# Lone Gunmen TV show predicted World Trade Center tragedy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 16, 2004, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lone-gunmen-tv-show-predicted-world-trade-center-tragedy/240320 "2004-04-16T06:00:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Alzarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@Alzarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alzarian)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lone-gunmen-tv-show-predicted-world-trade-center-tragedy/240320/1 "2004-04-16T06:00:45Z")
I couldn’t believe this when I heard it, but sure enough, a little digging around the internet seems to confirm that there was a spin-off to the X-Files back in the spring of 2001 called “The Lone Gunmen”, and that it’s premiere episode apparently revolved around terrorists taking control of an airplane that took off from Boston and was going to be flown into the World Trade Center. (Naturally the heroes averted the tragedy.) I guess I have a comment and a question: Q) Do you think it at all likely that this series will be released on DVD sometime, as apparently the X-Files and Millenium have been, (other Chris Carter shows)? I would imagine not releasing this episode, or editing it, would be difficult being the premiere episode of the series… C) Perhaps our government officials should spend more time watching television, as discovering this makes the statement about the administration never imagining this event occurring before 9/11 look more ludicrous. By the way, sorry if this has ever been brought up before, but for some reason the search function doesn’t seem to be working… ---
**Author:** ![Eternal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@Eternal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eternal)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lone-gunmen-tv-show-predicted-world-trade-center-tragedy/240320/2 "2004-04-16T06:40:52Z")
> [@](#): > > C) Perhaps our government officials should spend more time watching television, as discovering this makes the statement about the administration never imagining this event occurring before 9/11 look more ludicrous. Come now, no one watched that show. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lone-gunmen-tv-show-predicted-world-trade-center-tragedy/240320/3 "2004-04-16T06:54:50Z")
The pilot episode did involve a plane being flown into the WTC. However, it wasn’t hijacked (it was being flown remotely, a wholly fictitious proposition) and there were no terrorists involved. That said, it is kind of scary that Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz could think of something that Condoleezza Rice and her staff couldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lone-gunmen-tv-show-predicted-world-trade-center-tragedy/240320/4 "2004-04-16T07:12:18Z")
> [@brianjedi](#): > > The pilot episode did involve a plane being flown into the WTC. However, it wasn’t hijacked (it was being flown remotely, a wholly fictitious proposition) and there were no terrorists involved. Wouldn’t flying an airplane into the WTC be _ipso facto_ an act of terrorism? If they weren’t terrorists, who were they? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lone-gunmen-tv-show-predicted-world-trade-center-tragedy/240320/5 "2004-04-16T07:31:10Z")
From a [March 6th, 2001 review](http://www.techtv.com/entertainment/print/0,23102,3315322,00.html): > [@](#): > > The pilot episode featured an evil computer corporation bent on invading its customers’ privacy via a new processor and a government plot to increase arms sales by crashing a domestic airliner into the World Trade Center and blaming terrorists. It probably doesn’t help that episode one aired March 11[sup]th[/sup], exactly six months before the attack, on a date later used for the Madrid bombings. Ay-yah-- on a show that spoofs conspiracy enthusiasts. The poor dears. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lone-gunmen-tv-show-predicted-world-trade-center-tragedy/240320/6 "2004-04-16T07:47:53Z")
