June 8, 2025 • 18 mins
The Millennium Group Sessions Redux returns with another brand new episode. This time we talk with the creator of Millennium, the man himself, Chris Carter as he celebrates the 25th anniversary of the show's premiere.
Host - Troy L. Foreman
Special guest - Chris Carter
Follow us on X - @tiwwamm
Website - www,thetimeisnowmm.com
Podcast Intro - Lance Henriksen
Host - Troy L. Foreman
Special guest - Chris Carter
Follow us on X - @tiwwamm
Website - www,thetimeisnowmm.com
Podcast Intro - Lance Henriksen
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
After a decade, the time is now, the wave is
becoming title. Join us in the campaign for the return
of FBI criminal Profiler Frank Black and Millennium. This is
the back to Frank Black Millennium group sessions, My friends,
(00:26):
this is who we are.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
You know?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Twenty five years ago the show aired on Fox, and
are you surprised a show like Millennium about a profiler
about the darkness and humanity still resonates with people to
this day?
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Yeah. I mean, obviously, true crime is and crime fiction
and procedurals are always a popular, evergreen form of entertainment,
so it's funny that murder can be a form of entertainment,
(01:10):
but indeed it is.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
The X Files has influenced so many shows over the years,
and I would argue that Belinium itself has been an
influencer of television series as well. But it's look, it's cinematography,
the grittiness to darkness.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Would you agree with that?
Speaker 4 (01:28):
Yeah? I hope so, I'd like to think so. You know,
it was received as extremely dark and for some people,
too dark, but I think that in the darkness, obviously,
(01:50):
Lance and Frank Black hoped for something other than darkness
and I think that was rubber sended metaphorically in that
Yellow house of his.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Do you think with the success of the X Files,
you know, just coming out the gate being a huge
hit right off the bat, do you think that was
a hindrance and a help for Millennium, Like, you know,
obviously the Millennium started out really, really well, but when
fans realized it wasn't going to be exactly like the
X Files, it wasn't going to be X Files light
that that may have hurt the sixth of the X Files,
(02:27):
may have hurt the Millennium series.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
No, I think Millennium found its core audience. I think
some people, I mean some people came to it obviously
as a and X files with the X Files connection,
but I hope we delivered. I mean, I think that
pilot delivered everything the X Files could deliver, and you
(02:56):
know that it actually maintained what I would call a
solid audience through its three years. I think the show
could have gone on, and for reasons that I regret,
the show did not, but we had very solid ratings
that could have carried us on.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Thinking back on your initial pros working on the show,
is there anything that you might have done differently on
the show. Besides the obvious cohesiveness of the three seasons,
whether toned or thematic elements, you might have steered differently.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Looking back on it now, well.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
I think of it as three different shows. I think
of it as the first season. I think of it
as the second season when I had to step away,
And I think of it as the third season, when
we had to really respond to an answer to the
second season, which was a departure. So I think the
show benefited from that infusion of energy, and I think that,
(03:56):
as I say, the fourth year would have been a
very interesting and beyond would have been I think, very
interesting continuation of something that I think still held a
lot of promise and energy.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Speaking of the second season, this is something I've always wondered.
You mentioned before. You guys have a lot of work
going on. Back then, you work on the X Files,
you started working on the movie, you had Millennium as well.
That sounds like a ton of work. When Morgan and
Wong came in to take over season two, did you
guys have any kind of meeting as to where you
may have wanted the series to go or where they
were thinking about taking the series at all, or they
(04:32):
just went ahead and ran with it and did their thing.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
I don't recall. It's a long time ago now, obviously
you know, over twenty years. I don't remember exactly what
the handoff constituted or what constitutor to handoff, but I
know they had very strong feelings about the show, the characters,
the relationships, and the storytelling.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
For me, the X Files films, I really enjoyed those,
but the second one. Many fans feel that the second
movie felt more like a millennium film.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
I think we've talked about this before.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
There are also rumors that Frank Black was going to
make an appearance in the film, and we heard about
that as well. Was that true, and what were your
thoughts on the film feeling more like a millennium movie.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
It's funny, it has a millennium theme to it, certainly
a storytelling. I think that you know that second movie
was inspired by something that we're talking about the X
Files now, the second movie was inspired by something that
actually took place, and I met with a doctor in
(05:37):
Cleveland at Case University, Case Western University who had actually
conducted a head transplant on a chimp, and so that
was kind of the inspiration. I don't remember if Frank Black,
Lanceandrickson was going to appear in the movie or not.
