From: schaefer@fh-ulm.de (Klaus Schaefer)
Subject: Re: Friday The 13th (TV SERIES)
Keywords: Friday The 13 TV Series NOT THE MOVIES
Organization: Fachhochschule Ulm - Software-Labor
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 08:24:40 GMT

In article <BxLrzy.ALD@news.cso.uiuc.edu> tgt33358@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Thanatos) writes:
>From: tgt33358@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Thanatos)
>Subject: Re: Friday The 13th (TV SERIES)
>Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 12:28:44 GMT
>Keywords: Friday The 13 TV Series NOT THE MOVIES

>In article <1992Nov12.030041.12979@pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu> manowar@pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu (Brent Bomwan) writes:
>>       First of all, I had NO IDEA which newsgroup to ask this
>>       question to, so if this doesn't belong here, SORRY.
>>
>>       I am looking for someone/anyone that liked/watched/taped
>>       any of the Friday The 13th TV Series...
>>
>Well, I don't have these episodes on tape, but I DO have an episode guide...


>>  One of our St. Louis TV stations is showing "Friday the 13th, the
>>  Series".  This show (which has nothing to do with the movies) has
>>  items which have been cursed for a reason.  The show's premise is
>>  explained in the opening credits (which are probably copyrighted by
>>  Hometown Productions, Variety Artists, and/or Paramount):
>>  
>>       "Lewis Vendredi made a deal with the Devil to sell cursed
>>        antiques, but he broke the pact and it cost him his soul.
>>        Now his niece Mikki and her cousin Ryan have inherited the
>>        store--and with it, the curse.  Now they must get everything
>>        back... and the real terror begins."
>>  
>>  The cursed antiques cannot be damaged or destroyed, so the people who
>>  have inherited the store must recover the items and lock them away.
>>  Most of the episodes deal with the recovery of one of the items.
>>  
>>  The interesting part is the nature of the curses and the reason behind
>>  them.  In Christian theology, the Devil seeks to corrupt people by
>>  causing them to sin.  Therefore, the purpose of the curse is to
>>  encourage the owner to sin; more specifically, to commit murder.  (The
>>  show _is_ called Friday the 13th.)  The owner of the item _benefits_
>>  from the curse, but must kill another person to receive the benefit.
>>  This benefit may be the ability to kill -- easily and undetectably.
>>  More often the benefit is something else -- power, money, love, fame,
>>  health, beauty, and so on.
>>  
>>  The owner is (usually) not forced to use the item, and can get rid of
>>  it at any time.  The owner knows that using the item will kill
>>  someone.  Thus, the (Christian) criteria of knowingly and of free will
>>  committing a mortal sin apply, and if the owner uses the item he is
>>  literally damned.
>>  
>>  Adapting this form of curse to a FRP campaign may pose some problems,
>>  as it requires the equivalent of free-will sin and the Devil as a
>>  tempter.  That is, people must be judged in some way by the acts that
>>  they freely and knowingly commit, and there must be a powerful, evil
>>  entity which encourages people to perform evil acts.  This might not
>>  fit in well with some game worlds, but it is an interesting reason for
>>  the existence of some cursed items.
>>  
>>  A campaign based on the series premise -- recovery of a group of such
>>  cursed items -- might be interesting.  Incorporating such items into a
>>  campaign requires that the players be good ROLE-players, though; ones
>>  who would say, "Sure, by using this item my character can get rich;
>>  but would he do so at the cost of eternal damnation?"
>>  
>>  
>>  The first season objects:
>>  -------------------------
>>  
>>  Doll -- The doll talks to its owner, encouraging her to commit evil
>>          acts. If the owner consents, the doll can help perform the
>>          acts through the use of telekinesis-like powers.
>>  
>>  Quill pen -- Anything evil written with the pen ("John will die")
>>          happens.
>>  
>>  Cupid statuette -- The statuette will cause anyone to fall in lust
>>          (not love) with the owner.  The owner must kill the victim
>>          after they have sex.
>>  
>>  Teacup -- When the victim drinks from the cup, the cup kills him and
>>          makes the owner younger.  The additional youth only lasts for
>>          a day or so.
>>  
>>  Magician's cabinet -- The victim is locked in the cabinet, and the
>>          owner then performs amazing "illusions", such as having swords
>>          plunged into his body.  The wounds the owner would have
>>          suffered are instead inflicted on the victim.
>>  
>>  Scalpel -- When used in an operation, the scalpel will cure hopeless
>>          cases.  The scalpel will also cut through anything (metal,
>>          stone, etc.).  The owner must "recharge" the scalpel by
>>          killing people with it.
>>  
>>  Boxing gloves -- The wearer of the gloves is invincible in the boxing
>>          ring.  During the match, the owner's shadow takes on a
>>          separate physical existence and kills a person chosen by the
>>          owner (and yes, the episode title was "Shadowboxer").
>>  
>>  Garden mulcher -- Any person fed into the hopper of the mulcher comes
>>          out as currency.  The denomination of the currency depends on
>>          the wealth of the victim; the richer the victim, the larger
>>          the denomination.
