Review of Early Edition

This is one of my favorite shows in 1990's. Aired on CBS from 1996 to 2000, the show follows the adventures of Gary Hobson (Kyle Chandler) who mysteriously receives a newspaper before it is actually published and with this knowledge tries to prevent terrible future events in Chicago, IL. Sometimes he would need the help of his pals such as stockbroker Charles Fishman (Fisher Stevens) and blind girl Marissa Clark (Shanésia Davis-Williams). Charles Fishman is the glue that held the show together in my opinion. He was funny, and somewhat had depth in his character arch. He like helping people, but he also would like to make profit out of knowing events out of the newspaper. While Gary Hobson was the Boy Scout superhero of the group, Marisa acts like Gary's self-appointed conscience in the show. The characters were likable, and all too human at times, making them even more likable. The show was more likable with the Chicago atmosphere. Each episodes was pretty different from the rest, as some episodes tend to follow the same repeated patterns. One week it was humorous and the next heartbreaking. In my opinion, from all the four seasons, there are a few episodes that do stated out. The first one is the Season 1, Episode 2, "The Choice", where Gary faces a difficult decision of choosing between stopping a fatal plane crash or saving the life of a young girl. It was such an emotional episode that deals with Sofia Choice dilemmas. Any dilemma where choosing one cherished person or thing over the other will result in the death or destruction of the other makes great watching. Season 1, Episode 3, "Baby" is also a pretty good episode, rather than being emotional and intense. This movie shows the funny side of the show, with the newspaper telling Chuck that we will delivered twins on the L and him trying to avoid any pregnant women throughout the whole day. It made me laugh. Other episodes that were interesting were when Gary travel back into time like Season 2, Episode 21 "Hot Time in the Old Town" & Season 4, Episode "Everybody Goes to Rick's" where Gary witness events such as 1871's The Great Chicago Fire and 1929's St. Valentine Massacre. A great deal of guest stars came into the show such as Coolio, Robert Ebert, George Takei, and probably the best one of all, Louis Gossett, Jr. who gave an amazing performance in Season 2, Episode 2, "The Medal" playing a Vietnam Vet with Posttraumatic stress disorder. I didn't like the cross-overs episodes like the one with the cast of 'Chicago Hope' or 'Martial Law'. I thought those were really dumb. Some of the Season 3 and Season 4 episodes got really childish and extremely repetitive. Still, writers Vik Rubenfeld and Pat Page did a great job on the show, not only in bringing new modern day fantasy concept to television, but also making it entertaining. I don't believe that the creators based the show, on the 1944 feature film 'It Happened Tomorrow' a film that centered upon a newspaper reporter who received a newspaper a day in advance. I think it just happens that two people in two different eras had the same idea. It was a bit funny, how the show came to be. The creators pitch the show to Tristar by having mock newspaper created just for the meeting, and didn't tell any of the producers about it. When the producers read it, they found out that they were reading tomorrow newspapers. Thus, that is how the show was created based on the accounts of the writers. In the end of season two Chuck (Fisher Stevens) leaves the show as a regular character, leading to some major changes in season three. He left to do some movie roles in New York City. While Fisher Stevens did the voice opinion during the opening and closing of each episode. The device of his voice-over narration was shifted to at first Gary and then Marissa in season three. Soon the theme song was changed. The addition of Kristy Swanson was add to Season 3, to add a love interest to Gary Hobson. She does her role alright, but it's not a ground breaking performance. Despite that, the show still had strong ratings and loyal fan base but, CBS pull the plug in Season 4. At less, Early Edition was able to wrap the show up with the final episode unlike other shows, explaining the backstory of the newspaper and why Gary gets it. Plus, it made room, just in case if anybody willing to reboot, a story explaining why Gary give up the newspaper to somebody else. The show was canceled to make room for reality shows that CBS is coming out. With canceling Early Edition, Survivor (2000) became the hit show that year. While Season 1 & 2 might be easier to find, sadly as of this writing. Season 3 and 4 hasn't been release to DVD sells. Since Sony Pictures Home Entertainment owns the international DVD rights to the show, people in other country might not see any releases for a long time. I like how the show is titled in some of these countries. In Canada, it's known as Dinsdale's Folly and in Hungary, it's known as the chosen - The American prophet, In Germany, it's known as Alone Against The Future and wow, these titles are way off. Still, the show can be seen in reruns such channels like TV Guide Network as of this writing. It's appropriate for nearly everybody. Plus, it had a cute cat. So get out there and find the Early Edition. It's would watching.