(05:57):
I'm not sure now looking back, he might have appeared
in the movie. Right that said, I always look for
any opportunity to feature Land.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
What was one of the toughest battles you had when
you were working on Millennium?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Was it the critics, studio, execs, audience?
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Well, I mean all those things. I mean, you try
to be an audience pleaser always, but you try to
make sure that you are following your own instincts. And
you know, shows can be I think directed and misdirected
by audience feedback. And I think, looking at the X Files,
(06:41):
while we heard our audience, we were always true to
I think with the characters and the situations and the mythology,
and I think the same could be said for a Millennium.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
I don't know if you can answer this question or not,
but one of the big questions I got from fans
about the third season of the show is if Peter
Watch is actually dead or not. You through see his
foot at the end of the final episode, but some
people still think he might still be alive. Can you
finally put an answer to that question.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Are you talking about Terry O'Quinn. Yes, yeah, I actually
can't answer that question. It's funny that in the season
finale of the last reboot of The X Files, Mitch
Peleggie's leg was the last thing you saw. So I
think those are wonderful coincentences.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
I'm curious to know many fans are asking since now
that Disney owns Fox or Disney owns the show, the
other two big questions we get are will it ever
come out on Blu Ray? And will it ever be
end up on some kind of streaming platform, most likely Hulu?
Is there any way you can answer anything like that?
Speaker 4 (07:49):
I hope so, and I think so. I don't know
that it'll come out on Blu Ray, which seems to
be somewhat of.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
A dying.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Thing, but I think that it ultimately will find its
way onto some platform, probably Hulu, which is owned by
Disney Fox. I can't see why not everything else seems
to be on television these days. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
If you were, let's say, hypothetically, to get a green
light for another short limited run for the show, what
lessons did you learn from the experience of seasons ten
and eleven of the X Files and the fan and
critical reaction that might help inform your approach to a
revival millennium if that ever happened.
Speaker 4 (08:35):
Yeah, there's some there's a trick, and the trick is
being respectful of the original fans, the fan base, people
who have held the torch, but at the same time
wanting to attract and entertain a new audience. And so
(08:58):
I think with the X File that was the trick
is we were responsible and receptive to fans desires to
see the mythology and the stories within that mythology be continued,
but at the same time we had to be mindful
(09:20):
that we had a whole new audience. Some of the
them weren't even born when The X Files came out.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Many fans feel that if the show did come back,
it would probably one of the main storylines were probably
focusing on Jordan. And I know you've told me in
the passage you've had ideas where you wanted to go
with the show, and you probably won't share that with me,
But do you have ideas where you'd like to see
the show go if it did come back.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
If the show came back, I have some strong ideas
about the direction of the show, the relationships, the characters,
the situations, the circumstances, all those things are I think
are have been on my.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
What do you think when you're looking back on the show?
What are you most proud of? When you look back
on this series and working on this series and working
with everyone you worked with, Because there was some black
deck files, there were some extremely talented people that worked
on that show.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
Yeah, really really talented people who stayed on the show
from the beginning, stayed with the show, which is why
I think the show maintained what I would call a
tonal continuity, even though, as I say, there were three
separate seasons, I feel the tone, the darkness and the
(10:41):
contrasting lightness of the show were maintained. Yeah, I'm not
sure if I answer your question, but.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
It's more like, what are you most proud of, Like
looking back at your time working on that show.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
Oh, what I'm most proud of is the storytelling of
the character relationships that the show maintained a an honest
and truthful quality.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
A lot of the times I'm watching television today, especially
on streaming services and cable, and I think to myself,
if Millennium were existed right now. You could drop it
into pretty much on any streamer, a cable and would
fit right in with its tone and the darkness.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Would you would you agree with that?
