The Outer Limits
Joe Snodgrass
This is my favorite show on tv right now. Bruce Dern was on today's
show. (Martin Milner was on Twilight Zone, too.)
Outer Limits is not SF, but SF horror, which is more interesting. The
creature design is excellent, especially considering the poor
technical abilities of the time. The Zanti Misfits had the creepiest
aliens I've ever seen.
This episode also suggests a novel possibility - what if the invaders
were a swarm of sentient ants, about the size of your foot, that move
really fast?
Damnation Alley had a similar creature: a giant armor plated cockroach
that you couldn't even kill by grinding it under your bootheel, but it
moved very slowly.
And what if the fast giant insects were also armor plated? That's an
even scarier thought. Thank gawd for Greek Mythology, in which every
superman has his kryptonite.
Captain Infinity
Joe Snodgrass wrote:
>The Zanti Misfits had the creepiest
>aliens I've ever seen.
>
>This episode also suggests a novel possibility - what if the invaders
>were a swarm of sentient ants, about the size of your foot, that move
>really fast?
Buy bigger boots and stock up on Raid.
**
Captain Infinity
shawn
<joe....@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>This is my favorite show on tv right now. Bruce Dern was on today's
>show. (Martin Milner was on Twilight Zone, too.)
>
>Outer Limits is not SF, but SF horror, which is more interesting. The
>creature design is excellent, especially considering the poor
>technical abilities of the time. The Zanti Misfits had the creepiest
>aliens I've ever seen.
Ah.. I thought you might be talking about the second version of the
Outer Limits but I see you mean the classic version. I agree that they
did a great job with the limited budgets they had available.
>This episode also suggests a novel possibility - what if the invaders
>were a swarm of sentient ants, about the size of your foot, that move
>really fast?
>
>Damnation Alley had a similar creature: a giant armor plated cockroach
>that you couldn't even kill by grinding it under your bootheel, but it
>moved very slowly.
>
>And what if the fast giant insects were also armor plated? That's an
>even scarier thought. Thank gawd for Greek Mythology, in which every
>superman has his kryptonite.
Even your mythical creature would have it's weakness. The question is
can you survive long enough to find and wield it's kryptonite?
Mason Barge
<joe....@yahoo.com> wrote:
>And what if the fast giant insects were also armor plated? That's an
>even scarier thought. Thank gawd for Greek Mythology, in which every
>superman has his kryptonite.
But we would have . . . . Dina Meyer!!!!1!
Anim8rFSK
Mason Barge <mason...@gmail.com> wrote:
We'll always have Dina Meyer.
--
"Please, I can't die, I've never kissed an Asian woman!"
Shego on "Shat My Dad Says"
Ken from Chicago
"Anim8rFSK" <ANIM...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:ANIM8Rfsk-2CAD3...@news.dc1.easynews.com...
Wait, what does Dina Meyer have to do with giant insects, Superman or
kryptonite?
-- Ken from Chicago
Anim8rFSK
"Ken from Chicago" <kwicker1...@comcast.net> wrote:
> Wait, what does Dina Meyer have to do with giant insects
Damn, Ken, your lack of knowledge leaves me Dizzy.
shawn
wrote:
>In article <ioWdnfIv5_Z3s5LQ...@giganews.com>,
> "Ken from Chicago" <kwicker1...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> Wait, what does Dina Meyer have to do with giant insects
>
>Damn, Ken, your lack of knowledge leaves me Dizzy.
You might as well ask what she has to do with movies that are poor
remakes of classic books.
Ken from Chicago
"Anim8rFSK" <ANIM...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:ANIM8Rfsk-31D90...@news.dc1.easynews.com...
Okay, I'll be a good little trooper, and play along, but unless I'm batty,
what does she have to do with Superman?
-- Ken from Chicago
Anim8rFSK
"Ken from Chicago" <kwicker1...@comcast.net> wrote:
> "Anim8rFSK" <ANIM...@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:ANIM8Rfsk-31D90...@news.dc1.easynews.com...
> > In article <ioWdnfIv5_Z3s5LQ...@giganews.com>,
> > "Ken from Chicago" <kwicker1...@comcast.net> wrote:
> >
> >> Wait, what does Dina Meyer have to do with giant insects
> >
> > Damn, Ken, your lack of knowledge leaves me Dizzy.
> >
> > --
> > "Please, I can't die, I've never kissed an Asian woman!"
> > Shego on "Shat My Dad Says"
>
> Okay, I'll be a good little trooper, and play along, but unless I'm batty,
> what does she have to do with Superman?
>
> -- Ken from Chicago
It doesn't take an oracle to see that.
Adam H. Kerman
>>>Wait, what does Dina Meyer have to do with giant insects
>>Damn, Ken, your lack of knowledge leaves me Dizzy.
>Okay, I'll be a good little trooper, and play along, but unless I'm batty,
>what does she have to do with Superman?
Ken, do you remember a WB tv series from 2002-2003 that ran in October and
November (then with the remaining episodes burned off in random weeks)
called "Birds of Prey"? Dina Meyer played Oracle, Barbara Gordon crippled
years earlier by The Joker. Superman was never on that television series,
but the character is in the DC Comics universe and would have encountered
Superman in other series. She is the Whitey, the Rooster, of the DC Comics
universe, genius computer hacker.
(I suppose Chloe on Smallville is supposed to be Oracle without the
spinal injury.)
Birds of Prey had some entertaining moments, but should have been better.
It actually got an ending when the producers learned WB wasn't going to
order the back nine episodes, let alone another season.
Professor Bubba
<a...@chinet.com> wrote:
> Ken from Chicago <kwicker1...@comcast.net> wrote:
> >"Anim8rFSK" <ANIM...@cox.net> wrote:
> >>"Ken from Chicago" <kwicker1...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> >>>Wait, what does Dina Meyer have to do with giant insects
>
> >>Damn, Ken, your lack of knowledge leaves me Dizzy.
>
> >Okay, I'll be a good little trooper, and play along, but unless I'm batty,
> >what does she have to do with Superman?
>
> Ken, do you remember a WB tv series from 2002-2003 that ran in October and
> November (then with the remaining episodes burned off in random weeks)
> called "Birds of Prey"? Dina Meyer played Oracle, Barbara Gordon crippled
> years earlier by The Joker. Superman was never on that television series,
> but the character is in the DC Comics universe and would have encountered
> Superman in other series. She is the Whitey, the Rooster, of the DC Comics
> universe, genius computer hacker.
>
> (I suppose Chloe on Smallville is supposed to be Oracle without the
> spinal injury.)
Yep. They even had Chloe working out of the Watchtower, which was the
name of Oracle's old headquarters.
In the comics, Oracle was a member of the Justice League of America,
and so worked with Superman and all the others.
> Birds of Prey had some entertaining moments, but should have been better.
True that. A real disappointment.
Ken from Chicago
"Anim8rFSK" <ANIM...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:ANIM8Rfsk-92B0F...@news.dc1.easynews.com...
I guess birds of a feather do flock together.
-- Ken from Chicago (who never watched an entire ep of BIRDS OF PREY, just
enough to know how far they strayed from the comic and not enough to know
Superman was involved--other than SMALLVILLE being on the same network)
Ken from Chicago
"Adam H. Kerman" <a...@chinet.com> wrote in message
news:iepp4k$2bl$1...@news.albasani.net...
Yep, see my response to Anim.
-- Ken from Chicago (who remembered her from STARSHIP TROOPERS and
DRAGONHEART and guesting on NCIS and a couple other tv shows but couldn't
make the leap to Superman at all, other than BOP and SV being on the same
network, which seemed pretty tangential, but turns out was not)
Adam H. Kerman
>Adam H. Kerman <a...@chinet.com> wrote:
>>Ken from Chicago <kwicker1...@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>"Anim8rFSK" <ANIM...@cox.net> wrote:
>>>>"Ken from Chicago" <kwicker1...@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>>Wait, what does Dina Meyer have to do with giant insects
>>>>Damn, Ken, your lack of knowledge leaves me Dizzy.
