Boldly Going Nowhereis a proposedAmericanscience fictionsingle-cameracomedytelevision seriescreated byRob McElhenney,Charlie Day,Glenn HowertonandAdam Steinto be aired in 2009 on theFoxnetwork.[1][2]The series was planned as a parody of theStar Trekfranchise in the format of a workplace sitcom; the title was a reference to the famous phrase "To boldly go where no man has gone before"from the opening speech in the first twoStar Trekseries. A pilot was shot in 2008, but the project was shelved indefinitely.
Premise
editThe show is a workplace comedy in a sci-fi setting dealing with the day-to-day adventures of the captain and crew of intergalactic rock-collecting spaceship RC-7, operating under the Galactic Coalition in the year 2189. Captain Ron Teague hopes to discover new worlds and civilizations instead of being a rock-collector. Unfortunately, he and his crew are immoral and incompetent people, and it is quickly apparent that they are all woefully delusional about the mundanity of their lives.
Development
editThe initial concept for a comedy on a spaceship was pitched by Adam Stein, then a writers' assistant onIt's Always Sunny in Philadelphia,to theAlways Sunnyco-creators, stars and showrunners Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton and Rob McElhenney in August 2007 when season 3 of the series was being edited. The three began to discuss it seriously during the2007–08 writers' strike.[3]After the strike ended, the trio brainstormed ideas with Stein and developed a script, with Day and McElhenney producing the first draft and all four receiving writing and co-creator credits. By March 2009,RCG Productionshad signed a two-year deal with20th Century Fox TVand received apilot orderbased on their script, in addition to orders for scripts for five more episodes. Day, Howerton and McElhenney were signed on as executive producers, along with their manager Nick Frenkel and Michael Rotenberg from3 Arts Entertainment.[3]
The trio announced the upcoming project atSDCC 2008,while promoting season 4 ofSunny,and their plans to have the show on the air in 2009.[4]They hoped to be heavily involved in the first season without playing any of the main roles, and to hire a showrunner to take over after the first six episodes so that they could continue to prioritize theirFXshow.[5][6]
Ben Koldyke,who had written, directed and starred in the digital short Jedi Gym parodyingStar Warsbut was a relative unknown at the time, had approached RCG to get a writer-director position onBoldly Going Nowhere;instead he landed the lead role as the rogue captain and later went on to guest star in season 5 ofAlways Sunny[7]while formerArrested DevelopmentactorTony Halewas cast as his android companion.[8]David HornsbyandArtemis Pebdani,who had both played recurring roles onIt's Always Sunny in Philadelphia(Hornsby was also an executive producer) were cast as the captain's right-hand man and the alien communications officer respectively.[9][10]Chad L. Coleman,best known at the time for his role as Dennis "Cutty" inThe Wire,was cast as the chief of security and would go on to have a recurring role onSunnystarting in season 6.[11]Oliver Plattwas cast as Supervisor Bob Thompson in a cameo role.[12]
A pilot was shot in October 2008 after post-production on season 4 ofAlways Sunnyhad been completed. The episode was directed by Wayne McClammy,[12]and featured appearances byAlways Sunnymain cast membersKaitlin Olsonand Howerton in guest roles as Tracy Brigsby and the inspector Lt Zander Centauri respectively,[12]while Day made a brief cameo. By December 2008, it was reported that Fox was consideringBoldly Going NowhereandGleemost seriously among its slate of pilots for the following season because of positive responses to screenings.[13][14]
However, in August 2009, Howerton revealed that the pilot was being rewritten, withSeinfeldwriterLarry Charlesnow involved, to include more science fiction elements like aliens and world building for future episodes.[15][16][17]The series underwent sporadic development over the next several years, but no further filming was done.[citation needed]
Cast
edit- Ben Koldykeas Ronald Teague, the Captain of RC-7
- David Hornsbyas Lieutenant Lance Brigsby, the captain's right-hand man whose wife Tracy cheats on him and brother-in-law Barry is a convicted felon
- Chad L. Colemanas Cobalt, the Chief of Security
- Lennon Parhamas Joyce Beck, the pilot
- Tony Haleas Robot, the ship's intelligence android who's secretly plotting a robot uprising
- Artemis Pebdanias Startemis, the Killjovian communications officer
- Lenny Venitoas Pete, the humanphibian mechanic in the engine room
Status
editIn May 2011, Howerton announced via his personalTwitteraccount that the show had been "shelved for now".[18]In October 2013, McElhenney stated in aRedditAMAthat they were again working on the show.[19]
In August 2022, two clips from the pilot were officially released to the public onThe Always Sunny Podcast.[20]In September 2022, the pilot episode was uploaded in its entirety toYouTube.[21]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Schneider, Michael (2008-05-13)."'Sunny' creators have future at Fox ".Variety.Retrieved2008-09-09.
