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EspañolSEAQUEST DSV
'seaQuest DSV' is an American science fiction television series created by Rockne S. O'Bannon. It originally aired on NBC between 1993 and 1996. In its final season, it was renamed '''seaQuest 2032'''.
Set in "The Near Future", ''seaQuest'' originally mixed high drama with realistic scientific fact. It starred Roy Scheider as Nathan Bridger, captain of the eponymous high-tech submarine ''seaQuest'' DSV 4600, Jonathan Brandis as Lucas Wolenczak, a teenaged computer genius, and Stephanie Beacham as Kristin Westphalen, the chief medical officer and head of the ''seaQuest'' science department. Steven Spielberg expressed interest in the project and served as one of the show's executive producers during the first two seasons.
Filming of the first season was marked by producer disputes, changes at the helm (off-screen), and even an earthquake. The show was sufficiently popular to last two and a half seasons, being abruptly cancelled in the middle of the third.
Roy Scheider narrated the voiceover during each first season's episodes' opening credits:
''The 21st 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.''
Plot overview
First season cast.
The series follows the adventures of the high-tech submarine ''seaQuest'' operated by the United Earth Oceans Organization (UEO), a global federation of nations, similar to the United Nations, which was created following a major global conflict that occurred circa 2010. The ''seaQuest'' was built by NORPAC (a military organization mentioned in the pilot) and given to the UEO after its creation. The storyline begins in the year 2018, after mankind has exhausted almost all natural resources, except for the ones on the ocean floor. Many new colonies have been established there and it's the job of the ''seaQuest'' and its crew to protect them from hostile nonaligned nations and to aid in mediating disputes. Part of the original focus of ''seaQuest DSV'' also centered around the interpersonal relationships of the crew, such as Captain Bridger's, Lucas Wolenczak's, and Dr. Westphalen's loss of immediate family and their shared interest in science, as well as each other, and the "love-hate relationship" between Lieutenant Benjamin Krieg and Lieutenant Commander Katherine Hitchcock, recently divorced, now forced to serve together on the same ship.
Changes after season 1
Second season cast.
In the first season finale, Bridger sacrifices the ''seaQuest'' to prevent an ecological disaster, and for a short time it was not known if the show would be renewed for another season. When it was decided the show would return, NBC and Universal used this opportunity to tinker with the show's format. Both Royce D. Applegate and John D'Aquino were fired by NBC as the network wanted a younger cast for the show's second year (D'Aquino subsequently returned for a guest appearance in the third season). Stacy Haiduk, who was not happy with her character's development, informed producers she did not wish to return if the show went on to a second season. Stephanie Beacham, who as Dr. Kristin Westphalen was one of the first season's strongest characters, had been asked back for the second year, contrary to popular rumour; however, she quit when it was decided the show would move production from Los Angeles to Florida.[1] (The move also changed the show's location from Pearl Harbor to New Cape Quest). Beacham also blamed continued fighting between the network and the show's producers as a major reason why she did not return. The series had suffered in the ratings, pitted as it was against ''.
The studio wanted more sci-fi oriented episodes, a direction that was explored toward the end of season one, when ''seaQuest'' encountered a million-year-old alien ship buried in the ocean floor. The marine trivia presentations during the credits previously hosted by oceanographer Bob Ballard were now presented by the principal cast of the show (minus Roy Scheider). These changes did attract a new audience, but many of the original fans of the first season were unhappy at the show's change from "sci-fact" to "sci-fi" and abandoned the show.
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 constant preemptions by NBC due to sports coverage.[2] The threat of cancellation loomed large but NBC gave it one more chance after plans for a new series entitled ''Rolling Thunder'' to replace ''seaQuest DSV'' were canceled. Producer Lee Goldberg claimed the new series was canceled because the premise was "awful."[3]
Changes after season 2
Third season title.
Another revamp resulted in the third season, the series now called ''seaQuest 2032''. Roy Scheider had been vocal in his anger of the show's new direction and wanted out. However, Scheider had a contract with the network so it was decided that Bridger would make several appearances throughout the season. Rosalind Allen was fired as her character, Dr. Wendy Smith, proved to be unpopular among fans (Dr. Smith, introduced in season two, was seen as a weak mixture of two female characters from '': the attractive doctor, Beverly Crusher, who is the captain's unrequited love interest, and the ship's counselor, Deanna Troi, an empath). Her relationship with Bridger also appeared to audiences as a retread of the same kind of relationship the captain had with Dr. Westphalen in the first season. Marco Sanchez was also fired after NBC decided it wanted the principal cast number dropped from ten to nine, leaving Jonathan Brandis, Don Franklin, and Ted Raimi as the only three cast members who had remained with the show since the first episode. The marine trivia presentations at the end of the show were dropped entirely.
