Early Edition
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| Early Edition | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Science fiction, Drama |
| Creator(s) | Ian Abrams |
| Developer(s) | Bob Brush |
| Starring | Kyle Chandler Shanesia Davis-Williams Fisher Stevens Kristy Swanson Billie Worley Myles Jeffrey Panther the Cat |
| Narrated by | Kyle Chandler Fisher Stevens |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 90 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Bob Brush |
| Running time | 42 minutes (approx.) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | CBS |
| Original run | September 28, 1996 – May 27, 2000 |
| Links | |
Early Edition was a television series on CBS that ran from September 28, 1996 to May 27, 2000. It followed the adventures of a man who attempts to prevent terrible events each day, which he learns about by receiving each day's newspaper a day early.
Contents |
[edit] The story
The show dealt with the life of Gary Hobson (Kyle Chandler), a Chicago man (initially a stock broker, later the owner of McGinty's bar) who mysteriously received newspapers (specifically, the Chicago Sun-Times) a day ahead of time, effectively giving him knowledge of the potential future. His newspaper apparently gets delivered by an orange tabby cat, no matter where he goes every morning, except on some special occasions. He would then try to prevent tragedies described in "tomorrow's" Sun-Times from occurring, whereby story text and headlines in the newspaper change to reflect the outcome of his actions.
Within the course of the series, Gary discovers that a few people share his gift of receiving the newspaper "early". The only people, besides Gary, who know about his gift are his parents; his friends Chuck Fishman (a former fellow stock broker) and Marissa Clark (the blind former receptionist at the brokerage); and, Erica and Henry Paget, a single mother and her son (Gary gives Erica a job at McGinty's) though he certainly tried to tell a few people such as his attorney and various police officers (Episode 407/408 - Fatal Edition). On some occasions, he is given the ability to wake up in another time (such as in the early 1900s) to change the past. People who encounter Gary often strongly suspect (or know) that he has a secret, but do not know what specifically it is.
During the course of the series, it is never clearly stated where the paper comes from. In one episode, Gary meets the group of people apparently responsible for giving him (as well as others) the Paper. Nothing much is revealed about them except that they have some sort of supernatural abilities, such as being able to mysteriously appear at any location.
In season four, episode 420 - "Time" (series finale that aired a few episodes early) it is briefly explained why Gary started receiving the paper. Apparently, he was given the responsibility by Lucius Snow (the man who received the Chicago Sun Times before Gary), when he saved his life as a child. At the end of the same episode, Gary passes on the responsibility of the paper to a young girl named Lindsey Romick who had just lost her grandfather; though it's not shown if she ever begins receiving the paper.
[edit] Themes
The show began with Gary being divorced by his wife, and stuck in a rut in his job. Once he begins to receive the "early edition" of the Sun-Times at the hotel he is staying at, he slowly gains a sense of purpose as a sort of superhero by way of seeking to prevent as many disasters as possible each day. The drawback to his situation was that, in his nearly-obsessional devotion to saving people, he rarely had time for his own personal life. Gary's fortuitous assumption of ownership of McGinty's Bar/Grill in downtown Chicago gave him a stable platform from which to carry out his newfound purpose. The other issue he would occasionally grapple with was whether to use the information contained in the paper (such as lottery numbers, or sports scores) to profit from the paper.
The show rarely dealt with a common theme of time-travel dramas--the theory that changing the past (or the present in this case) produced potentially adverse consequences in the future. More often, the show would subtly display the butterfly effect.
[edit] Supporting characters
The show's two key co-stars were Fisher Stevens as Chuck Fishman, and Shanesia Davis-Williams as Marissa Clark.
Chuck was an 'anti-type' to Gary, being a somewhat cynical, wisecracking realist in contrast to Gary's growing idealism. In early episodes, Chuck seeks to parlay the advance knowledge provided by the newspaper into windfall profits (e.g., sports betting and stock-market 'insider trading'). Over time, however, he begins to take a role in helping (and backing up) Gary as a problem-solver.
Davis-Williams may have performed an overlooked artistic service, in portraying a blind person able to cause one to totally overlook her blindness. Marissa often was the voice of reasonable conscience, balancing Gary's earnest idealism against Chuck's skeptical realism. Although the role could easily slipped into an exercise in political correctness, Davis-Williams added a great deal of humanity to the character.
Stevens' departure from the show after two seasons, however fundamentally, changed the dynamic of the show. The device of his voice-over narration was done away with, the theme music was changed, and there began a revolving door of foils for Gary, including Billie Worley and Kristy Swanson. The latter had a romantic subplot with Gary, which was marred by the actors' lack of chemistry. Fisher Stevens has made several guest appearances on the show after leaving, and several of the characters stayed (such as a hard-boiled detective who became Gary's bartender).
[edit] Cancellation and legacy
After May 27, 2000 (the end of its fourth season), CBS decided to end the series' run. The series has been syndicated, airing most recently on i: Independent Television. No DVDs of the series have been released. As of January 2007, Early Edition has not been aired on Independent Television. In Estonia, Early Edition is being aired on TV 3, with the new title transliterated to "Tomorrow's News".
Fans of the show have stayed devoted to it in true "cult TV" fashion, sometimes referring to themselves as "EELs" (Early Edition Lovers). "EELFests" have been held for fans to gather in and around the Chicago locations of the show.
[edit] Trivia
- The main title theme and most of the incidental music was performed by W.G. Snuffy Walden. During the fourth season, W.G. Snuffy Walden's main title theme was replaced with "Time Has Come Today" by the Chambers Brothers, though Walden continued to get credit.
