Dare I ask Re Taken

[Javier Ariel Garza (Jag)]

Ok, <BR> <BR>Those that saw it, what did you think? I'll chime in later, but, the writers did like Texas didn't they? <BR> <BR>I was waiting for a "McAllen, Texas 1945" to appear. :oP <BR> <BR>-=JAG!

[Rick Santillo (Rjs)]

I only saw a few minutes of it, not enough to put an opinion on it. I'm sure they wll play it again Sam.

[Kefla (Kefla)]

I'm watching the series because I can't help myself. <IMG SRC="http://www.electric-ent.com/bbs/clipart/sad.gif" ALT=":("> After 2 installments, all I can say is: Imagine putting all your favorite things (from The Visitor) in a bag, shaking it up, adding spice for ratings, empty it out . . . . and what you've got is a conglomeration of little pieces. The pieces, though, are still quite identifiable. Talk about "Visitorisms". Ack! <BR> <BR>I'm with you, Jag. Maybe I'll chime in later when I can be more objective.

[Javier Ariel Garza (Jag)]

Yes, I noticed those "Visitorisms" -- maybe not as astute as you Visitor pros, but I caught a few. :o) <BR> <BR>I've stopped watching tho... but I can say the website is nice. I just think back tho about how Dean pretty much pioneered all this stuff way back when.. I mean, had the internet evolved a bit when the Visitor was airing, Dean would of made sure to have had a "dynamic" screensaver among other goodies, like Taken. <BR> <BR>I'm still waiting for the Electric Entertainment television network (EETV -- nice ring to it). -- <BR> <BR>Speaking of which, last year on 12/31, Dean posted about some Television deals for this year.. guess they fell through -- but here's hoping those plans and others emerge in the near future...Afterall, EE has already (indirectly) entered the "radio" market. ;o) <grin> <BR> <BR>-=JAG!

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

Paramount has been dragging their feet getting any coin to Electric for their put pics, so Dean and Co. have been in limbo for the past year. Variety recently likened today's Hollywood production pacts to marriages, verses romances. (Marriages are harder to get out of.) <BR> <BR>Dean, two words: GO INDIE! <BR> <BR>As for "Taken," yeah, I'm still watching. Got hooked after the second episode. No doubt, the show is rife with Visitor references, be they intentional or otherwise, so it's hard not to laugh in places.

[Sheri Gordon (Sheri)]

I haven't seen it yet, but from what y'all have described, I'd lump it in there with SG1. All Dean's projects get taken out from under him and ripped apart to be half the things they were supposed to be. <BR> <BR>Grrrr.

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

Well, The X-Files got "Taken" too, though it's harder to avoid since that show dealt with the *exact* same themes that this one does. <BR> <BR>Roswell <BR>Government cover-ups <BR>Repeat alien abductions of the same individuals <BR>The black eyes (that's a biggie) <BR>Cattle mutilations <BR>Aliens interacting with humans <BR>Implants that track humans but also end up killing them eventually <BR>Crop circles... <BR> <BR>I could go on. LOL <BR> <BR>And, just like The Visitor, The X-Files even had it's logo stolen: <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://www.john-corbett.com/temp/taken.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://www.john-corbett.com/temp/taken.jpg</A> <BR> <BR>Spielberg has no shame.

[Javier Ariel Garza (Jag)]

Exactly Sher. And he knows it as well.. <BR> <BR>The other day I happened upon an old 'chat' log on SciFi I think. I would put it in the Pre-Godzilla era as Dean didn't divulge much about the movie. I can't remember verbatim how he put it, but he acknowledges the fact that work he's been involved with usually gets "taken". Tis sad. <BR> <BR>Dean's pretty much said he doesn't really HATE SG1 (at least according to another interview I read), but I can empathize with his disliking of it since the plan for a trilogy has been all but nixed. <BR> <BR>As for Paramount -- on the outside ya'd of thought it would of been a nice partnership (and perhaps it still is). It seems Dean wouldn't mind playing a 'Vulcan' on a Star Trek show/movie.. <BR> <BR>Fanship aside, and it's probably easier said than done, I do believe going Indie would be a good choice. But, hey, the financial realities of running a company (any company) now, sometimes don't lend itself to such options. <BR> <BR>Being the intelligent and marketing-wonder that Dean is, I'm certain this is all old news for him and is already one, if not two steps ahead. <BR> <BR>-=JAG!

