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Fear Itself (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Fear Itself was a horror
/suspense
anthology television series
shot in the city of Edmonton
, Alberta, Canada, with some additional shooting in the city of St. Albert and the town of Devon
, Alberta. It began airing on June 5, 2008 on NBC
.
The show aired Thursday nights at 10/9c. It was put on hiatus for the duration of the 2008 Summer Olympics, with the promise of a return once the event was over, but no further episodes were aired. While NBC failed to comment on the fate of the series once the Olympics ended, its time-slot was thereafter filled with re-runs of other NBC shows and Fear Itself did not appear on the NBC Fall 2008 schedule.
Its title is derived from the famous Franklin D. Roosevelt
quote "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." The anthology was borne out of Masters of Horror
and shares several of the same creative elements: self-contained horror/thriller stories directed by the biggest horror directors working in features today; both shows were created by Mick Garris
and both shows are produced by Industry Entertainment's Andrew Deane, Adam Goldworm
and Ben Browning. Stuart Gordon
, Brad Anderson, John Landis
and Rob Schmidt
all directed at least one episode of each series. Guest stars included Eric Roberts
, Anna Kendrick
, Brandon Routh
, Briana Evigan
, Elisabeth Moss
, and Cory Monteith
. The song in the opening credits is entitled "Lie Lie Lie
" by System Of A Down
front man Serj Tankian
, from his solo album Elect the Dead
.
On March 13, 2009, it was confirmed that the series had been canceled and would not be returning to NBC.
The complete series was released on DVD on September 15, 2009.
All episodes of Fear Itself have been aired:
All episodes of Fear Itself that have previously aired in the US are currently available on FEARnet
.
The episodes are run in a different order on the DVD and within online streaming sites.
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
/suspense
Suspense
Suspense is a feeling of uncertainty and anxiety about the outcome of certain actions, most often referring to an audience's perceptions in a dramatic work. Suspense is not exclusive to fiction, though. Suspense may operate in any situation where there is a lead-up to a big event or dramatic...
anthology television series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
shot in the city of Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta, Canada, with some additional shooting in the city of St. Albert and the town of Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, Alberta. It began airing on June 5, 2008 on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
The show aired Thursday nights at 10/9c. It was put on hiatus for the duration of the 2008 Summer Olympics, with the promise of a return once the event was over, but no further episodes were aired. While NBC failed to comment on the fate of the series once the Olympics ended, its time-slot was thereafter filled with re-runs of other NBC shows and Fear Itself did not appear on the NBC Fall 2008 schedule.
Its title is derived from the famous Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
quote "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." The anthology was borne out of Masters of Horror
Masters of Horror
Masters of Horror is an informal social group of international film writers and directors specializing in horror movies and an American television series created by director Mick Garris for the Showtime cable network.- Origin :...
and shares several of the same creative elements: self-contained horror/thriller stories directed by the biggest horror directors working in features today; both shows were created by Mick Garris
Mick Garris
Mick Garris is an American filmmaker and screenwriter born in Santa Monica, California.-Biography:He is best known for his adaptations of Stephen King stories, such as directing the horror film Sleepwalkers starring Madchen Amick and is the creator of the Showtime series Masters of Horror...
and both shows are produced by Industry Entertainment's Andrew Deane, Adam Goldworm
Adam Goldworm
Adam Goldworm is a literary and talent manager at Aperture Entertainment, a new management/production company that he founded in March 2009. -Biography:Adam Goldworm was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
and Ben Browning. Stuart Gordon
Stuart Gordon
After the University of Wisconsin demanded future theatrical productions by Screw Theater be overseen by a University Professor, Gordon cut his University ties to form Broom Street Theater. Its first production, the new translation of the risque Lysistrata, premiered in May 1969. Gordon is...
, Brad Anderson, John Landis
John Landis
John David Landis is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer. He is known for his comedies, his horror films, and his music videos with singer Michael Jackson.-Early life and career:...
and Rob Schmidt
Rob Schmidt
Rob Schmidt is an American film director and writer. His film credits include Wrong Turn and Crime and Punishment in Suburbia. He also created a pilot called American Town for Twentieth Century Fox...
all directed at least one episode of each series. Guest stars included Eric Roberts
Eric Roberts
Eric Anthony Roberts is an American actor. His career began with King of the Gypsies , earning a Golden Globe nomination for best actor debut. He starred as the protagonist in the 1980 dramatisation of Willa Cather's 1905 short story, Paul's Case...
, Anna Kendrick
Anna Kendrick
Anna Kendrick is an American film and stage actress best known for the role of Natalie Keener in the 2009 film Up in the Air. Her other work includes the films Camp , Rocket Science , Scott Pilgrim vs. the World , 50/50 , and the Broadway musical High Society...
