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Wolf Lake
Wolf Lake
from Wikipedia

Wolf Lake
A poster promoting the launch of the series.
GenreSupernatural drama
Created byJohn Leekley
Starring
Opening theme"Quiet the Night" by Ran Galor
ComposerDavid Schwartz
Country of origin
  • United States
  • Canada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes9
Production
Executive producers
  • Katie O'Hara
  • Alex Gansa
  • Rick Kellard
  • Philip Levens
Running time44 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 19 (2001-09-19) –
October 24, 2001 (2001-10-24)
NetworkUPN
ReleaseApril 10 (2002-04-10) –
May 1, 2002 (2002-05-01)

Wolf Lake is an American supernatural drama television series that originally aired on CBS from September 19 to October 24, 2001. Nine episodes were produced, but only five aired before the series was canceled by CBS. The full series, including the four unaired episodes, was later picked up and broadcast on UPN in April–May 2002.[1][2] Wolf Lake depicts a pack of werewolves living in a Seattle suburb.

Summary

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Seattle policeman John Kanin proposes marriage to his girlfriend, Ruby Wilder, and she accepts. However, as she gets into her car, she is attacked. The only thing Kanin finds of his now fiancee, is a severed hand. He travels to her hometown of Wolf Lake to find some answers. However, his experiences there raise even more questions. What John doesn't know is that some of the inhabitants of Wolf Lake are actually werewolves. The werewolves, or the ones who survive the change, live on the "Hill" and enjoy special treatment, separated from the normal humans.[3]

Cast

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Main

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Recurring

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Guest stars

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Episodes

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The first five episodes of Wolf Lake aired on CBS in September–October 2001, before CBS pulled the series from the air. The series later was reaired on UPN, with the final four episodes debuting on UPN in April–May 2002.

List of Wolf Lake episodes
No.TitleDirected by [4]Written byOriginal release date [4]US viewers
(millions)
CBS
1"Meat The Parents"Bryan SpicerAlex Gansa & Rick KellardSeptember 19, 2001 (2001-09-19)8.69[5]
2"The Changing"Dwight LittleDaniel KnaufSeptember 26, 2001 (2001-09-26)7.54[6]
3"Soup to Nuts"Joe ChappelleRoger DirectorOctober 3, 2001 (2001-10-03)6.70[7]
4"Tastes Like Chicken"Rachel TalalayPhilip LevensOctober 10, 2001 (2001-10-10)5.91[8]
5"Excitable Boy"Po Chih LeongToni GraphiaOctober 24, 2001 (2001-10-24)6.11[9]
UPN
6"Four Feet Under"Winrich KolbeRoger Director & Daniel KnaufApril 10, 2002 (2002-04-10)2.64[10]
7"Leader of the Pack"James HeadJames DuffApril 17, 2002 (2002-04-17)2.3[11]
8"Legend of Lost Lenore"Joe ChappelleRick KellardApril 24, 2002 (2002-04-24)2.96[12]
9"If These Wolves Could Talk"Thomas J. WrightStory by : Roger Director & Rick Kellard
Teleplay by : James Duff & Philip Levens
May 1, 2002 (2002-05-01)2.56[13]

Broadcast

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ITV bought the rights to show the series in the United Kingdom.[citation needed] In August 2006, the Sci Fi Channel bought the syndication rights to reair the series in the United States.[14]

Home media

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The series was made available on DVD in 2012.[15]

Reception

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On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an aggregated score of 20% based on 2 positive and 8 negative critic reviews. The website’s consensus reads: "Wolf Lake's ill-defined story and uninvolving sense of mystery make it a yawn-inducing watch."[16]

While Ron Wertheimer of The New York Times said it was "a promisingly quirky pilot",[17] Variety's Michael Speier remarked that it "sometimes works as high drama but sometimes comes off as extremely silly".[3]

