Saturday, February 21, 2009

Human Target to return?

Remaking '70's & '80's TV shows is O.K. because it brings the stories to a new generation 30 years later as most of the original audiences have matured outside the demographic [or have become die-hard fans who just won't let go]. However, If you're going to remake a '90's TV show - it would have to have been one so good as to withstand another helping of it so soon.

The truly awful Human Target is not one of those that spring to mind. It was was an extremely short lived 1990 adaptation of a DC comic book of the same name, staring rock star Rick Springfield. Springfield starred as Christopher Chance, a former Special Forces operative turned decoy-for-hire who impersonated endangered people ("whether you're a busboy or the king of England"). Chris' clients lived in the safety and comfort of the Blackwing his stealth-like black aircraft until the assignment was completed. The ship's multi-levels housed facilities including worldwide television reception and advanced audio and visual communications systems. It's crew included the other characters, Vietnam veteran pilot Jeff Carlyle; computer whiz Libby Page; and makeup dude Philo Marsden who transformed the appearance of Chance via computer-generated masks for each assignment. According to the show's producer Steve Hattman "This was a man who, at a very young age, went to war in Vietnam. He was in Special Forces. He was, in fact, an assassin. He did what he felt was his duty. It affected him. "At one point he took life, but now he finds life sacred. This is a character who's on a redemptive trek through his like and that's why he chose to become 'The Human Target' - to protect lives in danger, stop murders."


Other than some impressive effects, it was fantastically shit. ABC thought so too, and after just 6 episodes, they pulled the plug.

Fast forward 19 years and Fox now seem to have the rights and have just tapped Mark Fringe Valley for the lead role in a new pilot for Human Target, from WBTV, DC Comics and McG's Wonderland - according to The Hollywood Reporter. Sigh, Valley is far superior to Springfield but I'm not convinced that this will work again, certainly not on Fox.

Source: Hollywood Reporter / TVacres / Wikipedia

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh no! I think that I might have actually even seen an episode of this!!

Anonymous said...

Why?In the name of all that's holy why? I know the world is going through a recesssion equal to the eighties but it means we don't hav to live through the eighties again (I Know the show was from 1990 but believe me the character was pure eighties drek) RTE Showed all 6 episodes in 1990 as one of their autumn schedule series , it started in Septmber and was gone by October and my god that was still too long!The only thing I remember was the ridiculous graphic of the aircraft that used to be on in the control panel in the background in every scene set aboard his aircrft,as it spun 360 degrees even whe the fuckin thing was parked . And do you remember Creedon didn't it have a Cloaking device?!?!?!??

Anonymous said...

What the bloody hell?, Colonel, I demand that you get over your grief of losing 2IGTV and update this blog. Dance for me, Monkey, Dance!

Major General Creedon said...

Patience clown!

Anonymous said...

Chimp!

Anonymous said...

Civvy, I didn't want to say anything myself, what with girls supposing to be sensitive and all... But I was a little concerned at the lack of entertainment going on here lately.

But you could always read a certain blog about the adorableness of a certain puppy...

Anonymous said...

Yes, Connie, I know, I speak fro the masses. Now what is this about a cute & adorable Puppy?

Anonymous said...

I have a teeny tiny precious poodle puppy! Just 5 months old! The first command she learned? Snuggle. That's right. You just the magic word "snuggle" and the puppy comes over and curls up into a ball next to you.

I am not kidding.

Anonymous said...

Connie that's an amazing coincidence I snuggle on command too! ;) Congrats on the Puppy.

Anonymous said...

Civvy, that's terrific. I'm sure that your family is thrilled to hear that you have been properly trained and are at least as smart as my dog :)