According to stories over the wire today, David Duchovny will return for the 2-hr last episode of the X-Files.
Duchovny will also direct one of the last few episodes, based on an story he wrote.
You know, I used to love the X-Files (even if I preferred Brisco County when the two debuted). But, if ever there was a show that typified the term "jump the shark" it was this show and its movie.
"And that little boy that no one liked grew up to be ... Roy Cohn. Now you know the rest of the story." -- Pesudo Paul Harvey, "The Simpsons," Cape Feare
I also used to love the X-Files. I was never sure, though, whether it actually did start to suck around Season 3/4 or whether it was just that I went to University and lost cable access and then couldn't get back into it. I watched an episode the other day and just couldn't believe the pile of steaming crap it had become.
Inevitably, they would have to show us aliens and the conspiracy but I just liked it more when it was all insinuated that things were going on, when you'd have more questions at the end of the show for each answer you got. It just seems like now it's like "Hey, there's a mystery!" then "Yeah, it's the aliens again". If I wanted Scooby Doo, I'd watch it (and I will, when the movies comes out!). Do you know what I mean?
I'll still watch the final episode though.
"Nobody enjoys a good time more than I do, but this business of yours is as legitimate as a three-legged donkey...which of course is illegitimate because as we all know donkeys have four legs."
I was a HUGE fan (and spent the last two and a half seasons in utter denial about the show's quality) -- even naming my pets after the lead characters -- and it's been a painful couple of years for me. Seriously, if it was an officially licensed X-Files product, I owned it. Right down to 35MM film cels from the show, to the poorly-sculpted action figures and the Randy Bowen sculpted cold cast porcelain statues of Flukeman and the Abuducted Smoking Alien.
I've never seen a television show's quality decline so quickly and inexplicably.
Really, I think the show should have ended...well, two and a half seasons ago when Mulder discovered the final fate of his sister. It would have been a nice bookend.
This fall, after the two-part season premiere, I stopped watching the show altogether not only because of the drop in quality, but also because ALIAS is a better show now.
At least I have the complete seasons on DVD to watch and enjoy -- that's when the show was still good and compelling. I do believe I won't be purchasing those sets after season five, however.
Word is also going around that Burt Reynolds will be playing God in an upcoming episode.
Totally agree with the sentiments posted already. I lost interest quite a few years ago. I taped most of the episodes from the first few seasons a few years ago when FX used to show them all the time. The movie should really have been the end of things, and pretty much was for me.
Of course, if people have enjoyed it since then, who am I to judge? I don't even know what Mulder found out about his sister, why he's not around anymore or what happened to Scully's baby (I only knew she was preganant from commercials for the show).
I guess I should see if there's an episode guide book out there somewhere and check it out. Loved the Entertainment Weekly special a number of years back that detailed the IMPORTANT stuff. They've also done that with Seinfeld, Buffy and I belive Friends. I still have all of those around somewhere too.
Nothing beats the Simpsons' guides tho. Hopefully, they'll have another one out after this season wraps.
I gave up last year, after they brought in Robert Patrick to replace Mulder.
It really seems like the spark was just gone.
To get slightly academic, I think it was more culturally in-tune during the mid-to-late 90s than it is now. (I'd use the word Zeitgeist, but I won't.) In an odd way, for completely different reasons, so is MST.
"And that little boy that no one liked grew up to be ... Roy Cohn. Now you know the rest of the story." -- Pesudo Paul Harvey, "The Simpsons," Cape Feare
Originally posted by odessastepsTo get slightly academic, I think it was more culturally in-tune during the mid-to-late 90s than it is now. (I'd use the word Zeitgeist, but I won't.) In an odd way, for completely different reasons, so is MST.
You're dead right on both counts. Cynicism is no longer en vogue.
As for Patrick, I REALLY wanted to like his character, because he's a decent actor. But alas, they just couldn't make me care.
Of course, both shows also hit a creative downturn (post movie for X-FIles, the departure of Trace Beaulieu for MST). It wasn't just the culture evolving past them.
"And that little boy that no one liked grew up to be ... Roy Cohn. Now you know the rest of the story." -- Pesudo Paul Harvey, "The Simpsons," Cape Feare
Originally posted by odessastepsthe departure of Trace Beaulieu for MST
That was the FINAL nail in MST's coffin. The departure of Joel Hodgson started said descent. Mike eventually came into his own, but the show never really felt the same.
Why did Joel leave? I was never able to find out.
Brain Guy, Pearl Forrester and Bobo, while funny, just didn't have that same magic that Trace, Joel and the others had.
I think Joel just felt that the concept had gone as far as it could go. He seems like a restless guy. He has done some other "experimental" projects, both for TV ("The TV Wheel"), and I think he has also put together some snazzy websites. Not that I've been keeping track a ton (as you can tell.)
To the guy/gal who said he/she was looking forward to the Scooby-Doo movie: How could that POSSIBLY be good? I would like a hypothetical scenario.
I stopped watching when Mulder got abducted, I never found out if he did or not. Also I think that Scully was having a baby. There are things I'd like to know about like where is the smoking man and stuff, but I'm not going to start watching to find out. I always liked the odd ball shows the best, once the main storyline got outta hand.
Originally posted by odessastepsTo get slightly academic, I think it was more culturally in-tune during the mid-to-late 90s than it is now. (I'd use the word Zeitgeist, but I won't.) In an odd way, for completely different reasons, so is MST.
You're dead right on both counts. Cynicism is no longer en vogue.
As for Patrick, I REALLY wanted to like his character, because he's a decent actor. But alas, they just couldn't make me care.
Jason's two posts really hit it for my wife and I. We watched every episode (and taped the ones we missed). There was one time a few years back when we lost our power and I called all my relatives to find a tape of the damn thing. We watched all through last year and really wanted to care about Patrick's character. We made it through three or four shows this year until they got to the skinning episode and we decided we'll just come back and watch the finale. It's way past the shark now, though.
He's Rolie Polie Olie - and in his world of curves and curls, he's the swellest kid around.
I just love that phrase. It took a long time to figure out what the heck it was in reference to. But after figuring it out and flashing back to my own reaction to the first time I caught the Fonz jumping over the shark, it just seems so appropriate.
As much as there have been series since then where that phrase has been appropriate (see here for others opinions on that), I still don't think I've ever matched the "What the hell?" reaction I had at that point.
Insanity builds character... sometimes more than one.
Courtesy of CNN.com (my thoughts in italics): On kissing Madonna: "I didn't know it was going to be that long and everything." Right, if you consider one second to be "long". On her change in image: