Wonderfalls Starts This Week

nerd4hire

nerd4hire

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The new series Wonderfalls starts this Friday at 9 PM on Fox.

It's been getting a lot of buzz all year, and there's a Tim Minear connection, so I thought I'd give y'all a heads up.
 
I'm not sure if I'll be watching the show. I'll take a look at it though. Some things seem to rub me the wrong away. I'll decide when I see it.

Who's Tim Minear?
 
# Tim Minear is a popular writer, well known for writing, directing and producing for a number of popular series for television. His most recent, Firefly, was cancelled after less than a season by Fox, but he was part of the Angel crew for 3 seasons and became a fan favorite, known for bumping off characters. Tim Minear is remarkable as a very kind and fan-conscious writer who takes time from his busy schedule to answer e-mails, interviews, and questions on the official fan boards as well as other news groups and discussion boards. A fan club page can be found for Minear at: http://timminear.net
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I know what you mean about being hesitant about Wonderfalls Hero. When you look at the basic storyline of the series, it sounds a little hokey, and done-before. A young women returns to her Niagara Falls home town, and gets a job in a tourist sovenir shop, where she discovers the stuffed animals talk to her.

If you believe the advance buzz though (and there's been a lot of it), the first few episodes at least are remarkably well written, with twists, spins and a unique kind of edginess.
 
Thanks for the info on Tom.

I've actually never seen a show about someone talking to inadimate objects before.

The characters, from what I've seen in the previews, look really dull, especially the main character. Is that because of poor acting skills or is that because that's how the character is supposed to be like? However, boring can be funny sometimes, so we shall see.
 
Hero said:
Thanks for the info on Tom.

I've actually never seen a show about someone talking to inanimate objects before.
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Really? Did you miss Smile Time? Then there's Greg the Bunny. I've heard of one from the olden days of television called My Mother the Car. Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz talks to trees. Talking stuffed animals? How about Winnie the Pooh. Then there's talking animals. Sabrina the witch talks to her cat. Actually I could fill this page with examples, but that would just be showing off.

I hope you're wrong about Wonderfalls being boring and badly acted though. I'll tell you on Friday. Right now all I know is critics who have seen the pilot are impressed.
 
I'm talking about shows that are just about talking to inadimate objects. Like, Tru Calling is almost exactly like Quantem Leep. They're both about going into the past and saving people from dying. So when I say I haven't seen any shows about that, I mean that I've never seen a show about someone just talking to inadimate objects. I don't know if I'm explaining it right. Do you know what I mean?

Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not dissing the show yet. I don't think I'm explaining myself clearly at all today, LoL. I haven't seen the show yet, and I don't mean to give it negative critisism. I was just saying that from what I've seen of the preview, it looks like the main character is dull and I was just wondering if that was because she's a bad actor or if her character is supposed to be like that.
 
Here's a little mini review from John Doyle of the Toronto Globe and Mail:



On Friday, we get Wonderfalls, a Fox series that is one of the best new network dramas in years. It's satiric, humane and delightfully funny. Set in Niagara Falls, N.Y., it's about Jaye, a young woman who has dropped out to work in a souvenir shop. Bored, and on the verge of being bitter, she suddenly gets directions from inanimate objects. They tell her about her role in life. She's obliged to be nice. A thinking-person's Joan of Arcadia, Wonderfalls, it is as cheerful as it is cutting.
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Here's one from Laura Urbani of the Tribune Review

"Wonderfalls" is a fun show that uses flashbacks, quick editing, Jaye's sardonic narration and tremendous special effects.

"Wonderfalls'" spirit is nothing like that espoused in the CBS show "Joan of Arcadia." But both shows believe in a higher power that can lead people to help others. One show happens to use God, while the other uses magical imagination. Despite its vastly different personality, "Wonderfalls" is the secular answer to encouraging good will.
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Another from Dan L. Hollifield of Aphelion Webzine:

"Wonderfalls" is a great show. I enjoyed it from the very first scene. Funny, charming, a delightful show. I hope this one lasts a long time.
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Kathie Huddleston of SciFi.com

Fox's new one-hour dramedy, Wonderfalls, isn't like anything else on the air. It's funny, dramatic and more than a little dark. The first thing that becomes apparent while watching the premiere, "Wax Lion," is that Jaye might just be crazy. There's no safe assurance that some higher power is leading her on for the greater good. In fact, she might just be nutty as a fruitcake. But that matters not at all, because Wonderfalls is unpredictable, silly, weird and fun to watch.
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Matt Roush - TV Guide

Roush Rave

Love Joan of Arcadia? Then check out Jaye of Niagara Falls, the snarky slacker heroine of Fox's Wonderfalls (Fridays, 9 pm/ET), a delightful comedy-fantasy series about a young woman with too much education (a philosophy degree) and too little ambition (a job in a souvenir shop). Played with sarcastic bite by Caroline Dhavernas, Jaye learns to "Surrender to Destiny" "” the watchword of a local mystical legend "” when inanimate objects like wax lions, brass monkeys and stuffed bears begin talking to her, urging her to help others and ultimately herself. She fears she's crazy. I think she's great. Ironic and romantic, Wonderfalls is a true original. Surrender to its charms.
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Kristin of E Online

Though Fox's Wonderfalls hasn't aired yet, I'm doing everything within my power to save the show from cancellation (short of a hostile takeover--though on second thought, if you've got the duct tape, I've got the time).

