Line #14 Radio/XMinusOne


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/x_minus_one.jpg]]
2
3	->''Countdown for blastoff... X minus five, minus four, minus three, minus two, X minus one... Fire! [Rocket launch SFX] From the far horizons of the unknown come tales of new dimensions in time and space. These are stories of the future; adventures in which you'll live in a million could-be years on a thousand may-be worlds. The [[Creator/{{NBC}} National Broadcasting Company]] presents... X Minus One.''
4	-->--'''Original TitleSequence'''
5
6	First broadcast on 22 April 1955, ''X Minus One'' was a [[SpiritualSuccessor revival]] of ''Radio/DimensionX'', airing on the {{Creator/NBC}} radio channel until 1958. This series holds the record for the longest running ScienceFiction RadioDrama, a GenreAnthology of episodes that aired over a hundred different stories. The first fifteen episodes [[RecycledScript reused]] the ''Dimension X'' scripts with new talent behind the voices and sound effects.
7
8	This series was directed by Creator/FredWiehe, Creator/DanielSutter, and Creator/GeorgeVoutsas, lasting for one hundred twenty-six episodes. Most of the scriptwriting was by Creator/ErnestKinoy or Creator/GeorgeLefferts, but also bringing in new writers like Creator/HowardRodman and Creator/WilliamWelch. The scriptwriters would usually create [[AudioAdaptation adaptations]], with a few scripts original to ''X Minus One''.
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10	Unlike most of its contemporaries, ''X Minus One'' would broadcast specifically to an adult audience[[labelnote:*]]One of the program's sponsors was Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.[[/labelnote]], [[AudioAdaptation adapting stories]] from ''Magazine/AstoundingScienceFiction'' and ''Magazine/GalaxyScienceFiction'' for broadcast, [[AudioDiegesis adding sound effects and background noise]] to deepen the world. Stories included characters with gambling and addiction problems, criminal tendencies, and even a spaceship piloted by a computer with a female personality (who was being "made love to" by its "[[RoboRomance robot boyfriend]]").
11
12	The PilotEpisode, an adaptation of "Literature/AndTheMoonBeStillAsBright" by Creator/RayBradbury, aired on the 22nd, but weekly episodes began the 24th of April 1955, with a {{Radio}} original story, "No Contact" by Creator/GeorgeLefferts (both episodes were {{Recycled\|Script}} from ''Dimension X''). The final episode, an adaptation of "Literature/GrayFlannelArmor" by Creator/FinnODonnevan, aired on 9 January 1958. An attempt to revive ''X Minus One'' was made on 27 January 1973, with episode number 126, an adaptation of "Literature/TheIronChancellor" by Creator/RobertSilverberg.
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14	The entire series survives today in digital form because of the [[http://otrr.org/ Old Time Radio Researchers]], who have uploaded it to [[https://archive.org/details/OTRR_X_Minus_One_Singles The Internet Archive]]. Other sources also provide a chance to listen and own DVD or CD copies.
15	----
16	!!''X Minus One'' provides examples of:
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18	* AdaptationRelationshipOverhaul: In [[Recap/XMinusOneE015ColdEquations episode fifteen]], Marilyn Lee Cross stows away aboard the Emergency Dispatch Ship to Woden in order to reunite with her husband Gerry. In the original story, Creator/TomGodwin's "Literature/TheColdEquations", Gerry is Marilyn's older brother.
19	* AdaptationalBackstoryChange: In [[Recap/XMinusOneE083ASaucerOfLoneliness episode eighty-three]], Jason Bernaides is a journalist who investigates Janet Boyce's encounter with the FlyingSaucer in 1957 and later prevents her from drowning herself on June 25, 1962. It was [[AudioAdaptation adapted]] from Creator/TheodoreSturgeon's "Literature/ASaucerOfLoneliness", where the [[NamedByTheAdaptation unnamed equivalent character]] has no connection with the woman until he finds the copy of the saucer's message that she placed in a bottle and does not meet her until the night that he saves her.
20	* AlienArtsAreAppreciated: In [[Recap/XMinusOneE072PicturesDontLie episode seventy-two]], [[AudioAdaptation adapted]] from Creator/KatherineMacLean's "Literature/PicturesDontLie", a scientist was trading TV broadcasts with Sagittarians. They really liked the "Dancing hippo" segment of ''{{WesternAnimation/Fantasia}}'' and in return, sent an episode of one of their TV shows.
21	* AudioAdaptation: Most of the episodes from this series are {{Radio Drama}}tizations, the later episodes all come from ''{{Magazine/Galaxy}}'' magazine.
22	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE000AndTheMoonBeStillAsBright Episode zero]] is an adaptation of Creator/RayBradbury's "Literature/AndTheMoonBeStillAsBright".
23	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE003MarsIsHeaven Episode three]] is an adaptation of Creator/RayBradbury's "Literature/MarsIsHeaven".
24	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE004Universe Episode four]] is an adaptation of Creator/RobertAHeinlein's "{{Literature/Universe}}".
25	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE005Knock Episode five]] is an adaptation of Creator/FredricBrown's "{{Literature/Knock}}".
26	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE008TheGreenHillsOfEarth Episode eight]] is an adaptation of Creator/RobertAHeinlein's "Literature/TheGreenHillsOfEarth".
27	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE009DrGrimshawsSanitorium Episode nine]] is an adaptation of Creator/FletcherPratt's "[[Literature/DrGrimshawsSanitorium Dr. Grimshaw's Sanitorium]]".
28	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE010Nightmare Episode ten]] is an adaptation of Creator/StephenVincentBenet's "Literature/TheRevoltOfheMachines".
29	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE011TheEmbassy Episode eleven]] is an adaptation of Creator/DonaldAWollheim's "Literature/TheEmbassy".
30	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE012TheVeldt Episode twelve]] is an adaptation of Creator/RayBradbury's "Literature/TheVeldt".
31	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE013AlmostHuman Episode thirteen]] is an adaptation of Creator/RobertBloch's "Literature/AlmostHuman".
32	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE014Courtesy Episode fourteen]] is an adaptation of Creator/CliffordSimak's "{{Literature/Courtesy}}".
33	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE015ColdEquations Episode fifteen]] is an adaptation of Creator/TomGodwin's "Literature/TheColdEquations".
34	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE020FirstContact Episode twenty]] is an adaptation of Creator/MurrayLeinster's "Literature/FirstContact".
35	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE021ChildsPlay Episode twenty-one]] is an adaptation of Creator/WilliamTenn's "Literature/ChildsPlay".
36	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE022Requiem Episdoe twenty-two]] is an adaptation of Creator/RobertAHeinlein's "{{Literature/Requiem}}".
37	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE024DwellersInSilence Episode twenty-four]] is an adaptation of Creator/RayBradbury's "Literature/DwellersInSilence".
38	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE025TheOuterLimit Episode twenty-five]] is an adaptation of Creator/GrahamDoar's "Literature/TheOuterLimit".
39	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE026ZeroHour Episode twenty-six]] is an adaptation of Creator/RayBradbury's "Literature/ZeroHour".
40	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE027TheVitalFactor Episode twenty-seven]] is an adaptation of Creator/NelsonBond's "Literature/TheVitalFactor".
41	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE028Nightfall Episode twenty-eight]] is an adaptation of Creator/IsaacAsimov's "Literature/Nightfall1941".
42	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE029ToTheFuture Episode twenty-nine]] is an adaptation of Creator/RayBradbury's "Literature/TheFoxAndTheForest".
43	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE030MarionettesInc Episode thirty]] is an adaptation of Creator/RayBradbury's "Literature/MarionettesInc".
44	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE031ALogicNamedJoe Episode thirty-one]] is an adaptation of Creator/MurrayLeinster's "Literature/ALogicNamedJoe".
45	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE032TheRoadsMustRoll Episode thirty-two]] is an adaptation of Creator/RobertAHeinlein's "Literature/TheRoadsMustRoll".
46	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE033TimeAndTimeAgain Episode thirty-three]] is an adaptation of Creator/HBeamPiper's "Literature/TimeAndTimeAgain".
47	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE036TheCaveOfNight Episode thirty-six]] is an adaptation of Creator/JamesEGunn's "Literature/TheCaveOfNight".
48	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE037TheCChute Episode thirty-seven]] is an adaptation of Creator/IsaacAsimov's "Literature/CChute".
49	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE038SkulkingPermit Episode thirty-eight]] is an adaptation of Creator/RobertSheckley's "Literature/SkulkingPermit".
50	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE039Junkyard Episode thirty-nine]] is an adaptation of Creator/CliffordSimak's "{{Literature/Junkyard}}".