[Sheri Gordon (Sheri)]

Pat, methinks that was more in homage to X-Files. <IMG SRC="http://www.electric-ent.com/bbs/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":)"> There's a big difference between paying homage and outright starting a whole new TV series based on one that wasn't allowed to survive in the first place. <BR> <BR>Jag, things in the movie biz take time. Lots of time. I bet there still is TV plans, but development hell or some other similar thing has been putting things off. Look at how long Cellular has been "in the plans". And how long ago was The Carrier known about? *grin* <BR> <BR>All good things come to those who wait. When it comes time to pitch MY script though, I pity the poor sucker who tries to "take" it from me. *grin*

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

Okay, fair enough with the "homage" suggestion. But I still say more concepts were "Taken" from The X-Files than were lifted from The Visitor. As previously suggested however, it's hard to avoid coincidences (or "homages") in the subject matter because the general themes behind all three shows are so similar. <BR> <BR>As to what's taking so long with Electric, I told you already. It's not a matter of being in development hell. Paramount has not come through with funding for the pics that were a part of the initial production pact. <BR> <BR>From recent articles in Variety: <BR>Between 1998 and February 2002, the Hollywood majors on average slashed producing pacts by about 30%. Since February, such deals are up about 2%, but that includes Universal's acquisition of Focus Films and its eight production deals. Otherwise, the overall number of deals would actually drop by four. Paramount recently dumped five pacts and is now carrying just 17. <BR> <BR>While they may be happy to sign on, producers are finding the terms of such deals are not nearly as lavish as they once were. Deals used to entail generous terms for company staffing, lush offices and proud announcements of put pics (i.e., a studio's guarantee that it will make a certain number of a producer's films). <BR> <BR>Now, there's no guarantee of development funds, staffs are smaller and discretionary funds harder to come by. The new terms rep an equilibrium between studios' leaner budgets and their continuing faith in the production pact investment. Even Intermedia, which earned a reputation for handing out the fat overheads when no one else would, has slashed its deal count to six. <BR> <BR>There's another, longer list of producers who once held lofty spots in the studios' hearts, but who now find their companies without any deal. These include Martin Scorsese's Cappa, Sydney Pollack & Anthony Minghella's Mirage, Barry Levinson & Paula Weinstein's Baltimore/Spring Creek, Ed Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz's Bedford Falls, Peter Hoffman's Seven Arts, Gale Ann Hurd's Valhalla, producer Larry Gordon and director Barry Sonnenfeld. <BR> <BR>That's not to say those companies are moribund, their principals less productive or even that they don't have deals pending. But for now, if they're not working on a specific project, no studio is footing their bills. <BR> <BR>Likewise, a number of shingles have studio deals that include virtually no overhead. Companies like Bill Mechanic's Pandemonium, Armyan Bernstein's Beacon, and DD's Electric have spent much of the last year in limbo. Mechanic is still closing the financing that will solidify his shingle, Devlin is in a holding pattern at Paramount until his own coin is in place, and negotiations for Bernstein at Disney have yet to close.

[Kefla (Kefla)]

I can't imagine that following details and plot from The Visitor, as Taken most certainly does, would be considered homage. For those who haven't seen Taken but know a little something about The Visitor: A woman whose husband has left the home hears a noise and checks a darkened structure on her property. She finds an injured man who is not exactly what he seems to be - he has some relationship with extra-terrestrials and special abilities. He's running from government agents who are looking for him. The woman gives the man her husband's clothes. She lets him stay in her home. Her teenage son is suspicious of this "visitor" (and yes, they use that word). <BR> <BR>Would you have any trouble recognizing this plot? I thought homage meant including some detail that is reminiscent of another work, not lifting the plot, wholesale. <BR> <BR>Like I said, I'm watching Taken (although I can't keep up with 2 hours of the program every night). I just didn't expect to see The Visitor, recycled, repeatedly through this new series. Some of it may be related to the fact that the shows have the same theme, as you said, Pat. But I agree with Sheri, the new series has definitely been "taken" from works we've already seen.