Third season cast.
In the season premiere, the ''seaQuest'' reappears, its crew mostly intact, ten years after their abduction at the end of season two. Captain Bridger steps down to raise his grandson (although Scheider appears in two further episodes of the season), and Michael Ironside enters the fray as the more militaristic Captain Oliver Hudson and brings along his "best student", Lieutenant J.J. Fredericks who serves as ''seaQuest's ace sub-fighter pilot as the UEO faces the threat of the Macronesian Alliance. Other recurring characters were also added. While the series is perceived as becoming much darker than it was in the previous seasons, some fans felt that ''seaQuest'' had finally found its feet. However, Universal and NBC disagreed, and cancelled the series after 13 episodes.
Cast
★ Roy Scheider as Captain Nathan Hale Bridger (seasons 1-2, 3x01, 3x07, 3x09)
★ Jonathan Brandis as Lucas Wolenczak (later Ensign Lucas Wolenczak, third season only)
★ Stephanie Beacham as Dr. Kristin Westphalen (season 1)
★ Stacy Haiduk as Lt. Commander Katherine Hitchcock (season 1)
★ Don Franklin as Commander Jonathan Ford
★ John D'Aquino as Lieutenant Benjamin Krieg (season 1, 3x02)
★ Royce D. Applegate as Chief Manilow Crocker (season 1)
★ Ted Raimi as Lieutenant Tim O'Neill
★ Marco Sanchez as Sensor Chief Miguel Ortiz (seasons 1-2)
★ Rosalind Allen as Dr. Wendy Smith (season 2)
★ Kathy Evison as Lieutenant Lenore Ellen "Lonnie" Henderson (seasons 2-3)
★ Edward Kerr as Lieutenant James Brody (seasons 2-3)
★ Peter DeLuise as Dagwood (seasons 2-3)
★ Michael DeLuise as Seaman Anthony Piccolo (seasons 2-3)
★ Michael Ironside as Captain Oliver Hudson (season 3)
★ Elise Neal as Lieutenant J.J. Fredericks (season 3)
★ Frank Welker as voice of Darwin
★ Bob Ballard as himself, marine trivia during credits (season 1)
Recurring Guest Cast
★ Richard Herd as Admiral/Secretary General William Noyce (season 1-2)
★ W. Morgan Sheppard as Holographic Professor Martenson (season 1-2)
★ Jesse Doran as General Francis Gideon Thomas (season 1-2)
★ Kent McCord as Commander Scott Keller (season 1-2)
★ Dustin Nguyen as Chief William Shan (season 1)
★ Robert Engels as Malcolm Lansdowne (season 1)
★ Mark Fauser as Weapons Officer Dalton Phillips (season 1)
★ Timothy Omundson as Dr. Joshua Levin (season 1)
★ Dan Hildebrand as Helmsman Carleton (season 1)
★ Roscoe Lee Browne as Dr. Raleigh Young (season 1)
★ Sarah Koskoff as Julianna (season 1)
★ Denis Arndt as Navy Quartermaster Bickle (season 1)
★ James Shigeta as Montegnard Confederation President Chi (season 1)
★ David McCallum as Frank Cobb (season 1)
★ David Morse as Lenny Sutter (season 1)
★ William Shatner Milos Tezlov (season 1)
★ Sam Jenkins as Mariah (season 2)
★ Mark Hamill as Tobias LeConte (season 2)
★ Dorian Field as Helmsman Tyler (season 2)
★ Michael Costello as Secretary General McGath (season 2-3)
★ Michael York as President Alexander Bourne of Macronesia (season 3)
★ Andrew Stahl as General Stassi (season 3)
★ Tim DeKay as Larry Deon (season 3)
★ Ralph Willcox as Mason Freeman (season 3)
★ Karen E. Fraction as Dr. Perry (season 3)
Additionally, ''seaQuest DSV'' employed a significant amount of guest stars familiar with the sci-fi genre, many of whom would go on to star in other shows. In addition to the aforementioned ''Star Trek'' players, notable guest stars included Charlton Heston (star of ''The Ten Commandments'', ''Planet of the Apes'' and other classic 1960s-70s SF films), David McCallum of the sixties ''The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'' and the British series ''Sapphire and Steel''. Seth Green (later Scott Evil in the ''Austin Powers'' films, Oz on ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' and Chris Griffin on ''Family Guy''), Kent McCord (Officer Jim Reed of ''Adam-12'', Captain Troy of ''Galactica 1980'', Jack Crichton of Farscape and Unger in ''), and Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) among others.
Airings
The show's time slot was shuffled around during its original run. During the first and second seasons, NBC aired the show on Sundays at 8:00 PM. NBC had originally planned to cancel ''seaQuest DSV'' part-way through the second season in favor of another show about a "high-tech truck". However, NBC executives were unimpressed with the new show's development and kept ''seaQuest DSV'' in production. During the third season, NBC moved the show to Wednesdays at the same time; however, NBC would frequently preempt the show in favour 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.
Currently, ''seaQuest DSV'' does not air in syndication or re-runs. in Canada had most recently aired the series on weekends, followed by an extended run on weekdays until being pulled from the schedule in early 2007 . The Sci-Fi Channel in the United States had also previously aired the episodes for a number of years.
DVD release
First season DVD release (region 1).
Fans of "seaQuest DSV" have campaigned for the release of the series on DVD. Universal Home Video, which owns the distribution rights to the series, had at one time stated that it had no plans to release the show on DVD. Over the past few years, illegal bootleg recordings of the series have been sold on eBay and other online auction sites in VCD and DVD format.
In 2005, Universal announced that the first season of "seaQuest DSV" would be released on DVD on 26 December 2005 along with a week long marathon of the show on the Sci Fi Channel. Universal credited the fans with changing their minds about a DVD release. However, some also credit the successful sales of bootleg copies of the series. The DVD release included numerous deleted scenes as well as alternate versions of broadcast scenes.
A second season release date is currently unknown, but Universal has announced that the second season will arrive in retail outlets before 2008.
Merchandise
SNES game.
★ 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 (Book 1)"' (a novelization of the pilot episode) by Diane Duane and Peter Norwood. Published October 1993. ISBN 978-0441000371
★
★ '"Fire Below"' by Matthew J. Costello. Published January 1994. ISBN 0-441-00039-8
★
★ '"The Ancient"' by David Bischoff. Published March 1994. ISBN 0-441-00042-8
★ One issue of a ''seaQuest DSV'' comic book was published by Nemesis Comics. A second issue was planned, but was ultimately not published.
★ A video game was released for the Super Nintendo, Game Boy, and Sega Genesis consoles in 1994.
★ A series of action figures designed by Playmates Toys were released in 1993. Captain Bridger, Commander Ford, Lucas Wolenczak, Lt. Commander Hitchcock, Chief Crocker, Lieutenant O'Neill, Darwin, Dr. Rubin Zellar, and The Regulator were released as part of wave one. Additional characters such as Dr. Westphalen, Ortiz, and Lieutenant Krieg were planned as part of wave two, but they were never released. Additionally, reproductions of the ''seaQuest'' and Darwin with sound effects were also planned, but not released either.
★ A series of trading cards produced by SkyBox were released, depicting characters, scenes, and episodes from the first season.
★ Various models were produced by Monogram, including the ''seaQuest'', a sea launch truck, ''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 during the first season and contained comprehensive interviews and production information, - also art work and design histories, as well as a production report of the episode "Hide and Seek."
Trivia
Cast Trivia
★ Edward Kerr's character, Lieutenant James Brody, was named after Police Chief Martin Brody, played by castmate Roy Scheider, in ''Jaws''.
★ John D'Aquino (Benjamin Krieg) was the only first season castmember that ever returned for a guest appearance ("In the Company of Ice and Profit").
★ The image of Captain Bridger's wife, Carol, was played by Roy Scheider's real-life wife, Brenda King.
★ Rosalind Allen's real-life husband at the time, Todd Allen, played Clay Marshall in "The Siamese Dream."
★ Jonathan Brandis (Lucas Wolenczak) and Ted Raimi (Lieutenant Tim O'Neill) both wrote episodes for the series. (Brandis wrote "The Siamese Dream" and Raimi, "Lostland.")
★ Jonathan Brandis is the only castmember to appear in every episode. Don Franklin appears in every episode except "And Everything Nice."
