- News Archive August 1998 -
THE SENTINEL RESUMES PRODUCTION - August 26 1998
The cast and crew of The Sentinel have returned to the Pet Fly studios in Vancouver in preparation for the 4th Season, which is due to start filming in the next week or so.
Currently the show has an order for 8 episodes from UPN, and Richard Burgi, Garett Maggart and Bruce A. Young are on board for all episodes. Anna Galvin, who was introduced as Inspector Megan Conner at the end of last season, is currently scheduled to appear in one or two.
The conclusion to last season's cliffhanger, Sentinel, Too, will feature the return of Alex Barnes (Star Trek: Voyager's Jeri Ryan) and will take the production to Mexico for a few days filming on location at the Mayan ruins.
SENTINEL RATINGS ON THE RISE - August 26 1998
For the last four weeks, summer rerun episodes of The Sentinel have posted steady gains in the Prime Time Nielsen ratings. This week's ratings figures saw the show move into Number ONE spot on UPN, actually surpassing the viewer share for network frontliner Star Trek: Voyager.
Hopefully the fan campaign for more exposure for the show will see the promising trend continue. This week unfortunately sees The Sentinel pre-empted for a one-off presentation on Wednesday night.
REVOLT OF THE COUCH POTATOES - August 24 1998
Howard Wenn, approached SOS as one several online fan campaigns for an article about the power of the internet.
Although he chose to use very little of what we forwarded in response to his list of questions, we did get a mention.
Click here to read the complete article.
NEW FAN CLUB FOR THE SENTINEL - August 17 1998
TRIBE CASCADE
For information about this new fan club, visit the website at http://members.aol.com/TrbCascade/index.html or write to:
Tribe Cascade
PO Box 6564
McLean VA 22106-6564
The annual membership fee of $20 includes a membership packet and a subscription to Sensory Awareness - a bi-monthly publication featuring information about the show, cast and crew, and the fans.
For further info contact tribe_cascade@juno.com.
SENTINEL STARS SIGN UP FOR BENEFIT - August 15 1998
Ultimate TV Daily News
Ultimate TV Website
Stars of UPN's The Sentinel, will appear at the Couver Con '98, a benefit for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, at the Westin Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver October 23 to October 25.
"The tragedy of AIDS is only heightened when it strikes our children, our most precious gift," said Richard Burgi, Detective James Ellison on the show. "I am very happy that, by appearing at Couver Con '98, I'll be able to contribute to a wonderful organization which helps sick children, and, at the same time thank our fans for their loyalty and support."
ANOTHER MENTION IN ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY - August 14, 1998
As a follow up to the Entertainment Weekly article "DEVOTED FANS SAVE SHOWS" (July 24 Print Edition - see below) EW printed a reader response in its letters column (August 14 Print Edition). As the original article featured both The Sentinel and Magnificent Seven, it is significant that they chose to print a Sentinel letter.
The feature reads:
COPPING APPEAL
Thank you so much for the article on The Sentinel. The series really has something special; it's much more than an ordinary cop show. Even though I'm from Germany, I did what I could to help save the show -- writing letters, faxing, and phoning to let UPN and Paramount know what's important to me. I have never worked so hard to get a TV show back.
Friederike Bach
Friederike.Bach@t-online.de
Diez, Germany
(Thanks Georgia and Elizabeth - and of course Friederike)
EUROPEAN FANS UNITE - August 6
Several weeks ago, 18 fans of The Sentinel from Germany, Austria and England got together to celebrate the show by writing letters to the German network which carries the show, ProSieben, along with several other German magazines. They included printouts and press clippings with the letters.
The response from ProSieben was as follows:
Dear Mrs. Schwarzer,
Thanks for your committed letter!
There is no reason to fear, The Sentinel did not disappear completely from our program!
We at ProSieben are still convinced of (the popularity) of this exciting series and will probably take it up again on our schedule in the spring of next year.
But there is more. We will present The Sentinel probably during Prime Time in order to give the viewers the best possibility of watching it during the best broadcasting time.
Broadcast in this autumn is unfortunately no longer possible, since the series-slots during prime time are already assigned - thank you for your understanding.
As soon as the starting date of The Sentinel moves closer, we will of course announce this in the TV guides, the current program, videotext and on-line.
We would like to thank you sincerely for your interest in our network. Further, we would like you to have fun and enjoy the entertainment at ProSieben.
Yours sincerely
ProSieben Media AG
Peter Pilnei
(Thanks Sandra)
CONGRATS - August 6 1998
San Francisco Times
TV Columnist - Chuck Barney CDBarney@aol.com
A belated congratulations to all the fans of The Sentinel (I've heard from several) whose phone-call and letter-writing campaign resurrected the cancelled UPN action-adventure series. Just goes to show that a little dogged determination can sway network suits at times.
(Thanks Ann)
UPN RETURNS TO MILWAUKEE, BIRMINGHAM AND RALEIGH - August 2
The following stations have resigned with UPN after defecting to WB as part of the Sinclair Group in January. Ultimate TV reports:
The United Paramount Network (UPN), Glencairn Ltd., and Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. have reached an agreement to renew their relationship with long-term primary affiliation agreements for three major market television stations, it was announced Friday by Dean Valentine, president & chief executive officer, UPN. The stations are: WCGV-TV (Milwaukee), WABM-TV (Birmingham), and WRDC-TV (Raleigh). "We look forward to renewing our relationship with UPN in these markets," said Barry Baker, CEO of Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. "Our strategy is to maintain alliances with networks that are intent on becoming true broadcasters and to seek the widest network diversification base possible. This deal with UPN fits that strategy."
(Thanks Joyce)