>>  
>>  Comic book -- The comic book's owner can become "Ferrus the
>>          Invincible", an armor-plated superpowered humanoid.  Ferrus is
>>          immune to (almost) all forms of attack, can smash down steel
>>          doors, and can kill in one blow.
>>  
>>  Scarecrow -- The scarecrow seeks out and kills (by decapitation with a
>>          scythe) any person whose photograph is pinned to it; it can
>>          teleport while pursuing the victim.  By causing three such
>>          killings each year, the owner is guaranteed an abundant
>>          harvest.
>>  
>>  Glove -- The glove miraculously heals any disease or injury when the
>>          owner touches it to the ill person.  The disease is
>>          transferred into the glove and "magnified"; it must soon be
>>          transferred (again by touch) to another, who dies.  If the
>>          disease is not transferred within a certain time, it kills the
>>          owner.
>>  
>>  Cape -- The cape makes its owner immortal, irresistible to women, and
>>          a vampire.  If the owner removes the cape, he instantly
>>          becomes old and withered; replacing the cape restores him.
>>  
>>  Lantern -- When shone on a shipwreck, the lantern uncovers buried
>>          treasure (it might even _create_ the treasure; this was not
>>          clear).  After each such use the lantern must be shone on the
>>          diver who brought up the treasure, who burns to death.
>>  
>>  Compact -- If a beam reflected by the compact's mirror strikes any man
>>          in the eyes, he falls in love with the owner.  The owner must
>>          later kill him.
>>  
>>  Tattoo needles -- The owner tattoos the victim using the needles
>>          (which also give tattooing skill).  Later, the owner has good
>>          luck while gambling, and the tattoo comes to life and kills
>>          the victim.
>>  
>>  Trephinator -- This device was built in the nineteenth century by a
>>          quack who thought intelligence could be transferred via
>>          cerebro-spinal fluid; the curse makes it work.  The person who
>>          is drained dies of severe brain damage, while the owner gains
>>          their intelligence and memories and some personality traits.
>>  
>>  Electric chair -- The owner can receive and hold a powerful electric
>>          charge by electrocuting someone with the chair, then sitting
>>          in it.  The charge can be released by conduction as the owner
>>          desires (possibly to kill other people, so this curse is
>>          doubly corrupting).
>>  
>>  Quilt -- The owner of the quilt can dream whatever they want while
>>          sleeping under it, but some other person (chosen by the owner)
>>          experiences the dream as a nightmare and is killed by it.  The
>>          chosen victim is forced asleep when the owner begins dreaming.
>>  
>>  Camera -- Taking and developing a picture of a person with this camera
>>          creates an exact duplicate of the person.  The duplicate must
>>          obey the orders of the photographer.  Destroying the negative
>>          destroys the duplicate.  If the negative is not destroyed
>>          within five hours, the original dies.
>>  
>>  Foghorn -- Sounding the foghorn summons the ghost of Angus MacBride, a
>>          pirate who died when his crew mutinied.  The ghost will trade
>>          gold coins for the bodies of any of the crew's descendants.
>>  
>>  Sheriff's badge -- When the badge is pressed against the victim, the
>>          victim is branded with a star pattern and dies in convulsions;
>>          the badge then teleports back into the owner's hand, allowing
>>          a safe getaway.
>>  
>>  Pipe -- Lighting the pipe produces a cloud of smoke which will seek
>>          out and kill the victim by asphyxiation.  If the victim runs,
>>          the smoke will follow; it can ooze through the smallest
>>          cracks.  After the victim dies, both body and smoke disappear.
>>  
>>  Cradle -- The cradle will keep even the most sickly baby alive, and
>>          will eventually completely heal the baby.  For this to happen,
>>          the baby's parents must kill seven people in water.
>>  
>>  
>>  Two additional magic items were presented.  These were not cursed;
>>  instead they were used by Lewis (played by R.G. Armstrong) in attempts
>>  to return from the dead and continue serving the Devil.
>>  
>>  Amulet -- The amulet lets a ghost take material form until the next
>>          sunrise.
>>  
>>  Canopic jar -- Fumes released from the jar cause anyone who inhales
>>          them to have a dream in which they re-live their most
>>          terrifying experiences, eventually causing a heart attack.
>>          This was the end-of-season show, incorporating scenes from
>>          previous episodes.
>>  
>>  ******
>>  
>>  The second season objects:
>>  --------------------------
>>  
>>  Mask -- a voodoo totem which gives various magic powers.
>>  
>>  Radio -- broadcasts false "news reports" which can be used to kill.
>>          In exchange, the radio broadcasts information that profits the
>>          owner.
>>  
>>  Coin -- can be used to resurrect a corpse, even one that is centuries
>>          dead.
>>  
>>  Violin -- allows the owner to play as a virtuoso.
>>  
>>  Makeup Case -- can make even the ugliest person beautiful, for a short
>>          time.
