Quote of the Month: "'Maybe we are the aliens?' That is just what THEY want you to think! Wouldn't it serve the rebel angels well to convince humanity that they are seeded here on earth from 'alien intervention'?" -- "Watcher", in response to "Muldermass and the Pit"

As the Quote of the Month no doubt indicates, our "Muldermass and the Pit" article incited a wide variety of, um, opinions. And those opinions were often long. So, with no further ado, here are our reader's thoughts on that and all those other vital issues that keep 11th Hour readers up at night -- and if your concerns included our insufficient supply of Nic Lea and Mitch Pileggi pics last issue, skip to the end of this section for some sweet dreams.

Yeah, goddammit! Those rat bastards!

Once again, The 11th Hour proves itself head and brawny shoulders above anything else on the Web when it comes to probing, thoughtful, insightful genre journalism. The lengthy article "Muldermass" was a stunner, and easily one of the finest works of sound investigative reporting this writer has ever read on a World Wide Web magazine site. Can you guys get any better than this? I doubt it! And can Chri$ Carter look any worse? Doubt that too. Kudos on so articulately and thoroughly hammering the last nail in the coffin of what was once the finest genre series on television, IMO. (Except for Quatermass, apparently.)
-- Rick Smith (Roguewriter),
11th Hour Devotee

I was appalled at the similarities that Pisher discussed in "Muldermass" in the Pit, but I can't say I'm surprised. As time passes, Chris Carter's amazing lack of originality becomes ever clearer. At least he was stealing with good taste this time. Frequently, he doesn't even do *that*. Hey, could we have an article investigating his unfortunate tendency to rewrite scripts that could have been good? (Examples: the killer dolly in "Chinga" and the killer kitties in "Teso Dos Bichos"--both CC's brain children. Not to mention his extensive rewrites of "Alpha". Ick.) Loving you all even more this month,
-- Sassejenn

I remember seeing some of the Quatermass movies when I was a kid, and loving them. Then the years passed, and I only recently started watching X-Files (within the past year). Until your review, I didn't make a direct connection, I'm embarrassed to say. But you've made a compelling argument, and I hope more Xphiles pick up the challenge and watch the (teriffic) Quatermass stories. TV is rarely an original medium three days. All in all, I'm disappointed but not surprised.
--Trajan Dunn

Thank you for a great web magazine and superior articles. The article that intrigued me the most was the "Muldermass and the Pit". I recall seeing Quatermass and the Pit many years ago on Tv. I won't say how long ago and give away my age. This film scared the heck out of me. The plot was unique and chilling. Please tell the author "pisher" that his article brings up many valid questions regarding Chris Carter's vision for The X-Files. Is he making things up as he goes along or is he consciously ripping off the Quatermass stories? Quick call the plagiarism police! That's all I have to say for now; keep up the excellent work
--Colleen Scott

Hey, cool, we're rat bastards too!

Pisher has obviously spent a lot of time and effort on this, (shall I now be harsh in turn?), attack on Chris Carter. I suppose it would be appropriate to respond in kind, but frankly I don't have the time! We are talking about a televison show for pity's sake. Yes, I know a heck of a lot of money is involved, blah, blah, blah. What is the point of this diatribe? If you wished to bring the work of the creator of the Quartermass [sic] stories to light, give the author some publicity, get some people to pay attention, must it be done at the expense of someone else?
   There is too much flavor of sour grapes here for me to take you seriously, I'm afraid. This article has too much of your ego, and self-aggradizement to be taken as any kind of thoughtful critique. Yeah, it was the "gotcha " which gave you away. If Carter called you tomorrow on the phone and said, "Yep, Pisher you crafty devil, you guessed it ,you put it all together." Is this the outcome you desire?
   The insight you wish to share here is tainted I fear. You yourself would have been better served by writing a thoughtful piece about the similarities of the two works which somehow illuminated them both. I sensed the bones of that article in there. I too, was disappointed by the film and the turn the series seems to be taking. Episodic telvision is best at character development , and it seems clear that Carter and Duchovny have lost interest. Better to end it and move on than dive into their belly button ala Mash and Magnum PI, Twin Peaks, oh and so many others we could both name. Yeah it's disappointing after you've invested hours of your life in these stories and characters to find out it's show "biz", not show "art". So what did we learn from all this? Perhaps a bit of what Shakespeare learned after he wrote about a dude he once heard about named "Hamlet".
   Carter hasn't been any more secretive about his sources or projects than Rick Berman has about Star Trek. They play a high stakes game as you yourself have noted. One cannot afford even the appearance of running out of ideas. Instead of nursing your envy and disappointment why don't you use your energy to attack a system like corporate TV which demands product by committee and the next new thing instead of a new idea. The best episodes of X-Files and Millennium have a depth to them rarely seen on TV these days. I intend to glean these kernals and let the rest go.
-- V. Smith

Pisher responds:
Well Smitty, there doesn't seem to be much for us to argue about here, because you accept all of my major points. Carter took someone else's ideas (and frequently used the same visuals to express them), without crediting his source. He did this to mask his own paucity of new ideas. The results were, to say the least, underwhelming. In all this we agree. Are you sure you're trying to defend him here? It's just little things like professional ethics and personal honor that we seem to differ over -- the small but significant gestures of respect that each generation of story tellers owes to those who came before. When you're truly inspired by someone else, you don't have to rob him or her blind.
   You and I disagree about one other thing -- what we, the audience, should be willing to put up with. If we, the SciFi oriented TV viewers continue to pay homage to Carter, to cut him slack because of his past success; to let him represent us at the network level, an audience he clearly does not understand OR respect -- well. We deserve every lousy, boring, derivative show he convinces the networks to foist upon us, even Harsh Realm.

