe.

I was able to find the following information on what would have happened should been given a third season:

There are two great Powers in the universe concerned with humanity's fate; one that laid out the original plan that history has been following since the beginning of time, and one that wants to change that plan (what ultimate goal either side is working toward remains unknown, possibly even to the show's creators). The first power is more strict and authoritarian in its view of humanity, whereas the second is "more accepting of individual freedom and choice."
Whenever someone dies who may be important to the overall scheme of things (and, presumably, in a way that would serve the second power's purposes), an agent of that power approaches the person and offers them a choice- they can either move on, or return and have a shot at resuming their old life. If they want a second chance, all they have to do is ask for it. If they do, Davies goes back and relives the day, with a view to saving that person's life.
Every time Davies saves someone who has asked for her help, she steers the destiny of our world a little farther away from what the first power intended, and a little closer to what the agents of the second power want.
Harper, Davies' nemesis, has a very big advantage over her, her father was his mentor(who was Harper's predecessor, just as Davies' mother was hers). Davies is working in the dark, learning as she goes along, but Harper has an older, more experienced counterpart who can share knowledge and wisdom from a long line of predecessors with his young protege. Davies, of course, was robbed of this potentially crucial advantage because of her mother's untimely death.
Harper became Davies' counterpart after being approached by agents of the first power during his near-death experience. They offered him a choice: he could either die, or return to Earth to do their bidding. Once he got back, his memories of the encounter were hazy, and he didn't initially understand what was happening when his days started rewinding (at around the time that Davies' did). He eventually wound up in an asylum, which is where Davies' father found him.
The central conflict of the show's mythology was never meant to be perceived as a simple, straightforward "good versus evil" scenario. Rather, the creators intended to portray the battle in such a way that either side could conceivably be right- and, at the very least, to show that the soldiers on both sides certainly believe that what they're doing is right. Harper and Davies' father truly believe that she is disrupting the balance of the universe by doing what she does; Davies, of course, believes otherwise. Who would have turned out to be right? These are the questions the producers of the show meant for us to ponder.
A future storyline on the show would have dealt with the possible repercussions if Harper ever decided that he no longer wanted to fulfill his end of the bargain (i.e., to continue doing the first power's bidding).
Another storyline (which was actually in progress when the show ended) would have dealt with the consequences of Davies' saving someone who hadn't asked for her help. Because that person was either never given the choice to come back, or was and chose not to take it, he would have essentially lost his soul after being saved by Davies, and would then have begun spiralling into increasingly menacing behavior as his humanity faded away and his personality began to disintegrate.
(From Wikipedia, The Online Web Encyclopedia)

tv television Tru Calling

"Eerie, Indiana"

"To whom it may concern. If you're reading this document, it means I'm either dead - or disappeared under mysterious circumstances. My name is Marshall Teller. Not long ago I was living in New Jersey just across the river from New York City. It was crowded, polluted, and full of crime. I loved it. But my parents wanted a better life for my sister and me - so we moved to a place so wholesome, so squeaky clean, you could only find it on TV. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Sure, my new home town *looks* normal enough, but look again. What's wrong with this picture? The American dream come true, right? Wrong. Nobody believes me, but this is the center of weirdness for the entire planet. Eerie, Indiana. My home sweet home. Still don't believe me? You will."


Reaching again into the vault of my mind, I was reminded of this show that aired in 1991. It had almost a full season complement (19 episodes) before it was cancelled. "Eerie, Indiana" was told from the point of view of Marshall, who kept a diary of all the strange things that happened in Eerie (which, not so ironically, was supposed to be the most normal town in the US). Eerie was a place where Elvis was sited regularly, dogs could sometimes talk (and didn't they *ahem* have a bone to pick) and where people (mostly kids) would sometimes disappear and artificially intelligent ATMs made friends with a little boy and gave him lots of spending money. The show was great and inventive, "Twilight Zone" meets "X-Files" (though X-Files didn't premiere until 1993)...and is actually out on DVD!! While it is currently unknown what plans there were for a second season, I'm sure it would have dealt more with "old" Marshall and how he ended up being able to go into the past (or did he exist at the same time...) and more of the shows mythology.

Welcome to Eerie, Indiana, Population: 16,661.

tv television Eerie, Indiana

...and now back to our show, "Nightmare Cafe"

I'm not sure what made me think of this show last night (though I can tell you it was late, and I was REALLY tired), but this show about a cafe floating in space, starring none other than Robert Englund (of Freddy Krueger fame), popped into my head. I couldn't remember the name, but a little IMDB.com research reminded me the name was "Nightmare Cafe." While only 6 episodes of this show ever aired back in 1992(!) apparently it left some sort of an impression on me.