- The idea of getting a newspaper from the future and then changing the present to prevent the events described from happening, with the newspaper reflecting the changes, previously appeared in:
- Bewitched, episode 103 entitled "Bewitched, Bothered, and Infuriated"
- I Dream of Jeannie, episode 90 entitled "Tomorrow Is Not Another Day"
- Back to the Future Part II, and
- in a song by T-Bone Burnett entitled The Strange Case Of Frank Cash and The Morning Paper [1], the title character uses the paper's prediction to bet on the next week's football games.
- The location used for exterior shots of McGinty's is an actual old firehouse in Chicago. As is stated and seen on the show, the building is at 228 W. Illinois St., near the corner of Illinois and Franklin, adjacent to a line of the Chicago 'L'. The building was empty as of September 2004.
- The lead character was, presumably, named as a tip of the hat to Hobson's choice. Also, the second episode, named "The Choice," forced Gary to choose between stopping an airplane full of people from crashing, or saving one girl on a bicycle from a traffic accident.
[edit] Cast
[edit] Main
- Gary Hobson--Kyle Chandler
- Marissa Clark--Shanésia Davis-Williams
- Chuck Fishman--Fisher Stevens
- The Cat--Panther, Pella, and Carl [2]
- Erica Paget--Kristy Swanson
- Patrick Quinn--Billie Worley
- Henry Paget--Myles Jeffrey
[edit] Recurring
- Detective Marion Zeke Crumb--Ron Dean
- Bernie Hobson--William Devane
- Lois Hobson--Tess Harper
[edit] Episode Guide With Original Airdates
List of 'Early Edition' Episodes
[edit] Season One
- Pilot (9/28/1996)
- The Choice (10/5/1996)
- Baby (10/12/1996)
- The Paper (10/19/1996)
- Thief Swipes Mayor's Dog (10/26/1996)
- Hoops (11/2/1996)
- After Midnight (11/9/1996)
- Gun (11/16/1996)
- His Girl Thursday (11/23/1996)
- The Wrong Man (12/7/1996)
- Christmas (12/21/1996)
- Frostbit (1/11/1997)
- Mob Wife (1/25/1997)
- The Wall - Part 1 (2/1/1997)
- The Wall - Part 2 (2/8/1997)
- Bat Masterson (2/22/1997)
- The Jury (3/8/1997)
- Psychic (4/12/1997)
- The Cat (4/13/1997)
- Phantom Of The Opera (4/19/1997)
- Faith (4/26/1997)
- Dad (5/3/1997)
- Love Is Blind (5/17/1997)
[edit] Season Two
- Home (9/27/1997)
- The Medal (10/4/1997)
- The Wedding (10/11/1997)
- Jenny Sloan (10/18/1997)
- Downsized (10/25/1997)
- Angels And Devils (11/1/1997)
- Redfellas (11/8/1997)
- March In Time (11/15/1997)
- A Regular Joe (11/22/1997)
- A Bris Is Just A Bris (12/20/1997)
- A Minor Miracle (1/10/1998)
- Romancing The Throne (1/17/1998)
- Walk, Don't Run (1/24/1998)
- The Return Of Crumb (1/31/1998)
- Mum's The Word (4/4/1998)
- Where Or When (4/11/1998)
- The Fourth Carpathian (4/18/1998)
- The Quality Of Mercy (4/25/1998)
- Show Me The Monet (5/2/1998)
- Don't Walk Away, Renee (5/9/1998)
- Hot Time In The Old Town (5/16/1998)
- Second Sight (5/23/1998)
[edit] Season Three
- Blackout (9/26/1998)
- Collision (10/3/1998)
- A Horse Is A Horse (10/10/1998)
- Lt. Hobson, USN (10/17/1998)
- Saint Nick (10/24/1998)
- Halloween (10/31/1998)
- Up Chuck (11/7/1998)
- Deadline (11/14/1998)
- In Gary We Trust (11/21/1998)
- Nest Egg (12/5/1998)
- Teen Angels (12/19/1998)
- Slippity-Doo-Dah (1/9/1999)
- The Last Untouchable (1/16/1999)
- Just One Of Those Things (2/6/1999)
- Funny Valentine (2/13/1999)
- Number One With A Bullet (2/20/1999)
- Two To Tangle (2/27/1999)
- Fate (3/20/1999)
- Crumb Again (4/3/1999)
- Pinch Hitters (4/17/1999)
- Up Chuck (4/24/1999)
- Home Groan (5/1/1999)
- Play It Again Sammo (5/8/1999)
- Blowing Up Is Hard To Do (5/15/1999)
[edit] Season Four
- The Out-Of-Towner (9/25/1999)
- Duck Day Afternoon (10/2/1999)
- Take Me Out To The Ball Game (10/9/1999)
- The Iceman Taketh (10/16/1999)
- Camera Shy (10/23/1999)
- Wild Card (10/30/1999)
- Fatal Edition - Part 1 (11/6/1999)
- Fatal Edition - Part 2 (11/13/1999)
- Weathergirl (11/20/1999)
- Run, Gary, Run (12/18/1999)
- Rose (2/19/2000)
- Snow Angels (2/26/2000)
- Gifted (3/4/2000)
- Performance Anxiety (3/11/2000)
- False Witness (3/25/2000)
- The Play's The Thing (4/8/2000)
- Blind Faith (4/22/2000)
- Occasionally Amber (4/29/2000)
- Mel Schwartz, Bounty Hunter (5/6/2000)
- Time (5/13/2000)
- Everybody Goes To Rick's (5/20/2000)
- Luck O' The Irish (5/27/2000)
