The origin of Logan and Jessica's run is significantly different from the movie, which I felt was un-nessissary... obviously parts of the middle had to be changed in order to keep Francis alive, and the City from being destroyed. The dialog in the first half an hour of the episode I found to be kind of hoaky, and forced, although I suppose this was nessissary as well in order to set up the story for those who had not yet seen the movie. Over all I enjoyed the pilot, It was quite interesting. I like the concept of Logan and Jessica exploring the world outside and discovering the various societies that have developed post apocalypse. The story was well done and I epecially liked the idea of a robot society continuing to serve their masters years after they have died. The set design was decent considering the budget, and the look of the great hall with the skeletons in there black robes was especially eerie...I'll give it my two thumbs up.... :)

Nolan's original script for the Pilot was dramatcially different -- and dramatically better.

If they'd followed his description/conception of the room in which the skeleton "Masters" reside, it would have been one of the most arresting, disturbing images ver aired eon network TV (well, at least until TWIN PEAKS!).

As it stands, my favorite scene in the Pilot is the "bridge" between the two Outside segments, wherein the wilderness children playing with their ball are addressed by a just-arrived Francis. Nice moment -- quite tense. In fact, Randy Powell was consistently strong in the series. I dug Heather Menzies, too -- very bright, likable, & easy on the eyes -- though she was no Jenny Agutter.

I recently obtained the whole run of the series on DVD from a guy on ebay. It was neat re-living the old episodes -- AND seeing three that had never aired (including one set in a kind of "haunted house" that features a semi-steamy romantic scene between L & J -- the only one in the whole run!).

The beginning of the Pilot does move at breakneck speed!

Whereas the movie took about an hour for Logan to flee the city with Jessica, it only takes Logan 10 minutes in the Pilot Episode to attend Carrousel, hunt a runner, meet up with Jessica, clunk Francis over the head, and escape from the City of Domes to begin the TV Series! Wow!!

The robot society was my favorite bit about the Pilot, too. And Paulx - I agree, that was a nicely filmed segway (sp?) with Francis stumbling upon the little girl with the ball playing with her friends. It added just the right amount of menace to the 'happy' ending of the first part of the Pilot, once again bringing the viewer back to the real reason why the show's called "Logan's Run".

Nolan's REM the android makes his first appearance near the end of the Pilot episode (during the robots serving their masters tale), and with REM the series gets a very likable and humorous character who's witty comments and technical wisdom aid in Logan and Jessica's search for Sanctuary.

btw....... Happy Birthday Paulx! Keep running! :bday:

Thanks, L5, for the birthday wishes. My crystal's been clear for 14 years, & I'm still tickin'!

REM is the aspect of the Pilot -- & the series -- with which Nolan was and is most pleased. Donald Moffatt (sp?) was wonderful in the role, and in one episode, he met his match (and the love of his life) in Mariette Hartley as a strong-yet-sensitive female android...gunned down by Francis, but restored by REM One of the better installments.

I'am just curious - what was the difference for the master room in the original script ? Is it somewhere in the internet ?

Some time ago, I read Nolan's description of the scene as he scripted it -- I think it might have been in an old STARLOG or FUTURE Magazine? -- but basically, there was supposed to be a big dining table in the middle of a lavish, opulent banquet-hall, with a dozen or more skeletons seated around it, and the robots scurrying about, serving them food and wine as if they (the Masters) were still alive. Nolan's comment was something like, "Instead, we get a few dusty skeletons shoved into the corner!"

Personally, I'm not all that interested in robots -- unless they sculpt in ice. ;)

At least it would make more sence if they sit around the dinning table - they may have taken poison in order to avoid the radiation death. I doubt people would sit in a corner waiting for death like the scene in the episode, it looked a bit artifical. Strange that they changed this when they had a better idea before ...

I always found that when they would adapt big budget movies to small screen Tv,the budget would shrink and that would effect the overall look of the show,making parts seem hoaky and such.
I really did like the pilot episode to the Logans Run Tv Series. The start is the fast-paced action I love. It's hard to replace Michael York,Jenny Agutter and Richard Jordan and that's part of the problem. We are so used to them that anyone stepping in to fill their shoes has to live up to those standards.
Should of lasted longer than it did.