[Kefla (Kefla)]

On second thought - after seeing the 3rd installment of Taken - it's nothing at all like The Visitor. <IMG SRC="http://www.electric-ent.com/bbs/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":)"> The Visitor's positive outlook is nowhere to be found in this one.

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

Agreed. The show started out having far too many Visitorisms for comfort, but it's progressed beyond that now, and if it has any similarities to a particular series at this point, it would be The X-Files, IMHO. Taken is a much more violent, non "happy" show. It's engaging and hooky, but I haven't come away from it with the same feel-good attitude that I had with The Visitor. There's a lot to be desired in Taken that The Visitor had innately. Basically, Taken works too hard at what The Visitor made effortless: a truly original story with believable characters. <BR> <BR>Having said that, I've just read some spoilers (don't worry - I won't spill here), and the final episode of Taken is unique enough for the show not to go down as a big rip-off.

[Sheri Gordon (Sheri)]

When I made the homage comment, I was referrig to just the one picture that Pat posted. <IMG SRC="http://www.electric-ent.com/bbs/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":)">

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

Yup, Isa gnew dat. :o) Homages are clearly referential, and inserted to BE noticed. The tail fin logo was definitely noticeable. LOL <BR> <BR>Gotta luv Kefla's description of the events in the first episode though huh? <BR> <BR>Pssst... Hey Kefla, just wait till you see the fifth episode. The only thing missing was the light coming from Jacob's hands as he places one over his mom's forehead, and the other on his stepbrother's arm, so that both could see Jacob's father, John, the visitor. [Stop laughing Sheri! Yes, that IS the character's name. How's THAT for an homage? LOL]

[Kefla (Kefla)]

Thanks for the heads up on the direction of the show, Pat. <IMG SRC="http://www.electric-ent.com/bbs/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":)"> Good thing Taken develops into something unique because I'm pretty much set on following it to the end. <BR> <BR>You wrote: <BR>"There's a lot to be desired in Taken that The Visitor had innately. Basically, Taken works too hard at what The Visitor made effortless: a truly original story with believable characters." <BR> <BR>Very well stated. We had far more realistic characters in The Visitor. Even Col. Vise had his redeeming side (if I add details, I'd have to move to The Visitor topic). Taken hits you over the head - could bad guy, Owen, be any more bad? Could Jesse be any more young, innocent and naive? LOL. The characters are so polarized and over-stated. <BR> <BR>I guess it's an indication of how much we enjoy the sci fi genre that we're willing to hang in there, complaining all the way. <IMG SRC="http://www.electric-ent.com/bbs/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":)">