★ Ralph Willcox and Karen Fraction, who both become recurring guest stars in the third season, had previously appeared as different characters in the second year.
★ Robert Engels, who played Malcolm Lansdowne in the first season, was also an executive producer on the series and wrote two episodes: "Greed For a Pirate's Dream" and "Hide and Seek".
Episode Trivia
★ The scene from ''The Hunt for Red October'' where the ''Dallas'' and ''Red October'' are rising to periscope depth alongside each other was used in the pilot episode.
★ Stock footage of the ''Airwolf'' helicopter from the television series of the same name is used in the episode "Hide and Seek."
★ Many scenes in the episode "Playtime" were filmed in Lakeland, Florida, (specifically, the campus at Florida Southern College) to take advantage of the buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
★ Despite the numerous changes to the show in the second season, the episode "The Sincerest Form of Flattery" contains many "throwbacks" to the first season, such as the reappearance of Admiral Noyce and Professor Martenson, as well as the "Internex" from the episode "Photon Bullet."
★ The episode "By Any Other Name" uses stock footage from season one episodes. As a result, John D'Aquino as Lieutenant Krieg can be seen (briefly) running onto the bridge as the clam-doors close.
★ The episode "Brothers and Sisters" from season one uses the acapella song "Baby I'm Yours" by the music group Shai in a scene where Jonathan Brandis attempts to kiss Kellie Martin.
Show Trivia
★ The show's first season theme music was nominated for an Emmy Award, and in 2000 was named the 48th best theme tune of all time by TV Guide.
★ Special effects were done with NewTek Video Toasters on Commodore Amiga computers [1].
★ 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."
★ The Regulator and his orangutan Verne from the first season episode “The Regulator” can be seen in the opening credits of every third season episode.
★ During the filming of the final scene in the final episode, Michael Ironside gave a small speech thanking the cast and crew for the time they spent working on the show. Following his words, Ironside tossed Jonathan Brandis into the moon pool.
★ Roy Scheider's character, Captain Nathan Hale Bridger, was based on John C. Lilly. Lilly was a pioneer researcher into the nature of consciousness using as his principal tools the isolation tank, dolphin communication and psychedelic drugs, sometimes in combination. He was a prominent member of the Californian counterculture of scientists, mystics and thinkers that arose in the late 1960s and early 70s. Albert Hofmann, Gregory Bateson, Ram Dass, Timothy Leary, Werner Erhard, and Richard Feynman were all frequent visitors to his home.
''seaQuest DSV'' on Other Series
★ Reference is made to ''seaQuest DSV'' in ''The Simpsons'' episode "The Boy Who Knew Too Much" when Jasper Beardley wants to hurry home from the jury deliberations to see "the dog from ''Frasier'' ride the dolphin on ''seaQuest.''"
★ The second episode of ''Frasier'' was titled "Space Quest." Both ''Frasier'' and ''seaQuest DSV'' premiered on NBC at roughly the same time.
★ Jonathan Brandis made a guest appearance on "" where Kelly Kapowski (Tiffani Thiessen) introduced him as "Jonathan Brandis from ''seaQuest.''"
★ In the episode "Eye of the Beholder" of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', when Counselor Troi looks up the crew manifest of the ''Enterprise'', one of the crewmembers is listed as serving aboard the ''USS seaQuest''.
★ The background ambience sound used whenever the Professor Martenson hologram is in use has been used in two episodes of ''South Park'': "Starvin' Marvin in Space" and "Go God Go XII."
Ties to ''Star Trek''
Cast Ties
★ William Shatner guest starred in the 13th episode of the first season, playing a fictional Serb dictator Milos Tezlov who escaped U.E.O. security for crimes of ethnic cleansing.
★ Both regular doctors, Stephanie Beacham (Dr. Kristin Westphalen) and Rosalind Allen (Dr. Wendy Smith) guest starred on ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (Beacham played Countess Regina Bartholemew in "Ship in a Bottle" while Allen played Yanar in "The Outrageous Okona").
★ Marco Sanchez (Miguel Ortiz) would later play MACO Corporal Romero in the '' episode "The Xindi."
★ Richard Herd (Admiral Noyce) guest starred as L'Kor in ''The Next Generation'' episode "Birthright, Part I and Part II" as well as portraying the recurring role of Admiral Owen Paris on ''.''
