SciFi is rerunning some more eppies:

January 5, 2004

05-JAN-04 11:00 AM - TOY HOUSE
05-JAN-04 12:00 PM - INTO THE WOODS
05-JAN-04 01:00 PM - THE CONVENTION
05-JAN-04 02:00 PM - BLIND DATE
05-JAN-04 03:00 PM - INDEPENDENCE DAY

January 29, 2004

29-JAN-04 11:00 AM - SEXUAL HEALING
29-JAN-04 12:00 PM - CRAZY
29-JAN-04 01:00 PM - TESS, LIES AND VIDEOTAPES
29-JAN-04 02:00 PM - FOUR SQUARE
29-JAN-04 03:00 PM - MAX TO THE MAX

Caught some of the marathon by accident. Ah, the good old days when an episode of S1 had me excited and eager to plot out mytharc with my other equally deluded friends! But then came S2 and it became immediatly clear that the writers were just pulling it out of their asses. Bah.

Even with the rushing of the Tess story and the stinky "set-up" of Destiny, S1 is still pretty watchable to me. I can't bring myself to deal with the other two seasons. And Tanker, hee!

I thought he was cute until the manorexia set in.

manorexia: best new word of the day.

I don't get SciFi. <snif> Damn non-cable channels. But there are or will be DVDs, right? So, I'm set.

I loved this show when it was first on, and when I catch the re-runs, I can't believe how I obsessed over it. It's so cheesy and schmoopy and ridiculous. But now I see the DVDs are about to be released and I'm all nostalgic. To buy or not to buy? Maybe just NetFlix, minimize the shame.

When did Jason Behr get manorexic? He always looked ultra-buff and fit in the series. Which is one main reason I watched it, along with the music (which was mentioned above by Tanker). I discovered Radiohead (yeah, I'm slow), Dido (maybe that was a mistake), Coldplay, and Belle and Sebastien through Roswell.

Do you think the actors were upset when the show was picked up by UPN? They could've gotten out a year earlier.

Yes, they were.

Ha!

If anyone finds out which songs were replaced for the season 1 DVDs, can you please let us all know? I'm worried that my favorite scenes will be ruined with jarringly inappropriate music, as happened with the Felicity DVDs. :/

You know...I actually liked season 2 of Roswell at first... but that's when I thought the writers had a *plan* and everything would make sense in the end. Silly me. :P

And I HATE what they did to Alex.

I hate what they did to Tess too. I was one of the people who liked her. It was the worst kind of character asassination. It would be one thing if they built up to this but it was so tranparently obvious that the producers pulled the ending out of their collective ass to please the Max/Liz shippers.

I watched the show when it was first on and actually liked it but when I watched it recently I realized how lame it really was and how did I miss what a crappy actress Shiri Appleby is the first time around. Jason Behr wasn't as bad but god when the two of them were together they were so disgusting.

I was scanning the thread and I had to laugh at the Lizbot commits, did a critic really call her that?

You're so right, Nflux Forever. Check out this interview with Ron Moore, one of The Roswell Powers That Be ... the guy basically admits they came up with the idea for Tess to be the killer AFTER they filmed the episode where Alex dies.

Then later he backtracks and tries to pretend they planned it that way all along. Pfft. Yeah right. I believe you, Ron Moron.

The Great djb

Anyone besides me break down and buy the dvds? I've only watched the first two episodes, but it bugs me that they are in widescreen form. I prefer to buy what I saw originally so don't go changing it just because that's the trend. I don't really remember the original music, but I've read on other message boards that all but three songs were changed. Which sucks.

Do you know what those three songs were?

The theme song by Dido is the same as well as the Sarah McLachlan song Fear that plays when Max heals Liz and when Max touches her and she sees his flashbacks. Also, the Dave Matthews song the plays at the end of the pilot epidode.

Those are the *only* songs left?! That sucks. ALOT. What song are they playing when Michael comes to Maria in Independence Day? That was an awesome song.

But I still reallyreallyreally want the DVDs. ::sigh::

I think that was Collective Soul's "Run." Could be wrong though. Why the hell are they changing up songs anyway? Makes no sense to me.

