seaQuest DSV
seaQuest DSV | |
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Genre | Science fiction |
Created by | Rockne S. O'Bannon |
Starring | |
Composers |
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Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 3 |
No. of episodes | 57 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producers |
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Running time | 45 minutes per episode |
Production companies | |
Original release | |
Network | NBC[3] |
Release | September 12, 1993 June 9, 1996 | –
SeaQuest DSV (stylized as seaQuest DSV and also promoted as simply seaQuest) is an American
Production of the first season was marked by disputes between the producers, NBC and cast members, changes in the production staff, and an
"The twenty-first century. Mankind has colonized the last unexplored region on earth, the ocean. As captain of the seaQuest and its crew, we are its guardians. For beneath the surface lies the future."
- Opening Narration
Overview
Season 1
The series follows the adventures of the high-tech submarine seaQuest DSV 4600, a
The seaQuest was designed by retired naval captain Nathan Bridger and built by NORPAC (a military organization mentioned in the pilot) and given as a loan to the UEO after its creation. The storyline begins in the year 2018, after mankind has exhausted almost all
Bridger, though originally reluctant due to a promise he made with his wife after their son, Robert, was killed in a naval military action before her death, is convinced to return to the navy, under the auspices of the UEO, and assume command of the seaQuest. The first season's storylines primarily dealt with plausible oceanographic research, environmental issues, political machinations of the world and the interpersonal relationships of the crew.
Season 2
In the
Several cast changes were also made as both
Joining the series for season two were
NBC and the show's producers also decided they wanted more traditionally science-fiction oriented episodes this season, a direction that was explored toward the end of the first season when seaQuest discovered a million-year-old alien ship entombed in the ocean floor in the episode "Such Great Patience". The second season explored heavy science-fiction concepts such as genetic engineering, aliens,
Roy Scheider was vocal in his anger at the show's new direction. In an interview given during the second season, Scheider averred: "It's childish trash... I am very bitter about it. I feel betrayed... It's (the new season) not even good fantasy. I mean, Star Trek does this stuff much better than we can do it. To me the show is now 21 Jump Street meets Star Dreck."[9] Scheider felt the series had strayed too far away from its premise, and that he "became more of a combat commander than a scientific commander and I hadn't signed up for that."[10]
Scheider added that after moving production to Florida, the show was "going to present human beings who had a life on land as well as on the boat... we've had one script that has done that (the episode '
As Scheider explained, "I don't do this kind of stuff... I said (to the production executives), 'If I wanted to do the fourth generation of Star Trek, I would have signed up for it. I wouldn't have done seaQuest. You guys have changed it from handball into field hockey and never even bothered to talk to me.'"[12] Scheider's comments left him in trouble with some of the executive producers, including Patrick Hasburgh who, in reply, had strong words for Scheider as well: "I'm sorry he is such a sad and angry man. seaQuest is going to be a terrific show, and he is lucky to be part of it."[13]
By the end of season two, seaQuest DSV was again suffering, partly attributed to a perceived decrease in the quality of the writing as well as preemptions by NBC due to sports coverage.[14] The possibility of cancellation appeared likely but NBC kept the show in production after plans for a new series titled Rolling Thunder to replace seaQuest DSV were canceled. Producer Lee Goldberg claimed the new series was canceled because the premise was "awful."[15] The season finale, written as a possible series finale, involved the seaQuest and its crew being abducted by aliens and forced into a civil war on an alien world where the ship appeared to be destroyed and the crew presumed dead.
Season 3
The world is not a nice place, it's not comfortable...corporate entities have grown to the point where they rival and sometimes are more powerful than actual national governments. UEO is not the big kid on the block anymore, seaQuest is no longer state of the art; it's a boat and it's a military vehicle and I'm going to take it places it has never been before
Michael Ironside, in an interview promoting season three
Blaming continued disputes with producers and abandonment of the show's original premise, Roy Scheider requested to be released from his contract with NBC. However, the network only partially agreed and demanded that Bridger would make several appearances throughout the third season. Edward Kerr had been very frustrated with the episode entitled "Alone" (Reportedly, Kerr hated the script so much that he left the set. Brody is absent from that episode)
NBC would only agree to release him from his contract if he continued to play Brody for a few episodes in the third season so his character could be killed off for more dramatic impact in the episode "SpinDrift".[16] Because of rescheduling, the episode "Brainlock", with Brody still alive, aired after the character's death. Rosalind Allen was released as Dr. Smith proved to be unpopular with the audience and because producers felt that her character's telepathic abilities would not fit with the more serious tone planned for the new season.