Speaker 4 (11:30):
It's funny that Glenn Morgan told me he had a
meeting with some executives at a studio I think it
may have been Warner Brothers, and one of the executives says,
if he had a show to bring back, it would
be Millennium.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Really.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Yeah. Unfortunately Warner Brothers just not on my not on
the title. And so while that is always music to
my ears, it's the wrong studio.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Wow, I did not And was that recent? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (12:01):
That was recently.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Wow, that's interesting.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
Speaking of the X File, I couldn't talk to you
without talking about The X Files. David the company recently
mentioned several times that he would be interested in coming back.
Is that something you're looking looking forward to and also
interested in bringing the show The X Files back.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
It would be a trick again, because I think Jillian
has expressed her unwillingness to come back. So it could
come back. It could come back without Scully. It came
back without Mulder for a time right the run of
the show, so Mulder was a kind of absence center.
(12:41):
I think that if it did come back, it would
be a not dissimilar approach with Jillian's character.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
One of the fans who wrote to us asking a
question said, you know, if The X Files did come back,
Chris could always write an episode with Fox and Frank
Black working on a case, maybe trying to find Avatar again.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
I think that would be pretty cool.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
That Actually, it'd be great crossover.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
Speaking of X Files, your next project is an animated
series called The X Files Albuquerque. I don't know if
there's anything you can tell us about the project where
it stands, when it will be premiering anytime soon. If
you can tell us anything at all, I can.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
Tell you that as it stands, that series is on
the shelf, and for a variety of reasons, I don't
think you'll see it anytime soon, if you see it
at all.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
And I think finally, you know a lot of people
don't want to say I wish I would have done us.
I wish youuld have done that. But if you're looking
back on the show now millennium, that is, would there
be anything that you would change or maybe decided to
go in another direction?
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Looking back, on the show now.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Well, it's interesting. I mean, you look at television now
and people roll out ten episodes series, and we did
twenty two episodes a season roughly. I think, what are
there sixty four episodes of the show? You tell me
how many episodes are there? Sixty seven sixty seven episodes? Amazingly,
(14:19):
and that's a three year period. I think I would
look forward to doing a shorter run of the show
and being able to write all the scripts before you
ever went into production. That would I'm not sure I'm.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Answering your question, but yeah, you are, Yeah, these.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
Are things on my mind. It would be great to
have the luxury of not writing while you're producing and
trying to stay one step ahead of this monster who
is all consuming monster who requires you to do way
(14:58):
too many jobs at once. That would be a dream
come true. And I think it would be make Millennium
a better show.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
I see, and I also agree with that. I think
like the short of season ten thirteen episodes, like a
lot of British shows, or six seven episodes, that makes
them more tight than the writing, more tighter and more cohesive,
don't you think.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
Well, I mean, one episode can relate to another, and
you can develop a true arc instead of finding it
as you go. You know, I'm just I just finished
watching this series The Morning Show, and you could tell
they had the luxury of writing all the episodes to
begin with, because they were able to layer in a
(15:37):
lot of things. For example, the character dies of a
drug overdose, so they were able to lay in an
element of her addiction previously where they might not have
if they hadn't had the opportunity to think about layering
clues like that in.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
One of the most interesting things that I learned about
the show when we were doing the documentary was when
we were talking to Frank, we had no idea that
you had initially offered him the second season of the
show to run, which I thought was really interesting and
definitely would have been an interesting take on the series.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
The second season. I had no idea about that.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
I had no idea about the I mean, I don't
remember doing that. Frank was, you know, actively, you know,
involved in the X Files series and the X Files movie.
I think that would have been triple duty for him,
so that it actually is something I don't recall. That
(16:41):
may have been the case, but it has slipped my memory.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
And Finally, you know, with The X Files and with Millennium,
you have inspired thousands of people around the world to
get into this business, to become writers, to become producers.
Fans have created documentaries, books, everything like that under the sun.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
You have to be proud.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
And what would you like to say to the fans
who supported your work over the past twenty five years?
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Oh my gosh, it's I had a fellow come to
me just two days ago. He made the connection that
I was the creator of The X Files, and he
said I could tell it was hard for him to
say that what a big fan he was, and that
(17:29):
his nephew was an even bigger fan, And when I
signed a T shirt for him, and I said, of
course I will. And you know, it's the fans of
the reason for the success of the show. The show
would not have gone on with the I would call it,
with The X Files a large cult audience, and with
(17:51):
the Millennium with a relatively smaller cult audience. So it's
all about the fans. Without the fans, the show wouldn't exist.