Read back two pages in this thread and you will see that rikraq explained it:



It's often very costly to license music to put it on a DVD, even prohibitively so. I think Freaks and Geeks has been having similar trouble.

I did some snooping around to find out about certain songs. There were only three songs I HAD to have the same:

"Let Me In" during Alex's dream dance with Isabel. this is apparently the same because Save Ferris was actually in the episode.

"Amy Hit the Atmosphere" when Isabel and Max are talking at the end of The Toy House and Isabel was crying becuase she wanted to tell her mom who they were. I couldn't see anywhere that said this one was changed.

"Run" during Michael and Maria's Independence Day rain scene...the assholes changed it!! From what I understand, it is now a song called "Life in 3 parts" by Highwater Rising. You can find it here Highwater Rising (click on SOUNDS). I have to say, the song has a similar feel to "Run," but damn, "Run" was perfect!

Honestly, it's been a while since I watched season 1, so I probably wouldn't know the difference if they changed any other songs, but it still annoys the sin out of me.

kers actually, I think Shout!Factory managed to clear all of the original music for Freaks & Geeks, though it took them a while, and no doubt a significant chunk of change. But according to their press release they're a music company to start with TVShowsOnDVD news item so I guess they're more capable of dealing with the problem than a company like Fox.

I do think that Fox could have tried a little harder to clear more of the music. Seems like they did the initial research that the music would cost them millions, and just threw in the towel. When I heard back in October that there would be music replacement, my big question was - who would be doing the replacing? The show's creative team, or the Fox home video department? Thankfully, it's been done by the original sound team. There's an insert in the dvd with a letter from Katims where he says that it was either replacement or no dvd release, and that he reassembled the sound team, and says things like "As often happens in creative pursuits, what started out as a roadblock turned into an opportunity" and "We found that many of the new songs work as well, if not better, than the originals and, at least for me, introduced me to a whole new crop of musicians on the verge of breaking."

I'm still sad about the lost music. My memories of the episodes are so linked to the music that I doubt I'll be able to see any of the changes as improvements, even if they are good new songs. But I figure I can always hunt down some dvd/vcd copies of the original broadcasts from someone, if it is too painful. I'm mostly a features-hound when it comes to dvds, so I'll consider my money well spent for just the commentary tracks & other bonus material.

I bought the dvd this weekend. So far I've looked at very little - had to check "Independence Day" to see if "Run" was gone. The change is too jarring for me to accept just yet, though the Highwater Rising song does have a similar feel. But maybe it will grow on me. I do think the dvd menu design sucks - it's trying too hard to be alien and sci-fi, and doesn't match the tone of the series itself.

From eonline.com on 2/24:


I still miss this show. *sigh*

I'm a first time Roswell watcher. I had seen a couple episodes on Sci-Fi channel so I bought the first season on DVDs. I've watched all except for the the last two episodes so far and I love it! I am hooked! I cannot wait until Season two comes out. When will that be? Also, how many seasons did this run?

3 seasons. I have to warn you though, it doesn't get much better than season 1, IMO. Season 2 had some great moments though. Season 3 was pretty much whacked.

Executive Producer Jason Katims has an insert in the box set about why the music was changed. I don't really remember the songs, so it doesn't bother me too much.

Season 2 comes out this summer.

I like the Michael/Maria love story alot better than the Liz/Max one. Liz bugs me. Shiri's Liz is on my list right next to Kristin Kreuk's Lana for most.boring.character.ever.

Sister Spooky the insert said season 2 was coming this summer - I would expect it in July or August.

And, personally, I don't think season 3 was so awful. But, I didn't know about TWoP when I watched Roswell - I might feel differently if I'd been reading the recaps and snarky forum messages. But ignorance is bliss.

Which ties in to the music comments. I think that these dvds will be best for people who are new fans, or who didn't get hooked on the music. Unfortunately, I'm neither of those. I adored the music, have as many of the songs as I could get my hands on burned to cd (takes up 19 audio-cds).

