For those outside of Ontario, the public broadcasting station
TVO (TV Ontario) is a well keep secret. They've recently posted a vast archives of old series they produced (ala, no 'Nightmusic'!), many of which will be of interest to readers of this blog.
One of the best series was
Prisoners of Gravity that ran from 1989 to 1994. It was hosted by Rick Green (of The Frantics comedy troupe fame - sort of a Canadian version of Monty Python).
About Prisoners of Gravity:
Prisoners of Gravity, the acclaimed comic book and science fiction news magazine series, is not television. It's the world's orbital oracle. It's the future now. Trapped in geosynchronous orbit, unable to escape the planet he's convinced is hurtling toward self-destruction, Commander Rick (
Rick Green) commandeers the airwaves to transmit his weekly pirate broadcasts. He explores crucial issues of the late twentieth century in the language of the faithful: science fiction, comics, computers, fantasy, and horror, all respectfully recognized in the series as adult art forms. He interviews these genres' writers, artists, and filmmakers, focusing on a different theme in each program: politics, war, fears, dreams, addictions, children, new worlds, and even the current popularity of dinosaurs.
About the episode: This week Commander Rick profiles the comic book series that everyone from Norman Mailer to the girl next door is reading - "
The Sandman." Featuring the key creators who've worked on "The Sandman": writer
Neil Gaiman, editor
Karen Berger, cover artist
Dave McKean, and story artists
Charles Vess,
P. Craig Russell,
Jill Thompson,
Mike Dringenberg and
Kelley Jones. Plus, a glowing tribute from science fiction writer
Harlan Ellison who wrote the introduction to "
The Sandman" graphic novel, "
Season Of Mists." 28:50 min
The rest of the TVO archives are
HEREThe Frantic's Mr. Canoehead: