Strange Luck (nineties TV drama series)

[OceanBlue]

Have a bad feeling that this mid-nineties drama series is with Disney, only because it originally aired in the States on FOX, Strange Luck. Have had another look at the TV show's IMDb company credits page, and it's a bit confusing (there are four production companies stated).

Strange Luck could very well have aired on UK TV, but I have no memory of seeing it, or catching a bit of any episode. I've checked Disney + UK and no sign of it. Before thinking this might be with Disney, I had hoped it might get a physical media release in Germany (there have been the odd release of obscure and not-so obscure older TV series in Germany).

It's a pity it only lasted a nearly-full length season, as the premise of the show sounded very interesting.

[CouncilSpectre]

It was shown on Sky in the UK.

I don't think it's ever been released on any format sadly.

Fox likely had a stake in the show as New World Pictures ultimately ended up with them/Disney, but if it were totally within their control then I'd have thought we'd have seen it in some guise or another. This was around the time that Fox were releasing a lot of genre output onto DVD, even short-lived stuff like HARSH REALM. Most likely an issue with Unreality (who are still around) and M2 Services (who don't look like they are, and god knows where their rights ended up).

Your best bet, which isn't a great one, is that all the episodes appear to be on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...a8XR29CCwl3Qwh

Although they're 360p, so obviously not great quality, but maybe watchable.

[OceanBlue]

CouncilSpectre, thanks for the prompt, helpful reply about Strange Luck. It's kind of what I expected, so I'm not disappointed that it's unlikely we will see a physical media release of the show. It would have happened by now (there was another short-lived series which aired on FOX that I would have liked to have seen at least a DVD release of (Class of '96, which originally aired in the States in early 1993, several months before The X-Files started (Gillian Anderson guest-starred in an episode of Class of '96).

Around the time of The X-Files' original run in the States, there were a lot of shows in the same genre/sub-genre, and even with less channels on Sky back then, it would have happened where I would have missed Strange Luck airing on Sky (the channel which used to be Sky One?). I remember some of Millennium airing on Sky as well as The X-Files (also remember Millennium airing in the UK on ITV (initially on Sunday nights?).

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

CouncilSpectre, thanks for the prompt, helpful reply about Strange Luck. It's kind of what I expected, so I'm not disappointed that it's unlikely we will see a physical media release of the show. It would have happened by now (there was another short-lived series which aired on FOX that I would have liked to have seen at least a DVD release of (Class of '96, which originally aired in the States in early 1993, several months before The X-Files started (Gillian Anderson guest-starred in an episode of Class of '96).

Around the time of The X-Files' original run in the States, there were a lot of shows in the same genre/sub-genre, and even with less channels on Sky back then, it would have happened where I would have missed Strange Luck airing on Sky (the channel which used to be Sky One?). I remember some of Millennium airing on Sky as well as The X-Files (also remember Millennium airing in the UK on ITV (initially on Sunday nights?).

Yeah it would have been Sky One back then. With there being far fewer alternatives back then (it was either terrestrial or Sky and that was it), and with Sky having all the £££ it pretty much meant that Sky One was wall-to-wall airing of US TV shows across the primetime hours, it was great. Must say though I don't remember CLASS OF '96 at all, I'll have to look that one up to see if it jogs any memories!

Millennium, from memory, actually started on ITV. It was a rare instance where ITV outbid Sky for it on the basis that it was the next X-FILES which had obviously taken off at that point. They bought it largely on the reputation of the X-FILES and didn't even watch any episodes beforehand so it came as quite a shock when they discovered it was far, far darker than the X-Files! Think they dropped it after the first series though and then Sky picked it up anyway.

FIRST WAVE, EARLY EDITION, DARK SKIES, NOWHERE MAN, ODYSSEY 5, EARTH 2, SPACE ABOVE & BEYOND, THE PRETENDER, VR.5, I think I had all of those on VHS at some point. Picked up the DVDs when they came out but sadly, some of these are missing from DVD as well.

[Talyn]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

FIRST WAVE, EARLY EDITION, DARK SKIES, NOWHERE MAN, ODYSSEY 5, EARTH 2, SPACE ABOVE & BEYOND, THE PRETENDER, VR.5, I think I had all of those on VHS at some point. Picked up the DVDs when they came out but sadly, some of these are missing from DVD as well.

You're talking my language with all those shows! Most are prime for a podcast I cohost talking cancelled tv shows.

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by Talyn

You're talking my language with all those shows! Most are prime for a podcast I cohost talking cancelled tv shows.

To this day EARTH 2 remains one of my favourite shows. I was absolutely gutted when it didn't come back. Given the locales for the production shooting you can only imagine how gorgeous it would look in HD.