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

I've found myself starting to nitpic the show, which is a bad thing because that means I like it LOL! When I watch a scene and I begin to rationalize why it doesn't hold water - I'm not just blowing it off anymore. ACK! <BR> <BR>(If you haven't been watching the show but still intend to do so, I warn you, STOP reading now 'cause I get specific and parts of the plot WILL be spoiled.) <BR> <BR>Good and bad characters: <BR>Yes, Owen gets worse with every episode. Unlike The Visitor's Vise character, Owen doesn't have any redeeming values. He is the epitome of the evil character that you want squashed by a circus elephant at the end of the episode LOL. But, having seen up to the fifth episode, I think that's by design. Owen is eventually replaced by other nefarious characters so the audience has a very clear cut character to loathe at any given point along the way. Seems to me to be lazy writing, or very sophomoric at best. At least Vise was driven by an honest desire to protect the planet in The Visitor. Owen's desire is self-serving - keeping his position and rank - regardless of how many people he has to kill along the way. <BR> <BR>You'd think Spielberg would have borrowed some ideas from ET. The "key" man (Peter Coyote) was the "bad" guy for a better part of the film, until it is revealed that he wants the same thing that Elliot wants. Even Darth Vader, black cloak and all, changes in the end. Nope, not Owen. LOL <BR> <BR>Biology: <BR>Carl Sagan is probably rolling over in his grave at some of the concepts espoused in Taken. He once used the analogy that humans would have better chances mating with a petunia than mating with an extraterrestrial life form. At least humans and petunias share the same evolutionary heritage if you go back far enough. Life evolving on another planet in another solar system might not even be carbon based, not to mention be bipedal or even remotely resemble humanoid life. The ability for both to mate AND produce viable offspring? Pah! Aint gonna happen LOL. But I'll suspend my disbelief on that issue - for now. <BR> <BR>Human nature: <BR>One of the biggest arguments against the possibility of a Roswell/alien government cover-up is the unfathomable likelihood that the thousands of people involved could actually keep it a secret for over 50 years. So true! <BR> <BR>Crime forensics: <BR>Another, rather specific nitpic is the way Owen chose to off his wife at the end of the 3rd episode. I've watched enough forensic documentaries to know that you just don't shoot somebody point blank in a car, pull the body from the vehicle, drag it 25 feet away, and then expect that there wouldn't be any evidence splattered all over the interior of said car and smeared along the road. It's an obvious murder of two people by a third party, not a murder/suicide or a murder/accident as I believe Owen hoped it would appear. DNA identification may have been 20 years in the future at that point, but common sense wasn't. As the husband, Owen would have been one of the main suspects, period. Did he have an alibi? ;o) <BR> <BR>Logic: <BR>Nadine (gotta luv them "homages" LOL) has two sons, Larry and Lester. Larry is killed as a teenager, but Lester is left alone. Both twins have the same ability that Jacob had - accept Jacob could turn his on and off, while Larry and Lester have no control of it. How come? And why would the brother's abilities get stronger as they age, and/or Lester's get stronger just because Larry died, but Jacob's abilities faded away after he used them two or three times? Doesn't make sense. <BR> <BR>Another thing that doesn't quite jive is the effect of the alien implants. When extracted, the live implants cause the people around them to basically go crazy and hurt or kill themselves and others. While implanted in the brain however, nothing happens to the host. Riiiight. Okay, I'll suspend my disbelief on that because maybe the effect of the implant is based on its form - a little silver button verses the insect-like creature it becomes when removed. But later, when Wakeman shows Eric Crawford the effects of the implants on a random soldier, the "bug" only effects the soldier, yet it is in a sealed cylinder of fluid, and Eric and Wakeman are only separated from the soldier by a pane of glass. Why one and not the others? How are the effects transmitted? Proximity? Visual? Through the air? A little more detail there would have been appreciated. <BR> <BR>Archaeology and Native American dig sites: <BR>a. The dig in Alaska didn't appear to be on private property since the land owner wasn't part of the plot. What then is the local sheriff doing telling the archaeologists what they can and can't do? Such a dig would have been authorized by the state if it were on state land, not some local dip squat sheriff with a chip on his shoulder, not to mention a murder to conceal. <BR>b. Any archaeologist that would mistake a 20 year old wrapped body and possible murder victim for an ancient mummy needs to select a different career. JMHO. <BR>c. The moment the body was found, it would have been "taken" to the local morgue for possible identification, not left out in the woods. Granted, the sheriff was an accessory, if not the murderer himself, but it's hard to imagine so many people being involved without attracting the attention of the state police. <BR> <BR>Military awards: <BR>This isn't really a nitpic as much as it is a general question. The Congressional Medal of Honor is not transferable. It is a federal offense to sell it, or even give it away. While Jesse didn't appear to have that award in his collection, he did have a Purple Heart and a Silver Star, among others. Does anybody know what the laws are that pertain to those awards? While it seems appropriate that you'd be able to inherit the awards from a family member, could you legally take possession while that family member is still alive? Also, Jesse tries to give them to his buddy in exchange for drugs, but heroine addicts will do anything for a fix, so that action was believable. <BR> <BR>Casting: <BR>So far, all of the actors have been phenomenal choices for their respective roles, except one. While "Max Headroom" (Matt Frewer) is a great actor, whoever chose him to play Wakeman should have been shot. Very poor decision, IMHO. I've laughed every time Wakeman shows up on the screen. Something tells me, this is NOT the reaction the writers were shooting for LOL! <BR> <BR>Political correctness and period accuracy: <BR>I was happy to see the writers weren't influenced by today's overly politically correct approach to story telling. For example, prior to the seventies, cigarette smoking was very typical. Many of the characters in the show smoke. This is realistic for the period. Also, I'm impressed with the set accuracy and production detail. I haven't spotted any goofs so far. Anybody else? <BR> <BR>Okay, 'nuff for today. [Stop laughing Kefla - I know I said I wouldn't get dragged into this discussion, but I'm procrastinating. LOL!]

