Prisoners of Gravity
Encyclopedia
Prisoners of Gravity was a Canadian public broadcasting
television
news magazine program that explored speculative fiction
— science fiction
, fantasy
, horror
, comic books — and its relation to various thematic and social issues. Produced by TVOntario
, the show was the brainchild of former comic retail manager Mark Askwith
, writer Daniel Richler
, and was hosted by Rick Green
(of The Frantics
comedy troupe fame). The series aired 139 episodes over 5 seasons from 1989 to 1994.
, the premise held that a fan
of speculative fiction becomes disturbed by news broadcasts describing the alarming state of the world and decides he must escape. Constructing a home-made booster rocket
for mounting atop his Camaro Z-28 car, he blasts into space
only to collide with an orbit
ing communications satellite
, where he remains stranded.
"Commander Rick" was undaunted by this fate. Instead, with the help of an organization called "Control" and the onboard "Nano Cybernetic computer" (Nan-Cy), he took advantage of his unusual situation to hijack the weekly broadcast of Second Nature — a mock nature program (ostensibly hosted by one grey-moustached "Enrico Gruen", performed by Green in costume with affected stodgy demeanor) — to examine issues as seen through the eyes of creators of speculative fiction.
Offering a casual delivery punctuated with touches of humour, host Green began each episode by announcing, "Greetings prisoners of gravity, this is Commander Rick!" The week's topic was introduced with a few opening thoughts before launching into various interview clips by Rick's jamming an audio cassette into a jerry-rigged video
playback device, and ending each episode with a simulated signal loss (sometimes played to comedic effect in the resuming broadcast dialogue from "Enrico").
atmosphere, "using active, innovative cinematography to ease the visual boredom that often accompanies interviews with talking head(s)."
In each episode Rick would interview a number of authors and artists, along with filmmakers, animators and the occasional futurist. Topics that were discussed ran the gamut: censorship
, superheroes, humour
, religion
, fairy tales, Mars
, cyberpunk
, war
, overpopulation
, sex
... Episodes were 30 minutes in length (having no commercial breaks on public television) and typically showcased six to fourteen interviewed creators alongside bridging commentary from Rick. Roughly six-hundred interviews were conducted and aired by the time the show's run came to an end.
During its run, the list of authors interviewed became increasingly prestigious, including Ray Bradbury
, William Gibson
, Harlan Ellison
, Anne Rice
, Frederik Pohl
, Clive Barker
, David Brin
, Charles de Lint
, Robert J. Sawyer
, Spider Robinson
and Terry Pratchett
, to name a few. Among the many interviewed comic book creators were Stan Lee
, Jack Kirby
, Will Eisner
, Bob Kane
, Frank Miller
, Chris Claremont
, Scott McCloud
, Alan Moore
, and Neil Gaiman
(who was twice selected as the fan-favorite guest in a viewership mail-in vote). Other notable guests included Star Trek
creator Gene Roddenberry
and actor Michael Dorn
, film directors James Cameron
and David Cronenberg
, award-winning CGI
animator Steve 'Spaz' Williams, and renowned paleontologist Richard Leakey
.
The interviews were conducted at science fiction and comic book conventions by production team members Mark Askwith, Shirley Brady and Gregg Thurlbeck. The majority of the shows were edited by Brian Karn. The series was produced and directed by Gregg Thurlbeck (seasons 2 through 5) and by Jamie Mandelkau (season 1).
The show was canceled in 1994 for unspecified reasons (possibly relating to TVOntario's intended programming diversification) despite its growing success. According to Rick, the signature chair from the space station sat in his garage until "raccoons pooed all over it..." and it was discarded.
In the 1990s, reruns of select episodes from Season 2 onward were broadcast in America
on PBS, and in Canada on the sci-fi specialty channel Space (which producer Mark Askwith had gone on to develop and continues to helm) and on Discovery Channel Canada
.
Due to contractual restrictions made with interviewees at the time of the show's production, there is presently no commercial release on video or DVD. In 2011, TVOntario posted the run in a lower resolution in their public archives. In addition, many episodes (bar the first series) are, however, available for viewing by appointment at The Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation and Fantasy
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/uni_spe_mer_index.jsp public library located in downtown Toronto
, Canada. The Merril Collection's tapes are reputed to be Askwith's own, donated to the collection for preservation. Interview clips from the show are also included with the CD-ROM in newer editions of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
by John Clute
.
Public broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
news magazine program that explored speculative fiction
Speculative fiction
Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature as well as...
— science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
, horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
, comic books — and its relation to various thematic and social issues. Produced by TVOntario
TVOntario
TVOntario, often referred to only as TVO , is a publicly funded, educational English-language television station and media organization in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is operated by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority, a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario...
, the show was the brainchild of former comic retail manager Mark Askwith
Mark Askwith
Mark Askwith is a Canadian producer, writer, interviewer , and a familiar name in the fields of science fiction and comics.-Early life:...
, writer Daniel Richler
Daniel Richler
Daniel Richler is a Canadian arts and pop culture broadcaster and writer. He is the stepson of author Mordecai Richler.-Biography:Born in London, England, his family moved back to his stepfather's hometown of Montreal when Daniel was 15...
, and was hosted by Rick Green
Rick Green
Rick Green is a Canadian comedian, satirist, and writer. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Waterloo. From 1975 until 1979, he worked as a presenter at the Ontario Science Centre. In 1979, he helped found the Toronto-based comedy troupe The Frantics...
(of The Frantics
The Frantics
The Frantics or Frantics is the name of:*The Frantics , a punk rock band.*The Frantics , a Canadian comedy troupe.*The Frantics , a Showtime network series....
comedy troupe fame). The series aired 139 episodes over 5 seasons from 1989 to 1994.
Premise
As established through a comic-strip montage opening sequence drawn by Ty TempletonTy Templeton
Ty Templeton is a popular Canadian comic book artist and writer who has drawn a number of popular mainstream titles, TV-associated titles and his own series.-Biography:Templeton was born on May 9, 1962...
, the premise held that a fan
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
of speculative fiction becomes disturbed by news broadcasts describing the alarming state of the world and decides he must escape. Constructing a home-made booster rocket
Booster rocket
A booster rocket is either the first stage of a multi-stage launch vehicle, or else a strap-on rocket used to augment the core launch vehicle's takeoff thrust and payload capability. Boosters are generally necessary to launch spacecraft into Earth orbit or beyond...
for mounting atop his Camaro Z-28 car, he blasts into space
Outer space
Outer space is the void that exists between celestial bodies, including the Earth. It is not completely empty, but consists of a hard vacuum containing a low density of particles: predominantly a plasma of hydrogen and helium, as well as electromagnetic radiation, magnetic fields, and neutrinos....
only to collide with an orbit
Orbit
In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved path of an object around a point in space, for example the orbit of a planet around the center of a star system, such as the Solar System...
ing communications satellite
Communications satellite
A communications satellite is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications...
, where he remains stranded.
"Commander Rick" was undaunted by this fate. Instead, with the help of an organization called "Control" and the onboard "Nano Cybernetic computer" (Nan-Cy), he took advantage of his unusual situation to hijack the weekly broadcast of Second Nature — a mock nature program (ostensibly hosted by one grey-moustached "Enrico Gruen", performed by Green in costume with affected stodgy demeanor) — to examine issues as seen through the eyes of creators of speculative fiction.
Offering a casual delivery punctuated with touches of humour, host Green began each episode by announcing, "Greetings prisoners of gravity, this is Commander Rick!" The week's topic was introduced with a few opening thoughts before launching into various interview clips by Rick's jamming an audio cassette into a jerry-rigged video
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
playback device, and ending each episode with a simulated signal loss (sometimes played to comedic effect in the resuming broadcast dialogue from "Enrico").
Format
The show's presentation was fully wrapped in its quirky premise, featuring on-screen graphics and background sounds to simulate a space stationSpace station
A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew which is designed to remain in space for an extended period of time, and to which other spacecraft can dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by its lack of major propulsion or landing...
atmosphere, "using active, innovative cinematography to ease the visual boredom that often accompanies interviews with talking head(s)."
In each episode Rick would interview a number of authors and artists, along with filmmakers, animators and the occasional futurist. Topics that were discussed ran the gamut: censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
, superheroes, humour
Humour
Humour or humor is the tendency of particular cognitive experiences to provoke laughter and provide amusement...
, religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, fairy tales, Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
, cyberpunk
Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk is a postmodern and science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life." The name is a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk, and was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story "Cyberpunk," published in 1983...
, war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
, overpopulation
Overpopulation
Overpopulation is a condition where an organism's numbers exceed the carrying capacity of its habitat. The term often refers to the relationship between the human population and its environment, the Earth...
, sex
Sex
In biology, sex is a process of combining and mixing genetic traits, often resulting in the specialization of organisms into a male or female variety . Sexual reproduction involves combining specialized cells to form offspring that inherit traits from both parents...
... Episodes were 30 minutes in length (having no commercial breaks on public television) and typically showcased six to fourteen interviewed creators alongside bridging commentary from Rick. Roughly six-hundred interviews were conducted and aired by the time the show's run came to an end.
During its run, the list of authors interviewed became increasingly prestigious, including Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury
Ray Douglas Bradbury is an American fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery writer. Best known for his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 and for the science fiction stories gathered together as The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man , Bradbury is one of the most celebrated among 20th...
, William Gibson
William Gibson
William Gibson is an American-Canadian science fiction author.William Gibson may also refer to:-Association football:*Will Gibson , Scottish footballer...
, Harlan Ellison
Harlan Ellison
Harlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media...
, Anne Rice
Anne Rice
Anne Rice is a best-selling Southern American author of metaphysical gothic fiction, Christian literature and erotica from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her books have sold nearly 100 million copies, making her one of the most widely read authors in modern history...
, Frederik Pohl
Frederik Pohl
Frederik George Pohl, Jr. is an American science fiction writer, editor and fan, with a career spanning over seventy years — from his first published work, "Elegy to a Dead Planet: Luna" , to his most recent novel, All the Lives He Led .He won the National Book Award in 1980 for his novel Jem...
, Clive Barker
Clive Barker
Clive Barker is an English author, film director and visual artist best known for his work in both fantasy and horror fiction. Barker came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a series of short stories which established him as a leading young horror writer...
, David Brin
David Brin
Glen David Brin, Ph.D. is an American scientist and award-winning author of science fiction. He has received the Hugo, Locus, Campbell and Nebula Awards.-Biography:...
, Charles de Lint
Charles de Lint
Charles de Lint is a Canadian fantasy author and folk musician. He is also the chief book critic for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction....
, Robert J. Sawyer
Robert J. Sawyer
Robert James Sawyer is a Canadian science fiction writer. He has had 20 novels published, and his short fiction has appeared in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Amazing Stories, On Spec, Nature, and many anthologies. Sawyer has won over forty awards for his fiction, including the Nebula Award ,...
, Spider Robinson
Spider Robinson
Spider Robinson is an American-born Canadian Hugo and Nebula award winning science fiction author.- Biography :Born in the Bronx, New York City, Robinson attended Catholic high school, spending his junior year in a seminary, followed by two years in a Catholic college, and five years at the State...
and Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett
Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett, OBE is an English novelist, known for his frequently comical work in the fantasy genre. He is best known for his popular and long-running Discworld series of comic fantasy novels...
, to name a few. Among the many interviewed comic book creators were Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
, Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
, Will Eisner
Will Eisner
William Erwin "Will" Eisner was an American comics writer, artist and entrepreneur. He is considered one of the most important contributors to the development of the medium and is known for the cartooning studio he founded; for his highly influential series The Spirit; for his use of comics as an...
, Bob Kane
Bob Kane
Bob Kane was an American comic book artist and writer, credited as the creator of the DC Comics superhero Batman...
, Frank Miller
Frank Miller (comics)
Frank Miller is an American comic book artist, writer and film director best known for his dark, film noir-style comic book stories and graphic novels Ronin, Daredevil: Born Again, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City and 300...
, Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont is an award-winning American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on Uncanny X-Men, far longer than any other writer, during which he is credited with developing strong female characters, and with introducing complex literary themes into superhero...
, Scott McCloud
Scott McCloud
Scott McCloud is an American cartoonist and theorist on comics as a distinct literary and artistic medium...
, Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
, and Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
(who was twice selected as the fan-favorite guest in a viewership mail-in vote). Other notable guests included Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
creator Gene Roddenberry
Gene Roddenberry
Eugene Wesley "Gene" Roddenberry was an American television screenwriter, producer and futurist, best known for creating the American science fiction series Star Trek. Born in El Paso, Texas, Roddenberry grew up in Los Angeles, California where his father worked as a police officer...
and actor Michael Dorn
Michael Dorn
Michael Dorn is an American actor, and voice artist who is best known for his role as the Klingon Worf from the Star Trek franchise.-Early life and career:...
, film directors James Cameron
James Cameron
James Francis Cameron is a Canadian-American film director, film producer, screenwriter, editor, environmentalist and inventor...
and David Cronenberg
David Cronenberg
David Paul Cronenberg, OC, FRSC is a Canadian filmmaker, screenwriter and actor. He is one of the principal originators of what is commonly known as the body horror or venereal horror genre. This style of filmmaking explores people's fears of bodily transformation and infection. In his films, the...
, award-winning CGI
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
animator Steve 'Spaz' Williams, and renowned paleontologist Richard Leakey
Richard Leakey
Richard Erskine Frere Leakey is a politician, paleoanthropologist and conservationist. He is second of the three sons of the archaeologists Louis Leakey and Mary Leakey, and is the younger brother of Colin Leakey...
.
The interviews were conducted at science fiction and comic book conventions by production team members Mark Askwith, Shirley Brady and Gregg Thurlbeck. The majority of the shows were edited by Brian Karn. The series was produced and directed by Gregg Thurlbeck (seasons 2 through 5) and by Jamie Mandelkau (season 1).
Popularity
The program was critically successful and won several awards, including the following:- Two Aurora AwardAurora AwardThe Prix Aurora Awards are given out annually for the best Canadian science fiction and fantasy literary works, artworks, fan activities from that year, and are awarded in both English and French...
s - A Broadcast Media Award from the International Reading AssociationInternational Reading AssociationThe International Reading Association is an international professional organization that was created in 1956 to improve reading instruction, facilitate dialogue about research on reading, and encourage the habit of reading....
- A Silver Medal from the New York Festivals of Television
- Two GeminiGemini AwardThe Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
nominations. - An Honorable Mention from the Columbus International Film & Video FestivalColumbus International Film & Video FestivalThe Columbus International Film + Video Festival is a Columbus, Ohio, USA annual film festival which is designed to encourage and promote the use of film and video in all forms of education and communication...
The show was canceled in 1994 for unspecified reasons (possibly relating to TVOntario's intended programming diversification) despite its growing success. According to Rick, the signature chair from the space station sat in his garage until "raccoons pooed all over it..." and it was discarded.
In the 1990s, reruns of select episodes from Season 2 onward were broadcast in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on PBS, and in Canada on the sci-fi specialty channel Space (which producer Mark Askwith had gone on to develop and continues to helm) and on Discovery Channel Canada
Discovery Channel Canada
Discovery Channel is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel devoted to nature, adventure, science and technology programming. Discovery Channel is currently owned by CTV Specialty Television Inc...
.
Due to contractual restrictions made with interviewees at the time of the show's production, there is presently no commercial release on video or DVD. In 2011, TVOntario posted the run in a lower resolution in their public archives. In addition, many episodes (bar the first series) are, however, available for viewing by appointment at The Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation and Fantasy
Judith Merril
Judith Josephine Grossman , who took the pen-name Judith Merril about 1945, was an American and then Canadian science fiction writer, editor and political activist....
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/uni_spe_mer_index.jsp public library located in downtown Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada. The Merril Collection's tapes are reputed to be Askwith's own, donated to the collection for preservation. Interview clips from the show are also included with the CD-ROM in newer editions of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction is an English language reference work on science fiction.- Publication history :The first edition, edited by Peter Nicholls with John Clute and Brian Stableford appeared in 1979, published by Granada. It was retitled The Science Fiction Encyclopedia in the US...
by John Clute
John Clute
John Frederick Clute is a Canadian born author and critic who has lived in Britain since 1969. He has been described as "an integral part of science fiction's history."...
.
External links
- TVOntario: The Public Archive: Prisoners of Gravity
- Prisoners of Gravity page on Robert J. Sawyer's web site
- Signal Loss, a Prisoners of Gravity fan site
- Prisoners of Gravity page on a web site about Canadian SF
- an interview Mark Askwith