In
After weeks of negotiations where Ironside offered producers a number of changes to the storytelling structure of the series, which were agreed upon, he finally signed on. "You won't see me fighting any man-eating glowworms, rubber plants, 40-foot crocodiles and I don't talk to Darwin." he said. Though not cast as the new lead of the series, Jonathan Banks reprised his character of Scully in the third season. Also joining the cast was
Steering story lines back towards more reality-based themes, the third season attempted to blend the sense of the first season with some of the unique elements of the second season, while at the same time, pushing forward in an entirely new direction altogether as the UEO faces the threat of the Macronesian Alliance and the ever growing corporate conglomerate Deon International. The series was perceived as becoming much darker than it was in the previous two seasons, focusing less on science (as it had in the first season) and science fiction (as it had in the second season) and more on international politics. While these changes were met with mostly positive reactions, ratings continued to decline and NBC canceled the series after thirteen episodes.[19] The 57th and final network airing of seaQuest 2032 took place on June 9, 1996.
Cast
Main
Season 1
- Captain Nathan Bridger(47 episodes)
- Lucas Wolenczak[20](57 episodes)
- Dr. Kristin Westphalen(22 episodes)
- Lieutenant Commander Katherine Hitchcock(23 episodes)
- Commander Jonathan Ford(56 episodes)
- Lieutenant Benjamin Krieg(22 episodes)
- CPO Manilow Crocker(22 episodes)
- Lieutenant Tim O'Neill(54 episodes)
- Sensor Chief Miguel Ortiz(40 episodes)
- Darwin
- Dr. Bob Ballard as himself, marine trivia during credits
Season 2
- Dr. Wendy Smith(19 episodes)
- Lieutenant James Brody(26 episodes)
- Seaman Anthony Piccolo(33 episodes)
- Lieutenant Lonnie Henderson(32 episodes)
- Dagwood(31 episodes)
Season 3
- Captain Oliver Hudson[21](13 episodes)
- Lieutenant J.J. Fredericks(10 episodes)
Recurring
- Shelley Hack as Captain Marilyn Stark
- Richard Herd as Admiral/Secretary General William Noyce
- W. Morgan Sheppard as "The Old Man", Professor Martinson
- CPOWilliam Shan
- Jesse Doran as General Francis Gideon Thomas
- Kent McCord as Commander Scott Keller
- Robert Engels as Malcolm Lansdowne
- Mark Fauser as Weapons Officer Dalton Phillips
- Timothy Omundson as Dr. Joshua Levin
- Dan Hildebrand as Helmsman Carleton
- Roscoe Lee Browne as Dr. Raleigh Young
- Sarah Koskoff as Julianna
- Denis Arndt as Navy Quartermaster Bickle
- James Shigeta as Montegnard Confederation President Chi
- Jonathan Banks as Maximilian Scully
- Michael Costello as Secretary General McGath
- Sam Jenkins as Mariah
- Mark Hamill as Tobias LeConte
- Karen Fraction as Dr. Perry
- Michael York as President Alexander Bourne of Macronesia[22]
- Andrew Stahl as General Stassi
- Tim DeKay as Larry Deon
- Ralph Wilcox as Mason Freeman
- Patricia Charbonneau as Elaine Morse
Episodes
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
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First aired | Last aired | |||
1 | 23 | September 12, 1993 | May 22, 1994 | |
2 | 21 | September 18, 1994 | September 13, 1995 | |
3 | 13 | September 20, 1995 | June 9, 1996 |
During the first and second seasons, NBC aired the show on Sundays at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time; however, the series was frequently preempted in the second season in favor of NBC Sports coverage. During the third season, NBC moved the show to Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET; seaQuest continued to face frequent preemptions in favor of sports coverage and other television specials. Several of the show's producers, including Carleton Eastlake, believe these preemptions led to the show's cancellation.
After cancellation, the series aired on the
Production
In October 1992, it was announced NBC had given a 22-epsiode order to Sea Quest which was co-created by Rockne S. O'Bannon and Steven Spielberg.[23] The budget for the first season was estimated to be around $30 million with Universal Television's televisions ambitions for the series being to serve as part of a larger multimedia franchise[24] Spielberg had been friends with Roy Scheider since he starred in Jaws and was instrumental in getting him as the lead in the series with Scheider saying of the experience "“It’s the best part offered me this year. If it gets to be half as good as it reads — it will be wonderful. It’s time for a show like this on TV.[24]
During development, the original title for the series was Deep Space, though this was changed after the announcement of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.[25]
Roy Scheider's character was based on
When producers began developing new characters for the second season, they named Lieutenant Brody after Police Chief Martin Brody, Roy Scheider's character in the first two Jaws films.[26] Ralph Willcox and Karen Fraction, who both became recurring guest stars in the third season, had previously appeared as different characters in the second. Despite the numerous cast changes, Jonathan Brandis appeared in every episode of the series, Don Franklin in all but one episode ("And Everything Nice"), and Ted Raimi in all but two episodes ("Nothing But The Truth" and "The Siamese Dream").
Several of the cast's family members were brought in to play characters, as well. Brenda King, Roy Scheider's wife, portrayed Carol Bridger; Todd Allen, Rosalind Allen's husband, portrayed Clay Marshall in "The Siamese Dream"; Michael and Peter DeLuise's father, veteran actor
While in production, seaQuest DSV won and was nominated for a number of awards.
A seaQuest DSV feature film was in pre-production stages, however, it never materialized.[27]
Despite being scripted in at least one episode, Captain Bridger never refers to Dagwood by name. The closest he ever got was calling him "Dag" in the episodes "Special Delivery" and "The Siamese Dream".[28]
Despite popular belief, Darwin was not a real dolphin but rather an
Home media
Title | Ep # | DVD release date | |||||
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Region 1 | Discs | Region 2 | Discs | Region 4 | Discs | ||
Season One | 23 | December 26, 2005 | 4 | November 20, 2006 | 6 | December 5, 2006 | 6 |
Season Two | 21 | January 1, 2008 | 8 | March 31, 2008 | 8 | August 20, 2008 | 8 |
Season Three | 13 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | October 5, 2011 | 4 |
In 2005, Universal announced that the first season of seaQuest DSV would be released on Region 1 DVD along with a week-long marathon of the show on the Sci Fi Channel. The DVD release included never before seen deleted scenes on selected episodes. The second season was released in 2008 in region 1. As opposed to the first season, the second season was released on eight single-sided discs and does not contain any extra features such as deleted scenes. The third season was not released on DVD in region 1 but was released in Region 4 in 2011.
On December 12, 2015, the Australian DVD label ViaVision, through its distributor Madman Distribution, released season 1 on Blu-ray in full 1080p High definition.[29] Although presented in 1080p, the program is presented Pillarboxed to maintain the original 4:3 aspect ratio. Season 2 was released on Blu-ray on March 2, 2016.[30] On April 15, 2020, selected episodes were made available on the early preview of the streaming service Peacock,available to Xfinity subscribers with qualifying devices.
On May 6, 2019 Mediumrare Entertainment released the complete series on DVD in Region 2 however two episodes are missing, 'Dagger Redux' and 'The Siamese Dream' instead two episodes from the previous disc are overlapped in their place. Despite this, the correct episode titles are listed in the DVD menu.
Mill Creek Entertainment announced the complete series of SeaQuest DSV on Blu-ray was released on July 19, 2022.
Merchandise
- A short series of novels based on the characters and concepts depicted on seaQuest DSV were available during the first season of the show. They were:
- seaQuest DSV: The Novel (a novelization of the ISBN 978-0-441-00037-1
- seaQuest DSV: Fire Below by Matthew J. Costello. Published January 1994. ISBN 0-441-00039-8
- seaQuest DSV: The Ancient by David Bischoff. Published March 1994. ISBN 0-441-00042-8
- seaQuest DSV: The Novel (a novelization of the
- Nemesis Comics published one issue of a seaQuest DSV comic book in March 1994. It contained a 23-page original story titled Deep Faith, blueprints for the Renegade submarine and for the seaQuest bridge, and two one-page "Logbook" character bios for Captain Bridger and Dr. Westphalen. The cover for the planned second issue was included on the final page of Issue #1, but it was ultimately never published.
