2000x

2000x (a.k.a. Beyond 2000) was a science fiction anthology series broadcast on NPR (National Public Radio) from April to September 2000. Produced by Hollywood Theater of the Ear, the series consisted of 46 stories spanning 26 hour-long episodes. Produced and directed by Yuri Rasovsky, the stories highlighted the social, political and technological possibilities of the new millennium. Award-winning SF author Harlan Ellison acted as literary advisor and acted as series host. The series included classic authors such as George Bernard Shaw, Jack London, Mark Twain and Rudyard Kipling as well as more contemporary writers such as Roger Zelazny, Theodore Sturgeon, Kurt Vonnegut, and Connie Willis.

Episode 1: Merchant / By His Bootstraps

Merchant: A very short (3 minute) story of why hat sales are expected to rise.
By His Bootstraps: Complications arise when a college student steps through a time portal.

First broadcast: 2 April 2000.
Original Story by Henry Slesar (Merchant) / Robert A. Heinlein (By His Bootstraps).
Cast: Hamilton Camp, Phil Proctor, Ira Burton (Merchant) / Richard Dreyfuss, Cordis Heard, Ira Burton, Kascia Marciniak (By His Bootstraps).

Episode 2: Vaster Than Empires And More Slow

A misfit crew of space explorers lands on a planet with a sentient biosphere.

First broadcast: 9 April 2000.
Original Story by Ursula K. Le Guin.
Cast: Robert Foxworth, William Sanderson, Lorna Raver, Ira Burton, Robertson Dean, Harlan Ellison, Joe Greco, Amy Van Horne.

Episode 3: Even The Queen / Knock

Even The Queen: Perdita's family believe she has ruined her life when she joins the 'Cyclists'.
Knock: "The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock at the door…"

First broadcast: 16 April 2000.
Original Story by Connie Willis (Even The Queen) / Fredric Brown (Knock).
Cast: Janet Carroll, Brian Finney, Barbara Rush, Ashley Gardner, Amy Van Horne, Diana Douglas, Melissa Greenspan, Laura Kellogg (Even The Queen) / Lorna Raver, René Auberjonois, Ira Burton (Knock).

Episode 4: The Mission of The Vega

On the eve of the Third World War, a diplomatic mission is dispatched to enlist the help of the penal colony of Venus.

First broadcast: 23 April 2000.
Original Story by Friedrich Dürrenmatt.
Cast: Norman Lloyd, Kristoffer Tabori, Newell Alexander, Ira Burton, Gabrielle de Cuir, Milton James, Laura Kellogg, George Murdock, James Otis, Lorna Raver, Stefan Rudnicki.

Episode 5: The Machine Stops / And Miles To Go Before I Sleep

The Machine Stops: In an age that relies for everything on 'The Machine', what happens when 'The Machine' breaks down?
And Miles To Go Before I Sleep: A dying spaceman sends an android to fulfil his promise to see his parents one last time.

First broadcast: 30 April 2000.
Original Story by E. M. Forster (The Machine Stops) / William F. Nolan (And Miles To Go Before I Sleep).
Cast: David Warner, Samantha Eggar, Alistair Duncan, Gabrielle de Cuir, Laura Kellogg, Melinda Peterson, Phil Proctor, Stefan Rudnicki (The Machine Stops) / John Schuck, Ira Burton, Laura Kellogg (And Miles To Go Before I Sleep).

Episode 6: Revival Meeting / A Learned Fable / Dear Pen Pal

Revival Meeting: A very short (2 minute) story of a man awaking from cryogenic suspension.
A Learned Fable: Forest creatures organise a scientific expedition to discover what lies beyond the forest.
Dear Pen Pal: An alien convict corresponds with an Earthman via the Interstellar Correspondence Club.

First broadcast: 7 May 2000.
Original Story by Dannie Plachta (Revival Meeting) / Mark Twain (A Learned Fable) / A. E. van Vogt (Dear Pen Pal).
Cast: Hamilton Camp, Phil Proctor (Revival Meeting) / David Birney, Ira Burton, Hamilton Camp, Nancy Cartwright, Pamela Hayden (A Learned Fable) / Charles Durning (Dear Pen Pal).