And while the logical part of my brain understands that it was either replaced-music-Roswell-dvds or no dvds at all (I mean, I work for a dvd distributor, and practically every show out there has music clearance problems. Not just the ones you'd expect like WKRP, but shows like Golden Girls even) it's still going to be jarring to watch. So far I've watched the pilot & the pilot commentary. I knew they'd kept the big songs in the pilot, but I was glad to find that they'd kept Hexx's "Halucination Generation" playing during the Crash festival.

rikraq I also like the Michael/Maria storyline better. Not that I don't like Liz/Shiri. But the Max/Liz relationship obstacles were always external influences (aka plot devices). The Michael/Maria relationship obstacles were almost always their own personal issues, not the interference of crazy space monkeys/writers. I thought the Liz/Max love really captured the way it feels to fall desperately, hopelessly in love. But the Maria/Michael love goes to somewhere more mature.

I listened to the commentaries by Shiri and Majandra for Sexual Healing and Crazy last night. They are very funny. They kept cracking on Brendan's hair. They tell alot of good behind the scenes stuff.

Gah! You guys are wearing down my resistance. This show was the worst kind of tv crack for me. I haven't watched my tapes in years. But now I hear them callink to me.

In my world, neither the S1 nor S2 season finales exist. Neither does S3. At all. And Isabel is always and forever the Queen Bitch Goddess. And Alex doesn't die. And Liz dies 1001 ways (they just slap on some spare parts and feed her some magnesium and she's fine again). And Maria and Michael have lots and lots of hot sex. And so do Tess and Kyle. Or possibly Tess and Isabel. At any rate, there's sex. But not for Max and Liz. Because Max is impotent. And she's a frickin' robot. Shut up, Liz.

Ah, memories....

Tess and Isabel. Hee.

I totally thought that Tess was coming on to Isabel when she first showed up.

I thought those two had great chemistry. They would've worked out better as a couple than as pseudo-brother-adn-sister.

heh, rikraq, you know "Four Square?" The scene where Tess and Isabel's hands touch, and their eyes meet? There's an alternate universe where the series goes in a whole different direction from that point.

Tess had chemistry with everybody. Except Max. Who only had chemistry with Isabel.

Hi, I'm a new Roswell viewer, just starting with the DVDs. I just wanted to note that William Sadler will be on Wonderfalls, the new Fox show.

I'm ashamed to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed the DVDs. Since I didn't watch before, the music is not really a problem for me. I usually don't notice music unless it's jarring - taking me out of the moment.

While I can see that this might not be considered high art, I will definitely count it among my guilty pleasures...

That's good to hear about William Sadler. He's one of the Ros cast that I'd like to actually see get work again.

I have a dumb question. I've been watching some of the episodes (late ones), and also reading the recaps. The recapper keeps calling Michael fat, but I don't see it. Was he a lot thinner in the earlier seasons or what is that about?

He may have been a bit trimmer at the beginning... but I've never considered him fat.

Not fat, exactly. More, podgy. Cuddly! That's the word.

Bless him. He used to be so hot. Although, I did find a recent picture of him on the net (in one of my weaker moments) and the boy was looking fine! Had cut his hair and everything. Hallelujah.

Yeah, the fanfics that rewrote Michael/BF as being "feral and lean" or somesuch always cracked me up. I think part of his weird appeal for me was that he radiated all of this urgency and passion but he wasn't a hardbody. It's what made him work with Maria/MD in the beginning: she dressed eccentrically but gave off this goofy, sexy vibe. Then when he lost the spiky hair and she got madeover into a Wet Seal clone... there went the magic.

Okay, there was also half-hearted acting, crapping writing and plot holes you could drive a mack truck through to contend with but you get my point.

Roswell's still one of my favourite shows, even years after the fact. And I'm in the minority on this board, I know, but I love Max/Liz. Hold the tomatoes though. New shirt.

I haven't gotten season 1 on DVD yet... stupid university education costs a little too much, but I'm planning on getting it this summer. Season 1 was the best season. Everything after just didn't compare. That said though, there were some episodes I really loved here and there in the last two seasons. Wish they hadn't killed off Alex.