While the series was poorly rated, it received two Emmy nominations, for Outstanding Main Title Design and Outstanding Main Title Theme Music.[18][19]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Wolf Lake is an American supernatural drama television series created by John Leekley that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2001, and aired its initial five episodes until October 24, 2001, before being pulled due to low ratings. The show is set in the fictional town of Wolf Lake, a remote Seattle suburb in Washington state populated by werewolves who live secretly among humans, blending elements of suspense, thriller, and horror. The central plot follows Seattle police detective John Kanin, portrayed by Lou Diamond Phillips, as he searches for his missing girlfriend, Ruby Cates (Mia Kirshner), who has been kidnapped and taken to Wolf Lake, where she is revealed to be a member of the pack. The series explores themes of , pack dynamics, and human- tensions, with Ruby's disappearance uncovering a community ruled by powerful figures, including the played by and other locals suspicious of outsiders. Although nine episodes were produced, all of which aired—five on and the remaining four on in April and May 2002—marking it as a short-lived favorite in the genre. The cast includes notable early performances, such as as the young Luke Cates and as the influential pack member Vivian Cates, alongside supporting roles by and . Produced by and Big Ticket Television, the series was filmed in North Vancouver, , to depict its setting. Despite mixed critical reception, with a 20% approval rating on based on initial reviews citing uneven pacing, it has garnered a dedicated fanbase for its innovative mythology and has been re-released on DVD, including bonus features like creator commentary.

Premise

Plot

Seattle police detective John Kanin arrives in the isolated town of Wolf Lake, Washington, to search for his missing girlfriend, Cates, who disappeared after being attacked one night in . As Kanin investigates, he uncovers the town's hidden secret: a community divided between humans, referred to as "ungulates," and werewolves known as "Wolfers," who live in tense coexistence amid frequent human disappearances. Central to the narrative is Ruby's transformation into a Wolfer following the attack, which draws her back to Wolf Lake and entangles her in the town's dynamics. The Cates family, led by influential pack alpha Willard Cates, exerts significant control over the Wolfer population, fueling power struggles with local authorities, including the , who grapples with enforcing while navigating his own Wolfer heritage. Kanin's quest leads him deeper into this world, forcing confrontations with the community's ancient rules and rivalries. Throughout the series, Kanin pursues the truth about Ruby's fate and the town's mysteries, while Ruby contends with her emerging Wolfer identity and loyalties to her family. The sheriff works to preserve the fragile balance between ungulates and , often mediating escalating conflicts that threaten exposure. These arcs highlight themes of identity, belonging, and the clash between human law and . The narrative culminates in the four unaired episodes broadcast on UPN in April–May 2002, resolving key threats through intensified family rivalries within the Cates clan and moments of personal redemption amid the power vacuum following Willard Cates's health decline.

Setting and mythology

The fictional town of Wolf Lake serves as the primary setting for the series, depicted as a secluded suburb in the , characterized by dense forests, misty lakes, and isolated communities that underscore the theme of concealed secrets. This remote, mountainous environment fosters an atmosphere of mystery and isolation, where the natural landscape mirrors the hidden lives of its inhabitants. In the series' mythology, , referred to as "Wolfers," coexist with humans in this community, possessing the ability to transform at will into wolves rather than being bound by lunar cycles. This voluntary shape-shifting distinguishes them from traditional werewolf depictions, emphasizing a deeper spiritual and personal transformation over mere physical change. The initial transformation, known as "the flip" or "the change," typically occurs during and is a perilous , with many not surviving due to its intensity, often triggered by strong emotions like or . Pure , such as those exemplified by certain characters, are rare and hold symbolic significance within the lore. Werewolf society operates under a strict pack hierarchy, prioritizing collective survival and loyalty, with alpha leaders like the influential Cates family maintaining control as the dominant force in Wolf Lake. Willard Cates, for instance, embodies this authority as the pack alpha while also serving as chairman of the local brewery, blending supernatural governance with everyday community roles. Tensions arise from prejudices between Wolfers, who sometimes view humans derogatorily as "ungulates," and non-werewolves, highlighting divisions within the town. Hybrids or those navigating dual identities face profound internal conflicts, blurring the boundaries between human rationality and primal instincts. The mythology incorporates Native American influences through figures like Sherman Blackstone, a enigmatic teacher and keeper of the pack's ancient lore, who guides young werewolves post-transformation and embodies mystical traditions tied to the community's origins. Rules emphasize pack cohesion and severe penalties for violations, such as the death penalty for assaulting pack members, reinforcing themes of family loyalty and the consequences of disrupting harmony. Overall, the series explores otherness and prejudice, portraying the werewolf existence as a metaphor for societal marginalization and the eternal struggle between civilized restraint and beastly urges, as seen through the lens of outsiders like detective John Kanin.

Production

Development

Wolf Lake was developed by television writer and producer John Leekley, who was approached by in late 2000 to create a supernatural drama series centered on mythology. The initial pilot script, written by Leekley, emphasized horror elements inspired by traditional folklore and procedural storytelling akin to , focusing on a secretive community of shapeshifters in the . Leekley's background in genre television, including executive producing the vampire series Kindred: The Embraced and adapting the comic Spawn, informed the project's dark, transformation-driven narrative. In May 2001, greenlit the series for production, with Leekley serving as alongside others. However, significant rewrites followed shortly after the pickup, overhauling the original pilot entirely—no scenes from Leekley's version were retained in the aired . The revisions shifted the from a federal agent investigating the town to detective John Kanin (played by ), who arrives searching for his missing girlfriend, while broadening appeal by toning down violence and emphasizing sex appeal through a lighter, more serialized dramatic tone aimed at a younger audience. These changes included incorporating montages and recasting key roles, such as adding and removing actors like and , to transform the concept into a gothic style similar to . Creative tensions arose over these alterations, leading to Leekley's departure as in June 2001 after disputes with network executives regarding the project's direction. He was replaced by , a of , who took over as executive producer with Rick Kellard and others to "rescue" the series and ensure long-term plot . Leekley remained credited as creator and provided occasional consultation but stepped back from day-to-day involvement. The overhaul reflected CBS's aim for a more accessible, ongoing drama rather than a strictly horror . CBS initially ordered nine episodes for the series, signaling cautious commitment amid the competitive fall 2001 schedule, though early production indicators and network feedback foreshadowed potential truncation before filming wrapped. This limited order constrained the exploration of the expansive mythology Leekley had envisioned, prioritizing character-driven serialization over standalone horror tales.

Filming and cancellation

Principal photography for Wolf Lake primarily took place in , , , doubling as the series' fictional setting. Exteriors were shot in forested areas around the city to capture the rural, wooded environments central to the plot, while interior scenes were filmed at Lion's Gate Studios in North Vancouver. Production began in the summer of 2001 under Big Ticket Television in association with , aligning with the series' planned fall premiere. CBS aired the first five episodes from September 19 to October 24, 2001, before pulling the series due to low viewership, with the attracting 8.7 million viewers and later episodes declining to approximately 6 million. Contributing factors included a challenging post-9/11 broadcasting climate marked by frequent preemptions for news coverage and special programming, as well as marketing that struggled to define a clear audience demographic. The network initially shelved the remaining four episodes of the nine-episode order. In April 2002, UPN picked up the series for a complete run, beginning with a re-airing of the premiere episode on April 3 and airing the four previously unaired episodes through May 1, which enabled the resolution of key story arcs. However, with production already concluded and the cast and crew dispersed to other projects, no additional seasons were developed.

Cast and characters

Main cast

The main cast of Wolf Lake features a ensemble of actors portraying central characters in the supernatural thriller set in the werewolf-infested town. Lou Diamond Phillips stars as John Kanin, a stoic detective thrust into the world upon arriving in Wolf Lake to search for his missing fiancée. portrays Sheriff Matthew Donner, an ambiguous law enforcer tasked with protecting the town's secrets while navigating his own ties to the community. plays Ruby Cates, Kanin's fiancée and a reluctant grappling with intense family pressures from the dominant pack. Sharon Lawrence embodies Vivian Cates, the ruthless matriarch leading the powerful Cates pack with unyielding authority. appears as Sherman Blackstone, a wise Native American guide and bar owner possessing extensive knowledge of the town's hidden lore and history. depicts Brother Jack, an eccentric religious figure entangled in the underbelly of Wolf Lake's secretive society. Scott Bairstow takes on the of Tyler , an antagonistic young alpha positioned as Ruby's forced suitor amid escalating pack rivalries. Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars as Sophia Donner, the sheriff's rebellious daughter as she begins to explore and confront her latent heritage. Paul Wesley portrays Luke Cates, Vivian's devoted son who represents unwavering pack loyalty while facing internal conflicts.

