"Fantasy Island" (1998) TV series 1998-1999

Writers:

Dean Batali (writer)
Rob Des Hotel (writer)

Seasons:

1 | unknown

Release Date:

26 September 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

In this revival of the popular 1970s television series, Mr. Roarke and his three assistants run a tropical...

Plot Keywords:

Island

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Malcolm McDowell	...	Mr. Roarke (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Mädchen Amick	...	Ariel (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Edward Hibbert	...	Harry (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Fyvush Finkel	...	Fisher (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Cherisse Lamoureux	...	'Hotel employee' Pilot (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Louis Lombardi	...	Cal (11 episodes, 1998-1999)
Tracy Bautista	...	Hotel employee (9 episodes, 1998-1999)
Sylvia Sidney	...	Clia (7 episodes, 1998)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Häna, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Company:

Columbia TriStar Television

Trivia:

In the opening episode, two elements of the original series "Fantasy Island" (1978) are referenced: the white suits (Roarke in this series makes a point of choosing black) and the infamous "The plane! The plane!" announcement (Roarke orders the underling who does this never to do it again). In a later episode we see a woman living in a trailer with a Ricardo Montalban commemorative plate.

Quotes:

Roarke: If we get another depressed yuppie stockbroker on this island, I won't be held accountable for my actions.
Harry: You're accountable to someone?
Roarke: Figure of speech.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "South Park: City on the Edge of Forever (#2.7)" (1998)

far too dark and funny for ABC

Legacy or no legacy, how the producers of Fantasy Island talked the Absolutely Banal Content network into running this is a mystery up there with why Roarke's suits have gone from white to black -- yet another thing we'll never know, but you can bet there's a story behind it. Bless Sci-Fi for picking up this gem; wish they could afford to resurrect it, but I'll happily take (and TAPE) what I can get. (And I won't be watching ABC again. Any network that could can this and Wonderland and keep Regis Philbin on eight days a week is angling for a much *dumber* demographic than mine.)