51	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE041AGunForDinosaur Episode forty-one]] is an adaptation of Creator/LSpragueDeCamp's "Literature/AGunForDinosaur".
52	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE042TunnelUnderTheWorld Episode forty-two]] is an adaptation of Creator/FrederikPohl's "Literature/TunnelUnderTheWorld".
53	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE043AThousandDollarsAPlate Episode forty-three]] is an adaptation of Creator/JackMcKenty's "Literature/AThousandDollarsAPlate".
54	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE044APailOfAir Episode forty-four]] is an adaptation of Creator/FritzLeiber's "Literature/APailOfAir".
55	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE045How2 Episode forty-five]] is an adaptation of Creator/CliffordSimak's "Literature/How2".
56	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE046StarBright Episode forty-six]] is an adaptation of Creator/MarkClifton's "Literature/StarBright".
57	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE047Jaywalker Episode forty-seven]] is an adaptation of Creator/RossRocklynne's "{{Literature/Jaywalker}}".
58	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE048TheSenseOfWonder Episode forty-eight]] is an adaptation of Creator/MiltonLesser's "Literature/TheSenseOfWonder".
59	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE049SeaLegs Episode forty-nine]] is an adaptation of Creator/FrankQuattrocchi's "Literature/SeaLegs".
60	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE050TheSeventhOrder Episode fifty]] is an adaptation of Creator/JerrySohl's "Literature/TheSeventhOrder".
61	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE051HallucinationOrbit Episode fifty-one]] is an adaptation of Creator/JTMcIntosh's "Literature/HallucinationOrbit".
62	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE052TheDefenders Episode fifty-two]] is an adaptation of Creator/PhilipKDick's "Literature/TheDefenders".
63	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE053Lulungomeena Episode fifty-three]] is an adaptation of Creator/GordonRDickson's "{{Literature/Lulungomeena}}".
64	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE054ProjectMastodon Episode fifty-four]] is an adaptation of Creator/CliffordSimak's "Literature/ProjectMastodon".
65	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE055IfYouWasAMoklin Episode fifty-five]] is an adaptation of Creator/MurrayLeinster's "Literature/IfYouWasAMoklin".
66	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE057WhereverYouMayBe Episode fifty-seven]] is an adaptation of Creator/JamesEGunn's "Literature/WhereverYouMayBe".
67	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE058MrCostelloHero Episode fifty-eight]] is an adaptation of Creator/TheodoreSturgeon's "Literature/MrCostelloHero".
68	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE059BadMedicine Episode fifty-nine]] is an adaptation of Creator/FinnODonnevan's "Literature/BadMedicine".
69	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE060TheOldDieRich Episode sixty]] is an adaptation of Creator/HLGold's "Literature/TheOldDieRich".
70	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE061TheStarsAreTheStyx Episode sixty-one]] is an adaptation of Creator/TheodoreSturgeon's "Literature/TheStarsAreTheStyx".
71	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE062StudentBody Episode sixty-two]] is an adaptation of Creator/FLWallace's "Literature/StudentBody".
72	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE063TheLastMartian Episode sixty-three]] is an adaptation of Creator/FredricBrown's "Literature/TheLastMartian".
73	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE064TheSnowballEffect Episode sixty-four]] is an adaptation of Creator/KatherineMacLean's "Literature/TheSnowballEffect".
74	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE065SurfaceTension Episode sixty-five]] is an adaptation of Creator/JamesBlish's "Literature/SurfaceTension".
75	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE067TheLifeboatMutiny Episode sixty-seven]] is an adaptation of Creator/RobertSheckley's "Literature/TheLifeboatMutiny".
76	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE068TheMapMakers Episode sixty-eight]] is an adaptation of Creator/FrederikPohl's "Literature/TheMapMakers".
77	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE069ProtectiveMimicry Episode sixty-nine]] is an adaptation of Creator/AlgisBudrys's "Literature/ProtectiveMimicry".
78	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE070Colony Episode seventy]] is an adaptation of Creator/PhilipKDick's "{{Literature/Colony}}".
79	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE071SoldierBoy Episode seventy-one]] is an adaptation of Creator/MichaelShaara's "Literature/SoldierBoy".
80	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE072PicturesDontLie Episode seventy-two]] is an adaptation of Creator/KatherineMacLean's "Literature/PicturesDontLie".
81	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE073SamThisIsYou Episode seventy-three]] is an adaptation of Creator/MurrayLeinster's "Literature/SamThisIsYou".
