We are sad and disappointed to say that The WB Network has passed on Dark Shadows, and it is unlikely that the series itself will see the light of day. This website will continue to exist in the event there are any updates to share; fans are invited to post in the Message Forum. In the meantime, since there won't be any new Shadows this year, you may want to check out the Original Series and see why people really fell in love with the Dark Shadows concept in the first place.

If any references below talk about the series as if it is still happening, it is because the articles were written prior to The WB's announcement. If you have any news regarding the Dark Shadows pilot, please e-mail us.

The Show


Dark Shadows
Produced by Dan Curtis (The Original Dark Shadows, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, War and Remembrance) and John Wells (Third Watch, ER, The West Wing)
Pilot written by Mark Verheiden (Smallville, Timecop)
The Concept
On the surface, a Gothic drama with a vampire. Romance, mystery, intrigue, and tales of science fiction all are added bonuses. Click here for some spoilery details about the show's characters.
Premiere Date
Dark Shadows is now being edited together and the WB will soon make their decision on if they're going ahead with a series. If the show is picked up, it could air in Fall 2004.
Merchandise

The "Columns" section of Barnabas Undead invites fans to offer their opinions on the show, sometimes humorous, sometimes serious. Either way, the opinions inside belong solely to the writer, and are not necessarily the feelings of Barnabas Undead as a whole in any way.

Would you like to write a column? Send them in! By writing, know that you are giving us permission to post and edit the editorial if necessary, but of course if there are ever any changes, we WILL let you know, and we will give final approval to the original authors.

Why The WB Should Pick Up Dark Shadows
Written by Craig Byrne - BarnabasUndead.com Webmaster

We're less than two weeks away from May 18, when the WB Network announces which shows they're picking up for the coming season. There have been worries, particularly among the fandom, that Dark Shadows may not make the cut, considering strong rumors that the WB has already ordered two drama series for the new season.

Before the announcement of the likely Jack & Bobby and Mountain pickups, I was pretty sure that Dark Shadows was a given. As far as I am aware, the pilot is still in post production which would mean the WB hasn't even *seen* the pilot in order to make a decision on it. But does the network realize the gem that they have?

Check it out. Dark Shadows has an immediate fan base. People who watched the original show, who go to the Festivals, who have kids that could also be watching this new show. The new cast has sex appeal. I'm not naming names because I don't want to leave anyone out, but this is a very pretty cast. It's got to be good when you've got the actors involved.

The WB was accused by some fans of clearing out Angel in order to make room for another vampire show. Well, if DS goes nowhere, this effectually will mean that not just one, but two very large fan bases may be turned off of the network. Not a good thing.

Another interesting note for the network: I started my first major website, KryptonSite, months before the premiere of Smallville. Granted the Net's a bigger place by now, but if Barnabas Undead now gets hits 5-10 times better than what KryptonSite was getting this time three years ago, shouldn't that also be a sign that people are curious and very interested in this program?

Dark Shadows is a concept that could appeal to many generations - which is something that only a small handful of WB series have done in the past. It's a perfect fit on the WB schedule, as it could appeal to fans of Smallville as much as it could appeal to fans of Charmed. (And what a coincidence, the two open timeslots are right after those two shows!)

Maybe the WB's ultimate decision will put DS on the schedule after all, or maybe it will be saved for a big launch in midseason. We'll know soon enough. As someone who loves good television, I know if it's not picked up that I didn't lose anything, because by hearing the announcement of a new DS, it introduced me to the original series which is a joy to watch in itself. But at the same time, it would be so frustrating to know these great characters are out there and these great talents were behind such a show and it just didn't go anywhere.

One advantage of a fan base like this is, if the WB passes, I wouldn't be surprised if the pilot is cleaned up for a DVD release sometime, or played as a TV movie or something. But let's not think negative thoughts, and hope Dark Shadows returns in Fall 2004!

Dark Shadows and its characters are copyright ©Dan Curtis Productions. This is a fan site and not authorized by the WB or anyone affiliated with the series. This is page copyright ©2004 KryptonSite, unless material is noted as coming from elsewhere.

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