Jump to content

Defying Gravity (TV series): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Line 263: Line 263:
| style="text-align:center" | '''6'''
| style="text-align:center" | '''6'''
| "Bacon"
| "Bacon"
! style="text-align:center" | TBA
! style="text-align:center" | TBA
|-
| style="text-align:center" | '''7'''
| "Fear"
! style="text-align:center" | TBA
! style="text-align:center" | TBA
! style="text-align:center" | TBA
! style="text-align:center" | TBA

Revision as of 04:51, 12 August 2009

Defying Gravity
GenreDrama
Science fiction
Created byJames Parriott
Directed byDavid Straiton
Peter Howitt
StarringRon Livingston
Malik Yoba
Laura Harris
Eyal Podell
Christina Cox
Peter Howitt
Country of originUnited States
Canada
United Kingdom
Germany
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1 (ongoing)
No. of episodes13 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersMichael Edelstein
James Parriott
Brian Hamilton
Michael Chechik[1]
ProducerRon French
Production locationsVancouver, Canada
CinematographyStephen McNutt
Production companiesBBC
Fox Television Studios
Omni Film Productions
CTV
SPACE
ProSieben
Original release
NetworkCTV (CAN)
BBC 2 (UK)
ABC (USA)
ProSieben (Germany)

Defying Gravity is a multinationally-produced space travel television drama series, first aired on August 2, 2009 on ABC. Set in the year 2052 (with flashbacks to earlier years in the story's continuity), the series will follow eight astronauts—four women and four men—from five countries on a six-year space mission through the Solar System, where everything they do is monitored.[2] The series was pitched to networks as "Grey's Anatomy in space."[3]

Development

The project was inspired by the BBC docufiction series Space Odyssey: Voyage to the Planets, broadcast on BBC1 in 2004. 13 episodes have currently been ordered.[4] On June 30, 2009 ABC picked up the series for a summer 2009 run in the USA.[3] It is to be aired on BBC 2 in the UK[5], ProSieben in Germany.[3] and both CTV and Space in Canada.

The show is being co-produced by the BBC, Fox Television Studios and Omni Film Productions in association with Canadian broadcasters CTV Television Network and SPACE, and German broadcaster ProSieben.[6]

Filming began on January 19, 2009 in Vancouver, Canada, and lasted six months. Three weeks after wrapping ABC announced it had ordered the program for broadcast in the U.S.[7]

CGI effects are being handled by Stargate Studios in collaboration with set designer Stephen Geaghan.

Premise

The program follows the adventures of eight astronauts on board the international spacecraft Antares. In a story within the story, the lives of the astronauts are being recorded and broadcast back to Earth as part of an ongoing documentary. In spite of a libido-suppressing device worn by each crew member, romantic entanglement will occur. Further complicating their lives is a mysterious storage pod with a secret impact on their mission, referred to as Beta.[8]

Cast

The confirmed cast includes:[9]

Episode List

Season 1 (2009)

# Title Director(s) Writer(s) Original Airdate
1"Pilot"David StraitonJames D. ParriottAugust 2, 2009 (2009-08-02)
Four male and four female astronauts prepare for a mission aboard the spaceship Antares. Their journey will last six years.
2"Natural Selection"Peter HowittJames D. ParriottAugust 2, 2009 (2009-08-02)
The Antares begins its mission to explore the planets in the solar system.
3"Threshold"Peter HowittSheri ElwoodAugust 9, 2009 (2009-08-09)
A mysterious force aboard the Antares begins to have a profound effect on the astronauts' biological compositions and personality traits.
4"H21K"UnknownUnknownAugust 16, 2009 (2009-08-16)
An unknown malfunction sends the Antares into chaos as the ships operating systems are thrown offline, causing the failure of vital systems such as power, gravity, and heating.
5"Rubicon"UnknownUnknownAugust 23, 2009 (2009-08-23)
As the Antares approaches the point of no return, the crew must deal with the upcoming crossing of the critical boundary where return to Earth is no longer an option.

Reception

US Weekly Nielsen ratings

# Episode Air Date Timeslot (EST) Rating Share 18-49 Rating Viewers (m) Rank (Overall)
1 "Pilot" August 2, 2009 Sunday, 9:00PM 2.4 4 1.1 / 3 3.83 #21
2 "Natural Selection" August 2, 2009 Sunday, 10:00PM 2.3 4 1.0 / 3 3.56 #21
3 "Threshold" August 9, 2009 Sunday, 10:01PM 1.8 3 TBA 2.85 TBA
4 "H21K" August 16, 2009 Sunday, 10:00PM TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA
5 "Rubicon" August 23, 2009 Sunday, 9:00PM TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA
6 "Bacon" August 30, 2009 Sunday, 10:00PM TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA
7 "Fear" September 6, 2009 Sunday, 10:00PM TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA

If the ratings on Defying Gravity continue to slip further, the show may be pulled on ABC.[10]

Canadian weekly ratings

# Episode Viewers (100'000s) Rank (Overall)
1 & 2 "Pilot/Natural Selection" 7.83 #20
3 "Threshold" TBA TBA
4 "H21K" TBA TBA
5 "Rubicon" TBA TBA
6 "Bacon" TBA TBA
7 "Fear" TBA TBA

References

  1. ^ "Ron Livingston is Defying Gravity". The Hollywood Reporter. 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  2. ^ "Transatlantic space drama on launch pad". C21 Media. 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  3. ^ a b c "ABC Picks Up Gravity". The Hollywood Reporter. 2009-06-30. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  4. ^ "Fox, BBC team for space drama 'Gravity'". Digital Spy. 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  5. ^ "New Adventure Drama Slated for BBC Two". World Screen. 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  6. ^ "BBC and Fox take flight for blockbuster drama series". The Guardian. 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  7. ^ "Ron Livingston and Fox TV Are Defying Gravity". TV Guide. 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  8. ^ "Press Release" (PDF). Omni Film Productions. 2009-07-15. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  9. ^ "BBC, Fox space drama cast grows". Digital Spy. 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  10. ^ "Millionaire" Loses Midas Touch, "Shark Tank" Tanks, Variety.com, August 10, 2009