Here’s a [transcript](http://www.twiztv.com/scripts/pilots/lonegunmenpilot.htm). > [@](#): > > LANGLY: Byers… > > INT. FLIGHT 265 > LANGLY (vo, cont’d) Your flight’s gonna make an unscheduled stop. In exactly 22 minutes. > > INT. LONE GUNMEN HEADQUARTERS > FROHIKE :The corner of Liberty and Washington. Lower Manhattan. > > INT. FLIGHT 265 > BYERS: World Trade Center. > (to Bert) They’re going to crash the plane into the World Trade Center. > > BERTRAM: I’ll tell the flight crew. The Gunmen do some cheesy “hacking” with their purloined Octium chip, and then: > [@](#): > > CO-PILOT: We’ve got manual override! > > The pilot pulls back hard on the stick. > INT. FLIGHT 265, CABIN > Overhead compartments spill open and the passengers panic as the plane is jarred from the sudden movement. Byers and his father are sent sprawling. > > EXT. WORLD TRADE CENTER > Flight 265 is fest approaching. > > INT. FLIGHT 265, FLIGHT DECK > The pilot jams the stick back and pushes hard on the throttle. > > EXT. WORLD TRADE CENTER > The plane angles high and pulls up above the edge of the building, barely knicking a tall light mounted on the roof of the tower. > > INT. AIRPORT TERMINAL, BOSTON > The passengers of Flight 265 are deboarding, and among them are Byers and his father. > > BYERS: If we can’t get to the FBI we’ll go public, with your testimony we can break this conspiracy wide open. Bring Overlord down. The whole operation. What do you suppose the chances of this puppy ever being aired again are? It goes a bit beyond “They stick all the jerks in Tower One” as far as close-to-the-nerve is concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lone-gunmen-tv-show-predicted-world-trade-center-tragedy/240320/7 "2004-04-16T07:51:30Z")
For various obvious reasons, that episode is Down the Memory Hole, **Larry**. ---
**Author:** ![Eternal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@Eternal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eternal)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lone-gunmen-tv-show-predicted-world-trade-center-tragedy/240320/8 "2004-04-16T08:11:58Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > Wouldn’t flying an airplane into the WTC be _ipso facto_ an act of terrorism? If they weren’t terrorists, who were they? No, terrorism is a matter of intent. Although in this case I think “terrorist” is a good word to use against the antagonists. They wanted to do it to rile up the public to bomb rogue nations, but their end aim was merely to increasing arms sales. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lone-gunmen-tv-show-predicted-world-trade-center-tragedy/240320/9 "2004-04-16T15:47:56Z")
> [@Eternal](#): > > Come now, no one watched that show. I watched it. :slinks away: ---
**Author:** ![notquitekarpov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@notquitekarpov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notquitekarpov)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lone-gunmen-tv-show-predicted-world-trade-center-tragedy/240320/10 "2004-04-16T16:36:30Z")
> [@Alzarian](#): > > …By the way, sorry if this has ever been brought up before, but for some reason the search function doesn’t seem to be working… I think if you look into SDMB subscription you will find that as a guest you have the search function disabled. Dumb I know, but they had to think of something to encourage us to pony up our $5! Look forward to welcoming you as a full member in the future! ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lone-gunmen-tv-show-predicted-world-trade-center-tragedy/240320/11 "2004-04-16T17:50:31Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > Here’s a [transcript](http://www.twiztv.com/scripts/pilots/lonegunmenpilot.htm).The Gunmen do some cheesy “hacking” with their purloined Octium chip, and then:What do you suppose the chances of this puppy ever being aired again are? It goes a bit beyond “They stick all the jerks in Tower One” as far as close-to-the-nerve is concerned. The “They stick all the jerks in Tower One” episode aired here in Hartford, CT a few weeks ago. I was surprised–I didn’t think they’d air that one again. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lone-gunmen-tv-show-predicted-world-trade-center-tragedy/240320/12 "2004-04-16T17:57:01Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > What do you suppose the chances of this puppy ever being aired again are? This episode was broadcast this past week on FOX TV in Japan. JpnDude ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lone-gunmen-tv-show-predicted-world-trade-center-tragedy/240320/13 "2004-04-16T22:25:15Z")
> [@vibrotronica](#): > > I watched it. > > :slinks away: So did I. Every episode. I might even have this particular one on tape. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lone-gunmen-tv-show-predicted-world-trade-center-tragedy/240320/14 "2004-04-16T22:41:43Z")
> [@Eternal](#): > > Come now, no one watched that show. :raises hand: :o Actually, it wasn’t that bad and was a lot more enjoyable than the last 3-4 years of the X-Files. I just hated how the three characters ended up. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lone-gunmen-tv-show-predicted-world-trade-center-tragedy/240320/15 "2004-04-16T23:10:59Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > So did I. Every episode. I might even have this particular one on tape. I have them all on tape except “The Cap’n Toby Show”. I don’t recall that one being braodcast.