82	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE074AppointmentInTomorrow Episode seventy-four]] is an adaptation of Creator/FritzLeiber's "Literature/AppointmentInTomorrow".
83	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE076ChainOfCommand Episode seventy-six]] is an adaptation of Creator/StevenArr's "Literature/ChainOfCommand".
84	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE078ThereWillComeSoftRains Episode seventy-eight]] is an adaptation of Creator/RayBradbury's "Literature/ThereWillComeSoftRains".
85	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE079Hostess Episode seventy-nine]] is an adaptation of Creator/IsaacAsimov's "{{Literature/Hostess}}".
86	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE080TheReluctantHeroes Episode eighty]] is an adaptation of Creator/FrankMRobinson's "Literature/TheReluctantHeroes".
87	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE081HoneymoonInHell Episode eighty-one]] is an adaptation of Creator/FredricBrown's "Literature/HoneymoonInHell".
88	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE124PrimeDifference Episode one hundred twenty-four]] is an adaptation of Creator/AlanENourse's "Literature/PrimeDifference".
89	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE125GrayFlannelArmor Episode one hundred twenty-five]] is an adaptation of [[Creator/FinnODonnevan Finn O'Donnevan]]'s "Literature/GrayFlannelArmor".
90	** [[Recap/XMinusOneE126TheIronChancellor Episode one hundred twenty-six]] is an adaptation of Creator/RobertSilverberg's "Literature/TheIronChancellor".
91	* CannotTellALie: One episode featured a reptilian "lawyer" whose race is incapable of lying (although they don't have to say the entire truth either). This is put to the test when a {{Jerkass}} character tries to get under another character's skin by mocking his home planet, who the latter keeps saying is the most beautiful place in the galaxy. The Jerkass gets the reptilian to admit the other character's planet has been ravaged by an asteroid shower and is hardly the paradise he thought it was, but to his shock the reptilian wholeheartedly agrees that the planet is the best place there is [[spoiler:because the planet is named after the reptilian's word for "home"]].
92	* CharacterNarrator: In "[[Recap/XMinusOneE095MartianSam Martian Sam]]", Joe, one of the ball club players, acts as narrator for the story, telling the audience about what he had seen and monologuing his opinions about the characters and settings.
93	%%* DownerEnding: Many of the shows ended up with a bad result for the protagonist.%%Too General; cite an episode.
94	* FeedTheMole: In "[[Recap/XMinusOneE056ProjectTrojan Project Trojan]]", Phase Three was identifying a German mole (Gogarty) and "losing" files connected to an unworkable DeathRay. Because they were only "losing" some of the files, it would look as if the lack of information meant the Allied powers had developed a solution.
95	* FictionalDocument: In "[[Recap/XMinusOneE056ProjectTrojan Project Trojan]]", the war program is inspired by a story in ''Incredible Science Fiction Tales''. To "research" for the project, the characters read more ScienceFiction tales from the magazine.
96	* FindOutNextTime: The earliest episodes would give a short summary of the next week's story. After the series got partnered with ''{{Magazine/Galaxy}}'', it would sometimes describe one of the recent stories from the magazine, even when said story wasn't the basis of next week's episode. More of a "find out right now!" advertising of their print-medium partner.
97	* FutureImperfect: In one episode, two hunters, upon finding an alien, mention "Edison's automobile" and "Ford's electric lightbulb". To be fair, they're both blind drunk.
98	* GenreAnthology: ''X Minus One'' is a ScienceFiction radio anthology series.
99	* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: In [[Recap/XMinusOneE083ASaucerOfLoneliness episode eighty-three]], [[AudioAdaptation adapted]] from Creator/TheodoreSturgeon's "Literature/ASaucerOfLoneliness", Jason Bernaides slaps Janet Boyce to prevent her from killing herself.
100	* LetXBeTheUnknown: The "X" in the name [[SpiritualSuccessor carries over]] from ''Radio/DimensionX'', but now implies tension and excitement, the countdown for a rocket launch! Each episode warns of "a million could-be years on a thousand may-be worlds".
101	* LoopholeAbuse: In "[[Recap/XMinusOneE095MartianSam Martian Sam]]", a Martian is hired as a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite being only eighteen inches tall, the Martian's arm is 32 feet long, so most batters have a lot of trouble hitting the ball. Naturally, the Braves counter this by hiring an intelligent virus from Jupiter, so tiny that no pitch can be of the regulation height against them.
