![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Despite NBC’s initial worries that middle America and the two coasts might be bored to tears with nine hours of feudal Japanese history, once Shogun showed up on the NBC schedule with not a single new episode of M*A*S*H or Three’s Company or The Dukes of Hazzard to harass it in the Nielsen’s, its popularity was almost assured. Sean Connery was again approached for the lead (as were Albert Finney and Roger Moore), but ultimately the more affordable TV star Richard Chamberlain was chosen (the ornery, notoriously work-shy Connery reportedly laughed at the suggestion of his shooting a mere television movie for months in Japan-a country he openly admitted to not liking when he made the Bond film, You Only Live Twice, there in 1966). However, the arrogant Blackthorne and crew are viewed by the exceedingly polite-and exceedingly deadly-samurai who rule the village, as barbarians from a vastly different culture who are worthy only of suspicion. The “Japans,” as Blackthorne has been telling his disbelieving crew, do exist. Wayward Dutch trading vessel The Erasmus, having successfully navigated the Straits of Magellan, and piloted by Englishman John Blackthorne ( Richard Chamberlain), shipwrecks off the coastal waters of Japan, near the village of Anjiro. Can you afford $1 a month? Well then, click over and check it out! The more support we get, the more content we can churn out for you! Click here to support us.įeudal Japan, 1598. This rundown is only to set the stage.Īre you enjoying the content we’ve produced for the past half-decade? If so, consider supporting us by becoming a Patron at our new Patreon page. Reviewer’s note: It’s not within the scope of this brief synopsis to detail the many subplots and characters found in the 9+ hour Shogun…nor would I want to spoil the fun. Your purchase helps pay the bills at this website! Newer viewers will still want to tune in…unless they’re waiting for FX network’s much-delayed reboot, which everyone involved with promises has even more humiliation, degradation, and marginalization for our inherently evil White Western male “hero.” ![]() So, there are a lot of viewers out there, my age and older, who no doubt have fond memories of this exciting miniseries, chronicling the culture shock adventures of fictional Englishman John Blackthorne’s (loosely based on the English navigator William Adams) adventures in early 17th century feudal Japan. That’s right: it’s time for a blockbuster miniseries, and a quick glance over at the calendar tells me this September 15th is the 40th anniversary of the premiere of NBC’s mega-hit serial, Shogun, a massive $22 million programming event that kept an estimated 130 million (total) pre-VCR American TV viewers glued to their sets for five consecutive nights back in 1980.īased on the James Clavell bestseller of the same name, and starring Richard Chamberlain, Toshiro Mifune, and Yôko Shimada, Shogun came this close to beating the record Nielsen ratings for ABC’s Roots when it first premiered. Now, what’s a Drunk TV virtual Fall TV season.without some special event television (“We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming tonight because of the f*cking actor’s strike to bring you an NBC Movie Event!”)? ![]()
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