What we saw on the set of Land of the Lost (hint: Sleestaks)

It started as a routine expedition. In May of last year—just a month before the devastating fire that blazed through the Universal Studios backlot—SCI FI Wire was invited to the set of Land of the Lost to watch filming, interview the actors and gawk at the sight of a horde (or whatever the proper collective noun may be) of real, live Sleestaks.

Sure, they may have been just extras dressed in rubber suits, but for anyone who grew up watching the Sid and Marty Krofft TV show—on which the film is based—it was pretty impressive to see the creatures together on a massive, rocky set dubbed the Temple of the Sleestaks and designed look like ancient ruins.

"I was always afraid of the Sleestaks, too, when I was a kid," says star Danny McBride, who plays Will in the film, one third of the trio in the familiar song from the opening credits of the original series. "So it's pretty wild to step on the set of this movie and see them for real. It just kind of awakens those primal fears inside. You want to run and pee your pants."

See? I'm not the only one with Sleestak fear....

The article is spoilery.

Ugh. They changed stuff....

Ugh. They changed stuff....

And this is bad because this material is so genius that changing it would be sacrilege?

No. They just changed stuff they shouldn't have. Like there's no kids - it's three adults now.

Wrong.

Okay, I can see that objection.

But did they get Bill Lambeer to play a Sleestak again? That's the critical question. Especially because he continued that role on the Pistons.

(high-fives Hec for Wall-E Rand Lite comments)

I keep wanting to mash up Wall-E and Idiocracy. But since Mal's moved on to The Incredibles, I'm getting Brad Bird's Randiness in undiluted strength.

I infinitely prefer Bird's "be true to yourself" Rand-isms to the Disney heroines who want "more out of life", more ending up being a guy.

Maybe it's time to get Matlida hooked on Emporer's New Groove. It's never too early to introduce kids to the wonder that is Eartha Kitt, even in scary animated form.

Bird's "be true to yourself" Rand-isms

"...unless you're an average human being, in which case get out of my way, scum!"

"When everybody's Super, no one will be."

See, the whole plot is driven by a guy who can't accept the fact that he's not Super. The lesson is, if you're not Super, know your place.

Sorry. I still love The Incredibles.

I love watching it but I hate the message. And I think Brad Bird's opinion of himself must not include the memories of being beaten up for his lunch money by big strong kids who could.

This conversation is getting old though: "And Syndrome has superpowers!"

"No he does not."

"Yes he does!"

"No, that's the whole point of the movie."

"He DOES!!!! He wears black and white and has a cape AND HAS SUPER POWERS!!!!!"

"Just because someone wears a costume they don't have super-powers. He's just really really smart."

"HEEEEE DDOOOOEEESSSSS TTTTOOOOOO!!!!!"

My son, the nascent engineer.