THE EARLY EDITION FAQ Version 1.0

by David Riches (samsimeon@hotmail.com)

 

Questions

4.0 Misellaneous
4.1 Isn't that a real paper?
4.2 What is that darn cat's name?
4.3 Is there a list of Chuck's moral lessons for each episode?
4.4 Why doesn't he try to make real money?
4.5 Acronyms?
4.6 Any noticible quotes from the media?
4.7 What if....?
4.8 Isn't this Quantum Leap, MacGuyver, Strange Luck?
4.9 Merchandise?
4.10 The Blackstone?
4.11 Trivia?
4.12
4.13 Drinking Game? Earthquake!!!

5.0 Where to find it
5.1 Mailing List
5.2 Early Edition Websites
5.3 Related Items webs
5.4 Contacting the Show?
5.5 Contacting the Network?
5.6 Contacting your local station?

6.0 Credits

The Answers!

4.0 Miscellaneous

This section had no where to go so it's here.

4.1 Isn't that a real paper?

Why yes it is.

The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Nigel Wade is Editor-in-Chief, Larry Green is Executive Editor, Steve Huntley is Assistant Managing Editor. Joe Sherman is the assistant publisher, Liz Lyons is the Hollinger (the real owners) representative, Roger Ebert is their film critic.

The Chicago Sun-Times is also the head of the Sun-Times Features Syndicate and has several columnists that it runs nation and possibly world wide.

The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES MAIL ADDRESS:

Chicago Sun-Times
401 N. Wabash
Chicago, Illinois
60611
USA

4.2 What is that darn cat's name?

The mailing list has taken a vote and continues to vote and for the moment the 3 to 1 lead is for Merlin. At one point (and I cannot recall where or who), someone from the production said the trainer calls her Spin. As yet the character has said nothing about his name but "Meow". ;}

4.3 Is there a list of Chuck's moral lessons for each episode?

At the moment the opening and closing narations done by Fisher Steven's character Chuck, have yet to be transcribed and published. If anyone does so, please send a copy to the FAQ publisher and maintainer so we can change this answer. For the moment a stern "NO"!

For the people who have never seen the series before, every episode of "Early Edition" has a voice over narration like parable that bookmarks the begining and end of the episode. These have been refered to as life lessons, parables, and moral lessons. They are sometime a foreshadow or overview of the episode and sometimes they come across like poetry.

4.4 Why doesn't he try to make real money?

Marrisa said he was given the paper as gift. That he should use it responsibly. To help people. To date money just doesn't seem to be an issue for Gary with Chuck making the money in the pilot on gambling he threw it away, when he tested the power of the paper in the begining he bought only single shares, he bought a girl a bike, he gave away a winning lottery ticket, and doesn't seem to mind paying for a hotel.

4.5 Acronyms?

The Early Edition Acronym List (EEAL)
maintained by Sue Tremblay

As discussions of Early Edition increase I expect that we will abbreviate things to save on typing. I have started this List to help Early Edition fans sort through the acronyms. I also suggest that if you have any ideas for additions, send them to me.

Acronym Meaning
< bg > Big Grin
< eg > Evil Grin
< g > Grin
< sg > Sheepish Grin
< vbg > Very Big Grin
< vbeg > Very Big Evil Grin
< wg > Wicked Grin
BBL Be Back Later
BRB Be Right Back
BIAF Back In A Flash
BTW By The Way
GH Gary Hobson
KC Kyle Chandler
M Marissa
SD Shanesia Davis
C Chuck
EEL Early Edition Lover
EELs Early Edition Lovers
FS Fisher Stevens
FANFIC Fan Fiction
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
DG Drinking Game
IMHO In My Humble Opinion
IMO In My Opinion
IRC Internet Relay Chat
J/K Just Kidding
L8R Later
LOL Laugh Out Loud
Merch Merchandise like T's
MOM Nicole Parrot, Our List Mom
NBL Not Bloody Likely
OIC OH! I see
OTOH On The Other Hand
ROTFL Rolling On The Floor Laughing
ROTFLMAO Rolling On The Floor Laughing My @$$ Off
ROTFASTCA Rolling On The Floor And Scaring The Cat Away
SOS Sort of Spoiler
TIC Tongue In Cheek
TPTB The Powers That Be
TTYL Type/Talk To You Later
WAFF Warm And Fuzzy Feeling
WHAM Wistful, Heartwrenching, Agonizing Moment
WRT With Respect To
YASA Yet Another Silly Acronym

4.6 Any noticible quotes from the media?

A few....

