MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SEMINAR SERIES, THE: THE LONE GUNMEN
Summary
One in a series of seminars conducted by The Museum of
Television & Radio. Held at the Museum of Television &
Radio in Los Angeles, and moderated by Los Angeles
museum director and vice president Barbara Dixon, this
seminar examines "The Lone Gunmen," a one-hour
spin-off of "The X-Files." The program centers around
the adventures of a team of conspiracy theorists who
investigate elaborate crimes while struggling to
reconcile the fact that even though they excel at
forensics, computer hacking, and criminalistics, they
fail miserably when it comes to social skills, fashion
sense, and hygiene. Dixon introduces series
co-creator/executive producer Chris Carter, who offers
a few comments about the series before two episodes
(not shown on this tape) are screened. After the
episodes, Dixon welcomes the panel to the stage:
Carter, plus cast members Tom Braidwood, Dean Haglund,
Bruce Harwood, and Stephen Snedden. (Additional cast
member Zuleikha Robinson arrives slightly late due to a
tardy flight.) Dixon opens the questioning by asking
Carter why he wanted to due broad comedy, noting that
his other programs have been patently dark. Carter
explains that, while "The X-Files" is usually without
any comic relief, it has flirted with parody episodes
from time to time. The first episode of the series to
feature the Lone Gunmen characters, for example --
titled "Humbug" -- was one such installment, he notes;
after the debut of the Gunmen on the original program,
he explains, the extremely vocal "X-Files" fan base
demanded more of them. Dixon asks Carter why he
decided to add a fourth Lone Gunman after the series
premiere, and Carter explains that he felt that the
gunmen needed someone to play against, to give the
comedy some context. Dixon opens the floor to questions
from the audience, and a number of "X-Files" fans are
the first to speak, asking Carter whether he plans any
crossover between the two series and whether there will
be another "X-Files" movie. Carter answers yes to both
questions and then relates the story of the casting of
Braidwood in the role of the sardonic, stout Melvin
Frohike. When Carter thought the characters were only
going to be used in one episode of "The X-Files" as
comic relief, he explains, he cast that program's
assistant director, Braidwood, in the role of Frohike.
When the characters became popular, Braidwood had to
give up his chores behind the camera in order to fulfill
his newfound acting duties. Other topics discussed
include Carter's belief that Fox badly botched his
previous series, "Harsh Realm," and the question of
whether or not "X-Files" star David Duchovny will return
to the program. The seminar ends as another "X-Files"
fanatic begs Carter and his writing team to come up with
a season finale for that series that "doesn't feature
Scully giving birth to an alien baby."
(The episodes screened in this seminar are part of the
Museum's collection and may be viewed. See T:64048,
"The Lone Gunmen: Pilot," and T:64049, "The Lone
Gunmen: Bond, Jimmy Bond," for summaries.)
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: February 23, 2001 6:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:51:30
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:63801
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Barbara Dixon … Host, Moderator
- Tom Braidwood … Panelist
- Chris Carter … Panelist
- Dean Haglund … Panelist
- Bruce Harwood … Panelist
- Zuleikha Robinson … Panelist
- Stephen Snedden … Panelist
- David Duchovny