Millennium is an American thriller and crime drama television series produced by Chris Carter (creator of The X-Files), set during the years leading up to the year 2000. The plotline followed the investigations of an ex-FBI officer, Frank Black (Lance Henriksen), into serial murderers, which were often involved with both the supernatural and a sub-governmental authority known as the Millennium Group and their prophecies for an oncoming apocalypse.[1] Millennium aired on the Fox Network in the USA from the fall of 1996 (winning the People's Choice Award for Best New Drama in 1997) to the spring of 1999. Three full seasons of the series were produced, totaling 67 individual episodes. Each season of the series had its own distinct style and unique elements as a result of the regularly shifting executive producers who supervised its creative process.[citation needed] The series was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, though most episodes were set in or around Seattle, Washington. The series theme music was composed by Mark Snow who also had created the series theme music for The X-Files. Despite the series' cancellation, it has gained a cult following[2][3] with several websites set up dedicated to the series[4] and a campaign for a revival.[5]
Production
Origins
After Carter's success with The X-Files, Fox asked him if he would produce another series for them. He already had an idea for creating a show based around the coming millennium of the year 2000, and it was this idea that he followed up.[6]
Regarding his casting of Henriksen for the lead, Carter stated that:
| “ |
I had tried to cast Lance Henriksen on The X-Files several times, he had always been either unavailable or uninterested. Anyway I remained a fan of his, I was in bed working in Vancouver and I realized he was working there too. So I found out where he was staying, wrote a note and had a fan note slipped under his door and told him that I'd tried to get him on the show and hoped to work with him in the future. Little did he know when I was then writing Millennium I was writing with only him in mind, with no idea whether or not he'd actually do the project. So I wrote the project, approached him, he was very excited about it, we made a deal and the rest is now history.[7] |
” |
The FOX executives were not initially convinced that Henriksen was right for the role, and they suggested using William Hurt, until they discovered that he had no interest in acting for television. Carter was therefore able to get Henriksen for the role.[8] The executives gave Carter a budget of nearly $1.5 million per episode,[9] and allowed him to create his own "look" for the show.[10] As influences, Carter has quoted the Bible, Dostoyevsky and Mary Shelley as among the most important.[11]
Carter pitched Millennium to Fox as "Seven in Seattle." The setting of a dark, rain-soaked city and a world-weary detective's hunt for a religiously-inspired serial killer have clear parallels with the pilot episode. One of the shows working titles was 2000, though Millennium was chosen over it.[12]
Season Two
For the second season, the handling of the show was given to Glen Morgan and James Wong while Carter focused on the fifth season of The X-Files and The X-Files motion picture.[13] Morgan and Wong had only been consulting producers for the first season, but took over production, implementing several changes that FOX wanted in an attempt to boost ratings which had declined during the first season.[14] Morgan said that:
| “ |
There was too much gore in the first season, and it was for shock's sake. There was no humor. Everybody wanted to know more about the Millennium Group. What was Frank's role with them? We needed to develop Frank. We had a good actress, Megan Gallagher, playing his wife, and what could we do with their relationship? Where can this go?[15] |
” |
Morgan and Wong made several significant changes to the series, taking the emphasis off serial killers and on to government conspiracies and the machinations of the Millennium Group. They also tried to provide more of a "narrative drive" for Frank Black by breaking up his relationship with his wife.[16] Along with this they introduced new characters such as Lara Means and computer hacker Brian Roedecker, who was introduced for comic effect, toward which fans reacted generally negatively.[17]
Season Three
For season three, which aired in 1998, Carter took back control of the series, with Morgan and Wong leaving to follow their own cinematic careers.[18] Carter admitted that he took it in a different direction from that of Morgan and Wong[19] and, as a part of this, he attempted to take the show back to its "roots" from the first season.[20] Reacting to criticism that the series had become confusing, and out of touch with audiences, the show's production team hoped to make "the stories a little more accessible",[21] moving the action from Seattle to Washington DC.
Cancellation
The ratings for season three had dropped significantly, it falling to the 134th most watched show out of 200 for that season.[22] Carter had hoped that there would be a fourth season to Millennium,[23] although this was not to be the case. FOX announced that they were not picking up Millennium for a fourth season, leaving the third season ending on a cliffhanger.
