The Cape

The Cape series was on air in Europe, my country Belgium in the year 1997-1998. It was aired on the dutch speaking side of the country and i think i seen all of the 23 episodes, i hope. I found it to be a very good show that gives a very interesting inside look (maybe not that perfect!?) on what goes on in and around the cape and in the lives of the people that makes the things work over there. I never seen this show again and want to by it on DVD, but no luck, it seems to be forgotten? It is a shame that such quality show seems to be disappeared between the dust of the archives. Lots of more uninteresting shows are released and reach the public.

We live in hope, maybe somebody gets the idea to release it after-all.

Wishes from Belgium. August Vanden Balck

I was very surprised to see some of the negative comments expressed here. I have seen most of "The Cape" series, and I found it very entertaining.

I can easily believe that it is not entirely realistic (the confusion between KSC and JSC is so obvious I find it possible to ignore it) - but to me this series does at least give some sense of a dramatisation of the shuttle-era astronaut experience. Most of us mere mortals (and especially in the space-deprived UK) never get much closer than this. Even if you visit JSC (and I have, at least 3 times) it is fronted by the PR set-up "Space Center Houston", which, although an enjoyable experience, gives you a highly stylised view of the space programme, and leaves you with only the sketchiest idea of what manned spaceflight is all about. "The Cape" in my view does better, even if not greatly authentic. NASA seem to struggle with popularity and capturing the imagination of the ordinary person (non-space-cadet), despite needing their support. In my view, they were therefore unwise not to back this series. What does "access to space" mean for the average person? In a dramatic (and therefore fictional) sense, "The Cape" provides this.

And if you think Corbin Bernsen doesn't belong in space (perhaps his 'mature fighter jock' character play is not in keeping with the Shuttle era), then he is at least an engaging personality, and to my mind very watchable.

The age of the Shuttle cannot go on for ever, - and what better drama do we have to remember it by?

To whom it may concern - may we please have "the Cape" series on DVD - Region 2?

The show was a pretty good attempt at a hard subject. There's no way you can reconstruct everything a Astronaut does, or does not do. Not bad for a show from 1996 though. Special effects didn't kick in strong until a couple of years later for television. Over all, The Cape was a great show, but was never really given a chance on network television, at a decent time. As for the other comment, something is not right and I need to clarify. The show started airing in 1996 and the Columbia disaster was on Feb 1st. 2003. So, how can it have any bearing on this show. Do your research before you leave comments. Helps you not look stupid. By the way, NASA did have "some" bearing on the show, the Technical Adviser was Buzz Aldrin. If you don't know who that was, he was the second man on the Moon. Anyway, I can't wait until it comes out on DVD.

Unfortunately for viewers, their votes don't count. Shows get canceled due to studio politics. The producers don't invest enough time & money selling new shows to generate enough sponsor support. And, residuals aren't paid on new shows (not in the contract). Thus, great shows get canceled. If production executives, network presidents & studio owners cared about the viewers more than their own paychecks, shows might last long enough to generate a supportive audience. Instead, new shows are launched with limited fanfare, the shows creators are already working on their next big thing, and viewers are left wondering what just happened. Network execs. don't care when a show gets canceled. They just want the bottom line on profits. Thus, we (the viewers) are cheated out of great entertainment. Too bad the networks aren't owned by the viewers...things would change for the better. But, that will NEVER happen. Too bad. I miss The Cape and all other great shows like it, that are systematically replaced by less-appealing shows that cost less to produce. Follow the money, and you can prove this to yourself.

I think that THE CAPE is a brilliant TV series. It stars Corbin Bernsen and Adam Baldwin and follows the lives of 7 ASCANS (Astronaut Candidates) and the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. The actors are brilliant and the storyline is excellent.

The show is also one of the most realistic there is. Many people at NASA and Buzz Aldrin (the astronaut) were technical consultants and helped make this one of the best shows ever.

Unfortunately THE CAPE is not being made any more because it was put on at 3am so nobody could watch it. Even so there is a group of people (including myself) that liked THE CAPE when it was on TV and are trying to get another series made. I recommend The Cape to everybody. 100%.