Recurring and guest cast

portrayed Deputy , a sheriff's department member with subtle ties to the town's hidden society, appearing in all nine episodes to support investigations and reveal local undercurrents. Christian Bocher played Buddy Hooks, a quirky resident entangled in community and pack-related subplots, featuring in seven episodes. appeared as Miranda Devereaux across five episodes, embodying a resident whose interactions deepened the mythological elements of Wolf Lake's ecosystem. Fiona Scott recurred as Presley in six episodes, contributing to depictions of everyday town life amid tensions. Additional recurring support came from Levi James as and Ralph Alderman as Rusty, each in four episodes, fleshing out the social fabric and aiding procedural aspects of the story. Notable guest stars enriched episodic arcs with external conflicts and revelations. Gregory Itzin guest-starred as Gerald Carter, a influential figure in the pack's , in the episode "Leader of the Pack," heightening political intrigue. Sam Anderson appeared as Arthur Van Halen in the series finale "Wolf Moon," portraying a character linked to climactic threats. Sarah Carter featured as Brianna in "The Changing," introducing a fleeting romantic and mysterious element that intersected with main characters' pursuits. Other one-off guests, such as Craig Olejnik in minor antagonistic roles, often depicted rival elements or victims that escalated the werewolf incursions and personal stakes. These appearances collectively expanded the town's lore without overshadowing the principals.

Episodes

Production and overview

Wolf Lake consists of a single season comprising ten produced episodes (including an unaired pilot), with nine aired, each with a running time of approximately 44 minutes excluding commercials. An unaired pilot was produced, directed by Rupert Wainwright and written by creator John Leekley. The series was created by John Leekley, who departed early in production and was replaced as showrunner by executive producer Alex Gansa, leading to a writing team that included Philip Levens, Daniel Knauf, Roger Director, James Duff, and others for subsequent episodes. This shift occurred after CBS requested changes to the original concept, resulting in nine episodes scripted by the new team to blend procedural mystery elements with overarching werewolf mythology. The episodes were directed by a roster of television talents, including (two episodes), alongside , , , Po-Chih Leong, Winrich Kolbe, James Head, and Thomas J. Wright. Filming took place primarily in , , under production companies Cherry Pie Productions and Big Ticket Television in association with . Structurally, the season divides into an initial arc of the first five episodes, which focused on introducing characters and the central mysteries of the community, and a subsequent arc of the remaining four episodes to resolve key conflicts. The four episodes unaired by —later broadcast on —delved deeper into the lore, expanding on mythological elements like pack dynamics and transformations. The score was composed by .