Characters
• Frank Black (Lance Henriksen) -- Born 12 July 1947 to Henry and Linda Black, Frank Black has a unique and disturbing ability which can take him inside the mind of a killer. His gift is also his curse. As an FBI agent specializing in hunting down serial killers, Black was one of the Bureau's most effective detectives. Yet his immersion into the vilest recesses of the human soul took him too close to the edge. A loving husband and father, Frank could no longer allow the shadow of evil come between him and his family. He left the FBI and settled in Seattle with his wife and young daughter. Frank however, couldn't leave the horror behind. As the Millennium approaches, so will the ultimate battle between good and evil as foretold by ancient prophecies. Frank is being recruited by the Millennium Group, an underground organization dedicated to battling the forces of darkness for purposes yet to be exposed.
• Catherine Black (Megan Gallagher) -- A devoted mother to Jordan, Catherine Black was also a clinical social worker who counselled crime victims. This profession compelled her to confront many of the same dark forces as Frank. Yet Catherine knew she must never show any fear, no matter how appalling the evil. For if she did, Frank would ignore his mission, and dedicate himself to protecting his family. Catherine was willing to sacrifice her own peace of mind - and in the end even her safety - for the safety of us all. She was infected with a deadly virus that is mysteriously connected to the Millennium Group. Offered a vaccine for the virus she refused, insisting it be used to protect her daughter instead.
• Jordan Black (Brittany Tiplady) -- Jordan, daughter of Frank and Catherine, represents the light in the dark world that Frank works. She is what's good - and why Frank must catch the "bad man" to protect her. Jordan must eventually come to terms with a terrible loss, while learning to deal with her own mysterious gift - one that offers her visions into the dark world that her father investigates.
• Agent Emma Hollis (Klea Scott) -- (Season 3) Emma is a young FBI agent who becomes Frank's protege when he begins working in Virginia. She struggles to understand the criminal mind, as her sister was murdered by a man with no motive. Emma also has to deal with her father's bout with an Alzheimer's-like disease (possibly induced by the Millennium group) the cure for which Peter Watts uses as leverage to coerce her into cooperating with the Millennium Group.
• Peter Watts (Terry O'Quinn) -- Peter Watts, a mysterious ex-FBI agent, is the first of the Millennium Group to contact Frank as soon as he arrives in Seattle with his family. Watts is extremely intelligent, knowledgeable and experienced. A man of few words, his seriousness commands the respect he deserves as a ‘Patron’ of the Millennium Group. Peter Watts left his position as Assistant Director of the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force to join The Millennium Group, which promised him, like Frank, understanding in a chaotic world. He later became a senior member of the Group and 'Patron' to Frank Black, assisting him on numerous Group assigned cases.
Cross-Over Episode
The X-Files: Millennium
Episode 4 of Season 7 of The X-Files, entitled "Millennium", sees Lance Henriksen reprise his role as Frank Black as a supporting actor alongside Mulder and Scully in a tale of Necromancy and Zombification of former Millennium Group members in the final month of 1999 leading to the 2000 Millennium. In the episode, it is claimed by Scully and Mulder that the Millennium Group inevitably fell into disrepute and was banned from working with the FBI after the close of the Millennium series and subsequently disbanded. However, the necromancer continued to carry out the group's final plan to bring about Armageddon by creating four zombies out of group members as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The Necromancer is quoted as saying that Frank had always been intended to be the Fourth Horseman. Frank denies his deadly destiny with the group by rescuing Mulder and destroying the other three zombie horsemen. In the closing scene, Frank is shown as having been released from observation and is reunited with Jordan Black (Brittany Tiplady in a cameo appearance); and Mulder finally kisses Scully at the turn of the 2000 Millennium celebration. Despite that this was not the end of the true Millennium, Mulder states: 'See the world didn't end after all'. Many fans have been critical of the cross-over episode, claiming that it is not an adequate ending for the series since not all of the underlying plots of the Millennium series were brought to an end, leaving many fans to campaign for a future motion picture.