Episode 7: Why Support For Public Radio Must Increase In The Next Century / Pillar of Fire

Why Support For Public Radio Must Increase In The Next Century: An alien just wants to fix his broken spacecraft, but he keeps getting interrupted...
Pillar of Fire: The last corpse on Earth sets out to exact his revenge when he is dug up from his final resting place.

First broadcast: 16 May 2000.
Original Story by Yuri Rasovsky (Why Support For Public Radio Must Increase In The Next Century) / Ray Bradbury (Pillar of Fire).
Cast: Tom Towles, Ira Burton, Hamilton Camp, John O'Hurley, Laura Kellogg, Tom Magliozzi, John Schuck (Why Support For Public Radio Must Increase In The Next Century) / George Murdock, Allan Miller, Phil Proctor, Brian Finney, Sandy Orkin, James Otis, Ira Burton, Gabrielle de Cuir, Janet Fontaine, Laura Kellogg (Pillar of Fire).

Episode 8: R.U.R.

The robots are revolting in Karel Čapek’s famous play, which introduced the word robot to the English language.

First broadcast: 21 May 2000.
Original Story by Karel Čapek.
Cast: David Birney, Ann Marie Lee, Alan Bergmann, Brian Finney, Milton James, Laura Kellogg, Lorna Raver, John Schuck, Kristoffer Tabori, Stefan Rudnicki.

Episode 9: Sentience Today / A Sleep And A Forgetting

Sentience Today: An excerpt from the Galactic Journal of Sapientology.
A Sleep And A Forgetting: A malfunctioning satellite enables scientists to communicate with the Middle Ages.

First broadcast: 28 May 2000.
Original Story by Yuri Rasovsky as 'Gort Klaatu' (Sentience Today) / Robert Silverberg (A Sleep And A Forgetting).
Cast: Phil Proctor (Sentience Today) / René Auberjonois, Kaitlin Hopkins, Allan Miller, Rosemary Alexander, Robertson Dean.

Episode 10: The Survey / A Dream of Armageddon

The Survey: An old lady is approached by an alien to take part in a very important survey.
A Dream of Armageddon: A train passenger recounts his strange dream of the future.

First broadcast: 4 June 2000.
Original Story by Yuri Rasovsky (The Survey) / H.G. Wells (A Dream of Armageddon).
Cast: Janet Carroll, Ira Burton (The Survey) / Martin Jarvis, Melinda Peterson, Hamilton Camp, Ira Burton, Laura Kellogg, Stefan Rudnicki (A Dream of Armageddon).

Episode 11: Watchbird / A Curious Fragment

Watchbird: Mind-reading AI drones are deployed to stop murderers before they can act. But what happens when the drones decide to extend their definition of murder?
A Curious Fragment: In the far future, tyrant capitalists rule, but subversive story tellers keep the spirit of freedom alive.

First broadcast: 11 June 2000.
Original Story by Robert Sheckley (Watchbird) / Jack London (A Curious Fragment).
Cast: Gerald Castillo, Newell Alexander, Joe Greco, Allan Miller, Melissa Greenspan, Janet Carroll, Stefan Rudnicki, Hamilton Camp, Brian Finney, Brad Schreiber (Watchbird) / Erik Bauersfeld, Stefan Rudnicki (A Curious Fragment).

Episode 12: As Easy As ABC

Airborne imperialists quell native unrest in the backwater colony of Chicago.

First broadcast: 18 June 2000.
Original Story by Rudyard Kipling.
Cast: Tony Jay, Ira Burton, Arte Johnson, Brian Finney, Joe Greco, J.J. Johnston, Laura Kellogg.

Episode 13: The Hunting Season

In a Fascist state of the future, criminals are sent back to 1950 where they are hunted for the sport of aristocrats.