[Sheri Gordon (Sheri)]

Biology: "V - The Series" did it and it "worked" for the point of the story. Sure, if we analyzed it to death, there's no freakin way it would have been possible. But hey, it made for a good sub plot. <IMG SRC="http://www.electric-ent.com/bbs/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":)"> <BR> <BR>Human Nature - People *have* been trying to uncover Roswell. Problem is..."Who's gonna believe ya?" <BR> <BR>;-)

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

Sure, it "works" for the point of the story in Taken too. Doesn't make it theoretically or scientifically likely though. Besides, I said I'd suspend my disbelief on that part of the story simply because there wouldn't *be* a story without that minor little detail LOL. I can watch sci-fi and fantasy shows with ludicrous concepts and still be entertained. ;o) <BR> <BR>Regarding those trying to uncover Roswell, I was talking about the personnel that would have been involved in covering it up in the first place. Think about the thousands of individuals that would have been privy to even the most insignificant details. Where are these people? They certainly weren't just offed by the government (somebody would have missed a few LOL), and I find it hard to fathom 100% of those individuals were successful at keeping it a secret for this long. Even the Manhattan Project, arguably the largest covert project in history, had its share of information leaks - and that was during war time! I refuse to believe that an alleged event, which would have taken place only a few years later, could be covered up so thoroughly. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. :o)

[Food, Folks and (F_U_N_G_U_S)]

It all depends on which "theories" you subscribe to. There's a lot of people out there who feel we were 'planted' on this planet by extra terrestrials. If biologically, we are 'offshoots' of them, then physiologically, mating might not be such an abstract possibility.

[Kefla (Kefla)]

>"Okay, 'nuff for today. [Stop laughing Kefla - I know I said I wouldn't get dragged into this discussion, but I'm procrastinating. LOL]" <BR> <BR>Uh oh. If I jump in after you, who'll be left to pull us out? Awesome post, though. <BR> <BR>Risking just one more little comment, then I'm backing away from the edge. ;-) <BR> <BR>Re: casting. I laughed every time Willie Garson appeared. Maybe that's just me? Then again, Taken could use a little comic relief.

[Kefla (Kefla)]

**Looking up** Oh! Hi fungus <IMG SRC="http://www.electric-ent.com/bbs/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":)"> Now I know I took a long time with that last post - 10 minutes - and didn't see ya there. <BR> <BR>Join the crowd. I wonder how many people will actually watch Taken. It's 20 hours of programming in 2 weeks.

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

Willie Garson has been my favorite so far. Bummer of a demise his character had, but such is fiction. I liked Eric Close too (the visitor.) No, really, I did. *giggle* <BR> <BR>As to being planted here... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! ;o)

[Kefla (Kefla)]

Now who did Eric Close play? John, the Visitor? LMAO

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

Yeah, that's the guy. Too funny huh? But I was channeling my hopes for seeing more episodes of the *real* Visitor, so I probably would have felt the same if Danny DeVito played the role. LOL!!! ;o)

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

BTW, I agree with your assessment of needing more comic relief in Taken. It's such a serious show, and the lack of any humor whatsoever makes it even darker and more depressing.

[Kefla (Kefla)]

**spraying my beverage as I post** Danny DeVito! <BR> <BR>Seriously, I had been bummed that Spielberg would pick up the basic idea of The Visitor and ruin all chances that Electric or D&E would pick up where they left off (in one form or another). But now that I've seen the effort (Taken)at least the first 4 installments, I see plenty of room for other attempts to do justice to this topic. The current mini-series is cheap thrills compared to what The Visitor accomplished in less screen time.

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

Maybe Dean will include a side-story in the sequel to ID4? Would that work? The aliens in ID4 are *very* far from the unseen "Elders" in The Visitor, but if there were any opportunity to expand on a theme, it would be in ID4-2, no? <BR> <BR>How's this sound... The aliens come back, but this time they've installed Norton Anti-Virus in the Mothership, so David can't give 'em a cold anymore. Rats! The humans must find another way of beating the aliens, so they enlist the help of alien/human hybrids on Earth, who can infiltrate the alien ranks undetected and devise another plan. That'd work, no? LOL

[Kefla (Kefla)]

That'd work. <IMG SRC="http://www.electric-ent.com/bbs/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":)"> But it's getting complicated. I guess the Star Trek shows managed to integrate a variety of extra-terrestrials in their fiction. But it'd *have* to be on TV. Pulling up a chair, imagining a nice long run for this ID4/Visitor cross-over.