>>>Okay, I'll be a good little trooper, and play along, but unless I'm batty,
>>>what does she have to do with Superman?
>>Ken, do you remember a WB tv series from 2002-2003 that ran in October and
>>November (then with the remaining episodes burned off in random weeks)
>>called "Birds of Prey"? Dina Meyer played Oracle, Barbara Gordon crippled
>>years earlier by The Joker. Superman was never on that television series,
>>but the character is in the DC Comics universe and would have encountered
>>Superman in other series. She is the Whitey, the Rooster, of the DC Comics
>>universe, genius computer hacker.
>>(I suppose Chloe on Smallville is supposed to be Oracle without the
>>spinal injury.)
>Yep. They even had Chloe working out of the Watchtower, which was the
>name of Oracle's old headquarters.
When I first saw it, I thought it was the set from Birds of Prey.
Anim8rFSK
"Adam H. Kerman" <a...@chinet.com> wrote:
> Birds of Prey had some entertaining moments, but should have been better.
> It actually got an ending when the producers learned WB wasn't going to
> order the back nine episodes, let alone another season.
They would have if they'd fired their incompetent show runner, which
might have helped keep her from futher inflicting her evil.
Michael Urban
Joe Snodgrass <joe....@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>This is my favorite show on tv right now. Bruce Dern was on today's
>show. (Martin Milner was on Twilight Zone, too.)
>
>Outer Limits is not SF, but SF horror, which is more interesting. The
>creature design is excellent, especially considering the poor
>technical abilities of the time. The Zanti Misfits had the creepiest
>aliens I've ever seen.
The Zanti critters are certainly one of the best-remembered images
from that series. Definitely an achievement in TV-budget effectiveness.
The punchline, that humans are 'practiced executioners', is no less
creepy.
Joe Snodgrass
> In article <163e3466-c0b5-4427-961c-9a5f57935...@l17g2000yqe.googlegroups.com>,
> Joe Snodgrass <joe.s...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> >This is my favorite show on tv right now. Bruce Dern was on today's
> >show. (Martin Milner was on Twilight Zone, too.)
>
> >Outer Limits is not SF, but SF horror, which is more interesting. The
> >creature design is excellent, especially considering the poor
> >technical abilities of the time. The Zanti Misfits had the creepiest
> >aliens I've ever seen.
>
> The Zanti critters are certainly one of the best-remembered images
> from that series. Definitely an achievement in TV-budget effectiveness.
Americans are spoiled. Stories are not about FX, but about the
craftwork of good writing. I couldn't care less if the FX look cheap,
as long as the story holds together. Although it only cost $2 to
make, I didn't think Plan 9 From Outer Space was so bad.
> The punchline, that humans are 'practiced executioners', is no less
> creepy.
Of course, Darwin taught us that humans are animals, and animals must
kill or be killed. It's not that one must kill to be human, but that
evolution has left us with instincts that served us better before
civilization was invented. These instincts are hard-wired, and any
alien species we ever meet will also have them.
The very next episode was also about a social problem - a creepy alien
plant monster came to earth to eat swamp sludge because he was
hungry. Their planet had a hunger problem. I believe that this was
before the Civil Rights movement got huge.
I had always seen the show as being a product of the Cold War, but
this makes me wonder if more episodes might have social themes.
If SF writers ever get the idea that aliens might have a hunger
problem, but humans are on the menu, someone could write a District 9
with more aggressive aliens. That would make a good story, with a
moral dilemma, a kill or be killed conflict with sympathetic aliens.
Incidentally, I have proven indisputably that we will NEVER meet
aliens. My proof goes like this. If we can someday get there, then
they can someday get here. If they could get here, it would have
happened by now. Even if they can never get here, they'd still invent
tv, and we'd be watching alien sitcoms by now, trying to figure out
why their sense of humor is so incomprehensible.