- A video game was released for the Super NES, Game Boy, and Genesis consoles in 1994.
- A series of action figures designed by Playmates Toyswere released in 1993. Captain Bridger, Commander Ford, Lucas Wolenczak, Lt. Commander Hitchcock, Lieutenant O'Neill, Chief Crocker, Darwin, Dr. Rubin Zellar, and The Regulator were released as part of wave one. Additional characters such as Dr. Westphalen, Chief Ortiz, and Lieutenant Krieg and a Darwin with sound effects were planned as part of wave two, but they were never released. Additionally, prototypes of the seaQuest, the Delta 4 Pirate sub, the Stinger, a seaLaunch, and a Deep Sea Mini Pickup, all with electronic lights and sounds, are known to exist but were not released.
- A series of trading cards produced by SkyBoxwere released in 1993, depicting characters, scenes, and episodes from the first season. It consisted of 100 standard trading cards, plus four foil chase cards and two promotional cards.
- Various models were produced by Monogram, including the seaQuest, a Deep Sea Mini Pickup, The Stinger, and Darwin (actually a remolded Flipper) were released.
- Various pieces of clothing, including T-shirts, baseball caps, and embroidered patches of the seaQuest and UEO logos (replicas of the ones used on the show) were released.
- A non-fictional large format book was released in the UK during the first season, titled seaQuest DSV: The Official Publication of the Series. It contained comprehensive interviews and production information, artwork, and design histories, as well as a production report of the episode "Hide and Seek". (Published October 1994. ISBN 0-752-20978-7)
Other merchandise made available included a shot glass in cobalt blue with gold logo, key chains and pins, a book cover, 'magic rocks' sets, journal, and a set of bookmarks.
Soundtrack album
seaQuest DSV | |
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Universal City Studios, Stage 10 | |
Genre | Soundtrack |
Length | 29:46 (original release); 131:28 (Deluxe Edition) |
Label | Varèse Sarabande |
Producer | John Debney Philip Neel |
John Debney composed the original theme music and scored the pilot and season one shows, with Don Davis working on season two. When the series was revamped as SeaQuest 2032 in the final season, Russ Landau composed a new theme and scored all the episodes. In 1995, Varèse Sarabande released an album of Debney's music from the show, featuring the series main and end title themes and selections from "To Be or Not to Be" (tracks 2-8), "Knight of Shadows" (tracks 9 and 10) and "Such Great Patience" (tracks 11-13). In 2020, the label released a 2-CD expansion, with music from "To Be or Not to Be" on disc 1. Disc 2 contained music from the season one episodes “Brothers And Sisters” (tracks 1-7), “Knight Of Shadows” (8-11), “The Regulator” (12-14), “The Good Death” (15-23), “Such Great Patience” (24-31) and “The Devil's Window” (track 32).
1995 album
- Main Title (1:03)
- Preparing for Battle (2:51)
- Bridger's Dream (:52)
- Uncharted Waters (2:06)
- First Engagement (3:18)
- Darwin Speaks (:58)
- Dangerous Adversary (1:34)
- To Adventures Bold (1:31)
- Waltz With the Dead (2:48)
- The Forgiving/Resurrection (4:53)
- The Discovery (2:15)
- Lucas Meets the Alien (2:30)
- Solemn Oath (2:26)
- End Credits (:37)
2020 Deluxe Edition
CD 1: "To Be or Not to Be"
- SeaQuest Opening Credits (3:29)
- SeaQuest Arrives (4:01)
- Military Welcome (:37)
- To The Island (1:30)
- Come See Her (1:38)
- seaQuest (3:32)
- Playon To SeaQuest (:37)
- Hitchcock Retreats (1:50)
- Darwin Speaks (:59)
- Stark Prepares (1:02)
- Act In To SeaQuest (:46)
- Transition (:34)
- Attack Formation (2:48)
- At The Precipice / Into The Rift (7:48)
- Stark Plots (:42)
- Damage Assessment (:52)
- Hyper-Probe (2:05)
- Impending Battle / Play On (1:51)
- Bridger Returns (2:42)
- Battle Stations (2:50)
- Caught (1:21)
- To The Bottom Of The Sea / A Tag To Bonnie The Bad Girl (6:57)
- To The Ocean (4:15)
- SeaQuest: End Credits (:57)
- SeaQuest Opening (alternate version with Choir mixed down) (1:45)
- SeaQuest (alternate version) (1:36)
CD 2: Season One Highlights
- SeaQuest Series Promo (2:33)
- Of Treasures In The Deep (1:14)
- The Discovery (1:41)
