New TZ article- Read it if you are a fan of the ep "It's a Good Life"

[DarleneIllyria]

I was just browsing scifi.com and I came across this article.

Zone Goes Back To Future

Producers of UPN's The Twilight Zone told SCI FI Wire that the show next week will begin shooting a sequel to the classic 1959 episode "It's a Good Life," in which a 6-year-old Billy Mumy sent people to the cornfield—with a now-middle-aged Mumy reprising the role of Anthony Fremont and Cloris Leachman again playing his mother. In another twist, Mumy's real-life daughter, Liliana, will play Fremont's daughter, who also has paranormal abilities, in the new episode, called "It's Still a Good Life," the producers said.

"We just signed Cloris Leachman [to reprise the role] as his mother," executive producer Ira Steven Behr said in an interview. "We have Bill playing Anthony Fremont, [the] same character. He's going to be wishing people into the cornfields. And we meet his daughter in real life, Liliana Mumy, who's an actress who was in The Santa Clause 2. She's going to be playing his daughter on the show, who is also going to have those Fremont powers. So that's going to be a really exciting show, and I know the network is really excited about it." The episode is slated to air in February.

Behr added that the show will soon update another classic episode, Rod Serling's "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street," this time starring Andrew McCarthy. The original episode, in which residents of a suburban neighborhood turn on each other, reflected the 1960s paranoia about communism. "In this case, it's the fear of terrorism," Behr said. "The big change in the show is ... that what was cutting-edge at the time was to suspect each other. ... Is your neighbor a communist? And in this one, ... instead of the whole neighborhood falling apart, it's everyone banding together to blame this one family. So it's kind of different. ... This is a show about the scapegoat. And I think that's what we do nowadays. We have a lot of problems that can't be solved, and we look for convenient scapegoats."

Added executive producer Pen Densham, "It doesn't go away, although I think in our world there's a whole new set of politics that are going on that makes the story relevant again. What Rod Serling did was to speak about issues through allegory or parable, and I think this is a parable that's just sort of come back again to be reviewed." The Twilight Zone airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2003-01/16/12.00.tv

[TVgen62]

Thanks, Jenny, for giving me a reason to watch this series; I'll keep an eye out for them both :eyes2: . I've been disappointed with revivals of TZ before because they were unimaginative and/or lacking in subtlety. Although the episodes you described are retellings (or retoolings?) of the original series' episodes, they both sound promising!

Uh-oh! If they're good, then I'll be tempted to continue watching the series which may, or may not, otherwise suck! Could my "thanks" be premature? :lol:

[DarleneIllyria]

Originally posted by TVgen62
Thanks, Jenny, for giving me a reason to watch this series; I'll keep an eye out for them both :eyes2: . I've been disappointed with revivals of TZ before because they were unimaginative and/or lacking in subtlety. Although the episodes you described are retellings (or retoolings?) of the original series' episodes, they both sound promising!

Uh-oh! If they're good, then I'll be tempted to continue watching the series which may, or may not, otherwise suck! Could my "thanks" be premature? :lol:

Glad to have you on the TZ board, TVgen. :)

I was talking to a friend of mine when I find the article and while I was reading it, I kind of got this nervous feeling. It's good they got Billy and Cloris back, but then you have the chance of them screwing it up anyway. I'll def. tape the episode, though. I love the original episode. I just hope the new TZ does a good job. I wish them the best of luck on doing a good job.

[TVgen62]

Originally posted by Jenny
I was talking to a friend of mine when I find the article and while I was reading it, I kind of got this nervous feeling. It's good they got Billy and Cloris back, but then you have the chance of them screwing it up anyway.

That's always the risk, it seems. You're thrilled that something you enjoyed is being revived and reinvented, but will it live up to your expectations? Is this going to be a loving homage or a blasphemous nightmare? Will this taint how I feel about the original or will I appreciate it all the more? At 4:00 PM, will I shrink to 2 feet tall or will I remain my current height? (Oops! Sorry, that was last night's episode on Sci-fi Channel. BTW, I HATE the style of their new logo! It's still an outline of the planet Saturn, but it's too big and no longer transparent. It's not subtle or elegant like it used to be.)

[DarleneIllyria]

Originally posted by TVgen62


That's always the risk, it seems. You're thrilled that something you enjoyed is being revived and reinvented, but will it live up to your expectations? Is this going to be a loving homage or a blasphemous nightmare? Will this taint how I feel about the original or will I appreciate it all the more? At 4:00 PM, will I shrink to 2 feet tall or will I remain my current height? (Oops! Sorry, that was last night's episode on Sci-fi Channel. BTW, I HATE the style of their new logo! It's still an outline of the planet Saturn, but it's too big and no longer transparent. It's not subtle or elegant like it used to be.)

