Human Target

[Double Down]

Fox picks up 'Target'

Fox has picked up comic book drama "Human Target" to series.

"Target," from WBTV, DC Comics and Wonderland, emerged as an early front-runner and was the best-received pilot at the network's screenings last week.

Based on the DC Comics title, the show centers on Christopher Chance (Mark Valley), a mysterious freelancer who offers a unique form of security for hire: He assumes the identities of people in danger, becoming the "human target" on behalf of his clients.

Jackie Earle Haley and Chi McBride co-star in the project written by Jon Steinberg and directed by Simon West. The two exec produced the pilot with McG.

 

[Dave McFly]

wow, deja vu

[YT]0b7JrOj6HAc[/YT]

opening from the short lived (7 episodes aired) 92 CBS Human Target tv show from the creators of The Flash and VIPER.

 

[ChickenScratch]

That original Rick Springfield Human target wasn't bad. I remember it and that was when I was a kid.

 

[Lord Blackbolt]

This always had the potential to be a great show. I actually liked the old show

 

[Double Down]

I can't even remember that show, to be honest.

 

[TheVileOne]

I think Mark Valley is awesome and I loved the new Vertigo comics for Human Target. The thing is, they were pretty dark and messed up at times. They were very adult. I doubt they can properly capture it for the network.

 

[Double Down]

So does he get inside of them a la "Quantum Leap"? Am I understanding this concept correctly?

 

[TheVileOne]

No, nothing like that.

All Chance does is completely disguise himself as that person and "become" that person. The problem with it is that in his "method acting," Chance loses his sense of identity and sometimes still believes he is the person he is playing. There's no Quantum Leaping or fantasy aspects.

Also who is Rorschach playing?

 

[Double Down]

Jackie Earle Haley will play the show’s intelligence gatherer, while Chi McBride will be Chance’s buddy and business partner.

 

[Double Down]

Here is a picture from the show:

 

[TheVileOne]

Mark Valley is a ****ing badass. He should get more work.

It still breaks my heart to this day we didn't get more of KEEN EDDIE.

 

[Double Down]

From Variety:

Fox will hold off on launching most of its new fare - including new drama “Human Target” - until midseason.

...​

As for the midseason shows, “Human Target” is set to get a plum launch on Sunday, Jan. 17 at 8 p.m., directly following the NFC divisional playoff game. Also that night, the new season of “24” will begin at 9 p.m., as part of a four-hour, two-night launch (similar to past years). “Target” will then segue to its normal slot Wednesdays at 9 p.m. behind the “American Idol” results show.

 

[Mister J]

I love to make fun of Fox's sometimes puzzling decisions as much as the next guy, but I'll give them some credit here. The midseason, as opposed to Fall, launch is debatable, but they're certainly giving it a prime spot to catch an audience; the debut is sandwiched between playoff football and 24 and regular nights are behind the AI behemoth. Good stuff.

 

[BlackLantern]

Sorry I made a thread about this earlier/later.....if someone could merge or delete that'd be great

im a fan of Mark Valley so I hope this show does well

 

[Double Down]

I love to make fun of Fox's sometimes puzzling decisions as much as the next guy, but I'll give them some credit here. The midseason, as opposed to Fall, launch is debatable, but they're certainly giving it a prime spot to catch an audience; the debut is sandwiched between playoff football and 24 and regular nights are behind the AI behemoth. Good stuff.

The spots it will get do seem ideal. Outside of this and football, however, there is nothing on Fox that I want to watch.

 

[BlackLantern]

Fox kept Bones and Fringe...and Ill be watching this

 

[Double Down]

There is a three-minute promotional trailer available now:

[YT]QMkgobsb0Js[/YT]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMkgobsb0Js

 

[Sawyer]

This is one of three new shows starting in the fall that I'm actually interested in. THe other two are V and Flash Forward.

 

[Gatchamanjp]

The Human Target looks...fantastic. After CBS cancelled...The Unit, it looks like this new FOX series will pick up the slack for action fans...like me.

 

[TheVileOne]

OK a few things:

-I think Mark Valley is awesome, and as a smart aleck action hero even more awesome. The dude is also former military.

-This is not very much like the Vertigo series which was dark brutal and messy. It was more gritty than this. This is more like a syndicated, cheesy type of action show. And I mean that's OK, but its not like the Vertigo series. This looks sort of like Burn Notice for the networks sort of like how Mentalist is like Psyche on the networks.

-It sort of misses the concept. You see in the comics, Christopher literally assumes the identity of the person being targeted. Meaning he fully becomes that person. He uses prosthetics and makeups and literally mimics the entire body language, voice, and mannerisms of the target. Here it just seems like Christopher just sort of plays advanced security rather than becoming the actual, singular target or person being hunted.