- Mind Meld #2 (1:23)
- Big Tension (3:38)
- Exploring The Depot (1:30)
- Saying Goodbye (2:40)
- Into The Ghost Ship (1:43)
- The Possession Of Kristini (2:47)
- Lukas Confronts Captain (3:14)
- The Forgiving (4:51)
- Vern Leaves (2:09)
- Monkey Fish (1:42)
- Inside Us All (:56)
- Attacked (1:12)
- Cynthia (1:20)
- Drug Store (1:38)
- Narrow Escape (1:57)
- The Plan (1:41)
- Close Call (3:31)
- The Escape (4:21)
- Darwin Save Malik (1:03)
- Cheo Checkmate (1:08)
- Discovery (2:14)
- Of Gods And Astronauts (2:28)
- Encounter (1:44)
- Wolf In The Fold (1:37)
- Intruder (4:28)
- Communication (2:29)
- Understanding/Possible Pickup (4:31)
- Invitation Extended (2:26)
- SeaQuest: End Credits (:35)
See also
References
- ^ "'seaquest' Star Calls Series 'Junk'". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ "Down-to-earth 'seaquest'". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ Margulies, Lee (September 15, 1993). "Spielberg's 'seaQuest DSV' Sails to Sunday-Night Win". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ "Lake Is Site Of Trial Of The Next Century". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ "Spielberg Sinks With 'Seaquest". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- ^ "Seaquest Mission: Find Safe Harbor". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ "I didn't decide to leave the show... it was just mutual... I didn't really want to go to Florida... I spent three and a half years doing Superboy."—Stacy Haiduk interview, October 2012
- ^ "Welcome Home, Stephanie". simplystephanie.com (originally OK! Magazine). August 1995. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
- ^ "seaQuest Star Calls Series "Junk"". Orlando Sentinel. September 1994. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ISBN 978-0786440597.
- ^ "'seaQuest' Star Harpoons His Show". Orlando Sentinel. September 1994. Archived from the original on May 29, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ "'seaQuest' Mission: Find Safe Harbor". Orlando Sentinel. September 1994. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
- ^ TOTAL TV, October 1–7, 1994, Vol. 5, No. 36, p. A120.
- ^ "Never Forget! The Questor Tapes to Sliders". First TV Drama.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
- ^ Herbie J Pilato (October 13, 2005). "Herbie J's Retro Watercooler TV: Why Seaquest Sunk". Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
- ^ a b c "Edward Kerr – FAQ". Archived from the original on January 31, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
- The Associated Press. Archivedfrom the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
- ^ Herbie J Pilato (October 13, 2005). "Herbie J's Retro Watercooler TV: Why Seaquest Sunk". Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
- ^ a b "After Long, Steady Dive In Ratings, 'Seaquest' Is Deep-sixed By Nbc". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ Spelling, Ian (June 23, 1995). "Seaquest Sends Sos For Livelier Season". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ "Seaquest Is Back With A New Skipper". Chicago Tribune. September 16, 1995. Archived from the original on June 12, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ "A More Reality-based 'Seaquest' Begins Filming Tuesday". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ "U TV ups deal-making pace". Variety. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ a b "Spielberg on 'Quest' to bring big prod'n to small screen". Variety. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ISBN 0-7522-0978-7)
- ISBN 978-0786440597.
- ^ Transcript of "INTERVIEW WITH JONATHAN BRANDIS BY AOL." Originally 1996 Archived January 31, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved February 15, 2008
- ^ "Script changes in "Special Delivery"". Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- ^ "Seaquest: The Complete Season 1 (Blu Ray)". Madman Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- ^ "Seaquest: Season 2". EzyDVD. Archived from the original on January 13, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
External links
- "seaQuest DSV" at spacecast.com Canadian science-fiction channel's show page
- SeaQuest DSV at AllMovie
- SeaQuest DSV at IMDb