Fringe (2008-2013 )

Note to readers: After a long hiatus in which my workload almost double, I made a serious effort to keep this blog going.

The Summer of 2019 began, and I got the chance to work summer school. It was a good experience to work with our school’s developmental students. I worked in a class of non-verbal students with different disabilities that required hands-on work that kept me busy all day. It was a half day, sort of and at the end of the day, I will go home to work on house chores and at times do grunt work for the wedding preparations, for the day was getting close.

During the off hours, we will sit in the living room and watch some TV, and thanks to the IMdB application that now offers TV shows and movies with commercials there a few more choices to watch. I watched “Fringe“(2008-2013) during its initial run on FOX, but never got the chance to actually see it from the beginning since I missed the 1st season and some of the last season’s episodes.

My significant other sat with me and watched the show, so this is the first collaboration review of a show rather than my own, so it may read a tad different than usual.

“Fringe” is a show about unexplained phenomena that lingers at the edge between real science and fantasy that overtime had created a niche as an edgy view or as the show’s tittle at the fringe of science.

As I said before, it is a TV show, and it was entertaining to watch pseudo-science, science, and myths blended in a way that as you delve into the show, the lines begin to blur and everything seems possible.

Similar to “The X-Files” (1993-2018), “Fringe” is sort of a millennial version of the 90s iconic show that inspired a whole generation of conspiracy theorists that fill the Internet (and most media today) with ”the truth is out there” phrase that inspired the unwavering, uncompromising, and unbelievable crusades that we see everywhere (like the Q guy, the pizza gate demonic ring of perversions, the staged shootings, the autism-vaccines tales, and the fantastical presidential powers tales).

JJ Abrahams created the show, and you can see his unique style to visual details like sets, places, and other aspects of the show.

The show begins with a mysterious creature aboard an airplane flight heading to Boston that cause the plane to be quarantined. After the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI begins their investigation, they determine that this is a highly unusual case that may require expertise that may be unorthodox or “crazy” of sorts (sorry no PC here). One of the FBI liaisons to Homeland Security, Special Agent Olivia Dunham, was concerned that the investigation was going nowhere and the team was running out of leads when she finds a connection between one of the suspects to a Doctor, a brilliant scientist, who had been locked in a mental hospital for the last 20 years. After arguing with the task force leader Special Agent in Charge Philip Broyles, he agrees with Dunham to go and ask the good doctor for help in the case, but there is a catch, the son’s doctor has the legal authority over who visits the doctor. Broyles allows Dunham to go to Iraq to find the son and persuade him to allow them to speak to the doctor.

As I said before, it is a TV show and what seems like a wild goose chase, Agent Dunham convinces Peter, the son, to come back to the US and allow them to speak with the good-old doctor. As the pilot episode moves on, they made it to the mental hospital and meet with Dr. Bishop and after some political game of force, Dr. Bishop is released to the custody of his son and the government. At this point we begin to know more about Dr. Bishop and what he did in the field of “Fringe Science” for the last three decades. The brilliance and intelligence of Dr. Bishop is also burdened by his eccentric and paranoid behavior that becomes an issue for Agent Dunn to be able to focus the doctor in the investigation, and towards the end to the pilot episode, she manages to convince Peter to stay in Boston and help the newly formed Fringe Team. From this point on, the show becomes a weekly mystery, some from Dr. Bishop’s past and others new mysteries in the realm of fringe science. This is where the show’s (narrow if the reader insists) comparison to “The X-Files” comes from, and what made it a hit among those pesky 90s conspiracy theorists fans that had morphed and evolved into the ”Alex Jonesess” of today. However, despite the conspiracies and other shenanigans, Fringe was entertaining and fun to watch specially the references to other cult-classic shows and world events seen from different perspectives or realities. One in particular is Martin Luther King on the face of a $20 was funny and refreshing; furthermore, listening to how language evolves based on a person, or people, or particular reality (sorry, no spoilers).

Yes, my inner child’s sense of humor loves the layers of human perceptions or realities and enjoys the possibilities of these realities.

The cast included, Anna Torv (The Pacific, 2010); Joshua Jackson (Battle in Seattle, 2007); John Noble (The Boys, 2019-Present; 24, 2001-2010; Stargate SG-1, 1997-2007; The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, 2002); Lance Reddick (Bosh; 2014-Present; John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, 2019; John Wick: Chapter 2, 2017; John Wick, 2014; Jonah Hex, 2010; The Wire Read Post, 2002-2008); Blair Brown (Falling Skies, 2011-2015; ER, 1994-2009; Space Cowboys, 2000; Continental Divide, 1981; Altered States, 1980; Kojak, 1973-1978); Andre Royo (Heroes, 2006-2010; The Wire Read Post, 2002-2008 ); Jim True-Frost (Boardwalk Empire, 2010-2014; Treme, 2010-2013;The Wire Read Post, 2002-2008 ); Homicide: Life on the Street, 1993-1999); Peter Weller (Sons of Anarchy Read Post, 2008-2014; Star Trek Into Darkness, 2013; Dexter Read Post, 2006-2021; 24, 2001-2010 ); Star Trek: Enterprise Read Post, 2001-2005; RoboCop 2, 1990; Leviathan, 1989; RoboCop, 1987); Kirk Acevedo (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, 2014; 24, 2001-2010; NYPD Blue, 1993-2005; Band of Brothers, 2001); Mark Valley (The 4400 Read Post, 2004-2007); Amy Madigan (ER, 1994-2009; Carnivàle, 2003-2005; Streets of Fire, 1984 Read Post; The Day After, 1983); and Leonard Nimoy (Star Trek Into Darkness, 2013; Star Trek, 2009; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, 1991; Star Trek: The Next Generation, 1987-1994; Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, 1989; Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, 1986; ; Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, 1984; T.J. Hooker, 1982-1986; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, 1982; Star Trek: The Motion Picture, 1979; Star Trek: The Animated Series, 1973-1975; Mission Impossible, 1966-1973; Star Trek: The Original Series, 1966-1969; Gunsmoke, 1955-1975; Combat, 1962-1967; The Man from U.N.C.L.E., 1964-1968; Sea Hunt, 1958-1961).

