{"id":136455,"date":"2026-06-02T12:44:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T17:44:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=136455"},"modified":"2026-06-02T12:44:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T17:44:53","slug":"1980s-tv-shows-a-trip-down-memory-lane-with-marc-singer-mike-donovan-in-v","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=136455","title":{"rendered":"1980s TV Shows:  A Trip Down Memory Lane with\u2026 Marc Singer (Mike Donovan in \u201cV\u201d)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1545664804358300\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1545664804358300\" data-ad-slot=\"8616314829\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=136455\" rel=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=136455\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-136456 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Marc-Singer-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Marc-Singer-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Marc-Singer-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Marc-Singer-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Marc-Singer-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Marc-Singer.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Exclusive Interview by Karen Beishuizen<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cV\u201d was an American science fiction series that aired on NBC from 1984 to 1985. It ran for 19 episodes. The show followed a two-part miniseries which was aired in 1983 and a three-part miniseries \u201cV: The Final Battle\u201d in 1984. It was the story of an alien invasion of Earth by reptilians known as \u201cVisitors\u201d. Marc Singer played human Mike Donovan and Jane Badler played one of the visitors.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: &#8220;V&#8221;: What kind of show was it?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cV\u201d as originally conceived was a veiled reference to fascism\u2019s insidious appeal to those with something to gain or nothing to lose. Every society has those disaffected \u201cin-betweeners\u201d as well, who simply seek to give meaning to their lives by joining a movement for the sense of purpose it gives them &#8211; regardless of its factual record, or deleterious effects. At least in the beginning this was its purpose. Later I believe, it became more adventure oriented, a strong element ever- present, in either case.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>KB: How did you get the part as Mike Donovan?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I feel sometimes that it was less that I auditioned for the role of Mike Donovan than that I was picked to play him. The creator of \u201cV\u201d was \u2013 I believe &#8211; aware of my work as Petruchio in the live, on-stage production Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cThe Taming of the Shrew\u201d (which I believe can still be accessed on the internet) and my leading role as \u201cThe Beastmaster\u201d (that film), and I guess he was convinced, because it seemed to me that my path took a shortcut from these to playing the de-facto lead in \u201cV\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: What did you like about the character and how did you make it your own?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Every actor makes every character his or her own by the mere assignment of the part. For me, then, Mike Donovan represented a kind of \u2018everyman\u2019 who was thrust unwillingly into his pivotal role by the powerful nature of his own truth, his unspoken, unadmitted dedication to morality. He was not a hero by choice, or even inclination\u2026 he simply felt he could not stand idly by. I think these are the qualities of self-sacrifice and service so many aspire to, and the thought, that maybe I could represent it, struck a chord in me.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: It was supposed to be a 2-part mini-series but then a TV show followed. Were you surprised it got picked up by a network?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>After the mini-series\u2019 astounding ratings, I was not surprised at all. Pleased, but not surprised. I knew there was a lot of work yet to be done and that ratings, represented in that sense, is a responsibility, not a reward. I went to work for the team, and made sure to contribute to that ethic as the standard for how the \u2018acting department\u2019 carried out its responsibilities \u2013 as a part of the larger team effort. And for the most part, I think we succeeded. I was proud of my colleagues. I was honored to be in their company. I\u2019m proud of them to this day.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: What did it look like on the set from getting the script to filming?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>As I recall, when the show went to series, we always tried to start with a \u2018table read.\u2019 It gave everyone a sense of context, how the story was going to unfold and what our individual contributions would be. From then on out it was a 4 am wake-up and a sixteen-to-eighteen-hour day (my longest was twenty-two hours) until the bed rose up and smacked you in the face and it became another 4 am wake-up before you knew it. In between, there was sliding cars across the pavement, jumping through windows, clambering over obstacles, leaping down stairways, choreographing, rehearsing, and executing stunts, learning and editing lines, horses to gallop, and scenes with an ever-changing panoply of actors to shoot.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: Where was the show filmed?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cV\u201d was filmed on the historic Warner Brothers lot in Burbank, California. On every street corner within its walls stood a building, a set, a parkway, a street that you had seen in movies when you were a kid. Sets that had seen every great star in film history walk through their doors or utilize their walkways since Hollywood\u2019s establishment as the film capitol of the world. And when not on \u2018the lot\u2019 we would be in film sets on \u2018movie ranches\u2019 in various locations in the surrounding hills and deserts, or downtown in L.A. itself.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: Do you have a favorite episode?