QED.
Mason Barge
You mean, giant insects that are armor-plated!
Joe Snodgrass
> Ken from Chicago <kwicker1b_nos...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> >"Anim8rFSK" <ANIM8R...@cox.net> wrote:
> >>"Ken from Chicago" <kwicker1b_nos...@comcast.net> wrote:
> >>>Wait, what does Dina Meyer have to do with giant insects
> >>Damn, Ken, your lack of knowledge leaves me Dizzy.
> >Okay, I'll be a good little trooper, and play along, but unless I'm batty,
> >what does she have to do with Superman?
>
> Ken, do you remember a WB tv series from 2002-2003 that ran in October and
> November (then with the remaining episodes burned off in random weeks)
> called "Birds of Prey"? Dina Meyer played Oracle, Barbara Gordon crippled
> years earlier by The Joker. Superman was never on that television series,
> but the character is in the DC Comics universe and would have encountered
> Superman in other series. She is the Whitey, the Rooster, of the DC Comics
> universe, genius computer hacker.
>
> (I suppose Chloe on Smallville is supposed to be Oracle without the
> spinal injury.)
>
> Birds of Prey had some entertaining moments, but should have been better.
> It actually got an ending when the producers learned WB wasn't going to
> order the back nine episodes, let alone another season.
Damn, I remember that show. If I'd known that it was a DC spinoff, I
would have watched it.
shawn
<joe....@yahoo.com> wrote:
>On Dec 21, 12:53 pm, ur...@panix.com (Michael Urban) wrote:
>> In article <163e3466-c0b5-4427-961c-9a5f57935...@l17g2000yqe.googlegroups.com>,
>> Joe Snodgrass <joe.s...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> >This is my favorite show on tv right now. Bruce Dern was on today's
>> >show. (Martin Milner was on Twilight Zone, too.)
>>
>> >Outer Limits is not SF, but SF horror, which is more interesting. The
>> >creature design is excellent, especially considering the poor
>> >technical abilities of the time. The Zanti Misfits had the creepiest
>> >aliens I've ever seen.
>>
>> The Zanti critters are certainly one of the best-remembered images
>> from that series. Definitely an achievement in TV-budget effectiveness.
>
>Americans are spoiled. Stories are not about FX, but about the
>craftwork of good writing. I couldn't care less if the FX look cheap,
>as long as the story holds together. Although it only cost $2 to
>make, I didn't think Plan 9 From Outer Space was so bad.
No, we aren't spoiled. If we were spoiled we would get great stories
and great special effects married with great acting. Instead we often
get shows/movies filled with special effects to cover weak writing or
poor acting or often both. Seldom do we get good writing and acting to
cover poor special effects. Probably because it's become much too easy
to generate decent special effects but good writing and good acting
can be hard to come by.
>> The punchline, that humans are 'practiced executioners', is no less
>> creepy.
>
>Of course, Darwin taught us that humans are animals, and animals must
>kill or be killed. It's not that one must kill to be human, but that
>evolution has left us with instincts that served us better before
>civilization was invented. These instincts are hard-wired, and any
>alien species we ever meet will also have them.
Not so much kill or be killed as it is that we had to kill to survive.
We don't kill (and even back in the hunter gatherer days didn't kill)
things that aren't good to eat or a threat to us. Well, we didn't
kill them before we got into the wide spread use of pesticides and
other chemicals. Now we kill a lot of animals/insects/plants that we
never intended to kill.
shawn
wrote:
>On Mon, 20 Dec 2010 04:24:40 -0600, "Ken from Chicago"
><kwicker1...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>"Anim8rFSK" <ANIM...@cox.net> wrote in message
>>news:ANIM8Rfsk-2CAD3...@news.dc1.easynews.com...
