I hope this topic hasn't been been posted 50,002 times before or not, if so I unreservedly apologize, but for those who are fans of "Red Dwarf" (a BBC sci-fi comedy/legend, American networks were trying to copy the show and apparently hired a bunch of mannequins... Two pilots were made. The first flopped so a retooling was made. The original Red Dwarf USA Cat was to be Hinton Battle but he was unavailable for the 2nd attempt, so they not only found another actor... but revamped the character -- not a bad idea since Danny John-Jules pretty much can never be copied no matter how good Hinton was (and he was, there were enough differences in the first pilot that he made work...)
But Terry Farrell was chosen to act out the role of Cat for the second and final US attempt and, like or dislike the rest of both pilots, Terry truly stands out as Cat. Though Jane Leeves clearly steals the show as Holly (even with the forced dialogue such as "PE Teachers" as opposed to "Phy Ed teachers" that Americans are used to, would later go to "Frasier" with much acclaim.
Sort of a shame neither pilot made it to production, but triply so for Farrell since they made a few ingenious twists and she hits it out of the park with her insight into the character... pity she and Danny John Jules (the UK original) could never be in an episode together because that would be "sweeps week^42".
Full Farrell Cat episode (more a promo thanks to reduced budget for the second and final attempt to woo execs to make "Red Dwarf USA" (working title):
She's genius.
IMHO, the pilots aren't too bad, even with lines from assorted UK episodes mishmashed to make a new plot, it's nothing new in the industry... While some dialogue is forced, the only actors that make the show seem viable are Hinton, Jane, and Terry. Craig Bierko just looks too much as a "Monday Night Football" hottie to fully portray what Dave Lister is supposed to be (an overweight slob with zero ambition) and he seems too (unintentionally?) deadpan at times. The actor playing Rimmer (Chris Eigeman) seems a bit out of place as well.
But Terry Farrell was chosen to act out the role of Cat for the second and final US attempt and, like or dislike the rest of both pilots, Terry truly stands out as Cat. Though Jane Leeves clearly steals the show as Holly (even with the forced dialogue such as "PE Teachers" as opposed to "Phy Ed teachers" that Americans are used to, would later go to "Frasier" with much acclaim.
Sort of a shame neither pilot made it to production, but triply so for Farrell since they made a few ingenious twists and she hits it out of the park with her insight into the character... pity she and Danny John Jules (the UK original) could never be in an episode together because that would be "sweeps week^42".
Full Farrell Cat episode (more a promo thanks to reduced budget for the second and final attempt to woo execs to make "Red Dwarf USA" (working title):
She's genius.
IMHO, the pilots aren't too bad, even with lines from assorted UK episodes mishmashed to make a new plot, it's nothing new in the industry... While some dialogue is forced, the only actors that make the show seem viable are Hinton, Jane, and Terry. Craig Bierko just looks too much as a "Monday Night Football" hottie to fully portray what Dave Lister is supposed to be (an overweight slob with zero ambition) and he seems too (unintentionally?) deadpan at times. The actor playing Rimmer (Chris Eigeman) seems a bit out of place as well.