Motion Picture
Henriksen answered that based on what he had heard from Chris Carter, Carter's next project after the release of The X-Files: I Want to Believe in 2008 would be a Millennium motion picture. The rumor of a film was allegedly proved more plausible by a user uploaded video link from http://millennium-thisiswhoweare.net/millennium_movie_faq.php. In response to the heightened interest in the character generated by Lance's comments and those of Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz, a campaign was subsequently launched online with a view to returning the character to the screen. A website was created as the campaign hub to coordinate the efforts of fans and admirers in direct response to the words of the franchise's creators. On September 30 2008, Frank Spotnitz displayed his support for this campaign by allowing a press release to feature as an entry in his blog. In December 2008 the individuals behind the campaign to return 'Frank Black' made contact with Lance Henriksen, who shared encouragement and support regarding their efforts. On Thanksgiving Day a member of the campaign team spoke to Lance regarding his time as 'Frank Black' and the potential for a return to the role. This interview can now be found at the campaign website, backtofrankblack.com.
The recently released Millennium DVD Seasons 1-3 Collection has Henriksen thinking that the numbers behind those box sets sales might be the key to reviving the series. "I wonder if the sales of these will tell us how many people loved the show and whether or not the movie ought to be made," Henriksen commented. "I mean, [Frank Black] still is alive. Maybe it's a good thing there was no closure for Millennium because now, if we did a movie, it would be good closure for me."
Awards
Won
- 1996 People's Choice Award for Favorite New Television Drama Series
- 1997 Canadian Society of Cinematographers Award for Best Cinematography in a Television Series (Robert McLachlan)
- 1997 Genesis Award for Outstanding Communication of Animal-Rights in Dramatic Television Series ("Broken World")
- 1998 Canadian Society of Cinematographers Award for Best Cinematography in a Television Series (Robert McLachlan)
- 1998 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Television Drama Series by a Young Actress (Brittany Tiplady)
- 2000 Canadian Society of Cinematographers Award for Best Cinematography in a Television Series (Robert McLachlan, "Matryoshka")
Nominated
- 1996 People's Choice Award for Favorite New Male TV Star (Lance Henriksen)
- 1997-1999 Golden Globe Awards for Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series (Lance Henriksen)
- 1997 American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Pilot (Pete Wunstorf, "Pilot")
- 1997 Saturn Award for Best Genre TV Actor (Lance Henriksen)
- 1997 Saturn Award for Best Genre Network TV Series
- 1997-2000 Young Artist Awards for Best Performance in a Television Drama Series by a Young Actress (Brittany Tiplady)
- 1998 American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Regular Series (Robert McLachlan, "The Thin White Line")
- 1998 Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing-Television Episodic-Dialogue & ADR
- 1998 Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing-Television Episodic-Effects & Foley
- 1998 Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Clarence Williams III, "Sense and Antisense")
- 1998 Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Charles Nelson Reilly, "Jose Chung's Doomsday Defense")
- 1998 Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series ("Owls")
- 1998 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Television Drama Series by a Guest Starring Young Actress (Lauren Diewold, "Monster")
- 1999 Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing-Television Episodic-Sound Effects & Foley
- 1999 Bram Stoker Award for Best Horror Screenplay (Darin Morgan, "Somehow Satan Got Behind Me")
- 1999 American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Regular Series (Robert McLachlan, "Skull and Bones")
- 1999 Saturn Award for Best Genre TV Actor (Lance Henriksen)
- 1999 International Horror Guild Award for Best Television
- 2000 American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Regular Series (Robert McLachlan, "Matryoshka")
Merchandise
Books
Several novels based on Millennium episodes have been written:
- The Frenchman, by Elizabeth Hand (1.00 "Pilot")
- Gehenna, by Lewis Gannett (1.01 "Gehenna")
- Force Majeure, by Lewis Gannett (1.12 "Force Majeure")
- Weeds, by Victor Koman (1.10 "Weeds")
- The Wild And the Innocent, by Elizabeth Massie (1.09 "The Wild And the Innocent")
Some titles were also released as audiobooks read by actor Bill Smitrovitch.
Soundtracks
As of 2009, two soundtrack albums by Mark Snow have been released. The first ("The Best Of Millennium") was released in 2003 on iTunes only. It comprised of 22 tracks from all three seasons. The second was released in 2008 as a limited edition 2 CD set of 2000 copies by La-La-Land Records.[19] It comprised of 51 tracks. Some of the tracks on the two releases are the same.
X-Files Action Figure
A 12 inch Frank Black (Lance Henriksen) figurine (ASIN: B0007XOF2O) was issued by Sideshow in the same mold as X-Files Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. The Frank Black (Lance Henriksen) figure features over 30 points of articulation and includes a Webley revolver, old school .45 & holster, pager, cell phone, flashlight, Millennium case file with photos, and an X-Files 12-inch figure display base. It can be purchased on most common auction and marketplace websites.
