H1 premieres its first fully scripted original dramatic series with Strange Frequency,
based on the original movie that aired at the beginning of the year. The Twilight Zone-like horror anthology series will offer 30-minute stories that are rooted in rock 'n' roll.
"Soul Man" kicks off the series, as a guitar techie named Mitch (Marsters) longs to play with the band he works for. He wants to have the talent, confidence and girlfriend of the band's lead, Jason. However, he's nothing more than Jason's whipping boy. At a guitar shop, Mitch discovers music that may just have been the last song Jimi Hendrix ever wrote. According to the shop's owner, anyone who plays the music will summon the devil himself. When Mitch can't resist playing the music, a mysterious talent scout (Daltrey) shows up and offers to represent him. It isn't long before Mitch begins to wonder what
the scout really wants from him.
In the second episode, "Cold Turkey," recovering addict and rock 'n' roll star Jerry (Hawkes) has promised his band and his fans that he's done with drugs and alcohol. The only problem is that he can't seem to write songs sober. When a beautiful fan offers to help him with his writer's block, Jerry begins to believe the woman is his muse. With her help he manages to write five songs in one night. The only problem is that he shows up at rehearsal drunk. Jerry wakes up the next morning in a stolen taxicab, and gets thrown in jail. After one of the members of the band bails him out and offers to help him stay sober, Jerry agrees he must quit the drugs and booze. But soon the mysterious woman is back, offering him a temptation he may not be able to resist.
Strong performances, weak stories
It would seem an anthology that promises musical horror with a twist would be hip, edgy and daring. After all, a music-based horror anthology has all the elements. While Strange Frequency does offer some strong performances and good production values, it doesn't have many surprises.
The biggest problem is that the Fox series Night Visions is more original, edgy and daring, and it makes Strange Frequency look more than a little tame. The show's surprises are just not that surprising when compared to the double twist endings of the Fox series.
In "Soul Man," it's great to see Roger Daltrey and James Marsters in roles that showcase their talents. It's especially nice to see Marsters in a role that is a whole lot not like Buffy's Spike. But the actors are better than the predictable story. Anyone who can't figure out what's going to happen in this one isn't paying attention. "Cold Turkey" offers a better story,
and both Hawkes and Kensit do a nice job with their roles. Still, neither tale is quite chilling enough to make viewers remember to tune back in for the next episode.
Much like most of the stories from the original television movie, the scripts lack punch. A movie can get away with that, especially if there is a strong episode or two. However, a series, especially a 30-minute series, needs to pack a wallop, and if it's playing at 10 p.m. on Saturday nights it had
better be a pretty big wallop to entice viewers back the next week.
VH1 has done an outstanding job with the top-notch production values, and, of course, the music is excellent. They also seem committed to bringing in name actors such as Peter Strauss, Ally Sheedy and Charisma Carpenter, who may or may not draw in viewers, but should offer solid performances.
Strange Frequency has an order for eight 30-minute episodes and will run into November. Roger Daltrey has been added as a host for the show, but that part of the series was not available for preview. He's an engaging performer, and would seem to be the perfect host for this anthology series.
