Comments on: Is There a Temporal Mechanic in the House? http://www.showbits.net/2007/08/22/time-travel/ A blog of news, reviews, commentary, and quirks from Hollywood and Broadway, with a focus on quirky, geeky stuff like Star Wars, Star Trek, and superheroes. Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:35:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: GeneD http://www.showbits.net/2007/08/22/time-travel/#comment-9887 GeneD Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:26:51 +0000 http://www.showbits.net/2007/08/22/is-there-a-temporal-mechanic-in-the-house/#comment-9887 Other recent television shows that used time travel as more than an occasional plot device include Journeyman, Heroes, and Flash Forward. Other recent television shows that used time travel as more than an occasional plot device include Journeyman, Heroes, and Flash Forward.

]]> By: Ken Gagne http://www.showbits.net/2007/08/22/time-travel/#comment-6109 Ken Gagne Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:51:44 +0000 http://www.showbits.net/2007/08/22/is-there-a-temporal-mechanic-in-the-house/#comment-6109 Gene, Peter: There have definitely been good time travel films (like <em>Bill & Ted</em> -- hey, <strong>I</strong> liked it) and TV shows (<em>Quantum Leap</em>, <em>Time Tunnel</em>). But the most effective use of time travel seems to be in the cult favorites, like <em>Star Trek</em>. I don't know why the timestream can't be more mainstream. Erik: Thanks for the recommendation! <em>Eureka</em> is another television show I've not seen. I see that the first season came out on DVD this past July 3rd; unfortunately, it's not (yet?) available from my public library. I'll try to keep it in mind... Gene, Peter: There have definitely been good time travel films (like Bill & Ted — hey, I liked it) and TV shows (Quantum Leap, Time Tunnel). But the most effective use of time travel seems to be in the cult favorites, like Star Trek. I don't know why the timestream can't be more mainstream.

Erik: Thanks for the recommendation! Eureka is another television show I've not seen. I see that the first season came out on DVD this past July 3rd; unfortunately, it's not (yet?) available from my public library. I'll try to keep it in mind…

]]> By: Erik http://www.showbits.net/2007/08/22/time-travel/#comment-5974 Erik Sun, 26 Aug 2007 16:03:59 +0000 http://www.showbits.net/2007/08/22/is-there-a-temporal-mechanic-in-the-house/#comment-5974 Recently, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka_%28TV_series%29" TITLE="Eureka on Wikipeida"><em>Eureka</em></a> has dealt with the issue of time travel with its 1st season finale and 2nd season opening episodes. <em>Eureka</em>, however, takes the position that any time travel is dangerous because it can create potentially conflicting parallel timelines. Spoiler alert -- don't read below if you don't want spoilers.... To bring back his lost love, Henry, the Eureka mechanic and handyman (who just happens to be a quantum physicist among other things), takes a trip back in time to stop his beloved from being killed. A parallel timeline is set up and we are brought four years in the future. Everything is great -- but then we find a body -- and it turns out to be Henry's girlfriend. Meanwhile, a kind of tornado appears and starts to rip the town apart. A truck, believed lost in a tornado years ago flies in out of nowhere. Sheriff Carter goes back and 'fixes' things -- and only two of the characters are aware of the separate timeline ... Recently, Eureka has dealt with the issue of time travel with its 1st season finale and 2nd season opening episodes. Eureka, however, takes the position that any time travel is dangerous because it can create potentially conflicting parallel timelines. Spoiler alert — don't read below if you don't want spoilers….

To bring back his lost love, Henry, the Eureka mechanic and handyman (who just happens to be a quantum physicist among other things), takes a trip back in time to stop his beloved from being killed. A parallel timeline is set up and we are brought four years in the future. Everything is great — but then we find a body — and it turns out to be Henry's girlfriend. Meanwhile, a kind of tornado appears and starts to rip the town apart. A truck, believed lost in a tornado years ago flies in out of nowhere. Sheriff Carter goes back and 'fixes' things — and only two of the characters are aware of the separate timeline …

]]> By: Hiphopguy23 http://www.showbits.net/2007/08/22/time-travel/#comment-5959 Hiphopguy23 Thu, 23 Aug 2007 17:29:09 +0000 http://www.showbits.net/2007/08/22/is-there-a-temporal-mechanic-in-the-house/#comment-5959 Speaking of <em>Back to the Future</em>, has anyone read the original script at <a href="http://www.scifiscripts.com/scripts/back_to_the_future_original_draft.html" TITLE="BACK TO THE FUTURE">simplyscripts.com</a>? It's like a completely different movie! No Delorean. And Coke powers the time-travel machine! Weird. Speaking of Back to the Future, has anyone read the original script at simplyscripts.com? It's like a completely different movie! No Delorean. And Coke powers the time-travel machine! Weird.

]]> By: PeterW http://www.showbits.net/2007/08/22/time-travel/#comment-5958 PeterW Thu, 23 Aug 2007 09:33:16 +0000 http://www.showbits.net/2007/08/22/is-there-a-temporal-mechanic-in-the-house/#comment-5958 <em>Star Trek</em> certainly had lots of time travel. (Nobody has mentioned <em>First Contact</em> yet.) Sometimes you began to wonder how they ever managed to squeeze in "time" for the present day! :-) And we shouldn't forget another "mainstream" series with a time travel theme -- the <em>Terminator</em> movies! Star Trek certainly had lots of time travel. (Nobody has mentioned First Contact yet.) Sometimes you began to wonder how they ever managed to squeeze in "time" for the present day! :-)

And we shouldn't forget another "mainstream" series with a time travel theme — the Terminator movies!

]]> By: GeneD http://www.showbits.net/2007/08/22/time-travel/#comment-5956 GeneD Wed, 22 Aug 2007 21:20:51 +0000 http://www.showbits.net/2007/08/22/is-there-a-temporal-mechanic-in-the-house/#comment-5956 <p>Speaking of time travel movies, I also recommend <i>Twelve Monkeys</i>, although I realize that director Terry Gilliam's style is an acquired taste. <i>Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home</i> was reasonably popular, as was <i>Groundhog Day</i>.</p> <p>Going further back (in time, of course), <i>Buck Rogers,</i> <i>Planet of the Apes,</i> and <i>Time Bandits</i> are also noteworthy, although time travel is used more as a plot device in most of these films than as a scientific hypothesis. There have also been numerous television shows that have used time travel, not the least of which were <i>Voyagers</i> and <i>Quantum Leap</i>.</p> <p>Isaac Asimov once pointed out that despite the paradoxes of <i>Back to the Future</i>, it was an entertaining fantasy movie. Much speculative fiction falls into this category...</p> Speaking of time travel movies, I also recommend Twelve Monkeys, although I realize that director Terry Gilliam's style is an acquired taste. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home was reasonably popular, as was Groundhog Day.

Going further back (in time, of course), Buck Rogers, Planet of the Apes, and Time Bandits are also noteworthy, although time travel is used more as a plot device in most of these films than as a scientific hypothesis. There have also been numerous television shows that have used time travel, not the least of which were Voyagers and Quantum Leap.

Isaac Asimov once pointed out that despite the paradoxes of Back to the Future, it was an entertaining fantasy movie. Much speculative fiction falls into this category…

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