THE TV COLUMN

Browncoats gather for Firefly marathon, special

The Firefly faithful will rejoice to once again see (from left) Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin and Nathan Fillion in action today on Science Channel.
The Firefly faithful will rejoice to once again see (from left) Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin and Nathan Fillion in action today on Science Channel.

— In the 6-inch-thick Big Book of Stupid Network Decisions there’s an entire chapter devoted to Firefly.

Firefly was that clever and inventive “space Western” from Joss Whedon that aired on Fox a decade ago.

Aired briefly on Fox. Fox killed it by tinkering it to death. The Fox suits, convinced they knew how to fix what wasn’t broken, sent Whedon so many suggestions and notes and monkeyed with the series so much that it died after only 11 of its 14 episodes aired. Fox even aired episodes out of their intended order!

It has happened time and time again with network TV. They hire a creator/producer because they love his work, then second-guess him until the series, like a plant that has been watered too much, bogs down in its own muck.

Whedon was riding high a decade ago as the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. He was a hot property. That’s why Fox was keen on his innovative new show.

Whedon was like a kid with a giant new Christmas toy when he led TV critics on a tour of the Firefly set in the summer of 2002. I’d been on a few set visits by then and I’d never seen anything like it. It was magical.

The entire spaceship Serenity (of the Firefly class) squatted complete inside a huge warehouse. As we walked up the ramp to the interior (see accompanying photo) we forgot we were in Hollywood and were transported somewhere “out there” in the year 2517.

Despite the Fox bungling, the series developed a loyal cult fan base and went on after cancellation to even greater success with DVD sales and reruns.

Firefly followed the nine characters aboard the Serenity as they, like pioneers in the Old West, explored their way around a new star system following a civil war.

The series had no wacky Wookiees or bizarre Star Wars-esque species like those packed into the Mos Eisley Cantina. No Star Trek-like phasers, photon torpedoes or Romulan disruptor. Firefly was all about the characters.

Leading the intrepid band was Nathan Fillion as Captain Mal Reynolds, a former sergeant for the losing army (known as the Browncoats) in the recent war.

His second in command was Zoe Washburne, played by Gina Torres. Her husband, Wash Washburne (Alan Tudyk), was the pilot.

Morena Baccarin was the“Companion” Inara Serra, a sort of courtesan who rented one of the ship’s shuttle craft to do her business.

Adam Baldwin was mercenary Jayne Cobb, and Jewel Staite was the mechanic Kaylee Frye.

Sean Maher and Summer Glau played fugitive siblings Dr. Simon Tam and River Tam, and Ron Glass was Derrial Book, a sort of pastor known as a Shepherd.

It was swell stuff and now, thanks to Science Channel,we get to spend at least one day reliving it all again.

Firefly: Browncoats Unite airs at 9 p.m. today on Science Channel and follows an all-day Firefly marathon that begins (or began, if you slept in) at 6 a.m. today.

The 60-minute 10th anniversary special reunites Whedon, Fillion, the crew of the Serenity, executive producer Tim Minear and executive story editor Jose Molina for the first time ever to provide the complete oral history.

Science Channel seats the cast at a table you’ll recognize. The special will include secrets from the set, cast interviews, and footage from this year’s San Diego Comic-Con panel.

In the 10 years since Firefly died so prematurely, most of the cast has gone on to further success.

Fillion is the star of ABC’s Castle. Torres has a strong supporting role in USA’s Suits. Tudyk starred in Whedon’s Dollhouse and is currently featured on ABC’s Suburgatory.

Baldwin was a star in the five-season run of NBC’s Chuck. Baccarin has a major role on Showtime’s Emmy winning series Homeland.

Glau, a sci-fi goddess among the geek set, went on to star in USA’s The 4400, Fox’s Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, NBC’s The Cape,four episodes of Dollhouse and a nifty arc on Syfy’s Alphas.

She even played herself in a memorable (and hilarious) episode of The Big Bang Theory.

And Whedon? He went back to Fox in 2009 with his innovative sci-fi thriller Dollhouse starring Eliza Dushku. He gave us another gleeful tour of that set during a 2009 summer press tour.

Unfortunately, the series got much the same treatment by the network, but managed to last two seasons.

Whedon didn’t sit and sulk. This year he wrote and directed The Avengers for the big screen. It was the third highest-grossing film of all time at $1.51 billion worldwide (behind Avatar and Titanic).

So slip on your brown coats, sit back and enjoy tonight’s reunion. Or, to quote Jayne, “Time for some thrilling heroics.” The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. E-mail: mstorey@arkansasonline

Style, Pages 52 on 11/11/2012

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