The day is getting close…

Next: Warehouse 13 (2009-2014 )

21 Jump Street

It is hard to believe that this show debuted on the FOX network.

Once upon a time the idea of a forth network was laughable mostly by the executives of ABC, NBC, and CBS, and did not thought FOX would make it.

This was a time when other ventures seeking more alternatives failed like the USFL, so FOX’s chances were slim.

Cable TV was now a staple in every household, as deregulation of television and radio were beginning to impact media outlets evolving into today’s fragmented demographics.

However, FOX pitch was simple and very effective aimed to the younger generation of the time by developing “edgy” content (still do) that pushed the line of what was “acceptable” or “decent” for network television.

FOX continued to struggle until their biggest gamble paid off, for they outbid and outspent CBS to get NFL football and a few years later did the same to get MLB baseball.

The gamble changed their fortunes as they became one of the premier networks in the US, and no longer the renegade 4^th network.

The sweet irony is that the same renegade network that brought us “The Simpsons” (1989- ), “Married with Children” (1987-1997), and “In Living Color” (1990-1994) are the same folks that brought us FOX News in another gamble that gave a voice and a home to conservative pundits that changed the format of cable and news forever for good or bad—time will tell as the others had followed their format to appeal to the fragmented tribal demographics of today.

21 Jump Street (1987-1991) was one of many shows produced in Vancouver and British Columbia, Canada.

Many shows produced there became very popular and some became iconic like one about some files that seems to be still looking for the “truth that is out there”(hint is you must). This show also was filmed in British Columbia before moving to Los Angeles to appease one of the stars’ threats to leave the show.

The show inspired a short-lived spinoff called “Booker” (1989-1990), named after a popular character in the show’s 2nd and 3rd seasons, and staring Richard Greco.

Unfortunately the show also was remade recently in not one, but two horrendous movies that completely changed the theme of the show for the sake of a few (more like yawns!) laughs. (I refused to add links to these celuloid waste).

The show’s cast was young and unknown at the time, and included Johnny Deep, Steven Williams (The Leftovers, 2014-2017; Stargate SG-1, 1997-2007; The X-Files, 1993-2018) , Holly Robinson-Peete (wife of former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete) (Howard the Duck, 1986) and the only cast member to appear in the entire show.

Rounding up the cast were Peter (Stargate Universe, 2009-2011; Stargate SG-1, 1997-2007; Solarbabies, 1986 ) and Michael DeLuise (Stargate SG-1, 1997-2007; NYPD Blue, 1993-2005) and sons of comedy legends Dom DeLuise and Carol Arthur. Peter later became a television director for other shows like Stargate Universe (7 episodes), Stargate: Atlantis (6 episodes), Stargate: SG-1 (56 episodes), and Silk Stalkings (2 episodes)

The show was about a special unit of the metropolitan police (Canada) who recruits young-looking police officers to work undercover in high schools.

It was the 80’s, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the death of Communism (sort of) and the birth of Perestroika, Cable TV’s ascendance as the dominant media platform, as MTV, CNN, and ESPN (to mention a few) became iconic brands and the standards of broadcasting. MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) and other interests groups against drugs, or teen smoking, or teen pregnancy were becoming political players by campaigning on media and influencing policy in Washington.

Suburbia was becoming influential in politics because they had wealth and numbers to influence politicians. They wanted results fast, and in some cases creative and extreme policies were approved with mixed results. Although these are still existing issues in the school system, positions had evolved and policies had shifted towards decriminalizing drug use. However the show takes place during the middle years of “The War on Drugs”, so every government resource was available to rid society of the “evils” drugs and alcohol addiction among teens. Law enforcement mandate was to investigate, prosecute and incarcerate youths and adults alike to curtail the social epidemic that was “destroying” America.

The show lasted 5 seasons, and the departure of Deep and most of the original cast probably contributed to the end of the show, a trend that affects other good shows when they outlive their relevance and popularity.

Still, watching the show after so many years (about 30 years) brought some memories of a place and a time long gone with usual good memories and bad memories but that is life…

Next: It was Time for a Big Decision.