I love that 4 'o clock episode. That one was so cool.

It just seems to me that a bunch of stations are making some of these logos just to irritate people. I just absolutely hate watching something and the logo gets in your way. I understand that a channel needs a logo, but you could make it transparent and it won't stand out that much. You know it's there, but it just isn't that noticeable.

TNN gets on my nerves. I hate the black bar on that station. I usually never watch TNN but they showed the original Star Trek movies about a month or two ago and the black bar is such a distraction. I guess you could say I nit pick. I notice whenever the words don't match up to the mouth movements and that just takes my attention away from the movie. I'm that kind of person.

[TVgen62]

Originally posted by Jenny

It just seems to me that a bunch of stations are making some of these logos just to irritate people. I just absolutely hate watching something and the logo gets in your way...I guess you could say I nit pick...I'm that kind of person.

If not for "nits", what would one pick?? (Uh...don't answer that. And definately don't show me!!) :eek4:

Sorry for veering off topic with this logo business (my middle name is "but I digress") but how does this affect closed captioning for the hearing impaired? You'd think the FCC or ACLU would get on their asses (Are we allowed to say "asses"?) about this. At the very least I'd think it would be violation of the ADA!?

[DarleneIllyria]

Originally posted by TVgen62


If not for "nits", what would one pick?? (Uh...don't answer that. And definately don't show me!!) :eek4:

Sorry for veering off topic with this logo business (my middle name is "but I digress") but how does this affect closed captioning for the hearing impaired? You'd think the FCC or ACLU would get on their asses (Are we allowed to say "asses"?) about this. At the very least I'd think it would be violation of the ADA!?

lol

You know, that is a good question. I usually don't have the closed caption on when I'm watching tv, but that is an interesting thought.

I could go off on a different topic too- split credits. I love writing short stories, I'm not interested in writing for television. I do notice that they shrink the credits up so tiny that you really can't even see names. Now if you worked your ass off on a tv show and you did a script, story, or whatever. Wouldn't you want people to see your name? Geez, the only way you could see your name on some of these stations is to record the show and pause the credits and get a magnifying glass in order to see some of your name.

All of that should be stopped, imo.

[BrandonS]

For those who like this episode, the short story it's based on by Jerome Bixby was good too. I'm not sure what collection I read it in, though. It was a long time ago.

[DarleneIllyria]

Okay, both episodes are airing on Feb. 19th.

Info:

SHOW TITLE: The Twilight Zone
EPISODE: It's Still a Good Life; The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street
CATEGORY: SciFi
SYNOPSIS: A man (Bill Mumy) learns his 6-year-old daughter possesses a fearsome power; a man (Andrew McCarthy) watches his neighborhood descend into chaos.
CHANNEL: 7 [WUPA]
DATE / TIME: February 19: 9:00PM
NOTES: English

Edit: I got my info from zap2it.com. WUPA is my UPN station. Just check out your UPN station and you can see the show. Just wanted to clear that up.

[TVgen62]

Thanks for the info, Jenny. I'll mark it on my calendar!

It looks like the updated versions are half-hour formats like the originals. Of course, since I don't ordinarily watch the new show, I never thought to ask.

[DarleneIllyria]

Another article:

Mumy Back In Zone Cornfield

Bill Mumy, who reprises the role of Anthony Fremont in an upcoming sequel episode of UPN's The Twilight Zone, told SCI FI Wire that it was a challenge getting back into the mindset of a character he first played when he was only 7 years old. Mumy first played Fremont in the classic 1961 Zone episode "It's a Good Life," about a small boy with omnipotent powers who sends people to the cornfield.

In the sequel, "It's Still a Good Life," Mumy, now 49, plays Fremont as a grown man with a daughter of his own, played by Mumy's real-life daughter, Liliana. "I think the hardest thing for me was to really reconnect with the monster that is Anthony Fremont, because that's how he was described in the original, and that's really what he is," Mumy said in an interview.

Mumy added that he had to find a balance in the character, given his affection for his daughter. "She's obviously his emotional touchstone, and his love for his daughter is obvious," Mumy said. "And Anthony always thought he was doing the right thing, if you think about it. He didn't take away electricity and take away cars and things like that to punish people. He took it away because he didn't like it, so he figured they were bad."

