VR.5 (1995) starring Lori Singer and Anthony Stewart Head

[Archivist]

Who remembers VR.5, the unfortunately short-lived scifi show from the mid 90's?

Lori Singer stars as Sydney Bloom, the daughter of a scientist who was working on virtual reality technology.  The 5 in VR.5 refers to the shows 'fifth level' of virtual reality, in which a person can interact with another and have effects on the physical world.  It was a really trippy show with a vocal fanbase.

The theme music came to the composer in a dream, which was very much in keeping with the surreal and oneiric nature of the show.  It's actually a fantastic soundtrack, and a limited number of CD's were printed and privately sold during the late 90's.

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Starring a post-Footloose Lori Singer and a pre-Buffy Anthony Head, VR.5 was broadcast during 1995 and, like so many shows of this type in Australia, relegated to the 10.30pm time slot.  Oddly, only ten episodes were aired during the US run, but all 13 were shown overseas.  I used to avidly wait for it and eat chicken rolls while it played, such simple joys.

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[WingedSerpent]

Wow...one of those shows I remember being on, but couldn't tell you anything about it. 

Although..it could get a new version, with the main character putting on the Playstation VR headset.

[LilCerberus]

I always kinda thought the pilot got it off to a pretty good start, but it real cliched real quick...

[javakoala]

I liked it. I wish some company like Shout Factory! would release it.

I have to admit, I had a thing for Lori Singer from when she was on the Fame TV series, so this show was a no-brainer for me. But, hey, VR.5 and Max Headroom would be perfect vehicles for reboots, as long as they both kept their dark and cynical approach to satire. Probably do better on HBO.

[AoTFan]

Who remembers VR.5, the unfortunately short-lived scifi show from the mid 90's?

Lori Singer stars as Sydney Bloom, the daughter of a scientist who was working on virtual reality technology.  The 5 in VR.5 refers to the shows 'fifth level' of virtual reality, in which a person can interact with another and have effects on the physical world.  It was a really trippy show with a vocal fanbase.

The theme music came to the composer in a dream, which was very much in keeping with the surreal and oneiric nature of the show.  It's actually a fantastic soundtrack, and a limited number of CD's were printed and privately sold during the late 90's.

! No longer available

Starring a post-Footloose Lori Singer and a pre-Buffy Anthony Head, VR.5 was broadcast during 1995 and, like so many shows of this type in Australia, relegated to the 10.30pm time slot.  Oddly, only ten episodes were aired during the US run, but all 13 were shown overseas.  I used to avidly wait for it and eat chicken rolls while it played, such simple joys.

! No longer available

Did they resolve the cliffhanger in the three eps that weren't shown in the U.S?

(spoilers below)







IIRC the main character goes into VR 7 to get her comatose mother out but the ep ends with her being trapped-essentially taking her mother's place.  Always kind of thought that was a sucky spot to end things, but I guess they had planned on resolving it in season two.

[alandhopewell]

     I really enjoyed this show, and was p**sed when it was canceled.
Fox had a really bad habit of putting on really good, original shows (VR5, M.A.N.T.I.S., BRISCO COUNTY JR., etc), then dumping them, whilst keeping gar-BAGE like THE SIMPSONS.

[AoTFan]

     I really enjoyed this show, and was p**sed when it was canceled.
Fox had a really bad habit of putting on really good, original shows (VR5, M.A.N.T.I.S., BRISCO COUNTY JR., etc), then dumping them, whilst keeping gar-BAGE like THE SIMPSONS.

How could you forget to add Firefly to the list? 

[FatFreddysCat]

I have vague memories of it. I think it aired the same night as the X-Files. I used to tape them both because I worked late the night they were on.  

FOX launched quite a few sci-fi themed series in the wake of X-Files (see: Space: Above And Beyond, Firefly, Freakylinks, Sliders, M.A.N.T.I.S., etc.) but they never lasted very long. Chris Carter's Millennium (w/Lance Henriksen) squeaked by for a few seasons but was never a massive ratings success. I think FOX only kept that one on the air that long to keep Carter happy.

[alandhopewell]

     I really enjoyed this show, and was p**sed when it was canceled.
Fox had a really bad habit of putting on really good, original shows (VR5, M.A.N.T.I.S., BRISCO COUNTY JR., etc), then dumping them, whilst keeping gar-BAGE like THE SIMPSONS.