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Every episode presented a challenge and a reward. They were all engrossing, and meeting the constant need to fulfill the moments in each blurs the distinctions sometimes. But what I enjoyed most was walking in the footsteps (figuratively speaking) of great creative artists like Buster Keaton and thinking: \u201cWhat might Buster do when trapped in a situation like the one in this episode?\u201d I set my personal standard high, that way, and tried to honor the greats of Hollywood\u2019s legacy<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: What is the legacy of &#8220;V&#8221; and its franchise?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Being a part of Hollywood history in a given era was \u201cV\u201d\u2019s destiny in both the short and long run, what the future holds is beyond prediction. History outside the walls of the \u2018dream factory\u2019 is laid down as the aftermath of time and tide\u2019s inexorable advance, however, and the lessons inherent in \u201cV\u201d may in time need to be relearned. Who can say?<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: Looking back now would you have played Mike Donovan differently?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Yes. But that is the effect of age and experience speaking. At the time I worked as hard, gave as much, and gleaned as much as each moment afforded. Hopefully, we &#8211; all of us and each of us -grow more proficient at what we do as we progress in life, and this naturally deepens and broadens our experience, our expertise and \u2013 hopefully- our empathy, so there\u2019s no doubt that this would show up in the work.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: How do you explain that &#8220;V&#8221; is still beloved after 40+ years?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>A good show is a good show. Plain as that.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #808000;\"><a style=\"color: #808000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.authorhouse.com\/en\/bookstore\/bookdetails\/232300-BOXING-INTERVIEWS-OF-A-LIFETIME\">Click Here to Order Boxing Interviews Of A Lifetime By &#8220;Bad&#8221; Brad Berkwitt<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"wpforms-container wpforms-container-full\" id=\"wpforms-126533\"><form id=\"wpforms-form-126533\" class=\"wpforms-validate wpforms-form wpforms-ajax-form\" data-formid=\"126533\" method=\"post\" enctype=\"multipart\/form-data\" action=\"\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F136455\" data-token=\"fa63135cd2698ad8f40080e47cd94ab1\" data-token-time=\"1780429428\"><noscript class=\"wpforms-error-noscript\">Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.<\/noscript><div class=\"wpforms-field-container\"><div id=\"wpforms-126533-field_1-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-name\" data-field-id=\"1\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\">Name <span class=\"wpforms-required-label\">*<\/span><\/label><div class=\"wpforms-field-row wpforms-field-medium\"><div class=\"wpforms-field-row-block wpforms-first wpforms-one-half\"><input type=\"text\" id=\"wpforms-126533-field_1\" class=\"wpforms-field-name-first wpforms-field-required\" name=\"wpforms[fields][1][first]\" required><label for=\"wpforms-126533-field_1\" class=\"wpforms-field-sublabel after\">First<\/label><\/div><div class=\"wpforms-field-row-block wpforms-one-half\"><input type=\"text\" id=\"wpforms-126533-field_1-last\" class=\"wpforms-field-name-last wpforms-field-required\" name=\"wpforms[fields][1][last]\" required><label for=\"wpforms-126533-field_1-last\" class=\"wpforms-field-sublabel after\">Last<\/label><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-126533-field_2-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-email\" data-field-id=\"2\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-126533-field_2\">Email <span class=\"wpforms-required-label\">*<\/span><\/label><input type=\"email\" id=\"wpforms-126533-field_2\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium wpforms-field-required\" name=\"wpforms[fields][2]\" spellcheck=\"false\" required><\/div>\t\t<div id=\"wpforms-126533-field_4-container\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-text\"\n\t\t\tdata-field-type=\"text\"\n\t\t\tdata-field-id=\"4\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-126533-field_4\" >Name or Message<\/label>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" id=\"wpforms-126533-field_4\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium\" name=\"wpforms[fields][4]\" >\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"wpforms-126533-field_3-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-textarea\" data-field-id=\"3\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-126533-field_3\">Comment or Message<\/label><textarea id=\"wpforms-126533-field_3\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium\" name=\"wpforms[fields][3]\" ><\/textarea><\/div><script>\n\t\t\t\t( function() {\n\t\t\t\t\tconst style = document.createElement( 'style' );\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle.appendChild( document.createTextNode( '#wpforms-126533-field_4-container { position: absolute !important; 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It ran for 19 episodes. The show followed a two-part miniseries which was aired in 1983 and a three-part miniseries \u201cV: The Final Battle\u201d in 1984. It was the story of an alien invasion of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":136456,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":11,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35042],"tags":[35272],"class_list":["post-136455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1980s-tv-shows-a-trip-down-memory-lane-with","tag-1980s-tv-shows-a-trip-down-memory-lane-with-marc-singer-mike-donovan-in-v"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136455","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=136455"}],"version-history":[{"count":-3,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136455\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/136456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=136455"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=136455"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=136455"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}