This area will be utilized for all those articles and such where there is just a snippet of information. Instead of printing the whole article, I will just print the snippet. (Of course, I will link the article so you can read the whole thing if you'd like!) This area will also be used for things I find on other boards, or hear people talking about in general. In fact, if YOU hear anything, why not tell me...and I'll put it here!
FROM THE MEDIA....
From TVGuide.com column "Ask Matt" (originally published 5/19/06)
Question: Thanks for your support of Invasion this season. I was a little sad but not surprised to see that it had been canceled. I consider it a fascinating experiment that yielded some wonderful results, like Shaun Cassidy's other series, American Gothic, although it certainly wasn't for all tastes. Best of all, it brought the talents of William Fichtner, who was able to simultaneously convey both menacing and sympathetic qualities, to my attention. I will miss Sheriff Underlay most of all. I don't consider it a "waste of time" to have taken a chance on a series that had a high chance of failure. It was worth it to see something interesting and a little different. So tell us what you think now that the decision's in. What do you think about Invasion and about investing time and love in low-chance shows? Mary
Matt Roush: I couldn't agree more with the praise for William Fichtner, one of the more original villains-turned-heros I've ever witnessed. I liked Invasion when it was too slow for many, and I liked it once it really picked up steam. I'm glad I got a full season to enjoy it, and no, I don't consider it a waste of time any more than I felt I wasted my time when shows like Freaks and Geeks, Sons & Daughters or My So-Called Life (the list is too long) were cut off prematurely. More to the point, I wish ABC, Shaun Cassidy et al had worked out an arrangement to tell Invasion's story within a single season once it was clear that there wasn't enough of a public appetite to merit a second year. Every time I watch a pilot and recognize a potential lost cause, my impulse is not to give up or to stop watching but to rally behind it, savoring each episode while extolling its virtues as loudly as I can. It's part of what keeps the job interesting and satisfying, no matter how often we're disappointed in the outcome. I have no regrets for watching Invasion, that's for sure. (Now having stuck with Surface to the end because of the mail it generated, that's another story. Won't miss that one at all.)
From Nick: "It's sad, pathetic and desperate of me, but I have to ask: Any chance of an Invasion movie, ΰ la those (admittedly wretched) Pretender movies a while back on TNT? Or, since DVD wasn't around back then, how about a direct-to-DVD something-or-other for the five to six million fans the show still pulled in by the end? I know it's not going to happen, but say something nice to me to make my week a little better."
"Something nice to me." (Sorry, old joke.) Haven't heard anything about an Invasion sequel. The odds probably aren't in its favor. But given that there was some preliminary talk about moving the show to CW (due to the Warner Bros. studio connection), you never know. Just don't count on it. (Guess that wasn't "something nice" after all, was it?)
From TVGuide.com column "Ask Matt" (originally published 5/8/06)
Question: Invasion just keeps getting better. After excellent episodes of Alias and Lost, Invasion ends up topping them all, in my opinion. I could seriously feel the storm growing through the TV set what a great, chilling, suspenseful story that's been unraveling over the course of this season. The thought of not seeing it back next season is the only thing that terrifies me more than an underwater hybrid army. I need Invasion Season 2, or at least a fully realized end to this story! Nick
Matt Roush: I certainly agree with this (well, maybe not Invasion topping Lost), but since it isn't exactly a question, here's this from Chris: "I just want to say that I love your column. I just wonder if ABC is bringing back Invasion. I am starting to really get into the show but I was also into Sons & Daughters until ABC canceled it. So what does the future of Invasion look like?"
I don't want to give false hope here, but what I'm hearing is that the collapse of Commander in Chief (which ABC pulled from the schedule last week for the remainder of the season) might have opened up a slot for Invasion to get a reprieve for a second season. But it's still going to be an uphill climb if it gets renewed, depending on where the show airs (probably not after Lost anymore). And I fear if it doesn't regain some viewers and then retain them, it could fall victim to the sophomore curse and not make it to the end of its next story arc. The good news is that Invasion will at least spring to the finish this season in thrilling fashion (bookending the season with hurricanes serving as a cover for hybrid invasions was pretty nifty). In my recent blog item, I raved about that image from last week in which we saw all the hybrids submerged, waiting to be called into action. How very creepy. Bottom line: As with so many questions being raised this time of year, we just won't know this show's fate until the networks officially set their fall schedules next week.
From Philadelphia Daily News (originally published 5/10/06)
By the time ABC's "Invasion" airs its season finale next week, we should know for sure whether it's also the sci-fi series' last hurrah, too, since the network's due to announce its fall schedule on Tuesday.
From TVGuide.com (originally published 5/10/06)
Although I don't normally do this here...I just wanted to put in the link and urge all of you to read this wonderful article. There are specific mentions of Invasion, the article as a whole might help some who would like some insight into just HOW a network chooses a series.