That's okay politikgirl. I loved Max and Liz too, though Michael and Maria were my favorites. Season 1 was the best, but 2-5 End of the World was one of my favorite episodes. The look on future-Max's face when present-Max sees Liz and Kyle breaks my heart everytime and I love when they dance to that Sheryl Crow song at the end. Ummm, I actually don't remember anything that happened in season 3. Honestly, that's not a joke.

Oh, me too. "End of the World" ranks high up there, for me, next to "Blind Date" and the pilot, and so forth. Season 3 was a huge pile of crap with everyone's new makeunder (er, over), the stupid robbery plot and the "our parents won't let us be together" cliche. What redeemed it for me was the episode "Chant Down Babylon" when Max was the old guy, and then tried to get Liz to kill him so he wouldn't kill her, and then they fell out of the building and Max made that force shield thing to save her, and fell to his "death". Sorry, I'm babbling. Max/Liz does that to me.

See, that's it right there. I know that I watched season 3, and yet I still have no idea what you're talking about. Selective amnesia? I vaguely remember hating Adam Rodriguez, but I can't remember a single plotline.

I loved Blind Date and the pilot too.

Hee, I see that you're on the DA forum too and I like that I'm not the only one obsessing about shows long dead. There's nothing on tv now that begins to compare. (Well, at least after Angel goes off air this year) Ah, at least I have the dvd's.

When was all that weird shit with Morgan Fairchild and Max becoming her husband? That was lame.

The only thing that stands out for me about season 3 was that I married an Alien episode. Rubbish. Sheer rubbish.

Well said. That about sums up season 3 for me too.


That would be the season of rubbish. Sweet roasted nuts! Is Morgan Fairchild the ditzy blond on the Old Navy commercials? Someone please tell me I'm wrong...

Yep. That's her.

I've never set foot in the SciFi forum, so it's a shock to see a Roswell forum.

Anyway, I have a confession to make. I used to be beyond obessed with Roswell. I was SUCH a Max and Liz fan that it isn't even funny. I was even a big part of the forum wars between Fanforum and Roswell Ate My Soul.

My favorite episode of Roswell was probably End of the World. Even though it killed my dreamer heart. I was also fond of any episode that didn't include Tess. I also hated Isabel. I was indifferent to Maria and Michael, and I enjoyed Alex. The episode where he died was just tragic.

I didn't like the Morgan Fairchild storyline, but I have to admit that the aforementioned ep (Chant Down Babylon) is a favourite of mine because Max "killed" himself for Liz, and it was done with all the right emotions. That's why I could watch the show without throwing stuff at the TV by then, since S3 was such a mess.

Oh, and the episode where Tess comes back... abominable. It was so bad.

Oh wait, the kid. Max's kid. I knew I had forgotten something crucially stupid. That was a huge mess. They should have never made Tess pregnant in the first place.

I watched "Sexual Healing" with commentary last night. Shiri and Majandra are funny. When Jason Behr pulls off his shirt in the candlelight, his biceps and mighty mighty pecs glowing, Majandra kind of pauses mid-sentance and goes, "Wow. I kind of forgot..." I nearly dies when she jabs @ Brendan Fehr's unfit body later on, adding how different their love scenes were compared to Max & Liz's.

Didn't Majandra and Brendan actually date for awhile during production? I think I remember readint that someplace.

Yeah, they did. I love the commentaries that Shiri and Majandra do. Too funny.

Yeah, apparently it was very on/off. I wonder if that affected the cast dynamic. But then again, probably not, seeing how divided it was supposed to be.

I never quite got straight how the cast divided up in terms of camps, but I believe it was Shiri/Majandra/Brendan and then Jason/Katherine. It definitely wasn't a friendly "everyone gets along" kind of cast, although I found it hard to believe the first time I heard it, that Jason and Shiri didn't get along. Despite what some people think, I think those two had amazing chemistry and whatever coldness they had off-screen, it definitely didn't show on-screen. And I always found it funny about Jason/Katherine playing brother/sister when they, off-screen, were definitely not like that.