Why such concern? The best new series of the season, in my humble (and clearly astute) opinion, has been slated in the kiss-of-death time slot that just toe-tagged Boston Public--Friday nights.

As for the bigger question--why should you care?--allow me to share why you will love (oh yes you will) Wonderfalls:

There's a Power Team Behind It: With the exec-producing brain trust of Tim Minear (Angel, Firefly) and Bryan Fuller (Dead Like Me), it can't go wrong. It's no wonder Wonderfalls has the biting, witty edge that made us love the Buffy-verse so. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and I swear...

It's Better Than Joan of Arcadia: Though Wonder may have a similar sounding premise
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John Crook - Zap2It.com

If you thought Joan of Arcadia was testy, wait until you meet Jaye of Niagara Falls.

In the wonderful "Wonderfalls," the fresh and instantly addictive comedy-fantasy series Fox is finally rolling out starting Friday, March 12, Jaye Tyler (Caroline Dhavernas) is, like the title character in CBS' "Joan of Arcadia," a disaffected young woman who finds herself the reluctant focal point of something greater than herself.
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I'm looking forward to seeing Wonderfalls (if we ever get it in the UK). I've read nothing but good things about it so far. The premise does sound a bit lame but then again, didn't a TV show,based on a distinctly average film, about a high school girl who hunts vampires sound a bit lame in 1996/7? I thought so but I watched anyway (TV sci-fi addict🙂) and was delighted to be proved wrong...
 
Here's another thing I just thought of...

There's a rumour circulating Fox may be interested in an Angel season 6. See it here:

http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/497/497206p1.html?fromint=1

If that were true, and Wonderfalls somehow survived the Fox Friday at 9 spot of death, think what a great lead-in Angel would make to Wonderfalls. By that I mean you'd have Angel at 8, then Wonderfalls at 9.

If I can see that, the Fox programmers must also have seen it. Is it possible the return of Angel depends on the success or failure of Wonderfalls?
 
"Wonderfalls" fans I would figure to be "Joan of Arcadia" fans as well. It has a slight comparison to "JoA," with the fact that God talks to Joan but in a comedic way. And in "Wonderfalls" Jaye has inanimate objects talking to her. But I guess they're completely different too.

I've been waiting for this damn show since last fall. I've been seeing commercials all week and I'm so excited about tomorrow. Joan of Arcadia is on and then Wonderfalls is on next. Yay!

I was reading a review of Wonderfalls today, and it was saying that there is a good possibility that it won't last that long and probably won't have the blessing of great ratings like Joan of Arcadia surprisingly received. Plus, Friday Night Deathtrap... just look at what happened to "Dark Angel," after being put to Friday nights and getting even worse ratings.
 
I'm going to tape it tonight.

I'm going to tape the whole series, just in case it gets canceled early.

I just found my favourite Wonderfalls review so far at Buffy.nu.

11 Reasons You Should Watch Wonderfalls Tonight

Here's an exerpt:

You really, really miss Buffy before she became so friggin morose: Remember when Buffy had a sense of humor? Think way back. She was our unlikely hero. Our girl. She had a mission. She didn't necessarily like it, but she went with it and taught us how to snark like a pro about that which we cannot control. She knew this was all surreal and ridiculous but it was happening to her, so she just sort of dealt. That's our Jaye. If Jaye could walk over to Season Seven BtVS, she'd slip The First a fin to toss another banana peel under Pain!Buffy's heels.
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This show is absolutely stunning. Jaye is an absolutely real character although she doesn't seem it, the acting is great, the way that the inanimate objects are brought in, and the way the ending ties in makes me want to watch it next week. I will be tuning in next Friday for another episode of "Wonderfalls"...
 
I watched it and loved it, deffinatly on my to watch list on friday nights now. I can see the comparison of Joan of Arcadia and Wonderfalls but it doesnt bother me since both shows were being created last year so its nothing unusual.
 
I'm so glad I taped it.

It's special; quirky, intelligent, clever, edgy, even funny ("We have a stabbing victim"). The acting is great. The writing is better. It's unique in the way it's hard-nosed, yet human.

It will never make it to a second season. It's too good. Again I'm glad I have it on tape.
 
i liked it too Fox might not cancel it they know good shows when they see them most of the time-simpsons,tru calling ect. it was great acting good writing and a nice setting i give it 3 thumbs up!
 
That show is great! I love it. I can't wait to see next weeks. You are like that one girl who want to be this other girl..."
 
Well-known fact that all great Fox shows are eventually cancelled... and when they're put on Friday nights first-off, they don't have a chance.

Of course I taped it, twice even - in two different VCRs - just to make sure. 😉

I thought the transitions from scene to scene were great... how the quarter lead to the guy on the bike and then to the purse... etc. If that wax lion isn't the cutest creature I've ever seen, I must be crazy!😛 The camera/Big Brother reference made me laugh and cheer. ::evil2::
 
I was out with Stephanie and I missed it! Ah! I can't believe I missed it! I take it eveyone liked it?
 
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