| Perversions of Science | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Based on | Weird Science byWilliam Gaines |
| Voices of | Maureen Teefy |
| Theme music composer | Danny Elfman |
| Composers |
|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | |
| Producer | Gilbert Adler |
| Running time | 22 minutes(approx.) |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | HBO |
| Release | June 7 (1997-06-07) – July 23, 1997 (1997-07-23) |
| Related | |
| Tales from the Crypt | |
Perversions of Science is an Americanscience fiction/horroranthology television series that ran from June 7 to July 23, 1997, on the premiumcablechannelHBO, lasting one season. It is aspin-off of the horror seriesTales from the Crypt also shown on HBO,[1] and its episodes are based onEC Comics'sWeird Science,[2]Weird Fantasy, andIncredible Science Fictioncomic book series.
The format ofPerversions of Science is similar toTales from the Crypt; the latter is hosted bythe Cryptkeeper, a wisecracking corpse performed bypuppeteers, whilePerversion of Science is hosted by acomputer-generatedfemale robot named Chrome (voiced byMaureen Teefy).[3] Individual episodes begin with an introduction by Chrome, followed by a main narrative. After the narrative is complete, Chrome concludes the episode by making a comment about the story in question.[1] Unlike the Cryptkeeper, who frequently makespuns revolving around death and macabre subjects, Chrome engages more insexual innuendo.[2]
Most episodes focused on a part of science fiction such asalien invasion orspace/time travel.
The show featured a mix of established talent and young up-and-comers. For instance, "Panic" starred a youngJason Lee andJamie Kennedy oppositeHarvey Korman.[2]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Source | Directed by | Written by | Original release date [4] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Dream of Doom" | Weird Science #12 (1) | Walter Hill | David S. Goyer | June 7, 1997 (1997-06-07) | |
A 40-year-old divorced but childless professor (Keith Carradine) cannot wake from his dreams. Each time he wakes up, he finds himself in another dream. Also starringAdam Arkin,Lolita Davidovich, and Gretchen Palmer. | |||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Anatomy Lesson" | Weird Fantasy #12 (As A Lesson in Anatomy!) | Gilbert Adler | Kevin Rock | June 7, 1997 (1997-06-07) | |
The son (Jeremy London) of a small towncoroner (Jim Metzler) has the desire to kill. A strange bearded man (Jeff Fahey) always interferes with his plans. Also starringJoanna Gleason and Devon Odessa. | |||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Boxed In" | Original Story | William Shatner | Chris Miller & Kevin Rock | June 7, 1997 (1997-06-07) | |
A space pilot (Kevin Pollak) has spent years in an eroding fighter with a femaleandroid (Heather Elizabeth Parkhurst). He has kept his promise to be faithful to his fiancée named Dulcine (Melanie Shatner) who is also the daughter of an Admiral (William Shatner). When he finally gets to see her, he notices that the Admiral has fitted her with an electronicchastity belt. | |||||||
| 4 | 4 | "The Exile" | Weird Fantasy #14 | William Malone | David J. Schow | June 11, 1997 (1997-06-11) | |
A scientist (Jeffrey Combs) who kills people in his impurity-purging experiments is arrested and tried. Whenrehabilitation fails at the hands of the prison psychiatrist (David Warner), he is sentenced to be "exiled." Also starringRon Perlman, Christopher John Fields, Brian Brophy, andJeff Corey. | |||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Given the Heir" | Weird Science #16 | Ramón Menéndez | Mark Verheiden | June 18, 1997 (1997-06-18) | |
A woman (Yancy Butler) re-shapes her body toperfection. She then participates in an experiment where she is sent ten years into the past where she meets a man (William McNamara) obsessed with perfection. Also starringDavid Leisure andPaul Williams. | |||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Planely Possible" | Weird Fantasy #21 | Russell Mulcahy | Peter Atkins | June 25, 1997 (1997-06-25) | |
A grieving widower (George Newbern) volunteers to be the subject of an experiment by an ex-NASA scientist (Vincent Schiavelli) where he will be sent to another plane ofexistence where his murdered wife (Elizabeth Berkley) may still be alive. Also starringJoyce Brothers. | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Panic" | Weird Science #15 (4) | Tobe Hooper | Andrew Kevin Walker | July 2, 1997 (1997-07-02) | |
In the 1930s, Bob (Jason Lee) and John (Jamie Kennedy) are among a number of people at aHalloween costume party trying to deal with the panic caused by a fictionalized version of theOrson Welles Mercury Theatre production ofThe War of the Worlds as people start turning up dead. Also starringLaraine Newman,Harvey Korman,Edie McClurg, andChris Sarandon. | |||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Snap Ending" | Weird Science #18 | Sean Astin | Kevin Rock | July 9, 1997 (1997-07-09) | |
A spaceship captain (Jennifer Hetrick) and her mixed gender crew (Wil Wheaton,Sean Astin andKathleen Wilhoite) struggle with anxiety when an unidentified extraterrestrial virus puts the ship in lockdown and activates the self-destruct sequence. | |||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Ultimate Weapon" | Incredible Science Fiction #32 | Dean Lopata | Gilbert Adler & Jeannette Lewis | July 16, 1997 (1997-07-16) | |
A shapeshifting alien from outer space assumes a human form (Paolo Seganti) in order to mate with a native earth-person (Heather Langenkamp) who is also dealing with her moody husband (Mitchell Whitfield), her drunk girlfriends (Kim Myers and Maria Chin), and her visiting parents (Jennifer Darling andSteve Kahan). | |||||||
| 10 | 10 | "The People's Choice" | Weird Science #16 | Russell Mulcahy | Scott Nimerfro | July 23, 1997 (1997-07-23) | |
In the near future, asuburban family (Patrick Cassidy andMaxine Bahns) gets caught between groups of warring robots. When one of their robots is damaged every night, a robot repairman suggests that they buy a new one: a red, white, and bluepatriot. Also starringBarry Williams andRichard Riehle. | |||||||
The series was released in Japan (Region 2, NTSC) on March 23, 2001, across three individual DVD volumes byPioneer Entertainment andTohokushinsha Film.[5][6]