From San Franciso Chronicle (originally published 5/8/06)
"Invasion," ABC, Wednesdays. Grade: B. Solidly entertaining, well-written and acted, the series never really caught on behind "Lost" when almost everyone believed that was a successful pairing. Still, you can't fault ABC on this one.
From Philadelphia Daily News (originally published 5/3/06)
ABC's "Invasion" (10 tonight, Channel 6). What started out looking like a remake of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" has turned into one of television's most thought-provoking serials, thanks to a twist in which some of the "hybrids" are reluctant to abandon their own humanity.
I'd not only like to see where creator Shaun Cassidy is going with this, but I'd like to see Cassidy, who's created some of the most intriguing television you've probably never seen - "American Gothic," "Cover Me" - get something to a second season.
From NY Daily News (originally published 4/11/06)
"Invasion," ABC. CBS prematurely gave up on its own sci-fi alien series, "Threshold." ABC would be advised to show more patience. After a momentum-shattering lengthy hiatus, one of ABC's infuriating specialties, "Invasion" returns April 19 at 10 p.m. William Fichtner, as Sheriff Tom Underlay, and Kari Matchett, as his second wife Mariel, have been turning in performances that are out of this world. And given the story line, for good reason.
From SouthFlorida.com (originally published 4/2/06)
Here's a look at the shows that figure to make the cut and those that won't.
Invasion, now on a planned hiatus, could go either way. It's a positive sign that ABC is bringing it back for the May sweeps rather than running out its order in March and early April, when ratings are not as crucial.
From Arizona Republic (originally published 4/1/06)
Finally, many of you want to know what happened to Invasion. That's a good sign - if as many people who wondered about its return actually watched the show, it wouldn't be questionable for renewal next season. (If you can't tell, I'm a big fan.)
It's scheduled to return April 19. Let's hope that sticks - and that enough people watch to keep it on the air next season as well. Can't imagine it'll happen, but we can always hope.
From TVGuide.com column Ask Matt (originally published 3/24/06)
Question:Why don't more networks take an approach to their shows like FX does? They show the majority of their dramas in the same time slot (Tuesdays at 10 pm/ET), but rotate them throughout the year. This seems to work for their hit shows like The Shield, Nip/Tuck and Rescue Me, so why don't networks like ABC try it for their shows? ABC could alternate 10-12 episode half-seasons of shows like Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy between a given time slot. One could start in late August, run for 11 weeks straight, let the next one take over until the end of December, switch again for the second half in January, and then trade places one more time in March for the other half of the other show. It's a little confusing, but I think it could work in the long run, especially for those who don't like constant repeats throughout a regular season. Devin
Matt Roush: Shared time slots work on cable, and even (to a lesser degree) on mini-networks like WB. But as frustrating as repeats are, they're part of the reality of network TV, at least for the moment, especially where megahits like Housewives, Anatomy and Lost are concerned. ABC can't afford to air originals year-round, but it also can't afford to have the shows just disappear, either. But here's some good news. Since last we brought up this nagging subject of repeats, an ABC spokesman weighed in with the following clarifications: There will be no more Lost repeats for the rest of the season. (Lost will be pre-empted April 19 for the two-hour return of Alias.) Likewise, Desperate Housewives will be in originals (save for an April 9 pre-emption) for the rest of the season through its May 21 finale. And despite my scoffing that Invasion would air a marathon on, of all places, ABC Family, that's exactly what's going to happen. On April 15, the Saturday before it returns with original episodes (in its Wednesday time slot as of April 19), ABC Family will air a 10-hour Invasion marathon starting at noon ET.
From USAToday.com column Critics Corner by Robert Bianco (originally published 3/8/06)
If you're one of the folks who left Invasion (ABC, 10 p.m. ET/PT) because it wasn't moving quickly enough, you may want to check back in. The show has been on a plot rush of late, a trend that continues with tonight's suspenseful, highly sci-fi hour. Family secrets are revealed, villains are unmasked, and the distinction is drawn more deeply between good and bad "hybrids." It is possible that crazy Christina (Elisabeth Moss) is getting more airtime than the character can support but otherwise, this metaphor-rich adventure is clipping along at a lightning pace.
From TVGuide.com column Ask Ausiello (originally published 3/1/06)
Question: I think Invasion is the best show on TV. Will it be coming back next season? Chris
Ausiello: Exec producer Shaun Cassidy has some interesting thoughts on that particular issue in our next podcast, available Friday afternoon. (For those of you with iPods/iTunes, the direct link for the podcast is here. Simply follow the directions once you get to that page.