★ W. Morgan Sheppard (Professor Martenson) had a supporting role in '' (as the Klingon warden) as well as guest starring roles on ''The Next Generation'' (as Dr. Ira Graves in "The Schizoid Man") and ''Voyager'' (as Qatai in "Bliss").
★ "Games" guest star Alan Scarfe (Dr. Rubin Zellar) guest starred twice on ''The Next Generation'' (as Admiral Mendek in "Data's Day" and Tokath in "Birthright, Part II" alongside Richard Herd, as well as once on ''Star Trek: Voyager'' (as Augris in "Resistance").
★ "Photon Bullet" guest star Tim Russ (Martin Clemens) played Tuvok throughout all seven seasons of ''Voyager.''
★ "Whale Songs" and "Resurrection" guest star Jonathan Banks (Max Scully) played Shel-la in the '' episode "Battle Lines."
★ "Hide and Seek" guest star William Shatner (Milos Tezlov) famously played Captain Kirk in the classic '' series.
★ In "Hide and Seek", Milos Tezlov's son, Caesar, is played by Christopher Miller, who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard's nephew in '', which was released later in the year (also starring William Shatner).
★ "The Stinger" guest star Jack Blessing (Mr. Gaye) played Dulmer in the ''Deep Space Nine'' episode "Trials and Tribble-ations."
★ "Sympathy For the Deep" guest star Robert Foxworth (Dr. Royce Shelton) guest starred in two story arcs, one on ''Deep Space Nine'' (as Admiral Leyton in "Homefront" and "Paradise Lost") and the other on ''Enterprise'' (as V'Las in "The Forge", "Awakening", and "Kir'Shara").
★ "And Everything Nice" guest star David Spielberg (Inspector Donnegan) played Commander Calvin Hutchinson in ''The Next Generation'' episode "Starship Mine."
★ "Alone" guest star Raphael Sbarge (Avatar) played the recurring character Michael Jonas on ''Voyager.''
★ "Chains of Command" guest star Bernie Casey (Admiral Vanalden) played Lieutenant Commander Calvin Hudson in the ''Deep Space Nine'' episodes "The Maquis, Part I and II."
Set Homages
★ In "Hide and Seek", when Milos Tezlov appears on a ''seaQuest'' vidlink, the I.D. code at the bottom of the screen reads "JTK NCC1701", referring to "James T. Kirk" and the registry number of the USS ''Enterprise'' on the classic ''Star Trek''. Later, when Tezlov's enemies demand the ''seaQuest'' turn him over, the I.D. code on the vid-link reads "NCC1701A", referring to the newer ''Enterprise'' from '' and ''Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country''.
★ The bridge on the ''seaQuest II'' was designed to resemble the bridge of the ''USS Enterprise-D'' from ''The Next Generation''. (Specifically, the command column where Captain Bridger, Commander Ford, and Lieutenant O'Neill usually sat resembles the command center where Captain Picard, Commander Riker, and Counselor Troi usually sat.)
★ The chair in the holographic-projection room aboard the ''seaQuest II'' (as seen in such episodes as "Vapors" and "The Sincerest Form of Flattery") is the same kind of chair as the captain's chair from the ''Enterprise'' from ''. The chair was also used in the "execution tape" in "Splashdown".
★ In "Dream Weaver", when the Stormer plunges to his death, he lands beside a monument to the "Nomad Probe", which was launched in 2002, designed to seek out new lifeforms, a reference to the Nomad probe featured in the classic ''Star Trek'' episode "The Changeling".
★ The sign of "The Dagger's Sheath", a club featured in the episode "Smoke on the Water", is written in the title typeface of ''The Next Generation''.
Dialogue References
★ The G.E.L.F.s (or "Daggers") share much in common with ''Star Trek's Augments, most notably led by Khan Noonien Singh. This might also be a reference to Red Dwarf, which first coined the term GELF.
★ In the episode "Weapons of War", Captain Hudson informs a Macronesian captain "Do not lecture me about treaty violations." Klingon Commander Kruge said the same thing to Admiral Kirk in ''.''
Episodes
Main articles: List of seaQuest DSV episodes
External links
★ seaQuest DSV DVD Official Universal Studios Site
★ "seaQuest DSV" at spacecast.com - Canadian science-fiction channel's show page
Notes
1. http://www.simplystephaniebeacham.com/Articles/OK/1995/ok8-95.html
2. http://www.firsttvdrama.com/neverf/never5.php3
3. http://blogs.mediavillage.com/retro/archives/2005/10/lost_at_seaques.html
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