So we own everything to the fan base. And you know,
I'm sitting here talking to you twenty five years later,
that's you know, it's an incredible thing. I mean, that's
(18:16):
for me, nearly half a lifetime later, I have to,
you know, marvel at the ideas that prompted not just
the show, but the longevity of the show.
After a decade, the time is now, the wave is
becoming title. Join us in the campaign for the return
of FBI criminal Profiler Frank Black and Millennium. This is
the back to Frank Black Millennium group sessions, My friends,
(00:26):
this is who we are.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
You know?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Twenty five years ago the show aired on Fox, and
are you surprised a show like Millennium about a profiler
about the darkness and humanity still resonates with people to
this day?
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Yeah. I mean, obviously, true crime is and crime fiction
and procedurals are always a popular, evergreen form of entertainment,
so it's funny that murder can be a form of entertainment,
(01:10):
but indeed it is.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
The X Files has influenced so many shows over the years,
and I would argue that Belinium itself has been an
influencer of television series as well. But it's look, it's cinematography,
the grittiness to darkness.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Would you agree with that?
Speaker 4 (01:28):
Yeah? I hope so, I'd like to think so. You know,
it was received as extremely dark and for some people,
too dark, but I think that in the darkness, obviously,
(01:50):
Lance and Frank Black hoped for something other than darkness
and I think that was rubber sended metaphorically in that
Yellow house of his.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Do you think with the success of the X Files,
you know, just coming out the gate being a huge
hit right off the bat, do you think that was
a hindrance and a help for Millennium, Like, you know,
obviously the Millennium started out really, really well, but when
fans realized it wasn't going to be exactly like the
X Files, it wasn't going to be X Files light
that that may have hurt the sixth of the X Files,
(02:27):
may have hurt the Millennium series.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
No, I think Millennium found its core audience. I think
some people, I mean some people came to it obviously
as a and X files with the X Files connection,
but I hope we delivered. I mean, I think that
pilot delivered everything the X Files could deliver, and you
(02:56):
know that it actually maintained what I would call a
solid audience through its three years. I think the show
could have gone on, and for reasons that I regret,
the show did not, but we had very solid ratings
that could have carried us on.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Thinking back on your initial pros working on the show,
is there anything that you might have done differently on
the show. Besides the obvious cohesiveness of the three seasons,
whether toned or thematic elements, you might have steered differently.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Looking back on it now, well.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
I think of it as three different shows. I think
of it as the first season. I think of it
as the second season when I had to step away,
And I think of it as the third season, when
we had to really respond to an answer to the
second season, which was a departure. So I think the
show benefited from that infusion of energy, and I think that,
(03:56):
as I say, the fourth year would have been a
very interesting and beyond would have been I think, very
interesting continuation of something that I think still held a
lot of promise and energy.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Speaking of the second season, this is something I've always wondered.
You mentioned before. You guys have a lot of work
going on. Back then, you work on the X Files,
you started working on the movie, you had Millennium as well.
That sounds like a ton of work. When Morgan and
Wong came in to take over season two, did you
guys have any kind of meeting as to where you
may have wanted the series to go or where they
were thinking about taking the series at all, or they
(04:32):
just went ahead and ran with it and did their thing.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
I don't recall. It's a long time ago now, obviously
you know, over twenty years. I don't remember exactly what
the handoff constituted or what constitutor to handoff, but I
know they had very strong feelings about the show, the characters,
the relationships, and the storytelling.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
For me, the X Files films, I really enjoyed those,
but the second one. Many fans feel that the second
movie felt more like a millennium film.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
I think we've talked about this before.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
There are also rumors that Frank Black was going to
make an appearance in the film, and we heard about
that as well. Was that true, and what were your
thoughts on the film feeling more like a millennium movie.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
It's funny, it has a millennium theme to it, certainly
a storytelling. I think that you know that second movie
was inspired by something that we're talking about the X
Files now, the second movie was inspired by something that
actually took place, and I met with a doctor in
(05:37):
Cleveland at Case University, Case Western University who had actually
conducted a head transplant on a chimp, and so that
was kind of the inspiration. I don't remember if Frank Black,
Lanceandrickson was going to appear in the movie or not.
