Annihilator (1986) - Blu-ray Forum

GlacierTuba · 04-28-2023, 10:17 AM

REF: https://www.blu-ray.com/Annihilator/941202/#Overview

So I picked up a Japanese VHS tape labelled Bionoid (in Katakana) a couple of weeks back. It had no case or cover unfortunately (image above is from Gr€€dBay) so I just bought it on a whim.

Turns out this film is actually a failed feature length pilot to a show that was never picked up by any networks in the USA. According to TV Guide listings for April 1986, Annihaltor aired on NBC at 9pm on April 7th, 1986. Taking a 23% audience share and 14.1 rating competing against Kate & Allie over on CBS, with a 20.4 rating, and the 9pm movie over on ABC, another 1986 feature named My Two Loves which took a 28% share and a 17.5 rating.

Not exactly what I would have thought would have been stiff competition for a Monday night in 1986, but then looking at the audience share and rating you can hazard a guess it may have contributed to NBC giving Annihilator a hard pass in the board room on Tuesday April 8, 1986. Sure it wasn't even featured on the cover of TV Guide that week (see below):

Which is a bit of a shame really because despite it's flaws, it's stupidity, and it's mid-film MTV music video attempt set to a cover of David Bowie's Ashes to Ashes, what is buried underneath is the bones of a half-decent (if somewhat half-baked) chance at a series.

I think the problem is too many styles and ideas were crammed in to the pilot, leaving the viewer wondering if they were watching a homage to The Terminator (which bare in mind had only made it's debut 2 years prior) or the Stepford Wives.

Sadly I don't think this one will ever see light of day outside of it's (now rather rare it would appear) VHS incarnations in France, Finland and Japan. I don't think it even saw a home video release in the USA (though please do correct me if I'm wrong there, maybe CIC did do a USA rental or home edition?).

Perhaps Annihilator (aka Bionoid) is ripe for a reimagining and a reboot in 2024? What say you NBC execs?

The difference between the French, Japanese and Finnish VHS releases is quite remarkable by the way

TV listings 1986 source: http://www.tvtango.com/listings/1986/04/07

04-28-2023, 10:17 AM	#1
GlacierTuba Power Member Member since:Apr 2023	Annihilator (1986) REF: https://www.blu-ray.com/Annihilator/941202/#Overview So I picked up a Japanese VHS tape labelled Bionoid (in Katakana) a couple of weeks back. It had no case or cover unfortunately (image above is from Gr€€dBay) so I just bought it on a whim. Turns out this film is actually a failed feature length pilot to a show that was never picked up by any networks in the USA. According to TV Guide listings for April 1986, Annihaltor aired on NBC at 9pm on April 7th, 1986. Taking a 23% audience share and 14.1 rating competing against Kate & Allie over on CBS, with a 20.4 rating, and the 9pm movie over on ABC, another 1986 feature named My Two Loves which took a 28% share and a 17.5 rating. Not exactly what I would have thought would have been stiff competition for a Monday night in 1986, but then looking at the audience share and rating you can hazard a guess it may have contributed to NBC giving Annihilator a hard pass in the board room on Tuesday April 8, 1986. Sure it wasn't even featured on the cover of TV Guide that week (see below): Which is a bit of a shame really because despite it's flaws, it's stupidity, and it's mid-film MTV music video attempt set to a cover of David Bowie's Ashes to Ashes, what is buried underneath is the bones of a half-decent (if somewhat half-baked) chance at a series. I think the problem is too many styles and ideas were crammed in to the pilot, leaving the viewer wondering if they were watching a homage to The Terminator (which bare in mind had only made it's debut 2 years prior) or the Stepford Wives. Sadly I don't think this one will ever see light of day outside of it's (now rather rare it would appear) VHS incarnations in France, Finland and Japan. I don't think it even saw a home video release in the USA (though please do correct me if I'm wrong there, maybe CIC did do a USA rental or home edition?). Perhaps Annihilator (aka Bionoid) is ripe for a reimagining and a reboot in 2024? What say you NBC execs? The difference between the French, Japanese and Finnish VHS releases is quite remarkable by the way TV listings 1986 source: http://www.tvtango.com/listings/1986/04/07 Last edited by GlacierTuba; 04-28-2023 at 10:24 AM.

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