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Moonlight - season 1 thread (not quite a ripoff of "Forever Knight")

#1
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5/16/07 at 1:43pm
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CBS has a new show coming out this fall called "Moonlight". Which seems pretty similar to another CBS show of the early 1990's "Forever Knight".

Here are they synopsis of both shows...

Forever Knight
Quote:
After centuries of bloodshed, Nicholas Knight has forsaken immortality and is determined to reclaim his humanity. He now spends his nights as a homicide detective with his smug partner, Donald Schanke, fighting the city's most brutal crimes. Joining in Nicholas' quest is Dr. Natalie Lambert, a brilliant forensic scientist, who is inching closer to the cure for his supernatural condition. The master vampire Lucien LaCroix, however, will stop at nothing to ensure that Nicholas remains a vampire. In his darkest moments, Nicholas turns to the lovely vampire Janette, who offers him unconditional loyalty despite her prominent standing in the vampire underworld.

Moonlight
Quote:
MOONLIGHT is about Mick St. John a captivating "undead" private investigator who uses his acute vampire senses to help the living... instead of feeding on them. In an agonizing twist of fate, Mick was "bitten" 60 years ago by his new bride, the seductive and beguiling Coraline Immortal and eternally as young, handsome and charismatic as he was then, Mick is sickened by Coraline and other vampires who view humans only as a source of nourishment. With only a handful of undead confidantes for company, including deceitful ally Josef, Mick fills his infinite days protecting the living, and trying not to think about how his life would have been if he hadn't followed his heart. However, after six decades of resisting, he wonders if it's time to pursue the love of a mortal. He has his eyes on Beth Turner, a beautiful, ambitious reporter who has been covering the ongoing plague of unusual murders. But would Beth even consider giving up a normal life to be with him, and can Mick risk the pain of seeing himself as a monster in her eyes? As Mick lives between two realities, fighting his adversaries among the undead and falling in love with Beth, he knows he needs to figure out a reason to keep "living."

Bring back John Doe! Or at least resolve the cliff-hanger with a 2hr movie or as an extra on a dvd release.

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#2
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5/16/07 at 1:57pm
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

Wasn't Nick Knight developed for CBS, with Forever Knight a syndicated and recast version (or was it part of "Crime Time after Prime Time")?

Of course, Angel has a more recent provenance, if you want to accuse people of ripping something off. I suspect that it's just not a very hard idea to come up with: Start wanting to do a noir-ish P.I. show but wanting an unusual spin, and it's not a big leap to get to vampires.
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#3
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5/16/07 at 3:41pm
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

Maybe it'll turn out to be in the vein (ha) of the original Kolchak. If so, I don't care if it's ripping something off.
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#4
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5/16/07 at 4:09pm
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Seaver
Wasn't Nick Knight developed for CBS, with Forever Knight a syndicated and recast version (or was it part of "Crime Time after Prime Time")?
It was part of CBS's "Crime Time after Prime Time".

The first show on the DVD series shows the "Crime Time after Prime Time" footer in the beginning.
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#5
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5/16/07 at 5:31pm
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

Nick Night was the original pilot of Forever Knight. It starred Rick Springfield. When the show was picked up for Crimetime after primetime on CBS. The pilot and show was redone. The city was moved from LA to Toronto and most of the characters were recast. And on a more obscure note. Nick was originally only around 150 yrs old. In the redone version he was a Knight who was turned in 1266. Thus allowing flashbacks from over 800 years.

On the comment about Kolchak. I wished that when the X-Files had Darren McGavin (Kolchak) on as former FBI agent. I thought it would have been cooler if he would have starred as Kolchak. And Mulder was a fan of his work and came to him for help in a case.

Bring back John Doe! Or at least resolve the cliff-hanger with a 2hr movie or as an extra on a dvd release.

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#6
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5/16/07 at 6:58pm
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

Quote:
I wished that when the X-Files had Darren McGavin (Kolchak) on as former FBI agent. I thought it would have been cooler if he would have starred as Kolchak.

They would have had to secure the rights to the character and pay for using it. If someone said "No" or the price was wrong, that wouldn't have been possible. Also it may be that Chris Carter just didn't want to put X-Files and Kolchak in the same fictional universe. (Although he had no trouble doing a cross-over with Homicide. )

I'm a huge Forever Knight fan, but works of art revisit territory covered by earlier works all the time. Did NYPD Blue "rip off" Dragnet? I don't think so. Moonlight sounds like a private eye show with a vampire angle. FK was a vampire show with a police procedural angle. Nick Knight was more about moral dillemas and trying to regain his soul and his mortality than it was about solving crimes. And the ages of the main vampires gave it a long perspective and made the whole notion of immortality central to the story in a Moonlight may not. Thematically and even in terms of production it was closer to Highlander than even to something like Angel.