, Brandon Routh
Brandon Routh
Brandon James Routh is an American actor and former fashion model. He grew up in Iowa before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, and subsequently appeared on multiple television series throughout the early 2000s. In 2006, he gained greater recognition for his role as the titular hero...
, Briana Evigan
Briana Evigan
Briana Barbara-Jane Evigan is an American actress and dancer. She is perhaps best known for her roles as Andie West in Step Up 2: The Streets and Cassidy Tappan in Sorority Row. She started dancing at the age of 9 and is still dancing as part of her career today.-Early life:Evigan was born in Los...
, Elisabeth Moss
Elisabeth Moss
Elisabeth Singleton Moss is an American actor. Her notable roles include that of Zoey Bartlet, the third and youngest daughter of President Jed Bartlet, on the NBC television series The West Wing , and secretary turned copywriter Peggy Olson on the AMC original series Mad Men .-Early life and...
, and Cory Monteith
Cory Monteith
Cory Allan Monteith is a Canadian actor and musician, best known for his role of Finn Hudson on the Fox television series Glee.-Early life:...
. The song in the opening credits is entitled "Lie Lie Lie
Lie Lie Lie
"Lie Lie Lie" is a song by Serj Tankian. The song was released as a single from his debut solo debut album Elect the Dead. The music video is directed by Martha Colburn .The music video is available on the iTunes order of Elect the Dead....
" by System Of A Down
System of a Down
System of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...
front man Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist...
, from his solo album Elect the Dead
Elect the Dead
-Personnel:* All Songs Written & Performed by Serj Tankian - Stunning Suppository Sounds '...
.
On March 13, 2009, it was confirmed that the series had been canceled and would not be returning to NBC.
The complete series was released on DVD on September 15, 2009.
Episodes
The first season was expected to include thirteen episodes.| Episode | Director | Title | Ratings | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Breck Eisner Breck Eisner Michael "Breck" Eisner is an American television and film director.-Early life:Eisner was born Michael Eisner in California, the son of Jane Breckenridge, a business advisor and computer programmer, and Michael Eisner, the former Walt Disney Company chief executive... |
"The Sacrifice" | 5.29 | June 5, 2008 |
| 2 | Brad Anderson Brad Anderson (film director) Brad Anderson is a film director. A director of thriller and horror films and television projects, he is best known for having directed The Machinist , starring Christian Bale, as well as producing and directing several installments of the FOX science-fiction series Fringe.-Early life:Anderson was... |
"Spooked" | 4.89 | June 12, 2008 |
| 3 | Ronny Yu Ronny Yu Ronny Yu Yan-Tai is a Hong Kong director, producer, and movie writer. Yu was born in Hong Kong and graduated from Ohio University. He has worked on both Hong Kong and American films.- Career :... |
"Family Man" | 4.66 | June 19, 2008 |
| 4 | John Landis John Landis John David Landis is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer. He is known for his comedies, his horror films, and his music videos with singer Michael Jackson.-Early life and career:... |
"In Sickness and in Health" | 4.47 | June 26, 2008 |
| 5 | Stuart Gordon Stuart Gordon After the University of Wisconsin demanded future theatrical productions by Screw Theater be overseen by a University Professor, Gordon cut his University ties to form Broom Street Theater. Its first production, the new translation of the risque Lysistrata, premiered in May 1969. Gordon is... |
"Eater" | 4.74 | July 3, 2008 |
| 6 | Darren Lynn Bousman Darren Lynn Bousman Darren Lynn Bousman is an American film director and screenwriter.-Personal life:Bousman was born in Overland Park, Kansas, the son of Nancy and Lynn Bousman. He is a graduate of the Film School at Full Sail University. He attended high school at Shawnee Mission North High School in Overland Park,... |
"New Year's Day" | 2.93 | July 17, 2008 |
| 7 | Mary Harron Mary Harron Mary Harron is a Canadian filmmaker and screenwriter best known for her films I Shot Andy Warhol, American Psycho and The Notorious Bettie Page.-Overview:... |
"Community" | 3.21 | July 24, 2008 |
| 8 | Larry Fessenden Larry Fessenden -Life and career:He is president of Glass Eye Pix, an independent film production company based in New York City. Fessenden produced the Dark Sky film The Inkeepers which is directed by Ti West and the thriller Hypothermia, besides his work as producer he stars in the psychological thriller I Can... |
"Skin & Bones" | 3.87 | July 31, 2008 |
| 9 | Ernest Dickerson Ernest Dickerson Ernest Roscoe Dickerson A.S.C. is an American film and television director and cinematographer. He directed generally urban films sometimes with supernatural stories like Juice, Tales from the Crypt Presents Demon Knight, Bones and Never Die Alone... |
"Something With Bite Something with Bite Something with Bite is the ninth episode in the television series Fear Itself on NBC. It tells the story of a veterinarian, Wilbur Orwell, who becomes a werewolf after getting bitten by one at work... " |
--- | June 4, 2009 |