102	* MatterReplicator: In "[[Recap/XMinusOneE069ProtectiveMimicry Protective Mimicry]]", an [[AudioAdaptation adaptation]] of Creator/AlgisBudrys's "Literature/ProtectiveMimicry", a galactic treasury agent investigates the source of some credit notes that appear to be genuine save that they all have the same serial numbers, and since the printing process is so fiendishly complicated he believes that someone invented a matter duplicator. [[spoiler:It turns out the counterfeiter found an alien tree that made copies of whatever "attacks" it, like a paper airplane made from a 50 credit note. And during the final fight the agent runs into said tree, making it a bit difficult to get tickets back home for all of him.]]
103	* MentalSpaceTravel: In "[[Recap/XMinusOneE063TheLastMartian The Last Martian]]", [[AudioAdaptation adapted]] from Creator/FredricBrown's "Literature/TheLastMartian", the titular character claims he escaped from a hospital on Mars to find the rest of his people all lying dead in the streets. Eventually he came to a copper column in the middle of a colosseum and touched it, then found himself in the body of a factory worker in New York. [[spoiler:It turned out the others had abandoned their bodies on Mars and taken over humans to escape a plague. He was left behind because he was moronic by Martian standards - that is, as smart as an average human.]]
104	* NamedByTheAdaptation: In [[Recap/XMinusOneE083ASaucerOfLoneliness episode eighty-three]], the woman who receives the telepathic message from the FlyingSaucer is named Janet Boyce while the man who [[InterruptedSuicide prevents the woman from committing suicide]] is named Jason Bernaides. This is [[AudioAdaptation adapted]] from Creator/TheodoreSturgeon's "Literature/ASaucerOfLoneliness", where the two characters are not named at all.
105	* PlanetOfHats: One episode featured a reptilian alien coming to a mining planet for one of their workers (basically a milder version of a [[Franchise/TheChroniclesOfRiddick Furian]]). The reptile alien's hat is that they CannotTellALie (although they don't have to say the whole truth either) while the "Furian's" hat is being HotBlooded. Lampshaded by the "Furian": "You know how they say we're all good at bar fights?"
106	* PunctuatedForEmphasis: The show's title would be announced as "X! MINUS! ONE!".
107	* SecondaryCharacterTitle: In "[[Recap/XMinusOneE095MartianSam Martian Sam]]", the title is based on one of the characters on the baseball team. The story, however, [[CharacterNarrator is told from Joe's perspective]].
108	* SigningOffCatchPhrase: Early episodes would end their FindOutNextTime segments by calling out the show's title; "[[PunctuatedForEmphasis X! MINUS! ONE!]]".
109	* SpiritualSuccessor: This show was an effort to revive ''Radio/DimensionX'', an earlier ScienceFiction GenreAnthology which aired on NBC radio from 1950–1951. The director Creator/FredWeihe worked on both, as did scriptwriters Creator/ErnestKinoy and Creator/GeorgeLefferts. Out of the first thirty or so episodes, they {{Recycled\|Script}} twenty-six of the scripts from the older RadioDrama.
110	* WholeEpisodeFlashback: [[Recap/XMinusOneE083ASaucerOfLoneliness Episode eighty-three]], [[AudioAdaptation adapted]] from Creator/TheodoreSturgeon's "Literature/ASaucerOfLoneliness", begins on June 25, 1962 and then flashes back to 1957 to tell the story of Janet Boyce's difficulties after her refusal to divulge the contents of the message from the FlyingSaucer.
111	* WorksSetInWorldWarII: "[[Recap/XMinusOneE056ProjectTrojan Project Trojan]]" is set during the war, and is about a team of counter-intelligence operatives trying to trick the Germans into chasing a fake scientific development.
112	* WorthlessYellowRocks: In "[[Recap/XMinusOneE054ProjectMastodon Project Mastodon]]", an [[AudioAdaptation adaptation]] of Creator/CliffordSimak's "Literature/ProjectMastodon", the protagonist got mixed up in a time-traveling get-rich-quick scheme by going to the past and investing in stocks that would rise and property loaded with a type of mineral that the seller told him had interesting scientific qualities but was basically worthless—uranium.
113	* XMakesAnythingCool: The title comes from the countdown for a rocketship; "X minus five, minus four, minus three, minus two, X minus one...". The association is due to the emphasis on ScienceFiction for this radio program.

Context Radio / XMinusOne