(05:57):
I'm not sure now looking back, he might have appeared
in the movie. Right that said, I always look for
any opportunity to feature Land.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
What was one of the toughest battles you had when
you were working on Millennium?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Was it the critics, studio, execs, audience?
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Well, I mean all those things. I mean, you try
to be an audience pleaser always, but you try to
make sure that you are following your own instincts. And
you know, shows can be I think directed and misdirected
by audience feedback. And I think, looking at the X Files,
(06:41):
while we heard our audience, we were always true to
I think with the characters and the situations and the mythology,
and I think the same could be said for a Millennium.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
I don't know if you can answer this question or not,
but one of the big questions I got from fans
about the third season of the show is if Peter
Watch is actually dead or not. You through see his
foot at the end of the final episode, but some
people still think he might still be alive. Can you
finally put an answer to that question.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Are you talking about Terry O'Quinn. Yes, yeah, I actually
can't answer that question. It's funny that in the season
finale of the last reboot of The X Files, Mitch
Peleggie's leg was the last thing you saw. So I
think those are wonderful coincentences.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
I'm curious to know many fans are asking since now
that Disney owns Fox or Disney owns the show, the
other two big questions we get are will it ever
come out on Blu Ray? And will it ever be
end up on some kind of streaming platform, most likely Hulu?
Is there any way you can answer anything like that?
Speaker 4 (07:49):
I hope so, and I think so. I don't know
that it'll come out on Blu Ray, which seems to
be somewhat of.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
A dying.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Thing, but I think that it ultimately will find its
way onto some platform, probably Hulu, which is owned by
Disney Fox. I can't see why not everything else seems
to be on television these days. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
If you were, let's say, hypothetically, to get a green
light for another short limited run for the show, what
lessons did you learn from the experience of seasons ten
and eleven of the X Files and the fan and
critical reaction that might help inform your approach to a
revival millennium if that ever happened.
Speaker 4 (08:35):
Yeah, there's some there's a trick, and the trick is
being respectful of the original fans, the fan base, people
who have held the torch, but at the same time
wanting to attract and entertain a new audience. And so
(08:58):
I think with the X File that was the trick
is we were responsible and receptive to fans desires to
see the mythology and the stories within that mythology be continued,
but at the same time we had to be mindful
(09:20):
that we had a whole new audience. Some of the
them weren't even born when The X Files came out.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Many fans feel that if the show did come back,
it would probably one of the main storylines were probably
focusing on Jordan. And I know you've told me in
the passage you've had ideas where you wanted to go
with the show, and you probably won't share that with me,
But do you have ideas where you'd like to see
the show go if it did come back.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
If the show came back, I have some strong ideas
about the direction of the show, the relationships, the characters,
the situations, the circumstances, all those things are I think
are have been on my.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
What do you think when you're looking back on the show?
What are you most proud of? When you look back
on this series and working on this series and working
with everyone you worked with, Because there was some black
deck files, there were some extremely talented people that worked
on that show.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
Yeah, really really talented people who stayed on the show
from the beginning, stayed with the show, which is why
I think the show maintained what I would call a
tonal continuity, even though, as I say, there were three
separate seasons, I feel the tone, the darkness and the
(10:41):
contrasting lightness of the show were maintained. Yeah, I'm not
sure if I answer your question, but.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
It's more like, what are you most proud of, Like
looking back at your time working on that show.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
Oh, what I'm most proud of is the storytelling of
the character relationships that the show maintained a an honest
and truthful quality.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
A lot of the times I'm watching television today, especially
on streaming services and cable, and I think to myself,
if Millennium were existed right now. You could drop it
into pretty much on any streamer, a cable and would
fit right in with its tone and the darkness.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Would you would you agree with that?
Speaker 4 (11:30):
It's funny that Glenn Morgan told me he had a
meeting with some executives at a studio I think it
may have been Warner Brothers, and one of the executives says,
if he had a show to bring back, it would
be Millennium.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Really.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Yeah. Unfortunately Warner Brothers just not on my not on
the title. And so while that is always music to
my ears, it's the wrong studio.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Wow, I did not And was that recent? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (12:01):
That was recently.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Wow, that's interesting.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
Speaking of the X File, I couldn't talk to you
without talking about The X Files. David the company recently
mentioned several times that he would be interested in coming back.