>>> In article <n36qg6d7ov200j58u...@4ax.com>,
>>> Mason Barge <mason...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Sat, 18 Dec 2010 11:33:52 -0800 (PST), Joe Snodgrass
>>>> <joe....@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> >And what if the fast giant insects were also armor plated? That's an
>>>> >even scarier thought. Thank gawd for Greek Mythology, in which every
>>>> >superman has his kryptonite.
>>>>
>>>> But we would have . . . . Dina Meyer!!!!1!
>>>
>>> We'll always have Dina Meyer.
>>>
>>> --
>>> "Please, I can't die, I've never kissed an Asian woman!"
>>> Shego on "Shat My Dad Says"
>>
>>Wait, what does Dina Meyer have to do with giant insects, Superman or
>>kryptonite?
>>
> You mean, giant insects that are armor-plated!
With giant brain beasts.
Mason Barge
And most important . . . . . co-ed showers!!!!1!1!!
Mason Barge
<joe....@yahoo.com> wrote:
>On Dec 21, 12:53 pm, ur...@panix.com (Michael Urban) wrote:
>> In article <163e3466-c0b5-4427-961c-9a5f57935...@l17g2000yqe.googlegroups.com>,
>> Joe Snodgrass <joe.s...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> >This is my favorite show on tv right now. Bruce Dern was on today's
>> >show. (Martin Milner was on Twilight Zone, too.)
>>
>> >Outer Limits is not SF, but SF horror, which is more interesting. The
>> >creature design is excellent, especially considering the poor
>> >technical abilities of the time. The Zanti Misfits had the creepiest
>> >aliens I've ever seen.
>>
>> The Zanti critters are certainly one of the best-remembered images
>> from that series. Definitely an achievement in TV-budget effectiveness.
>
>Americans are spoiled. Stories are not about FX, but about the
>craftwork of good writing. I couldn't care less if the FX look cheap,
>as long as the story holds together.
Yeah, well, I'm mostly on your side. But remember, people like
non-dramatic art.
I can enjoy a really cool movie due to art direction/photography/music
etc., even if the writing/acting/directing (in the sense of advancing the
story line) is not so great. The Crow comes to mind. Also, that nonsense
where Kate Becksindale runs around in black leather.
Of course, I'd rather have both, and I've enjoyed a lot of shows with a
great writing/acting/directing but low-budget production values.
Dimensional Traveler
(The other half, of course, being the nonsense where she runs around
naked or in her underwear.)
--
"There's something that doesn't make sense. Let's go and poke it with a
stick."
shawn
wrote:
Co-ed showers with Dina Meyer! ahhhhh.. One can only dream.
Or cue up the movie. ;)
Joe Snodgrass
Underwear ... I mean, Underworld.
Michael Urban
Joe Snodgrass <joe....@yahoo.com> wrote:
>On Dec 21, 12:53�pm, ur...@panix.com (Michael Urban) wrote:
>> In article
><163e3466-c0b5-4427-961c-9a5f57935...@l17g2000yqe.googlegroups.com>,
>> Joe Snodgrass �<joe.s...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> >This is my favorite show on tv right now. �Bruce Dern was on today's
>> >show. (Martin Milner was on Twilight Zone, too.)
>>
>> >Outer Limits is not SF, but SF horror, which is more interesting. �The
>> >creature design is excellent, especially considering the poor
>> >technical abilities of the time. �The Zanti Misfits had the creepiest
>> >aliens I've ever seen.
>>
>> The Zanti critters are certainly one of the best-remembered images
>> from that series. �Definitely an achievement in TV-budget effectiveness.
>
>Americans are spoiled. Stories are not about FX, but about the
>craftwork of good writing. I couldn't care less if the FX look cheap,
>as long as the story holds together. Although it only cost $2 to
>make, I didn't think Plan 9 From Outer Space was so bad.
>
If all I care about is a story holding together, I'll read a book.
The art of television or film is not only in the writing, but in
the acting, the directing, visualization (including but not
limited to costumes, sets, props, 'monsters', and special effects),
sound work, editing, music score, and Other Stuff I'm Forgetting.
