Fantasy Island

Legacy or no legacy, how the producers of Fantasy Island talked the Absolutely Banal Content network into running this is a mystery up there with why Roarke's suits have gone from white to black -- yet another thing we'll never know, but you can bet there's a story behind it. Bless Sci-Fi for picking up this gem; wish they could afford to resurrect it, but I'll happily take (and TAPE) what I can get. (And I won't be watching ABC again. Any network that could can this and Wonderland and keep Regis Philbin on eight days a week is angling for a much *dumber* demographic than mine.)

I saw the first few episodes of this new version of Fantasy Island. I immediately loved it. But the time slot it was in (Saturday evening) was weird. Occasionally I forgot to watch. But then the TV station started pre-empting it with movies and what have you. Then it disappeared altogether. I think it should have been played on Sci-Fi. That might have helped. I can't believe it was canned in the first season! It kind of reminded me of The Twilight Zone, in some ways. I liked Malcom McDowell as Mr. Roarke, and I liked Ariel the shapeshifter. I also liked Fyvush Finkel as the travel agent. If this ever comes out on video, I will buy every episode. This show is high on my list of favorite TV shows. If it ever shows up on TV in reruns, it is a MUST-SEE!

I used to LOVE the Mantalban Fantasy Island, so when this one came out I was happy to watch it.

This one, to me, seems to be better written, and far more enjoyable. the characters are more than one-dimensional; who in their right mind would stay on an island in the middle of nowhere catering to a bunch of spoiled whiny people? This series answers that question - someone who HAS TO. I thought that gave a dimension of "humanity" to Roarke et. al. that the original lacked.

And the humor and twists really do point out the old maxim "be careful what you wish for - you just might get it."

This revival of the 1970's series is a little darker and a little edgier than the one starring Ricardo Monteblan and Tattoo. This version harkens to Shakespeare's "The Tempest", with Malcom McDowell taking on the Prospero role accompanied by an Ariel and Cal(iban). In one episode we even meet Roarke's daughter Miranda. I found the original series bland and unappealng, but this new version (appearing on the Sci-Fi Channel) is certainly much more entertaining. It just goes to show that network programmers get everything bass ackwards.. throwing out the gold and keeping the dross.

This is one of those shows I never watched in the first run because of the association with the original. Sure, I sometimes was amused at the original but in the late 90's that kind of show held little appeal for me to actually carve out yet another hour in my schedule for it. So I found myself saying "oh, no, not another remake". (I also recalled how pitiful most remakes were).

I have seen some of the reruns on SciFi and realize this show was far superior to the original. Somewhere along the way the original was made less edgy and far more silly. Apparently this newer incarnation was closer to the original concept.

Seeing it I realize why it was cancelled. Most TV is geared towards the lowest common denominator. Ahh, well. At least we have a few reruns to enjoy.