We were blessed back then with the number of shows we had, but boy were the networks ruthless in cancelling something as soon as they figured it wasn't working! I mean, Earth 2, and those other shows were lucky if they got a full season before being canned....

[CouncilSpectre]

AMERICAN GOTHIC was a great show. Gary Cole is always awesome. Fortunately, one that is on DVD! Could probably sit here all day and quote shows from that era, a good chunk of which have faded into obscurity now. LEGEND was another short-lived one I enjoyed; Richard Dean Anderson and John de Lancie. Great stuff, and fortunately again, another one that exists on DVD. Sadly, THE CAPE is not so lucky, and another one that is almost impossible to find via any means these days

[OceanBlue]

That was a helpful reminder CouncilSpectre about Space: Above and Beyond. The UK DVD release I had on my list of DVD and Blu-ray TV titles I wanted to get, but had to start the list from scratch again. It was released in the UK by MediumRare Entertainment (the same with Dark Skies and Earth 2).

I recall seeing some of Dark Skies during it's original UK TV run (was it shown on Channel 4?). And if my memory is correct, the first few episodes of Millennium's first season premiered on ITV on Sunday nights, before it was removed from the schedules and shown late at night. I recall Sky One showing the second season not that far behind the States.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

AMERICAN GOTHIC was a great show. Gary Cole is always awesome. Fortunately, one that is on DVD! Could probably sit here all day and quote shows from that era, a good chunk of which have faded into obscurity now. LEGEND was another short-lived one I enjoyed; Richard Dean Anderson and John de Lancie. Great stuff, and fortunately again, another one that exists on DVD. Sadly, THE CAPE is not so lucky, and another one that is almost impossible to find via any means these days

Still haven't got round to watching American Gothic (and I should have by now, as of what I've seen of Midnight Caller (from the Forces TV repeat run (sadly the channel closed later on last year), he's a very good actor. Disappointed he no longer continues his recurring role on Chicago Fire (I know he's currently on the original NCIS).

It's a pity a TV reference book couldn't be written about Strange Luck and other short-lived TV series from the same era of the nineties.

You mentioned Nowhere Man last week. Like American Gothic, I haven't got round to watching that either.

A short-lived series from much later on, I hope to still get a copy of on DVD, Tru Calling.

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Still haven't got round to watching American Gothic (and I should have by now, as of what I've seen of Midnight Caller (from the Forces TV repeat run (sadly the channel closed later on last year), he's a very good actor. Disappointed he no longer continues his recurring role on Chicago Fire (I know he's currently on the original NCIS).

It's a pity a TV reference book couldn't be written about Strange Luck and other short-lived TV series from the same era of the nineties.

You mentioned Nowhere Man last week. Like American Gothic, I haven't got round to watching that either.

A short-lived series from much later on, I hope to still get a copy of on DVD, Tru Calling.

AMERICAN GOTHIC was one of those shows that was just too ahead of its time. Dark and compelling, had it aired just a few years later it likely would have been very successful. Gary Cole was brilliant in MIDNIGHT CALLER, and that's where I first saw him, and I loved him as Bingo Bob on THE WEST WING, but whenever I think about Gary Cole, immediately, he's Sheriff Buck!

NOWHERE MAN was a fantastic show too. A concept show that again, in a different era would have been thought of as a completely different prospect by a wider audience. Led by the equally charismatic Bruce Greenwood. Although it only lasts a (full) season, it does get a conclusion of sorts and is still worth a watch.

TRU CALLING, I loved. Largely because of Eliza who I followed from Buffy/Angel, but also because the concept was fascinating and I really dug the whole Tru/Jack ying/yang thing. I wish that had been allowed to play out over seasons. The DVD set is relatively cheap at the moment - £10:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tru-Calling...ps%2C84&sr=8-1

Listing states Polish, and Swedish subs. Would imagine it's a UK release and the Amazon listing is just screwed up.

From memory, there's a few audio commentaries on there; Eliza does a handful and Priestley does one as well.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

TRU CALLING, I loved. Largely because of Eliza who I followed from Buffy/Angel, but also because the concept was fascinating and I really dug the whole Tru/Jack ying/yang thing. I wish that had been allowed to play out over seasons.

A few weeks ago, decided to (finally) order a copy of the UK DVD release of Tru Calling: The Complete Series (from Amazon UK, which has since arrived).

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

A few weeks ago, decided to (finally) order a copy of the UK DVD release of Tru Calling: The Complete Series (from Amazon UK, which has since arrived).

A chunky set from memory, but a nice one.

Also think I remember there being a handful of commentaries on there as well. I should rewatch my set really! It's sat on the shelf alongside other DVD-only fare like JOAN OF ARCADIA, ODYSSEY 5, FELICITY, AMERICAN DREAMS etc.

[drb999]

I should really get Tru Calling on DvD (wish it was on blu-ray) some day.