This ABC miniseries – based on Stephen King’s epic novel – begins when a top-secret government lab in California accidentally releases a deadly virus, and most of the population of America (and we assume the world) is wiped out.
As the killer epidemic spreads, so do warnings about a “darkman” who is preparing to take over the world.
Meanwhile, Frannie Goldsmith (Molly Ringwald), a young pregnant woman from Maine, New York rock singer Larry Underwood (Adam Storke) and Nadine Cross (Laura San Giacomo) all begin to have visions of a 106-year-old black woman named Mother Abagail who awaits those that she has beckoned to her old house in the middle of a Nebraska cornfield.
As the story tracks various people, it becomes apparent that the two figures – the satanic “darkman” Randall Flagg (played with a ludicrous lack of menace by likeable Jamey Sheridan) and the benevolent Mother Abagail (Ruby Dee) – are the personification of the elemental forces of good and evil, and the stage is set for a final confrontation between them – the ‘Stand’ of the title.
Flagg can turn himself into a crow and fly all over the country. He can also turn a blade into a banana – a talent that surely can’t be all that much in demand.
Flagg builds his evil clan in Las Vegas while Mother Abagail organises her group in Boulder, Colorado.
Mother passes away in the third episode for some reason (or is spirited away to some other dimension), but not before establishing a kind of New Age hippie commune devoted to good thoughts and smiley faces.
It is there that Fran Goldsmith falls in love with Texan Stu Redman (Gary Sinise), and Nadine – operating under Flagg’s spell – infiltrates the group with the intention to destroy it from within.
Other members of the commune include crusty philosopher Glen Bateman (Ray Walston), Judge Ferris (Ossie Davis) and innocent deaf-mute drifter Nick Andros (Rob Lowe).
Over in the Flagg camp, Matt Frewer is wildly embarrassing as Trashcan Man, a fire-setting loony.
A remake of The Stand aired in 2020.
Stu Redman
Gary Sinise Frannie Goldsmith
Molly Ringwald Randall Flagg
Jamey Sheridan Nadine Cross
Laura San Giacomo Mother Abagail Freemantle
Ruby Dee Judge Richard Farris
Ossie Davis Lloyd Henreid
Miguel Ferrer Harold Lauder
Corin Nemec Trashcan Man
Matt Frewer Larry Underwood
Adam Storke Glen Bateman
Ray Walston Nick Andros
Rob Lowe Ralph Brentner
Peter Van Norden Lucy Swann
Bridgit Ryan Dayna Jurgens
Kellie Overbey Tom Cullen
Bill Fagerbakke Rat Man
Rick Aviles Barry Dorgan
Chuck Adamson Julie Lawry
Shawnee Smith Whitney Horgan
Sam Anderson Susan Stern
Cynthia Garris Joe
Billy L. Sullivan George Richardson
Warren Frost Carl Hough
Tom Holland Teddy Weizak
Stephen King Gina McCone
Sarah Schaub Ace-High
Bruce MacVittie Rich Moffat
Dan Martin Dr Herbert Denninger
Max Wright Monster Shouter
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Sarge
Kevin Doyle Dick Ellis
Richard Jewkes Len Carsleigh
Robert Knott
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As the killer epidemic spreads, so do warnings about a “darkman” who is preparing to take over the world.
Mother passes away in the third episode for some reason (or is spirited away to some other dimension), but not before establishing a kind of New Age hippie commune devoted to good thoughts and smiley faces.
Stu Redman
Judge Richard Farris
Harold Lauder
Whitney Horgan
Teddy Weizak