Is that something you're looking looking forward to and also
interested in bringing the show The X Files back.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
It would be a trick again, because I think Jillian
has expressed her unwillingness to come back. So it could
come back. It could come back without Scully. It came
back without Mulder for a time right the run of
the show, so Mulder was a kind of absence center.
(12:41):
I think that if it did come back, it would
be a not dissimilar approach with Jillian's character.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
One of the fans who wrote to us asking a
question said, you know, if The X Files did come back,
Chris could always write an episode with Fox and Frank
Black working on a case, maybe trying to find Avatar again.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
I think that would be pretty cool.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
That Actually, it'd be great crossover.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
Speaking of X Files, your next project is an animated
series called The X Files Albuquerque. I don't know if
there's anything you can tell us about the project where
it stands, when it will be premiering anytime soon. If
you can tell us anything at all, I can.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
Tell you that as it stands, that series is on
the shelf, and for a variety of reasons, I don't
think you'll see it anytime soon, if you see it
at all.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
And I think finally, you know a lot of people
don't want to say I wish I would have done us.
I wish youuld have done that. But if you're looking
back on the show now millennium, that is, would there
be anything that you would change or maybe decided to
go in another direction?
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Looking back, on the show now.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Well, it's interesting. I mean, you look at television now
and people roll out ten episodes series, and we did
twenty two episodes a season roughly. I think, what are
there sixty four episodes of the show? You tell me
how many episodes are there? Sixty seven sixty seven episodes? Amazingly,
(14:19):
and that's a three year period. I think I would
look forward to doing a shorter run of the show
and being able to write all the scripts before you
ever went into production. That would I'm not sure I'm.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Answering your question, but yeah, you are, Yeah, these.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
Are things on my mind. It would be great to
have the luxury of not writing while you're producing and
trying to stay one step ahead of this monster who
is all consuming monster who requires you to do way
(14:58):
too many jobs at once. That would be a dream
come true. And I think it would be make Millennium
a better show.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
I see, and I also agree with that. I think
like the short of season ten thirteen episodes, like a
lot of British shows, or six seven episodes, that makes
them more tight than the writing, more tighter and more cohesive,
don't you think.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
Well, I mean, one episode can relate to another, and
you can develop a true arc instead of finding it
as you go. You know, I'm just I just finished
watching this series The Morning Show, and you could tell
they had the luxury of writing all the episodes to
begin with, because they were able to layer in a
(15:37):
lot of things. For example, the character dies of a
drug overdose, so they were able to lay in an
element of her addiction previously where they might not have
if they hadn't had the opportunity to think about layering
clues like that in.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
One of the most interesting things that I learned about
the show when we were doing the documentary was when
we were talking to Frank, we had no idea that
you had initially offered him the second season of the
show to run, which I thought was really interesting and
definitely would have been an interesting take on the series.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
The second season. I had no idea about that.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
I had no idea about the I mean, I don't
remember doing that. Frank was, you know, actively, you know,
involved in the X Files series and the X Files movie.
I think that would have been triple duty for him,
so that it actually is something I don't recall. That
(16:41):
may have been the case, but it has slipped my memory.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
And Finally, you know, with The X Files and with Millennium,
you have inspired thousands of people around the world to
get into this business, to become writers, to become producers.
Fans have created documentaries, books, everything like that under the sun.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
You have to be proud.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
And what would you like to say to the fans
who supported your work over the past twenty five years?
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Oh my gosh, it's I had a fellow come to
me just two days ago. He made the connection that
I was the creator of The X Files, and he
said I could tell it was hard for him to
say that what a big fan he was, and that
(17:29):
his nephew was an even bigger fan, And when I
signed a T shirt for him, and I said, of
course I will. And you know, it's the fans of
the reason for the success of the show. The show
would not have gone on with the I would call it,
with The X Files a large cult audience, and with
(17:51):
the Millennium with a relatively smaller cult audience. So it's
all about the fans. Without the fans, the show wouldn't exist.
So we own everything to the fan base. And you know,
I'm sitting here talking to you twenty five years later,
that's you know, it's an incredible thing. I mean, that's
(18:16):
for me, nearly half a lifetime later, I have to,
you know, marvel at the ideas that prompted not just
the show, but the longevity of the show.
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