[Sheri Gordon (Sheri)]

That'd be too close to V too. <IMG SRC="http://www.electric-ent.com/bbs/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":)">

[Food, Folks and (F_U_N_G_U_S)]

Considering how Norton seems to have many unexpected (and unexplained) negative side effects on many programs (especially ones that need a lot of resources, like graphics programs), I'd say as soon as they tried to use their city smasher beam, Norton would mess it up, and they'd have to reboot the system, at which point the US army nukes the crud out of them.

[Sheri Gordon (Sheri)]

Depends. If the Aliens use Microsquash, it's just a matter of waiting til they crash. (Then again, one could argue they never coulda left their own planet system in the first place.)

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

Open question to the masses: <BR> <BR>Five episodes of Taken have aired so far. Who here has seen all five? <BR> <BR>[Pat raises hand] <BR> <BR>I'm curious because, while there have been numerous posts in this thread, I kinda expected to see more discussion about the series, even though I realize it's not an Electric production. <BR> <BR>Five more eps to go...

[Chris Ceraolo (Chris)]

It's airing on that network that I don't watch anymore. <BR> <BR>Chris <BR>The FOX Plant

[Sheri Gordon (Sheri)]

I don't get that network up here in Canada.

[Kefla (Kefla)]

4 and 1/2 episodes [raises hand half way] <BR> <BR>I'd be interested in knowing what size audience Taken is pulling in. IMO, it's a full time job just trying to keep up with it at this pace.

[Food, Folks and (F_U_N_G_U_S)]

I just saw my first 15 minutes earlier tonight, and let me tell you, it was probably the *worst* single 15 minutes anyone could have seen who hasn't seen the show before. <BR> <BR>It's when that girl, Jacob's daughter is being chased, and the ship thingie kind of 'walks her home' (then the test, I won't be specific, don't want to give it away). <BR> <BR>I said worst because of the whole "oh yeah, an alien ship just decides to stop by and protect her, and NOBODY sees it except the people right there on the scene (btw, are federal agents trained to tackle people with their faces?)

[Javier Ariel Garza (Jag)]

This was written Dec. 5th. <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://www.digitalspy.net/displayarticle.php?id=9753" TARGET="_blank">http://www.digitalspy.net/displayarticle.php?id=9753</A> <BR> <BR>One wonders -- is it the show or the name behind it? <BR> <BR>As I've said, I think Spielberg is a genius, he's entertained me well over the years -- however, not everything he touches automatically turns to gold, but that's me. <BR> <BR>Dean and Roland came up with a golden piece of entertainment called "Stargate" -- it continues to sadden me how that gold has tarnished over the years. <BR> <BR>-=JAG!

[Javier Ariel Garza (Jag)]

[I sure wish we didn't have a '20 minute' window for message editing.. :o( ].... <BR> <BR>(Continued from last message)... <BR> <BR>I really tried to sit back, and enjoy Taken. I kept an open mind; did my best not to draw any parallels -- and in the end, got flustered by the rehashing. <BR> <BR>-=JAG!

[Kefla (Kefla)]

I hear you Jag. <IMG SRC="http://www.electric-ent.com/bbs/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":)"> On both counts.

[Sheri Gordon (Sheri)]

Well, I have it downloading as we speak (sorry, but it's the only way I can get to see it unless I swiped somebody's BIG satellite dish hehehe) <BR> <BR>I'll letcha know what I think. I watched the trailers from the site, and it certainly seems more malevolent than what The Visitor was.

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

Oh, Fungus, I SOOOOO agree! When that scene came up (the ship "walking" Lisa home), I wanted to barf! How absolutely ridiculous!!! My word! <BR> <BR>As to the Nielsens Kefla, last Monday's premiere episode of "Taken" scored 6.14 million viewers - the Sci-fi Channel's *best* ratings, EVER! Tuesday's episode, which competed against MTV's "The Osbournes" (which had 6.6 million viewers), dropped to 4.84 million viewers. These are HUGE numbers for the Sci-fi Channel. I would imagine they are elated!

