“V (1983)” is a science fiction television miniseries that originally aired in 1983 on NBC. The series was created by Kenneth Johnson, and is a loose adaptation of the 1984 novel “V: The Second Generation” by A.C. Crispin.
“V (1983)” series is set in Los Angeles, and depicts the arrival of a technologically advanced alien race, known as the Visitors, who claim to come in peace but have a hidden agenda to exploit Earth's resources and enslave humanity. The Visitors, led by their charismatic leader Diana, quickly gain the trust of many humans, including news anchor Mike Donovan and scientist Julie Parrish, but a small resistance movement begins to form against them.
“V (1983)” was a commercial success and became a pop culture phenomenon in the 1980s. It spawned a sequel miniseries, a weekly television series, and several novels and comic books. The franchise has been credited with influencing science fiction and pop culture, and has been referenced in various media over the years.
“V (1983)” was a highly successful miniseries that aired in 1983. It was a ratings hit and received critical acclaim.
Success at the time of release:
The first night of the miniseries drew in an estimated 40 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched television events of the year.
The miniseries was watched by over 80 million viewers in total during its initial run.
“V (1983)” won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Makeup.
Long-term success:
The success of the miniseries led to a sequel, “V: The Final Battle,” which aired in 1984.
The popularity of “V (1983)” also led to a television series, “V: The Series,” which aired for one season in 1984-1985.
“V (1983)” has since become a cult classic and has inspired various remakes and adaptations over the years.
The success of “V” helped to establish science fiction as a viable genre for television and paved the way for other successful sci-fi shows like “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “The X-Files.”
| Written by | Kenneth Johnson |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Kenneth Johnson |
| Starring | Jane Badler Frank Ashmore Bonnie Bartlett Diane Cary Michael Durrell Robert Englund Faye Grant Richard Herd Richard Lawson Peter Nelson David Packer Neva Patterson Andrew Prine Marc Singer Jenny Sullivan Blair Tefkin Penelope Windust Michael Wright |
| Theme music composer | Joe Harnell |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 2 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Kenneth Johnson Brandon Tartikoff |
| Producers | Chuck Bowman Patrick Boyriven (associate producer) |
| Cinematography | John McPherson |
| Editors | Paul Dixon Alan C. Marks Robert K. Richard Jack W. Schoengarth |
| Running time | 189 min |
| Production companies | Kenneth Johnson ProductionsWarner Bros. Television |
| Distributor | Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Picture format | Color |
| Audio format | Mono |
| Original release | May 1 – May 2, 1983 |
| Chronology | |
| Followed by | V: The Final Battle V: The Second Generation (novel) |