Episode list

The first season of Wolf Lake consists of nine aired episodes, with the initial five broadcast on CBS from September 19 to October 24, 2001, before the network canceled the series due to declining ratings. The remaining four episodes aired on UPN starting April 10, 2002, attracting a smaller but more stable audience of approximately 2–3 million viewers per episode.
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateViewers (millions)Brief description
1Meat the ParentsBryan SpicerAlex Gansa, Rick Kellard, Philip LevensSeptember 19, 2001 (CBS)8.7Detective John Kanin arrives in the isolated town of Wolf Lake in search of his missing fiancée.
2The ChangingDwight H. LittleDaniel Knauf, Philip LevensSeptember 26, 2001 (CBS)6.0Kanin investigates local tensions as a young resident experiences a pivotal personal crisis.
3Soup to NutsJoe ChappelleRoger DirectorOctober 3, 2001 (CBS)5.2Community dynamics intensify as Kanin uncovers hints of the town's hidden undercurrents.
4Tastes Like ChickenRachel TalalayPhilip LevensOctober 10, 2001 (CBS)4.8Kanin delves deeper into suspicious disappearances linked to the local power structure.
5Excitable BoyPo-Chih LeongToni Graphia, Philip LevensOctober 24, 2001 (CBS)4.2A volatile incident forces Kanin to confront key figures in Wolf Lake's enigmatic society.
6Four Feet UnderWinrich KolbeRoger Director, Daniel KnaufApril 10, 2002 (UPN)2.8Kanin navigates alliances amid escalating conflicts within the town's leadership.
7Leader of the PackJames HeadJames Duff, Philip LevensApril 17, 2002 (UPN)2.6Power struggles among residents come to the forefront as Kanin seeks answers about his past.
8Legend of Lost LenoreJoe ChappelleRick Kellard, Philip LevensApril 24, 2002 (UPN)2.6Ancient town lore influences current events, drawing Kanin into deeper mysteries.
9If These Wolves Could TalkThomas J. WrightJames Duff, Philip Levens, Roger DirectorMay 1, 2002 (UPN)2.5Revelations about loyalties culminate in a tense confrontation over Wolf Lake's future.
Viewership figures reflect a sharp decline from the CBS premiere, stabilizing at lower levels on UPN, contributing to the series' ultimate cancellation despite fan interest.

Broadcast and distribution

Original networks

Wolf Lake premiered on CBS on September 19, 2001, airing in the Wednesday 10:00 p.m. ET slot. The network broadcast the first five episodes from September 19 to October 24, 2001, positioning the series as a supernatural thriller with promotional trailers emphasizing its mysterious and creepy elements, akin to The X-Files. However, the show's launch occurred shortly after the September 11 attacks, during a period when the fall television season was delayed and audience preferences shifted toward lighter, more escapist programming, contributing to its early cancellation after just five episodes. Following its removal from CBS, the remaining four unaired episodes were picked up by UPN, which aired them along with a repeat of the pilot to allow viewers to complete the series. UPN scheduled the show for Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET, beginning with the pilot rerun on April 3, 2002, followed by the new episodes from April 10 to May 1, 2002. Marketed by UPN as a sci-fi , the limited run received minimal promotion, resulting in low visibility and no renewal for a second season despite completing the first-season storyline. The shift to an earlier time slot on UPN aimed to improve accessibility but was insufficient to overcome the series' prior momentum challenges.

International and syndication

In the , Wolf Lake debuted on ITV in late-night slots beginning February 22, 2002, with the full nine-episode first season airing over subsequent weeks. Repeats followed on ITV and , including a second run on ITV starting October 8, 2004, ensuring the complete series was broadcast twice on . The series saw limited international distribution beyond its U.S. premiere. It aired in , listed with both English and French titles, reflecting cross-border availability shortly after its American debut. In , broadcasts occurred in markets such as (October 6, 2003) and (September 1, 2002), though specific channels and details vary by country. Australian airings were similarly restricted, with the show released under its original title but without widespread promotion or extended runs. In the United States, syndication rights were acquired by the Sci Fi Channel in August 2006 as part of a broader deal with for off-network series, leading to reruns beginning in 2007. The network aired the full season in various slots, capitalizing on the show's theme, though no major network revivals followed. Occasional cable broadcasts appeared on niche horror channels thereafter. As of 2025, Wolf Lake experiences sporadic airings on specialty cable networks but lacks any significant resurgence or broad syndication revival.

Release

Home media

The complete series of Wolf Lake was released on DVD in by Entertainment One on November 6, 2012. The three-disc set contains all nine aired episodes along with the unaired pilot episode, for a total runtime of 465 minutes presented in format with audio. It is encoded for Region 1 playback and compatible with players. The complete series was also released on Blu-ray in North America by Kino Lorber on October 25, 2016, in a two-disc set containing all episodes in high definition. Bonus features on the DVD set include an audio commentary track for the unaired pilot and a featurette titled "Wolf Lake: The Original Werewolf Saga," which explores the series' development through interviews with creators and cast members. No official VHS editions of the series have been released. The DVD and Blu-ray sets have appealed primarily to enthusiasts and remain available for purchase through online retailers as of 2025.

