MovieChat Forums > V (2009) Discussion > Real Reason why this series bombed...

Real Reason why this series bombed...

posted 11 years ago by AriaOfTelengard
6 replies | jump to latest

Kenneth Johnson wasn't allowed anywhere near the writer's table. He had absolutely no say in how the series progressed, the plot points, nor any sort of story background. He was pissed that his name was even associated with this TV show.

How do I know this? Because he told me so. Kenneth is awesome towards fans. He answers his email thoughtfully and he loves to reminisce about past work and future ideas. He is especially proud of his work with "Alien Nation." Maybe it's because he's such a nice guy that the studio decided to trample all over him? I don't know. But anyhow, his ideas on HIS series was not allowed at any point during the show's run. Amazing, huh? What if you created some story and was forced out of it while some retards changed everything about it that made it entertaining?

Anyhow, if you have money or know of any investors, he's looking to start work on the second half of "V: The TV Series." I have no idea who would star in it considering the original actors are all much older now (except for Robert England who always looked old). But he's been working on scripts for years now and basically finalized the story long ago.

I just don't understand how TV stations work. The first part of V (1980's) was awesome. I guess it was so good that Kenneth was fired. The second half (V: The Final Battle), not so much, probably because Kenneth was fired. It wasn't horrible, it just wasn't as well-made as the first half.

Kenneth's Webpage:
http://kennethjohnson.us/index.html

[–] TheSolarSailor 11 years ago

The only saving grace for The Final Battle was the continuation of story lines implemented by Johnson in the first mini-series. Nearly all new content was pretty bad.

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Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?

[–] wallacesawyer 11 years ago

Kenneth Johnson wasn't allowed anywhere near the writer's table. He had absolutely no say in how the series progressed, the plot points, nor any sort of story background. He was pissed that his name was even associated with this TV show.

Didn't Kenneth sue to have his name credited?

Anyhow, if you have money or know of any investors, he's looking to start work on the second half of "V: The TV Series." I have no idea who would star in it considering the original actors are all much older now (except for Robert England who always looked old). But he's been working on scripts for years now and basically finalized the story long ago.

I just don't understand how TV stations work. The first part of V (1980's) was awesome. I guess it was so good that Kenneth was fired. The second half (V: The Final Battle), not so much, probably because Kenneth was fired. It wasn't horrible, it just wasn't as well-made as the first half.

I doubt V: THE SECOND GENERATION will ever get made, but it would've been nice had Kenneth been able to make his own sequel, especially since it would've involved new aliens. The book doesn't count.

I actually like V: THE FINAL BATTLE and V: THE SERIES, so I wish we could've gotten a follow up of that in some way. Maybe rewrite V: THE SECOND GENERATION to include these characters.

http://www.freewebs.com/demonictoys/

[–] AriaOfTelengard 11 years ago

I have no idea if Kenneth sued to get credit. I spoke to him about the new V series back when it first came out. He was livid. I remember he said something about how all the Nazi references were removed and the whole plot point about the Lizards vs. Insects was swept aside. You would have to ask him if he sued to get his name on this series.

[–] prydain17 11 years ago

I've seen the original V and ugh, maybe alright for it's time but I didn't care for it much, I'd take the 2009 series any day.

--

"Betty's voice brought darkness to the land." - Amanda Tanen

[–] TheSolarSailor 11 years ago

V the Original miniseries was a great piece of television back in its day. You should learn to enjoy things for the context of the era they were made in rather than judging them as inferior because they don't measure up to what you have today. V had great potential and should have played out in a string of miniseries events that would have allotted a better budget for each installment as well as keeping the plots more focused.

Sadly, the network got rid of Kenneth Johnson for whatever reason and instead pursued what was mostly a more childish take on the material with V: The Final Battle, which was more action-oriented with lots of shock and awe as opposed to offering up more cerebral content. It was a classic case of the network studio not having faith in smart TV and feeling the need to dumb it down. By the time we get to the series, it had pretty much become an adventure-time joke. V quickly fell into being nothing more than kiddie fodder. We all enjoyed it as kids and some still enjoy for nostalgia's sake (and there is nothing wrong with that), but through the eyes of an adult, only the first mini-series offered something more.

- - - - - - -
Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?

[–] wallacesawyer 11 years ago

Looking at the series now that I've watched it all, I don't think Kenneth's lack of involvement did anything. It may have for some fans of the original.

I would say the show feels too stretched out. It takes forever for the breeding a master species plot point to come up, and they spend a major amount of time about the human soul and how to defeat it. Which is kind of stupid really.

Basically a decent show, though.

http://www.freewebs.com/demonictoys/