Ask any screenwriter and he (or she) will tell you that writing comedy is no laughing matter. Not everyone finds the same things funny, and with modern comedy trying very hard to be different, it can often fall flat. The timeless comedies are the ones that look at the human condition and address its follies. These tend to situation comedies where the characters are put into situations that the viewer can relate to on some level, which explains the popularity of THE OFFICE. Once the setting starts to move out of something recognisable it becomes trickier to capture your audience. Sci-fi comedy is a prime example, especially on TV.
In the cinemas the sub-genre has had some great success: GALAXY QUEST, MEN IN BLACK, BACK TO THE FUTURE, EVOLUTION being some good examples, but the conceit only has to be maintained for around 90 minutes. Television demands a lot more commitment from the writers and performers and from the audiences. The US produced some successful sci-fi comedies, of the aliens stranded on earth variety, such as MORK AND MINDY and THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN. And we can’t forget FUTURAMA either. In Britain it’s RED DWARF that immediately springs to mind, and it has become the benchmark on which others are judged. MY PARENTS ARE ALIENS is a great kids’ show, in the same vein as THIRD ROCK. This year saw HYPERDRIVE arrive on the BBC to mixed reviews. Now there is a new series that is trying to get some airtime.
STARHYKE is created and directed by Andrew Dymond and features an impressive cast from well-known sci-fi series including Claudia Christian (Babylon 5) and Jeremy Bulloch (Star Wars), who are backed by actors like Rachel Grant (Sci-Fright), Suanne Braun (Stargate SG-1), Danny John-Jules (Red Dwarf), Mike Edmonds (Time Bandits) and Sir Patrick Moore (Sky at Night).
So what’s it all about? ALF (Alien Life Forms)?
Earth had been in the grip of global warfare for more than a century when it reached the verge of extinction. The only chance for survival was to find a way to erase or suppress human emotion on a global scale.
This radical action brought harmony to the planet, the population united and Earth was finally at peace. However this action had its consequences, the lack of emotions turned Earth into a powerful foe that destroyed without conscience. The unemotional human race began reaching into space with one intention, the total dominance and colonisation of the solar system.
It’s now the year 3034. Earth has begun to reach outside of its own Solar system and another alien race is under threat of invasion from Earth. The Reptids are peaceful in nature however they will not bow to Human control and have begun to develop a biological weapon with the potential to reawaken emotions in humans.
The Dreadnaught Nemesis, the largest ship in the Earth fleet, is dispatched to destroy the Reptid race and their weapon before they can deploy it on Earth. When the ship begins to pursue the Reptids through a time slipstream, an alien commando sneaks onto the Nemesis and deploys a small prototype of the weapon aboard ship where it explodes and infects Captain Blowhard, her crew and even the ship’s computer systems. When the crew awake to find themselves in the 21st century, they also discover to their horror that the time slip has magnified the effects of the device and they begin to feel something new and most disconcerting…emotions!
For the first time in their lives the crew is experiencing the full range of feelings and have a difficult time assimilating them into their psyche. These powerful emotions result in many humorous situations with each crewmember choosing a personal outlet for their pent up frustrations. From chocolate cravings and midnight trysts to strange obsessions with furniture and a new appreciation for the party life; each crewmember tries to deal with their new personality traits in their own unique way. They must find a way to deal with these interfering feelings as they attempt to complete the mission and return home to their own time without causing permanent damage to the 21st century.
Catch it
I watched some clips and the humour is broad and not always subtle, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously, so there is a sense of fun. The space battle special effects are very impressive, and almost too good for the look of the rest of the show.
You can catch a trailer on YouTube or Google Video or visit the official Starhyke website. If they get enough hits then it will increase their chances of being aired.
The pilot episode will be showing at the Cult TV Festival from October 20-23 2006.