First broadcast: 27 June 2000.
Original Story by Frank M. Robinson.
Cast: John O'Hurley, Tom Towles, Janet Carroll, John Schuck, Ira Burton, Hamilton Camp, Milton James, Laura Kellogg.

Episode 14: Millennium Bug / In A Thousand Years / In The Year 2889 / Millennium Bug II

Millennium Bug & Millennium Bug II: New Year's Eve in the years 3000 & 4000.
In A Thousand Years: A travelogue of a future 'Grand Tour'.
In the Year 2889: A day in the life of an American business tycoon in the 29th century.

First broadcast: 02 July 2000.
Original Story by Yuri Rasovsky as Ytzhak Berle (Millennium Bug & Millennium Bug II) / Hans Christian Andersen (In A Thousand Years) / Jules Verne (In The Year 2889).
Cast: Robert Foxworth, Norman Lloyd (Millennium Bug) / Phil Proctor (In A Thousand Years) / Phil Proctor, Petrea Burchard, Janet Fontaine, David Dukes, Hamilton Camp, Brian Finney, George Murdock, Laura Kellogg, Sandy Orkin, Melinda Peterson, Ira Burton (In The Year 2889) / Gabrielle de Cuir, Stefan Rudnicki (Millennium Bug II).

Episode 15: The Thing Happens

The British Government is flummoxed when it discovers that some people have willed themselves a lifespan of 300 years.

First broadcast: 09 July 2000.
Original Story by George Bernard Shaw.
Cast: Peter Dennis, Ian Abercrombie, Tony Jay, David Warner, Jane Carr.

Episode 16: It Came From Outer Pinsk / The Proud Robot

It Came From Outer Pinsk: A kosher mad scientist brings his creation to life.
The Proud Robot: Drunk inventor Galloway Gallegher has created a narcissistic robot, but can't remember why.

First broadcast: 16 July 2000.
Original Story by Yuri Rasovsky (It Came From Outer Pinsk) / Henry Kuttner as Lewis Padgett (The Proud Robot).
Cast: Hamilton Camp, Phil Proctor (It Came From Outer Pinsk) / Hamilton Camp, Arte Johnson, Alan Bergmann, Ashley Gardner, Ira Burton, Robertson Dean, Laura Kellogg, Sandy Orkin, Brad Schreiber (The Proud Robot).

Episode 17: "Repent, Harlequin!" Said The Ticktock Man / By The Waters of Babylon

"Repent, Harlequin!" Said The Ticktock Man: In a future obsessed with timekeeping, one clownish prankster refuses to conform.
By The Waters of Babylon: A young shaman makes a perilous journey to the forbidden island of the gods.

First broadcast: 23 July 2000.
Original Story by Harlan Ellison ("Repent, Harlequin!" Said The Ticktock Man) / Stephen Vincent Benét (By The Waters of Babylon).
Cast: Harlan Ellison, Petrea Burchard, Artie Johnson, James Otis, Stefan Rudnicki, Robin Williams, Ira Burton, Hamilton Camp, Laura Kellogg ("Repent, Harlequin!" Said The Ticktock Man) / Jay O. Sanders (By The Waters of Babylon).

Episode 18: All For Love

A blank verse version of the story of Antony and Cleopatra transposed to space.

First broadcast: 30 July 2000.
Original Story by John Dryden.
Cast: Robertson Dean, Norman Lloyd, Robert Foxworth, Christina Pickles, Kristoffer Tabori, Lorna Raver, Janet Borrus, Ira Burton, Amanda Karr.

Episode 19: Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow / The Only Bird In Her Name

Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow: Family strife breaks out in an overpopulated, geriatric future.
The Only Bird In Her Name: Conservationists and hunters clash in the Australian Outback in the last ever hunt for a shape-shifting creature.

First broadcast: 7 August 2000.
Original Story by Kurt Vonnegut (Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow) / Terry Dowling (The Only Bird In Her Name).
Cast: Tom Poston, Marian Mercer, Hamilton Camp, Phil Proctor, Laura Kellogg, Ira Burton (Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow) / Peter Dennis, Kaitlin Hopkins, Kristoffer Tabori (The Only Bird In Her Name).