The point is not the underlying concept (vampires have been crossed with cops and/or private eyes before, including in printed fiction) but the execution - the particular characters, the storytelling, the whole approach. There have been four different Star Treks, not to mention Farscape, [i]Firefly[/b] and the various Stargates - yet all could be summarized as being about travellers in space. (For that matter Moby Dick can be boiled down to "A nut chasing a big fish". It was how Melville told the story that makes it more than that.)

Regards,

Joe
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#7
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5/17/07 at 9:18am
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

Joe, Can't you just let me be bitter that I miss Forever Knight?

Bring back John Doe! Or at least resolve the cliff-hanger with a 2hr movie or as an extra on a dvd release.

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#8
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5/17/07 at 11:19pm
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

We are of similar mindsets. When I read about Moonlight, I immediately thought of Forever Knight! Reluctant vampire lured by a woman he loves, the hatred of what he is, the PI/cop similarity, and vampire fascinated by a mortal woman.

Sure, most TV shows copy each other, but this just seems almost to the letter by the description. Heck, the vampire is named Mick in Moonlight (versus FK's Nick).

Still, I'll likely tune in out of curiosity. But if it disappoints me, I still have my three seasons of FK on DVD [one of the few good things Sony has done] if I need a vampire fix!

Too bad - from what I gather - there's no LaCroix-like character here, though [though the wife/vampire seems to be a Janette/LaCroix hybrid, maybe?]. LaCroix always made things interesting on FK!

It'll be interesting to see how CBS' latest attempt will be received, after FK seemed to flounder. (Thank goodness for syndication.)
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#9
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5/26/07 at 6:55pm
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

Here is the CBS trailer for "Moonlight".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-XIc...elated&search=

I hope no one who plans on watching was attached to the female reporter in the trailer. I read that Shannon Lucio, who played Beth Turner, is out and Beth is being recast already. Here is a link to the article:

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-mo...p-tv-headlines

I can't say I'm disappointed. From the trailer, she seemed too young. I think a slightly older actress is needed for the role. That said, I hope the recasting is not indicative of the show crashing and burning already. Even if it is a retread of other such shows, I sort of am curious to see how it will fare.
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#10
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5/26/07 at 7:06pm
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

Quote:
That said, I hope the recasting is not indicative of the show crashing and burning already.

Why would anyone even think that? As the article you linked to notes, recasting roles and making other changes between pilot and series is routine. If that was indicative of incipient "crashing and burning" even more new shows would flop every year than actually do. One of the things that is striking about most pilots, in retrospect, is how different they are from the shows they spawn. (Every watch the Cosby pilot?)

If a show starts recasting major roles in mid-season it is in trouble. Right after the pilot? Not so much.

Regards,

Joe
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#11
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5/27/07 at 2:12pm
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

There was a ton of retooling performed on Brothers and Sisters. Involved re-shooting the pilot and changing the lead mother figure. And the show turned out to be a freshman hit.
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#12
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6/2/07 at 2:50am
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

"Angel" alum made "Moonlight" showrunner:

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-gr...ry?track =rss

He was one of those people who would be neither a follower nor a leader, but only an aspiring heart, impatient in the failing body which imprisoned it. -- T. H. White, "The Once and Future King"

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#13
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6/2/07 at 7:58am
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

Sorry Greenwalt. You co-created my all-time favorite show, but I'll not be following this vampire's tales, no matter who's involved in telling them.
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#14
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6/5/07 at 7:22am
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

Thanks for the preview post, WendyCR. I think it looks great, kinda creepy with a sweet romantic twist, and I'm always up for that. I'll be really interested to see who they cast in the reporter/love interest role! I was a huge fan of the Buffy/Angel enterprise sooo I'm totally looking forward to this now.
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#15
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6/5/07 at 7:51am
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

I will definitly be giving this one a chance. It will be hard to learn a new lore/culture/history/rules for this new series. I sort of would like it if they stick to the same rules as the Buffyverse.

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#16
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6/5/07 at 8:21am
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

Quote:
"Angel" alum made "Moonlight" showrunner:
In a related note, the first episode of Moonlight will begin with a five minute recap of previous events that aren't strictly relevant to that night's episode.
Jay's Movie Blog - A movie-viewing diary.
Transplanted Life: Sci-fi soap opera about a man placed in a new body, updated two or three times a week.
Trading Post Inn - Another gender-bending soap, with different collaborators writing different points of view.

