For starters, no one dies. There are no practical special effects, or over-the-top humor. The episode is more like Amazing Stories, Or the original Twilight Zone. It's more about the redemption of an aging star, and a now-modern commentary on revivals of old properties, and fan boys. "Distant Signals" was made in an era before the revival of intellectual properties and TV shows, and it's a rejection of AIs. Mr. Smith and his people are interested in bring back the original actors, the original creator and director, and the original "feel" of the show they're reviving. Rather than just recreating their favorite show with new faces, using AI.
Sure the episode is twee, but the cast helps. Darren McGavin is well... Darren McGavin. He plays the type of character that he was accustomed to, particularly "The Outsider" But McGavin was no stranger to short-run series. Kolchak only lasted 20- episodes before being ignominiously cancelled. And McGavin not only plays Max Paradise, but Van Conway, a one-shot actor who has fallen into alcoholism , realizing his best days are behind him.
Lenny Van Dohlen has always been a class act, if anyone remembers him from "Twin Peaks" and many others. He's perfect as Mr. Smith, downplaying the overt humor of Smith in the original short story (wearing jodhpurs?!?), while bringing in the fanboysish nature of someone reverentially getting to meet his idols and not letting their clay feet stop his plans. Also note the little alien touches, like his tilting his head and quizzical stare when agent Lew spots spewing 20th century Hollywood jargon.
David Marguiles is okay as Gil Hurn, the director who is essentially an expy of Steven Spielberg. He's does capture the befuddled feel of many modern-day directors who probably wonder why the trash they did 20 years ago is being brought back as a fan project now.
"Distant Signals" is basically a 10. The only thing that lowers it in my opinion is... how does Van Conway know all the stuff about Smith, which the actor spouts to Hurn at the end of the episode? That, and the episode is on the wrong show.
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?
Sure the episode is twee, but the cast helps. Darren McGavin is well... Darren McGavin. He plays the type of character that he was accustomed to, particularly "The Outsider" But McGavin was no stranger to short-run series. Kolchak only lasted 20- episodes before being ignominiously cancelled. And McGavin not only plays Max Paradise, but Van Conway, a one-shot actor who has fallen into alcoholism , realizing his best days are behind him.
Lenny Van Dohlen has always been a class act, if anyone remembers him from "Twin Peaks" and many others. He's perfect as Mr. Smith, downplaying the overt humor of Smith in the original short story (wearing jodhpurs?!?), while bringing in the fanboysish nature of someone reverentially getting to meet his idols and not letting their clay feet stop his plans. Also note the little alien touches, like his tilting his head and quizzical stare when agent Lew spots spewing 20th century Hollywood jargon.
David Marguiles is okay as Gil Hurn, the director who is essentially an expy of Steven Spielberg. He's does capture the befuddled feel of many modern-day directors who probably wonder why the trash they did 20 years ago is being brought back as a fan project now.
"Distant Signals" is basically a 10. The only thing that lowers it in my opinion is... how does Van Conway know all the stuff about Smith, which the actor spouts to Hurn at the end of the episode? That, and the episode is on the wrong show.
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?