Episode 20: The Marching Morons

'Honest' John Barlow is revived from suspended animation in order to save a future world dominated by morons.

First broadcast: 14 August 2000.
Original Story by Cyril M. Kornbluth.
Cast: Alan Bergmann, Nathan Osgood, Avery Schreiber, Richard Allen, Ira Burton, Hamilton Camp, Brian Finney, Ashley Gardner, Melinda Peterson, Phil Proctor.

Episode 21: Shambleau / Bloodchild

Shambleau: Adventurer Northwest Smith finds that the oddly beautiful creature he finds in a Martian mining camp is not quite human and not quite animal — she is Shambleau…
Bloodchild: Terran refugees on a foreign planet bear the children of the native inhabitants.

First broadcast: 22 August 2000.
Original Story by C. L. Moore (Shambleau) / Octavia E. Butler (Bloodchild).
Cast: Kristoffer Tabori, Ann Marie Lee, George Murdock (Shambleau) / Dylan Kussman, Christina Pickles, John Coppola, Ann Marie Lee, Lynne Thigpen, Ira Burton, Lorna Raver, Fred Koella (Bloodchild).

Episode 22: The Mad Planet

In a post-apocalyptic future, a young man from a primitive tribe must relearn to use his brain in order to survive giant insect predators.

First broadcast: 29 August 2000.
Original Story by Murray Leinster.
Cast: David Dukes, Daniel Passer, Amanda Karr.

Episode 23: Hurricane Trio

A love triangle is complicated when a man crashes his car into a flying saucer.

First broadcast: 5 September 2000.
Original Story by Theodore Sturgeon.
Cast: Miriam Flynn, Allan Miller, James Otis, Kaitlin Hopkins, Norman Corwin, Ira Burton, Lorna Raver.

Episode 24: The Moon Maid

The first expedition to Mars crash lands on the Moon and finds an entire world inside. Firmly tongue-in-cheek adventure ensues.

First broadcast: 12 September 2000.
Original Story by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Cast: Ira Burton, David Rasche, Stephen Markle, James Otis, Richard Kind, Lorna Raver, Avery Schreiber, Melissa Greenspan, Tom Towles, Stefen Rudnicki.

Episode 25: Ole Doc Methuselah

Whilst enjoying a spot of fishing on the asteroid Spica, intergalactic medic Doc Methuselah and his sidekick Hippocrates find themselves embroiled in a plot to swindle colonists out of their life savings.
(This episode has a bonus music track at the end.)

First broadcast: 19 September 2000.
Original Story by L. Ron Hubbard.
Cast: Jackson Beck, David Rasche, Hamilton Camp, Petrea Burchard, Stephen Markle, Arte Johnson, Newell Alexander, Rosemary Alexander, Melissa Greenspan, David L Krebs.

Episode 26: Blood / A Little Bank Deposit / A Dialogue For The Year 2130 / The Choice

Blood: A pair of time-travelling vampires find the future is not what they were expecting.
A Little Bank Deposit: A scientist discovers that accidentally leaving a newly created and dangerous fluorine isotope in the local bank vault is not a good idea.
A Dialogue For The Year 2130: A dialogue from a British magazine of 1829, recording polite conversation from the year 2130. A response to Mary Shelley's pessimistic novel "The Last Man."
The Choice: A time-traveller returns from the future. What wonders has he seen?

First broadcast: 26 September 2000.
Original Story by Fredric Brown (Blood) / Gerald Kersh (A Little Bank Deposit) / Thomas Henry Lister (A Dialogue For The Year 2130) / Wayland Young (The Choice).
Cast: Phil Proctor, Melinda Peterson, Ira Burton (Blood) / Tony Jay, Nathan Osgood, Stefan Rudnicki, Phil Proctor, Arte Johnson, Ira Burton, Lorna Raver (A Little Bank Deposit) / Phil Proctor, Abby Hopgood, Nathan Osgood (A Dialogue For The Year 2130) / Nathan Osgood, Ira Burton (The Choice).

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