These days, it's a little known fact that some of television's biggest properties have curious links to the silver screen.
I've mentioned before that those underwhelming Ewoks telefilms that originally aired on broadcast television in the 1980's were also given theatrical releases overseas. In fact, it wasn't all that long ago that a knucklehead on Twitter took me to task when I pointed out that simple fact -- the thread was a long debate about the success of Star Wars on the big screen -- and I ended up having to block the idiot. (Yes, I said it, and I'm not sorry.) My point was that U.S. residents (of which I am) occasionally take the narrow view of Science Fiction and Fantasy, ignoring the fact that many fans were introduced to these things theatrical in their country of residence; and I was only trying to make the discussion a bit more polite. He raged on that those films weren't considered Star Wars canon, so they might as well be fan films. When I tried to point out that he was moving the goal post (in the debate), he started foaming at the mouth ... and that gets me to where I am now.
Back in those days, you see, studio executives and other business-minded suits loved to use foreign markets to offset some of the expenses to producing some of the more expensive properties. If these things were costing millions of dollars an hour to produce, then why not try to win back some of that cold hard cash from the international box office? The way I see it, that's a win/win for the savviest among us; and what better way to build up some solid 'word of mouth' in preparation for the program's inevitable launch on the small screen? Unless you had a real piece of garbage on your hands, I can't see why this format isn't tried more often these days ... but it is what it is.
In any event ...
The great Glen A. Larson property Battlestar Galactica enjoyed its first theatrical exhibition ever when it played for folks behind the Maple Curtain (aka Canada, for you that have missed my nicknamem for America's hat). This theatrical cut enjoyed screenings around the world but this one serves as the true birthdate of the franchise so far as I'm concerned as it's the first showing of record I've ever been able to locate. Adama, Apollo, and Starbuck first blazed their trail away from the Thirteen Colonies and into space up there for patrons to see; and I would've loved to see it in lights myself. Those of us in the U.S. had to wait until the regular program debuted on broadcast television the following September, and I do recall my excitement -- and that of a few classmates -- being at a fever pitch.
Yes, yes, yes. I'm aware of the Syfy reboot, but in my opinion that's really a vastly different incarnation of the source material. I much prefer the original -- even with all of its campy sensibilities.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ
I've mentioned before that those underwhelming Ewoks telefilms that originally aired on broadcast television in the 1980's were also given theatrical releases overseas. In fact, it wasn't all that long ago that a knucklehead on Twitter took me to task when I pointed out that simple fact -- the thread was a long debate about the success of Star Wars on the big screen -- and I ended up having to block the idiot. (Yes, I said it, and I'm not sorry.) My point was that U.S. residents (of which I am) occasionally take the narrow view of Science Fiction and Fantasy, ignoring the fact that many fans were introduced to these things theatrical in their country of residence; and I was only trying to make the discussion a bit more polite. He raged on that those films weren't considered Star Wars canon, so they might as well be fan films. When I tried to point out that he was moving the goal post (in the debate), he started foaming at the mouth ... and that gets me to where I am now.
Back in those days, you see, studio executives and other business-minded suits loved to use foreign markets to offset some of the expenses to producing some of the more expensive properties. If these things were costing millions of dollars an hour to produce, then why not try to win back some of that cold hard cash from the international box office? The way I see it, that's a win/win for the savviest among us; and what better way to build up some solid 'word of mouth' in preparation for the program's inevitable launch on the small screen? Unless you had a real piece of garbage on your hands, I can't see why this format isn't tried more often these days ... but it is what it is.
In any event ...
The great Glen A. Larson property Battlestar Galactica enjoyed its first theatrical exhibition ever when it played for folks behind the Maple Curtain (aka Canada, for you that have missed my nicknamem for America's hat). This theatrical cut enjoyed screenings around the world but this one serves as the true birthdate of the franchise so far as I'm concerned as it's the first showing of record I've ever been able to locate. Adama, Apollo, and Starbuck first blazed their trail away from the Thirteen Colonies and into space up there for patrons to see; and I would've loved to see it in lights myself. Those of us in the U.S. had to wait until the regular program debuted on broadcast television the following September, and I do recall my excitement -- and that of a few classmates -- being at a fever pitch.
Yes, yes, yes. I'm aware of the Syfy reboot, but in my opinion that's really a vastly different incarnation of the source material. I much prefer the original -- even with all of its campy sensibilities.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ
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