From TVGuide.com column Rousch Dispatches (originally published 3/1/06)
With ABC's announcement this week that Alias is (finally) returning to the schedule on April 19, taking up residence Wednesdays at 8 pm/ET (with a two-hour return), the scenario for the rest of the season asks us to withstand the thrills, chills and suspense of three consecutive action-packed hours: The last episodes of Alias followed by Lost followed by Invasion (which will return from a monthlong hiatus on April 19 as well).
It'll be a toss-up as to which night is more exhausting: Fox's Prison Break/24 combo on Mondays or ABC's three-hour extravaganza on Wednesdays. I'm just glad there's a day off in between.
If there's a downside to this Wednesday lineup, it's the popular theory that there can be too much of a good thing, which is one explanation for why Invasion has such trouble holding on to Lost's large lead-in audience. The reasoning: Lost is so intense, so full of mystery, that many viewers aren't willing to stay tuned and sit still for another hour of deep intrigue and mystifying mythology. Many are too busy fleeing to their computers and message boards to hash over what happened on the island to care what's happening to those mutant hybrids in Florida. (The less generous explanation for the ratings drop is that Invasion, especially in its critical early months, moved too slowly and was too murky to draw the masses that devour Lost each week.)
How much worse will it be for Invasion to have to follow both Alias and Lost on Wednesdays? Hard to say. It may not make for great ratings, but it does make for one seriously powerful night of TV. I only know that I won't be budging from ABC on Wednesdays from April 19 until the season ends on May 24. (What about America's Next Top Model, Veronica Mars and American Idol, the only other Wednesday shows that actually matter? That's what VCR/DVRs are for.)
From TVGuide.com column Ask Matt (originally published 2/27/06)
Question: OK, I've come to terms with the reality that Invasion probably won't live to see a second season. But even if it's canceled, what are the chances of all 22 episodes eventually being released on DVD? I didn't get a chance to record many of the earlier episodes (which ABC is unlikely to repeat), and I just want to be able to treasure and keep these wonderful 22 hours forever and ever! Molly
Matt Roush: I don't want to be an alarmist about Invasion just yet, although there's no question that the odds (given this season's record) are against its return. But whether or not it's renewed, I can't imagine it won't be released on DVD. This is just the sort of well-produced, absorbing cult thriller that will play beautifully on DVD, unfolding slowly and creepily and without making you wait a week between chapters. But officially, I don't know if or when this will happen. I don't cover the DVD business, but it seems a no-brainer for Invasion to go the way of Firefly at the very least.
From TVGuide.com column Ask Matt (originally published 2/10/06)
Question: In regard to your Jan. 24 Dispatch and its suggestions on CW programming, I have a comment. I have oftentimes read you and your readers suggesting the pairing of similar shows on the same night. I feel the opposite way, and perhaps understand the networks' thought processes behind this type of programming. By programming shows of differing styles on the same night, it leads viewers to sample shows they may not have otherwise tuned in to otherwise. Also, by putting genre shows on different nights, genre viewers will tune in to the network two nights that week rather than one. Using your example of pairing Smallville with Supernatural, by placing Supernatural after Gilmore Girls, WB asked the heavily female audience of Gilmore to watch a testosterone-fueled action show. (Having Gilmore regular Jared Padalecki on Supernatural was an added bonus to programmers.) I know I sampled Gilmore Girls because I was anticipating Supernatural afterward, and I loved it. Then I tuned in to WB again on Thursday to watch Smallville and stayed for Everwood, and now I love that show, too. I think this brilliant programming enabled me to discover two shows I wouldn't normally have tried, and I'm sure there are many more examples. Did I change your mind? Dan G.
Matt Roush: You make an awfully good argument for spreading the wealth and mixing it up along a diverse schedule. Plus, the way we watch TV has changed so dramatically lately (with DVR/TiVo, iTunes, etc.) that the very notion of audience flow has become somewhat antiquated. There's even a viable theory that it can do harm to pair two shows of too similar a type. Witness Lost and Invasion. It may be too much to expect audiences to sit still through two consecutive riveting hours of suspense. (Not to mention, as Nancy wrote in recently, that Lost fans are known to go online instantly to obsess on their fave show, often leaving Invasion in the dust.) So while there is still logic in the strategy of pairing shows like Smallville and Supernatural (as WB will do starting March 16), or Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars (in the hypothetical CW schedule), and also come mid-March with Prison Break and 24 on Fox, it's possible that it works just as well the other way.
