Who Needs Edward Cullen When You Can Have Barnabas Collins?
Yesterday was a very nice and quiet day around here … altho I had to run out to take care of a few errands yesterday afternoon, David and I spent most of the evening together here at home. Over the weekend, I got caught up in a marathon of the 1991 revival of the classic “horror soap opera” Dark Shadows on Chiller. Dark Shadows was a daily serial that aired in the 1960’s about the cursed Collins family in Massachusetts. My mom was a big fan of the series (which is how I heard about it originally) and was thrilled when the show was revamped in the early ’90’s. Dark Shadows ‘91 was a pretty big hit for NBC when it aired but due to the Gulf War, the miniseries was constantly preempted … and then eventually canceled. I hadn’t seen the series since 1991 and ended up missing the last 3 eps. I watched 8 eps on Chiller over the weekend and then, thankfully, found out that the rest of the eps are available on Hulu.com
I know that everyone is all ga-ga over Twilight, True Blood and the forthcoming Vampire Diaries but Dark Shadows was a pretty damn good series itself. It’s unfortunate the ‘91 version couldn’t live longer than half a season cuz the original ran for years. If any of y’all are interested in fun vampire drama, I highly suggest you check it out. Those of you who remember the series and want a second look can head over to Hulu to watch all the eps in HD :)
Not sure what’s going on tonight … I really want to see Up but David is really lukewarm on the idea … we’ll see. I just picked up the newly published J.R.R. Tolkein book The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun which is his version of the Norse Poetic Edda. I am desperate to start reading it, which I’ll get started tonight if we stay in. Ah … tough choices, right? Believe me … the simple pleasures in life are to be appreciated.
Tags: 'Dark Shadows'
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June 16th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Thanks, Trent! I will definitely check this out on Hulu. I used to love this show!
June 16th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
I love vampire stuff, and I’ve never seen the 90s version, but if you really wanna see some awesomeness, check out the old school original Dark Shadows. I used to watch it with my uncle all the time when I was a kid :-).
June 16th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
go see UP! It’s really amazing, and worth it, David will like it.
June 16th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Please Please Please go see UP. I have seen it twice it is amazing :)!
June 16th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
I think the orginal Dark Shadows also used to air on the radio.
June 16th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
At first glance Up! seems like another pixar kiddie movie but honestly it’s not. It’s just a really great movie that happens to be made by disney
June 16th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
I own the ENTIRE series on DVD! I loved the revival series, too. Ben Cross was quite sexy, but Jonathan Frid will always be the true smoldering undead hotness. Truly an elegant Vampire.
I just started re-watching DS the other day. I was quite thrilled to see Trent posting about DS today!
June 16th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I was way obsessed with this back in ‘91, which led to me renting nearly everything Ben Cross was ever in and the original DS episodes – on VHS! Thanks for giving it a shout out Trent!
June 16th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I remember Dark Shadows as a kid…Kate Jackson was on it. Total old school!!!
June 16th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Haha Trent that is awesome that your mom was so into Dark Shadows, so was mine! She and her highschool bff go to the reunion weekends in Tarrytown, NY. You can actually meet some of the original cast. She told me that there is supposedly a Dark Shadows movie in the works, with Johnny Depp to play Barnabas, have you heard anything about that????
June 16th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
@Sarah — there have been rumors of a DS movie for a while now, I’m not ready to believe the talk just yet.
June 16th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I was 10 in 1991 and I watched Dark Shadows! It marks the first time I fell in love with Vampires. It was a good show
June 16th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
My mom loved this show she even named my sister Angelique lol…
June 16th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
How funny. I was flipping channel (this weekend) and saw that Dark Shadows was on. I was like “this doesnt look like the original!”…so I changed the channel. lol The next time it comes on, I’ll give it a looksie.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Trent – Thank you so much for posting information about this! I noticed your mention of this on your Twitter feed (to the right of this page) earlier today and I screamed like the teenager I was when this show first aired!! I am so excited to be able to watch this show again (and again and again). Thanks!
June 16th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
I used to LOVE Dark Shadows!! Every day after school I’d come home and sit in front of the TV Mesmorized by it!! When i tell people about it they all think i’m crazy. it’s nice to know that there are others out there that love DS!!
June 16th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Thanks Trent! I love the original Dark Shadows and I do remember the 90’s era one being pretty good. And isn’t Tim Burton & Johnny Depp going to be doing a Dark Shadows movie? The very thought has me in a fangirl frenzy LOL
June 16th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
OMG I remember Dark Shadows!! (the remake, i wasn’t even thought of for the original!) It’s one of those shows that even though it didn’t last long, it made an impression on pop culture because you always here Dark Shadow come up in various TV Shows/Movies… although I’m not sure I’d go for Barnabas over Edward… maybe I’ll need to spend some time on HULU to comtemplate that! Thanks for the heads up!
Oh and can I say that other than True Blood which is in fact, the shit, what is with all the vampire stuff recently? It’s like one book series gets even a miniscule of a following and all of a sudden there is a HUGE bandwagon full of others looking to cash in! I’m soo tired of hearing about all these new vampire related things!
June 16th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Make sure you go see Up! It’s classic Pixar. Another fantastic job-apparently Disney kept their mitts off as promised. Yeah!!!
June 16th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
They used to show Dark Shadows on SciFi. Not sure if they still do, or if they’re airing on Chiller now.
June 17th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
I used to watch Dark Shadows on the Sci-Fi channel in the early 90’s! I was actually a member of their fan club and received updates about the cast. My Dad watched growing up and got me hooked. My friend in college thought I was crazy for liking the show. He bought me the first season on DVD! I would love to see it on the big screen :)
June 18th, 2009 at 3:05 am
RE: The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun, I’m enticed about a new JRR book, but I really don’t like Christopher’s writing additions/editing of his father’s stuff. The Silmarillion 1-5 taught me that. Chris doesn’t have his father’s vision… or writing talent. While I WANT this to be amazing, I’m sadly skeptical. I’m HOPING it’s great, but not holding my breath too much.