Cloris Leachman, who played Anthony's mother in the original 1961 episode, also returns in the same role, Mumy said. "It was really easy [to get her]," he said. "She read it and said, 'Oh God, I don't want anyone else to do this.' And the work on-camera between me and Cloris and Liliana felt really strong, I have to say. I've been doing this since 1959. I've worked with a lot of talented people, and I've done a lot of good stuff, and this feels like way up on the list right now." "It's Still a Good Life," written by executive producer Ira Steven Behr and directed by Allan Kroeker, airs at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Feb. 19.

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2003-02/12/13.00.tv

[DarleneIllyria]

Just found another article. It also has 2 cool pics and I'll try to post the pics.

UPN Says 'It's Still a Good Life' on 'The Twilight Zone'
Mon, Feb 17, 2003 12:23 PM PDT

by Kate O'Hare
Zap2it





LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - In a darkened editing room at the offices of UPN's "The Twilight Zone" in Hollywood, executive producers Pen Densham and Ira Steven Behr sit on a couch, puzzling over the best way to segue between two shows separated by decades but linked by story and by blood.

First, the screen shows the black-and-white face of freckled, 7-year-old Anthony Fremont, leaning on a gate, looking all innocent, like he's going to go play a game of catch or run after a puppy or something. Then that face morphs slowly into a girl of about the same age, but now in color, with the same freckles and red hair. She's sitting in a tree.

It's all just so warm and fuzzy -- except it's not.

Those who saw "It's a Good Life," based on a short story by Jerome Bixby, which premiered in Nov. 1961, know that the cherubic face of Anthony, played by Bill (then Billy) Mumy, conceals a monster within. Anthony can read the thoughts of anyone around him and, if those thoughts displease him, can use the power of his mind to maim, torture or kill (otherwise known as sending someone "to the cornfield" ) as he chooses.

In fact, he has already used that power to banish his entire Ohio hometown somewhere into "The Twilight Zone."

On Wednesday, Feb. 19, UPN's revival of "The Twilight Zone," with host Forest Whitaker, premieres two episodes inspired by stories from the show's past, which were both written by original show host and creator Rod Serling.

The hour closes with an updating of the classic "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street," written by Erin Maher and Kay Reindl and directed by Debbie Allen. The episode stars Andrew McCarthy as a middle-class man driven into fear and paranoia when communication with the outside world is cut off. The original aired in 1960.

First up, though, is "It's Still a Good Life," which doesn't remake the original. "It's a sequel," says Behr. "With 'Maple Street,' there's a reason to do it as a remake, because that paranoia, that fear, it's like 40 years have not come and gone. That fear has moved from the fear of communism and bug-eyed aliens, and now it's terrorism. But that fear and what it does to people remain the same. That's why it's a valid story to do."

With "Good Life," however, Behr says he had a sequel in mind from the outset -- "partly because I knew Bill, and I know his daughter. I know his daughter is a very wonderful little actress, and I thought, 'Boy, what are the chances of that same red hair, same face? There's a sequel right there in front of my eyes.' "

In "It's Still a Good Life," Anthony is now a grown man with a daughter, 6-year-old Audrey (Liliana Mumy), who is starting to develop the same powers as he had. This brings hope to Anthony's mother, Marion (Cloris Leachman, reprising her role), who sees Audrey as a tool to finally destroy her father.

"She definitely has those powers," says Mumy, now 49. "Let's say there's a plot in place to usurp the throne, but that isn't necessarily what happens. That's enough for me to say."

Behr, who wrote the episode, and Mumy knew that they had to get Leachman. "Ira and I both were passionately aggressive about getting her to do this," Mumy says. "We were very lucky. She is proprietorial about it and quickly came on board. Cloris Leachman is a national treasure. What a gift for me, as an actor, to be working opposite her again."

Not only that, but it's Mumy's first chance to work with his daughter, whose credits include "My Wife and Kids," "Scrubs," "That '70s Show" and "The Santa Clause 2." "It was a joy for us to work together," he says.

"I am serious when I tell you this, but I think the Fremonts would be a great television series. This show ends on a note that I would love to pick up and do every week. It's a concept that can reinvent itself, because of the nature of the characters, any time it wants to."

Although he was a child actor -- or perhaps because of it -- Mumy has no reservations about Liliana pursuing a career. "If she wasn't happy doing it, or if her ego started to get way out of control, we would just yank the plug."