From TVGuide.com column The Watercooler (originally published 2/9/06)
Invasion
Tonight's show succeeded in spooking me, as it was supposed to. I got that same tense feeling I had from watching raptors and aliens stalk humans in Jurassic Park and War of the Worlds. But as Dave was creeping around his house following the intruder's muddy trail, I envisioned Swamp Thing jumping out of the shadows and my tension subsided considerably. Instead, Dave came face to face with his half-formed, open-pustule-ridden, alien-clone self who'd been stealing Dave's personal items and living in a van down by the river. OK, it wasn't a van. To Larkin I say, this is what you get for leaving all your doors open when you suspect alien prowlers. Are we sure Larkin's not carrying a hybrid child? I swear that baby bump was a concave belly a few days ago. The clone certainly was drawn to her, but then nothing says Host Body like a pregnant woman. Good thing Dave shot it. This begs the question: Does killing one's own clone qualify as suicide? I suppose the answer to that depends on whether or not the clone stays dead. We know from Lewis' and Underlay's regenerations that death is a slippery slope with these "people," so Russ and Dave dumping the clone in the water doesn't assure me that we've seen the last of him. Though this episode had far too little Mariel, Kira's increasing screen time is proving that she's more than just teenage eye candy. I'm liking her relationship with Lewis, who, though childlike in a Michael Jackson way, still doesn't have me 100 percent convinced that there was no Jesus Juice in their shared tent. Underlay will deal with that situation once he's avenged his near-fatal shooting, and since we now know that it wasn't the mysterious Zura who pulled the trigger, then it had to be the priest! Why didn't I think of that? Because I was too busy thinking about this: If Zura and Underlay are partners building their own hybrid army, can Russ and Dave trust anything that this ex-CIA dude has told them? Now that gives me chills. Rhoda Charles
From USAToday.com (originally published Feb. 8, 2006)
In terms of quality, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better two-hour block than ABC's Lost (9 p.m. ET/PT) and Invasion (10 ET/PT), but that doesn't mean the two shows belong together. Lost tends to exhaust an audience, which may explain why viewers seem reluctant to jump right into another intense, suspense drama. Still, it's worth the effort, as both shows just seem to get stronger and more absorbing each week. As for what you can expect tonight: The Lost castaways are dealing with a kidnapping, while the Floridians in Invasion are trying to figure out who shot the sheriff.
From TVGuide (Feb. 6-12, 2006 issue)
Roush Rave
The Office isn't the only show that hit its stride in January. ABC's suspenseful Invasion (Wednesdays, 10/9c), initially criticized by some for its deliberately slow pace, is developing into a terrifically engrossing thriller. The Stephen King-worthy mix of supernatural intrigue and domestic personal conflict in a hurricane-battered Florida town has intensified since most of the main characters have learned that many in their midst are alien hybrids. Most recently, sinister Sherriff Tom (the terriffic William Fichtner) confronted his past after being shot, reliving the watery 1996 plane crash he survived only by a spooky transformation. As the longest-surviving hybrid, he may be a "stabilizing force" for others like him, including his troubled wife, Mariel (the alluring Kari Matchett). How will heroic ranger Russell (Eddie Cibrian), Mariel's ex, hold family and community together? Because, underneath Invasion's eerie goings-on, the show is an unabashed love story involving two shattered families trying to survive an unnatural threat. Now's a great time to get back with this cool program.
From E!Online (originally published 1/31/06)
McPherson said he was "hopeful," but "realistic" about the futures of both Commander in Chief and Invasion (42nd place, 9.3 million), which could be called Exodus for all the viewers who tune it out after Lost (seventh place, 19.1 million).
From blogcritics.com (originally published 1/31/06)
Invasion (ABC 10pm). Alien intrigue kicks it up a notch. Despite more waning interest, this show is on the fringes of keeping me coming back. This episode has the Sheriff shot and his consciousness slipping between the incident that brought him to the town and the present, meanwhile, will his secret be exposed? Could be interesting to see how this plays out. **.5
From TVGuide.com column Ask Matt (originally published 1/30/06)
Question: Despite your disapproval of the show, I've gotten really hooked on NBC's Surface. It isn't perfect, but few shows are, and I think it has more potential than a lot of the current so-called hits. I've heard it's on the bubble, and I was wondering if you know what the odds are of it being renewed. S.M.
Matt Roush: Given the fact that Surface's numbers have not rebounded since it returned from a long December hiatus, I'm thinking the chances for a second year are pretty slim. It is definitely on the bubble.
On a similar note, here's this question from Dan: "Why is there so much talk about Invasion being canceled? I just looked at the ratings today and the show was ranked 39th with a 9 rating. That's pretty solid for a 10 pm/ET show. Unfortunately, it doesn't beat out CSI: NY or Law & Order (which is moving to 9 pm/ET, right?), though it still holds its own, but that doesn't mean it's done for, does it?"
Invasion isn't yet done for, and, all things considered, is doing better than ABC has typically done in this tough time period, especially with a show as demanding and unusual as this sci-fi thriller. But there is reason for worry. Invasion's ratings may not be a complete disaster, but the crucial factor here is how much of Lost's audience Invasion loses each week, which is considerable. Invasion is also on the fence when it comes to renewal, although its chances may be a bit better than those for Surface, if only because of the critical acclaim and media buzz Invasion has enjoyed from time to time. That alone, however, won't save it.