"Early Edition:" Blessing or Curse

By Patricia Lewis Cramer

Following such notable series as "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," "Murder, She Wrote" and "Friends," "Early Edition" offers up excellence in television programming. And who said Saturday evenings were dead? With this new CBS light drama and NBC formidable line-up, viewers may have a difficult time deciding what to watch. "Early Edition" weaves a new twist on the old time-travel theme. Instead of boarding some "Dr. Who" time machine, the future comes to Gary Hobson (Kyle Chandler) in the form of a daily newspaper -- tomorrow's newspaper. Take an all-American boy-next-door, add tall, dark and handsome, and you have Gary Hobson (Kyle Chandler, "Homefront," "Mulholland Falls"). Add two good friends, a stockbroker, Chuck Fishman (Fisher Stevens, "Hero," "Reversal of Fortune"), and a blind receptionist, Melissa Clark (Shanesia Davis, "Backdraft," "With Honors") with amazing insight, and you've got the good supporting cast.

The show's premise is uncomplicated, but brings up moral and ethical dilemnas to an otherwise simple, everyday, likable man: Gary Hobson flounders as his wife wants a divorce, and, disillusioned in his career, he seeks a purpose in life. The daily paper of the next day -- which only he receives -- adds a moral dilemma to his otherwise sepulchral existence. Determined to find a normal life, he must choose between his needs and those of the people in tomorrow's headlines. Can he find the balance his conscience demands?

There's no doubt CBS hopes audience will opt for a lovely light -- but potent -- dose of "Early Edition" over NBC's equally good "Pretender."

"Early Edition" airs Saturdays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) on CBS. Copyright, 1996 UTV: Ultimate Television

 

Roger Ebert's Answer Man 10/20/96

Q. I watched the new CBS show ``Early Edition'' and found out that they use the Chicago Sun-Times as their one-day-ahead paper. When the paper was zoomed in, I could clearly see and read ``Roger Ebert's movie review'' on the paper. I was wondering if you have seen the show.

Min Woong Lee
Costa Mesa, Calif.

A. I haven't yet seen the show because I've been so busy with the flood of new movies to review. But you've given me an idea. If I could read the Sun-Times two days ahead, I could simply copy down my review and send it in to the paper, making it unnecessary for me to write it. This would save me a lot of work, and I could watch more TV.

Send questions to

Roger Ebert's Movie Answer Man,
Chicago Sun-Times,
401 N. Wabash,
Chicago, Il 60611.

Copyright Chicago Sun-Times Inc.

 

4.7 What if....?

What if you knew, beyond a doubt, what was going to happen tomorrow? Whether you'd be rich or poor, a hero or loser, lucky in love, unlucky in life...what would you do? What if, by some magic, you found the power to really change things? People, events, maybe even your life. Would you even know where to start?

4.8 Isn't this Quantum Leap, MacGuyver, Strange Luck, Due South?

There are simularities between "Early Edition", it's characters, and some things from those other shows. But no "Early Edition" isn't any one or two of those shows unless you are looking for good television.

4.9 Merchandise?

No official merchandise so far. no unofficial merchandise either. However some fans are working on an "Early Edition" T-Shirt that would take an actual cover shot of the Chicago Sun-Times paper, alter it to show the date the series first went to air, Headline of "EARLY EDITION THE BEST" and have pictures of the cast (Gary, Chuck, Marissa, Spike, Merlin, and paper) and the caption "Our Heroes" with the boxes at the top filled in with "I <heart> EEL" "Roger Ebert reviews TV" with picture of Ebert Thumbs Up, and weather "Sunny Skys on the Homefront". It would be available in large and extra large. Despite those plans orders are not being taken till they finalize the budget and design.

4.10 The Blackstone

Gary's residence in the show really exists. Here is some information on it for the purists. However the show only uses the name not the Hotel.

The Blackstone Hotel
636 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago , IL 60605
U.S.A.
Phone: 312-427-4300 FAX: 312-427-4736
Hotel/Restaurant:
Free continental restaurant breakfast, 275 rooms, $99.00 for one room, $109.00 for a double.
Across from Grand Park shopping center. Been in business since 1910.