When they all work together, you are transported into another
world; when one of them fails badly enough, you are watching
just a bunch of people reciting lines - however cleverly arranged
the lines might be.
The trick - exemplified by older shows such as Outer Limits, Twilight
Zone, or Doctor Who for that matter - is knowing when 'good enough'
on the more technical aspects is good enough.
Little Green Man
> Incidentally, I have proven indisputably that we will NEVER meet
> aliens. My proof goes like this. If we can someday get there, then
> they can someday get here. If they could get here, it would have
> happened by now.
What am I? Chopped liver?
Joe Snodgrass
Fusion Chamberlain.
Wickeddoll
>Joe Snodgrass wrote:
>>
>>This is my favorite show on tv right now. Bruce Dern was on today's
>>show. (Martin Milner was on Twilight Zone, too.)
>>
>>Outer Limits is not SF, but SF horror, which is more interesting. The
>>creature design is excellent, especially considering the poor
>>technical abilities of the time. The Zanti Misfits had the creepiest
>>aliens I've ever seen.
>
>The Zanti critters are certainly one of the best-remembered images
>from that series. Definitely an achievement in TV-budget effectiveness.
>
>The punchline, that humans are 'practiced executioners', is no less
>creepy.
What about the telepathic guy with the giant eyes?! I also loved the
alien who looked like he was made of ice.
--
Natalie
Conventions! Photos! More!
http://www.supernaturalusa.net
http://www.wegrokspock.net
Wickeddoll
>Americans are spoiled. Stories are not about FX, but about the
>craftwork of good writing. I couldn't care less if the FX look cheap,
>as long as the story holds together. Although it only cost $2 to
>make, I didn't think Plan 9 From Outer Space was so bad.
*spewing blueberry juice*
You're joking, right? The lousy effects were way more entertaining
than that travesty of a script!
Anim8rFSK
Wickeddoll <wickeddoll195...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> You're joking, right? The lousy effects were way more entertaining
> than that travesty of a script!
So it's like Defiling Gravity then?
Anim8rFSK
> You're joking, right? The lousy effects were way more entertaining
> than that travesty of a script!
So it's like the new BSG then?
Anim8rFSK
> You're joking, right? The lousy effects were way more entertaining
> than that travesty of a script!
So it's like Sanctuary then?
Anim8rFSK
> You're joking, right? The lousy effects were way more entertaining
> than that travesty of a script!
So it's like Star Trek Enterprise then?
Wickeddoll
> Wickeddoll wrote:
>
>> You're joking, right? The lousy effects were way more entertaining
>
>So it's like Defiling Gravity then?
Parts of it are almost painful to watch.
Wickeddoll
> Wickeddoll wrote:
>
>> You're joking, right? The lousy effects were way more entertaining
>> than that travesty of a script! (re: Plan 9 From Outer Space)
>
>So it's like the new BSG then?
LOL
Wickeddoll
> Wickeddoll wrote:
>
>> You're joking, right? The lousy effects were way more entertaining
>
Never saw that one.
Wickeddoll
> Wickeddoll wrote:
>
>> You're joking, right? The lousy effects were way more entertaining
>So it's like Star Trek Enterprise then?
HEY!
Joe Snodgrass
> In article <178ah6lftd835k54msmcbp9b3to0d75...@4ax.com>,
>
> Wickeddoll <wickeddoll1958noeffings...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > You're joking, right? The lousy effects were way more entertaining
> > than that travesty of a script!
>
> So it's like Star Trek Enterprise then?
DS9 and Voyager (not the Jeri Ryan episodes).
Little Green Man
Pardon?
Joe Snodgrass
That's from a routine on Third Rock from The Sun that was so funny I
couldn't stop laughing after I saw it. I was still laughing the next
morning, and the next day, they immediately canceled the show. You're
just not allowed to broadcast such funny material.
It's The Fusion Chamberlain Show!!!