From TVGuide.com column Ask Matt (originally published 1/27/06)
Question: Does the news that NBC is moving Law & Order up an hour to go against Lost mean good things for Invasion in the post-Lost time slot? I'm hoping that viewers who'd previously tuned to Law & Order might give Invasion a try now and find one of the best new shows on TV. Is this move by NBC as good for Invasion as I hope it is? Josh
Matt Roush: It's no secret what a booster of Invasion I am, but I'm also a realist. I seriously doubt the audience that has been watching Law & Order on Wednesdays will all of a sudden jump ship to join a show like Invasion in progress, especially given how antithetical it is to L&O in execution, being serialized and fantastical. It's much more likely that the devoted Law & Order fan will follow the show to the earlier time slot and stay tuned for the new crime drama, Heist, which it's providing with a compatible lead-in. Still, it could open up the time period a bit and, if Heist doesn't take off, may result in Invasion looking more competitive than it does now.
From TVGuide.com column Watercooler (originally published 1/26/06)
Holy. Rip. Off. Did you see... I can't believe... flashbacks... planes crashing... suspense... character development... I can't even think of any smart-ass remarks. I may have a new disease, and I'm calling it "Writer's Blah." In essence, it means I'm so intent on comparing this show to Lost that I can't. All I can do is give props. So what, if it's going with what works? It may be riding coattails, drafting or just copying. Either way, it's smart and has me glued to my seat.
You know how there's always some jerk in your office who thinks he knows everything, and is usually right? Don't worry, he just got served. This new species of drama that ABC is serving up has me I mean, him totally speechless.
The creepiest guy on network TV is actually kind of a good guy?
The broadcast journalist aborts the big story in the name of family values?
The quotes and random numbers have me searching the Internet?
Oh, I used to pass the time by discussing Kari Matchett's good looks, but now I don't get up off the couch until I see the teasers for next week's episode. I always write things down, but now I write stuff like "wow," "no way" and "ooh." I also wrote "nipple," but that's because Doctor Hot-or-Not's shirt was wet. Anyway, Invasion may not have a huge ensemble cast or a six-season premise but it's got answers. And I like the way they sneak them in: Mariel can stay underwater for 30 minutes; the locked closet really does contain hope; the weird guy who knows everything is ex-CIA; the aliens don't want you if you're sick; and finally, human or hybrid, these people have heart. It's a good show. Darren Sirkin
The Albuquerque Tribune: (1/25/06) (thanks to the Fichtner_Firsthand Yahoo group for the heads up on this article!)
By Mary-Ann McBride
Mariel (Kari Matchett) talks to her husband, Sheriff Tom Underlay (William Fichtner), in the hospital after he is shot in "Invasion."
Those people over at ABC really were using their noggins when they put the creepy "Invasion" (9 p.m., KOAT-Channel 7) on after "Lost." Any other spot on its prime-time schedule and this sci-fi/family drama would totally have gone the way of some extinct animal I've never heard of.
Thanks to its incredibly popular lead-in, enough people have hung around to give "Invasion" a shot. I'm grateful to all of you who did so. I was not one of the good viewers.
I was remiss in my TV watching because I certainly wasn't going to stay up that late for a network sci-fi show that was going to be off the air in the time it took me decide if Kelly Clarkson has a better voice than Carrie Underwood.
I hang my head in shame now, having recently caught a few episodes after accidentally setting my VCR to run too long after "Lost."
I was completely sucked in by the soapy and sci-fi elements.
Eddie Cibrian ("Third Watch") stars as Russell Varon, a park ranger whose ex-wife, Mariel (Kari Matchett), starts acting kind of wacky after a big old hurricane devastates their town in Florida. Her new hubby, Tom (William Fichtner, "Contact"), is the town sheriff, and he's knee-deep in all the sinister goings on.
I guess it took awhile for pretty-boy Russell to get with the program, but now that he's figured out his ex ain't quite right anymore, the pace has quickened.
Tonight, bug-eyed Tom gets shot and relives the 1996 plane crash that changed him into one freaky dude. Meanwhile, Russell has to stop his TV journalist wife, Larkin (Lisa Sheridan), from telling everything she knows about what's happened to his ex-wife and several other townspeople.
Oh, the drama. UsaToday.com: (1/25/06)
If you're not watching Invasion (ABC, 10 p.m. ET/PT), you're not only missing the season's best new drama, but you're also missing two Emmy-contending performances by Kari Matchett and William Fichtner as the town's troubled, married "hybrids." Tonight's episode takes us back to the day they met, as a shooting forces Tom (Fichtner) to relive the plane crash that turned him into a new man. Fichtner has always brought great ambiguity to a role that could have been cut-and-dried. Tonight, he and the writers add a new note: sympathy.