"What? Since when was this an energy ball...
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#17
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6/5/07 at 9:54am
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

I was just reading about this show this morning, like the looks of it.
The show could have some Buffy similarities, which I think can only mean positive results. Sounds like it will be nice and dark too. But it always is when we pursue the love of a mortal! Ha!! Ok, that was bad.
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#18
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6/5/07 at 10:58am
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

There's only one ANGEL, and the idea of David Greenwalt doing a variation on that is just, well...cheapens the original he co-created if you know what I'm saying. Are audiences this fickle? I wouldn't have expected that from fans of the 'Buffyverse' who seemed to be fiercely loyal.
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#19
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6/5/07 at 12:34pm
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

Wouldn't "fickle" be passing up on it because it doesn't have the Joss Whedon brand name?

The way I see it, Greenwalt is a writer/producer/director for hire. He's good at it. He's especially good at modern dark fantasies (Angel, Miracles). And even if Moonlight has a lot of similarities to Angel and Forever Knight, it will likely also present him opportunities to play with that sort of mythos that those shows didn't have because they went different directions.

Barring IDW hiring him to write some comics, Greenwalt's likely never going to do Angel again. But "I loved Angel" seems like a spectacularly odd reason not to check his work here out; it would be like ignoring Battlestar Galactica because you enjoyed Ron Moore & company's work on Deep Space Nine so much.
Jay's Movie Blog - A movie-viewing diary.
Transplanted Life: Sci-fi soap opera about a man placed in a new body, updated two or three times a week.
Trading Post Inn - Another gender-bending soap, with different collaborators writing different points of view.

"What? Since when was this an energy ball...
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#20
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6/6/07 at 8:59am
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

I said what I said because before it even begins, bringing a "Buffyverse" vet on to produce and possibly write for the show feels like they're trying to re-do what they achieved on those shows before, which cheapens that original. Or rip-off, but that term is a harsh one since Greenwalt co-created ANGEL. Though it might apply, I don't know. None of us will truly know that for a while, but I don't like the sound of this.

I've never watched Battlestar Galactica before since I wasn't interested, but it doesn't look like DS9 to me.
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#21
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6/6/07 at 11:14am
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Since we can't get any more Buffy/Angel, I am all for having a show that is similar in style.

The only concern I have is if the mythos is too different than what I am used to (buffyverse) then I won't like it as much because some things wont make sense. Like Blade: the Series had some stuff that didn't feel right because it was different.

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#22
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6/6/07 at 11:16am
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

If this new show has no similarities at all, then it would simply be another interpretation of vampires on television and there would be no 'buzz' about it. I'd prefer it that way.
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#23
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6/11/07 at 3:00pm
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicholas Martin
If this new show has no similarities at all, then it would simply be another interpretation of vampires on television and there would be no 'buzz' about it. I'd prefer it that way.

I hear what you are saying, but are we looking a gift horse in the mouth here? We seem to be getting a potentially sweet vampire show... has everyone watched this?

http://tinyurl.com/2pth5k
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#24
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6/11/07 at 4:56pm
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

I saw some of Forever Knight but didn't care for it, but was fun picking out what was familiar to me in the Toronto scenery when I saw some of it many years ago. This at least looks more like that show, which is a relief, but to FK purists, I can see if they would have problems with that.
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#25
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6/11/07 at 9:45pm
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

I wonder if this new character will ever get to slay some Dragons.
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#26
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6/19/07 at 6:11pm
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikel_Cooperman
I wonder if this new character will ever get to slay some Dragons.

Not sure about that one! LOL.

I think Moonlight is going to be a pleasant surprise. Won't be cheesy or hokie, but dark and mysterious, which should go without saying for vampires!
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#27
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6/19/07 at 10:02pm
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

After seeing that trailer, I know I won't be watching now.
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#28
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6/20/07 at 8:33am
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicholas Martin
After seeing that trailer, I know I won't be watching now.

Really? His fridge full of blood didn't sell you? LOL! I liked it, but I'm a freak. Don't sleep on the seductive Amber Valletta. I'm giving Moonlight a fighting chance.
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#29
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6/20/07 at 12:30pm
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

Have y'all seen the promos for the new Fox series "New Amsterdam?"

The premise: An immortal cop in New York.

"How wonderful it will be to have a leader unburdened by the twin horrors of knowledge and experience." -- Mr. Wick

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#30
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6/28/07 at 2:01pm
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Re: New CBS show "Moonlight" a ripoff of "Forever Knight"?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron Silverman
Have y'all seen the promos for the new Fox series "New Amsterdam?"

The premise: An immortal cop in New York.


No way! Have not seen that yet, VERY interesting. You have a link?

The man behind "The Matrix" -Joel Silver is also responsible for Moonlight, so I have to give it some love just based on that alone. He also produced "Road House" a modern classic if ever there was one.
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