AKA MISTER "SPINOV"

According to reports from TV Guide Online and ComingSoon.net, theproducers of 'Alias' are trying to keep the show alive, possibly with a spin-off.

Executive producer Jeff Pinkner and creator J.J. Abrams have kicked around ideas, including a show that revolves around the villains Sark (David Anders), Peyton (Amy Acker) and Sloane (Ron Rifkin).

It seems like an intriguing idea, but I'm not on the 'Alias' bandwagon, so I couldn't say for sure. But I read a lot about the show (That Rimbaldi mystery fascinates me.), and I know Sark is definitely a fan favorite.

But I'm not sure a show focused on the bad guys would work on the general stage of Toobworld. This concept has worked in comic books - the Joker and Lex Luthor have had their own titles, - but it hasn't always worked for TV shows. Fu Manchu didn't survive his attempt to headline a series; and Harry Lime of 'The Third Man' had to be totally re-conceived to make him palatable for the general audience. And once that happened, what was the point in keeping him as Harry Lime?

Fans of HBO dramas would argue the point, using as their example 'OZ', 'The Sopranos', and 'Deadwood'. And technically, I would agree with them.

But in each of those cases, the main characters were operating within their own worlds, and for the most part not in comparison to the supposedly better morals of society at large.

Also, those three shows burst fresh into our awareness; they didn't first arrive saddled with the pre-conceived notions of the audience. That's the disadvantage Sloane and Sark have - the audience already knew them as villains, and may not want to follow them on a weekly basis as the protagonists.

Then again, the committed fan base may not care, so long as they can still wallow in that corner of the TV Universe.

Of course, if their loyalty was all that was needed, 'Alias' itself wouldn't be getting canceled.....

BCnU!
Tele-Toby