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

More on Taken's ratings here: <BR><A HREF="http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2002-12/05/15.00.sfc" TARGET="_top">http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2002-12/05/15.00.sfc</A>

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

Okay, the guinea pig scene 10 minutes into episode 7 was just SO freakin' unnecessary!! >:p <BR> <BR>I can't concentrate now. Grrrrr! <BR> <BR>...And what REALLY pisses me off is that some little kid is probably gonna do that to his pet to see if that is what really happens when you put small animals inside microwave ovens!

[Kefla (Kefla)]

**gulp** Not sure I can keep following this from the sounds of it - at least not with my eyes open.

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

You'll know when to cover your eyes. I just kept expecting they'd cut to a different scene and let your imagination fill in the blanks. I didn't expect they'd actually SHOW it, the morons! <BR> <BR>I'm guessing this was the only thing the moronic writer could come up with to show that Owen's granddaughter was just as ruthless as he.

[Jennifer Gray (Maurine)]

Did they actually show, or at least infer, that someone put an animal in the microwave? If so, then when the reports come in of kids actually doing it, I hope the US Humane society, SPCA, and everyone else for animal cruelty/animal rights sues the crap out of them. Now I will definately not bother with the show...how lame.

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

I'm sure no animal was actually hurt, but little kids don't know that. And probably some sick adults either. <BR> <BR>In the scene, a guinea pig was shown walking around unhurt in a microwave oven, which was ON. One character was showing another character that the microwaves could be blocked by a new widget they had developed. Then the widget was turned off. The scene cut back to show the animal still walking around in the still LIT and ON microwave for no more than a second. Then, all of a sudden, the door was sprayed red, quite graphically I might add. It was nasty and realistic. Spielberg should be ASHAMED of himself for showing that. It would have been bad enough to just infer it. And yes, I think some little kid is gonna do it. You watch! That's the part that's really sad. *sigh*

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

I stand corrected - it was a hamster, not a guinea pig. And it was even more disgusting than my last description - they show the hamster's body fall over behind the splatter on the door. [shakes head] <BR> <BR>Okay, nuf-o-dat. Hopefully we can move on.

[Food, Folks and (F_U_N_G_U_S)]

that's even worse. Guinea pigs are like 15 bucks. Hamsters about 3, making them more 'accessible' (cost wise) to youngsters...

[Will Finch (Shetan)]

Well maybe Bill Maher (sic?) has time to address this matter. Now Stephen, I'm compelled to discuss this matter further..as to whether you owe Dean either an apology or an explanation. At your earliest convenience, just come on down and if you don't mind, go ahead and bring your entire company (we've already got great crew here) and lets MAKE A MOVIE!

[Agent Pat (Agentpat)]

Daily Variety <BR>12/26/02 <BR> <BR>In wake of 'Taken,' Sci Fi ratings soar <BR>Network ties for 10th place among basic cablers <BR> <BR>By JOHN DEMPSEY <BR> <BR>NEW YORK -- It's called the halo effect, and the Sci Fi Channel basked in its glow during the week after chalking up its best-ever ratings with the two-week, 20-hour "Steven Spielberg Presents: Taken." <BR> <BR>For the week ended Dec. 22, following the "Taken" blitz, Sci Fi averaged 838,000 households in primetime, which tied it in 10th place among all basic-cable networks. <BR> <BR>Compared to the same week a year ago, Sci Fi was up a strapping 95% among households and 88% among adults 25-54, the network's target demographic. <BR> <BR>Sci Fi was gloating because most of its primetime schedule last week consisted of rerun episodes of "Stargate SG-1" and "The X-Files" and movies such as the well-worn "Dante's Peak" and "The Witches of Eastwick" plus lesser-known titles like "Army of Darkness," "Gargantua" and "Epoch." <BR> <BR>New episodes of "Stargate SG-1" and "Farscape," heavily promoted to "Taken's" solid audience, won't kick off until Jan. 10. Sci Fi's new show, "Tremors: The Series," originally scheduled for Jan. 10, won't make it to the schedule until March, the victim of delayed post-production due to elaborate special effects.