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[Fan]

New specials? Proper information? After all the rumours? Oh smeg yes.

reddwarf.co.uk has the facts. As announced by Robert Llewellyn for Grant Naylor Productions this week at the UKTV seasonal press launch, the project is a short series of brand new specials to celebrate the 21st birthday of Red Dwarf.

Never watched the series, but have always been intrigued by the fanfare. My try and check it out sooner than later. 

[The Headliner]

I love Red Dwarf. The last series (VIII) was disappointing but I'd like to think they've taken the widespread criticism onboard when writing these new specials. My fingers are crossed like a scutter queuing for the toilet.

I've probably said this before, but I heartily recommend the novelizations. But if you've never seen the show at all, it might help to watch at least one episode so you can better hear and picture the characters in your head.

[Hazzy]

Red Dwarf > most. I just recently went through and rewatched every episode, and I think VIII is one of the best. I think VII is probably the worst, Rimmer leaving for most of that series really affected it - and then when he came back in VIII he was better than ever. Think thats why I like the last series so much.

Can't wait for these specials.

I tell everyone this, even if they aint talking about Red Dwarf, but I know the guy that writes it (Doug Naylor). Not seen him in years but used to go up to his house/mansion and was friends with his sons. Anyway, ages ago they said they were working on a movie, but I read recently that the funding fell through, which sucks. But these new specials are just as good.

[The Headliner]

I remember you telling me that. We probably weren't talking about Red Dwarf either.

Judging by their solo novels following "Better Than Life" though, Rob Grant's the better of the two. Well, I say that, but they each have their strengths. Grant's book was funnier, but Naylor's maybe had a more ambitious plot.

Some day I need to check out some of Grant's other, non-Red Dwarf novels that he's written since, as they're supposed to be good too.

[Fan]

I'm friends with Quentin Tarantino and next Monday I'm having coffee with Steven Spielberg.

[The Headliner]

New details on the final episodes:

The show has been resurrected by digital channel Dave for a two-part Easter weekend special, which sees the cast finally return to Earth.

[...]

The new two-part series Red Dwarf: Back to Earth will be followed by a "no holds barred" episode without sets, special effects or autocue.

The weekend will climax with Red Dwarf: the Making of Back to Earth, a behind-the-scenes special from the new episodes.

Looking forward to it. The "no holds barred" episode sounds... interesting?

[Hazzy]

Awesome, this show owns.

I ever told anyone the guy that writes this, Doug Naylor, is a close personal friend of my family? 

[The Headliner]

Now, this could be nothing, or it could be the very best thing of all time ever:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/article2194833.ece

[El Jackal]

Now THAT would be totally awesome.. it's times like this when you need that clip of the little kid on the tricycle from the end of The Incredibles.

[The Headliner]

This is the first official image released from the set of Grant Naylor Productions' new Red Dwarf shoot and it reveals Cat, Rimmer, Lister and Kryten (Danny John-Jules, Chris Barrie, Craig Charles and Robert Llewellyn) behind the scenes awaiting their next scene. Hands up who's excited?!

Now for some slightly nerdy costume analysis. Lister is in his classic leathers from series III and IV, Kryten has a slightly remodelled breastplate and chest monitor and Cat is looking stylish as ever in a never-before-seen maroon ensemble that will, surely, be all the talk at the fashion shows.

Rimmer may be the biggest surprise, however. Yes, he is, once again, a hologram - the H on his head is a dead giveaway! And the new uniform is a mix of the hardlight blue of series VI and VII combined with the tunic style of the classic third, fourth and fifth series.

Don't forget we'll have some more exclusive weekly news for you next week.

Larger version of the image here.

Slightly disappointing that Kryten doesn't have his usual "casing" - I'm guessing they couldn't get ownership of the old costumes, or they simply no longer exist. Rimmer looks a bit odd too. But Lister and Cat haven't changed a bit, with the obvious exception of Lister's hair.

[The Headliner]

http://reddwarf.co.uk/news/2009/02/13/red-through/

Some technical details there, along with the fact that these specials (which now look like three proper episodes, accompanied by a "making of" documentary) will be the first Red Dwarf shows to air without a laughter track.

[The Headliner]

A postcard from Lister to Kryten, the start of an online hype trail:

http://www.listerscominghome.co.uk/

[Hazzy]

Awesome.

When you watch the video of the actors talking about ti returning, on the catnav or whatever, theres green buttons at the bottom. Which i've managed to get to play some of the red dwarf theme. That cant be a coincidence that they're the right notes.

I can only hit them in the right order up to "Its cold outside, theres no kind of atmosphere, i'm all alone..." and tahts it. Maybe it unlocks something if you play it all.

[The Headliner]

Did anyone else watch them this weekend? If not, all three episodes are repeated back-to-back tomorrow night (Monday) on Dave, starting at 9pm.

Or on a one-hour delay on Dave ja vu at 10pm, which saved my bacon tonight.

Without spoiling anything, the episodes started off very slowly, and the missing laughter track was particularly conspicuous in the first, but everything got progressively better and - despite doubts raised by how weird it all got - the mini-series ultimately justified its existence.

Some people hated it, and there's a lot to criticize and pick holes in, but overall it was enjoyable for me. Though I think it's easier to appreciate in hindsight than part-way through. Watching the trilogy in one sitting would make a much better impression, as the episodes don't really hold up individually.

[Hazzy]

I really liked them. The first episode was weird, funny bits, but weird. It was obviously the intro episode. Then 2nd was hilarious and the 3rd just wrapped everything up nice and made me feel warm inside.

Everyones complaining, but I think thats cause they went in thinking "I hope they do this, i hope they do that, i hope they include this stuff in it..." Whereas I'm too stupid to think like that, so i just sat there and enjoyed them for what they were. And I was tlaking to someone else about them and he was venting about how angry he was, how his childhood has been raped and shit like that. And I asked what was wrong with them and the best he could come up with was no laughter track. THen he's like "....ionno...I just.....i don't know". Its like my brother, he tells himself something is gunna be bad before he watches it and then it always is bad to him. Too many expectations.

But I thought they were great anyway.