The Others (TV series)

The Others is an American science fiction television series created by John Brancato and Michael Ferris, and produced by Delusional Films, NBC Studios, and DreamWorks Television. It ran for thirteen 40-minute episodes from February 5, 2000, to June 10, 2000, airing on NBC. It concerned a group of people with various psychic talents as they encountered different, and often evil, paranormal forces. It was an ensemble series. It featured in the third attempt by NBC to air a Saturday night supernatural/paranormal programming block, joining The Pretender and Profiler as the Thrillogy, but all three shows were canceled by season's end.

The Others
GenreScience fiction
Created byJohn Brancato and Michael Ferris
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producers
ProducerSarah Caplan
Running time40 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseFebruary 5 (2000-02-05) –
June 10, 2000 (2000-06-10)

Premise

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Marian Kitt, a university student, is forced to come to terms with her frequently unwanted paranormal abilities, attempting to do so by joining The Others, a group with similar talents. The series gradually built up an overall storyline of a strong evil power targeting the group.

Cast

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Episodes

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Note that the episodes were not always broadcast by NBC in the correct story order. For the correct story order for the episodes, refer to the order from the production codes.

List of The Others episodes
No.TitleDirected by [1]Written byOriginal air dateProd.
code [1]
01"Pilot"Mick GarrisJohn Brancato and Michael FerrisFebruary 5, 2000 (2000-02-05)26-99-100
02"Unnamed"Brian Trenchard-SmithJohn Brancato and Michael FerrisFebruary 12, 2000 (2000-02-12)26-99-104
The Others must rescue an abducted young boy from a murderer exploiting his supernatural powers. Guest starring J. E. Freeman and Zachary Quinto.
03"Eyes"William MaloneGlen Morgan and James WongFebruary 19, 2000 (2000-02-19)26-99-102
After receiving laser eye surgery, a man develops the ability to see demons.
04"Souls on Board"Tobe HooperDaniel ArkinFebruary 26, 2000 (2000-02-26)26-99-105
When the Others take a flight to a paranormal conference, they find their aircraft haunted by the dead crew and passengers of a plane that crashed on the same flight path. Guest starring Dale Dye and Adam Gierasch.
05"1112"Bill CondonGlen Morgan and James WongMarch 4, 2000 (2000-03-04)26-99-103
06"Luciferous"Mick GarrisGlen Morgan and James WongMarch 11, 2000 (2000-03-11)26-99-101
07"Theta"Tom McLoughlinFred GolanMarch 18, 2000 (2000-03-18)26-99-109
08"Don't Dream It's Over"Mick GarrisMick GarrisMarch 25, 2000 (2000-03-25)26-99-107
Mark falls in love with a mysterious woman who haunts his dreams. Guest starring Clive Barker.
09"The Ones That Lie in Wait"Thomas J. WrightGlen Morgan and James WongApril 22, 2000 (2000-04-22)26-99-106
The Others are trapped by a mysterious entity with a history with Elmer.
10"Till Then"Bryan SpicerGlen Morgan and James WongApril 29, 2000 (2000-04-29)26-99-110
Elmer wrestles with his past after the government hires him to find a pilot shot down and stranded in the Iraqi desert, something complicated by the ghost of a World War II airman. Guest starring Tucker Smallwood.
11"$4.95 a Minute"Sanford BookstaverRichard WhitleyMay 6, 2000 (2000-05-06)26-99-111
A phony psychic comes to the Others for help when his predictions start coming true - with terrible consequences. Guest starring James Morrison, Darin Morgan, and Randy Stone.
12"Life Is for the Living"Thomas J. WrightDaniel ArkinMay 13, 2000 (2000-05-13)26-99-112
13"Mora"Jake PaltrowJohn Brancato and Michael FerrisJune 10, 2000 (2000-06-10)26-99-108

Production

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The series' writers included Glen Morgan and James Wong, who were also executive producers for the series along with Brancato and Ferris.[2] Morgan's wife Kristen Cloke played the significant role of Allison/The Woman in the episodes "The Ones That Lie in Wait" and "Life Is for the Living". Tobe Hooper directed one episode, "Souls on Board", and Bill Condon directed the episode "1112".

The series was filmed at Paramount Studios.[citation needed] The pilot episode was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[2]

Broadcast

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The series aired on Five in the UK, and on Nine in Australia.

Reception

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Michael Speier of Variety was lukewarm on the first episode of the series, noting that "the roles here are one-note: no humor and no sparks, just a lot of paranoia", but adding "Bill Condon ("Gods and Monsters) and Tobe Hooper ("Poltergeist") have already wrapped upcoming episodes, and it’s hoped their styles will generate bigger oohs and aahs than the Mick Garris-helmed pilot."[2] Howard Rosenberg of Los Angeles Times was more openly critical of the series, declaring "There’s nothing especially thoughtful or suspenseful here, for example, and Episodes 1 and 2, after raising expectations of creepiness, both end with soft thuds."[3] By contrast, Bruce Fretts of Entertainment Weekly gave the series a favorable review, commenting that The Others "has a bewitching cast that mixes appealing up-and-comers (including Melissa Crider...) with reliable old-timers (like the always-wonderful Bill Cobbs...)", adding that the series was "compellingly creepy".[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b From the United States Copyright Office catalog: "Public Catalog - Copyright Catalog (1978 to present) - Basic Search [search: "Others : no."]". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  2. ^ a b c Michael Speier (February 1, 2000). "The Others". Variety. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
  3. ^ Howard Rosenberg (February 5, 2000). "Lots of Mood, Little Suspense in 'Others'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
  4. ^ Bruce Fretts (February 10, 2000). "Why pay for "Scream 3" when you can watch "The Others" for free?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
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