Some people DO dig us. Honest.

The 11th Hour... wow... it's been so long since I've seen stuff of this incredible good quality. It's got style. It's got substance, and plenty of like-minded woman to drool along side with. I laughed so hard at some of the comments (eg: a certain staff member who taped "Crapisola: Written on Crack" in order to view Rodney Rowland) that I almost died of lack of oxygen.
   I know The Pretender doesn't really count as sci-fi or horror, but it's a cool show and I think it deserves a mention. Besides, Michael T. Weiss is totally drool-worthy. Of course... I haven't read through the entire site yet, so he may have been mentioned... Still, just to make my opinion heard.
-- Teresa Yu

Lisa responds: Believe me, Teresa, we here at the 11th Hour dig on Michael T Weiss as much as you do. Unfortunately The Pretender doesn't really fall into our range. Yes, I admit that sound somewhat hypocritical coming from a magazine that's covered a Joan of Arc movie in this issue. So I'll just come out and admit it: I don't watch The Pretender anymore. There's only so many times they can use the same basic storyline, and what I've seen of the show this season is practically unrecognizable as what used to be one of my favorite programs. That whole Profiler crossover was against my religion. But we still pledge allegiance to the flag... er, to Michael T. Weiss and hope against hope that he'll do some ass-kicking project in the future that has more of a genre-y vibe to it. In the meantime... here's a nice picture for ya.

Yay. People in the woods.

I just saw The Last Broadcast (9/25/99 at the County Theater in Doylestown, PA), and I wanted to point a few things out about Ms. Kendzior's article in comparison to The Blair Witch Project. Aside from my opinion that neither films were any good, they shared very little in the end product. The comparison photos, in particular are deceptive.
   It would be like Gene Roddenbury getting ticked off with George Lucas for creating a movie about fighting in space. The Blair Witch may have stolen Broadcast's thunder, but at least Blair Witch provided a few thrills. And although I was nauseated by the rocking camera, I did manage to stay awake. Broadcast was the longest 87 minutes of my life.
   But what has really gotten my goat is Avalos' criticisms about the Blair Witch's lack of storytelling -- as if Broadcast had the least bit of storytelling or suspense to it. Then Avalos nitpicks about the cell phone and the stream, which is fine; I thought the same thing. But if we want to talk about plausibility...well Avalos could learn a few things himself. We're talking about four people broadcasting from the Pine Barrens without so much as a portable generator to be seen? And with so many dangling story points, a total lack of character motivation and that insult of an ending, Avalos should keep his trap shut and be thankful that The Blair Witch Project came along to boost his little film. I gave them the benefit of the doubt, and what thanks did I get?
-- Greg Lester

Sarah responds: Say what you will about the quality of the two films -- personally, I thought Broadcast was excellent, and, despite its questionable origination, thought Blair had some of the strongest performances of the year -- but the pictures are in no way misleading. The article states clearly how Blair underwent a drastic change following the announcement that Broadcast would be widely distributed. "Fact and Fiction" focused not on the end results (which, by the way, do contain enough similarities within themselves to make an effective case for plagiarism), but on the backstory and similar marketing tactics of the respective films, all of which is appropriately and honestly exhibited by the photos used.

Our guys... er, the fall guys

The article "Fall Guys" was a hoot and a half. I just wanted to send you some applause, and some gold stars, for including all of the lovely BtVS/A boys: Nicholas, Seth, James, David, and Glenn. I literally laughed out loud at certain points of their dossiers, and I know many other BtVS fans have as well.
-- Little Willow

Well I just found your site and I must say it rocks! Women writing about Science Fiction...about time :) Loved the "Mulderness and The Pit." I knew I wasn't the only Phile who believed that CC wasn't really capable of original ideas. I adore the show, but everytime Carter writes an episode...don't get me started.
   I have one gripe. In "The Fall Guys", you mention David Duchovny but no Mitch Pileggi. I know he's not everyone idea of a "dream guy" but those pecs...those shoulders...well damn it, he works for me :) And no Nic Lea either...how did that happen? Points for putting Seth Green and James Marsters on there though...what is it about those supernatural boys?

-- Reade

Where's Nick Lea?! He's by far the drool master when it comes to X-Files. And granted we know there's a strong possibility he won't be around until the Feb sweeps... But most people don't know that! Do they? And he's Nick Lea! He's like the dark haired James Marsters. Isn't he? Am I delusional here?
--Angela Nicole, a little crazy for a certain rat

     

Thanks to everyone who wrote in; although we can't publish every letter we do read all of them and greatly appreciate your input. Responses to our fifth issue can be sent to letters@the11thhour.com.