4.11 Trivia?

Lenore Hutton runs a trivia contest for EELs about Early Edition.
Questions and answering times vary but take a chance it can be fun.

4.12

4.13 Drinking Game? Earthquake!!!

Early Edition the TV series Drinking Game

by David Riches (samsimeon@hotmail.com) and friends

Each point represents a sip or bite. Play with a bunch of friends either by anticpation of an action or choosing a character. Use either a favorite beverage or loose fit snack that can be easily measured. I have seen beer, cola, and smarties (m & m's for you yanks). Use either a on-time broadcast or video-tape. Whomever finishes first is either the winner or loser depending on what you agree upon before you start.

Paper lands 1 point
Cat meows 1 point
Cat uses paper 2 points
Cat jumps up on something 1 point
Gary feeds the cat 2 points
Gary isn't up washed and dressed when the paper arrives 1 point
Gary is fully prepared for the paper when it arrives 2 points
Someone steals the paper from the step before Gary gets it 4 points
Someone (other than Gary or Chuck) glances at the paper 4 points and capitalizes on it 5 points
Gary finds something about himself in the paper 2 points
It's in the obituary column 4 points
If it's Chuck or Marissa in the obits 5 points
The paper turns into a weekly 9 points
Something extra besides the paper (& cat) shows up 3 points
Phone rings when paper lands 1 point
Phone rings right after the paper lands 1 point
Chuck asks for money 1 point
Chuck asks for help from paper for bet 1 point
Gary helps Chuck with bet 3 points
Chuck places a bet 1 point
Chuck does it without help and wins 3 points
Chuck becomes part of the situation 2 points
Chuck is the situation 3 points
Gary becomes a part of the situation 2 points
It wasn't supposed to happen 3 points
Gary fails to change the headline in the paper 5 points
Gary says "I just know" 2 points
Someone believes it without any more convincing 3 points
Gary tells someone about the paper 3 points
They don't believe it 1 point
They do believe it 2 points
They don't believe at first but become believers later 3 points
Gary says "I'm not doing it." 1 point
Gary says "The -----, What -----?" 1 point
Chuck says "Yeah," cynically 1 point
Marissa says "As you wish." 1 point
Marissa says "Good Luck." 2 points
Marissa says "Maybe," as if it's a rhetorical question 1 point
Chuck doesn't seem to be bothered by not going into the office 1 point
Gary gets a real job 2 points
Chuck finally loses his job 3 points
Marissa realizes she has a job 3 points
Marissa's dog does something on the paper 2 points
The Cat is called by name 2 points
The Dog is called by name 2 points
The papers day is a major character's birthday 2 points
It matters to the story 3 points
It's an actors birthday instead 1 point
There is an inside joke in the paper 2 points
You're the only one to know this 4 points
The paper changes before it's time 2 points
We actually see the paper change 3 points
All the news in the paper is happy 3 points
Gary tries to change it anyways 4 points
Gary finds something more about the origins of the paper 2 points
Chuck or Marissa finds out first 4 points
The Cat is involved in the story in a major way 3 points
The Dog is involved in the story in a major way 3 points
Either the Cat or the Dog more than Chuck or Marissa 4 points
The story of Gary and his paper gets out 2 points
It's front page news 4 points
Gary gets a date 2 points
The paper helped him get it 3 points
It's Marissa as his date 4 points
He scores a homerun ;) 5 points
It's Chuck as his date 9 points
The paper cures Marissa's blindness 9 points
Someone notices a continuity error (IE mid November date and mentions a baseball game or July and Hockey) 2 points
We find out more about Chuck's family 2 points
We find more about Marissa's background 2 points
We find out more about Gary's history 3 points
The Doorman fills in some blanks 1 point
Gary has to dig for that info 1 point
Someone snide to Gary is a part of his daily revelation 1 point
Someone snide to Chuck is part of his daily revelation 1 point
Marissa is snide and it becomes ironic later on 1 point
Someone mentions this as too much of a coincidence 1 point
Explain to someone this is not Strange Luck or Sliders or QL1 point
The daily forecast has real world connections 2 points
Traffic is a problem for the story 1 point
The paper hires Gary 3 points
We get nude shots of Gary (IE other than opening shower scene)2 points
We get nude shots of Chuck or Marissa (skimpy bikini counts)3 points
One story ends and we see another begin before the show ends2 points
It actually leads into the next weeks episode 3 points
The bartender catches on to Gary and the paper 3 points
Gary gets a bill for the papers 4 points
Gary has to research an event 1 point
He does it with Chuck or Marissa 2 points
He does it without Chuck or Marissa 3 points
Gary falls for an April Fool's day edition of the paper 1 point
The daily event requires leaving town 2 points
Someone knows of the paper from Aloisous 2 points
Lucius helped out our cast in the past 4 points
Gary finds a personal addressed to himself 2 points
It's from Gary 3 points
Gary affects the weather forecast (IE carries umbrella) 1 point
Gary uses the paper for shopping specials 1 point
Gary cashes in 2 points
Someone other than Gary benefits 1 point
Only Gary benefits 3 points
Gary has a sick day 2 points
Gary has a heart to heart talk with someone 2 points
It's Pritchard 3 points
It's Marcia 3 points
It's the cat 4 points
The paper does strange things (keeps appearing, flickers) 3 points
Chuck gets a prophecy 2 points

