Network: NBC
Episodes: 12 (hour)
Seasons: One
TV show dates: January 13, 1991 — March 22, 1991
Series status: Cancelled/ended
Performers include: Ben Cross, Joanna Going, Joseph Gordon-Levit, Jim Fyfe, Roy Thinnes, Barbara Steele, Barbara Blackburn, Jean Simmons, Veronica Lauren, Julianna McCarthy, Michael T. Weiss, Stefan Gierasch, Michael Cavanaugh, Ely Pouget, Lysette Anthony, Eddie Jones, Ellen Wheeler, Steve Fletcher, Rebecca Staab, Adrian Paul, Wayne Tippit, Apollo Dukakis, and Brendan Dillon.
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TV show description:
Searching for treasure, dim-witted groundskeeper Willie Loomis (Jim Fyfe) opens the Collins family crypt in the seaside town of Collinsport, Maine. In doing so, he accidentally frees 200-year-old vampire Barnabas Collins (Ben Cross) from his chained coffin.
Barnabas passes himself off as a distant relative from England to the residents of Collinwood (the family mansion) and begins feeding on the local townspeople. He immediately falls for the family’s new governess, Victoria Winters (Joanna Going), who closely resembles Josette, his love who died many years ago.
Also living in the mansion are matriarch Elizabeth Collins (Jean Simmons), her brooding brother Roger (Roy Thinnes) and his incorrigible son David (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Dr. Julia Hoffman (Barbara Steele) learns Barnabas’ secret, falls in love with him, and offers to cure him of his vampire curse.
After a few episodes, the story begins to alternate between present-day and 1790 Collinsport where each of the characters has a counterpart.
This primetime drama is based on the 1960s Dark Shadows gothic daytime soap opera.
I was five years old when this was on and it was the highlight of my week. No matter how many shows have come and gone since I will always resent the fact that I never got to see that cliff hanger ending play out. That was optimum television
I really liked this show, and wish that it would come back. I love vampire shows and this was one of the best aired
This was the best show. The gulf war started after its high ratings debut, and it was preempted or dealyed a week at a time for war coverage, leaving viewers lost as to when it would be on. NBC should have given it a second season and reaired season 1 in its entirety over the summer, but chose not to. You can find this bunlded on DVD with Dark Angel season 1 for $20 at Target. Its DVD release is marred by a few things. All the night scenes were shot in the daylight and a filter was used in… Read more »
I had never heard of Dark Shadows until the 1991 revival aired and I loved it. To this day I resent NBC for cancelling it. I have since become a fan of the original series as well. I recently saw the 2004 WB pilot and for the most part I thought it was great. The atmosphere and acting were great. It was creepy, gothic, and scary and really both respected the legacy of Dark Shadows and brought it into the 21st century. I hate the 2012 film as it is a comedy. Dark Shadows deserves another respectful, serious revival!