TVGuide.com's Ask Matt column (publish date 1/23/06)
Question: I finally caught up on my old tapes of Invasion, which meant three hours over the last couple of days. Somehow the time off made me forget how absolutely captivating this show is. The acting is great, the production quality high, and the story original (in a genre that often lacks originality). So is it wrong that I want the series to end? That is, I want it to end the right way, with some kind of resolution. Even if it is renewed, it isn't the kind of show that will pick up viewers in year 2. I'd love to see Invasion end with a two-hour season finale that wraps everything up, because maybe more than any other show, I can't bear the thought of seeing this show disappear without resolution. So, realistically, what are the chances that, if it's not renewed, the writers will have time to do the right thing and pen a fair conclusion to the best miniseries ever? Nick
Matt Roush: If only. By which I'm not saying "if only Invasion were to call it quits," but "if only" network TV in the U.S. worked this way. The most recent episodes of Invasion have been exceptional. Anyone who tuned out because they felt the story wasn't moving fast enough should jump back into the fold now. (Check out my recent Dispatch, written when the show returned from December hiatus.) I'm so intrigued by Nick's theory, because I also fear that the show's creative resurgence has come too late in the run to boost Invasion's viewership to the level where ABC will renew it. I'm not sure that ABC will make the call early enough to allow the writers a chance for closure, which makes me hope they'll decide to wrap the first season on a note of some resolution, even if it's open-ended, but without forcing a "to be continued" cliff-hanger on us that may never be continued. That would be awful. I love the idea of season-long miniseries that's kind of how I look at 24 each year, and Prison Break in its first season. Invasion fits that mold beautifully, and I agree that it's on par right now with the best of the prime-time dramas. I didn't attend the critics' press tour this month, so I didn't get a chance to mix it up with the Invasion folks. But maybe they'll see this, and if I get any feedback about how they're envisioning the end of the season, I promise to share.
from TVGuide.com's column the Rousch Dispatch: (publish date 1/19/06)
It's hardly a secret that two of my favorite hours of the TV week are the Lost-Invasion combo on ABC on Wednesday nights (I watch the 11 pm/ET replay of Project Runway to come down from the high so I can get a good night's sleep).
This week was no exception. Lost and the revitalized Invasion were both terrific, as usual, but what struck me was how both shows have suddenly evolved, in their episodes' final moments, into what look to be war allegories.
After the creepy jungle encounter with the Others (mostly represented by the sudden appearance of torches surrounding our heroes), Jack approaches Ana Lucia and asks, "How long do you think it would take to train an army?" We already know the gal has deadly aim. And imagine Mr. Eko as General Eko. 'Nuff said.
Then, as Invasion concluded another creepy hour of domestic conflict and aliens-vs.-us intrigue loved that teenager Jesse, brought along for a "vacation" by his stepdad, Sheriff Tom, wanted to watch The Shining (also about a dangerously altered father figure) we learn Tom's true motivation for taking the kids away: They were a cover for him launching (rather improbably) a bag full of weapons and uniforms that would later float ashore on an uncharted key full of hunky, shirtless hybrids. "The island of misfit toys," jokes one of the studly changelings, as we discover that they're in training for a battle ahead.
Back in Homestead, battered ranger Russell, who's already got his hands full keeping his family together, has no idea what's in store.
Neither, really, do we. But I'm betting it will be explosive.
from TVGuide.com's column The Watercooler: (publish date 1/19/06)
Um, remember when the creepy alien-leader sheriff brought the kids back from whatever cabin in the woods he took them to, where he gave them presents and dragged big duffel bags around and rode off on a boat with reflective safety sheriff stickers on it, at all hours of the night, and then two of the kids' real parents were all like "Thanks for not murdering the kids" and then we saw beach scenes from Abercrombie Island?
Yeah, this show was all over the place. And a little bit stale.
There's some locked door that's been teasing us for a few episodes now. Come on.
There's something going on with the children, and who "has" them. I mean...
There are religious undertones, only not so "under." OK.
There are literary references. Fine.
There are conspiracy theories. Done.
There are good-looking people on beaches. Oh, really?
Somebody knows more than everybody else and has an agenda. You don't say.
So that's the part that threw me. If you want to hide something, be sure to put it in a hockey bag and drag it out of your car late at night, past your boat dock and all the windows in the house, into your bedroom, and then back out to your boat later that night. Then start the engine and get to transporting it to an island of shirtless Old Navy commercial rejects.