DVD Releases
On 28 October 2008, 20th Century Fox released Millennium: The Complete Series - an 18 disc boxset featuring all 68 episodes of the series.
|
|
Season |
No of
episodes |
Extra features |
Release date |
|
1st
(1996-1997) |
22 |
Commentary by Chris Carter on The Pilot,
Commentary by director David Nutter on Gehenna,
"Order in Chaos: Making Millennium Season One" documentary,
"Chasing the Dragon: A Conversation with the Academy Group": a look at real-life profilers,
Creating the logo and title sequence,
Pilot TV spots. |
July 20, 2004 |
|
2nd
(1997-1998) |
23 |
Commentary on two episodes by director Thomas J. Wright and writer Michael R. Perry,
"The Turn of the Tide: Making of Season Two" featurette,
"Academy Group: Victimology" featurette.
|
January 4, 2005 |
|
3rd
(1998-1999) |
22 |
Commentary by Lance Henriksen and Klea Scott on The Innocents,
Commentary by director Thomas J. Wright on Collateral Damage,
Bonus episode: The X-Files season 7 episode "Millennium",
"End Game: Making Millennium Season 3" documentary,
"Between the Lines" featurette.
|
September 6, 2005 |
Currently Airing
NBC Universal's horror channel, Chiller, began airing Millennium weeknights at 7PM Eastern (and again at 3AM Eastern the following morning) on Monday, February 4, 2008.[24][25] This is the first time the series has aired on U.S. television in close to a decade; FX aired Millennium briefly from 2000-2001. In the UK beginning Monday, October 6, 2008, Zone Horror began airing Millennium week nights at 8PM GMT, commencing with the first three episodes back to back.
References
- ^ [1] - Millennium focused on the work of ex-FBI profiler Frank Black. Frank had a special ability to see into the minds of serial killers and to get into their heads. He also worked for a mysterious organization called the Millennium Group which seemed to take a special interest in serial killers and end of the world prophecy.
- ^ [2] - "high-profile Millennium developed a cult following"
- ^ [3] - "Created by X-Files supremo Chris Carter and starring acting veteran Lance Henriksen the show went on to acquire not only awards but a massive cult following"
- ^ This Is Who We Are
- ^ Back To Frank Black
- ^ [4]
- ^ [5]
- ^ [6] - "although Fox execs did want William Hurt for the Frank Black role, until they found out Hurt doesn't do TV)"
- ^ [7] - "nearly $1.5 million an episode"
- ^ [8] - "he got the look he wanted (hiring Seven art director Gary Wissner as production designer for the Millennium pilot"
- ^ [9] - "The Bible. A lot of the writers from the romantic period, including Mary Shelley. Dostoyevsky"
- ^ IMDB 'also known as' section
- ^ [10]
- ^ [11]
- ^ [12]
- ^ [http://millennium-thisiswhoweare.net/cmeacg/crew_interview.php?name=Glen%20Morgan&id=17
- ^ [http://millennium-thisiswhoweare.net/cmeacg/crew_interview.php?name=Glen%20Morgan&id=17
- ^ [13] - "Carter has returned to the show with season three after leaving the day-to-day running for season two in the hands of Glen Morgan and James Wong."
- ^ [14] - "I took the lessons from the things [Morgan and Wong] did but moved the show in a new direction"
- ^ [15] - "For season three, Carter apparently wants the show to go back to some of its first season roots"
- ^ [16] - ""This season, he's moving back to Washington DC to consult for the FBI, which gives him more accessibility and makes the stories a little more accessible," says Duggan."
- ^ [17] - "That the lowly rated show, (No. 134 for the season out of 200 programs) still is on the air is itself a sign of a "hopeful future."
- ^ [18] - "Millennium's future is in question but we're hopeful for a fourth year pick-up"
- ^ "Chiller First Quarter 2008 Lineup" (PDF). NBC Universal. https://www.nbcunetworks.com/Assets/HTMLFiles/chiller/schedules/Quarterly/Grid2008_1Q.pdf. Retrieved on January 19, 2009.
- ^ "Chiller website". http://www.chillertv.com/. Retrieved on January 19, 2009.
External links
