THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 22, 1995 TAG: 9509220070
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
THE MAN WHO created ``The X-Files,'' Chris Carter, would kill me if I revealed all that happens in tonight's season premiere on Fox at 9.
So, I'll just tell you a thing or two.
When ``The X-Files'' wound up its 49th episode last May, Agent Mulder was on the phone to Agent Scully: ``I'm in a boxcar buried inside a quarry. There are bodies everywhere. They're not human, Scully.''
Then, boom! An explosion. Fire.
Mulder survives with the aid of Navajos and their ``healing spirit.''
We all knew that Mulder (David Duchovny) wasn't going to die, even after three days of ``the great fever,'' because the cast and crew of ``The X-Files'' are obligated to do at least two more seasons for Fox.
Executive producer Carter this season pursues the storyline about Mulder's quest to discover what part his late father had in the federal government's ``conspiracy of silence'' about creatures from outer space who may have visited Earth in the 1950s. Mulder also wants to know why the visitors snatched his sister.
As the season rolls on, you'll learn that Nazi scientists who engaged in barbaric experiments on prisoners in World War II concentration camps also took their scalpels to the extraterrestrials. The records are on a tape that Mulder and Scully (Gillian Anderson), as well as the conspirators who sit and plot in smoke-filled rooms, would die for.
That's it. That's all I'll tell you about the new season of ``The X-Files,'' for fear I'll spoil the surprises that Carter has coming.
He is astounded by the success of ``The X-Files,'' which he describes as a small cult show that has grown into a great big cult show.
``To have something this large, a show that is a huge success on network television and is generating novels, comic books and other merchandise is likely a once-in-a-lifetime experience,'' Carter said when he met with members of the Television Critics Association in Los Angeles not long ago.
``I don't want the show to be overcommercialized and overmarketed,'' said Carter. He said no to ``The X-Files'' boxer shorts, yes to a comic book.
Ever wonder why he named his principal characters Mulder and Scully?
``Mulder'' is his mother's maiden name. And ``Scully?'' It's Carter's tribute to the voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Vince Scully.
``I was a huge Dodger fan when I was growing up in Los Angeles,'' said Carter.
Other revelations from Carter:
He has been asked by many stars, including Penn and Teller and Whoopi Goldberg, to appear as guests on ``The X-Files.'' So far, Carter has resisted.
``The show works best when there is no actor who is bigger than the story. As soon as a big star pops up in an episode, the values I call the scare and mystery factor disappears.''
Carter will continue to produce the series in Vancouver. ``The city has a grey, moody feel to it, a certain quality of light that gives `The X-Files' its signature look. That's a big thing for me.''
``We're heading away from the very dark episodes, which I like and am proud of. There have been times when the network handed me back scripts with the response that they were unacceptable for a network television broadcast. I've lost some big battles with the network. I feel that I have to scare people and gross them out at times.''
Carter is not alone. Tonight at 10 on CBS, the network puts on a new show about a sheriff in a small town who is as evil as the devil himself. ``American Gothic.''
The idea is to scare people and gross them out, same as ``The X-Files.''
Note to readers: ``Coast Guard: The Series'' premieres at 5:30 a.m. Saturday. The syndicated show features daring rescues by the Coast Guard, including the work of crews based at the Elizabeth City, N.C., air station. by CNB