But one does wonder just why anyone would have a relationship with Anthony Fremont. Mumy laughs. "That's a visual you won't see on television. What do you mean, who would date him? Like he's going to give you a choice? 'Uh, you! I'm going to marry you, and then I'm going to send you to the cornfield when I feel like it.' The girl's mother was sent to the cornfield."

The original "It's a Good Life" episode of "The Twilight Zone" airs at 11:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, Feb. 19 on Sci Fi Channel.

http://tv.zap2it.com/news/tvnewsdaily.html?30191

http://tv.zap2it.com/images/people/50-80/m/billmumy_twilightzone80.jpg

http://tv.zap2it.com/images/shows/t/twilightzone/twilightzone_mumy_leachman_002.jpg

[DarleneIllyria]

I'm unsticking the thread.

How did everybody like the ep? I did miss a couple of minutes of "It's Still a Good Life". Overall, it was one of the best new TZ episodes that I've watched. I've only watched a few new TZ eps. I was very disappointed by the first few episodes and stopped watching it. I watched the episode for ISAGL and they didn't really screw it up. I really had fears that they would really screw the whole thing up.

I didn't catch the Maple Street ep. I flipped it back to Birds of Prey after ISAGL went off. I'll watch the ep again today and come back and post what I thought of Maple Street.

By the way, Bill still looks pretty good. He looks like he's in his 30s, I know he isn't in his 30s, but he still looks pretty good. It was nice to have Bill Mumy and Cloris Leachman back.

[DarleneIllyria]

Okay, just got finished watching the Maple Street episode. I really and truly didn't like it. I still stand by the fact that the ISAGL episode was the best episode of the new TZ that I've caught so far.

The Life sequel really seemed to capture the spirit of the old episode. Maple Street didn't really capture anything of the old episode. If you want to catch the good deal, catch the old Maple Street ep.

[TVgen62]

Originally posted by Jenny
Okay, just got finished watching the Maple Street episode. I really and truly didn't like it. I still stand by the fact that the ISAGL episode was the best episode of the new TZ that I've caught so far.

The Life sequel really seemed to capture the spirit of the old episode. Maple Street didn't really capture anything of the old episode. If you want to catch the good deal, catch the old Maple Street ep.

Thank you! You've captured the essence of my opinions of each episode.

Although "It's Still A Good Life" went in a somewhat different direction than I hoped, it made good use of the core material. And don't you just love Cloris Leachman?! She's awesome!

I felt "The Monsters are on Maple Street" was ultimately unbelievable. Strangely, I more readily accept the original episode's "corker" of an alien plot. This government experimentation angle I just couldn't swallow. Possibly because the revelation at the end of the original episode seemed to be thrown in merely as a "gotcha" for the viewers and not the point of the story. In the remake, I felt that too much was made of the cause of events. Also, I thought the acting, particularly that of Andrew McCarthy, was "phoned-in". A real disappointment.

[DarleneIllyria]

Originally posted by TVgen62


Thank you! You've captured the essence of my opinions of each episode.

Although "It's Still A Good Life" went in a somewhat different direction than I hoped, it made good use of the core material. And don't you just love Cloris Leachman?! She's awesome!

I felt "The Monsters are on Maple Street" was ultimately unbelievable. Strangely, I more readily accept the original episode's "corker" of an alien plot. This government experimentation angle I just couldn't swallow. Possibly because the revelation at the end of the original episode seemed to be thrown in merely as a "gotcha" for the viewers and not the point of the story. In the remake, I felt that too much was made of the cause of events. Also, I thought the acting, particularly that of Andrew McCarthy, was "phoned-in". A real disappointment.

Do you think being such big fans of the original TZ show kind of spoils anything else TZ related? I really think the fans of the old TZ show are true thinkers. Rod Serling and all the original writers had such damn good imaginations and could tell a story and most of them were so unpredictable.

Fast forward a few years for all these new Twilight Zone shows, and they really can't capture the old series. They never top Rod and the original and never even come close to the originals. Now if we were just two ordinary people that have never watched the original TZ, we might be telling a totally different story here. We might be freaked out by the new TZ episodes. We might even be calling some of the writers of this new TZ a bunch of geniuses.

However, we have watched the original TZ show and we're just disappointed in most new TZ show revamps. You really wanna know what I compare the new TZ show to? I'm not sure if anybody is familiar with the 'Goosebumps' series. They were written by R.L Stein. I read that book series when I was a little girl and during those years, those books seemed so cool. You had the little mini twists that would appeal to a person. I'm older now and I bet if I managed to get my hands on one of the Goosebumps books now, I bet I would probably be able to tell you all the twists before I get to the twists. That's how it was with the earlier new TZ episodes that I watched. I managed to predict the big twist like 15 minutes into the episode.

