Many things would be lost to time without YouTube. Admittedly, alot of the things they save are Viral Videos and YouTubers who can't stop saying the N-Word.
In this case, we are dealing with a long-lost Pilot aired once in 1987. Kung Fu: The Next Generation was an updated Pilot that followed the TV Movie's attempt to continue the Series. What changed? Well, they jumped to the Modern Day...and also lost Carradine. I can't find out why and I can't exactly ask most of the people involved, unfortunately.
Regardless, this aired as a big deal...if you consider a dumping ground to be a big deal. The CBS Summer Playhouse was a way to show off Pilots and then gage whether or not there was interest.
The copy I found was not on DVD or even VHS- it was taped off of TV back in 1987, it seems. Sadly, they cut out the commercials!
Let's get to the real interesting question- which came first? Was this branding an attempt to copy Star Trek: The Next Generation? Well, they both debuted in 1987 on TV. However, this showed up in the Summer, while Trek showed up in Syndication in September.
So I don't think anyone ripped each other off...or did they?!? Probably not. No, you'll just have to live with Ator 3 stealing its Theme Music in the same Year instead.
While it didn't work for CBS, is this a hidden gem of a Pilot? To find out, read on...
The only copy of this easily available still has the lead-in for it- neat.
I could probably do without this lady doing that pose and the voice you think she does though.
In the Present (of 1987), Brandon Lee is his own descendant and he's up to no good.
He's robbing a House with Miguel Ferrer (who has a history with
unsold Pilots) and gets caught, while his cohort escapes.
Kwai Chang (not Carradine- aw!) takes his son under his supervision while charges are being considered.
The pair don't get along as the Mother left (presumably to return in the Show) and haven't spoken in a year. On top of that, Lee is the first man in the family to NOT take the Kwai Chang name, going by Johnny instead.
Trying to adapt to a new life with his Dad, Lee is distracted by Ferrer's return and offer of- say it with me- one last job for his Boss to repay his debt.
Lee declines.
A trip to Kwai Chang's old home sees the pair reconcile, as well as Carradine's Force Ghost making a cameo.
We also get an odd explanation for his death- he was dying and then just vanished.
Yep- Jedi.
Lee thinks he can make right by setting up the Boss, only to find out *gasp* *shock* that Ferrer was the Boss the whole time!
Kwai Chang shows up to have an over-dramatic fight (which covers how little Kung Fu David Darlow can actually do).
To wrap things up, the pair agree to trust each other and set up the Show.
…only the program ACTUALLY ends with the Hosts telling you a number to call to decide the Show's future fate.
Just like Jason Todd, it didn't end well apparently. This does though. The End.
A good to strong start to the Show. The positives for me outweigh the negatives. Darlow is a decent replacement for Carradine here and is solid on his own. I can't blame him for the other Actor not being here (presumably). Lee is good as well, playing up his character's anger and unhappiness with his Dad.
They feel like a real estranged father-son duo, which makes for a good Story. Their reconciliation works quite well and they obviously set up a good idea for a Show. Ferrer was always good and this is no exception. It's weird seeing him as 'the young friend' when he was my age at the time, while Lee was 22 at the time.
The twist with him as the Boss is good, even if it is a bit silly when you think about it.
How much work has he put into tricking Lee for so little payoff?
The Series setup is pretty transparent here, which is kind of fun looking back at it. I wish I could find more out about the Show, but the Internet has so little info on it.
As far as I can tell, Darlow is sadly the only Lead from this still alive (he last acted in 2019), so it is a bit of an uphill battle.
Regardless, this is a bit of a hidden gem for fans of the Characters and it is just a shame that a Series couldn't happen. If only there was someone there to, you know, make it so...
Next time, I cover a Film that is a Critic darling and a Cult Classic. Was I right to take this long to go to the City? Stay tuned...
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