Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site lzwi.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!lzwi!psc From: psc@lzwi.UUCP (Paul S. R. Chisholm) Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers,net.tv Subject: "Shatterday" (and "Just A Little Piece and Quiet" and "Ghost Train") Message-ID: <343@lzwi.UUCP> Date: Fri, 4-Oct-85 17:43:05 EDT Article-I.D.: lzwi.343 Posted: Fri Oct 4 17:43:05 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 6-Oct-85 04:42:14 EDT Organization: AT&T-IS Enhanced Network Services Lines: 35 Xref: watmath net.sf-lovers:10420 net.tv:3321 < Oxygen is for people who can't take New Jersey > "Shatterday": premier episode of the new TWILIGHT ZONE series, based on a short story by Harlan Ellison; first aired Friday, the 27th of September, 1985. At the cost of two days, Ellison's story completely filled a half- hour teleplay. There were only occasional, dramatic seconds of someone considering what's going on, as compared to minutes of "Ooh, lookit that!" And I ain't gonna tell you a *damn* thing about the story. This is a reasonably faithful adaptation of the short story. One day where nothing happens is omitted, and the events of the last day (which made for a slightly stronger ending) aren't shown. I think if Ellison had done the script, he *might* have been able to wedge those in; it would only take another sixty seconds of air time. The problem is that there isn't sixty seconds to spare! Oh, that more television had such problems. A quick comparison to two following screenplays: "Just a Little Peace and Quiet", the other half-hour teleplay of THE TWILIGHT ZONE, might have had sixty seconds it could have given up. It's an idea story, a think piece; it didn't have the characterization of "Shatterday", but it did a good job of treating its subject. AMAZING STORIES' "Ghost Train" was E.T. with a different premise, done as a half-hour teleplay; it had about ten minutes of air time it could have spared. The amazing thing is that we'll be seeing this for two years. Of "Ghost Train", my nine year old said, "Is that it?" -- -Paul S. R. Chisholm The above opinions are my own, {pegasus,vax135}!lzwi!psc not necessarily those of any {mtgzz,ihnp4}!lznv!psc telecommunications company. (*sigh* ihnp4!lzwi!psc does *NOT* work!!! Use above paths.) "Were you ever famous?" "No." "Then how can you be a has been?" Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com