Rod's original show was meant as a thinking show. You really don't have that many thinking shows in 2003. Reality shows are the big thing now and reality shows aren't really on the level for a lot of thinking. Thinking shows went out a hell of a long time ago, I'm afraid. Viewers just don't like to think while watching a tv show. Thinking is used for school and work, who really wants to think while watching a tv show? It's sad in a way. I love to watch the old TZ show and just think about the stories. The old show just inspires me in so many ways.

I shouldn't assume that all viewers don't like to think while watching a tv show. I'm sure we have so many people that crave for something more. They want another kind of tv show instead of some of the stuff out there now.

[TVgen62]

Originally posted by Jenny

Do you think being such big fans of the original TZ show kind of spoils anything else TZ related?
Very much so. It's like trying to duplicate Grandma's cooking --Even when you have all the ingredients and follow her recipe to the letter, it just doesn't taste as good as Grandma's. (Most of the time, we're lucky to get 2 out of 3!)

Originally posted by Jenny

I really think the fans of the old TZ show are true thinkers...Rod's original show was meant as a thinking show. You really don't have that many thinking shows in 2003. Reality shows...aren't really on the level for a lot of thinking. Thinking shows went out a hell of a long time ago, I'm afraid. Viewers just don't like to think while watching a tv show...I shouldn't assume that all viewers don't like to think while watching a tv show. I don't even want to think about it. :rolleyes: Truthfully though, there were some whimsical episodes that didn't demand any mental gymnastics from the viewers. Also, the original series is equally adept at tapping into our emotions and conscience. The copycats are crude and predictable (as you noted).

[DarleneIllyria]

Originally posted by TVgen62
Very much so. It's like trying to duplicate Grandma's cooking --Even when you have all the ingredients and follow her recipe to the letter, it just doesn't taste as good as Grandma's. (Most of the time, we're lucky to get 2 out of 3!)

Yeah, exactly.

It sucks that they even use the Twilight Zone name. People that like any TZ show will tune in and watch the first few episodes. If they had called it something else, it might be gone by now. Seriously, I don't see this new TZ lasting much longer and I just hope they don't screw up anymore old episodes.

[TVgen62]

Once again, Jenny, we're in synch on this:

Originally posted by Jenny
Yeah, exactly.
It sucks that they even use the Twilight Zone name. People that like any TZ show will tune in and watch the first few episodes. If they had called it something else, it might be gone by now.
The use of the TZ name, IMO, is just an easy way to draw an audience without necessarily having a worthwhile product. :turkey:
(I hope the licensing of the TZ name is costing somebody dearly.)

Originally posted by Jenny

Seriously, I don't see this new TZ lasting much longer and I just hope they don't screw up anymore old episodes.
It wouldn't last if there was anything decent to put in its place. But it will, because there isn't. (Huh?!) :confused:





:ufo:

"It's...it's a cookbook!!" :faint:

[DarleneIllyria]

Originally posted by TVgen62
Once again, Jenny, we're in synch on this:


It wouldn't last if there was anything decent to put in its place. But it will, because there isn't. (Huh?!) :confused:





:ufo:

"It's...it's a cookbook!!" :faint:

Unless they find a reality show to replace it. That's a whole new rant to me. I don't know about everybody else, but I'm getting so sick of all the reality shows. One or two reality shows wouldn't matter. I'd be fine with two shows, but it seems like every station is going into this reality craze. I can't exactly blame the stations for cranking them all out. If people keep watching the shows, they'll of course make new ones to satisfy the viewers. If people would stop watching them, they'd go away.

Well, I might be the only person that feels this way about reality shows. I bet by the end of it, I'll have quite a few people on my side.

[DarleneIllyria]

Another article:

UPN In The Zone

An episode featuring back-to-back remakes of two popular stories from the original Twilight Zone boosted UPN's new series to ratings victory, the network announced. The episode, which aired on Feb. 19, was viewed by 3.3 million viewers and earned the series its highest rating since Oct. 23, 2002.

The episode's two half-hour segments included It's Still a Good Life, a sequel to a 1961 episode in which Billy Mumy played a boy with the power to make whatever he wished come true, and The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street, a timely remake of an episode which first ran in 1960.

Enterprise, which follows The Twilight Zone, also benefited from the increased viewership, garnering 4.6 million viewers, the largest Wednesday night audience since Nov. 4, 2002

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2003-02/21/10.00.tv