"Fantasy Island" (1998)TV series 1998-1999

Directors:

Gilbert Adler
Stephen Cragg

Writers:

Dean Batali (writer)
Rob Des Hotel (writer)

Seasons:

1 | unknown

Release Date:

26 September 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

In this revival of the popular 1970s television series, Mr. Roarke and his three assistants run a tropical...

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Malcolm McDowell	...	Mr. Roarke (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Mädchen Amick	...	Ariel (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Edward Hibbert	...	Harry (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Fyvush Finkel	...	Fisher (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Louis Lombardi	...	Cal (11 episodes, 1998-1999)
Tracy Bautista	...	Hotel employee (9 episodes, 1998-1999)
Sylvia Sidney	...	Clia (7 episodes, 1998)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Häna, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Company:

Columbia TriStar Television

Trivia:

In the opening episode, two elements of the original series "Fantasy Island" (1978) are referenced: the white suits (Roarke in this series makes a point of choosing black) and the infamous "The plane! The plane!" announcement (Roarke orders the underling who does this never to do it again). In a later episode we see a woman living in a trailer with a Ricardo Montalban commemorative plate.

Quotes:

Ariel: Voyeurism is so... unsatisfying.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "South Park: City on the Edge of Forever (#2.7)" (1998)

dry, different, doomed

This series was far too good for ABC, home of Boy Meets World. (It survived but half a season and was replaced in late January of 1999.) I liked it very much and think that its god-awful Saturday-evening time slot was a huge disservice. The series had a terrific premise and some really wonderful actors (McDowell, Amick, Lombardi); pity that Sci-Fi Channel or some other outfit with a triple-digit IQ didn't get a crack at giving this show the run it deserved.