What I liked
In Colony Quest 2099, I really enjoyed that the show invited an audience member to be a cast member. While it seems like it could be risky, in our showing, it worked incredibly well. The particular episode we saw also managed to make a surprisingly salient point about humans and technology.
What I didn't like
This team did more than create a show, they created a format. Recognizing that could greatly benefit both the audience and the creative team. In the same way that Cheers is not the same thing as Seinfeld, even though they’re both sitcoms, Horse Girl vs. Christmas is not the same show as Colony Quest 2099. Each Test Pilots series is really its own show in the same way that all the solo shows at Fringe are not Solo Show but are in fact unique entertainment properties.
My overall impression
This is a really ambitious show that must have taken so much time to prepare. I applaud the creators, cast, and crew. The Test Pilots conceit is a clever framing to try to address the common pitfalls most interactive stories contend with. And the “remcon” device is an excellent solution to audience voting that kindly avoids reliance on audience members’ smartphones and battery charge. I’d be excited to see the team continue developing the format, because based on audience reaction, there’s clearly something here.