Bitter? A little. What's that called when race cars get real close to the guy in front and use less gas? Drafting or something? Invasion is totally doing that to Lost. And that's all I have to say about that... until next week. Darren Sirkin
TVGuide.com's Ask Matt column (1/13/06)
Question: So what's the deal with Invasion and its future? I know it's returning from hiatus, but how many more episodes will air this season? And what's its prognosis for renewal, given how the rest of ABC's plate is already so full with higher-rated hits? Tony
Matt Roush: Invasion has been picked up for a full season of 22 episodes, and I've heard nothing to lead me to think that the order will be cut short. (For my take on the show at the mid-season point, check out my Dispatch from earlier this week.) I'm not sure the show can regain the viewers it's lost, but given the revved-up pace of the storytelling recently, this is a perfect time for people to give Invasion a second chance. As for renewal: haven't a clue. It's certainly not a slam-dunk at this point. Like CBS' treatment of Threshold, ABC is in a position where it doesn't need to carry a marginally rated show into a second year at this point. (Let's be thankful Alias didn't premiere on the current ABC.) But if the media start buzzing about Invasion again, and the ratings begin to reflect the show's new urgency, then maybe the network will do the right thing come May. But I'm betting it will be down to the wire.
LAWeekly - TiVO Top 10 - The Year in Good TV
Robert Abele
Invasion The best of the new alien series. For one thing, it has William Fichtner, who right now is officially TVs creepiest dude. His uniform says sheriff, but what chills the blood is his secretive role as the soft-spoken mayor to his alien-infected Everglades community. In a recent episode, he even persuaded an amputee, who was elated to have his arm restored after an alien encounter, to chain-saw it off so he wouldnt attract attention. Wow. Nothing that emotionally disturbing or flat-out freaky ever happened on Threshold or Surface.
Zap2It's TV Gal - TV Gal Bestows Best of the Best
Amy Amantangelo
Best Creepy Character: Sheriff Tom Underlay on "Invasion"
Best Hurley in Training: Dave on "Invasion"
Best Younger Sister: Rose on "Invasion"
TVSquad.com - Best and Worst of 2005: Bob's List
Bob Sassone
Most Overrated: Invasion
Bradenton Herald - 2005's Most Memorable TV Moments and People
Maureen Ryan and Sid Smith
Other "holy-cow moments": the one-armed sheriff's deputy on "Invasion" miraculously getting a new arm that he's then forced to saw off
TV Guide, "My Big Year", [p. 32], December 19-25, 2005 (12/18/05):
Big Year For Creatures - Beasties proved TV from Surface to Threshold this year, but the best were the glowing orange fishy things on Invasion.
TV Guide, "Cheers & Jeers", [p. 15], December 19-25, 2005 (12/18/05):
Jeers to ABC for advertising Alias in its "new time" of Wednesdays at 10 pm. In fact, the spy drama only aired there for a few weeks before going on hiatus until spring to accomodate Jennifer Garner's maternity leave. But the promos managed to panic fans of Invasion, which normally airs in that slot and will return there in January. And after watching that creepy series, those people are paranoid enough already.
Entertainment Weekly, "The Ratings", [p.73], Issue #855, December 23, 2005 (12/18/05):
A Soggy Invasion - ABC ppinned huge hopes on its creepy new alien-infested hour Invasion this season, giving it the plum post-Lost spot and bombarding viewers with promos. So the show's precipitous ratings slide is almost as big a myster as the story at its center. In week 1, Invasion pulled a solid 16.4 million viewers, retaining 70 percent of Lost's rabid audience; in its last new outing, on Nov. 30, just 10.1 million people tuned in. That's less than half the evening's Lost audience, and a worrisome 38 percent drop from it's dbut. ABC's short-term time-slot fix, Alias (63rd), was also trounced last week by a CSI:NY rerun and an original Law & Order.
Boston.com by Matthew Gilbert (12/18/05):
Recently, ''Invasion" even included a plot in which paranoid Dave was abducted because of his blog, which actually exists on ABC's site.
Florida's Sun-Sentinel by Tom Jicha (12/18/05):
Q. Just wondering why ABC has not mentioned where they have moved Invasion now that Alias has been moved into its time slot. If the show has been canceled, you would think they'd at least run a final episode of some sort. -- G.V.W., Boynton Beach
A. Invasion has not been canceled. It will return to it's 10 p.m. Wednesday slot on Jan. 11. Unless ratings slump badly the rest of the season, it is a fairly certain renewal for at least a second season. Rather than air reruns the past couple of weeks in order to stretch the show's original run through the spring, ABC decided to give Alias a chance to bolster its audience away from its normal suicidal Thursday time slot. That said, if Invasion had been canceled, there would have been no final episode. There never is. The latest example is Fox's serialized drama Reunion, which has been given a pink slip but will not resolve the dangling murder mystery.