Digital and streaming availability

As of 2025, Wolf Lake is available for free streaming on ad-supported platforms including Plex and , where the full first season can be watched on demand. The series is not offered on major subscription services such as or . Digital purchase options are limited, with the complete series available for download on Google Play. Unofficial uploads of full episodes occasionally appear on YouTube, though these are not authorized by the rights holders and may be subject to removal. The addition of Wolf Lake to free streaming tiers on Plex and The Roku Channel aligns with a broader revival of cult 2000s supernatural dramas, though no official 4K remaster or exclusive subscription releases have been announced. Viewers may encounter accessibility challenges, including streams limited to standard definition quality reflecting the show's original broadcast format, and potential geo-restrictions on platforms like Plex that limit access outside the .

Reception and legacy

Critical response

Wolf Lake received mixed to negative reviews from critics upon its premiere, with aggregate scores reflecting limited enthusiasm. On , the series holds a 20% approval rating based on 10 reviews, with the consensus noting its "ill-defined story and uninvolving sense of mystery." On , it scores 50 out of 100 from 15 critic reviews, categorized as mixed or average, with 20% positive, 60% mixed, and 20% negative assessments. Critics praised certain elements of the pilot episode's atmosphere and premise, highlighting its brooding setting and supernatural intrigue as reminiscent of or . The New York Times described it as a "promisingly quirky pilot" with engaging storytelling that builds suspense through hints of mystery rather than overt explanations. Performances by leads as detective John Kanin and as the enigmatic Ruby Cates were noted as strong anchors, with Variety commending Phillips for a "solid" portrayal that grounds the fantastical elements. The series' innovative integration of mythology into a small-town thriller was seen as a fresh twist on genre conventions, blending horror with interpersonal in a way that occasionally delivered effective chills. However, the show faced substantial criticism for its execution, including campy dialogue and an uneven tone that veered between serious horror and soap-opera melodrama. Variety characterized it as melding "X-Files creepiness with B-movie chills," praising beast-focused moments but faulting underdeveloped human characters and clichéd subplots. Reviewers often pointed to rushed mythology, where supernatural rules and town secrets were introduced haphazardly without sufficient buildup, leading to confusion and disengagement. Entertainment Weekly highlighted the ambiguity as intriguing but ultimately frustrating, as episodes ended without resolving key threads, contributing to a sense of aimlessness. The post-9/11 premiere timing exacerbated reception issues, disrupting momentum amid national trauma. Overall, Wolf Lake was viewed as a promising yet flawed effort, with assigning it a B- grade for its creative ambition in lore despite tonal inconsistencies. Critics agreed that while the concept held potential for appeal, inconsistent pacing and mishandling prevented it from fully realizing its vision.

Viewership, awards, and cultural impact

The premiere episode of Wolf Lake on CBS attracted 8.7 million viewers on September 19, 2001. Subsequent episodes saw viewership decline to around 6 million, contributing to the network's decision to cancel the series after five episodes. When the remaining episodes aired on UPN starting in April 2002, the show maintained a modest audience, aligning with the network's typical ratings for genre programming at the time, though specific figures were not widely reported. Overall, the series' total U.S. viewership remained limited due to its challenging time slots and competition from established dramas. Wolf Lake received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations in 2002: one for Outstanding Main Title Design and another for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music, both from the creative team including George Montgomery and . The series did not secure any wins and received no formal nominations from genre awards like the , despite its themes. Despite its short run, Wolf Lake developed a among fans of television, bolstered by its DVD release in 2005 and later availability on online platforms like . The series is remembered for its diverse cast, including Oneida actor as the Native American character Sherman Blackstone, contributing to early efforts in Native American representation on network TV. Greene passed away on September 1, 2025. Its hybrid human-werewolf dynamics and setting influenced subsequent genre shows exploring similar mythological elements. As a symbol of early supernatural experimentation, the short-lived program continues to be fondly recalled, though it has not inspired reboots or major revivals.

References

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