| 10 | John Dahl John Dahl John Dahl is an American film director and screenwriter, best known for his work in the neo-noir genre.-Life and career:John Dahl was born in Billings, Montana, the second of four children . Dahl spent his young life in and around Montana all the way up through his college years... |
"Chance Chance (Fear Itself) Chance is the tenth episode in the television series Fear Itself on NBC. This episode was completed but not broadcast in the United States.-Plot:... " |
--- | June 18, 2009 |
| 11 | Rob Schmidt Rob Schmidt Rob Schmidt is an American film director and writer. His film credits include Wrong Turn and Crime and Punishment in Suburbia. He also created a pilot called American Town for Twentieth Century Fox... |
"The Spirit Box" | --- | June 25, 2009 |
| 12 | Rupert Wainwright Rupert Wainwright Rupert Wainwright is an English film and television director, writer, and actor.Wainwright was born in Cotswolds, UK and started his film career in the 1980s as an actor... |
"Echoes" | --- | June 11, 2009 |
| 13 | Eduardo Rodriguez Eduardo Rodríguez Eduardo Rodríguez Veltzé is a former president of Bolivia; prior to that appointment he was the chief justice of the Supreme Court.-Background:... |
"The Circle The Circle (Fear Itself) The Circle is the thirteenth and last episode of the television series Fear Itself on NBC. It is based on a short story by the same name written by Lewis Shiner... " |
--- | July 2, 2009 |
All episodes of Fear Itself have been aired:
- in the Middle East on MBCMiddle East Broadcasting CenterThe Middle East Broadcasting Center Group is the first private free-to-air satellite broadcasting company in the Arab World which was launched in London in 1991 and later moved to its headquarters in Dubai in 2002. MBC Group provides multiple channels of information, interaction and entertainment...
Action - in PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Czech RepublicCzech RepublicThe Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, SlovakiaSlovakiaThe Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
and RomaniaRomaniaRomania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
on AXN Sci-Fi - in PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
on AXN BeyondAXN BeyondAXN Beyond is a cable and satellite TV channel, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment in the Asia-Pacific. Launched on January 1, 2008, the channel is a spin-off of the popular TV channel AXN Asia, It is available in throughout the 18 countries around the Asia-Pacific region and features programmes...
and Studio 23Studio 23Studio 23 is a Filipino television network owned by the ABS-CBN Corporation. The network is named for its flagship station in Metro Manila, DWAC-TV, which is carried on UHF channel 23...
(free to air) - in Latin America on Space ("Something With Bite", "Echoes", and "Chance" aired dubbed in Spanish, while all others aired with SAPSecond audio programSecond audio program , also known as secondary audio programming, is an auxiliary audio channel for analog television that can be broadcast or transmitted both over the air and by cable TV.-Usage:...
) - in FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on Orange Cinechoc in October / November 2009 (all episodes aired with SAPSecond audio programSecond audio program , also known as secondary audio programming, is an auxiliary audio channel for analog television that can be broadcast or transmitted both over the air and by cable TV.-Usage:...
, both French dubbed and original English version). - in ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
on Fox in October 2009 / January 2010 (all episodes aired with SAPSecond audio programSecond audio program , also known as secondary audio programming, is an auxiliary audio channel for analog television that can be broadcast or transmitted both over the air and by cable TV.-Usage:...
, both Italian dubbed and original English version). - in NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
on Viasat 4, February / March 2010 - In Brazil, on SpaceSpaceSpace is the boundless, three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction. Physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless four-dimensional continuum...
and Globosat HD - In Greece, οn Skai TVSkai TVSkai TV is a Greek TV station, based in Pireus, Athens. It is part of the Skai Group one of the largest media groups in Greece. It was relaunched in its present form on April 1, 2006 in Athens and gradually managed to spread its coverage nationwide. Besides analog over-the-air transmission, it is...
- In Russia, on RenTV, (before that, at least one another TV channel aired some episodes, but cancelled the rest of the show after a while)
- In South AsiaSouth AsiaSouth Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
, on AXN, 2010 and Animax, 2011 - In SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, on Cuatro - In Sweden on kanal 6
All episodes of Fear Itself that have previously aired in the US are currently available on FEARnet
FEARnet
Fearnet is a cable channel, website and Video on Demand television service owned by Horror Entertainment LLC, a joint venture between Comcast, Lions Gate Entertainment, and Sony Pictures Entertainment...
.
The episodes are run in a different order on the DVD and within online streaming sites.