andreikirilenkotattoo on TV: Waning 'Moon'

Today's column previews "Comanche Moon," the final miniseries in the "Lonesome Dove" saga:

I spent a lot of the six hours of "Comanche Moon" - the final miniseries in the "Lonesome Dove" saga - pondering the genetics of casting, since this was the third, fourth or even fifth time these roles had been filled by new actors. How, I wondered, could chatterbox Texas Ranger Gus McCrae age from David Arquette into Robert Duvall, by way of Steve Zahn? Who started off with Anjelica Huston's portrayal of strong pioneer woman Clara Allen and decided along the way that the role could also be played by Barbara Hershey, Jennifer Garner and Linda Cardellini? Why was Wes Studi playing a different role in "Comanche Moon" than he had in the second miniseries, "Streets of Laredo," even though his "Laredo" character, Famous Shoes, was in both?

I suppose if "Comanche Moon" were better, my mind wouldn't have wandered so much.

To read the full thing, click here. Like I say in the review, the original "Lonesome Dove" is one of my favorite books (and miniseries) ever, and the franchise has some extra sentimental value for me, as my very first story for The Star-Ledger was an interview with Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana connected to "Dead Man's Walk," so I was really hoping for more than I got, even though "Comanche Moon" is the weakest of the four books.