>>  
>>  Handkerchief -- can animate a wax figure, which must obey the owner.
>>  
>>  Boutonniere -- also can animate a figure.  In the episode, it was used
>>          for a ventriloquist's dummy.
>>  
>>  Watch -- the owner can experience one hour (starting and ending at
>>          1AM) in which everything else is stopped in time.
>>  
>>  Key and Chain -- allow the owner to win auto races.
>>  
>>  Beehive -- makes "vampire bees" which are able to kill by draining
>>          blood.  The bees then sting another person and change his
>>          appearance to that of the victim.  To remain alive, the
>>          transformed people must eat honey made by the bees.
>>  
>>  Playhouse -- can transport a child to a world where he can have
>>          whatever he wants, provided he brings other children to be
>>          trapped.
>>  
>>  Magic Lantern -- permits travel to the time and place of projected
>>          slides.  A person must be killed both to travel back in time
>>          and to return.
>>  
>>  Compact -- makes the owner beautiful, for a short time.
>>  
>>  Syringe -- can draw fluid from the victim's brain, removing a part of
>>          their humanity.  The fluid will temporarily cure a psychotic
>>          person.  The victim becomes increasingly animal-like, until
>>          nothing human is left.
>>  
>>  Movie Camera -- makes a movie character real; the character kills
>>          people who were filmed by the camera.
>>  
>>  Ring -- shows the outcome of a future sporting event.
>>  
>>  Shard -- anyone stabbed by the shard becomes a statue.
>>  
>>  Coffin -- can resurrect a child.  The child has to kill to live.
>>  
>>  Amulet -- can resurrect a corpse.
>>  
>>  Bauble -- grants wishes, after hypnotizing and killing the victim (who
>>          obeys all orders, including commands to commit suicide).
>>  
>>  Pool Cue -- allows user to win games.
>>  
>>  Symphonia (Music Box) -- forces people to dance to their death, but
>>          the dances are beautiful works of art.
>>  
>>  Rattle -- cures diseases.
>>  
>>  Kamikaze Jacket -- makes the wearer invisible.
>>  
>>  Sculpting Tool -- converts clay into mommets ("voodoo" dolls)
>>  
>>  Several additional magic items were presented which were not cursed
>>  (at least not in the same way as the above items) but were used by
>>  various evil groups to attack the main characters.
>>  
>>  Mirror -- provides a gateway to hell.
>>  
>>  Snow Globe -- contains a miniature universe which people can enter.
>>  
>>  Witch's Ladder -- magnifies a magician's power.
>>  
>>  *****
>>  
>>  The third season objects:
>>  -------------------------
>>  
>>  Book -- a "Satanic Bible"; if its prophecies are fulfilled, the devil
>>          will rule the world.
>>  
>>  Dagger -- Summons and controls demons.
>>  
>>  Wheelchair -- enables the user to move about in a spirit-like form and
>>          kill; the chair gradually heals the user.
>>  
>>  Hearing Aid -- allows thoughts to be heard.
>>  
>>  Coin -- can be used to resurrect a corpse, even one that is centuries
>>          dead.  (It was also in the second season, in a different
>>          episode.)
>>  
>>  Car Radio -- takes the car and occupants through time to the year of
>>          the radio's manufacture.
>>  
>>  Cross -- destroys vampires.  One of the better episodes, due in part
>>          to the moral ambiguities: a cross, cursed by the devil,
>>          destroys vampires -- provided the holder kills someone else
>>          with the cross.
>>  
>>  Movie Print -- a character from the film can be brought into the real
>>          world, but someone else takes the character's place (and
>>          dies).
>>  
>>  Fountain Pen -- allows the owner to control the behavior of another.
>>  
>>  Monkey Idols -- "see no evil" allows the owner to change another
>>          person's perceptions; "hear no evil" allows thoughts to be
>>          heard; "speak no evil" speaks, giving useful information.
>>  
>>  Aspirator -- a mortician's device; it can raise the dead.
>>  
>>  Cameo -- holds the soul of a dead person, which can be released
>>          (reviving the dead person) by killing another.
>>  
>>  Charm -- allows transfer of a soul into another body.
>>  
>>  Leash -- transforms animals into humans and vice-versa.
>>  
>>  Jack-in-the-Box -- allows communication with the dead.
>>  
>>  Television -- maintains life.  Used by a medium to show images of the
>>          dead to her clients; the images later attacked the clients
>>          through other televisions.
>>  
>>  Cernuous Statue -- animates an oak tree and reproduces itself.
>>  
>>  Painting -- allows travel back in time.
>>  
>>  There was also an episode involving the ghosts of a motorcycle gang;
>>  this didn't fit the cursed object theme.
>> 
>> 


>-- 
>I don't mind being the smartest     / Thanatos, DeathUrge, Master of Unknown
>man in the world...I just wish it   \ Time and Space tgt33358@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu 
>wasn't this one...                  / It's a Zen thing... 
>        -Ozymandias                 \    you wouldn't understand...  
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