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Strange World (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Strange World is a short-lived American
television program
about military investigations into criminal abuses of science and technology. ABC
commissioned thirteen episodes, of which only three aired in March, 1999, before they cancelled the program. By the time ABC officially axed the show, the producers were finalizing the last episode. The remaining ten episodes subsequently premiered on SciFi
in the Spring of 2002.
The series was created by former X-Files
, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Angel
producer Howard Gordon
and Tim Kring
, creator of Crossing Jordan
and Heroes
.
In a webchat during the 2002 run on SciFi, co-creator Howard Gordon stated that, since the producers knew ABC was not going to support the show before the premiere of the first episode, they had the opportunity to write a conclusion to the story. Thus, he asserts the show is best considered as a completed miniseries
rather than a cancelled television program.
—Text at the beginning of the pilot episode.
The main character, Captain Paul Turner (Tim Guinee
), is a doctor for USAMRIID suffering from a rare form of aplastic anemia
as a result of exposure to chemical weapon during the Persian Gulf War
. USAMRIID, The United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases, lures him out of his sickbed with the opportunity to bring justice to others suffering from unethical uses of scientific discoveries and resulting technologies. Unknown to his superiors, he is given a temporary cure for the symptoms of his disease by a mysterious woman who is an agent of a shadowy organization that may be trying to thwart the goals of USAMRIID. He requires periodic doses of the cure to remain functional, a weakness that the shadowy organization occasionally uses to control him. Both the machinations of the "shadowy organization" and Turner's dependency on the "cure" are ultimately resolved in the final episode of the series.
. The sequence was added to AIGA's permanent collection in 1999. It was created by Imaginary Forces, a firm also responsible for the Comedy Central
and Lifetime
network rebrandings and the 102 Dalmatians
titles along with its famous trailer in 2000, the Arlington Road
titles in 1999, and various other AIGA-recognized advertisements and logos.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television program
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...
about military investigations into criminal abuses of science and technology. ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
commissioned thirteen episodes, of which only three aired in March, 1999, before they cancelled the program. By the time ABC officially axed the show, the producers were finalizing the last episode. The remaining ten episodes subsequently premiered on SciFi
Sci Fi Channel (United States)
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
in the Spring of 2002.
The series was created by former X-Files
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Angel
Angel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
producer Howard Gordon
Howard Gordon
Howard Gordon is an American screenwriter and producer.-Life and career:Gordon was born in Queens, New York, New York. After graduating from Princeton in 1984, Gordon came to Los Angeles with fellow filmmaker Alex Gansa to pursue a career in writing for television. Both broke into the industry...
and Tim Kring
Tim Kring
Richard Timothy "Tim" Kring is an American screenwriter and television producer, best known for his creation of the television series Strange World, Crossing Jordan, and Heroes.Kring is Jewish...
, creator of Crossing Jordan
Crossing Jordan
Crossing Jordan is an American television crime/drama series that aired on NBC from September 24, 2001 to May 16, 2007. It stars Jill Hennessy as Jordan Cavanaugh, M.D., a crime-solving forensic pathologist employed in the Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Medical Examiner's Office...
and Heroes
Heroes (TV series)
Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
.
In a webchat during the 2002 run on SciFi, co-creator Howard Gordon stated that, since the producers knew ABC was not going to support the show before the premiere of the first episode, they had the opportunity to write a conclusion to the story. Thus, he asserts the show is best considered as a completed miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
rather than a cancelled television program.
Plot
- USAMRIID was created in 1970 to counter the threat of chemical and biological weapons.
- Section 44 of the charter permits it to investigate criminal abuses of science.
—Text at the beginning of the pilot episode.
The main character, Captain Paul Turner (Tim Guinee
Tim Guinee
Timothy S. "Tim" Guinee is an American stage, television, and feature film actor.-Life and career:Guinee, who has two brothers and two sisters, was born in Los Angeles, California and raised in Illinois and Texas....
), is a doctor for USAMRIID suffering from a rare form of aplastic anemia
Aplastic anemia
Aplastic anemia is a condition where bone marrow does not produce sufficient new cells to replenish blood cells. The condition, per its name, involves both aplasia and anemia...
as a result of exposure to chemical weapon during the Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. USAMRIID, The United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases, lures him out of his sickbed with the opportunity to bring justice to others suffering from unethical uses of scientific discoveries and resulting technologies. Unknown to his superiors, he is given a temporary cure for the symptoms of his disease by a mysterious woman who is an agent of a shadowy organization that may be trying to thwart the goals of USAMRIID. He requires periodic doses of the cure to remain functional, a weakness that the shadowy organization occasionally uses to control him. Both the machinations of the "shadowy organization" and Turner's dependency on the "cure" are ultimately resolved in the final episode of the series.
Title sequence
The opening titles were noteworthy for their graphic innovation, drawing the attention of the American Institute of Graphic ArtsAmerican Institute of Graphic Arts
AIGA is an American professional organization for design. Organized in 1914, AIGA currently has more than 22,000 members throughout 66 chapters and more than 200 student groups nationwide...
. The sequence was added to AIGA's permanent collection in 1999. It was created by Imaginary Forces, a firm also responsible for the Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
and Lifetime
Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American cable television specialty channel devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles. The cable network is owned by A&E Television Networks...
network rebrandings and the 102 Dalmatians
102 Dalmatians
102 Dalmatians is a 2000 live-action film, produced by Walt Disney Pictures and starring Glenn Close as Cruella de Vil. It is the sequel to 101 Dalmatians, a live-action remake of the 1961 Disney animated feature of the same name. In the film, Cruella de Vil attempts to steal puppies for her...
titles along with its famous trailer in 2000, the Arlington Road
Arlington Road
Arlington Road is a 1999 American drama/mystery film, which tells the story of a widowed George Washington University professor who suspects his new neighbors are involved in terrorism and becomes obsessed with foiling their terrorist plot. The film stars Jeff Bridges, Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack, and...
titles in 1999, and various other AIGA-recognized advertisements and logos.