How could you forget to add Firefly to the list? 

     Sorry....

[Archivist]

I have vague memories of it. I think it aired the same night as the X-Files. I used to tape them both because I worked late the night they were on.  

FOX launched quite a few sci-fi themed series in the wake of X-Files (see: Space: Above And Beyond, Firefly, Freakylinks, Sliders, M.A.N.T.I.S., etc.) but they never lasted very long. Chris Carter's Millennium (w/Lance Henriksen) squeaked by for a few seasons but was never a massive ratings success. I think FOX only kept that one on the air that long to keep Carter happy.

Another excellent 90's science fiction series which was unfortunately short lived was The Burning Zone (UPN), created by Coleman Luck.  It lasted for one season with a very abrupt and obvious change in direction half way through.  It starred Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Tamlyn Tomita and James Black, and was basically a cross between Outbreak and The X Files but with a mystical conspiracy slant. 

Come to think of it, this deserves a separate post.  Coming soon!

[AoTFan]

I have vague memories of it. I think it aired the same night as the X-Files. I used to tape them both because I worked late the night they were on.  

FOX launched quite a few sci-fi themed series in the wake of X-Files (see: Space: Above And Beyond, Firefly, Freakylinks, Sliders, M.A.N.T.I.S., etc.) but they never lasted very long. Chris Carter's Millennium (w/Lance Henriksen) squeaked by for a few seasons but was never a massive ratings success. I think FOX only kept that one on the air that long to keep Carter happy.

Another excellent 90's science fiction series which was unfortunately short lived was The Burning Zone (UPN), created by Coleman Luck.  It lasted for one season with a very abrupt and obvious change in direction half way through.  It starred Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Tamlyn Tomita and James Black, and was basically a cross between Outbreak and The X Files but with a mystical conspiracy slant. 

Come to think of it, this deserves a separate post.  Coming soon!

So, Archivist, did they resolve that cliffhanger I mentioned earlier?  Or was that a "We'll get to it next season, oh damn, we're cancelled!" kind of thing?

Speaking of canceled shows on Fox Friday nights, another one I really enjoyed was Brimstone.  Course, I didn't actually discover it until they did the reruns on Sci-Fi channel.

[Archivist]

So, Archivist, did they resolve that cliffhanger I mentioned earlier?  Or was that a "We'll get to it next season, oh damn, we're cancelled!" kind of thing?

Speaking of canceled shows on Fox Friday nights, another one I really enjoyed was Brimstone.  Course, I didn't actually discover it until they did the reruns on Sci-Fi channel.

I'm not sure, it's been a while since I watched that far into the series.  But there was a strange scene at the end of the final episode.  It's on YouTube so you can see for yourself.

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[Bargle5]

Who remembers VR.5, the unfortunately short-lived scifi show from the mid 90's?

Lori Singer stars as Sydney Bloom, the daughter of a scientist who was working on virtual reality technology.  The 5 in VR.5 refers to the shows 'fifth level' of virtual reality, in which a person can interact with another and have effects on the physical world.  It was a really trippy show with a vocal fanbase.

The theme music came to the composer in a dream, which was very much in keeping with the surreal and oneiric nature of the show.  It's actually a fantastic soundtrack, and a limited number of CD's were printed and privately sold during the late 90's.

! No longer available

Starring a post-Footloose Lori Singer and a pre-Buffy Anthony Head, VR.5 was broadcast during 1995 and, like so many shows of this type in Australia, relegated to the 10.30pm time slot.  Oddly, only ten episodes were aired during the US run, but all 13 were shown overseas.  I used to avidly wait for it and eat chicken rolls while it played, such simple joys.

! No longer available

Did they resolve the cliffhanger in the three eps that weren't shown in the U.S?

(spoilers below)

IIRC the main character goes into VR 7 to get her comatose mother out but the ep ends with her being trapped-essentially taking her mother's place.  Always kind of thought that was a sucky spot to end things, but I guess they had planned on resolving it in season two.

Or was that a "We'll get to it next season, oh damn, we're cancelled!" kind of thing?

You got it in your last remark, they didn't resolve it.  That was the last episode.