- ^"Breaking News - Development Update: March 13–14 | TheFutonCritic".thefutoncritic.Retrieved2022-11-16.
- ^abAndreeva, Nellie (2008-03-14)."'Sunny' trio blasts off for 20th TV pilot ".The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^Boldly Going Nowhere TV Interview - Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day & Rob McElhenney SDCC 08 - IGN,30 July 2008,retrieved2022-11-16
- ^Andreeva,AP, Nellie; Andreeva, Nellie; AP (2008-03-14)."'Sunny' trio blasts off for 20th TV pilot ".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2022-11-16.
- ^"It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia's Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, and Charlie Day".The A.V. Club.2008-09-16.Retrieved2022-11-16.
- ^"Rookie takes lead in Fox's 'Boldly'".The Hollywood Reporter.2008-10-25. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-10-25.Retrieved2022-11-16.
- ^Wortham, Jenna (2008-10-23)."Fox's Star Trek Spoof Boldly Going Nowhere Lands Captain | Underwire | Wired".Blog.wired.Retrieved2010-01-02.
- ^"David Hornsby And Artemis Pebdani Boldly Go Nowhere".The TV Remote.Retrieved2010-01-02.
- ^"It's Always Sunny In Space — Behind The Scenes".Videogum. 2008-11-26. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-12-06.Retrieved2010-01-02.
- ^"I am Chad L. Coleman, you might know me from THE WALKING DEAD or THE WIRE, AMA!".Reddit. 2015-02-16.Retrieved2015-04-09.
- ^abc"Rants & Reviews - The Futon's First Look:" Boldly Going Nowhere "(FOX) | TheFutonCritic".thefutoncritic.Retrieved2022-11-16.
- ^Goldman, Eric (2008-12-12)."Updates on Bodly Going Nowhere; Virtuality".IGN.Retrieved2022-11-16.
- ^Andreeva,AP, Nellie; Andreeva, Nellie; AP (2008-12-12)."Fox makes space for 'Boldly' and 'Glee'".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2022-11-16.
- ^"Boldly Going pilot will add more sci-fi to the comedy | SCI FI Wire".2009-08-11. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-08-11.Retrieved2022-11-16.
- ^Woerner, Meredith (2009-08-10)."Boldly Going Nowhere...Actually Going Somewhere?".io9.Retrieved2010-01-02.
- ^"Breaking News - Development Update: Monday, November 16 | TheFutonCritic".thefutoncritic.Retrieved2022-11-16.
- ^@Glenn_Howerton (May 15, 2011)."Shelved for now RT @Ceravic: @Glenn_Howerton Speaking of you guys and non-Sunny, any updates on Boldly Going Nowhere?"(Tweet).RetrievedMay 15,2011– viaTwitter.
- ^"R/IAmA - Comment by u/Dooley on" I am Rob McElhenney AMA! "".16 October 2013.
- ^44. Cricket (with special guest, David Hornsby!) | The Always Sunny Podcast,retrieved2022-11-16
- ^"Boldly Going Nowhere Full Pilot".YouTube. September 20, 2022.