TVGuide's "Ask Matt" Column (12/12/05):
Question: Since its premiere, Invasion has been developed in a very slow way. However, I love the show's family concept, the acting is consistent in each episode, and the story is mesmerizing (even with a slow pace). I am very worried about Invasion's chances for a second season, since it hasn't been able to capture Lost's audience, and ABC is so hot right now that it may not need Invasion around after this first year. Commander in Chief is another possible casualty beyond its first season, because House is winning the competition so far this year. ABC has so much buzz and so many good shows that I don't know if they would rather trust Invasion and Chief, or just look for bigger hits (Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives). I know it's a little early to start next year's predictions, but Invasion is not winning new viewers and Chief is losing important numbers. You were right when you predicted Invasion's full-season order, so now I am looking for some perspective on two of my favorite shows. Thanks for a great column each week. Glenda
Matt Roush: You're welcome, and thanks for the question. It is probably too early to start worrying about renewals both of these shows still have the second half of a full season to produce. But after a gut-check, I would be surprised if ABC doesn't renew Commander in Chief as a prestige property, unless the numbers completely collapse on American Idol on Tuesdays. As strong as ABC is these days, it can't win every ratings battle, and being a solid No. 2 or even No. 3 counterprogramming to a different audience and demographic than those that watch House may be enough to keep it around a while. Invasion I'm less sure about. Yes, it loses a lot of Lost's audience almost anything would but given ABC's track record in that time period, ABC is doing better than I ever would have expected with this quietly but increasingly unnerving series. As is often the case, much depends on the quality of ABC's development for next season. If ABC believes it has come up with a better show to pair with Lost, then Invasion could be in real trouble (or, possibly worse, shipped off to Thursday next season). If not, maybe ABC will accept Invasion for what it is. I'm hoping for a good result, but am not especially confident just yet.
TV Guide's "Ask Matt" Column (12/9/05):
Question: Has Invasion been canceled? Is ABC moving Alias to its time slot? Lisa
Matt Roush: Without a doubt, the most-asked question of the last week. It's beyond aggravating that ABC would trumpet the two-week-only move of Alias to Wednesdays as its "new time" instead of as a "special time." Alias will be on hiatus until spring after these two Wednesday airings, and Invasion will be back in its regular time slot (I presume) with new episodes (eventually) in the new year. I would like to think ABC regrets the confusion (while I applaud giving Alias the more visible time period for these last episodes before Jennifer Garner's maternity leave kicked in). But I'm not sure the networks ever truly regret anything they do.
TV Guide Column
"Is It Just Me?" by Rochell D. Thomas
(Issue Nov. 28-Dec. 4, 2005)
Like Desperate Housewives' Gabrielle, is Invasion's Larkin also too skinny to be preggers?
OK. So you know how, when a mother-to-be goes to get a sonogram and the doctor rubs her cute baby bump? Well, Larkin's sonogram was nothing like that. When Dr. Mommy-You-Smell-Different went to examine larkin, she discovered perfectly flat abs beneath Larkin's shirt. Actually, her stomach wasn't flat. It was concave. Prosthetic bumps are available at costume shops, so why can't the wardrobe people get it right? Until they do, Pregnancy Watch 2005 will continue.
Zap2It's TV Gal
"Invasion," on the other hand, is a show with a pilot I didn't love. Yet it is getting better and better every week. I don't really care what the aliens' end game is on "Threshhold," but I so want to know what's up on "Invasion." Sure the show has had some missteps (the revelation that Jesse knew his mom was having an affair with Tom before she divorced his father was awkwardly introduced), but there's a big-picture story arc here that's really working.
Free Lance Star (Fredericksburg)
But while ABC's "Invasion" has the good sense to keep the alien critters largely unseen--What's scarier than our own imaginations?--this show that airs Mondays at 8 makes the mistake of showing off the monster critters from the get-go.
Indy Star
Q: The executive producer of the new series "Invasion" is Shaun Cassidy. Is this the Hardy Boy I loved so much in my teens?
FROM THE MOUTH OF THE CREATOR...
The Washington Post
Shaun Cassidy, executive producer and creator of "Invasion" on ABC, agreed. "Fairy tales help kids process their demons. Scary stories exist for adults for the same reason."
"Humor saves the day," Cassidy said. "Even in their darkest hour, people are funny."
"It's the fear of the unknown," said "Invasion's" Shaun Cassidy. "We assume the enemy is smarter than us."
REAL PEOPLE ARE TALKING TOO...
From Lola in San Antonio, TX: I'm watching my local news, and they report about a python in Flordia that had tried to swallow a Gator. The python's stomach exploded, when the carcass was found, you could see the bottom half of the Gator sticking out. The carcass was found several days after "Invasion" premiered. One of the scientists commented/asked (jokingly) "If anyone saw the lights."