5.0 Where to find it

There's a lot of stuff on the show out there. Most of it is here or on the internet. For future refference check here.

5.1 Mailing List

EARLY EDITION Mailing List

to subscribe to the mailing list, send mail to:
eedition-request@isociel.com
body of message should contain:
SUBSCRIBE
(nothing else)

Mail to the list itself is sent at:
eedition@isociel.com

only subscribed members can send email to the list
The list DOES support "digest". If you're interested in digest settings, then DO NOT subscribe as described above. Just drop me a line at
misscleo@sympatico.ca

The list is sanctioned by CBS.

5.2 Early Edition Websites

CBS Early Edition Page: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/early_ed.html

Sony Web Site http://www.spe.sony.com/Pictures/tv/early/early.html

Early Edition Mailing List Mom http://www3.sympatico.ca/misscleo

Episode Guide: http://pages.prodigy.com/cyberfool/kepisode.htm

Danforth http://stjohns6.campus.vt.edu/jon/early.htm

 

5.3 Related Items webs

CBS Home Page http://www.cbs.com

The Chicago Sun Times Web Page: http://www.suntimes.com/

Articles on Kyle Chandler: http://pages.prodigy.com/cyberfool/kyle.htm

Ultimate TV Guide http://www.utv.net/cgi-bin/utl?card+2435

Review by Patricia Lewis Cramer http://www.utv.net/news/f/a/96/11/07earlyedition.html

E! Online http://www.eonline.com/Reviews/Tv/Leaves/earlyedition.html

Ultimate Television Network http://www.tvnet.com/features/fallsched/shows/early.html

Viewers for Quality TV http://www.vqt.org/

Send mail to Kyle Chandler http://www.cbs.com/primetime/congratulations

 

5.4 Contacting the Show?

You can snail mail your comments directly to the producers at:

Early Edition
c/o TriStar
9336 W. Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232

5.5 Contacting the Network?

Send Mail to Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) to CBS's mailing address at:

CBS
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
U.S.A.

5.6 Contacting your local station?

CBS has over a hundred affilliates and if you want to write to your local station check either their news, or sign-off, or CBS affiliates list on the internet, or check your local Yellow Pages under Television Broadcasters.

6.0 Credits

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Three Characters, Inc.
TriStar Television
"Misscleo"
nparrot@isociel.com
"David Riches" samsimeon@hotmail.com
"DRAX" ricd0763@humberc.on.ca
"Tony Lammens"
"Deanna Inman"
"Tremblay, Susan (S.)"
Susan.Tremblay.s141414@nt.com
"Blackstone Hotel" customer@quikpage.com
"Lenore Hutton" LenoreHutton102@webtv.net
"Jon Danforth" danforth@scsn.net
"Nancy Merckle" nancym@clark.net
"David R. Danforth" -Jon danforth@scsn.net

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Thanks go to CBS

Thanks to Sony's web page

"Early Edition" is a production of Three Characters, Inc. and CBS Productions in association with TriStar Television.

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® Early Edition Lovers FAQ

 

End of Part 3/3

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