"Nightmare Cafe" told the story of Frank and Fay, who after a mysterious brush with death, found themselves both at the Cafe, where they met Blackie, an enigmatic man who appeared to know much more than them about their current situation, but delighted in not sharing it. When Frank and Fay tried to leave...they either ended up right back in the cafe...or found themseles floating through space. In the premiere, each of them was given the chance to go back and change the fates that lead them to the Cafe in the first place. From then on, working together, they would help others who somehow, magically, stumbled into the Cafe.

The show was really neat, had a great premise, and died WAAAAYYYY before its time. Because there isn't a ton of information on what would have happened (this show was on TV before the internet became so popular) we did manage to dig up some interviews where actress Lindsey Frost ("Fay") alluded to the fact that perhaps she and Frank may have met in a previous life and that future episodes would have explored their connection.

Unfortunately, this show is not available on DVD, though it does occasionally air on the SCIFI channel.
tv television Nightmare Cafe

Now That You've Bought Your Favorite Shows on DVD...

why not make a night of it? Invite someone(or a group of special someones)to view your favorite show with you and surprise them with a gift basket? Order a great "movie-night" basket, or a "thank-you" basket as a token of appreciation for subjecting them to hours of the same show :). One of the "thank-you" Gift Baskets features a host of great snacks, while the "movie-night" basket features everything a popcorn lover could want!

tv television

"And now a word from our sponsor..."

Need a beautiful bouquet for a loved one or for yourself as a little pick-me-up? Consider getting a Flower Delivery of Calla Lilies, Daisies (always a cheerful favorite), or Dahlias, whose bright and sunny colors will brighten any room. For great deals, follow the link!

tv television

More Everwood Scoopage

While fans are still pleading hard for another season of "Everwood", it looks like it is really and truly done. But, thanks to "Watch With Kristin" over at www.eonline.com, we did get a little bit more information as to what would have happened next season. Kristin asked Greg Berlanti if [Hannah and Bright] would have ended up together and lived happily ever after. " 'I think ultimately, yes, definitely,' Berlanti said. And here comes the shocker! (At least it was to me.) 'I can tell you that one of my sort-of plans for the year was that I was going to temporarily put Hannah and Ephram together," he revealed, 'and sort of twist everything up a bit. But I still would've brought the core couples back together in the end.'
"He talked about the alternate ending (in which Madison reappeared) and said: 'To be honest, those cliffhangers were more setups for next year. We would've had almost the same number of payoffs for sort of the life of the series. Because we would've been trying to sort of redefine the show next year, I think, in certain regards. It was sort of a pivotal moment. Had the show gone on, I think it would've started to focus more on Andy's relationship with Delia, and, of course, it's not so much a widower's journey anymore, because we would've done the wedding, and there would've been some other very rewarding storylines.'"

Yikes! Hannah and Ephram??!?!?!???! I think I'm almost happy to have seen the end if that were true (though I can imagine it would have been something like...well, maybe I have a crush on her/him, with some sort of an awkward kiss, and the realization that they are more like siblings).

Well...there ya have it, again...kind of.


tv television Everwood

Want to Catch Up on Your Favorite Shows?

If you want to watch all of your old favorite shows that have come out on DVD, but can't afford to purchase or rent them (which, with some series having several discs as well as numerous seasons--you could probably buy them for what it would cost to rent them all), I suggest signing up for Netflix. This is a great service, and usually has those hard to find DVDs as well as most TV series as they are released (this is how we were able to watch the first season of "Dead Like Me'--post about DLM coming soon. tv television

"Joan of Arcadia" update

As I posted before, I had sent an e-mail to Barbara Hall's production company, hoping that they would be able to provide me with some information as to how the next season of "Joan" might have progressed. While I didn't receive the answer I was looking for, I did receive a nice response from Ms. Hall's assistant, Amy. While she didn't have any further information as to the direction "Joan" would have gone, she did tell me that Ms. Hall has not given up the idea of writing a book that would detail the rest of Joan's story.

So, perhaps fans of the show can send their support via e-mail (I won't post it here, but a little googling might find it) and hope that a resolution comes soon.

Thanks, Amy!
tv television

Heroes ...taking slight departure here

While I haven't seen anything but a four minute preview, this show looks AWESOME! And, as all awesome shows seemed to get cancelled before their time, I'd like to make sure this one gets a decent shot at staying around. So, I'm taking this opportunity to talk about the show, make sure you watch the clip on NBC and then watch this show so that it doesn't go the way of all the good shows listed below.

Heroes begins around a solar eclipse that changes people all over the world. Seemingly ordinary people suddenly begin to discover that they can do something extraordinary. A young man in Japan discovers he can stop time at will (and possibly teleport himself); a cheerleader discovers she is "unbreakable", a Vegas stripper learns her mirror image has a secret; a young man becomes to believe he can fly and a painter discovers he is painting scenes of the future. There are others as well...but I don't want to spoil it all here. It completely sounds like it could be hokey and cheesy, but watch the preview at NBC and see for yourself.
tv television Heroes NBC Fall Shows