-This is Fox. Last time Valley had a good starring role it was Keen Eddie. Keen Eddie was an awesome show but Fox aired it over the summer and killed it after 7 episodes. **** Fox.

I mean, my criticisms of the differences with the comics aside, I want to give the show a chance. Its just that I'm worried about getting wrapped up in a show and it getting canned quickly.

The show seems like it wants to be Burn Notice for the networks though.

 

[rdh007]

Mark Valley is a ****ing badass. He should get more work.

It still breaks my heart to this day we didn't get more of KEEN EDDIE.

Keen Eddie was awesome!

 

[rdh007]

OK a few things:

-I think Mark Valley is awesome, and as a smart aleck action hero even more awesome. The dude is also former military.

-This is not very much like the Vertigo series which was dark brutal and messy. It was more gritty than this. This is more like a syndicated, cheesy type of action show. And I mean that's OK, but its not like the Vertigo series. This looks sort of like Burn Notice for the networks sort of like how Mentalist is like Psyche on the networks.

-It sort of misses the concept. You see in the comics, Christopher literally assumes the identity of the person being targeted. Meaning he fully becomes that person. He uses prosthetics and makeups and literally mimics the entire body language, voice, and mannerisms of the target. Here it just seems like Christopher just sort of plays advanced security rather than becoming the actual, singular target or person being hunted.

-This is Fox. Last time Valley had a good starring role it was Keen Eddie. Keen Eddie was an awesome show but Fox aired it over the summer and killed it after 7 episodes. **** Fox.

I mean, my criticisms of the differences with the comics aside, I want to give the show a chance. Its just that I'm worried about getting wrapped up in a show and it getting canned quickly.

The show seems like it wants to be Burn Notice for the networks though.

Fox has never gotten rid of good shows, bite your tongue.

Spoiler

Arrested Development

 

[TheVileOne]

Also, something else I want to point out. In the awesome Vertigo comics for Human Target, Christopher Chance was a very disturbed individual. Disturbed in that like a method actor he got very wrapped up in the role he was playing. Sort of like an identity crisis in that he loses himself in assuming the identity of his clients. I mean not a new subplot sure, but it was very compelling.

 

[ChickenScratch]

I hear what you are saying, I'm a fan of the series too. But for the common audience it'll be a bit of a stretch him impersonating a woman. LOL.

Anwyays, I guess they'll get into his chameleon like qualities later on in the season.

 

[KenK]

OK a few things:

-I think Mark Valley is awesome, and as a smart aleck action hero even more awesome. The dude is also former military.

Still my number one choice to play Captain America, even though I'm sure Marvel Studios would want someone younger.

-This is not very much like the Vertigo series which was dark brutal and messy. It was more gritty than this. This is more like a syndicated, cheesy type of action show. And I mean that's OK, but its not like the Vertigo series. This looks sort of like Burn Notice for the networks sort of like how Mentalist is like Psyche on the networks.

Well, the character was part of standard DC Universe when first created. I do agree with it seeming like FOX wants its own version of Burn Notice. And if you've got a pre-existing concept to adapt, it makes it easier for FOX to deflect any potential criticism.

-It sort of misses the concept. You see in the comics, Christopher literally assumes the identity of the person being targeted. Meaning he fully becomes that person. He uses prosthetics and makeups and literally mimics the entire body language, voice, and mannerisms of the target. Here it just seems like Christopher just sort of plays advanced security rather than becoming the actual, singular target or person being hunted.

"Sort Of"? I'd say almost completely. The whole hook of Chance disguising himself to portray the person he's hired to protect is a decidedly rare concept, and it's what I loved about the early 90s series. And in re-discovering the character through the Vertigo comic, I fell in love with the way Milligan wrote the character, exploring Chance's deeply fractured psyche.

-This is Fox. Last time Valley had a good starring role it was Keen Eddie. Keen Eddie was an awesome show but Fox aired it over the summer and killed it after 7 episodes. **** Fox.

Yeah, but Fox is giving the show every chance to succeed, far as I can tell. It's a somewhat high-concept show that will probably demand its audiences undivided attention if they employ a larger underlying storyarc over the course of a season, so holding it for mid-season to avoid interruptions from sporting events like baseball, may not be so bad. Then, it's getting its premire close to the premiere of 24, and a regular timeslot after American Idol. If this was on Fridays, I'd say that Fox isn't holding out much hope. But this looks like something they've invested an amount of time and money on that they're looking for it to be a hit. And like you've said, they probably want something similar in concept to Burn Notice, which has proven to be such a big hit for USA Network.